As the _Regina_ arose amongst the flames or protuberances of the planet they were leaving, they saw several violent eruptions, the dense masses of flames in the chromosphere being sent upwards to measured heights of half a million miles, and as they passed high into the corona, which dyed the interior of the ship with gorgeous colour notwithstanding the darkened windows, again they found the sun’s mass to cut off the whole sight of the heavens, and later still to be but a vast horizon, then a great disc behind them, from which the blackened heavens extended into limitless space. One evening as they were sitting in the saloon for their customary chat, Ross said, casually,—“We must now set about finding our mutineers and take them home!” which remark caused considerable comment, for, strange to say, so absorbed had they all been in the wonders they encountered every day that the thought of the mutineers had scarcely crossed their minds, and Ross’s simple remark came upon them as a surprise. “I suppose you have got sufficiently correct bearings to locate the position of the world on which we left them?” asked Dalton. “Yes,” responded Rollsborough, “it will be comparatively easy to find when we reach the orbit of Venus. We shall have to follow in the wake of the planet a little, that will be all.” “How shall we locate it?” inquired Rutherford. “It was a ‘Nova,’ or new star, which had been drawn into the orbit of Venus and attracted to that planet.” “But it was between Venus and the sun as seen from Earth?” said Dalton. “That was so,” assented Rollsborough; “but that was mere coincidence; it will be encircling Venus as a new satellite or forming a binary or double planet, and consequently be easy to find.” “But supposing it is not easy to find, what then?” said Rutherford, laughing. “We got its position too carefully to make any mistake,” replied Rollsborough, also laughing. “Sorrel and several others of us worked the thing out independently, then compared notes and all were the same. I think we need have no fear.” “It would be decidedly awkward if it’s gone, certainly!” chimed in Sorrel, “but that is scarcely likely. We tested its progress and gravity, and it was following exactly the planet Venus; and, if you remember, we followed it up for some time after we had sighted it, testing it in every way before we landed our rebels. I don’t think there can be any doubt.” “None at all,” rejoined Ross, “we are sure to find it when we see Venus.”