Werran delivered the message, but the folks had done their best and could do no more, so matters were at a dead-lock. In a fit of desperation, Godfrey turned to Werran, saying, “We want a grub that will stand fire, Werran, old chap. Ask them to burn the whole lot, and then we’ll take those that live and thrive on it.” The message was duly and seriously given, but the Jovians had no sense of humour as propounded by Terrestrians, for they refused to do anything more and seemed rather huffy at the ingratitude of their visitors. “You three are running this show,” said Godfrey, with an air of disclaiming all connection with the business. “What are you going to do? Take the lot, or none?” “No! we’re letting you run it, old man! you know you said you could manage the people splendidly,” remarked Ross, laughing, receiving a glare from Godfrey as a reward for his too-ready memory. “That’s just where we want your advice as an expert,” said Dennis, banteringly. “We’d like to have the lot, so as to give you every encouragement, but the ship won’t hold them;” then turning to Ross, he asked, “_Had_ we come to _Jupiter?_ and what part of him did they say? I forget.” “Upon my word, I’ve completely forgotten!” said Ross. “So have I!” chimed in Gilbert, laughing. “Great Bona!” cried Godfrey, with a start, “you _are_ a brilliant triad, I must say! you undertake two journeys, hundreds of millions of miles, to say nothing of a war or two by the way, and the only address you have is—‘a grub, Jupiter’—and Jupiter is about fourteen hundred times larger than Earth. And I give up all my important work on Earth to play dummy to three idiots! Let us go home again till you grow a bit older! I’m surprised at you!” he continued, sarcastically. “I said I should have to look after you, and upon my word you need it. If any one had told me that you three scientists could come all this distance and bring me with you, like a toy on a string, without knowing what you want and where to find it, I’d have—eaten ’em. A grub on Jupiter! upon my word, it does you great credit and I feel quite proud of you. A grub on——” and Godfrey, following the example of his three companions, gave way to long and uncontrollable laughter. Their mirth so affected Werran, that after staring hard first at one, then another, he found himself following their example, first smiling, then laughing like his companions, which surprised him so much and was withal so comforting that he continued to laugh long after the others could laugh no more, but sat looking stolidly at one another with tear-streaming faces. It thus fell to the lot of four Britons to have the honour of causing the first Martian laugh. “Can none of your fuzzled brains remember?” asked Godfrey, in gasps. “Don’t! Godfrey,” begged Ross. “I can’t laugh any more; my sides ache as if they were raw.” “We shall have to spin round the planet’s surface till something recalls the instructions,” said Dennis.