"Now we can get ready to leave in a week," repeated the German
enthusiastically.
In fact, the projectile was finished, and all that was necessary
was to put in the stores and some supplies, turn on the power,
and they would be off through space.
The actual starting of the Annihilator was, of course, to be left
entirely to Mr. Roumann. He had not disclosed to his companions
the secret of the force that was to make it move, nor had he told
them how to work the Etherium and atmospheric motors. He would
start the machinery in operation, and he had promised to show the
professor and the boys how to control it, but the secret of the
wonderful power he kept to himself.
"I think we can let the two machinists go now," said Mr. Henderson
at the conclusion of the tests. "We shall not need them any more if
we are almost ready to start."
"No, we can dispense with their services," agreed Mr. Roumann;
and, accordingly, Ned and Sam were paid off, and left, promising
to say nothing of the wonderful apparatus on which they had been
working.
The next week was a busy one.
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