"Did any one of you open this?" he asked suddenly.
"I didn't," replied Jack. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I was sure I closed and locked it from the inside early
this morning," was the answer. "Washington, did you open it when
you put your rooster in there?"
"No, sah. I went in de inside way. I didn't tetch it."
"That's very strange," murmured Mr. Roumann, as he locked the
port, and each one, in turn, had denied meddling with it. "I was
sure I locked it."
The matter appeared to give him a little uneasiness, but, as he
had much to do to get the projectile ready for the flight, he had
to leave the solution of the matter until another time.
The great doors of the machine shed were thrown open. They were
designed to allow such large bodies as airships to pass out, as
Professor Henderson had, in years previous, constructed a number
of aeroplanes and dirigible balloons. So there would be no
trouble in speeding the projectile directly out of the shop.
The great question, now that all was finished, was whether or not
the projectile would move, and in the manner and with the speed
necessary to get to Mars.
Pages:
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116