"This is
automatically kept pointed at Mars, and by means of a hand and
dial I can tell how to keep the Annihilator aimed directly at the
red planet."
"Even when it is on the opposite side of the earth from us?"
asked Jack.
"We are now far above the earth," was the answer, "and the planet
on which we lived offers no obstruction to my telescope being
pointed at Mars, even though it is daytime, when Mars is on the
opposite side of the earth."
"Have we traveled as far as that?" asked Jack in awestruck tones.
"We have come just thirty thousand miles since leaving the
earth," replied Mr. Roumann.
"But we don't seem to be moving at all," objected Mark.
"That is because we are shooting through space so fast, and
because you can see no stationary objects with which to make a
comparison, as when you are traveling on a railroad train,"
continued the German. "And, as we are not dependent on tracks,
or roads, with their unevenness, there is no motion to our
projectile, save that of moving through space. That is why it
seems as if we were standing still."
"But thirty thousand miles!" cried Jack.
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