The Martians were hurrying their preparations to blow up the
projectile. Perhaps they guessed that they must act promptly, or
they may have had an intimation that something was going to
happen, when the ports of the electric cannons were closed.
The shutter of the observation tower was sealed, all openings
were well fastened, and, just as the mine was completed and the
explosive was about to be put in, Mr. Roumann started the
atmospheric motor, and the projectile left Mars with a rush.
Of course, the travelers could not see the blank looks of
astonishment on the great faces of the Martians, but they could
imagine them, as they shot away from the queer little planet at
the rate of sixty miles a second.
"Well," remarked Mr. Roumann as he went to the pilot house, after
seeing that the motor was working well, "we got to the place we
set out for, and we secured some Cardite, which is what I wanted.
I am now able to repay you for building this projectile,
Professor Henderson, you need never worry about money again."
"I'm glad of it, as I shall devote the remainder of my life to
science, and I may write a book about Mars.
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