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Ayrault； 〃when with your ideas we may arrive at something
definite；〃 saying which； he left the room。
〃He seems very cynical in his ideas of life and the world in
general；〃 said Secretary Stillman； 〃for a man of his age； and one
that is engaged。〃
〃You see；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃his fiancee is not yet a senior；
being in the class of two thousand and one at Vassar； and so
cannot marry him for a year。 Not till next June can this sweet
girl graduate come forth with her mortar…board and sheepskin to
enlighten the world and make him happy。 That is； I suspect； one
reason why he proposed this trip。〃
CHAPTER VII。
HARD AT WORK。
In a few moments Ayrault returned with pencils； a pair of
compasses； and paper。
〃Let us see； in the first place；〃 said Deepwaters； 〃how long the
journey will take。 Since a stone falls 16。09 feet the first
second； and 64＋ feet the next； it is easy to calculate at what
rate your speed would increase with the repulsion twice that of
the ordinary traction。 But I think this would be too slow。 It
will be best to treble or quadruple the apergetic charge； which
can easily be done； in which case your speed will exceed the
muzzle…velocity of a projectile from a long…range gun； in a few
seconds。 As the earth's repulsion decreases； the attraction of
mars and Jupiter will increase； and； there being no resistance；
your gait will become more and more rapid till it is necessary to
reverse the charge to avoid being dashed to pieces or being
consumed like a falling star by the friction in passing through
Jupiter's atmosphere。 You can be on the safe side by checking
your speed in advance。 You must； of course； be careful to avoid
collisions with meteors and asteroids but if you do； they will be
of use to you； for by attracting or repelling them you can change
your course to suit yourself； and also theirs in inverse ratio to
their masses。 Jupiter's moons will be like head and stern lines
in enabling you to choose the part of the surface on which you
wish to land。 With apergy it is as essential to have some heavy
body on which to work； within range； as to have water about a
ship's propellers。 Whether； when apergy is developed；
gravitation is temporarily annulled； or reversed like the late
attraction of a magnet when the current is changed； or whether it
is merely overpowered； in which case your motion will be the
resultant of the two； is an unsettled and not very important
point； for； though we know but little more of the nature of
electricity than was known a hundred years ago； this does not
prevent our producing and using it。〃
〃Jupiter； when in opposition；〃 he continued； 〃is about
380；000；000 miles from us； and it takes light； which travels at
the rate of 190；000 miles a second； just thirty…four minutes to
reach the earth from Jupiter。 If we suppose the average speed of
your ship to be one… five…hundredth as great； it will take you
just eleven days； nineteen hours and twenty minutes to make the
journey。 You will have a fine view of Mars and the asteroids；
and when 1；169；000 miles from Jupiter； will cross the orbit of
Callisto； the fifth moon in distance from the giant planet。 That
will be your best point to steer by。〃
〃I think；〃 said Ayrault； 〃as that will be the first member of
Jupiter's system we pass； and as it will guide us into port； it
would be a good name for our ship； and you must christen her if
we have her launched。〃
〃No； no；〃 said Deepwaters； 〃Miss Preston must do that； but we
certainly should have a launch； for you might have to land in the
water； and you must be sure the ship is tight。〃
〃Talking of tight ships；〃 said Bearwarden； passing a decanter of
claret to Stillman； 〃may remind us that it is time to splice the
'main brace。' There's a bottle of whisky and some water just
behind you；〃 he added to Deepwaters； 〃while three minutes after I
ring this bell；〃 he said； pressing a button and jerking a handle
marked '8；' 〃the champagne cocktails will be on the desk。〃
〃I see you know his ways；〃 said Stillman to Bearwarden； drooping
his eyes in Deepwaters's direction。
〃Oh； yes； I've been here before；〃 replied Deepwaters。 〃You see；
we navy men have to hustle now…a…days； and can't pass our time in
a high…backed chair； talking platitudes。〃
At this moment there was a slight rumbling； and eight champagne
cocktails； with the froth still on； and straws on a separate
plate； shot in and landed on a corner of the desk。
〃Help yourselves； gentlemen；〃 said Bearwarden； placing them on a
table； 〃I hope we shall find them cold。〃
〃Do you know；〃 said Deepwaters to Ayrault； while rapidly making
his cocktail disappear； 〃the Callisto's cost with its outfit will
be very great； especially if you use glucinum； which； though the
ideal metal for the purpose； comes pretty high？ I suggest that
you apply to Congress for an appropriation。 This experiment
comes under the 'Promotion of Science Act；' and any bill for it
would certainly pass。〃
〃No； indeed；〃 replied Ayrault； 〃the Callisto trip will be a
privilege and glory I would not miss； and building her will be a
part of it。 I shall put in everything conducive to success； but
will come to the Government only for advice。〃
〃I will send a letter to all our ambassadors and consuls；〃 said
Stillman； 〃to telegraph the department anything they may know or
learn that will be of use in adjusting the batteries； controlling
the machine； or anything else； and will turn over to you in a
succinct form all information that may be relevant； for without
such sorting you would be overwhelmed。〃
〃And I；〃 said Deepwaters； 〃will order the commanders of our
vessels to give you a farewell salute at starting； and to pick
you up in case you fail。 When you have demonstrated the
suitability of apergy；〃 he continued； 〃and the habitability of
Jupiter and Saturn；which； with their five and eight moons；
respectively； and rings thrown in； must both be vastly superior
to our little second…rate globewe will see what can be done
towards changing our orbit； and if we cannot swing a little
nearer to our new world or worlds。 Then we'll lower； or rather
raise； the boats in the shape of numerous Callistos； and have a
landing…party ready at each opposition； while a man or two can be
placed in charge of each projectile to bring it back in ballast。
Thus we may soon have regular interplanetary lines。〃
〃As every place seems to have been settled from some other；〃 said
Cortlandt； 〃I do not see why； with increased scientific
facilities； history should not repeat itself； and this be the
point from which to colonize the solar system； for； for the
present at least； it would seem that we could not get beyond
that。〃
〃As it will be quite an undertaking to change the orbit； said
Deepwaters； 〃we shall have time meanwhile to absorb or run out
all inferior races； so that we shall not make the mistake of
extending the Tower of Babel。〃
〃He is putting on his war…paint；〃 said Stillman； 〃and will soon
want a planet to himself。〃
〃I see no necessity for even changing the orbit；〃 said
Bearwarden； 〃except for the benefit of those that remain。 If
this attempt succeeds； it can doubtless be repeated。 An increase
in eccentricity would merely shorten the journey； if aphelion
always coincided with opposition； which it would not。〃
〃Let us know how you are getting on；〃 said Deepwaters to Ayrault；
〃and be sure you have the Callisto properly christened。 Step
lively there； landlubbers！〃 he called to Stillman； 〃I have an
appointment at Washington at one； and it is now twenty minutes
past twelve。 We can lunch on the way。〃
Ayrault immediately advertised for bids for the construction of a
glucinum cylinder twenty…five feet in diameter； fifteen feet high
at the sides； with a domed roof； bringing up the total height to
twenty…one feet； and with a small gutter about it to catch the
rain on Jupiter or any other planet they might visit。 The sides；
roof； and floor were to consist of two sheets； each one third of
an inch thick and six inches apart； the space between to be
filled with mineral wool； as a protection against the intense
cold of space。 There were also to be several keels and supports
underneath； on which the car should rest。 Large； toughened
plate…glass windows were to be let into the roof and sides； and
smaller ones in the floor； all to be furnished with thick shades
and curtains。 Ayrault also decided to have it divided into two
stories； with ceilings six and a half to seven and a half feet
high； respectively； with a sort of crow's nest or observatory at
the top； the floors to be lattice… work； like those in the
engine…room of a steamer； so that when the carpets were rolled up
they should not greatly obstruct the view。 The wide； flat base
and the low centre of gravity would； he saw； be of use in
withstanding the high winds that he knew often prevailed on
Jupiter。
As soon as possible he awarded the contract； and then entering
his smart electric trap； steered for Vassar University along what
was the old post…roadthough its builders would not have