vidently the planet was not a solid ball of gold, formed like a bullet
run in a mould, but was composed of nuggets of various sizes, which
had come together here under the influence of their mutual gravitation,
and formed a little metallic planet.

Judging by the test of weight which we had already tried, and which had
led to the discovery of the gold, the composition of the asteroid must
be the same to its very centre.

An Incredible Phenomenon.

In an assemblage of famous scientific men such as this the discovery of
course immediately led to questions as to the origin of this incredible
phenomenon.

How did these masses of gold come together? How did it chance that,
with the exception of the thin crust of the asteroid, nearly all its
substance was composed of the precious metal?

One asserted that it was quite impossible that there should be so much
gold at so great a distance from the sun.

"It is the general law," he said, "that the planets increase in density
toward the sun. There is every reason to think that the inner planets
possess the greater amount of dense elements, while the outer ones are
comparatively light."

Whence Came the Treasure?

But another referred to the old theory that there was once in this
part of the solar system a planet which had been burst in pieces by
some mysterious explosion, the fragments forming what we know as
the asteroids. In his opinion, this planet might have contained a
large quantity of gold, and in the course of ages the gold, having,
in consequence of its superior atomic weight, not being so widely
scattered by the explosion as some of the other elements of the planet,
had collected itself together in this body.

But I observed that Lord Kelvin and the other more distinguished men
of science said nothing during this discussion. The truly learned man
is the truly wise man. They were not going to set up theories without
sufficient facts to sustain them. The one fact that the gold was here
was all they had at present. Until they could learn more they were not
prepared to theorize as to how the gold got there.

And in truth, it must be confessed, the greater number of us really
cared less for the explanation of the wonderful fact than we did for
the fact itself.

Gold is a thing which may make its appearance anywhere and at any time
without offering any excuses or explanations.

Visions of Mighty Fortunes.

"Phew! Won't we be rich?" exclaimed a voice.

"