for, as I
have no means ad hand do illusdrade id. Ids sdrength is as wonderful as
ids lighdness, being--zo var as I have had obbordunidy do desd id--
exactly one hundred dimes thad of the besd sdeel."

"If that be the case, professor, then I should say you have solved the
problem of aerial navigation," remarked the colonel. "But you spoke of
having also discovered a new power. What is it?"

The professor once more instituted a search in his pockets, and at
length produced a small paper packet, which, on being opened, was found
to contain about a table-spoonful of green metallic-looking crystals.

"There id is," he said, handing the packet to the colonel for
inspection.

"Um!" ejaculated the colonel, turning the crystals over slowly with his
finger. "Quite new to me; I don't recognise them at all. And what is
the nature of the power derivable from these crystals?"

"Dreated in one way they give off elegdricidy; dreated in another way
they yield an exbansive gas, which may be subsdiduded for either
gunbowder or sdeam," answered the professor.

"Are they explosive, then?" asked the colonel.

"Nod in their bresend form. You mighd doss all those crysdals indo the
fire with imbunidy; but bowder them and mix indo a baste with a zerdain
acid, and whad you now hold in your hand would develop exblosive bower
enough to demolish this building," was the quiet reply.

The professor's little audience looked at him incredulously; a look to
which he responded by saying:

"Id is quide drue, I assure you," in such convincing tones as left no
room for further doubt. They knew the professor well; knew him to be
quite incapable of the slightest attempt at deception or exaggeration.

"Then, if I have understood you aright, you will construct your aerial
ship of your new metal, and apply your new power to give motion to her
machinery?" said the colonel.

"Yes. Thad is do say, I _would_ if I bossessed the means do build such
a ship as I have described. Bud I am a scientist, and therefore boor.
Never mind; I have no doubt thad, when I make my discoveries known, I
shall find some wealthy man who, for the sake of science, will find der
money," said the professor hopefully.

"How much would it cost to build an aerial ship such as you have been
speaking of?" asked the baronet.

"Oh! I cannod say. Nod zo very much. Berhabs a hundred thousandt
bounds," was the reply.

"Phew! That's rather `steep,' as the Yankees say. But