t of dense elements, while the outer ones are
comparatively light."

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 the theories without
sufficient facts to substain 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.

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

"How are we going to dig it and get it back to earth?" asked another.

"Carry it in your pockets," said one.

"No need of staking claims here," remarked another. "There is enough for
everybody."

Mr. Edison suddenly turned the current of talk.

"What do you suppose those Martians were doing here?"

"Why, they were wrecked here."

"Not a bit of it," said Mr. Edison. "According to your own showing they
could not have been wrecked here. This planet hasn't gravitation enough
to wreck them by a fall, and besides I have been looking at their
machines and I know there has been a fight."

"A fight?" exclaimed several, pricking up their ears.

"Yes," said Mr. Edison. "Those machines bear the marks of the lightning
of the Martians. They have been disabled, but they are made of some
metal or some alloy of metals unknown to me, and consequently they have
withstood the destructive force applied to them, as our electric ships
were unable to withstand it. It is perfectly plain to me that they have
been disabled in a battle. The Martians must have been fighting among
themselves."

"About the gold!" exclaimed one.

"Of course. W