ter 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 Ay