velopment they vanished as
completely as a bubble of air coming to the surface of water, except
that they caused no ripple, leaving merely a small depression where
they had stood.

"Well," said Bearwarden, "in all my travels I never have seen anything
like this. If I were at a sleight-of-hand performance, and the
prestidigitateur, after doing that, asked for my theory, I should say,
'I give it up.' How is it with you, doctor?" he asked, addressing
Cortlandt.

"There must be an explanation," replied Cortlandt, "only we do not know
the natural law to which the phenomenon is subject, having had no
experience with it on earth. We know that all substances can be
converted into gases, and that all gases can be reduced to liquids, and
even solids, by the application of pressure and cold. If there is any
way by which the visible substance of these fungi can be converted into
its invisible gases, as water into oxygen and hydrogen, what we have
seen can be logically explained. Perhaps, favoured by some affinity of
the atmosphere, its constituent parts are broken up and become gases at
this barometric pressure and temperature. We must ask the spirit, if
he visits us again."

"I wish he would," said Ayrault; "there are lots of things I should
like to ask him."

"Presidents of corporations and other chairmen," said Bearwarden, "are
not usually superstitious, and I, of course, take no stock in the
supernatural; but somehow I have a well-formed idea that our friend the
bishop, with the great power of his mind over matter, had a hand in
that earthquake. He seems to have an exalted idea of our importance,
and may be exerting himself to make things pleasant."

At this point the sun sank below the horizon, and they found themselves
confronted with night.

"Dear, dear!" said Bearwarden, "and we haven't a crumb to eat. I'll
stand the drinks and the pipes," he continued, passing around his
ubiquitous flask and tobacco-pouch.

"If I played such pranks with my interior on earth," said Cortlandt,
helping himself to both, "as I do on this planet, it would give me no
end of trouble, but here I seem to have the digestion of an ostrich."

So they sat and smoked for an hour, till the stars twinkled and the
rings shone in their glory.

"Well," said Ayrault, finally, "since we have nothing but
motions to lay on the table, I move we adjourn."

"The only motion I shall make," said Cortlandt, who was already
undressed, "will be tha