nspection and trial that there is neither trickery
nor self-delusion on his part. We can make some trial trips, and gain
experience before we attempt to leave the world."

"If you take my advice you will keep to the earth altogether."

"Surely, if we can ascend into the higher regions of the atmosphere, we
can traverse empty space. You would have me stop within sight of the
goal. The end of travel is to reach the other planets."

"Why not say the fixed stars when you are about it?"

"That's impossible."

"On the contrary, with a vessel large enough to contain the necessaries
of life, a select party of ladies and gentlemen might start for the
Milky Way, and if all went right, their descendants would arrive there
in the course of a few million years."

"Rather a long journey, I'm afraid."

"What would you have? A million years quotha! nay, not so much. It
depends on the speed and the direction taken. If they were able to
cover, say, the distance from Liverpool to New York in a tenth of a
second, they would get to Alpha in the constellation Centaur, perhaps
the nearest of the fixed stars, in twenty or thirty years--a mere
bagatelle. But why should we stop there?" went on Gazen. "Why should we
not build large vessels for the navigation of the ether--artificial
planets in fact--and go cruising about in space, from universe to
universe, on a celestial Cook's excursion--"

"We are doing that now, I believe."

"Yes, but in tow of the Sun. Not at our own sweet will, like gipsies in
a caravan. Independent, free of rent and taxes, these hollow planetoids
would serve for schools, hotels, dwelling-houses--"

"And lunatic asylums."

"They would relieve the surplus population of the globe," continued
Gazen, warming to his theme. "It is an idea of the first political
importance--especially to British statesmen. The Empire is only in its
infancy. With a fleet of ethereal gunboats we might colonise the solar
system, and annex the stars. What a stroke of business!"

"Another illusion gone," I observed "Think of Manchester cotton in the
Pleiades! Of Scotch whiskey in Orion! However, I am afraid your policy
would lead to international complications. The French would set up a
claim for 'Ancient Lights.' The Germans would discover a nebulous
Hinterland under their protection. The Americans would protest in the
name of the Monroe Doctrine. It is necessary to be modest. Let us return
to our muttons."

"Everybody will be able to