eat suns,
scattered in all directions in the sky! Slowing down abruptly as the
planet was approached, Seaton dropped the vessel slowly through the
atmosphere, while Crane and DuQuesne tested and analyzed it.

"Pressure, thirty pounds per square inch. Surface gravity as compared to
that of the Earth, two-fifths. Air-pressure about double that of the
Earth, while a five-pound weight weighs only two pounds. A peculiar
combination," reported Crane, and DuQuesne added:

"Analysis about the same as our air except for two and three-tenths per
cent of a gas that isn't poisonous and which has a peculiar, fragrant
odor. I can't analyze it and think it probably an element unknown upon
Earth, or at least very rare."

"It would have to be rare if you don't know what it is," acknowledged
Seaton, locking the Skylark in place and going over to smell the strange
gas.

Deciding that the air was satisfactory, the pressure inside the vessel
was slowly raised to the value of that outside and two doors were
opened, to allow the new atmosphere free circulation.

Seaton shut off the power actuating the repeller and let the vessel
settle slowly toward the ocean which was directly beneath them--an ocean
of a deep, intense, wondrously beautiful blue, which the scientists
studied with interest. Arrived at the surface, Seaton moistened a rod in
a wave, and tasted it cautiously, then uttered a yell of joy--a yell
broken off abruptly as he heard the sound of his own voice. Both girls
started as the vibrations set up in the dense air smote upon their
eardrums. Seaton moderated his voice and continued:

"I forgot about the air-pressure. But hurrah for this ocean--it's
ammoniacal copper sulphate solution! We can sure get all the copper we
want, right here, but it would take weeks to evaporate the water and
recover the metal. We can probably get it easier ashore. Let's go!"

They started off just above the surface of the ocean toward the nearest
continent, which they had observed from the air.

CHAPTER XIII

Nalboon of Mardonale

As the Skylark approached the shore, its occupants heard a rapid
succession of heavy detonations, apparently coming from the direction in
which they were traveling.

"Wonder what that racket is?" asked Seaton.

"It sounds like big guns," said Crane, and DuQuesne nodded agreement.

"Big guns is right. They're shooting high explosive shells, too, or I
never heard any. Even allowing for the density of the ai