The Moon Metal | Page 7

the people have learned to value it,
and the governments have put their stamp upon it."
"True, but how did you arrive at the proper moment?"
"Easily. I first ascertained that before the Antarctic discoveries the
world contained altogether about 16,000 tons of gold, valued at
$450,000 per ton, or $7,200,000,000 worth all told. Now my metal
weighs, bulk for bulk, one-quarter as much as gold. It might be
reckoned at the same intrinsic value per ton, but I have considered it
preferable to take advantage of the smaller weight of the new metal,
which permits us to make coins of the same size as the old ones, but
only one-quarter as heavy, by giving to artemisium four times the value
per ton that gold had. Thus only 4000 tons of the new metal are
required to supply the place of the 16,000 tons of gold. The 2500 tons
which I already have on hand are more than enough for coinage. The
rest I can supply as fast as needed."
The party did not wait for further explanations. They were eager to see
the wonderful mine and the store of treasure. Spurs were applied, and
they galloped down the steep trail, forded the Snake River, and, skirting
the shore of Jenny's Lake, soon found themselves gazing up the
headlong slopes and dizzy parapets of the Grand Teton. Dr. Syx led
them by a steep ascent to the mouth of the canyon, above one of whose
walls stood his mill, and where the "Champ! Champ!" of a powerful
engine saluted their ears.

IV

THE WEALTH OF THE WORLD
An electric light shot its penetrating rays into a gallery cut through
virgin rock and running straight towards the heart of the Teton. The
centre of the gallery was occupied by a narrow railway, on which a few
flat cars, propelled by electric power, passed to and fro. Black-skinned
and silent workmen rode on the cars, both when they came laden with
broken masses of rock from the farther end of the tunnel and when they
returned empty.
Suddenly, to an eye situated a little way within the gallery, appeared at
the entrance the dark face of Dr. Syx, wearing its most discomposing
smile, and a moment later the broader countenance of President Boon
loomed in the electric glare beside the doctor's black framework of
eyebrows and mustache. Behind them were grouped the other visiting
financiers.
"This tunnel," said Dr. Syx, "leads to the mine head, where the
ore-bearing rock is blasted."
As he spoke a hollow roar issued from the depths of the mountain,
followed in a short time by a gust of foul air.
"You probably will not care to go in there," said the doctor, "and, in
fact, it is very uncomfortable. But we shall follow the next car-load to
the smelter, and you can witness the reduction of the ore."
Accordingly when another car came rumbling out of the tunnel, with its
load of cracked rock, they all accompanied it into an adjoining
apartment, where it was cast into a metallic shute, through which, they
were informed, it reached the furnace.
"While it is melting," explained Dr. Syx, "certain elements, the nature
of which I must beg to keep secret, are mixed with the ore, causing
chemical action which results in the extraction of the metal. Now let
me show you pure artemisium issuing from the furnace."
He led the visitors through two apartments into a third, one side of

which was walled by the front of a furnace. From this projected two or
three small spouts, and iridescent streams of molten metal fell from the
spouts into earthen receptacles from which the blazing liquid was led,
like flowing iron, into a system of molds, where it was allowed to cool
and harden.
The financiers looked on wondering, and their astonishment grew when
they were conducted into the rock-cut store-rooms beneath, where they
saw metallic ingots glowing like gigantic opals in the light which Dr.
Syx turned on. They were piled in rows along the walls as high as a
man could reach. A very brief inspection sufficed to convince the
visitors that Dr. Syx was able to perform all that he promised. Although
they had not penetrated the secret of his process of reducing the ore, yet
they had seen the metal flowing from the furnace, and the piles of
ingots proved conclusively that he had uttered no vain boast when he
said he could give the world a new coinage.
But President Boon, being himself a metallurgist, desired to inspect the
mysterious ore a little more closely. Possibly he was thinking that if
another mine was destined to be discovered he might as well be the
discoverer as anybody. Dr. Syx attempted no concealment, but his
smile became