Through Space to Mars | Page 5

a time, the experiments of the professor, who decided to settle down to a
quiet life, and write out the observations he had made on the three voyages. The boys
wanted to get an education, and, investing their share from the sale of the diamonds, they
took up a course at the Universal Electrical and Chemical College. Each had an ambition
to become as great an inventor as was Professor Henderson, with whom they continued to
live in a small city on the Maine coast. Washington White and Andy Sudds also dwelt
with the professor, Andy going off on occasional hunting trips, and Washington acting as
a sort of body servant to Mr. Henderson.
Jack and Mark had completed one term at the college, and were in the midst of the
second when this story opens.
They had not lost their love for making queer voyages, and one of their greatest desires
was to help the professor turn out a craft even more wonderful than the Electric Monarch,
the Porpoise or the Flying Mermaid. It was in this connection that Jack was
experimenting on the new gas, when the slight accident happened.
"Are you going to try that again?" asked Mark, as he and his chum walked along to their
geometry class.
"Sure," replied Jack. "I want that to succeed. I know I am on the right track."
"You came near getting blown off the track," remarked his companion, which was as near
to a joke as he ever would come, for, though Jack was jolly and full of fun, Mark was
more serious, inclined to take a sterner view of life.
"Oh, I'll succeed yet!" exclaimed Jack. "And when I do--you'll see something--that's all."
"And feel it, too," added Mark, putting his hand on his head, the book having raised quite
a lump.

It was several days after this before the boys had the chance to work alone in the
laboratory again, and Jack had to promise not to try his experiment with the new gas
before this privilege was granted him.
"Want any help?" asked Dick Jenfer, another student, as he saw Jack and Mark enter the
laboratory.
"Yes, if you want to hold a test tube for me," answered Jack. "I'm going to try a new way
of making oxygen."
"No, thanks! Not for mine!" exclaimed Dick as he turned away. "I don't want to be
around when you try your new experiments. The old way of making oxygen is good
enough for me."
"Well, I have a new scheme," went on Jack.
Soon he and Mark, whom he had again induced to help him, were busy with test tubes,
rubber hose, Bunsen flames, jars of water, and all that is required to make oxygen.
Somewhat to his own surprise, the experiment Jack tried was a success. He collected a
jarful of oxygen, generated in a way he had thought out for himself. It was much simpler
than the usual method.
Just as he concluded the test, some one opened the laboratory door. It was Professor
Lenton.
"I have a telegram for you," he said.
"A telegram?"
"Yes. It just arrived."
Jack tore open the yellow envelope.
"It's from Professor Henderson," he said.
"Is anything the matter?" asked Mark.
"I don't know," answered Jack. "It says: 'Come home at once.' I wonder what's wrong?"
"I hope nothing serious," said Professor Lenton.
"You may both prepare to leave this afternoon. I am sorry. Let me hear from you when
you reach Professor Henderson. I trust nothing has happened to him. He is too great a
scientist for us to lose."

CHAPTER III

WASHINGTON MEETS THE BOYS
All thoughts of experiments were driven from the minds of Jack and Mark by the
telegram. They imagined that something had happened to their old friend, and it worried
them. If he was dangerously hurt, as might be, for he was constantly experimenting in a
small way, it would mean that a great change must take place in their lives.
"What do you suppose can have happened?" asked Mark, as he and Jack went to their
rooms to get ready to leave the college.
"I haven't the least idea. Maybe he wants us to go on another trip."
Mark finished packing, and Jack was not far behind him. Then the lads went to the
railroad station, where they purchased tickets for home and were soon on a train. On the
journey they could not help but refer occasionally to the telegram, though Jack kept
insisting that nothing so serious had happened. Mark was not quite in such good spirits.
"Well, here we are," announced Jack, about three hours later, as the train pulled into a
small station. "And there's Washington on the platform waiting for us."
Jack hurried out of the car, followed