Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/146

134 atmosphere of Neptune, and were safe for the time being.

They now cruised leisurely on over Neptune, Celia carefully explaining to Alec every object of interest they passed over. When they were low enough the hatches were opened, and he went up on to the outer deck, so that he could breathe the fresh air of Neptune. In a few days they passed over the capital, and the Mermaid was let down on to the ground in one of the suburbs, in a kind of park that belonged to Herbert Eastland.

'Safe at last!' he muttered; 'but it was a risky voyage. I won't try it again when there is such hot fighting going on.'

Alec was not yet able to walk much, so he was put into a chair, which was let down over the ship's side, and carried into the house under the directions of Celia. As health and strength returned, he began to experience a slight remorse for what he had done, and to think of the absent Flora, to whom he had plighted his troth.