“That was rather technical, wasn’t it, Billy? You see, I was talking to a technical man. Just between you and me, meteoric iron comes down from the sky, from what we call shooting stars. Sometimes large pieces are found. I suppose that much of it falls into the sea. It is the purest iron that has ever been found.”
“What about magnetic iron?” asked Dr. Crandon. “Where does that come from?”
“At the present time,” answered Mr. Prescott, “most of it comes from Sweden and Norway. It makes the best kind of steel.
“Ages ago, the first was found in Magnesia,” said Mr. Prescott casting a quick glance around the table.
“The people there found certain hard, black stones which would attract to themselves bits of iron and steel. So they named them magnets, from Magnesia, the place where the stones were found,” finished Mr. Prescott, with another look around the table.
“It’s of no use, Prescott,” said Dr. Crandon, “you needn’t look at us. We don’t any of us know even where to look for Magnesia. Don’t suppose we could find it even if we had a map.”
“I presume you remember, Crandon,” said Mr. Prescott, “the place that boasted that ancient wonder of the world, the Temple of Diana.”
“Ephesus!” said Dr. Crandon, quickly. “I do happen to know that Ephesus is in Asia Minor.”
“Then,” said Mr. Prescott, still keeping his face very grave, “I should strongly advise your finding Ephesus first. That’s in the near neighborhood of Magnesia.”
“Thank you,” said Dr. Crandon gravely. “Though I did not know where magnetic iron came from, I do happen to know that it is sometimes called ‘lode-stone.’