"Captain Brand," the Prince said as they stood in the bridge-room, "since the death of poor Captain Smith this morning, I believe you are the most skillful sunship officer in my organization. Hereafter you are in command of the Red Rover, with Harris and Vincent as your officers.
"We have a huge task before us. The victory we have won is but the first hand in the game that decides the fate of Earth."
CHAPTER V
The Triton's Treasure
"I must have at least two tons of vitalium," the Prince of Space told Bill, when the newspaperman came to the bridge of the Red Rover after twenty hours in the bunk. The Prince was pale and weak from loss of blood, but seemed to suffer no other ill effects from his encounter with the Martian.
"Two tons of vitalium!" Bill exclaimed. "A small demand! I doubt if there is that much on the market, if you had all the Confederation's treasury to buy it with."
"I must have it, and at once! I am going to fit out the Red Rover for a voyage to Mars. It will take that much vitalium for the batteries."
"We are going to Mars!"
"The only hope for humanity is for us to strike first and to strike hard!"