"I know I am but I'm not dreaming any more than you were just now when you saw Napoleon and his army crossing the Alps. Besides who can forecast the achievements of science? Why, man who was nothing but a savage yesterday is just getting a start in the world! Who can tell what he'll be doing a million years from now? Think of going on, and on in the void, and maybe arriving on Venus or Mars!"
"In that case we'll find out whether that Mars canal story is true or not."
Lannes laughed.
"I come back to earth," he said, "or rather I come back to a point a safe distance above it. How's our storm making out?"
"It seems to be moving westward."
"And we're flying fast toward the north. We'll soon part company with the storm, and then we'll drop lower. But John, you must take the glasses and watch the skies all the time."
"Which means that we'll fly near the French border, and that I've got to be on the lookout for the Taubes and the dirigibles."
"And he guessed right the very first time. That's more of your American slang. Yes, John, the hosts of the air are abroad, and we must not have another encounter with the Germans. Before night we'll be approaching the battle lines, and the air will be full of scouts. Perhaps it will be better to do the rest of our traveling at night. We might drop down in a wood somewhere, and wait for the twilight."
"That's true Philip, but there's one question I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead."