“That’s what I say!” Jill chimed in.
“There’s more here that I should like to look into,” the scientist said, with a brooding look on his face. “There are still many unsolved mysteries, such as how these great canals were built, and I’d like to be in on the discovery—if and when it’s ever made.”
“We can take Yank home with us to Virginia, can’t we?” Jill asked anxiously.
“I don’t see why not,” Dr. Kenton answered. “He seemed to adapt himself to our breathing mixture all right.”
Jill hugged the little Martian animal and got a grateful lick in return. Then the Kenton children took Randy aside and began telling him of the wonders of Earth that he would soon be able to see for himself.
“Wait until you enjoy the fun of a swim on a hot day!” Ted said.
“—And the cold air turning your nose red in the winter and the crunch of snow under your feet!” Jill put in.
“It sounds great,” Randy said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. “I think I’m going to like Earth.”
“I know you will,” Ted said earnestly. “There’s nothing as wonderful as Earth in all the universe!”
It looked as though Ted’s trip to Mars would turn out to be nothing more than a long visit. A few weeks from now he would be a traveler returning home to his beloved land. What wondrous stories he’d tell the kids back there of adventure on the mysterious red planet which hung in the deeps of everlasting night!