“Can’t we go back and lick their army for you or something?” asked Taggert, looking at the princess in vast admiration.
“Our zealous companion possesses more enthusiasm than discretion,” said Professor Palmer, at which they all laughed.
Reaching a height of about a thousand feet, Robert started the Sphere toward the region of the planet’s north pole, having taken his direction from the slowly rising Phobus in the west after consultation with Professor Palmer and Zola’s father.
Taggert volunteering his culinary services, they all indulged in a light repast of canned salmon, fresh baked biscuits, in which Taggert excelled, jelly and tea.
The distance from their previous position just south of the equator being roughly 3,500 miles from the northern pole, Robert estimated that they could easily reach Zola’s country within six hours. However, as it would be more convenient as well as interesting to arrive after dawn he did not push the Sphere. Their royal passengers were greatly interested in its mysteries, and far into the night Robert explained the intricacies of the wonderful machine to Zola and her father. Finally, however, they accepted Robert’s invitation to rest a few hours in one of the small rooms adjoining the main chamber, upon his promise to awaken them at dawn.
Shortly after they had retired, the gyrostats developed an overheated bearing, with the result that Robert was obliged to descend to a convenient expanse of desert to safely correct the trouble.
The remedy proved more difficult than expected and dawn was almost upon them by the time the Sphere was again ready for flight. Thereupon Robert decided to call their guests before taking flight.
The princess, in some manner unknown to most women, appeared looking fresh and lovely as she stepped from the Sphere out into the rosy flush of the new dawn.
“Oh, it’s so good to get out into the open once more, and to know that we are free,” she cried. “It seems ages since we were made prisoners by that frightful usurper. How can we ever thank you enough?”
“Ah, princess, your happiness more than repays me,” replied Robert, who found himself strolling beside her.