"I can't say, I'm sure," replied Barbican, somewhat piqued at the little attention he had secured for his theory.
"Well, what are you thinking of?" asked M'Nicholl.
"Spillikins!" answered Ardan triumphantly.
"Spillikins?" cried his companions, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, Spillikins! These rocks, these blocks, these peaks, these streaks, these cones, these cracks, these ramparts, these escarpments,--what are they but a set of spillikins, though I acknowledge on a grand scale? I wish I had a little hook to pull them one by one!"
[Illustration: AN IMMENSE BATTLEFIELD.]
"Oh, do be serious, Ardan!" cried Barbican, a little impatiently.
"Certainly," replied Ardan. "Let us be serious, Captain, since seriousness best befits the subject in hand. What do you think of another comparison? Does no
