to make a deal for just about anything: horses, mules,

they opened a large window and let down a ladder, on which the

spirit ascended at their invitation.

Bearwarden and Ayrault immediately set about combining the

chemicals that were to produce the force necessary to repel them

from Saturn. Bubbles of hydrogen were given off from the lead

and zinc plates, and the viscous primary batteries quickly had

the wires passing through a vacuum at a white heat.

"I see you are nearly ready to start," said the spirit, "so I