A Plunge Into Space
Robert Cromie
TO
JULES VERNE,
To whom I am indebted for many delightful and marvellous excursions—notably, a voyage from the earth to the moon, a trip twenty thousand leagues under the sea and a journey round the world in eighty days—and who, in return, has now courteously consented to accompany me to the planet Mars, at the rate of fifty thousand miles a minute,
I DEDICATE THIS BOOK
ROBERT CROMIE.
Belfast,
February, 1891.
TO
MY ENGLISH READERS,
especially to those who have followed me on my far journeys, I have pleasure in introducing a pupil. With him I have just made a voyage, weird and wild. He pointed out many interesting things on the way. For myself, I should perhaps, have preferred more details, more facts and figures in connection with the stupendous phenomena we encountered. But the pace at which we travelled was not favourable to minute inquiry—one does not reckon the wavelets when one estimates the strength of tides.
With this brief introduction I must leave the voyage in the Steel Globe to those who choose to make it. Certainly, it is a “terrible venture,” but they need not fear ; their guide is skilful and bold. They may trust themselves in his hands. He will serve them well.
JULES VERNE
Amiens.
