"We're coming close to something," said Jack.
"We certainly are," admitted the scientist, with an anxious look
at the instrument.
"Maybe it's Mars," suggested Mark.
"No, it can't be that planet."
"What is it?" inquired Jack. "Look, the needle went all the way
around that time."
Mr. Roumann bent over the gauge. Then he consulted some charts of
the sky, and made a few calculations.
"Boys, I am afraid we're approaching a large comet," he said
gravely. "And, what is worse, it is attracting us toward itself.
We are in great danger!"
CHAPTER XIX
ESCAPING A COMET
The two boys looked at the German scientist. He was gazing, as if
fascinated, at the swiftly moving needle of the gage that had
told of the nearness of the comet.
"How far from it are we?" asked Jack.
"Many thousands of miles," replied Mr. Roumann. "But that
distance is nothing compared to the rate at which we are
traveling. We are almost certain to crash into it, or the comet
will collide with us."
"And when it does, what will happen?" inquired Mark quietly.
"That is hard to say," was the answer of the German.
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