Roumann, so that more speed would develop.
Anxiously they watched the gages, to see if the motor did work
any faster.
"It's increasing!" cried Jack, as he watched the needle swing,
until it indicated a rate of one hundred and thirty miles a
second. "We are going faster than we ever went before."
"And we need to," observed Mr. Henderson. "A comet is a terrible
mass to escape from."
In spite of the increased speed of the projectile, it could not
be noticed by those within it. For all they could tell they were
stationary, but they were really flying through the ether at
enormous velocity. For over an hour the motor was worked at the
increased rate. Then, leaving the boys in charge for a few
minutes, Mr. Henderson went to the pilot house to ask Mr. Roumann
if there was any chance of escape. He met the German coming
toward the engine-room.
"Well?" inquired the professor.
"No, not well--bad," was the gloomy answer.
"Why so?"
"I can't force the Annihilator to one side or the other. I have
tried, time and again, to steer it away from the comet's head and
into the less dense part of the tail, but, so far, without
success.
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