The rudder arrangement appears to be affected by the
comet and will not work."
"What can we do?"
"Nothing, unless, perhaps, we can get a little more speed out of
the motor. The rudder might work then."
They tried, but without success. Not a bit more speed could the
Etherium machine be induced to give out. Indeed, Mr. Roumann
admitted that it was working faster than he had ever expected it
would.
"I'll go back and make one more attempt to steer out of the way,"
he said.
He was gone for perhaps ten minutes. In that time Mr. Henderson,
aided by Jack and Mark, tried to adjust the motor differently,
but unavailingly. Mr. Roumann came hurrying back from the pilot
house.
"It's of no use!" he exclaimed. "We are heading right toward the
point of the comet. We must prepare for the worst!"
There was silence for a moment. It was an awful fate to meet,
and they realized it. Then Washington White, looking into the
engine-room from his kitchen, exclaimed:
"Now, don't yo' all go t' worryin' 'bout dat ole comet. It can't
hurt us, an' we'll knock it into smithereens!"
"You talk that way because you know nothing of comets," said Mr.
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