Sometimes he speeded it up,
and again he slowed it down. He found he had the projectile
under perfect control. Once again he set the motor in motion,
approaching Mars at a fast rate.
They shot past another shining body.
"The second moon!" he called to the boys. "We are but sixteen
hundred miles away now."
"Get ready to land!" cried Jack. "All ashore that's going
ashore!"
"Maybe we'll land in the water," spoke Mark.
"No, I can so regulate the projectile that such a thing won't
happen," declared Mr. Roumann.
"I will send it ahead for a few seconds, and then see what
happens."
They sped forward. Suddenly there loomed up before them a great
mass. It seemed to be rushing to meet them. It looked something
like the earth, as seen from a balloon at a great height.
"Mars!" cried Mr. Roumann. "There is the planet we aimed for!
Mars at last!"
He reversed the motor. The motion of the projectile became less.
Nearer and nearer it approached the wonderful planet on which all
their thoughts were centered.
"But it isn't red!" objected Jack.
"Wait until night," said the German.
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