“Then you really think we may go on forever?” asked Desmond in horror.
“I don’t know. I certainly think it is as likely as not.”
“Oh God,” Desmond muttered between his clenched teeth.
“Come, dear,” said Mavis bravely. “We ought to be thankful that the promptitude of Uncle John and Masters saved us from an awful death below.”
“Are you sure it was ‘down below’?” asked Alan quizzically.
“Why, of course,” Mavis began. Then she stopped. “Oh I don’t know. That is all so strange and puzzling.”
“Now, Masters,” said Sir John. “What were you going to do?”
“I was going to release the shutters from the bow. I can close the patent traps, and leave the ether protection all round the ship,” he explained to the others. “But it is possible to leave a small portion of the glass in the bows, exposed, through which we shall be able to see the course we are taking.”
“I think it’s worth making the experiment,” said Sir John, and they all followed him into the comfortable front cabin.
“Now if you see the slightest sign of danger, ’phone me,” said Masters, who was going into the lever room.