“Either there is something wrong with the steering gear,” said Snythergen, “or there is some unusual weight behind that keeps heading the bow up by pulling the tail down. I can’t point her below that big star—the one that looks like a flaming doughnut.”
“You will have to keep her on the star then,” said Sancho, “for if anything is riding under the tail it isn’t safe for any of us to go back to see what it is.”
All night long Snythergen steered toward the blazing doughnut, which grew bigger and bigger, they were approaching it so rapidly.
“It must be some new planet floating very near the earth. Maybe we can land on it to-morrow,” said Snythergen to Squeaky, but the pig did not answer, nor even look up. He was rolled up in a tight ball, his head under his body, fast asleep.
“Some unusual weight behind that keeps heading the bow up by pulling the tail down”
By daylight the star seemed very near, but it no longer sparkled. Now it resembled a huge Christmas wreath, tied with a gorgeous bow of red silk ribbon which hung down in vast folds. Snythergen steered for the center of the hole, then turning and mounting to the top he made a landing along the shady side of a grove of pines. The jolt when they struck the ground wakened Squeaky, and glancing around he thought he saw a prowling shadow alight from the rear of the plane and disappear into the woods. The others looked but saw nothing.
“It looked like a bear,” said Squeaky with a shudder.