There was a trembling to the great projectile. Up rose her sharp-pointed bow. She swayed slightly in the air. The trembling increased. The great Cardite motor hummed and throbbed. There was a crackling as from a wireless apparatus.
Then, with a rush and a roar, the big steel car, resembling an enormous cigar, soared away from the earth, like some gigantic piece of fireworks, and shot toward the sky.
"We're off!" shouted Mark.
"For the moon!" added Jack.
And the Annihilator soared upward and onward, while those in her never dreamed of the fearful adventures that were to befall them ere they would again be headed toward the earth.
CHAPTER XV
THE SHANGHAI MAKES TROUBLE
Remaining in the engine room long enough to see that all the motors and apparatus were working smoothly, Professor Henderson made his way to the pilot house forward, where Mark and Jack were in charge of the steering gears. The projectile could be started and stopped from there, as well as from the engine room, once the motor was set going.
"Well, boys, how does it feel to be in space once more?" asked the scientist.
"Fine," answered Mark. "But while I was shut up in that old house I feared I'd never have this chance again."