"Yes, I have," spoke the German, with a sigh of satisfaction. "That is faster than mortal man ever travelled before, and I think no one will ever equal our speed. We have broken all records—even our own. Now I will slow down, but we must do it gradually, so as not to strain the machinery."
He slipped back the speed lever, notch by notch. The hand of the dial began receding, but it still marked one hundred and twenty miles a second.
Suddenly, above the roar and hum of the motor, there sounded the voice of Andy.
"Professor!" he shouted. "We're heading right toward a big, black stone! Is that the moon?"
"The moon? No, we are not half way there," said Mr. Henderson. "Are you sure, Andy?"
"Sure? Yes! I saw it from the window in the pilot-house. We are shooting right toward it."
"Look to the motor, and I'll see what it is," directed Mr. Henderson to his friend. Followed by the boys, he hurried to the steering tower. His worst fears were confirmed.
Speeding along with a swiftness unrivalled even by some stars, the projectile was lurching toward a great, black heavenly body. "It's a meteor! An immense meteor!" cried Professor Henderson, "and it's coming right toward us."
"Will it hit us?" gasped Mark and Jack together.
"I don't know. We must try to avoid it. Boys, notify Professor Roumann at once. We are in grave danger!"