"They are. But here comes Tom now. He looks as though something new was about to happen."
"Take care of yourselves now," advised the young aero-inventor, as he entered the cabin, finding it hard work to close the door against the terrific wind pressure.
"Why?" asked Ned.
"Because we are going to turn around and fight our way back against the gale. We may be turned topsy-turvy for a second or two."
"Bless my shoe-horn!" cried Mr. Damon. "Do you mean upside down, Tom?"
"No, not that exactly. But watch out!"
Tom went forward to the pilot-house, followed by Ned and the lieutenant. The latter wanted to take official note of what happened. Tom relieved the man at the wheel, and gradually began to alter the direction of the craft.
At first no change was noticeable. So strong was the force of the wind that it seemed as though the Mars was going in the same direction. But Ned, noticing a direction compass on the wall, saw that the needle was gradually shifting.
"Hold fast!" cried Tom suddenly. Then with a quick shift of the rudder something happened. It seemed as though the Mars was trying to turn over, and slide along on her side, or as if she wanted to turn about and scud before the gale, instead of facing it. But Tom held her to the reverse course.
"Can you get her around?" cried the lieutenant above the roar of the gale.