Page:Weird Tales volume 30 number 06.djvu/84

734 mass of Jupiter. At the command of their captain the cover was tilted a little to shut out somewhat the direct pull of Jupiter.

The Neutralia, as though tired after its long voyage, sank down slowly toward the rapidly moving moon. All going well, their paths would soon intersect. Absorbed in watching this satellite, the watchers for a little overlooked the fact that Jupiter had other moons to reckon with. It was Kobloth who first reminded them of their oversight.

"Another moon!" he shouted excitedly, pointing to a side window. "It is coming direct for us—we shall be run down!"

With one hasty glance at the approaching menace, Carscadden leapt to the wheel. Every breath was held as the scientist swung the cover, and it never seemed to move so slowly; for each had seen that the Neutralia, dropping now but slowly, was almost directly in the path of this rushing peril. Obviously the satellite would overtake the globe unless it could be moved quickly aside from its present path. Was this to be the end?—to be shattered to fragments by a chance collision with this passing moon? Gradually, under their captain's expert handling, the Neutralia came to a standstill, and hung poised in space awaiting the fateful moment. Nearer and nearer rushed the satellite, bulking dark and enormous as it came for them.

"It may miss us," said Kobloth in a low voice, and his face was drawn and haggard.

"I have done all I can do," muttered Carscadden. "We are now isolated from all attraction save that of Jupiter, and we shall begin to fall toward it again directly the satellite has passed—if we live to see it," he whispered under his breath.

came the hurtling black globe, so near that the men, fearfully watching it, braced themselves for the final second of dissolution. Plunging them into darkness, it hid Jupiter from their view as it passed, and then—light! They lived! The moon had rushed past, though the clearance could not have been expressed in distance; it was a matter of split seconds only.

"That was worse than the Martian spiders!" exclaimed old Flint, wiping the perspiration from his forehead.

"I'm not stuck on another such stunt as that, myself!" agreed big Burgoyne with the deepest conviction.

The landing on the inner satellite was comparatively easy, and they grounded safely on its western edge, where both Jupiter and the distant sun were visible. But there was no landing on that little world for the disappointed voyagers, the test-tubes showing no trace of atmosphere.

"There is no air whatever on this little world—at least none that our tubes can detect. We shall have to remain inside while we do it," announced their captain.

"Do what?" asked Kobloth.

"Make the circuit round Jupiter. We shall have to travel rather slowly; for the cover will need some very fine adjustment to hold our position as we make the circuit," explained the scientist.

"And after that?" queried Burgoyne.

"After that we must try and return to our own planet. I say 'try' because it will be a very difficult task—in fact, a pure gamble. It is only right that you should all be aware of that fact," replied Carscadden gravely.

"You have navigated us safely so far, Aylmer, and I'll put my last cent on your making it. Now I think I'll take a snooze. I haven't had a real nap since you were bowled over. Is there anything