The Centaurians
hour to pass the danger zone, yet not once did we think of turning back.
"Forward! forward!" always was the cry.
"We're too expert, it's got to be stronger to swamp us," Saxe. declared, and Sheldon has since expressed great faith in "Determination, grim determination." And during the trying time, possibly for the encouragement of everybody, including themselves, both aired very grand, lofty ideas about "will-vitality," etc. I listened admiringly, but gradually lost interest, and in spite of heroic efforts succumbed to a stupor of weariness. I was dulled, not unconscious, and distinctly saw Saxe., for all his high-faluting "will-vitality," turn livid as he slid from his seat. He was gasping, and limply moved his arms for assistance. For the life of me I could not move, seemed tied as in a nightmare. Sheldon flung the doors and windows wide, then rushed to Saxe.'s assistance, who had fainted for the first time in his life. The icy blast that swept through the car brushed the cobwebs from my brain and thoroughly chilled the treacherous lethargy from us all. But it took some time to recover from that "high air pressure," and we had considerable trouble with Saxe., who took to his bunk.
Saunders's predictions were correct, only reversed. He declared the atmosphere of the unknown circle to be charged with deadly gases (no atmosphere), but up to the danger line we would encounter brisk, icy winds. For upward of an hour we faced the "no atmosphere" problem, but within
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