"That is just the danger," commented Mr. Roumann. "We don't want to fall. We want our projectile under perfect control, and I can only attain that end by using the motor. Besides, we are not near enough to Mars to be attracted by its force of gravitation, even supposing it is the same as that of our earth. We might not be attracted at all, and if we did not use the motor we might float around the planet as if we were a moon. No, if we wish to reach Mars we must use the atmospheric motor." A few minutes later it was started, and the Annihilator was once more speeding along, this time under new power, and not quite so fast. All on board the projectile found themselves anticipating what they would see on the new and wonderful planet they were soon to visit. "It hardly seems possible," murmured Jack, "that we have made such a journey--the longest on record." "It will be more wonderful if we get back to earth," spoke Mark. "Oh, I don't know," went on his chum. "We may like it so on Mars, that we'll want to stay. And there isn't any reason why we shouldn't, provided we find nice people there. We haven't many friends, Mark. Our best ones are right here with us. We could just as well stay as not." "Yes, provided, as you say, that the Martians are nice people. But you must remember that we're going to be strangers in a strange land." "Well, one always treats strangers politely," declared Jack. "I guess we'll get along all right. Anyhow, I'm glad we're near there." "So am I," declared Mr. Henderson. "I will be able to make some scientific observations, and, perhaps, write a book about them when I get back to earth. I might make some money out of it." "You won't need to make money, if what I suspect is true," said Mr. Roumann. "What is that?" "Well, I can't go into details now, but I hope to secure something that will make our fortunes. There is only one thing I fear." "What is that?" "The Martians may prevent me taking any of it away. But I am not going to borrow trouble. Let us see how the motor is working." They had all gone, with the exception of Andy and Washington, to the pilot house, and they now returned to the engine-room. "Ha! That is rather strange!" exclaimed Mr. Roumann as he looked at the buzzing machinery. "What's the matter?" asked Mark. "The atmospheric motor is running much faster than I ever saw it go before. I wonder if that crazy machinist could have gotten loose and meddled with it?" "I'll look," volunteered Jack, but he soon ascertained that the man was still securely bound. The motor was humming and snapping away, and a gage connected with it showed that it was forcing the Annihilator along at the rate of two hundred miles a second. "That is faster even than we moved when the Etherium machine was working at its best," said Mr. Roumann with a puzzled look. "Can I have made a mistake in my calculations? I hardly think so."