But how could it be stopped?
No one knew to whom the vehicle belonged, nor whence it came, nor whither it went.

It was seen but for an instant as it darted forward like a bullet in its dizzy flight.

How could one seize a cannon-ball in the air, as it leaped from the mouth of the gun?
I repeat, there was no evidence as to the character of the propelling engine.

It left behind it no smoke, no steam, no odor of gasoline, or any other oil.

It seemed probable, therefore, that the vehicle ran by electricity, and that its accumulators were of an unknown model, using some unknown fluid.
The public imagination, highly excited, readily accepted every sort of rumor about this mysterious automobile.