Even now the total interruption of the action of apergy for a considerable time would not affect the rate at which I was already moving.

It was possible, however, that if the current had been hitherto wholly intercepted by the Earth, it might take so long a time in reaching the Sun that the interval between the movement of the helm and the response of the Astronaut's course thereto might afford some indication of the time occupied by the current in traversing the 96-1/2 millions of miles which parted me from the Sun.

My hope, however, was wholly disappointed.

I could neither be sure that the action was instantaneous, nor that it was otherwise.
At the close of the third day I had gained, as was indicated by the instruments, something more than two millions of miles in a direct line from the Sun; and for the future I might, and did, reckon on a steady progress of about one and a quarter million miles daily under the apergic force alone--a gain in a line directly outward from the Sun of about one million.

Henceforward I shall not record my observations, except where they implied an unexpected or altered result.
On the sixth day, I perceived another nebula, and on this occasion in a more promising direction.