The enormous rate at which it grew in size, showed the terrible velocity at which it was approaching.
You can hardly imagine the situation of our poor travellers at the sight of this frightful apparition.

I shall certainly not attempt to describe it.

In spite of their singular courage, wonderful coolness, extraordinary fortitude, they were now breathless, motionless, almost helpless; their muscles were tightened to their utmost tension; their eyes stared out of their sockets; their faces were petrified with horror.

No wonder.

Their Projectile, whose course they were powerless as children to guide, was making straight for this fiery mass, whose glare in a few seconds had become more blinding than the open vent of a reverberating furnace.