This is getting serious." He went back to the compass.

The long, slender needle was slowly swinging farther and farther out of the middle line of the vessel.
"There can only be two explanations of that," he went on, thrusting his hands deep into his trousers pockets; "either the engines are not working properly, or some enormous and invisible body is pulling us towards it out of our course.

Let's have a look at the engines first." When he reached the engine-room he said to Murgatroyd, who was indulging in his usual pastime of cleaning and polishing his beloved charges: "Have you noticed anything wrong during the last hour or so, Murgatroyd ?" "No, my Lord; at least not so far as concerns the engines.

They're all right.

Hark, now, they're not making more noise than a lady's sewing machine," replied the old Yorkshireman, with a note of resentment in his voice.