If it doesn't keep us away from the Sun it won't be much use to us in two or three hours." He left the engine-room and went back to the conning-tower.

Zaidie was still on her knees.

Beneath and around them the awful gulf of flame was broadening and deepening.

Mercury was rising higher and growing smaller.
He put the bottle down on the table and waited.

Then Zaidie looked up.
Her eyes were clear, and her face was perfectly calm.