Then a swiftly broadening gleam of light shot out from behind the black circle of Mercury.

The first crisis had come.
Redgrave put out his hand to the signal-board and rang for full power.
The planet seemed to swing round as the _Astronef_ rushed into the blaze.

In a few minutes it passed through the phases from "new" to "full." Venus became eclipsed in turn as they swung between Mercury and the Sun, and then Redgrave, after a rapid glance to either side, said: "If we can only keep the two pulls balanced we shall do it.

That will keep us in a straight line, and our own momentum ought to carry us into the Earth's attraction." Zaidie did not reply.

She was shading her eyes with her hand from the almost intolerable brilliance of the Sun's rays, and looking straight ahead to catch the first glimpse of the silver-grey orb.