whispered, “If any creatures are aboard, they’re either asleep or keeping quiet to avoid detection.”
Ned agreed. “And we’d better watch our step so we don’t run into any surprises.”
He and Nancy sloshed through the swamp, shining their powerful searchlights on the mysterious craft. They walked around it, but saw no windows or doors.
“How does anybody get in or out of this saucer?” Ned asked. “It seems to be sealed up tight.”
Nancy suggested that perhaps no one was aboard. “The craft may be operated by remote control,” she said.
“Just the same,” Ned remarked, “I’d like to go inside. Who knows what we’d find—maybe someone dead!”
Nancy was as curious as her companion to find out. “Let’s pound on the hull,” she said. “Maybe we’ll get a response.”
10
Space Trip
The rain had started to fall again and within seconds was coming down in torrents. Nancy and Ned, however, paid little attention to the deluge as they pounded on the flying saucer. Though they knocked until their knuckles were sore, no response came from the interior of the mysterious craft.
Finally Ned remarked, “Maybe we ought to try communicating by mathematical signals. Suppose I try a few that I’ve learned in my courses.”
He took a key from his pocket and tapped it against the spaceship. First he indicated a simple triangle. There was no response. Next he tried a more complicated geometric formula. Again there was no answer.
Nancy was astounded that although the hull seemed to be made of metal, Ned’s tapping made no metallic sound.
That’s strange, she thought, and mentioned it to Ned.
“You’re right,” he agreed. “This ship has some kind of soundproof shell. Even if there’s an intelligent being inside, it probably cannot hear my signals.”
Wondering what the ship was made of, Ned tried to scrape the surface with his key. He was unable to chip off anything.
“This is incredible!” he exclaimed. “I’d like to know what kind of outer material this is. Possibly some substance from a distant planet.”
He sighed, regretting he had not brought chemicals and testing equipment with him.
“Even if we could get in touch with some scientists nearby, they might not be able to reach here before the saucer takes off again.”
He and Nancy speculated on the spaceship’s source of energy.
“Whether it’s programmed or remote-controlled,” she remarked, “I’m inclined to think the ship is solar-powered. Perhaps the reason it’s stuck here in the swamp is that we’ve had so much cloudy and rainy weather. The saucer may not have stored up enough solar energy to lift itself off the ground and back up into the air.”
Ned said he wondered if the swamp itself exuded special gas that gave the ship buoyancy. “It smells bad enough around here to launch anything.” He grinned. “I hope you and I don’t suddenly take off!”
She laughed. “In this mud? No chance.”
Suddenly aware that they were standing in a deep quagmire of mud and water, Ned asked Nancy if she were ready to go back to camp.
“Are you kidding?” she replied. “I want to see what happens! Whoever or whatever controls the ship may decide to leave suddenly.”
“In that case,” Ned said, “why don’t we get those chocolate nut bars out of our saddlebags?”
“Good idea,” Nancy agreed.
First, they retethered the animals so they could reach down to nibble on grass and roots, and even sleep until the couple was ready to leave. They removed their rations from the saddlebags and returned to the flying saucer where they ate the chocolate bars.
“Amazing how satisfying one large piece of candy can be,” Nancy commented, leaning against the ship. She yawned.
“I feel better too,” Ned remarked sleepily.
Suddenly Nancy felt the spaceship vibrate. She was startled and noticed a side door opening slowly. A mechanical hand reached outside and beckoned her and Ned to come aboard.
“Shall we go?” she
Ned agreed. “And we’d better watch our step so we don’t run into any surprises.”
He and Nancy sloshed through the swamp, shining their powerful searchlights on the mysterious craft. They walked around it, but saw no windows or doors.
“How does anybody get in or out of this saucer?” Ned asked. “It seems to be sealed up tight.”
Nancy suggested that perhaps no one was aboard. “The craft may be operated by remote control,” she said.
“Just the same,” Ned remarked, “I’d like to go inside. Who knows what we’d find—maybe someone dead!”
Nancy was as curious as her companion to find out. “Let’s pound on the hull,” she said. “Maybe we’ll get a response.”
10
Space Trip
The rain had started to fall again and within seconds was coming down in torrents. Nancy and Ned, however, paid little attention to the deluge as they pounded on the flying saucer. Though they knocked until their knuckles were sore, no response came from the interior of the mysterious craft.
Finally Ned remarked, “Maybe we ought to try communicating by mathematical signals. Suppose I try a few that I’ve learned in my courses.”
He took a key from his pocket and tapped it against the spaceship. First he indicated a simple triangle. There was no response. Next he tried a more complicated geometric formula. Again there was no answer.
Nancy was astounded that although the hull seemed to be made of metal, Ned’s tapping made no metallic sound.
That’s strange, she thought, and mentioned it to Ned.
“You’re right,” he agreed. “This ship has some kind of soundproof shell. Even if there’s an intelligent being inside, it probably cannot hear my signals.”
Wondering what the ship was made of, Ned tried to scrape the surface with his key. He was unable to chip off anything.
“This is incredible!” he exclaimed. “I’d like to know what kind of outer material this is. Possibly some substance from a distant planet.”
He sighed, regretting he had not brought chemicals and testing equipment with him.
“Even if we could get in touch with some scientists nearby, they might not be able to reach here before the saucer takes off again.”
He and Nancy speculated on the spaceship’s source of energy.
“Whether it’s programmed or remote-controlled,” she remarked, “I’m inclined to think the ship is solar-powered. Perhaps the reason it’s stuck here in the swamp is that we’ve had so much cloudy and rainy weather. The saucer may not have stored up enough solar energy to lift itself off the ground and back up into the air.”
Ned said he wondered if the swamp itself exuded special gas that gave the ship buoyancy. “It smells bad enough around here to launch anything.” He grinned. “I hope you and I don’t suddenly take off!”
She laughed. “In this mud? No chance.”
Suddenly aware that they were standing in a deep quagmire of mud and water, Ned asked Nancy if she were ready to go back to camp.
“Are you kidding?” she replied. “I want to see what happens! Whoever or whatever controls the ship may decide to leave suddenly.”
“In that case,” Ned said, “why don’t we get those chocolate nut bars out of our saddlebags?”
“Good idea,” Nancy agreed.
First, they retethered the animals so they could reach down to nibble on grass and roots, and even sleep until the couple was ready to leave. They removed their rations from the saddlebags and returned to the flying saucer where they ate the chocolate bars.
“Amazing how satisfying one large piece of candy can be,” Nancy commented, leaning against the ship. She yawned.
“I feel better too,” Ned remarked sleepily.
Suddenly Nancy felt the spaceship vibrate. She was startled and noticed a side door opening slowly. A mechanical hand reached outside and beckoned her and Ned to come aboard.
“Shall we go?” she
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