It's taking a mean advantage of us either way.

As for ourselves--what can _we_ do! Before such a monster as that we are as helpless as three men in a little skiff shooting down the rapids to the brink of Niagara! Now for it!" Nearer and nearer it came, but without noise, without sparks, without a trail, though its lower part was brighter than ever.

Its path lying little above them, the nearer it came the more the collision seemed inevitable.

Imagine yourself caught on a narrow railroad bridge at midnight with an express train approaching at full speed, its reflector already dazzling you with its light, the roar of the cars rattling in your ears, and you may conceive the feelings of the travellers.

At last it was so near that the travellers started back in affright, with eyes shut, hair on end, and fully believing their last hour had come.