As I finally found the tiny needle in the dim light I translated
Perry's evident excitement, and my heart sank within me. But when I
spoke I hid the fear which haunted me. "It will be seven hundred
feet, Perry," I said, "by the time you can turn her into the
horizontal."

"You'd better lend me a hand then, my boy," he replied, "for I cannot
budge her out of the vertical alone. God give that our combined
strength may be equal to the task, for else we are lost."

I wormed my way to the old man's side with never a doubt but that
the great wheel would yield on the instant to the power of my young
and vigorous muscles. Nor was my belief mere vanity, for always
had my physique been the envy and despair of my fellows. And for
that very reason it had waxed even greater than nature had intended,
since my natural pride in my great strength had led me to care for
and develop my body and my muscles by every means within my power.
What with boxing, football, and baseball, I had been in training
since childhood.

And so it was with the utmost confidence that I laid hold of the
huge iron rim; but though I threw every ounce of my strength into
it, my best effort was as unavailing as Perry's had been--the
thing would not budge--the grim, insensate, horrible thing that
was holding us upon the straight road to death!

At length I gave up the useless struggle, and without a word
returned to my seat. There was no need for words--at least none
that I could imagine, unless Perry desired to pray. And I was
quite sure that he would, for he never left an opportunity neglected