Therewasnomistakingit。Theysoondiscoveredasmallice—capatonepole,andthenmadeoutoceansandcontinents,withmountains,forests,rivers,andgreenfields。Thesightlastedbutafewmomentsbeforetheysweptby,buttheysecuredseveralphotographs,andcarriedavividimpressionintheirminds。
Hildaappearedtobeabouttwohundredmilesindiameter。
\"Howdoyouaccountforthatlivingworld,\"BearwardenaskedCortlandt,\"onyourtheoryofsizeandlongevity？\"
\"Therearetwoexplanations,\"repliedCortlandt,\"ifthetheory,asIstillbelieve,iscorrect。Hildahaseitherbeenbroughttothissystemfromsomeotherlessmatured,inthetrainofacomet,andbeencapturedbytheimmensepowerof\"Jupiter,whichmightaccountfortheeccentricityofitsorbit,orsomeaccidenthashappenedtorejuvenateithere。Acollisionwithanotherminorplanetmovinginanorbitthatcrosseditsown,orwiththeheadofalargecomet,wouldhavereconverteditintoastar,perhapsafterithadlongbeencold。Acometmayfirsthavesochangedthecourseofoneoftwosmallbodiesastomakethemcollide。Thisseemstomethemostplausibletheory。OverahundredyearsagotheEnglishastronomer,Chambers,wroteofhavingfoundtracesofatmosphereinsomeoftheseminorplanets,butitwasgenerallythoughthewasmistaken。Onereasonweknowsolittleaboutthisgreatswarmofminorplanetsis,thattillrecentlynoneofthemshowedadisktothetelescope。Inasmuchasonlytheirlightwasvisible,theywereindistinguishablefromstars,exceptbytheirslowmotion。Ahundredyearsagoonlythreehundredandfiftyhadbeendiscovered;ourphotographicstar—chartshavesincethenshownthenumberrecordedtoexceedonethousand。\"
CHAPTERIV。
PREPARINGTOALIGHT。
ThatafternoonAyraultbroughtoutsomestatisticaltableshehadcompiledfromagreatnumberofbooks,andalsoadiagramofthecomparativesizesoftheplanets。\"Ihavebeennotalittlepuzzledatthediscrepanciesbetweeneventhebestauthors,\"hesaid,\"scarcelyanytwobeingexactlyalike,whileeverydecadehasseenacceptedtheoriesradicallychanged。\"Sayingwhich,hespreadouttheresultofhislabours（shownonthefollowingpages）,whichthethreefriendsthenstudied。
（1）Meandistancefromsuninmillionsofmiles（2）Semimajoraxisoforbit,earth\'sdistanceas1
（3）Eccentricityoforbit（4）Planetsinclinationoforbittoelliptic（5）Lightatperihelion（6）Lightatapehelion（7）Heat,earthas1
（1）（2）（3）（4）（5）（6）（7）
Mercury……36。00。3870。20567@0\'8\"10。584。596。67
Venus……67。20。7230。00683@23\'35\"1。941。911。91
TheEarth。92。91。0000。0680@0\'0\"1。030。9971。00
Mars……141。51。5240。09331@51\'2\"0。520。3601。43
Asteroids204。4to2。2000。4to5@—35@325。2to3。5000。34
Jupiter……483。35。2030。04831@18\'41\"0。040。0340。037
Saturn……886。09。5390。05612@29\'40\"0。0120。00990。011
Uranus……1781。919。1830。04630@46\'20\"0。00270。00250。003
Neptune。2791。630。0550。00901@47\'2\"0。00110。00110。001
（1）MOVEMENTINORBIT。Velocitycomparedwithearthas1。
（2）MOVEMENTINORBIT。Periodofrevolutioninyearsanddays。
（3）MOVEMENTINORBIT。Orbitalvelocityinmilespersecond。
（4）Meandiameterinmiles（5）Surfacecomparedwithearthas1。
（6）Volumecomparedwithearthas1。
（7）Masscomparedwithearthas1。
Planets（1）（2）（3）（4）（5）（6）（7）
Mercury……0。8823to351。63,0000。140。0560。13
Venus……0。2241/221。91。177,7000。940。920。78
TheEarth……1。0018。51。07,9181。001。001。00
Mars……1。8815。00。814,2300。280。1390。124
Asteroids……3。29……Fromafewto6。56
milesto300
Jupiter……11。868。10。4486,500118。31309。00316。0
Saturn……29。466。00。321,0000。4760。095。0
Uranus……84。024。20。2331,90016。365。014。7
Neptune……164。783。40。1834,80019。390。017。1
（1）Lengthofday。hrs。min。sec。
（2）Lengthofseasons（3）DENSITYComparedwithearthas1
（4）DENSITYComparedwithwateras1
（5）FORCEOFGRAVITYATSURFACEOFPLANETComparedwithearthas1。
（6）FORCEOFGRAVITYATSURFACEOFPLANETBodiesfallinonesecond。
（7）Inclinationofaxis。
Planets（1）（2）（3）（4）（5）（6）（7）
Mercury……1。247。170。8513。7……
Venus……232122……0。925。210。8313。453+
TheEarth……Spring,931。005。671。0016。09231/2
Summer,93
TerrestrialdaysAutumn,90
Winter,89
Mars……243723Spring,1910。962。540。386。2271/2
Summer,181
MartiandaysAutumn,149
Winter,147
Asteroids
Jupiter。95528……0。221。292。5540。9811/2
Saturn……102917……0。130。631。1518。5327
Uranus……0。181。410。9114。6102（？）
Neptune……0。2000。8814。2……
\"Yousee,\"Ayraultexplained,\"onJupiterweshallneedourapergeticoutfitstoenableustomakelongmarches,whileonSaturntheywillnotbenecessary,theincreaseinourweightasaresultofthatplanet\'ssizebeingconsiderablylessthantheusualloadcarriedbytheRomansoldier。\"
\"Idonotimagine,\"saidCortlandt,\"weshouldlongbetroubledbygravitationwithoutourapergeticoutfitsevenonJupiter,for,thoughourweightwillbemorethandoubled,wecantakeoffonequarterofthewholebyremainingneartheequator,theirrapidrotationhavingapparentlybeengivenprovidentiallytoallthelargeplanets。Naturewilladaptherselftothischange,astoallothers,veryreadily。AlthoughthereclamationofthevastareasoftheNorthAmericanArcticArchipelago,Alaska,Siberia,andAntarcticWilkesLand,fromthedeath—gripoftheiceinwhichtheyhavebeenheldwillrelievethepressureofpopulationforanothercentury,attheendofthattimeitwillsurelybefeltagain;itisthereforeaconsolationtofeelthatthemightyplanetsJupiterandSaturn,whichwearecomingtolookuponasourheritage,willnotcrushthelifeoutofanyhumanbeingsbytheirownweightthatmayalightuponthem。\"
Beforegoingtobedthateveningtheydecidedtobeupearlythenextday,tostudyJupiter,whichwasalreadyabrilliantobject。
Thefollowingmorning,onawakening,theywentatoncetotheirobservatory,andfoundthatJupiter\'sdiskwasplainlyvisibletothenakedeye,andbeforenightitseemedaslargeasthefullmoon。
TheythenpreparedtochecktheCallisto\'sheadlongspeed,whichJupiter\'sattractionwasbeginningtoincrease。Whenabouttwomillionmilesfromthegreatplanet,whichwasconsiderablyontheirleft,theyespiedCallistoaheadandslightlyontheirright,asDeepwatershadcalculateditwouldbe。Applyingamildrepulsiontothis——whichwasitselfquiteaworld,withitsdiameterofoverthreethousandmiles,thoughevidentlyascoldanddeadastheearth\'soldmoon——theyretardedtheirforwardrush,knowingthattheresultingmotiontowardsJupiterwouldbehelpedbythegiant\'spull。Wishingtobeingoodconditionfortheirlanding,theydividedtheremainderofthenightintowatches,twogoingtosleepatatime,themanondutystandingbytocontrolthecourseandtogetphotographicnegatives,onwhich,whentheyweredeveloped,theyfoundtwocrescent—shapedcontinents,aspeckledregion,andanumberofislands。By7A。
M。,accordingtoEasternstandardtime,theywerebutfiftythousandmilesfromJupiter\'ssurface,thegiganticglobefillingnearlyonesideofthesky。Inpreparationforasally,theygottheirgunsandaccoutrementsready,andthengaveapartingglanceatthecar。Theirchargeofelectricityfordevelopingtherepulsionseemedscarcelytouched,andtheyhadstillanabundantsupplyofoxygenandprovisions。Thebarometerregisteredtwenty—nineinches,showingthattheyhadnotlostmuchairinthenumerousopeningsofthevestibule。Thepressurewasaboutwhatwouldbefoundatanaltitudeofafewhundredfeet,partoftherarefactionbeingnodoubtduetothefactthattheydidnotclosethewindowsuntilataconsiderableheightaboveVanCortlandtPark。
Theysawtheyshouldalightinalongitudeonwhichthesunhadjustrisen,therockytopsofthegreatmountainsshininglikehelmetsinitsrays。Soontheyfeltasharpcheckingoftheirforwardmotion,andsaw,fromthechangedappearanceofthestarsandthesun,thattheyhadenteredtheatmosphereoftheirnewhome。
NotevendidColumbus,standingattheprowoftheSantaMaria,withtheNewWorldbeforehim,feeltheexultationanddelightexperiencedbytheselatter—dayexplorersofthetwenty—firstcentury。Theirfirstadventuresonlandingthereaderalreadyknows。
CHAPTERV。
EXPLORATIONANDEXCITEMENT。
Whentheyawoke,theflowersweresingingwiththevolumeofacathedralorgan,thechantrisingfromallaroundthem,andthesunwasalreadyabovethehorizon。Findingadeepnaturalspring,inwhichthewaterwasataboutblood—heat,theypreparedforbreakfastbytakingabath,andthenfoundtheyhadbroughtnothingtoeat。
\"Itwasstupidofusnottothinkofit,\"saidBearwarden,\"yetitwillbetoomuchoutofourwaytoreturntotheCallisto。\"
\"Wehavetworiflesandagun,\"saidAyrault,\"andhavealsoplentyofwater,andwoodforafire。Allweneedisgame。\"
\"Theoldexcuse,thatithasbeenalreadyshotout,cannotholdhere,\"saidCortlandt。
\"Seeingthatwehaveneitherwingsnorpneumaticlegs,andnotknowingtheadvantagegivenusbyourrifles,\"addedBearwarden,\"itshouldnotbeshyeither。Sofar,\"hecontinued,\"wehaveseennothingedible,thoughjustnowweshouldnotbetooparticular;butnearaspringlikethisthatkindmustexist。\"
\"Thequestionis,\"saidtheprofessor,\"whetherthegamelikewarmwater。Ifwecanfollowthisstreamtillithasbeenonthesurfaceforsometime,ortillitspreadsout,weshalldoubtlessfindahuntsman\'sparadise。\"
\"Abrightidea,\"saidBearwarden。\"Let\'shaveourgunsready,and,asoldDeepwaterswouldsay,keepourweathereyeopen。\"
Thestreamflowedoffinasoutheasterlydirection,sothatbyfollowingittheywenttowardsthevolcanoes。
\"Itishardtorealize,\"saidtheprofessor,\"thatthosemountainsmustbeseveralhundredmilesaway,forthereasonthattheyarealmostentirelyabovethehorizon。ThisapparentflatnessandwiderangeofvisionisofcoursetheresultofJupiter\'svastsize。Withsufficientlykeensight,oraidedbyagoodglass,thereisnoreasonwhyoneshouldnotseeatleastfivehundredmiles,withbutaslightelevation。\"
\"Itissurprising,\"saidAyrault,\"thatinwhatisevidentlyJupiter\'sCarboniferousperiodtheatmosphereshouldbesoclear。
Ourideahasbeenthatatthattimeonearththeairwasheavyanddense。\"
\"Soitwas,anddoubtlessishere,\"repliedCortlandt;\"butyoumustrememberthatboththosequalitieswouldbegivenitbycarbonic—acidgas,whichisentirelyinvisibleandtransparent。
Nogasthatwouldbelikelytoremainintheairwouldinterferewithsight;watervapouristheonlythingthatcould;andthoughthecrustofthisplanet,evennearthesurface,isstillhot,thesunbeingsodistant,thevapourwouldnotbe,raisedmuch。
Byavoidinglowplacesnearhotsprings,weshalldoubtlesshaveverynearlyasclearanatmosphereasonearth。Whatdoessurprisemeistheeasewithwhichwebreathe。Icanaccountforitonlybysupposingthat,theCarboniferousperiodbeingalreadywelladvanced,mostofthecarbonicacidisalreadylockedupintheforestsorinJupiter\'scoal—beds。\"
\"How,askedBearwarden,\"doyouaccountforthe\'greatredspot\'
thatappearedherein1878,lastedseveralyears,andthengraduallyfaded？ItwastakenasunmistakableevidencethatJupiter\'satmospherewasfilledwithimpenetrablebanksofcloud。
Infact,youremembermanyoftheoldbookssaidwehadprobablyneverseenthesurface。\"
\"Thathaspuzzledmeverymuch,\"repliedCortlandt,\"butIneverbelievedtheexplanationthengivenwascorrect。TheCarboniferousperiodisessentiallyoneofgreatforestgrowth;
sotherewouldbenothingoutofthewayinsupposingthespot,notwithstandingitslengthoftwenty—seventhousandmilesanditsbreadthofeightthousandmiles,tohavebeenforest。Itoccurredinwhatwouldcorrespondtothetemperateregiononearth。Now,thoughtheaxisofthisplanetispracticallystraight,thewindsofcoursechangetheirdirection,andsothetemperaturedoesvaryfromdaytoday。Whatismoreprobablethanthat,owingperhapstoaprolongednortherorcoldspell,alongstripofforestlyingnearthefrostlinewasbroughtafewdegreesbelowit,sothattheleaveschangedtheircoloursastheydoonearth？Itwould,itseemstome,beenoughtogivethesurfaceadistinctcolour;andthefactthatthespot\'sgreatestlengthwaseastandwest,oralongthelinesoflatitude,sothatthewholeofthatregionmighthavebeenexposedtothesameconditionsoftemperature,strengthensthishypothesis。Thestrongestobjectionis,thatthespotissaidtohavemoved;butthemotion——fiveseconds——wassoslightthatitmighteasilyhavebeenanerrorinobservation,orthefirstareaaffectedbythecoldmayhavebeenenlargedononeside。ItseemstomethatthestabilitythespotDIDhavewouldmakethecloudtheoryimpossibleonearth,andmuchmoresohere,withthefarmorerapidrotationandmoreviolentwinds。Itmayalsohavebeenacloudofsmokefromavolcanoineruption,suchaswesawonourarrival,thoughitisdoubtfulwhetherinthatcaseitwouldhaveremainednearlystationarywhilegoingthroughitsgreatestintensityandfading,whichwouldlookasthoughtheturnedleaveshadfallenoffandbeengraduallyreplacedbynewones;and,inadditiontothis,thespotsinceitwasfirstnoticedhasneverentirelydisappeared,whichmightmeanavolcanicregionconstantlyemittingsmoke,orthatthesurface,doubtlessfromsomecoveringwhosecolourcanchange,isnormallyofadifferentshadefromthesurroundingregion。Inanycase,wehaveasyetseennothingthatwouldindicateapermanentlycloudedatmosphere。\"
Thoughtheyhadwalkedaconsiderabledistance,thewaterwasnotmuchcooled;andthoughthestream\'sdescentwassoslightthatonearthitscurrentwouldhavebeenveryslow,hereitrushedalonglikeamountaintorrent,thereason,ofcourse,beingthatagivenamountofwateronJupiterwoulddepressaspringbalance2。55timesasmuchasontheearth。
\"Itisstrange,\"saidAyrault,\"that,notwithstandingitsgreatspeed,thewaterremainssohot;youwouldthinkitsmotionwouldcoolit。\"
\"Soitdoes,\"answeredtheprofessor。\"Itofcoursecoolsconsiderablymoreinagivenperiod——as,forinstance,oneminute——thanifitweremovingmoreslowly,butonaccountofitsspeedithasbeenexposedtotheairbutaveryshorttimesinceleavingthespring。\"
Justbeforethemthestreamnowwidenedintoanarrowlake,whichtheycouldseewasstraightforsomedistance。
\"Thefactis,\"saidBearwarden,\"thiswaterseemsinsuchhastetoreachtheoceanthatitturnsneithertorightnortoleft,anddoesnotevenseemtowishtowidenout。\"
Asthehugefernsandpalmsgrewtothewater\'sedge,theyconcludedthebestwaytotraversethelakewouldbeonaraft。
Accordingly,choosingalargeoverhangingpalm,BearwardenandAyraultfiredeachanexplosiveballintoitstrunk,abouteighteeninchesfromtheground。Oneroundwasenoughtoputitinthewater,eachexplosionremovingseveralcubicfeetofwood。
Byrepeatingthisprocessonothertreestheysoonhadenoughlargetimberforbuoyancy,sothattheyhadbuttosuperimposelightercross—logsandbindthewholetogetherwithpliablebranchesandcreeperstoformasubstantialraft。Thedoctorclimbedon,afterwhichBearwardenandAyraultcastoff,havingpreparedlongpolesfornavigating。Withalittlecaretheykepttheirbarkfromcatchingonprojectingroots,andasthestreamcontinuedtowidentillitwasaboutonehundredyardsacross,theirworkbecameeasy。Carriedalongataspeedoftwoorthreemilesanhour,theynowsawthatthewaterandthebankstheypassedwereliterallyalivewithreptilesandallsortsofamphibiouscreatures,whilewingedlizardssailedfromeveryoverhangingbranchintothewaterastheyapproached。Theynoticedalsomanybirdssimilartostorksandcranes,aboutthesizeofostriches,standingonlogsinthewater,whosebillswereprovidedwithteeth。
\"Wemightalmostthinkwewereonearth,\"saidAyrault,\"fromthelooksofthosestorksstandingononeleg,withtheotherdrawnup,wereitnotfortheirsize。\"
\"Howdoyousupposetheydefendthemselves,\"askedBearwarden,\"fromthesnakeswithwhichthewaterisfilled？\"
\"Isuspecttheycangiveaprettygoodaccountofthemselves,\"
repliedCortlandt,\"withthoseteeth。Besides,withonlyonelegexposed,thereisbutaverysmallobjectforasnaketostrikeat。Fortheirnumberandsize,Ishouldsaytheirstruggleforexistencewascomparativelymild。Doubtlessnon—poisonous,or,forthatmatter,poisonoussnakes,formagreatpartoftheirdiet。\"
Onpassingthebendinthelaketheynoticedthatthebankswereslightlyhigher,whilepalms,pine—trees,andrubberplantssucceededtheferns。Inthedistancetheynowheardatremendouscrashing,whichgrewlouderasthesecondspassed。Itfinallysoundedlikeanearthquake。Involuntarilytheyheldtheirbreathandgraspedtheirweapons。Finally,atsomedistanceinthewoodstheysawadarkmassmovingrapidlyandapproachingtheriverobliquely。Palmsandpine—treeswentdownbeforeitlikestraws,whileitsheadwascontinuallyamongtheupperbranches。
Asthemonsternearedthelake,thewaterattheedgesquivered,showinghowitsweightshookthebanksateachstride,whilestumpsandtree—trunksonwhichitsteppedwerepressedoutofsightintheground。Ageneralexodusoftheotherinhabitantsfromhislineofmarchbegan;themoccasinsslidintothewaterwithalowsplash,whiletheboa—constrictorsandthetree—snakesmovedoffalongthegroundwhentheyfeltittremble,andanumberofnightbirdsretreatedintothedenserwoodswithloudcriesatbeingsorudelydisturbed。Thehugebeastdidnotstoptillhereachedthebank,wherelieswitchedhistail,raisedhisproboscis,andsniffedtheairuneasily,hisheightbeingfullythirtyfeetandhislengthaboutfifty。Onseeingtheraftanditsoccupants,helookedatthemstupidlyandthrewbackhishead。
\"Heseemstobeturninguphisnoseatus,\"saidBearwarden。
\"Allthesame,hewilldowellforbreakfast。\"
Asthecreaturemoved,hischeststruckahugeoverhangingpalm,tearingitoffasthoughithadbeenareed。Brushingitasidewithhistrunk,hewasabouttocontinuehismarch,whentworiflereportsrangouttogether,rousingtheechoesandanumberofbirdsthatscreechedloudly。
CHAPTERVI。
MASTODONANDWILL—O\'—THEWISPS。
Bearwarden\'sbulletstruckthemammothintheshoulder,whileAyrault\'saimwasfartherback。Astheballsexploded,ahalf—barrelfuloffleshandhidewasshotfromeach,leavingtwogapingholes。Instantlyherushedamongthetrees,makinghiscourseknownforsometimebyhisroars。Asheturned,Bearwardenfiredagain,butthehallflewoverhim,blowingoffthetopofatree。
\"Nowforthechase！\"saidAyrault。\"Therewouldbenoexcuseforlosinghim。\"
Quicklypushingtheirrafttoshoreandsecuringittothebank,thethreejumpedoff。Thankstotheirrubberbootsandgalvanicoutfitswhichautomaticallykeptthemcharged,theywereasspryastheywouldhavebeenonearth。Thegroundallaboutthem,andinastriptwelvefeetwidewherethemammothhadgone,wastornup,andthevegetationtroddendown。Followingthistrail,theystruckbackintothewoods,whereinplacesthegloomcastbythethickfoliagewassodensethattherewasameretwilight,startlingastheywentnumbersofbirdsofgreyandsombreplumage,whosenecksandheads,andthesoundstheyuttered,weresoreptilianthatthethreeterrestrialsbelievedtheymustalsopossesspoisonfangs。
\"Themosthighlydevelopedthingswehaveseenhere,\"saidBearwarden,\"aretheflowersandfireflies,mostofthebirdsandamphibiansbeingsimplyloathsome。\"
Astheyproceededtheyfoundtracksofblood,whichwererapidlyattractingswarmsofthereptilebirdsandsnakes,which,however,asarule,fledattheirapproach。
\"Iwonderwhatcanhavecausedthatmammothtomovesofast,andtohaveseemedsoillatease？\"saidthedoctor。\"Hismotivecertainlywasnotthirst,forhedidnotapproachthewaterinadirectline,neitherdidhedrinkonreachingit。Onewouldthinknothingshortofanearthquakeoraland—slidecouldtroublehim。\"
\"Therecanbenoland—slidehere,\"saidAyrault,forthecountryistooflat。\"
\"Andafteryesterday\'seruptions,\"addedBearwarden,\"itwouldseemasthoughthevolcanoescouldhavescarcelyenoughsteamlefttomaketrouble。\"
Theblood—tracks,continuingtobecomefresher,showedthemtheywerenearingthegame,whensuddenlythetrailtookasharpturntotheright,evenreturningtowardsthelake。Alittlefartherittookanothersharpturn,thenfollowedaseriesofdoublings,whilestillfartherthegroundwascompletelydenudedoftrees,itstorn—upandtrampledconditionandtheenormousamountofstillwarmbloodshowinghowterrificabattlehadjusttakenplace。
Whiletheylookedabouttheysawwhatappearedtobethetrunkofatreeaboutfourfeetindiameterandsixfeetlong,withaslightcrook。Oncomingcloser,theyrecognizedinitoneoftheforefeetofthemammoth,cutascleanlyasthoughwithaknifefromthelegjustabovetheankle,andstillwarm。Alittlefarthertheyfoundthehugetrunkcuttoslivers,and,justbeyond,thebodyoftheunfortunatebeastwiththreeofitsfeetgone,andthethickhidecutandslashedlikesomuchpaper。Itstillbreathed,andAyrault,whohadatenderheart,sentanexplosiveballintoitsskull,whichendeditssuffering。
Thethreehuntersthensurveyedthescene。Thelargestandmostpowerfulbeasttheyhadbelievedcouldexistlaybeforethemdead,notfromthebiteofasnakeoranyotherpoison,butfrommechanicalinjuriesofwhichthosetheyhadinflictedformedbutaverysmallpart,andliterallycuttopieces。
\"Iamcurioustoseetheanimal,\"saidCortlandt,\"capableofdoingthis,thoughnothingshortofdynamitebombswouldprotectusfromhim。\"
\"Ashehasnotstoppedtoeathisvictim,\"saidBearwarden,\"itisfairtosupposeheisnotcarnivorous,andsomusthavehadsomeothermotivethanhungerinmakingtheattack;unlesswecansupposethatourapproachfrightenedhimaway,which,withsuchpowerashemustpossess,seemsunlikely。Letussee,\"hecontinued,\"partsoftwolegsremainunaccountedfor。Perhaps,onaccountoftheirshape,hehasbeenablethemoreeasilytocarryorrollthemoff,forweknowthatelephantfootmakesacapitaldish。\"
\"Fromthewayyoutalk,\"saidCortlandt,\"onewouldsupposeyouattributedthistomen。TheGoliathwepicturetoourselveswouldbeachildcomparedtothemanthatcouldcutthroughtheselegs,thoughthenecessityofbelievinghimtohavemerelygreatsizedoesnotdisprovehisexistencehere。Ithinkitprobableweshallfindthisistheworkofsomeanimalwithincisorsofsuchpowerasitisdifficultforustoconceiveof。\"
\"Thereisnoindicationhereofteeth,\"saidBearwarden,\"eachfootbeingtakenoffwithacleancut。Besides,wearecomingtobelievethatmanexistedonearthduringthegreaterpart,ifnotthewhole,ofourCarboniferousperiod。\"
\"Wemustreserveourdecisionpendingfurtherevidence,\"saidCortlandt。
\"Ivotewetaketheheart,\"saidAyrault,\"andcookit,sinceotherwisethemammothwillbedevouredbeforeoureyes。\"
WhileBearwardenandAyraultdelvedforthis,Cortlandt,withsomedifficulty,partedthemammoth\'slipsandexaminedtheteeth。\"Fromtheconicalprojectionsonthemolars,\"saidhe,\"thisshouldbeclassedratherasamastodonthanasamammoth。\"
Whenthehugeheartwassecured,Bearwardenarrangedslicesonsharpenedsticks,whileAyraultsetaboutstartingafire。HehadtouseCortlandt\'sguntoclearthedrywoodofsnakes,which,attracteddoubtlessbythedeadmastodon,cameinsuchnumbersthattheycoveredtheground,whilehugepterodactyls,morevenomous—lookingthanthereptiles,hoveredabouttheopeningabove。
Arrangingadoublelineofelectricwiresinacircleaboutthemastodonandthemselves,theysatdownanddidjusticetothemeal,withappetitesthatmighthavedismayedthewaitingthrong。
Wheneverasnake\'sheadcameincontactwithonewire,whilehistailtouchedtheother,hegaveaspasmodicleapandfellbackdead。Ifhehappenedtofallacrossthewires,lieimmediatelybegantosizzle,acloudofsmokearose,andliewasreducedtoashes。
\"Anytimethatweareshortofmastodonorothergoodgame,\"saidAyrault,\"weneednothungerifwearenotabovegrilledsnake。\"
Alllaughedatthis,andBearwarden,drawingawhiskey—flaskfromhispocket,passedittohisfriends。
\"Whenwerigourfishing—tackle,\"hecontinued,\"andhavefreshfishfordinner,anentreeofrattlesnake,roastmastodonforthepiecederesistance,andbeginthewholewithturtlesoupandclams,ofwhichtheremustbeplentyontheoceanbeach,weshallwanttostayheretherestofourlives。\"
\"Isuspectweshallhaveto,\"repliedAyrault\"forweshallbecomesolikeThanksgivingturkeysthattheCallisto\'sdoorwillbetoosmallforus。\"
Whiletheysatandtalked,theflowersandplantsaboutthemsoftlybegantheirsong,and,asavisualaccompaniment,thefire—fliestheyhadnotbeforenoticedtwinkledthroughtheforest。
\"Mygoodness！\"exclaimedCortlandt,\"howtimegoeshere！Westartedtogetbreakfast,andnowit\'sgrowingdark。\"
Hastilycuttingsomethickbuttenderslicesfromthemastodon,andimpalingthemwiththeremainsoftheheartonasharpenedstake,theytookupthewires,andthebatterythathadbeensupplyingthecurrent,andretracedtheirstepsbythewaytheyhadcome。Theirrubber—linedcowhidebootsprotectedthemfromallbutthelargestsnakes,andasthesewereforthemostpartalreadyenjoyingtheirgorge,theytrampledwithimpunityonthosethatremainedintheirpath。Whentheyhadcoveredabouthalfthedistancetotheraft,ahugeboa—constrictor,whichtheyhadmistakenforabranch,felluponCortlandt,pinioninghisarmsandbearinghimtotheground。Droppingtheirloads,BearwardenandAyraultthrewthemselvesuponthemonsterwiththeirhunting—kniveswithsuchvimthatinafewsecondsitbeatahastyretreat,leaving,asitdidso,awakeofphosphorescentlight。
\"Areyouhurt？\"askedBearwarden,helpinghimup。
\"Notintheleast,\"repliedCortlandt。\"WhatsurprisesmeisthatIamnot。Theweightofthatboa—constrictorwouldbeverygreatonearth,andhereIshouldthinkitwouldbesimplycrushing。\"
Gropingtheirwaythroughtherapidlygrowingdarkness,theyreachedtheraftwithoutfurtheradventure,and,onceonthelake,hadplentyoflight。Twomoons,oneatthreequartersandtheotherfull,shonebrightly,whilethewaterwasalivewithgymnotusesandotherluminouscreatures。Sittingandlivinguponthecross—timbers,theylookedupatthesky。TheGreatBearandthenorthstarhadexactlythesamerelationtoeachotheraswhenseenfromtheearth,whiletheotherconstellationsandtheMilkyWaylookedidenticallyaswhentheyhadsooftengazedatthembefore,andsomeideaoftheimmensityofspacewasconveyedtothem。Herewasnochange;thoughtheyhadtravelledthreehundredandeightymillionmiles,therewasnomoreperceptibledifferencethaniftheyhadnotmovedafoot。Perhaps,theythought,tothetelescopes——ifthereareany——amongthestars,thesunwasseentobeaccompaniedbytwosmall,darkcompanions,forJupiterandSaturnmightbevisible,orperhapsitseemedmerelyasaslightlyvariablestar,inyearswhensun—spotswerenumerous,orasthelargerplanetsintheirrevolutionsoccasionallyinterceptedapartofitslight。AstheyfloatedalongtheynoticedanumberofwhattheytooktobeWill—o\'—the—wisps。Severalofthesegreatglobulesofpaleflamehoveredaboutthemintheair,nearthesurfaceofthewater,andanontheyrosetilltheyhungabovethetrees,apparentlyhavingnoforwardorhorizontalmotionexceptwhentakenbythegentlebreeze,merelysinkingandrising。
\"Howprettytheyare！\"saidCortlandt,astheywatchedthem。
\"Forbodiesconsistingofmarshgas,theyholdtogetherwonderfully。\"
Presentlyonealightedonthewaternearthem。Itwasconsiderablybrighterthananyglow—worm,andsomewhatlargerthananarclamp,beingnearlythreefeetindiameter;itdidnotemitmuchlight,butwoulditselfhavebeenvisiblefromaconsiderabledistance。Cortlandttriedtotouchitwitharaft—pole,butcouldnotreachfarenough。Presentlyalargefishapproachedit,swimmingnearthesurfaceofthewater。WhenitwasclosetotheJack—o\'—lantern,orwhateveritwas,therewasasplash,thefishturnedupitswhiteunderside,and,thebreezebeingawayfromtheraft,thefire—ballanditsvictimslowlyfloatedofftogether。Therewerefrequentlyadozenofthesegreatglobulesinsightatonce,risinganddescending,theobserversnoticingonepeculiarity,viz。,thattheirbrightnessincreasedastheyrose,anddecreasedastheysank。
Abouttwoandahalfhoursaftersunset,ormidnightaccordingtoJupitertime,theyfellasleep,butaboutanhourlaterCortlandtwasawakenedbyaweightonhischest。Startingup,heperceivedahugewhite—facedbat,withitsheadbutafewinchesfromhis。
Itsoutstretchedwingswereabouteightfeetacross,anditfasteneditssharpclawsuponhim。Seizingitbythethroat,hestruggledviolently。Hiscompanions,awakenedbythenoise,quicklycametohisrescue,graspinghimjustashewasindangerofbeingdraggedofftheraft,andinanothermomentBearwarden\'sknifehadenteredthecreature\'sspine。
\"Thisevidentlybelongstotheblood—suckingspecies,\"saidCortlandt。\"Iseemtobethetargetforallthesebeasts,andhenceforthshallkeepmyeyesopenatnight。\"
Asdaywouldbreakinbutlittleoveranhour,theydecidedtoremainawake,andtheypushedthedeadbatoverboard,whereitwassoondevouredbyfishes。Achillhadcomeupontheair,andtheincessantnoiseoftheformsoflifeaboutthemhadinameasureceased。
Cortlandtpassedaroundaboxofquinineasapreventiveagainstmalaria,andagaintheylaybackandlookedatthestars。ThemostsplendidsightintheirskynowwasSaturn。Atthecomparativelyshortdistancethisgreatplanetwasfromthem,itcastadistinctshadow,itsvastringsmakingitappeartwiceitsrealsize。Withthefirstglimmerofdawn,thefire—ballsdescendedtothesurfaceofthewateranddisappearedwithinit,theirlightsgoingout。Withasuddennesstowhichtheexplorerswerebecomingaccustomed,thesunburstuponthem,risingasperpendicularlyasattheearth\'sequator,andmorethantwiceasfast,havingfirsttingedtheskywiththemostbrillianthues。
Thestreamhadlefttheforestandswamp,andwasnowflowingthroughopencountrybetweenhighbanks。Pushingtheraftashore,theysteppedoffonthesand,and,warminguptheremainsofthemastodon\'sheart,ateasubstantialbreakfast。
Whilewashingtheirknivesinthestreampreparatorytoleavingit——fortheywishedtoreturntotheCallistobycompletingthecircletheyhadbegun——theynoticedahugeflatjelly—fishinshallowwater。Itwassotransparentthattheycouldseethesandybottomthroughit。Asitseemedtobeasleep,Bearwardenstirredupthewaterarounditandpokeditwithastick。Thejelly—fishfirstdrewitselftogethertillittouchedthesurfaceofthewater,beingnearlyround,thenitslowlyleftthestreamandrosetillitwaswhollyintheair,and,notwithstandingthesunlight,itemittedafaintglow。
