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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:42:46 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:42:46 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13716-0.txt b/13716-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c2f9bc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/13716-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5738 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13716 *** + +A TRIP TO VENUS + + +A NOVEL BY JOHN MUNRO + +Author of the "The Wire and the Wave," +"The Story of Electricity," etc., etc. + + +Published in 1897 by Jarrold & Sons, London + + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER I. A MESSAGE FROM MARS + +CHAPTER II. HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + +CHAPTER III. A NEW FORCE + +CHAPTER IV. THE ELECTRIC ORRERY + +CHAPTER V. LEAVING THE EARTH + +CHAPTER VI. IN SPACE + +CHAPTER VII. ARRIVING IN VENUS + +CHAPTER VIII. THE CRATER LAND + +CHAPTER IX. THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL + +CHAPTER X. ALUMION + +CHAPTER XI. THE FLYING APE + +CHAPTER XII. SUNWARD HO! + +CHAPTER XIII. HOME AGAIN + + + + + + "The heaven that rolls around cries aloud to you while it displays + its eternal harmony, and yet your eyes are fixed upon the earth + alone." + + DANTE. + + + "This truth within thy mind rehearse, + That in a boúndless universe + Is boundless better, boundless worse. + + "Think you this mould of hopes and fears + Could find no statelier than his peers + In yonder hundred million spheres?" + + TENNYSON. + + + + +A TRIP TO VENUS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MESSAGE FROM MARS. + + +While I was glancing at the _Times_ newspaper in a morning train for +London my eyes fell on the following item:-- + + A STRANGE LIGHT ON MARS.--On Monday afternoon, Dr. Krueger, who is + in charge of the central bureau at Kiel, telegraphed to his + correspondents:-- + + "_Projection lumineuse dans région australe du terminateur de Mars + observée par Javelle 28 courant, 16 heures.--Perrotin._" + +In plain English, at 4 a.m., a ray of light had been observed on the +disc of the planet Mars in or near the "terminator"; that is to say, the +zone of twilight separating day from night. The news was doubly +interesting to me, because a singular dream of "Sunrise in the Moon" had +quickened my imagination as to the wonders of the universe beyond our +little globe, and because of a never-to-be-forgotten experience of mine +with an aged astronomer several years ago. + +This extraordinary man, living the life of a recluse in his own +observatory, which was situated in a lonely part of the country, had, or +at any rate, believed that he had, opened up a communication with the +inhabitants of Mars, by means of powerful electric lights, flashing in +the manner of a signal-lantern or heliograph. I had set him down as a +monomaniac; but who knows? perhaps he was not so crazy after all. + +When evening came I turned to the books, and gathered a great deal about +the fiery planet, including the fact that a stout man, a Daniel Lambert, +could jump his own height there with the greatest ease. Very likely; but +I was seeking information on the strange light, and as I could not find +any I resolved to walk over and consult my old friend, Professor Gazen, +the well-known astronomer, who had made his mark by a series of splendid +researches with the spectroscope into the constitution of the sun and +other celestial bodies. + +It was a fine clear night. The sky was cloudless and of a deep dark +blue, which revealed the highest heavens and the silvery lustre of the +Milky Way. The great belt of Orion shone conspicuously in the east, and +Sirius blazed a living gem more to the south. I looked for Mars, and +soon found him farther to the north, a large red star, amongst the white +of the encircling constellations. + +Professor Gazen was quite alone in his observatory when I arrived, and +busily engaged in writing or computing at his desk. + +"I hope I'm not disturbing you," said I, as we shook hands; "I know that +you astronomers must work when the fine night cometh." + +"Don't mention it," he replied cordially; "I'm observing one of the +nebulas just now, but it won't be in sight for a long time yet." + +"What about this mysterious light on Mars. Have you seen anything of +it?" + +Gazen laughed. + +"I have not," said he, "though I did look the other night." + +"You believe that something of the kind has been seen?" + +"Oh, certainly. The Nice Observatory, of which Monsieur Perrotin is +director, has one of the finest telescopes in existence, and Monsieur +Javelle is well-known for his careful work." + +"How do you account for it?" + +"The light is not outside the disc," responded Gazen, "else I should +ascribe it to a small comet. It may be due to an aurora in Mars as a +writer in _Nature_ has suggested, or to a range of snowy Alps, or even +to a bright cloud, reflecting the sunrise. Possibly the Martians have +seen the forest fires in America, and started a rival illumination." + +"What strikes you as the likeliest of these notions?" + +"Mountain peaks catching the sunshine." + +"Might it not be the glare of a city, or a powerful search-light--in +short, a signal?" + +"Oh dear, no," exclaimed the astronomer, smiling incredulously. "The +idea of signalling has got into people's heads through the outcry raised +about it some time ago, when Mars was in 'opposition' and near the +earth. I suppose you are thinking of the plan for raising and lowering +the lights of London to attract the notice of the Martians?" + +"No; I believe I told you of the singular experience I had some five or +six years ago with an old astronomer, who thought he had established an +optical telegraph to Mars?" + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. Ah, that poor old chap was insane. Like the +astronomer in _Rasselas_, he had brooded so long in solitude over his +visionary idea that he had come to imagine it a reality." + +"Might there not be some truth in his notion? Perhaps he was only a +little before his time." + +Gazen shook his head. + +"You see," he replied, "Mars is a much older planet than ours. In winter +the Arctic snows extend to within forty degrees of the equator, and the +climate must be very cold. If human beings ever existed on it they must +have died out long ago, or sunk to the condition of the Eskimo." + +"May not the climate be softened by conditions of land and sea unknown +to us? May not the science and civilisation of the Martians enable them +to cope with the low temperature?" + +"The atmosphere of Mars is as rare as ours at a height of six miles, and +a warm-blooded creature like man would expire in it." + +"Like man, yes," I answered; "but man was made for this world. We are +too apt to measure things by our own experience. Why should we limit the +potentiality of life by what we know of this planet?" + +"In the next place," went on Gazen, ignoring my remark, "the old +astronomer's plan of signalling by strong lights was quite +impracticable. No artificial light is capable of reaching to Mars. Think +of the immense distance and the two atmospheres to penetrate! The man +was mad, as mad as a March hare! though why a March hare is mad I'm sure +I don't know." + +"I read the other day of an electric light in America which can be seen +150 miles through the lower atmosphere. Such a light, if properly +directed, might be visible on Mars; and, for aught we know, the Martians +may have discovered a still stronger beam." + +"And if they have, the odds against their signalling just when we are +alive to the possibility of it are simply tremendous." + +"I see nothing incredible in the coincidence. Two heads often conceive +the same idea about the same time, and why not two planets, if the hour +be ripe? Surely there is one and the same inspiring Soul in all the +universe. Besides, they may have been signalling for centuries, off and +on, without our knowing it." + +"Then, again," said Gazen, with a pawky twinkle in his eye, "our +electric light may have woke them up." + +"Perhaps they are signalling now," said I, "while we are wasting +precious time. I wish you would look." + +"Yes, if you like; but I don't think you'll see any 'luminous +projections,' human or otherwise." + +"I shall see the face of Mars, anyhow, and that will be a rare +experience. It seems to me that a view of the heavenly bodies through a +fine telescope, as well as a tour round the world, should form a part +of a liberal education. How many run to and fro upon the earth, hunting +for sights at great trouble and expense, but how few even think of that +sublimer scenery of the sky which can be seen without stirring far from +home! A peep at some distant orb has power to raise and purify our +thoughts like a strain of sacred music, or a noble picture, or a passage +from the grander poets. It always does one good." + +Professor Gazen silently turned the great refracting telescope in the +direction of Mars, and peered attentively through its mighty tube for +several minutes. + +"Is there any light?" I inquired. + +"None," he replied, shaking his head. "Look for yourself." + +I took his place at the eye-piece, and was almost startled to find the +little coppery star, which I had seen half-an-hour before, apparently +quite near, and transformed into a large globe. It resembled a gibbous +moon, for a considerable part of its disc was illuminated by the sun. + +A dazzling spot marked one of its poles, and the rest of its visible +surface was mottled with ruddy and greenish tints which faded into white +at the rim. Fascinated by the spectacle of that living world, seen at a +glance, and pursuing its appointed course through the illimitable ether, +I forgot my quest, and a religious awe came over me akin to that felt +under the dome of a vast cathedral. + +"Well, what do you make of it?" + +The voice recalled me to myself, and I began to scrutinise the dim and +shadowy border of the terminator for the feeblest ray of light, but all +in vain. + +"I can't see any 'luminous projection'; but what a magnificent object in +the telescope!" + +"It is indeed," rejoined the professor, "and though we have not many +opportunities of seeing it, we know it better than the other planets, +and almost as well as the moon. Its features have been carefully mapped +like those of the moon, and christened after celebrated astronomers." + +"Yourself included, I hope." + +"No, sir; I have not that honour. It is true that a man I know, an +enthusiastic amateur in astronomy, dubbed a lot of holes and corners in +the moon after his private friends and acquaintances, myself amongst +them: 'Snook's Crater,' 'Smith's Bottom,' 'Tiddler's Cove,' and so on; +but I regret to say the authorities declined to sanction his +nomenclature." + +"I presume that bright spot on the Southern limb is one of the polar +ice-caps," said I, still keeping my eye on the planet. + +"Yes," replied the professor, "and they are seen to wax and wane in +winter and summer. The reddish-yellow tracts are doubtless continents of +an ochrey soil; and not, as some think, of a ruddy vegetation. The +greenish-grey patches are probably seas and lakes. The land and water +are better mixed on Mars than on the earth--a fact which tends to +equalise the climate. There is a belt of continents round the equator: +'Copernicus,' 'Galileo,' 'Dawes,' and others, having long winding lakes +and inlets. These are separated by narrow seas from other islands on the +north or south, such as: 'Haze Land, 'Storm Land,' and so forth, which +occupy what we should call the temperate zones, beneath the poles; but I +suspect they are frigid enough. If you look closely you will see some +narrow streaks crossing the continents like fractures. These are the +famous 'Canals' of Schiaparelli, who discovered (and I wish I had his +eyes) that many of them were 'doubled,' that is, had another canal +alongside. Some of these are nearly 2,000 miles long, by fifty miles +broad, and 300 miles apart." + +"That beats the Suez Canal." + +"I am afraid they are not artificial. The doubling is chiefly observed +at the vernal equinox, our month of May, and is perhaps due to spring +floods, or vegetation in valleys of the like trend, as we find in +Siberia. The massing of clouds or mists will account for the peculiar +whiteness at the edge of the limb, and an occasional veiling of the +landscape." + +While he spoke, my attention was suddenly arrested by a vivid point of +light which appeared on the dark side of the terminator, and south of +the equator. + +"Hallo!" I exclaimed, involuntarily. "There's a light!" + +"Really!" responded Gazen, in a tone of surprise, not unmingled with +doubt. "Are you sure?" + +"Quite. There is a distinct light on one of the continents." + +"Let me see it, will you?" he rejoined, hastily; and I yielded up my +place to him. + +"Why, so there is," he declared, after a pause. "I suspect it has been +hidden under a cloud till now." + +We turned and looked at each other in silence. + +"It can't be the light Javelle saw," ejaculated Gazen at length. "That +was on Hellas Land." + +"Should the Martians be signalling they would probably use a system of +lights. I daresay they possess an electric telegraph to work it." + +The professor put his eye to the glass again, and I awaited the result +of his observation with eager interest. + +"It's as steady as possible," said he. + +"The steadiness puzzles me," I replied. "If it would only flash I should +call it a signal." + +"Not necessarily to us," said Gazen, with mock gravity. "You see, it +might be a lighthouse flashing on the Kaiser Sea, or a night message in +the autumn manoeuvres of the Martians, who are, no doubt, very warlike; +or even the advertisement of a new soap." + +"Seriously, what do you think of it?" I asked. + +"I confess it's a mystery to me," he answered, pondering deeply; and +then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added: "I wonder if it's any +good trying the spectroscope on it?" + +So saying, he attached to the telescope a magnificent spectroscope, +which he employed in his researches on the nebulæ, and renewed his +observation. + +"Well, that's the most remarkable thing in all my professional +experience," he exclaimed, resigning his place at the instrument to me. + +"What is?" I demanded, looking into the spectroscope, where I could +distinguish several faint streaks of coloured light on a darker +background. + +"You know that we can tell the nature of a substance that is burning by +splitting up the light which comes from it in the prism of a +spectroscope. Well, these bright lines of different colours are the +spectrum of a luminous gas." + +"Indeed! Have you any idea as to the origin of the blaze?" + +"It may be electrical--for instance, an aurora. It may be a volcanic +eruption, or a lake of fire such as the crater of Kilauea. Really, I +can't say. Let me see if I can identify the bright lines of the +spectrum." + +I yielded the spectroscope to him, and scarcely had he looked into it +ere he cried out-- + +"By all that's wonderful, the spectrum has changed. Eureka! It's +thallium now. I should know that splendid green line amongst a +thousand." + +"Thallium!" I exclaimed, astonished in my turn. + +"Yes," responded Gazen, hurriedly. "Make a note of the observation, and +also of the time. You will find a book for the purpose lying on the +desk." + +I did as directed, and awaited further orders. The silence was so great +that I could plainly hear the ticking of my watch laid on the desk +before me. At the end of several minutes the professor cried-- + +"It has changed again: make another note." + +"What is it now?" + +"Sodium. The yellow bands are unmistakable." + +A deep stillness reigned as before. + +"There she goes again," exclaimed the professor, much excited. "Now I +can see a couple of blue lines. What can that be? I believe it's +indium." + +Another long pause ensued. + +"Now they are gone," ejaculated Gazen once more. "A red and a yellow +line have taken their place. That should be lithium. Hey, presto!--and +all was dark." + +"What's the matter?" + +"It's all over." With these words he removed the spectroscope from the +telescope, and gazed anxiously at the planet "The light is gone," he +continued, after a minute. "Perhaps another cloud is passing over it. +Well, we must wait. In the meantime let us consider the situation. It +seems to me that we have every reason to be satisfied with our night's +work. What do you think?" + +There was a glow of triumph on his countenance as he came and stood +before me. + +"I believe it's a signal," said I, with an air of conviction. + +"But how?" + +"Why should it change so regularly? I've timed each spectrum, and found +it to last about five minutes before another took its place." + +The professor remained thoughtful and silent. + +"Is it not by the light which comes from them that we have gained all +our knowledge of the constitution of the heavenly bodies?" I continued. +"A ray from the remotest star brings in its heart a secret message to +him who can read it. Now, the Martians would naturally resort to the +same medium of communication as the most obvious, simple, and +practicable. By producing a powerful light they might hope to attract +our attention, and by imbuing it with characteristic spectra, easily +recognised and changed at intervals, they would distinguish the light +from every other, and show us that it must have had an intelligent +origin." + +"What then?" + +"We should know that the Martians had a civilisation at least as high as +our own. To my mind, that would be a great discovery--the greatest since +the world began." + +"But of little use to either party." + +"As for that, a good many of our discoveries, especially in astronomy, +are not of much use. Suppose you find out the chemical composition of +the nebulæ you are studying, will that lower the price of bread? No; but +it will interest and enlighten us. If the Martians can tell us what Mars +is made of, and we can return the compliment as regards the earth, that +will be a service." + +"But the correspondence must then cease, as the editors say." + +"I'm not so sure of that." + +"My dear fellow! How on earth are we to understand what the Martians +say, and how on Mars are they to understand what we say? We have no +common code." + +"True; but the chemical bodies have certain well-defined properties, +have they not?" + +"Yes. Each has a peculiarity marking it from all the rest. For example, +two or more may resemble each other in colour or hardness, but not in +weight." + +"Precisely. Now, by comparing their spectra can we not be led to +distinguish a particular quality, and grasp the idea of it? In short, +can the Martians not impress that idea on us by their +spectro-telegraph?" + +"I see what you mean," said Professor Gazen; "and, now I think of it, +all the spectra we have seen belong to the group called 'metals of the +alkalies and alkaline earths,' which, of course, have distinctive +properties." + +"At first, I should think the Martians would only try to attract our +notice by striking spectra." + +"Lithium is the lightest metal known to us." + +"Well, we might get the idea of 'lightness' from that." + +"Sodium," continued the professor, "sodium is a very soft metal, with so +strong an affinity for oxygen that it burns in water. Manganese, which +belongs to the 'iron group,' is hard enough to scratch glass; and, like +iron, is decidedly magnetic. Copper is red--" + +"The signals for colour we might get from the spectra direct." + +"Mercury or quicksilver is fluid at ordinary temperatures, and that +might lead us to the idea of movement--animation--life itself." + +"Having got certain fundamental ideas," I went on, "by combining these +we might arrive at other distinct conceptions. We might build up an +ideographic or glyphic language of signs--the signs being spectra. The +numerals might be telegraphed by simple occultations of the light. Then +from spectra we might pass by an easy step to equivalent signals of +long and short flashes in various combinations, also made by occulting +the light. With such a code, our correspondence might go on at great +length, and present no difficulty; but, of course, we must be able to +reply." + +"If the Martians are as clever as you are pleased to imagine, we ought +to learn a good deal from them." + +"I hope we may, and I'm sure the world will be all the better for a +little superior enlightenment on some points." + +"Well, we must follow the matter up, at all events," said the professor, +taking another peep through the telescope. "For the present the Martian +philosophers appear to have shut up shop; and, as my nebula has now +risen, I should like to do a little work on it before daybreak. Look +here, if it's a fine night, can you join me to-morrow? We shall then +continue our observations; but, in the meanwhile, you had better say +nothing about them." + +On my way home I looked for the ruddy planet as I had done in the +earlier part of the night, but with very different feelings in my heart. +The ice of distance and isolation separating me from it seemed to have +broken down since then, and instead of a cold and alien star, I saw a +friendly and familiar world--a companion to our own in the eternal +solitude of the universe. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + + +The next evening promised well, and I kept my appointment, but +unfortunately a slight haze gathered in the sky and prevented us from +making further observations. While hoping in vain for it to clear away, +Professor Gazen and I talked over the possibility of journeying to other +worlds. The gist of our argument was afterwards published in a +conversation, entitled "Can we reach the other planets?" which appeared +in _The Day after To-morrow_. It ran as follows: + +_I_. (_the writer_). "Do you think we shall ever be able to leave the +earth and travel through space to Mars or Venus, and the other members +of the Solar System?" + +_G_. (_Checking an impulse to smile and shaking his head_), "Oh, no! +Never." + +_I_. "Yet science is working miracles, or what would have been +accounted miracles in ancient times." + +_G_. "No doubt, and hence people are apt to suppose that science can do +everything; but after all Nature has set bounds to her achievements." + +_I_. "Still, we don't know what we can and what we cannot do until we +try." + +_G_. "Not always; but in this case I think we know. The celestial bodies +are evidently isolated in space, and the tenants of one cannot pass to +another. We are confined to our own planet." + +_I_. "A similar objection might have been urged against the plan of +Columbus." + +_G_. "That was different. Columbus only sailed through unknown seas to a +distant continent. We are free to explore every nook and cranny of the +earth, but how shall we cross the immense void which parts us from +another world, except on the wings of the imagination?" + +_I_. "Great discoveries and inventions are born of dreams. There are +minds which can foresee what lies before us, and the march of science +brings it within our reach. All or nearly all our great scientific +victories have been foretold, and they have generally been achieved by +more than one person when the time came. The telescope was a dream for +ages, so was the telephone, steam and electric locomotion, aerial +navigation. Why should we scout the dream of visiting other worlds, +which is at least as old as Lucian? Ere long, and perhaps before the +century is out, we shall be flying through the air to the various +countries of the globe. In succeeding centuries what is to hinder us +from travelling through space to different planets?" + +_G_. "Quite impossible. Consider the tremendous distance--the lifeless +vacuum--that separates us even from the moon. Two hundred and forty +thousand miles of empty space." + +_I_. "Some ten times round the world. Well, is that tremendous vacuum +absolutely impassable?" + +_G_. "To any but Jules Verne and his hero, the illustrious Barbicane, +president of the Gun Club."[1] + + [Footnote 1: _The Voyage à la Lune_, by Jules Verne.] + +_I_. "Jules Verne has an original mind, and his ideas, though +extravagant, are not without value. Some of them have been realised, and +it may be worth while to examine his notion of firing a shot from the +earth to the moon. The projectile, if I remember, was an aluminium shell +in the shape of a conical bullet, and contained three men, a dog or two, +and several fowls, together with provisions and instruments. It was air +tight, warmed and illuminated with coal gas, and the oxygen for +breathing was got from chlorate of potash, while the carbonic acid +produced by the lungs and gas-burners was absorbed with caustic potash +to keep the air pure. This bullet-car was fired from a colossal +cast-iron gun founded in the sand. It was aimed at a point in the sky, +the zenith, in fact, where it would strike the moon four days later, +that is, after it had crossed the intervening space. The charge of +gun-cotton was calculated to give the projectile a velocity sufficient +to carry it past the 'dead-point,' where the gravity of the earth upon +it was just balanced by that of the moon, and enable it to fall towards +the moon for the rest of the way. The sudden shock of the discharge on +the car and its occupants was broken by means of spring buffers and +water pressure." + +_G_. "The last arrangement was altogether inadequate." + +_I_. "It was certainly a defect in the scheme." + +_G_. "Besides, the initial velocity of the bullet to carry it beyond the +'dead-point,' was, I think, 12,000 yards a second, or something like +seven miles a second." + +_I_. "His estimate was too high. An initial velocity of 9,000 yards, or +five miles a second, would carry a projectile beyond the sensible +attraction of the earth towards the moon, the planets, or anywhere; in +short, to an infinite distance. Indeed, a slightly lower velocity would +suffice in the case of the moon, owing to her attraction." + +_G_. "But how are we to give the bullet that velocity? I believe the +highest velocity obtained from a single discharge of cordite, one of our +best explosives, was rather less than 4,000 feet, or only about +three-quarters of a mile per second. With such a velocity, the +projectile would simply rise to a great height and then fall back to the +ground." + +_I_. "Both of these drawbacks can be overcome. We are not limited to a +single discharge. Dr. S. Tolver Preston, the well-known writer on +molecular science, has pointed out that a very high velocity can be got +by the use of a compound gun, or, in other words, a gun which fires +another gun as a projectile.[2] Imagine a first gun of enormous +dimensions loaded with a smaller gun, which in turn is loaded with the +bullet. The discharge of the first gun shoots the second gun into the +air, with a certain velocity. If, now, the second gun, at the instant it +leaves the muzzle of the first, is fired automatically, say by +utilising the first discharge to press a spring which can react on a +hammer or needle, the bullet will acquire a velocity due to both +discharges, and equivalent to the velocity of the second gun at the time +it was fired plus the velocity produced by the explosion of its own +charge. In this way, by employing a series of guns, fired from each +other in succession, we can graduate the starting shock, and give the +bullet a final velocity sufficient to raise it against gravity, and the +resistance of the atmosphere, which grows less as it advances, and send +it away to the moon or some other distant orb." + + [Footnote 2: _Engineering_, January 13th, 1893.] + +_G_. "Your spit-fire mode of progression is well enough in theory, but +it strikes me as just a little complicated and risky. I, for one, +shouldn't care to emulate Elijah and shoot up to Heaven in that style." + +_I_. "If it be all right in theory, it will be all right in practice. +However, instead of explosives we might employ compressed air to get the +required velocity. In the air-gun or cannon, as you probably know, a +quantity of air, compressed within a chamber of the breech, is allowed +suddenly to expand behind the bullet and eject it from the barrel. Now, +one might manage with a simple gun of this sort, provided it had a very +long barrel, and a series of air chambers at intervals from the breech +to the muzzle. Each of these chambers, beginning at the breech, could be +opened in turn as the bullet passed along the barrel, so that every +escaping jet of gas would give it an additional impulse." + +_G._ (_with growing interest_). "That sounds neater. You might work the +chambers by electricity." + +_I_. "We could even have an electric gun. Conceive a bobbin wound with +insulated wire in lieu of thread, and having the usual hole through the +axis of the frame. If a current of electricity be sent through the wire, +the bobbin will become a hollow magnet or 'solenoid,' and a plug of soft +iron placed at one end will be sucked into the hole. In this experiment +we have the germ of a solenoid cannon. The bobbin stands for the +gun-barrel, the plug for the bullet-car, and the magnetism for the +ejecting force. We can arrange the wire and current so as to draw the +plug or car right through the hole or barrel, and if we have a series of +solenoids end to end in one straight line, we can switch the current +through each in succession, and send the projectile with gathering +velocity through the interior of them all. In practice the barrel would +consist of a long straight tube, wide and strong enough to contain the +bullet-car without flexure, and begirt with giant solenoids at +intervals. Each of the solenoids would be excited by a powerful current, +one after the other, so as to urge the projectile with accelerating +speed along the tube, and launch it into the vast." + +_G_. "That looks still better than the pneumatic gun." + +_I_. "A magnetic gun would have several advantages. For instance, the +currents can be sent through the solenoids in turn as quickly as we +desire by means of a commutator in a convenient spot, for instance, at +the butt end of the gun, so as to follow up the bullet with ease, and +give it a planetary flight. By a proper adjustment of the solenoids and +currents, this could be done so gradually as to prevent a starting shock +to the occupants of the car. The velocity attained by the car would, of +course, depend on the number and power of the solenoids. If, for +example, each solenoid communicated to the car a velocity of nine yards +per second, a thousand solenoids, each magnetically stronger than +another in going from breech to muzzle, would be required to give a +final velocity of five miles a second. In such a case, the length of the +barrel would be at least 1,000 yards. Economy and safety would determine +the best proportions for the gun, but we are now considering the +feasibility of the project, not its cost. With regard to position and +supports, the gun might be constructed along the slope of a hill or +mound steep enough to give it the angle or elevation due to the aim. As +the barrel would not have to resist an explosive force, it should not be +difficult to make, and the inside could be lubricated to diminish the +friction of the projectile in passing through it. Moreover, it is +conceivable that the car need never touch the sides, for by a proper +adjustment of the magnetism of the solenoids we might suspend it in +mid-air like Mahomet's coffin, and make it glide along the magnetic axis +of the tube." + +_G_. "It seems a promising idea for an actual gun, or an electric +despatch and parcel post, or even a railway. The bullet, I suppose, +would be of iron." + +_I_. "Probably; but aluminium is magnetic in a lower degree than iron, +and its greater lightness might prove in its favour. We might also +magnetise the car, say by surrounding it with a coil of wire excited +from an accumulator on board. The car, of course, would be hermetically +sealed, but it would have doors and windows which could be opened at +pleasure. In open space it would be warmed and lighted by the sun, and +in the shadow of a planet, if need were, by coal-gas and electricity. +In either case, to temper the extremes of heat or cold, the interior +could be lined with a non-conductor. Liquefied oxygen or air for +breathing, and condensed fare would sustain the inmates; and on the +whole they might enjoy a comfortable passage through the void, taking +scientific observations, and talking over their experiences." + +_G_. "It would be a novel observatory, quite free from atmospheric +troubles. They might be able to make some astronomical discoveries." + +_I_. "A novel laboratory as well, for in space beyond the attraction of +the earth there would be no gravity. The travellers would not feel a +sense of weight, but as the change would be gradual they would get +accustomed to it, and suffer no inconvenience." + +_G_. "They would keep their gravity in losing it." + +_I_. "The car, meeting with practically no resistance in the ether, +would tend to move in the same direction with the same velocity, and +anything put overboard would neither fall nor rise, but simply float +alongside. When the car came within the sensible attraction of the moon, +its velocity would gradually increase as they approached each other." + +_G_. "Always supposing the aim of the gun to have been exact. You might +hit the moon, with its large disc and comparatively short range, +provided no wandering meteorite diverted the bullet from its course; but +it would be impossible to hit a planet, such as Venus or Mars, a mere +point of light, and thirty or forty million miles away, especially as +both the earth and planet are in rapid motion. A flying rifle-shot from +a lightning express at a distant swallow would have more chance of +success. If you missed the mark, the projectile would wheel round the +planet, and either become its satellite or return towards the earth like +that of Jules Verne in his fascinating romance." + +_I_. "Jules Verne, and other writers on this subject, appear to have +assumed that all the initial effort should come from the cannon. Perhaps +it did not suit his literary purpose to employ any other driving force. +At all events he possessed one in the rockets of Michel Ardan, the +genial Frenchman of the party, which were intended to break the fall of +the projectile on the moon." + +_G_. "If I recollect, they were actually fired to give the car a fillip +when it reached the dead-point on its way back to the earth." + +_I_. "Even in a vacuum, where an ordinary propeller could not act, the +bullet may become a prime mover, and co-operate with the gun. A rocket +can burn without an atmosphere, and the recoil of the rushing fumes will +impel the car onwards." + +_G_. "Do you think a rocket would have sufficient power to be of any +service?" + +_I_. "Ten or twelve large rockets, capable of exerting a united back +pressure of one and a half tons during five or six minutes on a car of +that weight at the earth's surface, would give it in free space a +velocity of two miles a second, which, of course, would not be lost by +friction." + +_G_. "So that it would not be absolutely necessary to give the +projectile an initial velocity of five miles a second." + +_I_. "No; and, besides, we are not solely dependent on the rocket. A jet +of gas, at a very high pressure, escaping from an orifice into the +vacuum or ether, would give us a very high propelling force. By +compressing air, oxygen, or coal-gas (useful otherwise) in iron +cylinders with closed vents, which could be opened, we should have a +store of energy serviceable at any time to drive the car. In this way a +pressure or thrust of several tons on the square inch might be applied +to the car as long as we had gas to push it forwards." + +_G_. "Certainly, and by applying the pressure, whether from the rocket +or the gas, to the front and sides, as well as to the rear of the car, +you would be able to regulate the speed, and direct the car wherever you +wanted to go." + +_I_. "Moreover, beyond the range of gravitation, we could steer and +travel by pumping out the respired air, or occasionally projecting a +pebble from the car through a stuffing box in the wall, or else by +firing a shot from a pistol." + +_G_. "You might even have a battery of machine guns on board, and +decimate the hosts of heaven." + +_I_. "Our bullets would fly straight enough, anyhow, and I suppose they +would hit something in course of time." + +_G_. "If they struck the earth they would be solemnly registered as +falling stars." + +_I_. "Certainly they would be burnt up in passing through the atmosphere +of a planet and do no harm to its inhabitants." + +_G_. "Well, now, granting that you could propel the car, and that +although your gun was badly aimed you could steer towards a planet, how +long would the journey take?" + +_I_. "The self-movement of the car would enable us to save time, which +is a matter of the first importance on such a trip. In the plan of Jules +Verne, the bullet derives all its motion from the initial effort, and +consequently slows down as it rises against the earth's attraction, +until it begins again to quicken under the gravitation of the moon. +Hence his voyage to our satellite occupied four days. As we could +maintain the velocity of the car, however, we should accomplish the +distance in thirteen hours at a speed of five miles a second, and more +or less in proportion." + +_G_. "About as long as the journey from London to Aberdeen by rail. What +about Mars or Venus?" + +_I_. "At the same speed we should cover the 36,000,000 miles to these +planets in 2,000 hours, or 84 days, that is, about three months. With a +speed of ten miles a second, which is not impossible, we could reach +them in six weeks." + +_G_. "One could scarcely go round the world in the same time. But, +having got to a planet, how are you going to land on it? Are you not +afraid you will be dissipated like a meteorite by the intense heat of +friction with the planet's atmosphere, or else be smashed to atoms by +the shock?" + +_I_. "We might steer by the stars to a point on the planet's orbit, +mathematically fixed in advance, and wait there until it comes up. The +atmosphere of the approaching planet would act as a kind of buffer, and +the fall of the car could be further checked by our means of recoil, and +also by a large parachute. We should probably be able to descend quite +slowly to the surface in this way without damage; but in case of peril, +we could have small parachutes in readiness as life-buoys, and leap from +the car when it was nearing the ground." + +_G_. "I presume you are taking into account the velocity of the planet +in its orbit? That of the earth is 18 miles a second, or a hundred times +faster than a rifle bullet; that of Venus, which is nearer the sun, is a +few miles more; and that of Mars, which is further from the sun, is +rather less." + +_I_. "For that reason the more distant planets would be preferable to +land on. Uranus, for instance, has an orbital velocity of four miles a +second, and his gravity is about three-fourths that of the earth. +Moreover, his axis lies almost exactly on the plane of the ecliptic, so +that we could choose a waiting place on his orbit where the line of his +axis lay in the direction of his motion, and simply descend on one of +his poles, at which the stationary atmosphere would not whirl the car, +and where we might also profit by an ascending current of air. The +attraction of the sun is so slight at the distance of Uranus, that a +stone flung out of the car would have no perceptible motion, as it +would only fall towards the sun a mere fraction of an inch per second, +or some 355 feet an hour; hence, as Dr. Preston has calculated, one +ounce of matter ejected from the car towards the sun every five minutes, +with a velocity of 880 feet a second, would suffice to keep a car of one +and a half tons at rest on the orbit of the planet. Indeed, the vitiated +air, escaping from the car through a small hole by its own pressure, +would probably serve the purpose. Just before the planet came up, and in +the nick of time we could fire some rockets, and give the car a velocity +of two or three miles a second in the direction of the planet's motion, +so that he would overtake us, with a speed not over great to ensure a +safe descent. Our parachutes would be out, and at the first contact with +the atmosphere, the car would probably be blown away; but it would soon +acquire the velocity of the planet, and gradually sink downwards to the +surface." + +_G_. "What puzzles me is how you are to get back to the earth." + +_I_. "Whoever goes must take the risk; but if, as appears likely, both +Mars and Venus are inhabited by intelligent beings, we should probably +be able to construct another cannon and return the way we came." + +_G_. (_smiling_). "Well, I confess the project does not look so +impracticable as it did. After all, travelling in a vacuum seems rather +pleasant. One of these days, I suppose, we astronomers will be packed in +bullets and fired into the ether to observe eclipses and comets' tails." + +_I_. "In all that has been said we have confined ourselves to ways and +means already known; but science is young, and we shall probably +discover new sources of energy. It may even be possible to dispense with +the gun, and travel in a locomotive car. Lord Kelvin has shown that if +Lessage's hypothesis of gravitation be correct, a crystal or other body +may be found which is lighter along one axis than another, and thus we +may be able to draw an unlimited supply of power from gravity by simply +changing the position of the crystal; for example, by raising it when +lighter, and letting it fall when heavier. This form of 'perpetual +motion' might be equally obtainable if Dr. Preston's[3] theory of an +ether as the cause of gravity be true. Indeed, Professor Poynting is now +engaged in searching for such a crystal, which, if discovered, will +upset the second law of thermo-dynamics. I merely mention this to show +that science is on the track of concealed motive powers derived from +the ether, and we cannot now tell what the engines of the future will be +like. For ought we know, the time is coming when there will be a regular +mail service between the earth and Mars or Venus, cheap trips to +Mercury, and exploring expeditions to Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus." + + [Footnote 3: _Philosophical Magazine_, February, 1895.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NEW FORCE. + + + "SIR, + + "I have read your article on the possibility of travelling to the + other members of the Solar system with much interest. It is a + problem at which I, myself, have been working for a great many + years, and I believe that I have now discovered a means of solving + it in a practical manner. If you would care to see my experiments, + and will do me the honour of coming here, I shall be glad to show + them in confidence any time you may appoint.--Yours truly, + + "NASMYTH CARMICHAEL." + +The above letter, marked "Private," was forwarded to me through the +editor of _The Day After To-morrow_. The writer of it was a total +stranger to me, even by report, and at first I did not know what to make +of it. Was the man a charlatan, or a "crank?" There were no signs of +craziness or humbug in his frank and simple sentences. Had he really +found out a way of crossing the celestial spaces? In these days it is +better not to be too sceptical as to what science will accomplish. It +is, in fact, wise to keep the mind open and suspend the judgment. We are +standing on the threshold of the Arcana, and at any hour the +search-light of our intellect may penetrate the darkness, and reveal to +our wondering gaze the depths of the inner mechanism of Nature. + +I resolved to accept his invitation. + +A few days later I presented myself at the home of my unknown +correspondent. It was a lonely little cottage, in the midst of a wild +flat or waste of common ground on the outskirts of London. I should say +it had once been the dwelling of a woodman engaged in the neighbouring +forest. A tall, thick hedge of holly surrounded the large garden, and +almost concealed it from the curiosity of an occasional wanderer on the +heath. + +Certainly it did not look the sort of place to find a man of science, +and the old misgivings assailed my mind in greater force than ever. Half +regretting that I had come, and feeling in a dubious element, I opened +the wicket, and knocked at the door. + +It was answered by a young woman, in a plain gown of some dark stuff, +with a white collar round the neck. In spite of her dress I could see +that she was not an ordinary cottage girl. Pretty, without being +beautiful, there was a distinction in her voice and manner which bespoke +the gentlewoman. With a pleasant smile, she welcomed me as one who had +been expected, and ushered me into a small sitting-room, poorly +furnished, but with a taste and refinement unusual in a workman's home. +A large piano stood in one of the corners, and a pile of classical music +lay on a chair beside it. The mantelpiece was decorated with cut +flowers, and the walls were hung with portraits and sketches in crayons +and water-colour. + +"My father will be down in a moment," she said, with a slight American +accent. "He is delighted to have the pleasure of meeting you. It is so +kind of you to come." + +Before I had time to respond, Mr. Carmichael entered the parlour. He was +a man of striking and venerable presence. His long white locks, his +bulging brow, pregnant with brain, his bushy eyebrows and deep blue-grey +eyes, his aquiline nose and flowing beard, gave an Olympian cast to his +noble head. Withal, I could not help noticing that his countenance was +lined with care, his black coat seamed and threadbare, his hands rough +and horny, like those of a workman. If he appeared a god, it was a god +in exile or disgrace; a Saturn rather than a Jove. + +"Now to the matter," said he, after a few words of kindly welcome. +"Evidently the question of inter-planetary travel is coming to the +front. In your article you suggest that a locomotive car, that is to +say, a car able to propel itself through what we, in our ignorance, call +empty space, though, in reality, it is chock-full, and very 'thrang' as +the Scotch say, might yet be contrived, and even worked by energy drawn +from the ether direct. When I read that, sir, I sat up and rubbed my +eyes." + +"Your spectacles, father," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, it's the same thing," went on the old man. "For like many another +prophet, sir, you had prophesied better than you knew." + +"How do you mean?" I inquired, with a puzzled air. + +"If you will step with me into the garden I will show you." + +I rose and followed him into a large shed, which was fitted up as a +workshop and laboratory. It contained several large benches, provided +with turning lathes and tools, a quantity of chemicals, and scientific +apparatus. + +"I am going to do a thing that I have never done in my life before," +said Mr. Carmichael, in a sad and doubtful tone; "I have kept this +secret so long that it seems like parting with myself to disclose it, +to disclose even the existence of it. I have fed upon it as a young man +feeds on love. It has been my nourishment, my manna in the wilderness of +this world, my solace under a thousand trials, my inspiration from on +High. I verily believe it has kept my old carcase together. Mind!" he +added, with a penetrating glance of his grey eyes, which gleamed under +their bushy brows like a pool of water in a cavern overhung with +brambles, "promise me that whatever you see and hear will remain a +secret on your part. Never breathe a word of it to a living soul. You +are the only person, except my own daughter, whom I have ever taken into +my confidence." + +I gave him my word of honour. + +"Very well," he continued, lifting a small metal box from one of the +tables, and patting it with his hand. "I have been working at the +subject of aerial navigation for well-nigh thirty years, and this is the +result." + +I looked at the metal case, but could see nothing remarkable about it. + +"It seems a little thing, hardly worth a few pence, and yet how much I +have paid for it!" said the inventor, with a sigh, and a far-away +expression in his eyes. "Many a time it has reminded me of the mouse's +nest that was turned up by the ploughshare. + + "'Thy wee bit heap o' strae and stibble + Has cost thee mony a weary nibble.' + +Of course this is only a model." + +"A model of a flying machine?" I inquired, in a tone of surprise. + +"You may call it so," he answered; "but it is a flying machine that does +not fly or soar in the strict sense of the words, for it has neither +wings nor aeroplane. It is, in fact, an aerial locomotive, as you will +see." + +While he spoke, Mr. Carmichael opened the case of the instrument, and +adjusted the mechanism inside. Immediately afterwards, to my +astonishment, the box suddenly left his hands, and flew, or rather +glided, swiftly through the air, and must have dashed itself against the +wall of the laboratory had not its master run and caught it. + +"Wonderful!" I exclaimed, forgetting the attitude of caution and reserve +which I had deemed it prudent to adopt. + +The inventor laughed with childish glee, enjoying his triumph, and +stroking the case as though it were a kitten. + +"It would be off again if I would let it. Whoa, there!" said he, again +adjusting the mechanism. "I can make it rise, or sink, or steer, to one +side or the other, just as I please. If you will kindly hold it for a +minute, I will make it go up to the ceiling. Don't be afraid, it won't +bite you." + +I took the uncanny little instrument in my hands, whilst Mr. Carmichael +ascended a ladder to a kind of loft in the shed. It only weighed a few +pounds, and yet I could feel it exerting a strong force to escape. + +"Ready!" cried the inventor, "now let go," and sure enough, the box rose +steadily upwards until it came within his grasp. "I am going to send it +down to you again," he continued, and I expected to see it drop like a +stone to the ground; but, strange to say, it circled gracefully through +the air in a spiral curve, and landed gently at my feet. + +"You see I have entire control over it," said Mr. Carmichael, rejoining +me; "but all you have seen has taken place in air, and you might, +therefore, suppose that I have an air propellor inside, and that air is +necessary to react against it, like water against the screw of a +steamboat, in order to produce the motion. I will now show you that air +is not required, and that my locomotive works quite as well in a +vacuum." + +So saying, he put the model under a large bell-jar, from which he +exhausted the air with a pump; and even then it moved about with as much +alacrity and freedom as it had done in the atmosphere. + +I confess that I was still haunted by a lingering suspicion of the +machine and its inventor; but this experiment went far to destroy it. +Even if the motive power was derived from a coiled spring, or compressed +air, or electricity, in the box, how was it possible to make it act +without the resistance offered by the air? Magnetism was equally out of +the question, since no conceivable arrangement of magnets could have +brought about the movements I had seen. Either I was hypnotised, and +imposed upon, or else this man had discovered what had been unknown to +science. His earnest and straightforward manner was not that of a +mountebank. There had been no attempt to surround his work with mystery, +and cloak his demonstration in unmeaning verbiage. It is true I had +never heard of him in the world of science, but after all an outsider +often makes a great discovery under the nose of the professors. + +"Am I to understand," said I, "that you have found a way of navigating +both the atmosphere and the ether?" + +"As you see," he replied, briefly. + +"What the model has done, you are able to do on a larger scale--in a +practical manner?" + +"Assuredly. It is only a matter of size." + +"And you can maintain the motion?" + +"As long as you like." + +"Marvellous! And how is it done?" + +"Ah!" exclaimed the inventor, "that is my secret. I am afraid I must not +answer that question at present." + +"Is the plan not patented?" + +"No. The fact is, I have not yet investigated the subject as fully as I +would like. My mind is not quite clear as to the causes of the +phenomena. I have discovered a new field of research, and great +discoveries are still to be made in it. Were I to patent the machine, I +should have to divulge what I know. Indeed, but for the sake of my +daughter, I am not sure that I should ever patent it. Even as it stands, +it will revolutionise not merely our modes of travel, but our +industries. It has been to me a labour of love, not of money; and I +would gladly make it a gift of love to my fellowmen." + +"It is the right spirit," said I; "and I have no doubt that a grateful +world would reward you." + +"I wouldn't like to trust it," replied Mr. Carmichael, with a smile and +shrug of the shoulders. "How many inventors has it doomed to pine in +poverty and neglect, or die of a broken heart? How often has it stolen, +aye stolen, the priceless fruits of their genius and labour? Speaking +for myself, I don't complain; I haven't had much to do with it. My +withdrawal from it has been voluntary. I was born in the south of +Scotland, and educated for the medical profession; but I emigrated to +America, and was engaged in one of Colonel Fremont's exploring +expeditions to the Rocky Mountains. After that I was appointed to the +chair of Physical Science in a college of Louisville, Kentucky, where my +daughter was born. One day, when I was experimenting to find out +something else, I fell by accident upon the track of my discovery, and +ever since I have devoted my life to the investigation. It appeared to +me of the very highest importance. As time went on, I grew more and more +absorbed in it. Every hour that I had to give to my official and social +duties seemed thrown away. A man cannot serve two masters, and as I also +found it difficult to carry on my experiments in secrecy, I resigned my +post. I had become a citizen of the United States, but my wife was a +Welshwoman, and had relations in England. So we came to London. When +she died, I settled in this isolated spot, where I could study in peace, +enjoy the fresh air, and easily get the requisite books and apparatus. +Here, with my daughter, I live a very secluded life. She is my sole +companion, my housekeeper, my servant, and my assistant in the +laboratory. She knows as much about my machine, and can work it as well +as I do myself. Indeed, I don't know what I should have done without +her. She has denied herself the ordinary amusements of her age. Her +devotion to me has been beautiful." + +The voice of the old man trembled, and I fancied I could read in his +hollow eyes the untold martyrdom of genius. + +"At last," he continued, "I have brought the matter into a practical +shape, and like many other inventors, for the first time I stand in need +of advice. Happening to see your article in the Magazine, I resolved to +invite you to come and see what I have done in hopes that you might be +able to advise and perhaps help me." + +"I think," said I, after a moment's reflection, "I think the next thing +to be done is to make a large working machine, and try it on a voyage." + +"Quite so," he replied; "and I am prepared to build one that will go to +any part of the earth, or explore the higher regions of the atmosphere, +or go down under the sea, or even make a trip to one of the nearer +planets, Mars or Venus as the case may be. But I am poor; my little +fortune is all but exhausted, and here, at the end of the race, within +sight of the goal, I lack the wherewithal to reach it. Now, sir, if you +can see your way to provide the funds, I will give you a share in the +profits of the invention." + +I pondered his words in silence. Visions of travel through the air in +distant lands, above the rhododendron forests of the Himalayas, or the +green Savannahs of the Orinoco, the coral isles of the Pacific; yea, +further still, through the starlit crypts of space to other spheres were +hovering in my fancy. The singular history of the man, too, had touched +my feelings. Nevertheless, I hesitated to accept his offer there and +then. It was hardly a proposal to decide upon without due consideration. + +"I will think it over and let you know," said I at length. "Have you any +objection to my consulting Professor Gazen, the well-known astronomer? +He is a friend of mine. Perhaps he will be able to assist us." + +"None whatever, so long as he keeps the affair to himself. You can +bring him to see the experiments if you like. All I reserve is that I +shall not be asked to explain the inner action of the machine. That must +remain a secret; but some day I hope to show you even that." + +"Thanks." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ELECTRIC ORRERY. + + +"Half-moon Junction! Change here for Venus, Mercury, the Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!" + +So I called in the style of a Clapham railway porter, as I entered the +observatory of Professor Gazen on the following night. + +"What is the matter?" said he with a smile. "Are you imitating the +officials of the Universal Navigation Company in the distant future?" + +"Not so distant as you may imagine," I responded significantly; and then +I told him all that I had seen and heard of the new flying machine. + +The professor listened with serious attention, but manifested neither +astonishment nor scepticism. + +"What do you think about it?" I asked. "What should I do in the case?" + +"Well, I hardly know," he replied doubtfully. "It is rather out of my +line, and after my experience with Mars the other night, I am not +inclined to dogmatise. At all events, I should like to see and try the +machine before giving an opinion." + +"I will arrange for that with the inventor." + +"Possibly I can find out something about him from my American +friends--if he is genuine. What's his name again?" + +"Carmichael--Nasmyth Carmichael." + +"Nasmyth Carmichael," repeated Gazen, musingly. "It seems to me I've +heard the name somewhere. Yes, now I recollect. When I was a student at +Cambridge, I remember reading a textbook on physics by Professor Nasmyth +Carmichael, an American, and a capital book it was--beautifully simple, +clear, and profound like Nature herself. Professors, as a rule, and +especially professors of science, are not the best writers in the world. +Pity they can't teach the economy of energy without wasting that of +their readers. Carmichael's book was not a dead system of mathematics +and figures, but rather a living tale, with illustrations drawn from +every part of the world. I got far more help from it than the prescribed +treatises, and the best of that was a liking for the subject. I believe +I should have been plucked without it." + +"The very man, no doubt." + +"He was remarkably sane when he wrote that book, whatever he is now. As +to his character, that is another question. Given a work of science, to +find the character of the author. Problem." + +"I shall proceed cautiously in the affair. Before I commit myself, I +must be satisfied by inspection and trial that there is neither trickery +nor self-delusion on his part. We can make some trial trips, and gain +experience before we attempt to leave the world." + +"If you take my advice you will keep to the earth altogether." + +"Surely, if we can ascend into the higher regions of the atmosphere, we +can traverse empty space. You would have me stop within sight of the +goal. The end of travel is to reach the other planets." + +"Why not say the fixed stars when you are about it?" + +"That's impossible." + +"On the contrary, with a vessel large enough to contain the necessaries +of life, a select party of ladies and gentlemen might start for the +Milky Way, and if all went right, their descendants would arrive there +in the course of a few million years." + +"Rather a long journey, I'm afraid." + +"What would you have? A million years quotha! nay, not so much. It +depends on the speed and the direction taken. If they were able to +cover, say, the distance from Liverpool to New York in a tenth of a +second, they would get to Alpha in the constellation Centaur, perhaps +the nearest of the fixed stars, in twenty or thirty years--a mere +bagatelle. But why should we stop there?" went on Gazen. "Why should we +not build large vessels for the navigation of the ether--artificial +planets in fact--and go cruising about in space, from universe to +universe, on a celestial Cook's excursion--" + +"We are doing that now, I believe." + +"Yes, but in tow of the Sun. Not at our own sweet will, like gipsies in +a caravan. Independent, free of rent and taxes, these hollow planetoids +would serve for schools, hotels, dwelling-houses--" + +"And lunatic asylums." + +"They would relieve the surplus population of the globe," continued +Gazen, warming to his theme. "It is an idea of the first political +importance--especially to British statesmen. The Empire is only in its +infancy. With a fleet of ethereal gunboats we might colonise the solar +system, and annex the stars. What a stroke of business!" + +"Another illusion gone," I observed "Think of Manchester cotton in the +Pleiades! Of Scotch whiskey in Orion! However, I am afraid your policy +would lead to international complications. The French would set up a +claim for 'Ancient Lights.' The Germans would discover a nebulous +Hinterland under their protection. The Americans would protest in the +name of the Monroe Doctrine. It is necessary to be modest. Let us return +to our muttons." + +"Everybody will be able to pick a world that suits him," pursued Gazen, +still on the trail of his thought. "If he grows tired of one he can look +round for a better. Criminals will be weeded out and sent to Coventry, I +mean transplanted into a worse. When a planet is dying of old age, the +inhabitants will flit to another." + +"Seriously, if Carmichael's machine turns out all right, will you join +me in a trip?" + +"Thanks, no. I believe I shall wait and see how you get on first." + +"And where would you advise me to go, Mars or Venus?" + +The professor smiled, but I was quite in earnest. + +"Well," he replied, "Mars is evidently inhabited; but so is Venus, +probably, and of the two I think you will find her the more hospitable +and the nearest. When do you propose to start?" + +"Perhaps within six months." + +"We must consider their relative distances from the earth. By the way, +I don't think you have seen my new electrical orrery." + +"An electrical orrery," I exclaimed. "Surely that is something new!" + +"So far as I am aware; but you never know in these days. There is +nothing new under the sun, or even above it." + +So saying, he opened a small door in the side of the observatory, and, +ushering me into a very dark apartment, closed it behind us. + +"Follow me, there is no danger," said he, taking me by the arm, and +guiding me for several paces into the darkness. + +At length we halted, and I looked all around me, but was unable to +perceive a single object. + +"Where are we?" I enquired; "in the realms of Chaos and Old Night?" + +"You are now in the centre of the Universe," replied Gazen; "or, to +speak more correctly, at a point in space overlooking the solar system." + +"Well, I can't see it," said I. "Have you got such a thing as a match +about you?" + +"Let there be light!" responded Gazen in a reverent manner, and +instantly a soft, weird radiance was over all. The contrast of that +sudden illumination with the preceding darkness was electrical in more +senses than one, and I could not repress a cry of genuine admiration. + +A kind of twilight still reigned, and after the first moment of +surprise, I perceived that we were standing on a light metal gangway in +the middle of a great hollow cell of a luminous black or dark blue +colour, relieved by innumerable bright points, and resembling the night +sky in miniature. + +"I need hardly say that is a model of the celestial sphere," whispered +Gazen, indicating the starry vault. + +"It is a wonderful imitation," I responded, my awestruck eyes wandering +over the mysterious tracts of the Milky Way and the familiar +constellations of the mimic heavens. "May I ask how it is done--how you +produce that impression of infinite distance?" + +"By means of translucent shells illuminated from behind. The stars, of +course, are electric lamps, and some of them, as you see, have a tinge +of red or blue." + +Most of the light, however, came from a brilliant globe of a bluish +lustre, which appeared to occupy the centre of the crystal sphere, and +was surrounded by a number of smaller and fainter orbs that shone by its +reflected rays. + +"This, again, is a model of the solar system," said Gazen. "The central +luminary is, of course, the sun, and the others are the planets with +their satellites." + +"They seem to float in air." + +"That is because their supports are invisible, or nearly so. Both their +lights and periodic motions are produced by the electric current." + +"Surely they are not moving now?" + +"Oh, yes, and with velocities proportionate to those of the real bodies; +but you know that whilst the actual movements of the sun and planets are +so rapid, the dimensions of the system are so vast that if you could +survey the whole from a standpoint in space, as we are supposed to do, +it would appear at rest. Let us look at them a little closer." + +I followed Gazen along the gangway which encircled the orrery, and +allowed us to survey each of the planets closer at hand. + +"This kind of place would make a good theatre for a class in astronomy," +said I, "or for the meetings of the Interplanetary Congress of +Astronomers, in the year 2000. You can turn on the stars and planets +when you please. I wish you would give me a lecture on the subject now. +My knowledge is a little the worse for wear, and a man ought to know +something of the worlds around him--especially if he intends to visit +them." + +"I should only bore you with an old story." + +"Not at all. You cannot be too simple and elementary. Regard me as a +small boy in the stage of + + "'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, + How I wonder what you are!'" + +"Very well, my little man, have you any idea how many stars you can see +on a clear night?" + +"Billions." + +"No, Tommy. You are wrong, my dear boy. Go to the foot of your class. +With the naked eye we can only distinguish three or four thousand, but +with the telescope we are able to count at least fifty millions. They +are thickest in the Milky Way, which, as you can see, runs all round the +heavens, over your head, and under your feet, like an irregular tract of +hazy light, a girdle of stars in short. Of course we cannot tell how +many more there are beyond the range of vision, or what other galaxies +may be scattered in the depths of space. The stars are suns, larger or +smaller than our own, and of various colours--white, blue, yellow, +green, and red. Some are single, but others are held together in pairs +or groups by the force of gravitation. From their immense distance they +appear fixed to us, but in reality they are flying in all directions at +enormous velocities. Alpha, of the constellation Cygnus, for example, is +coming towards us at a speed of 500 million leagues per annum, and some +move a great deal faster. Most of them probably have planets circling +round them in different stages of growth, but these are invisible to us. +Here and there amongst them we find luminous patches or 'nebulæ,' which +prove to be either clusters of stars or stupendous clouds of glowing +gases. Our sun is a solitary blue star on the verge of the Milky Way, 20 +billion miles from Alpha Centauri his next-door neighbour. He is +travelling in a straight line towards the constellation Hercules at the +rate of 20,000 miles an hour, much quicker than a rifle bullet; and, +nevertheless, he will take more than a million years to cover the +distance. Eight large or major planets, with their satellites, and a +flock of minor planets or planetoids, are revolving round him as their +common centre and luminary at various distances, but all in the same +direction. The orbits, or paths, about the sun are ovals or ellipses, +almost circular, of which the sun occupies one focus, and they are so +nearly in one plane, or at one level, that if seen from the sun, they +would appear to wander along a narrow belt of the heavens, called the +zodiac, which extends a few degrees on each side of the Elliptic or +apparent course of the sun against the stars. The planets are all +globes, more or less flat at the poles, like an orange, and each is +turning and swaying on its axis, thus exposing every part to the light +and warmth of the sun. They are divided by the planetoids into an inner +and an outer band. The inner four are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and +Mars; the outer four are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Moreover, +a number of comets and swarms of meteoric stones or meteorites are +circulating round the sun in eccentric paths, which cross those of the +planets. Such is the solar system--a lonely archipelago in the ethereal +ocean--a little family of worlds." + +"Not without its jars, I'm afraid." + +"The sun is chief of the clan," continued Gazen, "and keeps it together +by the mysterious tie of gravitation. While flying through space, he +turns round his own axis like a rifle bullet in 25 or 26 days. His +diameter is 860,000 miles, and although he is not much denser than +sea-water, his mass is over 700 times greater than the combined mass of +all his retinue. Gravity on his surface being 28 times stronger than on +the earth, a piece of timber would be as heavy as gold there, and a +stone let fall would drop 460 feet the first second instead of 16 feet +as here. He is built of the same kind of matter as the earth and other +planets, but is hotter than the hottest electric arc or reverberatory +furnace. Apparently his glowing bulk is made up of several concentric +shells like an onion. First there is a kernel or liquid nucleus, +probably as dense as pitch. Above it is the photosphere, the part we +usually see, a jacket of incandescent clouds, or vapours, which in the +telescope is seen to resemble 'willow leaves,' or 'rice grains in a +plate of soup,' and in the spectroscope to reveal the rays of iron, +manganese, or other heavy elements. What we call 'faculæ' (or little +torches), are brighter streaks, not unlike some kinds of coral. The +'Sunspots' are immense gaps or holes in the photosphere, some of them +150,000 miles in diameter, which afford us a peep at the glowing +interior. There are different theories as to their nature, hence they +provide rival astronomers with an excellent opportunity of spotting each +other's reputations. For instance, I look upon them as eruptions, and +Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil (my pet aversion) regards them as +cyclonic storms; consequently we never lose an opportunity of erupting +and storming at each other. Above the photosphere comes a stratum of +cooler vapours and gases, namely, hydrogen and helium, a very light +element recently found on the earth, along with argon, in the rare +mineral cleveite. Tremendous jets of blazing hydrogen are seen to burst +through the clouds of the photosphere, and play about in this higher +region like the flames of a coal fire. These are the famous 'red flames' +or 'prominences,' which are seen during a total eclipse as a ragged +fringe of rosy fire about the black disc of the moon. Some of them rush +through the chromosphere to a height of 80,000 miles in 15 minutes. + +"Higher still is the 'corona,' an aureole of silvery beams visible in a +total eclipse, and resembling the star of a decoration. The streamers +have been traced for hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the solar +disc. It appears to consist of meteoric stones, illuminated by the +sunlight as well as of incandescent vapours of 'coronium,' a very light +element unknown on the earth, and probably, too, of electrical +discharges. The 'zodiacal light,' that silvery glow often seen in the +west after sunset, or in the east before sunrise, may be a prolongation +of it." + +"I daresay these meteorites are swarming about the sun like midges about +a lamp," said I. + +"And just as eager to get burnt up," replied Gazen, with a smile. "Let +us pass now to the planets. The little one next the sun is Mercury, who +can be seen as a rosy-white star soon after sunset or before sunrise. He +is about 36 million miles, more or less, from the sun; travels round his +orbit in 88 days, the length of his year; and spins about his axis in +24 hours, making a day and night. His diameter is 3,000 miles, and his +mass is nearly seven times that of an equal volume of water. The +attraction of gravity on his surface is barely half that on the earth, +and a man would feel very light there. Mercury seems to have a dense +atmosphere, and probably high mountains, if not active volcanoes. The +sunshine is from four to nine times stronger there than on the earth, +and as summer and winter follow each other in six weeks, he is doubtless +rather warm. + +"Venus, the 'Shepherd's Star,' and the brightest object in the heavens +after the moon, can sometimes be seen by day, and casts a distinct +shadow at night. She is about 67 million miles from the sun, revolves +round him in 225 days, and rotates on her axis in 23 to 24 hours, or as +Schiaparelli believes, in 224 days. Her diameter is 7,600 miles, and her +mass nearly five times that of an equal volume of water. Gravity is +rather less there than it is here. Like Mercury, she appears to have a +cloudy atmosphere, and very high mountains. On the whole she resembles +the earth, but is, perhaps, a younger as well as a warmer planet. + +"The green ball, next to Venus, is, I need hardly say, our own dear +little world. Terra, or the earth, is 93 million miles from the sun, +goes round him in 365 days, and turns on her axis in 24 hours less four +minutes. Her diameter is 7,918 miles, and her density is 5.66 times that +of water. She is attended by a single satellite, the moon, which +revolves round her in 27.3 days, at a distance of 238,000 miles. The +moon rotates on her axis in about the same time, and hence we can only +see one side of her. She is 2,160 miles in diameter, but her mass is +only one-eightieth that of the earth. A pound weight on the moon would +scale six pounds on the earth. Having little or no atmosphere or water, +she is apparently a dead world. + +"The red planet beyond the earth is Mars, who appears in the sky as a +ruddy gold or coppery star. He is 141 million miles from the sun, +travels his orbit in 687 days, and wheels round his axis in 24 hours 37 +minutes. His diameter is 4,200 miles, and his mass about one-ninth that +of the earth. A body weighing two pounds on the earth would only make +half a pound on Mars. As you know, his atmosphere is clear and thin, his +surface flat, and subject to floods from the melting of the polar snows. +Mars is evidently a colder and more aged planet than the earth. + +"He is accompanied by two little moons, Phobos (Fear), which is from ten +to forty miles in diameter, and revolves round him in 7 hours 39 +minutes, at a distance of 6,000 miles, a fact unparalleled in astronomy; +and Deimos (Rout), who completes a revolution in 30 hours 18 minutes, at +a distance of 14,500 miles. + +"About 400 planetoids have been discovered up to now, but we are always +catching more of them. Medusa, the nearest, is 198 million miles, and +Thule, the farthest, is 396 million miles from the sun. Vesta, the +brightest and probably the largest, a pale yellow, or, as some say, +bluish white orb, visible with the naked eye, is from 200 to 400 miles +in diameter. It is impossible to say which is the smallest. Probably the +mass of the whole is not greater than one quarter that of the earth. + +"Jupiter, surnamed the 'giant planet,' who almost rivals Venus in her +splendour, is 480 million miles from the sun; travels round his orbit in +12 years less 50 days; and is believed to whirl round his axis in 10 +hours. His diameter is 85,000 miles, and his bulk is not only 1,200 +times that of the earth, but exceeds that of all the other planets put +together. Nevertheless, his mass is only 200 to 300 times that of the +earth, for his density is not much greater than that of water. What we +see is evidently his vaporous atmosphere, which is marked by coloured +spots and bands or belts, probably caused by storms and currents, +especially in the equatorial regions. Jupiter is thought to be self +luminous, at least in parts, and is, perchance, a cooling star, not yet +entirely crusted over. + +"Four or five numbered satellites, about the size of our moon and +upwards, are circulating round him in orbits from 2,000 to 1,000,000 +miles distant in periods ranging from 11 hours to 16 days 18 hours. + +"Saturn, the 'ringed planet,' who appears as a dull red star of the +first magnitude, is the most interesting of all the planets. He is 884 +million miles from the sun; his period of revolution is 29½ years, and +he turns on his axis in 10 hours 14 minutes. His diameter is 75,000 +miles, but his mass is only 94 times that of the earth, for he is +lighter than pinewood. His atmosphere is marked with spots and belts, +and on the whole his condition is like that of Jupiter. + +"Two flat rings or hoops, divided by a dark space, encircle his ball in +the plane of his equator. The inner ring is over 18,000 miles from the +ball, and nearly 17,000 miles broad. The gap between is 1,750 miles +wide, and the outer ring is over 10,000 miles broad. The rings are +banded, bright or dark, and vary in thickness from 40 to 250 miles. They +consist of innumerable small satellites and meteoric stones, travelling +round the ball in rather more than ten hours, and are brightest in +their densest parts. Of course they form a magnificent object in the +night sky of the planet, and it may be that our own zodiacal light is +the last vestige of a similar ring, and not an extension of the solar +corona. + +"Saturn has eight moons outside his rings, the nearest, Mimas, being +115,000, and the farthest, Japetus, 220,400 miles from his ball. With +the exception of Japetus, they revolve round him in the plane of his +rings, and when these are seen edgewise, appear to run along it like +beads on a string. + +"Uranus, the next planet visible, is a pale star of the sixth magnitude, +1,770 million miles from the sun, and completes his round in 84 years. +His axis, differing from those of the foregoing planets, lies almost in +the plane of his orbit, but we cannot speak as to his axial rotation. He +is 31,000 miles in diameter, and somewhat heavier, bulk for bulk, than +water. Four satellites revolve round him, the nearest, Ariel, being +103,500, and the farthest, Oberon, 347,500 miles distant. Unlike the +orbits of the foregoing satellites, which are nearly in the same plane +as the orbits of their primaries, those of the satellites of Uranus are +almost perpendicular to his own. They are travelled in periods of two +and a half to thirteen and a half days. + +"Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, but seen as a pale blue star in +the telescope, is 2,780 million miles from the sun, and makes a +revolution in 165 years. His diameter is about 35,000 miles, and his +density rather less than that of water. + +"Neptune has one satellite, at a distance of 202,000 miles, which, like +those of Uranus, revolves about its primary in an orbit at a +considerable angle to his own in five days twenty-one hours. Both +Neptune and Uranus are probably dying suns. + +"Comets of unknown number travel in long elliptical or parabolic orbits +round the sun at great velocities. They seem to consist partly of +glowing vapours, especially hydrogen, and partly of meteoric stones. +'Shooting stars,' that is to say, stones which fall to the earth, are +known to swarm in their wake, and are believed to be as plentiful in +space as fishes in the sea." + +"The trash or leavings of creation," said I reflectively. + +"And the raw material, for nothing is lost," rejoined Gazen. "Now, in +spite of all its diversity, there is a remarkable symmetry in the solar +system. The planets are all moving round the sun in one direction along +circular paths. As a rule each is nearly as far again from the sun as +the next within it. Thus, if we take Mercury as ¾ inch from the sun, +Venus is about 1¼ inches, the Earth 2¼, Mars 2, the planetoids 5¼, +Jupiter 9¾, Saturn 14, Uranus 36, and Neptune 60 inches. On the same +scale, by the way, Enckes' comet at Aphelion, its farthest distance from +the sun, would be about 12 feet; Donatis almost a mile; and Alpha +Centauri, a near star in the Milky Way, some ten miles. + +"The stately march of the planets in their orbits becomes slower the +farther they are from the sun. The velocity of Mercury in its orbit is +thirty, that of Jupiter is eight, and that of Neptune is only three +miles a second. On the other hand, the inner planets, as a rule, take +some twenty-four hours, and the outer only ten hours to spin round their +axis. The inner planets are small in comparison with the outer. If we +represent the sun by a gourd, 20 inches in diameter, Mercury will seem a +bilberry (⅟₁₆ inch) Venus, a white currant, the Earth a black currant +(¼ inch), Mars a red currant (⅛ inch), the planetoids as fine seed, +Jupiter an orange or peach (2 inches), Saturn a nectarine or greengage +(1 inch), Uranus a red cherry (¾ inch), and Neptune a white cherry +(barely 1 inch in diameter). By putting the sun and planets in a row, +and drawing a contour of the whole, we obtain the figure of a dirk, a +bodkin, or an Indian club, in which the sun stands for the knob +(disproportionately big), the inner planets for the handle, and the +outer for the blade or body. Again, the average density of the inner +planets exceeds that of the outer by nearly five to one, but the mass of +any planet is greater than the combined masses of all which are smaller +than it. The inner planets derive all their light and heat from the sun, +and have few or no satellites; whereas the outer, to all appearance, are +secondary suns, and have their own retinue of worlds. On the similitude +of a clan or house we may regard the inner planets as the immediate +retainers of the chief, and the outer as the chieftains of their own +septs or families." + +"How do you account for the symmetrical arrangement?" I enquired. + +"The origin of the solar system is, you know, a mystery," replied the +astronomer. "According to the nebular hypothesis we may imagine that two +or more dark suns, perhaps encircled with planets, have come into +collision. Burst into atoms by the stupendous shock they would fill the +surrounding region with a vast nebula of incandescent gases in a state +of violent agitation. Its luminous fringes would fly immeasurably beyond +the present orbit of Neptune, and then rush inwards to the centre, only +to be driven outwards again. Surging out and in, the fluid mass would +expand and contract alternately, until in course of ages the fiery +tides would cease to ebb and flow. If the impact had been somewhat +indirect it would rotate slowly on its axis, and under the influence of +gravity and centrifugal force acquire a globular shape which would +gradually flatten to a lenticular disc. As it cooled and shrank in +volume it would whirl the faster round its axis, and grow the denser +towards its heart. By and by, as the centrifugal force overcame gravity, +the nebula would part, and the lighter outskirts would be shed one after +another in concentric rings to mould the planets. The inner rings, being +relatively small and heavy, would probably condense much sooner than the +large, light, outer rings. The planetoids are apparently the rubbish of +a ring which has failed to condense into one body, perhaps through its +uniformity or thinness. The separation of so big a mass as Jupiter might +well attenuate the border." + +"If the planetoids were born of a single small ring, might not several +planets be condensed from a large one?" + +"I see nothing to hinder it. A large ring might split into smaller +rings, or condense in several centres." + +"Because it seems to me that might explain the distinction between the +inner and the outer planets. Perhaps the outer were first thrown off in +one immense ring, and then the inner in a smaller ring. Before +separation the nebula viewed edgewise might resemble your Indian club." + +"A 'dumb-bell nebula,' like those we find in the heavens," observed +Gazen. "Be that as it may, the rings would collect into balls, and some +of these, especially the outer, would cast off rings which would +condense into moons, always excepting the rings of Saturn, which, like +the planetoids, are evidently a failure. The solar system would then +appear as a group of suns, a cluster of stars, in short, a +constellation. Each would be what we call a 'nebulous star,' not unlike +the sun at present; that is to say, it would be surrounded by a glowing +atmosphere of vapours, and perhaps meteoric matter. Under the action of +gravity, centrifugal force, and tidal retardation, their orbits would +become more circular, they would gradually move further apart, rotate +more slowly on their axes, and assume the shapes they have now. In +cooling down, new chemical compounds, and probably elements would be +formed, since the so-called elements are perhaps mere combinations of a +primordial substance which have been produced at various temperatures. +The heavier elements, such as platinum, gold, and iron, would sink +towards the core; and the lighter, such as carbon, silicon, oxygen, +nitrogen, and hydrogen, would rise towards the surface. A crust would +form, and portions of it breaking in or bursting out together with +eruptions and floods of molten lava, would disturb the poise of the +planet, and give rise to inequalities of surface, to continents, and +mountains. When the crust was sufficiently stable, sound, and cool, the +mists and clouds would condense into rivers, lakes, or seas, and the +atmosphere would become clear. In due course life would make its +appearance." + +"Can you account for that mystery?" + +"No. Science is bound in honour, no doubt, to explain all it can without +calling in a special act of creation; but the origin of life and +intelligence seems to go beyond it, so far. Spontaneous generation from +dead matter is ruled out of court at present. We believe that life only +proceeds from life. As for the hypothesis that meteoric stones, the +'moss-grown fragments of another world' may have brought life to the +earth, I hardly know what to think of it." + +"Has life ever been found on a meteoric stone?" + +"Not that I know. Carbon, at all events in the state of graphite and +diamond, has been got from them. They arc generally a kind of slag, +containing nodules or crystals of iron, nickle, and other metals, and +look to me as if they had solidified from a liquid or vapour. Are they +ruins of an earlier cosmos--the crumbs of an exploded world--matter +ejected from the sun--the snow of a nebulous ring--frozen spray from the +fiery surge of a nebula? we cannot tell; but, according to the meteoric +as distinguished from the nebular hypothesis of the solar system, the +sun, planets, and comets, as well as the stars and nebula were all +generated by the clash of meteorites; and not as I have supposed, of +dead globes." + +"Which hypothesis do you believe?" + +"There may be some truth in both," replied Gazen. "The two processes +might even go on together. What if meteorites are simply frozen nebula? +It is certain that the earth is still growing a little from the fall of +meteoric stones, and that part of the sun's heat comes from meteoric +fuel. Most of it, however, arises from the shrinkage of his bulk. Five +or ten million years ago the sun was double the size he is now. Twenty +or thirty million years ago he was rather a nebula than a sun. In five +or ten million more he will probably be as Jupiter is now--a smoking +cinder." + +"And the earth--how long is it since she was crusted over?" + +"Anything from ten to several hundred million years. In that time the +stratified rocks have been deposited under water, the land and sea have +taken their present configurations; the atmosphere has been purified; +plants and animals have spread all over the surface. Man has probably +been from twenty to a hundred thousand years or more on the earth, but +his civilization is a thing of yesterday." + +"How long will the earth continue fit for life?" + +"Perhaps five or ten million years. The entire solar system is gradually +losing its internal heat, and must inevitably die of sheer inanition. +The time is coming when the sun will drift through space, a black star +in the midst of dead worlds. Perhaps the system will fall together, +perhaps it will run against a star. In either case there would probably +be a 'new heaven and a new earth.'" + +"Born like a phoenix from the ashes of the old," said I, feeling the +justice of the well-worn simile. + +"I daresay the process goes on to all eternity." + +"Like enough." + +The sublime idea, with its prospect of the infinite, held us for a time +in silence. At length my thoughts reverted to the original question +which had been forgotten. + +"Now, whether should I go to Mars or Venus?" I enquired, fixing my eyes +on these planets and trying to estimate their relative distances from +the earth. + +Gazen made a mental computation, and replied with decision, + +"Venus." + +"All right," I responded. "Venus let it be." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LEAVING THE EARTH. + + +"Check!" + +I was playing a game of chess with an old acquaintance, Viscount ----, +after dinner, one evening, in the luxurious smoking-room of a +fashionable club in the West End of London. + +Having got his queen into a very tight corner, I sipped a glass of wine, +lit a Turkish cigarette, and leaned back in my chair with an agreeable +sense of triumph. + +My companion, on the other hand, puffed rapidly at his cigar, and took a +long drink of hot whiskey and water, then fixed his attention on the +board, and stroked his beard with an air of the deepest gravity. Had you +only seen his face at that moment you would have supposed that all the +care of a mighty empire weighed upon his shoulders. The countenance of a +grand vizier, engaged in considering an ultimatum of Lord Salisbury, +were frivolous in comparison. There is little doubt that if Lord ---- +had applied to the serious business of life as much earnest deliberation +as he gave to the movement of a pawn, he would have made a very +different figure in Society. But having been born without any effort of +his own to all that most men covet--rank, wealth, and title--he showed a +rare spirit of contentment, and did his best to make the world happier +by enjoying himself. + +As he was a very slow player, I began to think of a matter which lay +nearer to my heart than the game, I mean the project of travelling to +Venus. Tests of the new flying machine, by Professor Gazen and myself, +as well as our enquiries into the character of Mr. Carmichael, having +proved quite satisfactory, I had signed an agreement for the +construction of an ethereal ship or car, equally capable of navigating +the atmosphere to distant regions of the globe, and of traversing the +immense reaches of empty space between the earth and the other members +of the solar system. + +As Miss Carmichael had determined to accompany her father, and assist +him in his labours, it was built to carry three persons, with room to +spare for another, and the trial trips, made secretly on foggy nights, +had encouraged us to undertake the longer voyage into space. I am glad +to say that Professor Gazen, having taken part in one of these, had got +the better of his caution, and finally made up his mind to join the +expedition. + +I suspect that he was influenced in his decision by the heroic example +of Miss Carmichael. At all events I know he tried very hard to dissuade +her from going; but all his arguments could not shake her inflexible +resolution, and truly, there was something sublime in the quiet fidelity +of this young woman to her aged father which commanded our admiration. + +At length, all preparations for the voyage were complete, and as we did +not wish to excite any remark, it was arranged that we should start on +the first night that was dark enough to conceal our movements. + +While these thoughts were passing through my head, a footman, in plush, +entered the smoking-room, and presented a telegram on a golden salver. +Anticipating the contents, I tore it open, and read as follows: + + "_We leave to-night. Come on at once._--CARMICHAEL." + +After writing a reply to the message, I turned to the Viscount, who had +never raised his eyes from the board, and said, + +"You had better give me the game." + +He simply stared at me, and asked, + +"Why?" + +"Well, make it a draw." + +"Oh, dear no. Let's play it out." + +"I can't. I'm sorry to say I must leave you now. I have just received a +telegram making an urgent appointment. When beauty calls--" + +"Oh!" replied his lordship, with an amiable smile. "In that case we'll +finish it another time. I mean to win this game." + +"It will take you all your time." + +"I'll wager you ten to one--a thousand sovereigns to a hundred that I +win." + +It is not my habit to lay wagers; but I was anxious to be gone. + +"All right," I responded with a laugh, as I went away. "Good-night!" + +On arriving at Mr. Carmichael's cottage I found the rest of the party +waiting for me. No time was lost in proceeding to the garden, where the +car stood ready to mount into the air. All the lights were out, and in +the darkness it might have been mistaken for a tubular boiler of a dumpy +shape. It was built of aluminium steel, able to withstand the impact of +a meteorite, and the interior was lined with caoutchouc, which is a +non-conductor of heat, as well as air-proof. The foot or basement +contained the driving mechanism, and a small cabin for Mr. Carmichael. +The upper shell, or main body, of an oval contour, projected beyond the +basement, and was surmounted by an observatory and conning tower. It was +divided into several compartments, that in the middle being the saloon, +or common chamber. At one end there was a berth for Miss Carmichael, and +at the other one for Professor Gazen and myself, with a snug little +smoking cell adjoining it. Every additional cubic inch was utilised for +the storage of provisions, cooking utensils, arms, books, and scientific +apparatus. + +The vessel was entered by a door in the middle, and a railed gallery or +deck ran round it outside. The interior was lighted by ports, or +scuttles, of stout glass; but electricity was also at our service. Air +constantly evaporating from the liquid state would fill the rooms, and +could escape through vent holes in the walls. This artificial atmosphere +was supplemented by a reserve fund of pure oxygen gas compressed in +steel cylinders, and a quantity of chemicals for purifying the air. It +need hardly be said that we did not burden the ship with unnecessary +articles, and that every piece of furniture was of the lightest and most +useful kind. + +I think we all felt the solemnity of the moment as we stepped into the +black hull which might prove our living coffin. No friends were by to +sadden us with their parting; but the old earth had grown dearer to us +now that we were about to leave it, perhaps for ever. Mr. Carmichael +descended by the trap into the engine room, while we others stood on the +landing beside the open door, mute and expectant. + +Presently, a shudder of the vessel sent a strange thrill to our hearts, +and almost before we knew it, we had left the ground. + +"We're off!" ejaculated Gazen, and although a slight vibration was all +the movement we could feel, we saw the earth sinking away from us. At +first we rose very slowly, because the machine had to contend against +the force of gravity; but as the weight of the car diminished the higher +we ascended, our speed gradually augmented, and we knew that in the long +run it would become prodigious. The night was moonless, and a thick +mantle of clouds obscured the heavens; but the planet Venus was now an +evening star, and after attaining a considerable height, we steered +towards the west. Our course took us over the metropolis, which lay +beneath us like a vast conflagration. + +Far as the eye could see, myriads of lights glimmered like watch fires +through the murk of the dismal streets, growing thicker and thicker as +we approached the heart of the city, and appearing to blend their +lustres. Through the midst of the glittering expanse we could trace the +black tide of the river, crossed by the sparkling lines of the bridges, +and reflecting the red lanterns of the ships and barges. The principal +squares and thoroughfares were picked out, with rows and clusters of gas +and electric lamps, as with studs of gold and silver. The clock on the +Houses of Parliament glowed like the full moon on a harvest night. Now +and again the weird blaze of a furnace, or the shifting beam of an +advertisement, attracted our attention. With indescribable emotion we +hung over the immense panorama, and recognised the familiar streets and +buildings--the Bank and Post Office, St. Paul's Cathedral and Newgate +Prison, the Law Courts and Somerset House, the British Museum, the +National Gallery of Arts, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. We +watched the busy multitudes swarming like ants in the glare of the +pavements from the dreary slums and stalls of Whitechapel to the +newspaper offices of Fleet Street; the shops and theatres of the Strand; +the music halls and restaurants of Piccadilly Circus. A deep and +continuous roar, a sound like that of the ocean ascended from the +toiling millions below. + +"Isn't it awful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a tone of reverence. +"What a city! I seem to understand how an angel feels when he regards +the world in space, or a God when He listens to the prayers of +humanity." + +"For my part," said Gazen, "I feel as though I were standing on my +head." + +By this time we had lost the sense of danger, and gathered confidence in +our mode of travel. + +"I fancy the clouds overhead are the real earth," explained the +astronomer, "and that I'm looking down into the starry heavens, with its +Milky Way. I say, though, isn't it jolly up here--soaring above all +these moiling mannikins below--wasting their precious lives grubbing in +the mire--dead to the glories of the universe--seeking happiness and +finding misery. Ugh!--wish I had a packet of dynamite to drop amongst +them and make them look up. Hallo!" + +The earth had suddenly vanished from our sight. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN SPACE. + + +We had entered the clouds. + +For half-an-hour we were muffled in a cold, damp mist, and total +darkness, and had begun to think of going indoors when, all at once, the +car burst into the pure and starlit region of the upper air. + +A cry of joyous admiration escaped from us all. + +The spectacle before us was indeed sublime. + +The sky of a deep dark blue was hung with innumerable stars, which +seemed to float in the limpid ether, and the rolling vapours through +which we had passed were drawn like a sable curtain between us and the +lower world. The stillness was so profound that we could hear the +beating of our own hearts. + +"How beautiful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a solemn whisper, as if +she were afraid that angels might hear. + +"There is Venus right ahead," cried the astronomer, but in a softer +tone than usual, perhaps out of respect for the sovereign laws of the +universe. "The course is clear now--we are fairly on the open sea--I +mean the open ether. I must get out my telescope." + +"The sky does not look sad here, as it always does on the earth--to me +at least," whispered Miss Carmichael, after Gazen had left us alone. "I +suppose that is because there is so much sadness around us and within us +there." + +"The atmosphere, too, is often very impure," I replied, also in a +whisper. + +"Up here I enjoy a sense of absolute peace and well-being, if not +happiness," she murmured. "I feel raised above all the miseries of +life--they appear to me so paltry and so vain." + +"As when we reach a higher moral elevation," said I, drifting into a +confidential mood, like passengers on the deck of a ship, under the +mysterious glamour of the night-sky. "Such moments are too rare in life. +Do you remember the lines of Shakespeare:-- + + "'Look, how the floor of heaven + Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: + There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, + But in his motion like an angel sings, + Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: + Such harmony is in immortal souls; + But whilst this muddy vesture of decay + Doth grossly close it in--we cannot hear it.'" + +"True," responded Miss Carmichael, "and now I begin to feel like a +disembodied spirit--a 'young-eyed cherubim.' I seem to belong already to +a better planet. Should you not like to dwell here for ever, far away +from the carking cares and troubles of the world?" + +The unwonted sadness of her tone reminded me of her devoted life, and I +turned towards her with new interest and sympathy. She was looking at +the Evening Star, whose bright beam softened the irregularities of her +profile, and made her almost beautiful. + +"Yes," I answered, and the words "with you" formed themselves in my +heart. I know not what folly I might have spoken had not the +conversation been interrupted by Gazen, who called out in his unromantic +style, + +"I say, Miss Carmichael! Won't you come and take a look at Venus?" + +She rose at once, and I followed her to the observatory. + +The telescope was very powerful for its size, and showed the dusky night +side of the planet against the brilliant crescent of the day like the +"new moon in the arms of the old," or, as Miss Carmichael said, "like an +amethyst in a silver clasp." + +"Really, it is not unlike that," said Gazen, pleased with her feminine +conceit. "If the instrument were stronger you would probably see the +clasp go all round the dusky violet body like a bright ring, and +probably, too, an ashen light within it, such as we see on the dark side +of the moon. By-and-by, as we get nearer, we shall study the markings of +the terminator, and a shallow notch that is just visible on the inner +edge of the southern horn. Can you see it?" + +"Yes, I think I can. What is it?" replied Miss Carmichael. + +"Probably a vast crater, or else a range of high mountains intercepting +the sunlight, and making a scallop in the border of the terminator. +However, that is a secret for us to find out. We know very little of the +planet Venus--not even the length of her day. Some think it is eight +months long, others twenty-four hours. We shall see. I have begun to +keep a record of our discoveries, and some day--when I return to town--I +hope to read a paper on the subject before the most potent, grave, and +learned Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--I rather think I +shall surprise them--I do not say startle--it is impossible to startle +the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--or even to astonish +them--you might as well hope to tickle the Sphinx--but I fancy it will +stir them up a little, especially my friend Professor Sylvanus Pettifer +Possil. However, I must take care not to give them the slightest hint of +what they are to expect beforehand, otherwise they will declare they +knew all about it already." + +"Has it struck you that up here the stars appear of different colours at +various distances," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Oh, yes," answered Gazen, "and in the pure atmosphere of the desert, or +on the summit of high mountains, we notice a similar effect. The stars +have been compared to the trees of a forest, in different stages of +growth and decay. Some of them are growing in splendour, and others +again are dying out. Arcturus, a red star, for example, is fast cooling +to a cinder. Capella, over there, is a yellow star, like our own sun, +and past his prime. Sirius, that brilliant white or bluish star, which +flashes like a diamond in the south, is one of the fiercest. He is a +double star, his companion being seven and himself thirteen times +massier than the sun; but they are fifty times brighter, and a million +times further off, that is to say, one hundred billion miles away. +These double or twin stars are often very beautiful. The twins are of +all colours, and generally match well with each other--for instance, +purple and orange--green and orange--red and green--blue and pale +green--white and ruby. One of the prettiest lies in the constellation +Cygnus. I will show it to you." + +"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, looking through the glass. +"The bigger star is a golden or topaz yellow, and the smaller a light +sapphire blue." + +"Some of the star groups and nebulæ are just as pretty," observed Gazen, +turning his telescope to another part of the heavens; "most of the stars +are white, but there is a sprinkling of yellow, blue, and red amongst +them--I mean, of course, to our view, for the absorption of our +atmosphere alters the tint." + +"Does that mean that there is more youth than age, more life than death, +in the universe?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"Not exactly," replied the astronomer. "There is apparently no lack of +vigour in the Cosmos--no great sign of decrepitude; but we must remember +that we see the younger and brighter stars better than the others, and +for aught we know there are many dark suns or extinct stars, as well as +planets and their satellites. I should not like to say that the +population of space is going down; but on the whole it may be +stationary. I wish I could show you the cluster in Toucan, a rosy star +in a ring of white ones." + +"Like a brooch of pearls," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Yes--not unlike that," responded Gazen, evidently amused at her +comparison. "But that constellation is in the Southern Hemisphere. +However, here is the 'ring' or 'planetary' nebula in the Lyre." + +"What a wonderful thing!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, with her eye at the +instrument. "It looks to me like a golden hoop, with diamond dust +inside." + +I do not know where Miss Carmichael got her knowledge of jewellery, for +to all appearance she wore none. + +"Or the cup of a flower," she added, raising her head. + +"Poets have called the stars 'fleurs de ciel,'" said Gazen, shifting the +telescope, "and if so, the nebula are the orchids; for they imitate +crabs, birds, dumb-bells, spirals, and so forth. Take a look at this +one, and tell us what you think of it." + +"I see a cloud of silver light in the dark sky," said Miss Carmichael, +after observing it. + +"What does it resemble?" + +"It's rather like a pansy--or--" + +"Anything else?" + +"A human face!" + +"Not far out," rejoined Gazen. "It is called the Devil Nebula!" + +"And what is it?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"It is a cluster of stars--a spawn of worlds, if I may use the +expression," answered Gazen. + +"And what are they made of? I know very little of astronomy." + +"The same stuff as the earth--the same stuff as ourselves--hydrogen, +iron, carbon, and other chemical elements. Just as all the books in the +world are composed of the same letters, so all the celestial bodies are +built of the same elements. Everything is everywhere--" + +Gazen was evidently in his own element, and began a long lecture on the +constitution of the universe, which appeared to interest Miss Carmichael +very much. Somehow it jarred upon me, and I retired to the little +smoking-room, where I lit a cigar, and sat down beside the open scuttles +to enjoy a quiet smoke. + +"Why am I displeased with the lucubrations of the professor?" I said to +myself. "Am I jealous of him because he has monopolised the attention of +Miss Carmichael? No, I think not. I confess to a certain interest in +Miss Carmichael. I believe she is a noble girl, intelligent and +affectionate, simple and true; with a touch of poetry in her nature +which I had never suspected. She will make an excellent companion to the +fortunate man who wins her. When I remember the hard life she has led so +far, I confess I cannot help sympathising with her; but surely I am not +in love?" + +I regret to say that my friend the astronomer, with all his good +qualities, was not quite free from the arrogance which leads some men of +science to assume a proprietary right in the objects of their discovery. +To hear him speak you would think he had created the stars, instead of +explaining a secret of their constitution. However, I was used to that +little failing in his manner. It was not that. No, it was chiefly the +matter of his discourse which had been distasteful to me. The sight of +that glorious firmament had filled me with a sentiment of awe and +reverence to which his dry and brutal facts were a kind of desecration. +Why should our sentiment so often shrink from knowledge? Are we afraid +its purity may be contaminated and defiled? Why should science be so +inimical to poetry? Is it because the reality is never equal to our +dreams? There is more in this antipathy than the fear of disillusion +and alloyment. Some of it arises from a difference in the attitude of +the mind. + +To the poet, nature is a living mystery. He does not seek to know what +it is, or how it works. He allows it as a whole to impress itself on his +entire soul, like the reflection in a mirror, and is content with the +illusion, the effect. By its power and beauty it awakens ideas and +sentiments within him. He does not even consider the part which his own +mind plays, and as his fancy is quite free, he tends to personify +inanimate things, as the ancients did the sun and moon. + +To the man of science, on the other hand, nature is a molecular +mechanism. He wishes to understand its construction, and mode of action. +He enquires into its particular parts with his intellect, and tries to +penetrate the illusion in order to lay bare its cause. Heedless of its +power and beauty, he remains uninfluenced by sentiment, and mistrusting +the part played by his own mind, he tends to destroy the habit of +personification. + +Hence that opposition between science and poetry which Coleridge pointed +out. The spirit of poetry is driven away by the spirit of science, just +as Eros fled before the curiosity of Psyche. + +How can I enjoy the perfume of a rose if I am thinking of its cellular +tissue? I grow blind to the beauty of the Venus de Medicis when I +measure its dimensions, or analyse its marble. What do I care for the +drama if I am bent on going behind the scenes and examining the stage +machinery? The telescope has banished Phoebus and Diana from our +literature, and the spectroscope has vulgarised the stars. + +Will science make an end of poetry as Renan and many others have +thought? Surely not? Poetry is quite as natural and as needful to +mankind as science. All men are poetical, as they are scientific, more +or less. + +It might even be argued that poetry is for the general, for the man as a +man; while science is for the particular, for the man as a specialist; +and that poetry is a higher and more essential boon than science, +because it speaks to the heart, not merely to the head, and keeps alive +the celestial as well as the terrestrial portion of our nature. + +Shall we prefer the cause to the effect, and the means to the end, or +exalt the matter above the form, and the letter above the spirit? Does +not the tissue exist for the sweetness of the rose, the marble for the +beauty of the stature, and the mechanism for the illusion of the play? +The "opposition" between science and poetry lies not in the object, but +in our mode of regarding it. The scientific and the poetical spirit are +complementary, as the inside to the outside of a garment, and if they +seem to drive each other away it is because the mind cannot easily +entertain and employ both together; but one is passive when the other is +active. + +Keats drank "confusion to Newton" for destroying the poetry of the +rainbow by showing how the colours were elicited; but after all was +Newton guilty? Why should a true knowledge of the cause destroy the +poetry of an effect? Every effect must be produced somehow. The rainbow +is not less beautiful in itself because I know that it is due to the +refraction of light. The diamond loses none of its lustre although +chemistry has proved it to be carbon; the heavens are still glorious +even if the stars are red-hot balls. + +But stones, carbon, and light are familiar commonplace things, and +fraught with prosaic associations. + +True, and yet natural things are noble in themselves, and only vulgar in +our usage. It is for us to purify and raise our thoughts. Instead of +losing our interest in the universe because it is all of the same stuff, +we should rather wonder at the miracle which has formed so rich a +variety out of a common element. + +But the mystery is gone, and the feelings and fancies which arose from +it. + +In exchange for the mystery we have truth, which excites other emotions +and ideas. Moreover, the mystery is only pushed further back. We cannot +tell what the elements really are; they will never be more than symbols +to us, and all nature at bottom will ever remain a mystery to us: an +organised illusion. Think, too, of the innumerable worlds amongst the +stars, and the eternity of the past and future. Whether we look into the +depths of space beyond the reach of telescope and microscope, or +backward and forward along the vistas of time, we shall find ourselves +surrounded with an impenetrable mystery in which the imagination is free +to rove. + +Science, far from destroying, will foster and develop poetry. It is the +part of the scientific to serve the poetical spirit by providing it with +fresh matter. The poet will take the truth discovered by the man of +science, and purify it from vulgar associations, or stamp it with a +beautiful and ideal form. + +Consider the vast horizons opened to the vision of the poet by the +investigations of science and the doctrine of evolution. At present the +spirit of science is perhaps more active than the spirit of poetry, but +we are passing through an unsettled to a settled period. Tennyson was +the voice of the transition; but the singer of evolution is to come, and +after him the poet of truth. + +If we allowed the scientific to drive away the poetical spirit, we +should have to go in quest of it again, as the forlorn Psyche went in +search of Eros. It is necessary to the proper balance and harmony of our +minds, to the purification of our feelings, and the right enjoyment of +life. Poetry expresses the inmost soul of man, and science can never +take its place. Religion apart, what does the present age of science +need more than poetry? What would benefit a hard-headed, matter-of-fact +man of science like Professor Gazen if not the arts of the sublime and +beautiful--if not a poetical companion--such as Miss Carmichael? + + * * * * * + +Thus, after a long rambling meditation, I had come back to my bachelor +friend and the fair American. + +"Yes," thought I, rather uneasily, I must confess, for I could not +disguise from myself the fact that I was taken with her, "Gazen and she +are not an ill-matched pair by any means. They are alike in many +respects, and a contrast in others. They have common ground in their +love and aptitude for science; yet each has something which the other +lacks. She has poetry and sentiment for instance, but he--well, I'm +afraid that if he ever had any it has all evaporated by this time. On +the other hand, she"--but it puzzled me to think of any good quality +that Miss Carmichael did not possess, and I began to consider that she +would be throwing herself away upon him. "They seem to get on well +together, however--monstrously well. I wonder what star he is picking to +pieces now?" + +I listened for the sound of their voices, but not a murmur passed +through the curtain which I had drawn across the entrance to the smoking +cabin. Only a peculiar tremor from the mysterious engines broke the +utter stillness. Was I growing deaf? I snapped my fingers to reassure +myself, and the sound startled me like the crack of a pistol. Evidently +my sense of hearing had become abnormally acute. My mind, too, was +preternaturally clear, and the solitude became so irksome that I rose +from my seat, and looked out of the scuttles to relieve the tension of +my nerves. + +Apparently we had reached a great height in the atmosphere, for the sky +was a dead black, and the stars had ceased to twinkle. By the same +illusion which lifts the horizon of the sea to the level of the +spectator on a hillside, the sable cloud beneath was dished out, and the +car seemed to float in the middle of an immense dark sphere, whose upper +half was strewn with silver. Looking down into the dark gulf below, I +could see a ruddy light streaming through a rift in the clouds. It was +probably a last glimpse of London, or some neighbouring town; but soon +the rolling vapours closed, and shut it out. + +I now realised to the full that I was _nowhere_, or to speak more +correctly, a wanderer in empty space--that I had left one world behind +me and was travelling to another, like a disembodied spirit crossing the +gloomy Styx. A strange serenity took possession of my soul, and all that +had polluted or degraded it in the lower life seemed to fall away from +it like the shadow of an evil dream. + +In the depths of my heart I no longer felt sorry to quit the earth. It +seemed to me now, a place where the loveliest things never come to +birth, or die the soonest--where life itself hangs on a blind mischance, +where true friendship is afraid to show its face, where pure love is +unrequited or betrayed, and the noblest benefactors of their fellowmen +have been reviled or done to death--a place which we regard as a heaven +when we enter it, and a hell before we leave it. . . . No, I was not +sorry to quit the earth. + +And the beautiful planet, shining there so peacefully in the west, was +it any better? At a like distance the earth would seem still fairer, and +perhaps even now some wretch in Venus is asking himself a similar +question. Is it not probable that just as all the worlds are made of the +same materials, so the mixture of good and evil is much the same in all? +I turned to the stars, where in all ages man has sought an answer to his +riddles. The better land! Where is it? if not among the stars. I am now +in the old heaven above the clouds. Does it lie _within_ the visible +universe, as it lies within the heart when peace and happiness are +there? + +In that pure ether the glory of the firmament was revealed to me as it +had never been on the earth, where it is often veiled with clouds and +mist, or marred by houses and surrounding objects--where the quietude of +the mind is also apt to be disturbed by sordid and perplexing cares. Its +awful sublimity overwhelmed my faculties, and its majesty inspired me +with a kind of dread. In presence of these countless orbs my own +nothingness came home to me, and a voice seemed to whisper in my ear, + +"Hush! What art thou? Be humble and revere." + +After a while, I perceived a pure celestial radiance of a marvellous +whiteness dawning in the east. By slow degrees it spread over the +starlit sky, lightening its blackness to a deep Prussian blue, and +lining the sable clouds on the horizon with silver. At length the round +disc of the sun, whiter than the full moon, and intolerably bright, rose +into view. + +With the intention of rejoining Professor Gazen in the observatory, and +seeing it through his telescope, I flung away my cigar, and stepped +towards the door of the cabin; but ere I had gone two paces, I suddenly +reeled and fell. At first I imagined that an accident had happened to +the car, but soon realised that I myself was at fault. Dizzy and faint, +with a bounding pulse, an aching head, and a panting chest, I raised +myself with great difficulty into a seat, and tried to collect my +thoughts. For the last quarter of an hour I had been aware of a growing +uneasiness, but the spectacle of sunrise had entranced me, and I forgot +it. Suspecting an attack of "mountain sickness" owing to the rarity of +the atmosphere, I attempted to rise and close the scuttles, but found +that I had lost all power in my lower limbs. The pain in my head +increased, the palpitation of my heart grew more violent, my ears rang +like a bell, and I literally gasped for breath. Moreover, I felt a +peculiar dryness in my throat, and a disagreeable taste of blood in my +mouth. What was to be done? I tried again to reach the door, but only to +find that I could not even move my arms, let alone my feet. +Nevertheless, I was singularly free from agitation or alarm, and my mind +was just as clear as it is now. I reflected that as the car was ever +rising into a rarer atmosphere, my only hope of salvation lay in calling +for help, and that as the paralysis was gaining on my whole body, not a +moment was to be lost. I shouted with all my strength; but beyond a sort +of hiss, not a sound escaped my lips. The profound silence of the car +now struck me in a new light. Had Gazen and Miss Carmichael not +committed the same blunder, and suffered a like fate? Perhaps even +Carmichael himself had been equally careless, and the flying machine, +now masterless, was carrying us Heaven knows whither. Strange to say I +entertained these sinister apprehensions without the least emotion. I +had lost all feeling of pain or anxiety, and was perfectly tranquil and +indifferent to anything that might happen. It is possible that with the +paralysis of my powers to help myself, I was also relieved by nature +from the fears of death. I began to think of the sensation which our +mysterious disappearance would make in the newspapers, and of divers +other matters, such as my own boyhood and my friends, when all at once +my eyes grew dim--and I remembered nothing more. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ARRIVING IN VENUS. + + +"Try to speak--there's a good fellow--open your eyes." + +I heard the words as in a dream. I recognised the voice of Gazen, but it +seemed to come from the far distance. Opening my eyes I found myself +prostrate on the floor of the smoking room, with the professor and Miss +Carmichael kneeling beside me. There was a look of great anxiety on +their faces. + +"I'm all right," said I feebly. "I'm so glad you are safe." + +It appears that a short time before, Gazen had closed the scuttles of +the observatory and returned with Miss Carmichael to the saloon, then, +after calling to me without receiving any answer, had opened the door of +the smoking-room and seen me lying in a dead faint. Luckily Miss +Carmichael had acquired some knowledge of medicine, partly from her +father, and without loss of time they applied themselves to bring me +round by the method of artificial respiration employed in cases of +drowning or lightning stroke. + +It would be tedious to narrate all the particulars of our journey +through the dark abyss, particularly as nothing very important befell +us, and one day passed like another. Now and then a small meteoric stone +struck the car and glanced off its rounded sides. + +"Old Charon," as Gazen and I had nicknamed Carmichael, after the grim +ferryman of the Styx, seldom forsook his engines, and Miss Carmichael +spent a good deal of her time along with him. Occasionally she chatted +with Gazen and myself in the saloon, or helped us to make scientific +observations; but although neither of us openly confessed it, I think we +both felt that she did not give us quite enough of her company. Her +manner seemed to betray no preference for one or the other. + +Did she, by her feminine instinct, perceive that we were both solicitous +of her company, and was she afraid of exciting jealousy between us? In +any case we were all the more glad to see her when she did join us. No +doubt men in general, and professors in particular, are fond of +communicating knowledge, but a great deal depends on the pupil; and +certainly I was surprised to see how the hard and dry astronomer beamed +with delight as he initiated this young lady into the mysteries of the +apparatus, and what a deal of trouble he took to cram her lovely head +with mathematics. + +We noted the temperature of space as we darted onwards, and discovered +that it contains a trace of gases lost from the atmospheres of the +heavenly bodies. We also found there a sprinkling of minute organisms, +which had probably strayed from some living world. Gazen suggested that +these might sow the seeds of organic life in brand-new planets, ready +for them, but perhaps that was only his scientific joke. The jokes of +science are frequently so well disguised, that many people take them for +earnest. + +Gazen made numerous observations of the celestial bodies, more +especially the sun, which now appeared as a globe of lilac fire in the +centre of a silvery lustre, but I will leave him to publish his results +in his own fashion. We may claim to have seen the South Pole, but, of +course, at a distance too great for scientific purposes. Judging by its +appearance, I should say it was surrounded by a frozen land. The earth, +with its ruddy and green continents, delineated as on a map, or veiled +in belted clouds, was a magnificent object for the telescope as it +wheeled in the blue rays of the sun. + +Hour after hour, with a kind of loving fascination, we watched it +growing "fine by degrees and beautifully less," until at last it waned +into a bright star. + +Venus, on the other hand, waxed more and more brilliant until it +rivalled the moon, and Mercury appeared as a rosy star not far from it. + +We soon got accustomed to the funereal aspect of the sky, and the utter +silence of space. Indeed, I was not so much impressed by the reality as +I had been by the simulacrum in my dream of sunrise in the moon. When I +looked at the weird radiance of the sun, however, I realised as I had +never done before that he was only a star seen comparatively near, and +that the earth was but his insignificant satellite. Moreover, when I +gazed down into the yawning gulf, with its strange constellations so far +_beneath_ us, I felt to the full the awful loneliness of the universe; +and how that all life and soul were confined to mere sunlit specks +thinly scattered here and there in the blackness of eternal night. + +Steering a calculated course by the stars, we reached the orbit of +Venus, and travelled along it in advance of the planet with a velocity +rather less than her own, so as to allow her to overtake us. Some +notion of the eagerness with which we scanned her approach may be +gathered by imagining the moon to fall towards the earth. Slowly and +steadily the illuminated crescent of the planet grew in bulk and +definition, until we could plainly distinguish all the features of her +disc without the aid of glasses. For the most part she was wrapped in +clouds, of a dazzling lustre at the equator, and duskier towards the +poles. Here and there a gap in the vapour revealed the summit of a +mountain range, or the dark surface of a plain or sea. + +I need hardly say that none of us viewed the majestic approach of this +new world, suspended in the ether, and visibly turning round its axis, +without emotion. The boundary of day and night was fairly well marked, +and I pictured to myself the wave of living creatures rising from their +sleep to life and activity on one side, and going to sleep again on the +other, as it crept slowly over the surface. To compare small things with +great, the denizens of a planet reminded me of performers under the +limelight of a darkened theatre: + + "All the world's a stage!" + +We amused ourselves with conjectures as to our probable fate on Venus, +supposing we should arrive there safe and sound. + +"I suppose the authorities will demand our passports," said I. "Perhaps +we shall be tried and condemned to death for invading a friendly +planet." + +"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," said Gazen, "if they were to put +us into their zoological gardens as a rare species of monkey." + +"What a ridiculous idea!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael. "Now _I_ feel sure +they will pay us divine honours. Won't it be nice?" + +"You will make a perfect divinity," rejoined the professor with +consummate gallantry. "For my part I shall feel more at home in a +menagerie." + +Thus far we had not observed any signs of intelligent beings on the +cloudy globe, and it was still doubtful whether we should not discover +it to be a lifeless world. + +Our track did not lie exactly on the orbit of the planet, but +sufficiently beneath it to let her attraction pull the car up towards +her Southern Pole as it passed above us; and by this course of action we +trusted to enjoy a wider field of atmosphere to manoeuvre in, and +probably a safer descent into a cooler climate than we should have +experienced in attempting to land on the equator. + +By an illusion familiar in the case of railway trains, it seemed to us +that the car was stationary, and the planet rushing towards us. On it +came like a great shield of silver and ebony, eclipsing the stars and +growing vaster every moment. Under the driving force of the engines and +the gravity of the planet, our car was falling obliquely towards the +orbit, like a small boat trying to cross the bows of an ironclad, and a +collision seemed inevitable. Being on the sunward side we could see more +and more of the illuminated crescent as it drew near, and were filled +with amazement at the sublime spectacle afforded by the strange contrast +between the purple splendour of the solar disc in the black abyss of +ether and the pure white celestial radiance which was reflected from the +atmosphere of the planet. + +The climax of magnificence was reached when the approaching surface came +so close as to appear concave, and our little ark floated above a +hemisphere of dazzling brightness under a hemisphere of appalling +darkness faintly relieved by the glimmer of stars and the purple glory +of the sun. + +Ere we could express our admiration, however, we were startled by a +magical transformation of the scene. The sky suddenly became blue, the +stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the +broad day was all around us. + +"Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and +wonder. + +"We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with +alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?" + +So saying he opened one of the scuttles, and a whiff of fresh air blew +into the car. Thrusting his nose out, he sniffed cautiously for a while +and then drew several long breaths. + +"It seems all right as regards quality," he remarked, "but there's too +little body in it. We must wait until we get nearer the ground before we +can go outside the car." + +The pressure of the atmosphere as taken by an aneroid barometer +confirmed his observation, but as we were ignorant of its average +density it could not give us any certain indication of our height. Far +beneath us an ideal world of clouds hid the surface from our view. We +seemed to be floating above a range of snowy Alps, their dusky valleys +filled with glaciers, and their sovereign peaks glittering in the sun +like diamonds. As we descended in a long slant, their dazzling summits +rose to meet us, and the infinite play of light and shade became more +and more beautiful. The gliding car threw a distinct shadow which +travelled along the white screen, and equally to our surprise and +delight became fringed with coloured circles resembling rainbows. + +"It is a good omen!" cried Miss Carmichael. + +"Humph!" responded the professor, shaking his head but smiling +good-humouredly; "that is a mere superstition I'm afraid. It is simply +an optical effect, a variety of the phenomenon called 'anthelia,' like +Ulloa's Circle and the famous 'Spectre of the Brocken.'" + +"Explain it how you will," rejoined Miss Carmichael, "to me it is an +emblem of hope. It cheers my heart." + +"I am very glad to hear it, and I should be very sorry to crush your +hopes," said Gazen pleasantly. "We can sometimes derive moral +encouragement and profit from external phenomena. A rainbow in the midst +of a storm is a cheering sight. I daresay there is a reasonable basis, +too, for certain superstitions. St. Elmo's Fire may, for instance, from +natural causes, be a sign of good weather, only there is nothing +supernatural about it." + +"I am not in the secrets of the supernatural," replied Miss Carmichael, +"but I believe that if we do not look for the supernatural, if we shut +our eyes to it, we are not likely to see it." + +"Science has proved that so many things formerly thought to be +supernatural are quite natural," observed the astronomer a little more +humbly. + +"Perhaps the natural and the supernatural are one," said Miss +Carmichael. "Does a thing cease to be supernatural because we know +something about it?" + +"Well, it may have another meaning for us. Before the days of science, +great mistakes were made in our interpretations of phenomena. +Superstition is born of ignorance, and we can see the germ of it in the +child who is frightened by a bogie, or the horse that shies at the +moonlight." + +"Its higher parent is a belief in the unseen." + +"In any case it has done an immense amount of harm," said the professor. + +"And probably quite as much good," responded Miss Carmichael. "However, +don't think me a friend of superstition. But in getting rid of it let us +take care that we do not fall into the opposite error. It seems to me +that if science had all its own way it would reduce man and nature to a +little machine working in the corner of a big one; but I think it will +cost us too dear if it make us lose our sense of the divine origin and +spiritual significance of the universe." + +Further argument was cut short by the car suddenly dashing into the +clouds with a noiseless ease that astonished us, for they had appeared +as solid as the rock. + +Lost in the vapours, our car seemed at rest; but although we saw +nothing, we could hear a vague and distant murmur which charmed our ears +after the long silence of space like a strain of music. Whether this was +due to the sounds of the surface collected in the clouds, or to +electrical discharges I cannot say, for we were trying to solve the +mystery by hearkening to it, when it abruptly died away as the car shot +into the clear air beneath the clouds. + +"The sea! the sea!" cried Miss Carmichael, starting up in joyful +excitement to join her father; and sure enough we were flying above a +dark blue hemisphere which could only be the ocean. + +Gazen now made another test of the atmosphere, and, finding it +satisfactory, we opened the door of the car and ventured on the gallery. + +After our confinement the fresh air acted like a charm. It felt so cool +and sweet in the nostrils that every breath was a pleasure. We inhaled +it in long, deep, loving draughts, which imparted vigour to our +exhausted frames, and intoxicated our spirits like laughing gas. I could +hardly restrain a wild impulse to leap from the car into the unruffled +bosom of the sea below, and Gazen, habitually staid, actually shouted +with glee. His voice startled the utter stillness, and was mocked by a +faint echo from the surface of the water. By timing the interval between +a call and its echo we found it nearly ten seconds, which corresponded +to a height of about a mile. A repetition of the test from time to time +showed that the car was now travelling at a fairly constant level. The +wide ocean spread all around us; neither sail nor shore, nor living +creature was visible, and we had begun to ask ourselves whether we had +not found a watery planet, when Gazen suddenly cried out, + +"Land!" + +"Whereaway?" I enquired with breathless interest. + +He pointed a little to the right of our course, and following the +direction of his finger, I saw a dim outline where sea and sky met. It +might have been mistaken for the tip of a cloud, but as we advanced it +rose above the horizon and took a definite shape not unlike a truncated +cone. + +The glasses showed it to be an island apparently of volcanic formation, +and after a brief consultation with Carmichael, we steered towards it. +The emotion of Columbus when he arrived at the Bahamas affords, perhaps, +the nearest parallel to our feelings, but in our case the land in sight +was the outlier of another planet. Watchful curiosity and silent +expectation, the ineffable sorcery of new scenes, the mystery of the +unknown, the romance of adventure, the exultation of triumph, and the +dread of disaster, were inextricably blended in our hearts. It was a +glorious hour, and come what might, we all felt that we had not lived in +vain. + +The island rose out of the sea like a volcanic peak, and was evidently +encircled with a barrier reef, as we could trace a line of snowy surf +breaking on its outer verge, and parting the sapphire blue of the deep +water without from the emerald green shoals within. The coast, sweeping +in beautiful bays, dotted with overgrown islets, and fended by rocky +promontories, was rimmed with beaches of yellow sand. The steep sides of +the mountain, broken with precipices, and shaggy with vegetation, +ascended from a multitude of spurs and buttresses, resembling billows of +verdure, and towered into the clouds. + +I have used the word verdure, but it is really a misnomer, for although +the prevailing tint of the foliage was a dark green, the entire forest +was streaked like a rainbow with innumerable flowers, and the breeze +which blew from it was laden with the most delightful perfume, Evidently +it was all a howling wilderness, for we could not detect the slightest +vestige of human dwellings or cultivation. We did not even observe any +signs of bird or beast. A profound stillness brooded over the solitude, +and was scarcely broken by the drowsy murmur of distant waterfalls. + +A forest, like the sea or desert, has a magical power to stimulate the +fancy and touch the primitive chords of the heart. Even a Scotch +hillside, or a Devonshire moor, can throw their wild spells over the +civilised man of letters, and appeal to savage or poetical instincts +underlying all his culture. So now, where everything seen or unseen, was +new and strange, and the imagination was quite free to rove, the charm +was more intense. We stood and gazed upon the moving panorama like +persons in a trance. The trees and plants grew in zones according to +their different levels above the sea, after the manner of those on the +earth, but we were too high to distinguish the various kinds. +Apparently, however, feathery palms and gigantic grasses prevailed in +the lower, and glossy evergreens, resembling the magnolia and +rhododendron, in the middle grounds. All this part of the forest was so +thickly encumbered with flowering creepers and parasites as to seem one +immense bower, dense enough to exclude the sunlight and make a perpetual +twilight underneath. The higher slopes were clad with pine-trees, having +long thin needles, which hung from their boughs like fringes of green +hair, and bushy shrubs which reminded me of heaths. Above these, +enormous ferns with fronds twenty or thirty feet in length, and thickets +draped in variegated mosses were thriving in the spray of a thousand +slender cataracts which poured from the brink of the precipitous crags +on the summit of the mountain. + +Seen from a distance, the cliffs appeared of a ruddy tint, but on coming +closer we found this was due to myriads of huge lichens of a deep +crimson and orange, and that the natural colours of the rock, vermilion +and blue, lemon, yellow, purple, and olive green, almost vied with those +of the forest lower down the steep. + +We glided over the crest at a point where it was almost free of cloud, +and were astonished to find it carved by the weather into the most +fantastic shapes, rudely imitating the colossal figures of men and +animals, or the towers and turrets of ruined castles. After the novelty +of this goblin architecture had passed, however, its effect was somewhat +dreary. The wind, moaning through the lifeless aisles and crannies of +the dripping rocks, the rolling mist and shuddering pools of water, +induced a sense of loneliness and depression. The revulsion in our +feelings was therefore all the greater when the car suddenly escaped +from this height of desolation, and a magnificent prospect burst upon +our view. + +An immense valley seemed to lie far beneath us, but it was really a +table-land of hills, rocks, and mountains, shaggy with vegetation, and +flung together in riotous confusion like the billows of a raging sea. +The stupendous cliffs behind us dropped sheerly down to the level of the +plateau, some ten or twenty thousand feet below, and swept around it as +a curving wall on either hand until they vanished in the distance. It +was evidently the crater of the extinct volcano. + +Our journey across that blooming wilderness will never fade from my +recollection, but when I attempt to give the reader an idea of it, +impressions crowd so thick and fast upon me as to choke my utterance; I +am equally in danger of soaring into a wild extravagance of generality +and sinking into a mere catalogue of detail. Yet I find it impossible +to hit a mean that can do any justice to it. The extraordinary way in +which the ancient lavas of the interior had been riven, upheaved, and +piled upon each other by the volcanic forces, the bewildering variety +and exuberance of the tropical plants and trees which battened on the +rich and crumbling soil, completely baffles all description. What the +imagination is unable to conceive, and the eye itself is overpowered in +beholding, the pen can never hope to depict. Let the grandest mountain +scenes of your memory be jumbled together as in a dream and overgrown +with the maddest jungles of the Ganges or the Amazon, and the +phantasmagoria would still be nothing to the living reality. + +Most of the highest peaks and ridges, as well as the deepest valleys and +ravines, were covered with the embowering forest; but here and there a +huge boss of granite or porphyry reared its bare scalp out of the +verdure like the head and shoulders of some antediluvian monster. The +gigantic palms and foliage trees, all tufted with air-plants or +strangled with climbers, were literally buried in flowers of every hue, +and the crown of the forest rolled under us like a sea of blossoms. +Every moment one enchanting prospect after another opened to our +wondering eyes. Now it was a waterfall, gleaming like a vein of silver +on the brow of a lofty precipice, and descending into a lakelet bordered +with red, blue, and yellow lilies. Again it was a natural bridge, +spanning a deep chasm or tunnel in the rock, through which a river +boiled and roared in a series of cascades and rapids. Ever and anon we +passed over glades and prairies, carpeted with orchids, and dotted with +clumps of shrubbery, a mass of golden bloom, or tremendous blocks of +basalt hung with crimson creepers. Butterflies with azure wings of a +surprising spread and lustre, alighted on the flowers, and great birds +of resplendent plumage flashed from grove to grove. A sun, twice the +diameter of ours, blazed in the northern sky, but the intensity of his +rays was tempered by a thin veil of cloud. The atmosphere although warm +and moist, was not oppressive like that of a forcing-house, and the +breeze was balmy with delicious perfume. + +As each new marvel came in sight, unstaled by familiar and untarnished +by vulgar associations, fresh from the hand of nature, so to speak, we +were filled as we had never been before with an intoxicating sense of +the divine mystery and miracle of life. For myself I was fairly +dumbfounded with amazement, and my companion, the hard-headed sceptical +astronomer, kept on crying and muttering to himself, "My God! my God!" +as if he had become a drivelling fool. + +We travelled league after league of this paradise run wild (I cannot +tell how many) without noticing any change in the character of the +scenery. At length, however, it grew less savage by degrees, and we +entered on a park-like country which gained in loveliness what it lost +in grandeur. Low hills, clad from base to summit in masses of gorgeous +bloom, and mirrored in sequestered lakes fringed with pied water-lilies; +groves of majestic cedars inviting to repose; rambling shrubberies and +evergreen trees festooned with flowering vines; brooks as clear as +crystal, murmuring over their pebbly beds, now hiding under drooping +boughs, now lost in brakes of tall reeds and foliage plants; grassy +meadows gay with crocusses, hyacinths, and tulips, or such-like flowers; +isolated rocks and boulders mantled with vivid moss and lichens; hot +springs falling over basins and terraces of tinted alabaster; clustering +palms and groups of spiry pine-trees; geysers throwing up columns of +spray tinged with rainbows; all these and a thousand other features of +the landscape which must be nameless passed before our view. + +Again and again we startled some herd of wild quadrupeds or flock of +gaudy birds unknown to science. Legions of large and burnished insects, +veritable living jewels, might be seen everywhere, and flaunting +butterflies hovered about the car. So far we had not observed the least +sign of human occupation, and yet, as Gazen remarked, the appearance of +the country seemed to betray the influence of art. It had not the wild +and wasteful luxuriance of the earlier tract, of a region left entirely +in the hands of Nature, but rather of a paradise which had been dressed +and kept by the gods. + +Owing to the height at which we were travelling, and the undulating +character of the surface, we could not see very far ahead. At length, +however, on emerging from a gap in a range of hills, we came upon a vast +plain or prairie stretching away into the distance, and there in the +blue haze of the horizon we saw, or fancied we saw, the architecture and +gardens of a great city, on the borders of a lake, and above the lake, +suspended in mid-air, a spectral palace, glittering in the sunbeams. + +We raised a shout of joy and triumph at this discovery. + +"Stop a minute, though," said Gazen, and a shade of doubt passed over +his face. "Perhaps it is only a mirage." + +We levelled our glasses at the distant scene, and scanned it with +palpitating hearts. We could discern the general shape, and even the +details of many houses, and the roofs and minarets of the palace, which +was evidently built on the top of an island in the midst of the lake. + +"That is not a phantasm," said I at last; "it is a real city." + +Gazen made no reply, but turned and silently shook me by the hand. The +tears were standing in his eyes. + +A delightful breeze, fragrant with innumerable flowers, mantled the long +grass of the prairie which was threaded by a maze of silver streams, and +diversified with bosky woodlands. Ere long we observed fantastic +cottages and picturesque villas nestling in the coppices, and as may be +imagined we were all on tip-toe with curiosity to catch a sight of their +inhabitants. We were anxious to see whether they looked like human +beings, and how they were disposed towards us. + +For a long time we looked in vain, but at length we saw a figure moving +across the prairie which turned out to be that of--a _man_. Yes, a man +like ourselves, but well stricken in years, and to judge by his costume +apparently a savage. His back was towards us, and as we floated past the +professor shouted in a tone loud enough for him to hear, + +"Good evening, sir." + +The native started, and lifting his eyes to the car beheld it with +astonishment and awe. He raised his hands in the air, then dropped them +by his side, and sank upon his knees. + +"That's a good sign," said Gazen with a grim smile. "I wonder if he +understands English. Let's try him again," and he cried out, "What's the +name of this place?" but the car was going rapidly, and if there was any +response it was lost upon the wind. + +As we approached the city, the cottages became thicker and thicker. They +were of various sizes, and of a light fanciful design adapted to a warm +climate. Each of them was surrounded by a grove or garden rich in +flowers and fruit. There were grassy trails and roads from one to +another, but we did not see any fields or fences, flocks or herds. + +We also saw more and more of the inhabitants--men, women, and children. +They were evidently a fine race, tall, handsome, and of white +complexion; but the men in general were darker than the women. From +their gay dresses, and the condition of the land, we had set them down +for savages; but on a nearer view, their lack of arms, the beauty of +their homes, and their own graceful demeanour, obliged us to reconsider +our opinion. When they first saw the car they did not fly in terror, or +muster hastily in armed and yelling bands. Many of them ran and cried, +it is true, but only to call their friends, and while some stood with +bowed heads and upraised hands as the car floated by, others, like the +old man, fell upon their knees as though in prayer. + +It was getting late in the day, and the sun was now sloping to the crest +of the mountain wall encircling the crater. Accordingly we held a +consultation with Carmichael as to whether we should land there, or +proceed to the city. + +Carmichael thought we should go on. + +"But," said Gazen, "would it not be safer to try the temper of the +people first, here in the country?" + +"These people are not savages," replied Carmichael. "They are civilised, +or semi-civilised, else how could they have built so fine a city as that +appears. If we should see any signs of hostility amongst them, however, +the car is plated with metal and will protect us--we have arms and can +defend ourselves--and, besides, we can rise again, and slip away from +them." + +We decided to advance, but Gazen and I took the precaution to belt on +our revolvers. + +The huge limb of the sun, red and glowing, sank to rest in a bed of +purple clouds on the summit of the rosy precipice, and filled all the +green plain with a rich amber light. The fantastic towers and trees of +the distant city by the lake shone in his mellow lustre; the solitary +island swam in a flood of gold, and the quaint edifice which crowned it +blazed with insufferable splendour. As the eerie gloaming died in the +west, and thin grey mists began to veil the outlandish scene, we +realised to the full that we were all alone and friendless in an unknown +world, and a deep sentiment of exile took possession of our souls. + +The gloaming fell, and myriads of lights twinkled in the dusk, some +flitting about like fireflies, others stationary, while a hum of many +voices ascended to our ears. The lights showed us that we were gliding +over the city, and the voices told us that our arrival was causing a +great commotion. Presently we floated above a large open space or +square, lit with coloured lanterns, and evidently adorned with trees, +fountains, and statuary. Here a great number of people had assembled, +and as they appeared quite orderly and peaceable, we determined to land. +While the car descended cautiously, Gazen and I kept a sharp watch on +the crowd, with our revolvers in our hands. Instead of anger and +resistance, however, the natives only manifested friendly signs of +welcome. They withdrew to a respectful distance, and, dropping on their +knees, burst into a song or hymn of wonderful sweetness as the car +touched the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CRATER LAND. + + +A man of dignified and venerable mien stepped from the crowd, and +followed by a train of youths and maidens, each bearing a vase or a tray +of fruit and flowers, came towards the car. While yet some ten or twelve +paces distant he stopped, and saluted Gazen and myself by lifting his +hands gracefully in the air, and bowing his head. After we had +acknowledged his greeting with due respect, he addressed us, speaking +fluently, and in a reverent, not to say a humble tone; but his words, +being entirely strange to our ears, we could only shake our heads with a +baffled smile, and reply in English that we did not understand. On this +a look of doubt and wonder passed over his face, and pointing, first to +the car, then to the sky, he seemed to enquire whether we had not +dropped from the clouds. We nodded our assent, and the astronomer, +indicating the Earth, which was now shining in the east as a beautiful +green star, endeavoured to let him know by signs that we had come from +there. + +The countenance of our host seemed to brighten again, and, saluting us +with a profound obeisance, he said a few words to the attendants, who +advanced to the car, and sinking upon their knees proffered us their +charming tribute. + +"Good!" exclaimed Gazen, testifying his delight and manifesting his +gratitude by an elaborate pantomime. + +I am afraid his performance must have appeared slightly ludicrous to the +Venusians, for one or two of the younger girls had some difficulty in +keeping their gravity. On a hint from the Elder the young people retired +to their places, leaving their offerings upon the ground. + +"They don't intend to starve us at all events," muttered Gazen to me, in +an undertone. "The very fragrance of these fruits entices a man to eat +them; but will they agree with our stomachs? Notwithstanding my +scientific curiosity, and my natural appetite, I am quite willing to let +you and Carmichael try them first." + +Having found the value of gestures in our intercourse, the Elder leaned +his head on one hand, and pointed with the other to a large house at +the upper end of the square. His meaning was plain; but as we had +already made up our minds to stay in the car, at all events until we had +looked about us, Gazen signified as much by energetic but indescribable +actions, and further contrived to intimate that we were all thoroughly +tired and worn out with our voyage. + +The Senior politely took the hint, and repeating his courteous salute, +withdrew from our presence, accompanied by his followers. + +"I told you so!" cried Miss Carmichael, when Gazen and I re-entered the +car. "They are treating us like superior beings." + +"It shows their good sense," replied Gazen, and even as he spoke a +strain of heavenly music rose from the assembled multitude, and +gradually died away as they departed to their homes. + +We could not sufficiently admire the beauty and fragrance of the flowers +and fruit, or the exquisite workmanship of the vases they had brought. +What struck us most was the lovely iridescence which they all displayed +in different lights. The vases in particular seemed to be carved out of +living opals, yet each was large enough to contain several pints of +liquor. Miss Carmichael decorated the dinner-table with a selection from +the trays, but although we found the fruits and beverages delicious to +the taste, we prudently partook very sparingly of them. + +After dinner we all went outside to enjoy the cool evening breeze, but +without actually leaving the car. It was hardly dusk, only a kind of +twilight or gloaming, and it did not seem to grow any darker. Yet +innumerable fire-flies, bright as glow-lamps, and of every hue, were +flashing like diamonds against the whispering foliage of the trees. + +With the exception of an occasional group or a solitary who stopped +awhile to look at the car and then passed on, the square was deserted; +but the dwellings around it were lighted up, and being of a very open +construction, we could see into them, and hear the voices of the inmates +feasting and making merry. Needless to say that everything we observed +was interesting to us, for it was all strange; but we were so much +exhausted with excitement that we were fain to go to bed. + +Next day the professor and I, obeying a common impulse of travellers, +got up early and went forth to survey our new quarters. It was a +splendid morning, the whole atmosphere steeped in sunshine, and musical +with the songs of birds. The big sun was peeping over the distant wall +of the crater, but we did not feel his rays uncomfortably hot. A sky of +the loveliest azure was streaked with thin white clouds, drawn across it +like muslin curtains, and a cooling breeze played gently upon the skin. +The dewy air, so spring-like, fresh and sweet, was a positive pleasure +to breathe, and we both felt the intoxication, the rapture of life, as +we had never felt it since our boyhood. The grass underfoot was green as +emerald, and soft as velvet; fountains were flashing in the sunshine, +statues gleaming amongst the flowering trees, and birds of brilliant +plumage glancing everywhere. + +The square opened on the lake, and afforded us a magnificent view of the +island. It was conical in shape, and the peak, no doubt, of an old +volcanic vent. I should say it was at least a thousand feet in height; +the sides were a veritable "hanging garden," wild and luxuriant; and the +summit was crowned by a glittering mass of domes, minarets, and spires. +Numbers of people, old and young, were bathing along the beach, and +swimming, diving, and splashing each other in the water with innocent +glee. Large birds, resembling swans, double the size of ours, and of +pale blue, rose, yellow, and green, as well as white plumage, were +floating in and out, and some of the children were riding on their +backs. Fantastic boats, with carved and painted prows, might be seen +crossing the lake in all directions, some under sail, and others with +rowers, keeping stroke to the rhythm of their songs. The shores of the +lake, sloping quietly to the waterside, were covered more or less +thickly with the houses and gardens of the city, and far in the +distance, perhaps fifty, perhaps a hundred miles away, the view was +bounded by the dim and ruddy precipice of the crater wall. + +Regaling our eyes on the beautiful prospect, and our lungs on the pure +atmosphere, we wandered along the beach, ever and anon pausing to admire +the strange forms and beautiful colouring of the shells and seaweeds, or +to pick up a rare pebble, then shie it away again, little thinking that +it might have been a ruby, sapphire, or topaz, worth a king's ransom on +the earth. At length the way was barred by the mouth of a broad river, +and after a refreshing plunge in the lake, we returned home to +breakfast. + +During our absence Carmichael had been visited by our venerable host of +the evening, whose name was Dinus, and a young man called Otāré, who +turned out to be his son. They had brought a fresh supply of dainties, +and what was still more important, some pictorial dictionaries and +drawings which would enable us to learn their language. As the structure +of it was simple, and the vocabulary not very copious, and as we also +enjoyed the tuition of the young man, who was devoted to our service, +and conducted us in most of our walks abroad, at the end of a fortnight +we could maintain a conversation with tolerable fluency. + +In the meanwhile, and afterwards, we learned a good deal about the +country, and the manners and customs of its inhabitants. Womla, or +Woom-la, which means the "bowl" or hollow-land, is evidently the crater +of an extinct volcano of enormous dimensions, such as are believed to +exist upon the moon. It belongs to an archipelago of similar islands, +which are widely scattered over a vast ocean in this part of Venus, but +is, we were told, far distant from the nearest of them. The climate may +be described as a perpetual spring and summer, with a sky nearly always +serene, and of a beautiful azure blue, veiled with soft and fleecy +clouds. + +Thanks to the lofty walls of the crater, which penetrate the clouds and +condense their moisture, the land is watered with many streams. These +flow into the central lake, which discharges into the surrounding ocean +by a rift or chasm in the mountain side. Moreover, there are frequent +showers, and heavy dews by night, to refresh the surface of the ground. +Thunderstorms occur on the tops of the mountain and in the open sea; +but very seldom within the enchanted girdle of the crater. The air is +remarkably pure, sweet, and exhilarating, owing doubtless to the high +percentage of oxygen it contains, and the absence of foreign matter, +such as microbes, dust, and obnoxious fumes. In fact, we all felt a +distinct improvement in our health and spirits, a kind of mental +intoxication which was really more than a rejuvenescence. Nor was the +heat very trying, even in the middle of the day, because although the +sun was twice as large as on the earth, he did not rise far above the +horizon, and cooling breezes blew from the chilled summit of the cliffs. +The vegetation seems to go on budding, flowering, and fruiting +perpetually, as in the Elysian Fields of Homer, where + + "Joys ever young, unmixed with pain or fear, + Fill the wide circle of the eternal year: + Stern winter smiles on that auspicious clime + The fields are florid with unfading prime; + From the bleak Pole no winds inclement blow, + Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow; + But from the breezy deep the blessèd inhale, + The fragrant murmurs of the western gale." + +The mysterious behaviour of the sun was a great puzzle to our +astronomer. I have said that he rose very little above the horizon, or +in other words the lip of the crater, as might be expected from our high +southern latitude; but we soon found that he always rose and sank at the +same place. In the morning he peeped above the cliffs, and in the +evening he dipped again behind them, leaving a twilight or gloaming (I +can scarcely call it dusk), which continued throughout the night. From +his fixity in azimuth, Gazen concluded that Schiaparelli, the famous +Italian observer, was right in supposing that Venus takes as long to +turn about her own axis as she does to go round the sun, and that as a +consequence she always presents the same side to her luminary. All that +we heard from the natives tended to confirm this view. They told us that +far away to the east and west of Womla there was a desert land, covered +with snow and ice, on which the sun never shone. We also gathered that +the sun rises to a greater and lesser height above the cliffs +alternately, thus producing a succession of warmer and cooler seasons; a +fact which agrees with Schiaparelli's observation that the axis of the +planet sways to and from the sun. Gazen was intensely delighted at this +discovery, partly for its own sake, but mainly, I think, because it +would afford him an opportunity of crushing the celebrated Pettifer +Possil, his professional antagonist, who, it seems, is bitterly opposed +to the doctrines of Schiaparelli. But why did the sun rise and set every +fifteen hours or thereabout, and so make what I have called a "day" and +"night"? Why did he not continue in the same spot, except for the slow +change caused by the nutation or nodding of Venus? Gazen was much +perplexed over this anomaly, and sought an explanation of it in the +refraction of the atmosphere above the cliffs producing an apparent but +not a real motion of the orb. + +The territory of Womla may be divided into three zones, namely, a +central plain under cultivation, a belt of undulating hills, kept as a +park or pleasaunce, and a magnificent, nay, a sublime wilderness, next +to the crater wall. + +The natural wealth of the country is very great. Some of its productions +resemble and others are different from those of the earth. We saw gold, +silver, copper, tin, and iron, as well as metals which were quite new to +us. Some of these had a purple, blue, or green colour, and emitted a +most agreeable fragrance. There are granites and porphyries, marbles and +petrifactions of the most exquisite grain or tints. Precious stones like +the diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, emerald, garnet, opal, turquoise, +and others familiar or unfamiliar to us, fairly abound, and can be +picked up on the shores of the lake. I presume that many of them have +been formed on a large scale in chasms of the rock by the volcanic fumes +of the crater. + +What struck us most of all, however, was the prevalence of +phosphorescent minerals which absorbed the sunlight by day, and +glimmered feebly in the dusk. Professor Gazen seems to think that the +presence of snow and clouds, together with these phosphorescent bodies, +may help to account for the mysterious luminosity on the dark side of +Venus. + +The vegetation is wonderfully rich, varied, and luxuriant. As a rule, +the foliage is thick and glossy; but while it is green to blackness in +some of the trees, it is parti-coloured or iridescent in others. Many of +the flowers, too, are iridescent, or change their hues from hour to +hour. The beauty and profusion of the flowers is beyond conception, and +some of the loveliest grow on what I should take for palms, ferns, +canes, and grasses. A distant forest or woodland rivals the splendid +plumage of some tropical bird. We heard of "singing flowers," including +a water-lily which bursts open with a musical note, and of many plants +which are sensitive to heat as well as touch, and if Gazen be correct, +to electricity and magnetism. We saw one in a house which was said to +require a change of scene from time to time else it would languish and +die. + +The borders of the lakes and ponds teemed with corals, delicate +seaweeds, and lovely shells. Innumerable fishes of gay and brilliant +hues darted and burned in the water like broken rainbows. + +Reptiles are not very common, at least, in the cultivated zone; but we +saw a few snakes, tortoises, and lizards, all brightly and harmoniously +marked. One of the snakes was phosphorescent, and one of the lizards +could sit up like a dog, or fly in the air like a swallow. The variety +and beauty of the birds, as well as the charm of their song, exceed all +description. Most of them have iridescent feathers, several are +wingless, and one at least has teeth. The insects are a match for the +birds in point of beauty, if not also in size and musical qualities. +Many of them are luminescent, and omit steady or flashing lights of +every tint all through the night. + +There are few large quadrupeds in the country, and so far as we could +learn none of these are predaceous. We saw an animal resembling a deer +on one hand, and a tapir on the other, as well as a kind of toed horse +or hipparion, and a number of domestic pets all strange to us. + +The people, according to their tradition, came originally from a +temperate land far across the ocean to the south-east, which is now a +dark and frozen desert. They are a remarkably fine race, probably of +mixed descent, for they found Womla inhabited, and their complexions +vary from a dazzling blonde to an olive-green brunette. They are nearly +all very handsome, both in face and figure, and I should say that many +of them more than realise our ideals of beauty. As a rule, the +countenances of the men are open, frank, and noble; those of the women +are sweet, smiling, and serene. Free of care and trouble, or unaffected +by it, mere existence is a pleasure to them, and not a few appear to +live in a kind of rapture, such as I have seen in the eyes of a young +artist on the earth while regarding a beautiful woman or a glorious +landscape. Their attitudes and movements are full of dignity and grace. +In fact, during my walks abroad, I frequently found myself admiring +their natural groups, and fancying myself in ancient Greece, as depicted +by our modern painters. Their style of beauty is not unlike that of the +old Hellenes, but I doubt whether the delicacy and bloom of their skins +has ever been matched on our planet except, perhaps, in a few favoured +persons. + +From some experiments made by Gazen, it would appear that while their +senses of sight and touch are keener, their senses of hearing and also +of heat are rather blunter than ours. + +Partly owing to the genial climate, their love of beauty, and their easy +existence, their dress is of a simple and graceful order. Many of their +light robes and shining veils are woven from silky fibres which grow on +the trees, and tinged with beautiful dyes. Bright, witty, and ingenious, +as well as guileless, chaste, and happy, I can only compare them to +grown-up children--but the children of a god-like race. Thanks to the +purity of their blood, and the gentleness of their dispositions, +together with their favourable circumstances, they live almost exempt +from disease, or pain, or crime, and finally die in peace at the good +old age of a hundred or a hundred and fifty years. + +Their voices are so pleasing, and their language is so melodious that I +enjoyed hearing their talk before I understood a word of it. Moreover, +their delightful manners evince a rare delicacy of sentiment and +appreciation of the beautiful in life. We foreigners must have been +objects of the liveliest curiosity to them, yet they never showed it in +their conduct; they never stared at us, or stopped to enquire about us, +but courteously saluted us wherever we went, and left us to make +ourselves at home. We never saw an ugly or unbecoming gesture, and we +never heard a rude, unmannerly word all the time we stayed in Womla. + +Some of their public buildings are magnificent; but most of their +private houses are pretty one-storied cottages, each more or less +isolated in a big garden, and beyond earshot of the rest. They are +elegant, not to say fanciful constructions of stone and timber, +generally of an oval shape, or at least with rounded outlines; but +sometimes rambling, and varying much in detail. Everyone seems to follow +his particular bent and taste in the fashion of his home. Many of them +have balconies or verandahs, and also terraces on the roof, where the +inmates can sit and enjoy the surrounding view. They are doorless, and +the outer walls are usually open so that one may see inside; but in +stormy weather they are closed by panels of wood, and a translucent +mineral resembling glass. They are divided into rooms by mats and +curtains, or partitions and screens of wood, which are sometimes +decorated with paintings of inimitable beauty. The ceilings are usually +of carved wood, and the floors inlaid with marbles, corals, and the +richer stones. There are no stuffy carpets on the floors, or hangings on +the walls to collect the dust. The light easy furniture is for the most +part made of precious or fragrant woods of divers colours--red, black, +yellow, blue, white, and green. At night the rooms are softly and +agreeably lighted by phosphorescent tablets, or lamps of glow-worms and +fire-flies in crystal vases. + +The dishes and utensils not only serve but adorn the home. Most of the +implements and fittings are made of coloured metals or alloys. Many of +the cups and vessels are beautifully cut from shells and diamonds, +rubies, or other precious stones. Statuary, manuscripts, and musical +instruments, bespeak their taste and genius for the fine arts. + +Their love of Nature is also shown in their gardens and pleasure +grounds, which are stocked with the rarest flowers, fruits, and pet +animals; such as bright fishes, luminous frogs and moths, singing birds, +and so forth, none of which are captives in the strict sense of the +word. + +Members of one family live under the same roof, or at all events within +the same ground. The father is head of the household, and the highest in +authority. The mother is next, and the children follow in the order of +their age. They hold that the proper place for the woman is between the +man and the child, and that her nature, which partakes of both, fits +her for it. On the rare occasions when authority needs to be exercised +it is promptly obeyed. All the members of the family mix freely together +in mutual confidence and love, with reverence, but not fear. They are +very clean and dainty in their habits. To every house, either in an open +court or in the garden, there is a bathing pond of running water, with a +fountain playing in the middle, where they can bathe at any time without +going to the lake. + +They deem it not only gross to eat flesh or fish, but also barbarous, +nay cruel, to enjoy and sustain their own lives through the suffering +and death of other creatures. This feeling, or prejudice as some would +call it, extends even to eggs. They live chiefly on fruits, nuts, edible +flowers, grain, herbs, gums, and roots, which are in great profusion. I +did not see any alcoholic, or at least intoxicating beverages amongst +them. Their drink is water, either pure or else from mineral springs, +and the delectable juices of certain fruits and plants. They eat +together, chatting merrily the while, and afterwards recline on couches +listening to some tale, or song, or piece of music, but taking care not +to fall asleep, as they believe it is injurious. + +They rejoice when a child is born, and cherish it as the most holy +gift. For the first eight or ten years of its life it is left as much as +possible to the teaching of Nature, care being taken to guard it from +serious harm. It is allowed to run wild about the gardens and fields, +developing its bodily powers in play, and gaining a practical experience +of the most elementary facts. After that it goes to school, at first for +a short time, then, as it becomes used to the confinement and study, for +a longer and longer period each day. Their end in education is to +produce noble men and women; that is to say, physical, moral, and +intellectual beauty by assisting the natural growth. They hold it a sin +to falsify or distort the mind, as well as the soul or body of a child. +They seem to be as careful to cultivate the genius and temperament as +the heart and conscience. Their object is to train and form the pupil +according to the intention of Nature without forcing him beyond his +strength, or into an artificial mould. Studious to preserve the harmony +and unity of mind, soul, and body, they never foster one to the +detriment of the others, but seek to develop the whole person. + +It is not so much words as things, not so much facts, dates, and +figures, as principles, ideas, and sentiments, which they endeavour to +teach. The scholar is made familiar with what he is told by observation +and experience whenever it is possible, for that is how Nature teaches. +Precept, they say, is good, and example is better; but an ideal of +perfection is best of all. + +At first more attention is paid to the cultivation of the body than the +mind. Not only are the boys and girls trained in open-air gymnasia, or +contend in games, but they also work in the gardens, and during the +holidays are sent into the wilderness under the guidance of their +elders, especially their elder brothers, to rough it there in primitive +freedom. + +The first lessons of the pupil are very short and simple, but as his +mind ripens they become longer and more difficult. The education of the +soul precedes that of the mind. They wish to make their children good +before they make them clever; and good by the feelings of the heart +rather than the instruction of the head. Every care is taken to refine +and strengthen the sentiments and instincts, the conscience, good sense +and taste, as well as the affections, filial piety, friendship, and the +love of Nature. Spiritual and moral ideals are inculcated by means of +innocent and simple tales or narratives. Children are taught to obey the +authority placed over them, or in their own breast, and to sacrifice all +to their duty. The conduct of the teacher must be irreproachable, +because he is a model to them; but while they look upon him as their +friend and guide, he leaves them free to choose their own companions and +amuse themselves in their own way. + +In the cultivation of the mind they give the first and foremost place to +the imagination. The reason, they say, is mechanical, and cannot rise +above the known; that is to say, the real; whereas the imagination is +creative and attains to the unknown, the ideal. Its highest work is the +creation of beauty. Because it is unruly, and precarious in its action, +however, the imagination requires the most careful guidance, and the +assistance of the reason. Students are taught to idealise and invent, as +well as to analyse and reason, but without disturbing the equilibrium of +the faculties by acquiring a pronounced habit of one or the other. It is +better, they say, to be reasonable than a reasoner; to be imaginative +than a dreamer; and to have discernment or insight than mere knowledge. + +The most important study of all is the art of living, or in other words +the art of leading a simple, noble, and beautiful life. It finishes +their education, and consists in the reduction of their highest precepts +and ideals to practice. The reasons for every lesson are given so far +as they are known, and they are always founded in the nature of things. +A pupil is taught to act in a particular way, not in the hope of a +reward or in the fear of punishment, but because it would be contrary to +the laws of matter and spirit to act otherwise; in short, because it is +right. They hold that life is its own end as well as its own reward. +According as it is good or bad, so it achieves or fails of its purpose, +and is happy or miserable. We are happy by our emotions or feelings, and +through these by our actions. Happiness comes from goodness, but is not +perfect without health, beauty, and fitness: hence the pupils are taught +self-regulation, practical hygiene, and a graceful manner. Indeed, their +passion for beauty is such that they regard nothing as perfect until it +is beautiful. + +As beauty of mind, soul, and body, is their aim, a beautiful person is +held in the highest honour. Prizes are offered for beauty, and statues +are erected to the winners. Many are called after some particular trait; +for example, "Timāré of the lovely toes," and a pretty eyelash is a +title to public fame. Beauty they say is twice blessed, since it pleases +the possessor as well as others. + +The sense of existence, apart from what they do or gain, is their chief +happiness. Their "ealo," or the height of felicity, is a passive rather +than an active state. It is (if I am not mistaken) a kind of serene +rapture or tranquil ecstasy of the soul, which is born doubtless from a +perfect harmony between the person and his environment. In it, they say, +the illusion of the world is complete, and life is another name for +music and love. + +As far as I could learn, this condition, though independent of sexual +love, is enhanced by it. On the one hand it is spoiled by too much +thought, and on the other by too much passion. They cherish it as they +cherish all the natural illusions (which are sacred in their eyes), but +being a state of repose it is transient, and only to be enjoyed from +time to time. + +Since an unfit employment is a mistake, and a source of unhappiness, +everyone is free to choose the work that suits his nature. Parents and +teachers only help him to discover himself. One is called to his work by +a love for it, and the pleasure he takes in doing it easily and well. If +his bent is vague or tardy, he is allowed to change, and feel his way to +it by trial. Since the work or vocation is not a means of living, there +is no compulsion in it. Their aim is to do right in carrying out the +true intentions of Nature. + +For the same reason everyone is free to choose the partner of his life. +They are monogamists, and believe that nothing can justify marriage but +love on both sides. The rite is very simple, and consists in the elected +pair sipping from the same dish of sacred water. It is called "drinking +of the cup." + +Most of them die gradually of old age, and they do not seem to share our +fear and horror of death, but to regard it with a sad and pleasing +melancholy. The body is reduced to ashes on a pyre of fragrant wood, and +the songs they sing around it only breathe a tender regret for their +loss, mingled with a joyful hope of meeting again. They neither preserve +the dust as a memento, nor wear any kind of mourning; but they cherish +the memory of the absent in their hearts. + +They believe that labour like virtue is a necessity, and its own reward; +but it is moderate labour of the right sort, which is a blessing and not +a curse. They all seem happy at their work, which is often cheered by +music, songs, or tales. Everyone enjoys his task, and tries to attain +the perfection of skill and grace. Those who excel are honoured, and +sometimes commemorated with statues. + +They seem artists in all, and above all. They hold that every beautiful +thing has a use, and they never make a useful thing without beauty. +Apart from portraits, their pictures and statuary are mostly historical, +or else ideal representations. Many of these are typical of life; for +example, a boy at play, a pair of lovers, a mother weaning her child, +and the parting of friends. The ideal of art is to them not merely a +show to please the eye for a while, but a model to be realised in their +own lives; and I daresay it has helped to make them such a fine people. +They are clever architects and gardeners. Indeed, the whole country may +be described as a vast ornamental garden. In the middle zone, which +borders on the wilderness, their wonderful art of beautifying natural +scenery is at its best. They have a good many simple machines and +implements, but I should not call them a scientific people. Gazen, who +enquired into the matter, was told by Otāré, himself an artist, by the +way, that science in their opinion had a tendency to destroy the +illusion of Nature and impair the finer sentiments and spontaneity of +the soul; hence they left the systematic study of it to the few who +possess a decided bias for it. As a rule they are content to admire. + +They have many books of various kinds, either printed or finely written +and illustrated by hand. I should say their favourite reading was +history and travels, or else poetry and fiction; anything having a +human interest, more especially of a pathetic order. Everyone is taught +to read aloud, and if he possess the voice and talent, to recite. Poets +are highly esteemed, and not only read their poems to the people, but +also teach elocution. They have dramatic performances on certain days, +and seem to prefer tragedies or affecting plays, perhaps because these +awaken feelings which their happy lot in general permits to sleep. They +are very fond of music, and can all sing or play on some musical +instrument. Their favourite melodies are mostly in a minor key, and they +dislike noisy music; indeed, noise of any sort. Gesture and the dance +are fine arts, and they can imitate almost any action without words. A +favourite amusement is to gather in the dusk of the evening, crowned +with flowers, or wearing fanciful dresses, and sing or dance together by +the light of the fire-flies. + +The inhabitants of the whole island live as one happy family. +Recognising their kinship by intermarriage, and their isolation in the +world, they never forget that the good or ill of a part is the good or +ill of the whole, and their object is to secure the happiness of one and +all. It is considered right to help another in trouble before thinking +of oneself. + +When Gazen explained the doctrine of "the struggle for existence ending +in the survival of the fittest" to Otāré, he replied that it was an +excellent principle for snakes; but he considered it beneath the dignity +and wisdom of men to struggle for a life which could be maintained by +the labour of love, and ought to be devoted to rational or spiritual +enjoyment. + +Thanks to the helpful spirit which animates them, and the bounty of +Nature, nobody is ever in want. As a rule, the garden around each home +provides for the family, and any surplus goes to the public stores, or +rather free tables, where anyone takes what he may require. + +As I have already hinted, personal merit of every kind is honoured +amongst them. + +Dinus, the gentleman who received us on the night of our arrival, is the +chief man or head of the community, and was appointed to the post for +his wisdom, character, and age. He is assisted in the government by a +council of a hundred men, and there are district officers in various +parts of the country. + +They have no laws, or at all events their old laws have become a dead +letter. Custom and public opinion take their place. Crime is practically +unknown amongst them, and when a misdemeanour is committed the culprit +is in general sufficiently punished by his own shame and remorse. +However, they have certain humane penalties, such as fines or +restitution of stolen goods; but they never resort to violence or take +life, and only in extreme cases of depravity and madness do they +infringe on the liberty of an individual. + +Quarrels and sickness of mind or body are almost unknown amongst them. +The care and cure of the person is a portion of the art of life as it is +taught in the schools. + +An account of this remarkable people would not be complete without some +reference to their religion; but owing to their reticence on sacred +subjects, and the shortness of our visit, I was unable to learn much +about it. They believe, however, in a Supreme Being, whom they only name +by epithets such as "The Giver" or "The Divine Artist." They also +believe in the immortality of the soul. One of their proverbs, "Life is +good, and good is life," implies that goodness means life, and badness +death. They hold that every thought, word, and deed, is by the nature of +things its own reward or punishment, here or hereafter. Their ideals of +childlike innocence, and the reign of love, seem to be essentially +Christian. Their solicitude and kindness extends to all that lives and +suffers, and they regard the world around them as a divine work which +they are to reverence and perfect. + +Our visit fell during a great religious festival and holiday, which they +keep once a year, and by the courtesy of Dinus, or his son, we witnessed +many of their sacred concerts, dances, games, and other celebrations. Of +these, however, I shall only describe the principal ceremony, which is +called "Plucking the Flower," and appears to symbolise the passage of +the soul into a higher life. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL. + + +Early on the chief day of the festival Otāré came and took us to see the +mystical rite of cutting the "Flower of the Soul." + +The morning was fine, and the clear waters of the lake were bright with +boats filled with joyous parties bound like ourselves for the Holy +Island. + +Landing at a noble quay of red granite, we climbed the steep and shaggy +sides of the mountain by a sacred and winding avenue, bordered with +blooming trees and statuary. Most of the figures were exquisitely carved +in a white wood or stone, having a pearly sheen, and represented the +former priestesses of the Temple, or illustrated the animating spirit of +the cult. + +On gaining the summit we found ourselves at the brim of a spacious +hollow or basin, which in past ages must have been the crater of the +volcanic peak. The grassy slopes of the basin were laid out in flower +gardens and terraces of coloured marbles, shaded with sombre trees, and +ornamented with sculpture. In the bottom lay an oval sheet of water a +mile long or more, and from the midst of it, towards the near end, a +beautiful islet, crowned by a magnificent temple, rose like a mirage to +the view, and seemed to float on its glassy bosom. + +Words of mine cannot give any idea of that sublime architecture, which +resembled no earthly order, though it seemed to partake of both the +Saracenic and the Indian. Fragrant timber, precious stones, and +burnished metals; in fine, the richest materials known to the builders, +had been united with consummate art into one harmonious emblem of their +faith. The first beams of the rising sun blazed on its golden roof and +fretted pinnacles of diamond, and ruby, sapphire, topaz, and emerald; +but the lower part was still in shadow. Nevertheless, we could +distinguish a grand portal in the southern front, which faced the sun, +and a broad flight of marble steps descending from it into the water; +but the massive doors were shut, and not a soul was to be seen about the +temple. + +As the worshippers arrived they seated themselves on the turf amongst +the flowering shrubs, or on the benches along the terraces, and either +spoke in subdued tones, or preserved a religious silence. Otāré led us +to a kind of throne or stand facing the temple, and raised above the +other seats, where his father, as chief of the community, sat in state. +Dinus received us with his usual gracious dignity, and gave us chairs on +his right and left hand. + +From this height we enjoyed a splendid panorama of the Craterland, at +least that portion which had already caught the sunshine. It lay beneath +us like a picture, the surface rising in a series of zones from the +central sea, which mirrored the serene azure and plume-like vapours of +the heavens, through the sweet meadows, and the smiling gardens, to the +luxuriant wilderness beyond; and we could plainly see the shadow of the +bounding rampart shrink towards the south as the sun mounted higher and +higher. + +It was a lovely dawn. A rosy mist hung like a veil of gauze over the +southern sky, and from behind a bar of purple cloud, lined with gold, +which rested on the summit of the cliffs, a coronet of auroral beams or +crepuscular rays, blue on a pink ground, shot upwards, heralding the +advent of the sun, and reminding me of the ancient simile of the earth +as a bride awaiting the arrival of her lord. + +At length the first glowing tip of the solar disc peeped over the rim +of the crater, and a deep low murmur, swelling to a shrill cry, ascended +from the passive multitude. + +All the people rose to their feet, and every eye was turned on the south +front of the temple, which was now illuminated to the edge of the water. +As the sunlight crept over the surface it sparkled on the dense foliage +of what seemed a bed of water-lilies flourishing quite close to the +marble stairs. + +Presently a rich and stately barge, moved by crimson oars, and enlivened +with young girls draped in sky-blue, was seen to glide round a corner of +the temple, and come to rest beside the water-lilies. + +A deep silence, as of breathless expectation, fell upon the vast +assembly, and then, without other warning, the great purple doors of the +temple swung open, and revealed a white-robed figure walking at the head +of a glittering procession of maidens decked in jewels and luminous +scarves, which vied with the colours of the rainbow. It was the young +priestess and her train of virgins. + +Simultaneously the immense multitude raised their voices in a sacred +hymn of melting sweetness, very low at first, but gathering volume as +the priestess descended the marble stairs to the waterside. + +Here, on the lowest of the steps, one of her maidens put into her hand +a sacred knife or sickle, which, as Otāré informed us had a blade of +gold, and a handle of opal. The woman then retired, and we saw her stand +erect for a moment in the full blaze of the mellow sunlight, with her +golden hair falling about her in a kind of glory, and stretch out her +arms towards the sun in a superb attitude of adoration. Then, with a +slow and swan-like movement, she entered the water, and wading among the +lilies, cut the sacred blossom, and held it aloft in triumph, while the +music swelled to a mighty pæan of thanksgiving and praise. + +After that she went on board the barge, which had been waiting for her, +and was rowed around the border of the lake not far from the shore, so +that the onlookers might see the loveliness of the flower, and even +smell its perfume. The barge was not unlike an ancient galley in shape, +but ornately curved like the proa of a South Sea Islander. The rowers +were concealed underneath the deck, but the crimson oars kept time to +the music of their voices, and the spectators joined in the song as the +vessel glided onwards. + +As for the priestess, she lay reclining under a golden canopy on the +poop, with her face half turned towards the people, and holding the +sacred lily in her hand, whilst two of her maidens fanned her with +brilliant plumes, + + "And made their bends adorning." + +Ever since she had come out of the temple I had scarcely taken my eyes +off her, and now that I could see the marvellous beauty of her +countenance, I was absolutely fascinated. Never shall I forget these +moments as long as I live, and yet I cannot give a clear and connected +relation of them. I see only a picture in my mind of a purple couch +under a golden canopy, a fair form, a beautiful head crowned with golden +hair, a glowing arm holding a white flower on its long green stalk. +Suddenly, as if impelled by an instinct, she turns her face full upon me +as the barge comes opposite to her father's throne. I see her great +violet eyes fixed upon mine as though she would read into my very soul. +I do not shrink from that pure search. On the contrary, I feel myself +drawn towards her by an irresistible attraction, and return her gaze. + +She does not look away. She smiles--yes, she smiles upon me, and +inclines her head to see me, like a sunflower following the sun, as she +is floating past. + +From that moment I was an altered man. The vision of that peerless +beauty had worked a miracle in my nature. A strange peace, an +unfathomable joy, I should rather say an ecstacy of bliss, reigned in my +heart. I felt that I had found something for which my soul had craved +without knowing it, and had been seeking unawares--something beyond all +price, which is not merely the best that life, eternity, can offer; but +gives to life, eternity, an inestimable value--I felt that I had found +the counterpart of myself--the celestial mate of my spirit. Henceforth +there was only one woman in the world, in the universe, for me. A +mysterious instinct whispered that we belonged to each other--that this +incomparable creature was mine by an inviolable right, if not on this +side of time at all events hereafter, and for ever. I felt, too, that my +own being had now completed its development, and burst into bloom like a +plant under the vivifying rays of the sun. + +Exulting in my new-found happiness, and overcome with gratitude for it, +I watched the receding boat in a sort of trance until the matter-of-fact +voice of Gazen broke the spell. + +"Prettiest sight I ever saw in my life," said he to Otāré. "Quite a +living picture." + +"I am glad you like it," responded Otāré evidently gratified. + +"But what is the good of it?" enquired the professor. + +"The good of it?" rejoined the Venusian; "it is beautiful, and gives us +pleasure." + +"Oh, of course; but what is the meaning--the inner meaning of it?" + +"Ah! the meaning of it," said Otāré, a new light breaking on him, "I +will explain. You saw the flower which the priestess cut and carried in +her hand--?" + +"A kind of water-lily, is it not?" + +"Yes, it is the Sacred Lily. The plant is rooted in the mire at the +bottom of the pond, and grows up through the water to the surface. The +stem rises in a serpentine curve, and terminates in a flower-bud, which +opens with a sigh of delight when the sun strikes upon it, and fills the +air with its perfume." + +"A sigh, did you say?" + +"Yes, a low sweet sound resembling a sigh. The flower is white--'living +white'--that is to say, white shot with many colours like the opal. We +call it the Sun Lily, or 'Flower of the Soul.'" + +"Why 'Flower of the Soul?'" + +"Because we say it has the infinite and ever-changing beauty of the +soul. It is an emblem of Love, and its manifestations--beauty, genius, +holiness. In particular it signifies the birth or awakening of love in +the human soul. As the plant may be said to exist for the flower, its +chief glory, so the man attains his perfection through love, which +confers a boundless and immortal worth upon his life. As the root takes +from the soil and the flower brings forth the fruit, so hate feeds upon +the ill, and love dies for the good of others. It also represents the +human race, for man, and especially woman, may be regarded as the flower +of this lower world. Moreover, the entire plant, root, stem, and flower, +is symbolical of all creation, and some of our poets have named it the +'Lily of Life.' For as the plant begins in the black earth to end in the +sunny ether, so the world, the universe, begins in chaos and darkness, +to end in light and order; begins in matter and force, to end in life +and spirit--begins in hate and selfishness, to end in love and +self-sacrifice--begins in ugliness, to end in beauty. Thus the flower +and root stand for the upper and lower limits or poles of nature, and +the stalk which joins them for the upward range or path of creation. It +is a beautiful stem, curving in opposite ways like a serpent, or the +side of a wave; in fact, it is the most beautiful curve we know--it runs +like this." + +Here Otāré described a flamboyant curve in the air with his finger. + +"If I'm not mistaken it is what our artists call the 'line of beauty,'" +observed Gazen. + +"Oh, indeed!" responded Otāré, with pleased surprise. "Well, with us it +is a symbol of the continuous unfolding of things; the graceful progress +of development." + +"So the path of evolution is the 'line of beauty,'" said the professor. + +"Apparently," rejoined Otāré, "and as the ends of the curve point +oppositely, we say that a thing has not reached its final stage--that +its development is not complete--until it has turned to its opposite. +Thus man is not a finished being until hate and selfishness have turned +to love and self-sacrifice. The flower of the soul is love, and as the +sun is an emblem of the divine love, when the sacred lily opens and +displays all its beauty in the sunshine, it means to us that the flower +of the soul blooms in the smile of 'The Giver.'" + +"I see," said the professor; "and what is done with the flower?" + +"It is an offering," replied Otāré, "and after the Priestess of the +Lily, or Priestess of the Sun, as we call her, has shown it to the +people it will be treasured in the temple, and will never fade." + +"Beautiful woman, the priestess! And so young." + +"She is barely seventeen. The Priestess of the Sun Lily must be in the +flower of her age, and the early dawn of her womanhood. Every year by +the popular voice she is chosen from all the maidens of the country for +her intelligence, beauty, and goodness. For a year before the ceremony +she lives in the temple with her maidens, and never leaves the sacred +island, or has any visitors from the outer world. During this period she +undergoes a preparation and purification for the fulfilment of her holy +office--the culling of the flower. It consists mainly in the study of +our sacred writings, the eating of a certain food, and bathing in the +waters of a holy fountain, which issues from the rock in a sacred grotto +of the island. When the ceremony of cutting the lily is over, and the +holy month has expired, that is to say in ten days from now, she will +leave the temple and return to her family. Another girl will take her +place--the priestess appointed for the coming year--in fact, the maiden +who gave her the sickle." + +I had listened to this conversation with breathless interest, but +without daring to take part in it. + +"Will she ever marry?" enquired Gazen. + +I waited for the answer with a beating heart. + +"Oh, yes," replied Otāré, "why not? She will marry if she finds a lover +whom she can love. There are many who admire Alumion." + +"What of yourself?" asked the professor, smiling pointedly. "You seem to +know a good deal about her." + +"I am her brother." + +Nothing more was said, for at this moment the barge was seen coming from +behind the temple, after having made a round of the spectators, and +presently drew up at the marble stairs. Again the doors swung open, and +the maidens reappeared to welcome their mistress with a song of joy. I +saw her ascend the steps bearing the lily in her hand, then turn and +wave an adieu to the multitude, who responded by a parting hymn as the +great purple valves closed together and rapt her from my sight. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ALUMION. + + +Alumion--Alumion--I could think of nothing but Alumion. Her very name +was music in my ears, and her image in my heart was a perpetual banquet +of delight I had never known such felicity before. My inclination for +Miss Carmichael and every other transient affection or interest I may +have felt was altogether of a lower strain--with one exception, a boyish +admiration for a school girl who died a mere child. The ethereal flame +of this new passion seemed to purify all that was earthly, and exalt all +that was celestial in my nature. This beautiful land, so green and +smiling under a sky of serene azure and snowy wreaths, became as the +highest heaven to me, and I wandered about in a dream of ecstacy like +one of the blessed gods inebriated with nectar. + +I avoided my travelling companions. Their worldly conversation jarred on +the mood I was in, and I preferred my own thoughts to their pursuits. +As my sole desire was to hear about Alumion, and if possible to see her +again, I courted the society of Dinus and Otāré. I knew, of course, that +in ten days she would return to her family, but I thought I might be +able to visit the temple and perhaps get a glimpse of her. However, I +learned from her father that during the sacred festival the temple was +closed to the outer world. It was not indeed forbidden to land on the +holy island, but it was considered a sacrilege for anyone not having +business there to enter the precincts of the temple, excepting on the +day of the ceremony which had just taken place. While bound to respect +this taboo, I was, nevertheless, drawn by an irresistible attraction to +the island, where I frequently spent hours in sailing about the wooded +shores, or loitering in the sacred avenue, hoping against hope that I +might see her passing by or in the distance. Although I was not so +fortunate, I enjoyed the satisfaction of being nearer to her, and as the +island seemed a perfect solitude, I could indulge my reverie in peace. + +At last I made a discovery. In describing the ceremony of the Flower, +Otāré had spoken of a sacred grotto where the priestess went to bathe, +and on questioning him further, I ascertained that it was situated on +the shore of the island in a bay or inlet to the eastward of the quay, +and that she took her customary bath at set of sun. + +That afternoon I made a thorough search and found a cavern in the rock +close to the beach of a secluded cove which I had overlooked until then. +A footpath, winding down the mountain side through the forest led to its +mouth, which was overhung and almost hid by a rich creeper with large +crimson blossoms. It was evidently the spot mentioned by Otāré, but +wishing to make sure, and impelled by curiosity in spite of a more +hallowed feeling, I lifted the creeper and was about to peer into the +darkness, when a sudden noise within made me jump back with affright. It +was the most horrible and excruciating shriek I had ever heard in my +life. If anyone by a refinement of cruelty were to compound a torture +for the ears, I do not think he could produce anything half so piercing, +gruesome, and discordant. + +It seemed the cry of an animal--a wild beast--and I began to think I was +mistaken in the place; but the sun was near its setting now, and it was +too late to seek further afield. I therefore returned to my boat and +withdrew under the overarching boughs of some trees where I could see +without being seen. + +I had not long to wait. Between the flowering shrubs I noticed that a +figure--a woman by her undulating grace--was coming down the path. A +thin wrap or veil of changing stuff, with gleams of azure and fiery red, +was flung about her person. Presently she stepped upon the beach into +the mellow gloaming, and stood like a statue, with her eyes bent on the +sinking orb, which threw a trail of splendour across the lake. + +It was the priestess, and apparently alone. A closer view of her person +brought me no disenchantment. Perfect beauty, like the sublime, produces +an impression of the infinite, and I only speak the literal truth when I +say that she appeared infinitely beautiful to me. Her golden hair, +rippling over the delicate ear and gathered into a knot behind, her +large violet eyes and blooming white skin, her Grecian profile and +stately yet flowing form, might have become an Aphrodite of Xeuxis or +Praxiteles; but her serene and gracious countenance beamed with a pure +seraphic light which is wanting to the classical goddess, and must be +sought in the Madonnas of Raphael. Moreover, she had an indescribable +look of girlish innocence, winsome sweetness, and pitiful tenderness, +which belonged to none of these ideals, and marked her as a simple, +loving, perishable child of earth. + +I gazed upon her marvellous beauty with a kind of religious veneration, +at once attracted by her womanly charm and awed by her god-like dignity, +yet with a strange, a divine state of repose and pure rapture in my +heart for which there is no name. + +Would that the happiness, the bliss of looking upon her, of being near +her, might have lasted for ever! + +I knew, however, that she would soon enter the grotto and be lost to me. +Should I speak? In this fraternal community what was there to prevent +it? Something held me back. Otāré had said that the priestess was +isolated from the outer world during her year of office; but that was +only a general statement. Mine was a peculiar case. I was a stranger. I +did not belong to their world, and was not supposed to know the ins and +outs of their customs. Besides, why should custom stand between such a +love as mine and its object? Conventional propriety was for the pitiful +earth and its wretched abortive passions. Perhaps I should frighten her? +No, I did not believe it. In this golden land even the birds seemed +fearless. As well think to frighten an angel in Heaven. + +While I was debating the question within myself she glanced into the +foliage where I was hidden. How my heart throbbed! I fancied that she +saw me, and trembled with emotion; but I was mistaken, for she turned +and walked towards the cavern. + +Suddenly I remembered the alarming sound within the cave, and breaking +through the covert, called after her. + +"Take care, take care! There is a wild beast in the grotto. I heard it +cry." + +She looked round and started when she saw me. The surprise, visible on +her face, seemed to melt into recognition. + +"It is kind of you to warn me," she responded with a frank smile, "but I +am not in danger. There is no wild animal inside." + +Her low sweet voice was quite in keeping with her beauty. Every note +rung clear and melodious as a bell. + +"But the awful cry?" I rejoined with a puzzled air. + +"Was that of a particular pet of mine," she answered laughingly. + +"Pardon me," said I smiling for company, "I am a stranger here, as you +can see, and did not know any better." + +"You are one of the travellers from another world, are you not?" + +"Ah! you have heard of our arrival." + +"Oh yes! An event so important was not kept from me. I saw you sitting +beside my father on the day of the Flower, and I knew you again. I am +afraid our country will seem very odd to you. Have you enjoyed your +stay?" + +"So much. I cannot tell you how much." + +"I hope you will remain with us a long time." + +"I should like to stop here for ever." + +She blushed and smiled with pleasure at these words, then, raising her +arms in a noble salute, inclined her head, and entered the cavern. + +I returned to the car in a delirium of happiness. I had seen her again, +I had actually spoken with her. _She knew me!_ Every detail of her look +and accent was indelibly printed on my memory. All next day I wandered +about in a kind of transport, feasting on the recollection of what had +passed between us, and revolving over my future course of action. In two +days the holy time would end, and I should have an opportunity of +meeting her at home; but with the chance of seeing her again at the +grotto, I could not wait. I was allured towards her by the most +delicious fascination. Such a love as mine looked down upon the petty +proprieties which keep lovers apart, yet are sometimes so needful in our +wicked world. In this noble planet life was free and simple, because it +was beautiful and good. I determined to revisit the cove that evening, +and if I should see her again, to declare my secret. + +Had I counted the cost? With such a passion it is not a question of +cost. I was well aware that if she did not reciprocate my affection she +would never marry me. Nor did I wish it otherwise. I would not ask her +to sacrifice herself for my sake. If, as my heart fondly hoped, she +accepted me, I would not allow anything to stand between us for a +moment. I would abandon the expedition if necessary, and remain in +Venus. If, on the other hand, she refused me as my judgment feared, I +would return to the earth as a new man, ennobled by a glorious love, +reverencing myself that I was capable of it, cherishing her image in my +heart as the ideal of womanhood, and grateful for having seen and known +her. Surely a rich reward for all the perils of the journey. + +Sunset found me in the cove, not hidden by the leaves as before, but +sitting in the boat astrand. She came. To-night her veil was of a golden +yellow shading into dark green. A beautiful smile of recognition passed +over her face when she saw me, and we greeted one another in the +graceful fashion of the country. + +I did not speak of the weather or give an excuse for my presence there, +as I might have done to a woman of the world. With Alumion I felt that +all such artificial forms were idle, and that I could reveal my inmost +soul without disguise, in all its naked sincerity. + +"I have brought you some flowers," said I, offering her a nosegay which +I had picked. "Will you accept them?" + +"I thank you," she replied with a beaming smile as she came and took +them from my hand. "They are very beautiful, and I shall keep them for +your sake." + +"For my sake!" + +Inspired by love I continued in a voice trembling with emotion, + +"Alumion--can you not guess what brings me here?" + +A blush rose to her cheek as she bent over the flowers. + +"It is because I love you," said I; "because I have loved you ever since +I saw you on the day you cut the sacred lily; because I love +you--worship you--with all my heart and soul." + +She was silent. + +"If I am wrong, forgive me," I went on in a pleading tone. "Blame the +spell your beauty has cast over me, but do not banish me from your +presence, which is life and light to me." + +"Wrong!" she murmured, lifting her wondrous eyes to mine. "Can it be +wrong to love, or to speak of love? Why should I send you away from me +because you love me? Is not love the glory of the heart, as the sun is +the glory of the world? Rejoice, then, in your love as I do in mine." + +"As you do?" + +"Yes, as I do. I should have spoken sooner, but my heart was full of +happiness. For I also love you. I have loved you from the beginning." + +With a cry of unspeakable joy I sprang from the boat, and would have +flung myself at her feet to kiss her hand or the hem of her garment, but +she drew back with a look of apprehension. + +"Touch me not," she said gravely, "for by the custom of our land I am +holy. Until to-morrow at sunset I am consecrated to The Giver." + +"Pardon my ignorance," I responded rather crestfallen. "Your will shall +be my law. I only wished to manifest my eternal gratitude and devotion +to you." + +"Kneel not to me," she rejoined, "but rather to The Giver, who has so +strangely brought us together. How many ages we might have wandered +from world to world without finding each other again!" + +"You think we have met before then?" I enquired eagerly, for the same +thought had been haunting my own mind. It seemed to me that I had known +Alumion always. + +"Assuredly," she replied, "for you and I are kindred souls who have been +separated in another world, by death or evil; and now that we have met +again, let us be faithful and loving to each other." + +"Nothing shall separate us any more." + +The words had scarcely passed my lips when the same terrible cry which I +had heard once before sounded from the interior of the grotto. + +Alumion called or rather sang out a response to the cry, which I did not +understand, then said to me in her ordinary voice, + +"It is Siloo. I must go now and give him food." + +I was curious to know who or what was Siloo, but did not dare to ask. +She raised her arms gracefully and smiled a sweet farewell. + +"Are you going to leave me like that?" said I. + +"What would you have?" she answered, turning towards the cave. + +"In my country lovers bind themselves by mutual vows." + +"What need of vows? Have we not confessed our loves?" + +"Will you not tell me when I shall see you again? Will you not say when +you will be mine--when you will marry me?" + +A blush mounted to her cheek as she answered with a divine glance, + +"Meet me at sunset to-morrow, and I will be yours." + +As yet I had not mentioned my adventure with Alumion to any of my +companions, but that night I said to Gazen, as we smoked our cigars +together, + +"Wish me joy, old fellow! I am going to be married." + +He seemed quite dumbfounded, and I rather think he fancied that I must +have come to an understanding with Miss Carmichael. + +"Really!" said he with the air of a man plucking up heart after an +unexpected blow. "May I ask who is the lady?" + +"The Priestess of the Lily." + +"The Priestess!" he exclaimed utterly astonished, but at the same time +vastly relieved. "The Priestess! Come, now, you are joking." + +"Never was more serious in my life." + +Then I told him what had happened, how I had met her, and my engagement +to marry her. + +"If you will take my advice," said he dryly, "you'll do nothing of the +kind." + +"Why?" + +"Have you considered the matter?" he replied significantly. + +"Considered the matter! A love like mine does not 'consider the matter' +as though it were a problem in Euclid. With such a woman as Alumion a +lover does not stop to 'consider the matter,' unless he is a fool." + +"A woman--yes; but remember that she is a woman of another planet. She +might not make a suitable wife for you." + +"I love her. I love her as I can never love a woman of our world. She is +a thousand times more beautiful and good than any woman I have ever +known. She is an ideal woman--a perfect woman--an angel in human form." + +"That may be; but what will her family say?" + +"My dear Gazen, don't you know they manage these things better here. +Thank goodness, the 'family' does not interfere with love affairs in +this happy land! We love each other, we have agreed to be married, and +that is quite sufficient. No need to get the 'consent of the parents,' +or make a 'settlement,' or give out the banns, or buy a government +license as though a wife were contraband goods, or hire a string of +four-wheelers, or tip the pew-opener. What has love to do with +pew-openers? Why should the finest thing in life become the prey of such +vulgar parasites? Why should our heavenliest moments be profaned and +spoiled by needless worries--hateful to the name of love? Our wedding +will be very simple. We shall not even want you as groomsman or Miss +Carmichael as bridesmaid. I daresay we shall get along without cake and +speeches, and as for the rice and old boots, upon my word, I don't think +we shall miss them." + +"And if it is a fair question, when will the--the simple ceremony take +place?" + +"To-morrow evening." + +"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the professor, taken by surprise. "I +thought a priestess could not marry." + +"To-morrow at sunset she will be a free woman. Her priesthood will come +to an end." + +"And--pardon me--but what are you going to do with her when you've got +her? Will you bring her home to the car--there is very little room here, +as you know. Do you propose to take her to the earth, where I'm afraid +she will probably die like a tender plant or a bird of paradise in a +cage? Do you think her father would consent to that?" + +"We are not going away just yet. There will be time enough to arrange +about that." + +"Well, we can't stay here much longer. I must get back to my work--and +you know we intended to pay a flying visit to Mercury, and if possible +to get a closer look at the sun." + +"All right. You can go as soon as you like. I shall remain behind. +Carmichael will take you to the earth, and then come back here for me." + +"You talk as if it were merely a question of a drive." + +"I think we have proved that it is not more dangerous to go from one +planet to another than it is to get about town." + +"If an accident _should_ occur. If Carmichael cannot return--" + +"I shall be much happier here than I should be on the earth. Even if I +had never met Alumion I think I should come back and stay on Venus." + +"It is certainly a better world, as far as we have seen, but remember +your own words, 'Man was made for the earth.' Don't you think this +eternal summer--these Elysian Fields--would pall upon you in course of +time? Constant bliss, like everlasting honey, might cloy your earthly +palate, and make you sigh for our poor, old, wicked, miserable world, +that in spite of all its faults and crimes, is yet so interesting, so +variable, so dramatic--so dear." + +"Never. With Alumion even Hades would be an Elysium." + +"Think of your friends at home, and what you owe to them; how they will +miss you." + +"I cannot be of much service to them. They will soon forget me." + +"Perhaps you are mistaken there," said Gazen, assuming a more serious +air. "In any case I for one shall miss you. In fact, to speak plainly, I +shall feel aggrieved--hurt. You and I are old friends, and when you +asked me to join you in this expedition I was moved by friendship as +well as interest. Certainly, I never dreamed that you would desert the +ship. I thought it was understood that we should sink or swim together. +If you leave us I shan't answer for the consequences. I appreciate the +dilemma in which you are placed, but surely friendship has a prior if a +weaker claim than love-passion. Surely you owe some allegiance to +Carmichael and myself." + +"What would you have me do?" + +"Only to carry out the original plan of the voyage. Promise me that you +will stick to the ship. Afterwards you can return to Venus and do as you +please. Stanley, you know, made his greatest journey into Africa between +his engagement and his marriage." + +"Very well, I promise." + +With an agitated mind I repaired to the tryst next evening and waited +for Alumion. How should I break the news to her, and how would she +receive it? + +The cool airs of the water, and the glorious pageant of the sunset +calmed my troubled spirit. All day the serene and beamy azure of the +heavens had been plumed with snowy cloudlets of graceful and capricious +form, which, as the sun sank to the horizon, were tinged with fleeting +glows resembling the iris of a dove's neck, or the hues of a dying +dolphin. The great luminary himself was lost in a golden glamour, and a +single bright star shone palely through a rosy mist, which covered all +the southern sky, like a diamond seen through a bridal veil of gauze. + +That lone star was the earth. + +Strange to say, I felt a kind of yearning towards it, a yearning as of +home-sickness, and it seemed to reproach me for having thought of +forsaking it. I wondered what my friends were doing now within that +blaze; perhaps they were looking at Venus and speculating on what I was +about. How delighted I should be to see them again, and show them my +incomparable wife--but could I ever take her there? + +Whilst I was musing, the low sweet voice of Alumion thrilled me to the +marrow. I turned and saw her. She was dressed to-night in a filmy +vesture of opalescent or pearly white, partly diaphanous, and having a +deep fringe of gold. There was a pink blush on her cheek and a sparkle +of girlish love in her celestial eyes. Never had she seemed more +ravishingly beautiful. + + "Beauty too rare for use, for earth too dear." + +"You were gazing on the star. You did not hear my coming," she said with +a little feminine pout. + +"I was thinking of you, darling." + +She smiled again. + +"Is it not a lovely star?" she said. "We call it the star of Love--the +star of the Blest." + +"It is my home." + +"Your home!" she exclaimed with a look of surprise and wonderment. + +"You have heard that I come from another world." + +"Yes, but I did not know it was a star. And is that beautiful star your +home?" + +"Yes, beloved; and I am sorry to say I must return there soon again." + +"And I will go! You will take me with you to that fair world!" + +I thought of all the crime and folly, the deceit, violence, and +wretchedness lurking behind that pure and peaceful ray. Alas! how could +I tell her the truth and destroy her illusions. She was innocent as a +child, and an instinct warned me to keep the knowledge of evil from her, +while a contrary spirit urged me to speak. + +"You might not find it so fair as it looks from here." + +"I am sure it cannot be an evil world since you come from it. To us it +is a sacred star." + +"If the inhabitants could see it as I do now, perhaps the sight would +make them lead better lives--would shame them into being worthier of +their dwelling-place." + +"Are they not good?" she asked with a look of wonder and sorrowful +compassion. "Then how unhappy they must be." + +"Some are good and some are bad. Everything is mixed in our world--the +strong and the weak--the rich and the poor--the happy and the +miserable." + +"But do the good not help the bad?" + +"Yes, to a certain extent; but life is a struggle there; every man for +himself; and the good very often find it hard to secure a little +happiness for themselves." + +"How can they be happy when they know that others are suffering and in +want, that others are bad? I long to go and help them." + +"Darling, you are an angel, and I adore you; but, believe me, you alone +could do very little. One has already come and taught us how to love and +cherish each other, that the strong should help the weak, the rich give +to the poor, and the happy comfort the wretched. His followers believe +that He came from Heaven, and yet after nineteen hundred years I am +afraid that some of them do not fully understand the plain meaning of +His words, or else find it convenient to ignore them." + +"But many of us will go there. We will bring the sinful and the +suffering over here to Womla and make them happy." + +"I am touched by your simple faith in us, dearest It does you honour, +but I fear it is mistaken. What would you say if the very people you had +saved and befriended were to turn round and take your country from you, +perhaps even destroy you? Such ingratitude is not unknown in our +world." + +"If they are so wicked they have the more need of help." + +"In any case, darling, I cannot take you with me, for the vessel we came +in is too small; but I will come back as soon as possible and stay with +you in Womla. How happy we shall be!" + +"In Womla--no. We should not be quite at rest." + +"Then we shall seek out some desert star where we can live only for each +other." + +"You do not understand me. Neither in Womla nor in a desert star could +we be happy in a selfish love, knowing that others were in pain." + +"Better I had not spoken of my world at all." + +"No, a thousand times no!" cried Alumion with fervour. "For you have +opened up to me a new source of happiness--of blessedness which I have +never known before. Only let us go together to your world and minister +to the unfortunate." + +"Well, darling, we will think of it; but see! the sun has set and you +are free again. I came to marry you, but since I must return so soon to +my own world, perhaps it would be well to postpone the ceremony until I +come back here." + +"Why should we do that?" + +Evidently she had no idea of the dangers of the journey, or how long it +would take. + +"If anything should happen to me. If I should die and never return." + +"Ah! do not speak of that. The Giver will preserve you." + +"But life is uncertain." + +"Beloved, I shall never love another but you; therefore, let us unite +ourselves, as we are already united in heart and soul, henceforth and +forever. Come!" + +With these words she turned and glided towards the sacred grotto. I held +aside the flowering creeper which hung over the entrance like a curtain, +and followed her within. To my great surprise the interior was neither +dark nor dusky, but filled with a soft and luscious light from myriads +of glow-worms and fire-flies of various colours, which glimmered on the +walls like tiny electric lamps, or sparkled in the facets of the gems +and spars depending from the roof. Judging by their shape and tint I +imagine that some of these incrustations are native crystals of the +diamond and ruby, the sapphire, topaz, and emerald. In a deep recess or +alcove on one side a spring of clear water gushed from the rock into a +natural basin of sinter, enamelled inside and out with the precious +opal. Owing perhaps to the minerals through which it had passed the +liquid shed a delicious perfume in the air, and made a bath fit for the +goddess of beauty. + +I had scarcely time to look about me when a strange and wonderful melody +of most entrancing sweetness echoed through the cavern. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion softly, and the music, which I cannot +compare to any earthly strain, ceased in a moment. Presently I was more +than startled to see in the gloomier background of the cavern a great +white serpent glide like a ghost along the floor and come straight +towards us. His milk-white body was speckled all over with jewelled +scales, and shone with a pale blue phosphorescence; his eyes blazed in +his head like twin carbuncles, and in spite of my instinctive dread of +snakes, I could not help admiring his repulsive beauty. Presently he +reared his long neck, and faced us with his forked tongue playing out +and in. I shrank back, for I thought he was about to spring upon me; but +Alumion, laughing gaily at my fears, stepped quickly up to him, and +stroked him with her hand. The serpent laid his head caressingly upon +her shoulder and emitted a low faint note of pleasure. + +Alumion then took a shallow dish or patera, and, filling it from a vase +which she carried with her set it upon the floor for the snake to feed. + +"You don't seem to be afraid of that gruesome reptile," said I +pleasantly. + +"Oh, no," she replied smiling. "Siloo knows me very well." + +"Tell me, was it he who made the music a little while ago?" + +"Yes, and also the noise which alarmed you the first night you wandered +here. The music comes from his head, and the noise is from his tail. +That is why we call him Siloo." + +The word, as nearly as I can translate it, means harmony, order, +measure, proportion, in the Womla tongue. + +"Does he always live in this cave?" + +"Yes, he is a sacred animal with us, and long ago was worshipped and +consulted by our forefathers, and those who preceded them in the +island." + +"Is he very old?" + +"None can tell how old. Some say he is immortal. Others think he is only +the offspring of the snake worshipped by our forefathers. He is guardian +of the sacred fountain whose waters we are about to drink." + +When she had spoken, Alumion tripped to the flowing spring, and, taking +a cup which was standing on the edge of the basin, filled it from the +pellucid stream. + +"Give me your hand," she murmured, holding out her own, and lifting her +celestial eyes, so full of love and tenderness, to mine. It was a dainty +hand, plump, lilywhite, and dimpled, with tapering fingers; and as I +felt her warm and silk-soft touch for the first time, my soul melted +within me, and my whole being thrilled with delight. Her rosy lips +parted with pleasure, and a delicate blush mantled her blooming cheeks +and full white throat. + +I gazed in rapture on her divine countenance, so like a speaking flower, +the image of a beautiful soul on which neither sorrow, care, nor passion +had ever left a trace. + +She raised the cup, and having sipped of the water, handed it to me in +silence. I sought the place where her lips had touched the brim and +drank. Now whether it was phantasy or some foreign ingredient I cannot +tell, but the water seemed to taste like nectar, and to run through all +my veins like wine. + +The glamour of the lights and the perfume of the waters wrought upon my +senses, and, yielding to the intoxication of my love, I caught Alumion +to my arms. + +Suddenly the most appalling noise rent the air, and caused me to spring +back from my bride in terror. It came from the rattlesnake. His grisly +body swayed to and fro, his gaping mouth displayed all its horrid fangs, +and his large eyes burned like two red-hot coals. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion hastily in a tone of command. "Down, +Siloo!" + +The serpent at once obeyed her voice and retired again to his dish. + +"He thought I was going to harm you," I exclaimed, not without a sense +of relief. "Or perhaps he was jealous of me." + +"Remember this is holy ground," responded Alumion. + +"Forgive me," I said, feeling her reproof. "My love--your beauty--must +be my excuse." + +"We must part now," she continued, with a blinding glance and a +ravishing smile. "I have some last offices to perform here. We shall +meet to-morrow at my father's house." + +On my way home the blood coursed through my veins like an immortal ichor +of the gods, full of sweet and inextinguishable fire. Inebriated with +the cup of bliss which I had only tasted, I began to repent me of my +promise to leave Womla. + +"To-morrow Alumion will be mine," I reflected, "but for how long? A few +days at the most. It is too bad!" + +An idea struck me. + +"Gazen," said I that night as soon as I had a convenient opportunity to +speak with him, "I have married Alumion." + +"Married her!" he exclaimed, completely taken aback. + +"Yes, that is to say, I have gone through the formal ceremony of +marriage. I have drunk of the cup." + +"But you promised me you would do nothing of the kind." + +"I said I would go back to the earth with you, and I will keep my word. +But I must say that since I agreed to your wishes in the matter, I think +you owe me some concession, and I want you to leave me in Womla while +you go on to Mercury, and then come back here to pick me up. That will +give me a longer honeymoon." + +"Impossible, my dear fellow--quite impossible," replied the professor. +"Venus will be too far out of our way home. We have no oxygen to waste, +and can't go hunting you in your love affairs all round the solar +system." + +"Very well, then, I shall stay behind." + +"But, my dear fellow--" + +"Say no more about it. I have made up my mind." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE FLYING APE. + + +It was broad day when I awoke, and oppressively warm in the little +cabin. My first thoughts were of Alumion, the consecration of our loves, +and my resolution to abide in Venus. In getting up I felt so light and +buoyant that for a moment I fancied I must be giddy, but on reflection I +ascribed the sensation to the intoxication of passion, and the +exhilarating atmosphere of the planet. I looked out of a window towards +the blessed island of my dreams, and to my blank amazement found that +_it was gone!_ I could neither see anything of the lake, the square, nor +the town, but only a bare and rugged platform of weathered rocks, and +the cloudy sky above it. + +What was the matter? Had Gazen and Carmichael taken it into their heads +to make an excursion, such as we had often planned, in order to observe +something more of the country? Yes, that was it, no doubt. + +Under the circumstances I was far from pleased with them for having +carried me off without asking my leave, knowing as they should have +done, that I would be eager to rejoin Alumion; but experience of travel +had taught me that a man must not expect to have it all his own way, and +should know when to let his companions have theirs, and above all things +to keep his temper. I, therefore, decided to take their behaviour in +good part, more especially as we could always return to the capital as +quickly as we had come from it. + +Apparently there was nobody in the car but myself. Wondering, and +perhaps a trifle uneasy at the dead stillness, I dressed rapidly and +went outside. + +The welkin was wholly overcast with dense, murky vapours, which totally +hid the sun, and the air was excessively hot, moist, and sultry as +before a thunderstorm--an unusual phenomenon in Womla. Black boulders +and crags, speckled with lichens, and carpeted with coarse herbage, shut +out the prospect on every side but one, where the edge of the platform +on which the car was resting ran along the sky. I saw it all now. Gazen +and Carmichael had made a journey to the extreme verge of the country; +to the very summit of the precipice which surrounded the Crater Land. + +Picking my steps over the rough rocks like one who treads on air, I +hastened to the brink of the platform. If the car were on the further +side of the summit I should be able to see the wide ocean, but if, as I +fondly hoped, it were on the hither side, I should enjoy a far-off +glimpse of the city and its holy island, which had become a heaven to +me. How different was the scene which met my view! + +I was looking away over a vast plain towards a distant range of volcanic +mountains. A broad river wound through the midst between isolated +volcanoes, curling with smoke, and thick forests of a sable hue, or +expanded into marshy lakes half lost in brakes of grisly reeds, on the +margin of which living monsters were plashing in the mud, or soaring +into the air on dusky pinions. + +My first shock of surprise passed into a fearful admiration for the +savage and gloomy grandeur of the primeval landscape; but as that +feeling wore away the old irritation against my fellow-travellers came +back. From all I had heard or seen there was no such place as this in +Womla, and as it dawned upon me that they had migrated to some other +island, or perhaps continent in Venus, I forgot my good resolution, and +shouted indignantly, + +"Gazen, Gazen! Hallo there! Hallo!" + +There was no response, and the dead silence that swallowed up my voice +was awful. Had anything happened to my companions, and was I left alone +in this appalling solitude? Was I in my right senses, or was I not? I +shouted again at the very pitch of my voice, and this time an answering +cry came to my relief. On turning in the direction from which it +proceeded, I observed Professor Gazen coming slowly towards me, round a +mass of turretted rocks. + +"What is the meaning of all this?" I demanded petulantly, as he came +near, gingerly stepping from stone to stone. + +He made no reply, but seemed to be meditating what he would say. + +"A nice trick you've played me! Wherever have we got to?" + +"Mercury," replied Gazen coolly. + +"_Mercury!_" I exclaimed, fairly astounded. "Impossible!" + +"Not at all." + +"Oh, come!" said I sarcastically, "that won't do. A joke is a joke; but +I'm not in a merry mood this morning." + +"So I see. A laugh would do you good." + +"Well, where are we?" + +"In Mercury." + +"What nonsense!" I ejaculated. "Last night I went to bed in Venus, and +you want me to believe that I've woke up on Mercury. Tell that to the +marines." + +"Last night you say; but do you know how long you have slept? And have +you forgotten that we are now so near the sun--that the attraction of +the sun on the car has assisted the machines to propel us through the +intermediate space?" + +I had not thought of that. + +"Then it is true." + +"Of course." + +"And why have you come here--what authority--what right--had you to +carry me off in this manner without my consent?" I burst out angrily. +"You knew I had made up my mind to stay in Venus. I took you into my +confidence and told you about my love affair. Why have you betrayed that +confidence, and kidnapped me like a slave or a lunatic?" + +"Hear me, old friend," said Gazen softly. "We have all noticed a decided +change in you of late--ever since the day of the ceremony on the island. +You have been like a different person--absent in your mind--incoherent +in your speech--abrupt in your manner. You have forsaken your old +friends completely, and apparently lost all interest in their doings, +all desire for their company. In short, you have behaved like a man +beside himself, distraught. We could not make it out, and we had many +anxious consultations about the matter. I wondered whether you had had a +sunstroke. Carmichael suggested that the stimulating air of Venus had +affected your brain. Miss Carmichael alone suspected that you were in +love; but I would not believe her. I had been so much in your society +without having seen anything to justify her suspicion, and you yourself +had never breathed a word to lend it colour. Carmichael and I sought to +question you about your health, and the influence of the sun and air +upon you, while Miss Carmichael tried to draw you on the subject of the +ladies. All in vain. We could not solve the mystery, and as your +condition was evidently growing worse and worse, we resolved to leave +the planet. Although it was not in the original programme, we had +sometimes talked of extending our journey to Mercury, so as to visit all +the inferior planets, and give me an opportunity of getting as near the +sun as possible for my observations, and this project was made the +pretext for hastening our departure. + +"We submitted the plan to you, and you know the rest. After you had +given us your word of honour that you would break with the lady and +return home with us for the sake of your friends, after we had made all +our preparations to start, you came back at the eleventh hour, and +declared that you had made up your mind to stay behind. If anything had +been wanted to prove to us that you were hopelessly +infatuated--hypnotised--mad--it would have been that; and as we were +morally bound to fetch you back with us, we took the bull by the horns, +and carried you off in spite of yourself." + +"You had no business to do anything of the kind," I replied hotly. "I am +chiefly responsible for this expedition." + +"True; but you forget that Carmichael is the nominal leader, by your own +agreement, and we are all to some extent under his orders. I, too, was +bound in honour to bring you safe home if I could." + +"Bound in honour to take care of _me_! You treat me like a baby." + +"People don't come away on such an adventure as ours without a tacit if +not a formal understanding to protect each other to the best of their +ability, and besides, I had given my word to your friends that I would +do my best to help you through. When you come to your senses you will +acknowledge that we did right." + +Despite my excusable anger and vexation, the calm and friendly +explanation of the professor was not without its effect on me. It was +true that I had broken my promise to my fellow-travellers; true that +Carmichael was commander of the expedition. I was myself at fault. And +yet what a disappointment! What would Alumion think of me! After all my +vows of eternal fidelity, uttered as they had been in that sacred spot, +I had sneaked away like a thief in the night. + +"I shall go back to Venus," said I, in a determined manner. + +"Tut, tut," said Gazen, with a good-natured smile; "you had better give +up that idea. You are clearly the victim of hypnotic influence--of +suggestion. By-and-by it will lose its hold on you, and you will regain +your freedom of action." + +"Never!" I exclaimed, with all the energy of my soul. "My dear Gazen, +you are quite mistaken in supposing anything of the kind. I was never +saner in my life. Nay, it is only now that I know what it is to be sane; +what life was meant to be. Hypnotic suggestion! Pshaw! I know what I am +doing as well as you do. I am not a fool. I am only seeking my own +happiness--and hers--I tell you that a single moment in her society is +worth a whole lifetime on the earth. What do I say? A lifetime? An +eternity. Heaven itself were nothing to me without her. I would not take +it as a gift. I shall go back. I must go back. I cannot live without +her." + +"Take time to consider at all events," said Gazen, somewhat impressed by +my vehemence. "In the meantime let us join Miss Carmichael. She is +beyond the rocks there sketching the valley." + +We walked in that direction. + +"You may return to the earth," said I; "but on the way you must drop me +at Venus." + +Gazen had no opportunity of answering, for just at that moment we were +startled by a piercing shriek from behind the crags, and rushing, or +rather bounding forward, saw a sight that made our very blood run cold. + +A flying monster, with enormous bat-like wings and hanging legs, was +evidently swooping down on Miss Carmichael, as she stood beside her +easel on the brow of the cliff. + +"Run for your life!" roared Gazen, dashing towards her with frantic +speed. + +Alas! she did not hear him, or else she was fascinated by the +approaching horror, and rooted to the spot. He was still several hundred +yards from her, but owing to the feebleness of gravity on the planet he +was so preternaturally light and nimble that he might have covered the +distance in a minute or so, had he been more accustomed to control his +limbs, and the ground been smoother. As it was he leaped high into the +air, and rebounded from the stones like an india-rubber ball, at the +risk of spraining his ankles or breaking his neck, while brandishing his +arms, and firing his pistol, and hooting with all his force of lung to +frighten away the monster. + +Too late. The huge leathery wings of the dragon overshadowed the +shrinking form of the girl, and the talons of its drooping feet caught +in her dress. She made one desperate, but futile effort to free herself +from its terrible clutch, and, screaming loudly for help, was borne away +over the abyss of the valley as easily as a lamb is carried by an eagle. + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Gazen, stopping with a gesture of despair. + +He was deeply moved, and pale as death; but he did not altogether lose +his head. + +What was to be done? + +"The car--the car!" he exclaimed. "We must follow her in the car. Keep +your eye on the beast while I go for it." + +Carmichael was fast asleep in his cabin, after his long weary vigil +during the passage from Venus, but the car was quickly put in motion, +and I jumped on board just as it cleared the brink of the precipice. + +The dragon, which had the start of us by a mile or more, was apparently +steering for the mountains on the other side of the valley. +Notwithstanding its enormous bulk, and the dead weight hanging from its +claws, it flew with surprising speed, owing to the weakness of gravity +and the vast spread of its wings. + +I shall never forget that singular chase, which is probably unparalleled +in the history of the universe. A prey to anxiety and the most +distressing emotions, we did not properly observe the marvellous, the +Titanic, I had almost said the diabolical aspect of the country beneath +us, and still we could not altogether blind ourselves to it. Colossal +jungles, resembling brakes of moss and canes five hundred or a thousand +feet in height--creeks as black as porter, gliding under their dank and +rotting aisles--mountainous quadrupeds or lizards crashing and tearing +through their branches--one of them at least six hundred feet in length, +with a ridgy back and long spiky tail, dragging on the ground, a baleful +green eye, and a crooked mouth full of horrid fangs, which made it look +the very incarnation of cruelty and brute strength--black lakes and +grisly reeds as high as bamboo--prodigious black serpents troubling the +water, and rearing their long spiry necks above the surface--gigantic +alligators and crocodiles resting motionless in the shallows, with their +snouts high in the air--hideous toads or such-like forbidding reptiles, +many with tusks like the walrus, and some with glorious eyes, crouching +on the banks or waddling in the reeds, and so enormous as to give +variety to the landscape--volcanic craters, with red-hot lava simmering +in their depths, and emitting fumes of sulphur, which might have choked +us had we not closed the scuttles--while over all great dragons and +other bat-like animals were flitting through the dusky atmosphere like +demons in a nightmare. + +Little by little we gained upon our quarry, but being afraid to run him +too close for fear that he might drop his victim, we kept at a safe +distance behind him, yet within rifle range, and near enough to make a +prompt attack when he should settle on the ground. + +At length we reached the other side of the valley, and found to our +intense satisfaction that the monster was making for a rocky ledge on +the shoulder of an extinct volcano, where we could see the yawning mouth +of what appeared an immense cavern. + +"That is probably his den," said Gazen, who was now as collected as I +have ever seen him. Nevertheless all his faculties were on the stretch. +His keen grey eye was everywhere, and his active mind was calculating +every chance. I felt then as I had often felt before that in action as +well as in thought the professor was a man of no common mark. + +The event showed that his surmise was correct, for soon after he had +spoken the dragon uttered a startling cry--a kind of squawk like that of +a drake, but much louder, hoarser, shriller--and alighted on the ground. + +"There is not a moment to lose," said Gazen. "We must attack him before +he enters the cave." + +Certainly the darkness inside the cavern would give the beast a great +advantage, and although we might succeed in killing him, we could +scarcely hope to find Miss Carmichael alive. Was she alive now? I had my +doubts, but I kept them to myself. Since she had been carried away she +had not given the smallest sign of life, not even when the dragon +settled. Perhaps, however, she had merely lost her senses through +fright, and was still in a dead faint. + +We might have fought the creature from the air, but we had decided to +assail him on the solid ground, because we should thus be able to +scatter and take him in the flank, if not in the rear. + +While Carmichael landed his car the astronomer and I kept a sharp watch +on the beast, all ready to fire at the first movement which seemed to +threaten the safety of the young girl, who was lying motionless at the +bottom of a slope or talus which led up to the mouth of the cavern. +Freed from his burden the dragon now stood erect, and a more awful +monster it would be difficult to conceive. He must have been at least +forty feet in stature, yet he gave us an impression of squat and sturdy +strength. + +I have called him a dragon, but he was not at all like the dragons of +our imagination. With his great bullet head and prick ears, his beetling +brows and deep sunken eyes, his ferocious mouth and protruding tusks, +his short thick neck and massive shoulders, his large, gawky, and +misshapen trunk, coated with dingy brown fur, shading into dirty yellow +on the stomach, his stout, bandy legs armed with curving talons, and his +huge leathern wings hanging in loose folds about him, he looked more +like an imp of Satan than a dragon. + +Hitherto he had not appeared to notice his pursuers; but now that he was +freer to observe, the grating of the car upon the rocks caught his +attention. He turned quickly, and stared at the apparition of the +vessel, which must have been a strange object to him; but he did not +seem to take alarm. It was the gaze of a jaguar or a tiger who sees +something curious in the jungle--vigilant and deadly if you like, but +neither scared nor fierce. + +We lost no time in sallying forth, all three of us, armed with magazine +rifle, cutlass, and revolver. Mr. Carmichael in the middle, I on the +lower, and Gazen on the upper side, or that nearest to Miss Carmichael. +The rocks around were slippery with ordure, and the sickening stench of +rotting skeletons made our very gorge rise. Suddenly a loud squeaking in +the direction of the cave arrested us, and before we had recovered from +our surprise, nearly a dozen young dragons, each about the size of a +man, tumbled hastily down the slope, and rushed upon the lifeless form +of Miss Carmichael. + +"Great Scott, there's the whole family," muttered Gazen between his +teeth, at the same time bringing his rifle to the shoulder, and firing +in quick succession. + +The foremost of the crew, which had already flung itself upon the prey, +was seen to spring head over heels into the air, and fall back dead; +another lay writhing in agony upon the ground, and uttering strangely +human shrieks; whilst the others, terrified by the noise, turned and +fled back helter-skelter to the cave. + +The old one, roused to anger by the injury done to his offspring, +snarled ferociously at his enemies and, drawing himself to his full +height, made a furious dash for Gazen. + +Our rifles cracked again and again; the monster started as he felt the +shots, and halted, glaring from one to another of us like a man +irresolute. Purple streams were gushing from his head and sides; he +attempted to fly, and ran towards the brink of the ledge; but ere he +could gain sufficient impetus to launch himself into the air, he +staggered and fell heavily to the ground, with his broken wings beneath +him. + +Gazen, quicker than her father, flew towards Miss Carmichael, and bent +over her. + +"Is she alive?" enquired Carmichael, in breathless and trembling +accents. + +"Yes, thank God," responded Gazen fervently; as he raised her hand to +his lips and kissed it. + +There were tears of joy in his eyes, and I knew then what I had long +suspected, that he loved her. + +Suddenly a loud croak in the distance caused us to look up, and we +beheld another dragon on the wing, coining rapidly towards us from a +pass among the mountains. There was not a moment to be lost, and Gazen, +taking Miss Carmichael in his arms, we all hurried on board the car, +eager to escape from this revolting spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SUNWARD HO! + + +"By the way," said Gazen to me, "I've got a new theory for the rising +and sinking of the sun behind the cliffs at Womla--a theory that will +simply explode Professor Possil, and shake the Royal Astronomical +Society to its foundations." + +The astronomer and I were together in the observatory, where he was +adjusting his telescope to look at the sun. After our misadventure with +the flying ape, we had returned to our former station on the summit of +the mountain, to pick up the drawing materials of Miss Carmichael; but +as Gazen was anxious to get as near the sun as possible, and being +disgusted with the infernal scenery as well as the foetid, malarial +atmosphere of Mercury, we left as soon as we had replenished our cistern +from the pools in the rock. + +"Another theory?" I responded. "Thought you had settled that question." + +"Alas, my friend, theories, like political treatises, are made to be +broken." + +"Well, what do you think of it now?" + +"You remember how we came to the conclusion that Schiaparelli was right, +and that the planet Venus, by rotating about her own axis in the same +time as she takes to revolve around the sun, always keeps the same face +turned to the sun, one hemisphere being in perpetual light and summer, +whilst the other is in perpetual darkness and winter?" + +"Yes." + +"You remember, too, how we explained the growing altitude of the sun in +the heavens which culminated on the great day of the Festival, by +supposing that the axis of the planet swayed to and from the sun so as +to tilt each pole towards the sun, and the other from it, alternately, +thus producing what by courtesy we may call the seasons in Womla?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, judging from the observations I have made, we were probably right +so far; but if you recollect, I accounted for the mysterious daily rise +and set of the sun, if I may use the words, by changes in the density of +the atmosphere bending the solar rays, and making the disk appear to +rise and sink periodically, though in reality it does nothing of the +kind. A similar effect is well-known on the earth. It produces the +'after glow' on the peaks of the Alps when the sun is far below the +horizon; it sometimes makes the sun bob up and down again after sunset, +and it has been known to make the sun show in the Arctic regions three +weeks before the proper time. I had some difficulty in understanding how +the effect could take place so regularly." + +"I think you ascribed it to the interaction of the solar heat and the +evaporation from the surface." + +"Quite so. I assumed that when the sun is low the vapours above the edge +of the crater and elsewhere cool and condense, thus bending the rays and +seeming to lift the sun higher; but after a time the rays heat and +rarefy the vapours, thus lowering the sun again. It seemed a plausible +hypothesis and satisfied me for a time, but still not altogether, and +now I believe I have made a discovery." + +"And it is?" + +"That Venus is a wobbler." + +"A wobbler?" + +"That she wobbles--that she doesn't keep steady--swings from side to +side. You have seen a top, how stiff and erect it is when it is spinning +fast, and how it wobbles when it is spinning slow, just before it +falls. Well, I think something of the kind is going on with Venus. The +earth may be compared to a top that is whirling fast, and Venus to one +that has slowed down. She is less able than the earth to resist the +disturbing attraction of the sun on the inequalities of her figure, and +therefore she wobbles. In addition to the slow swinging of her axis +which produces her 'seasons,' she has a quicker nodding, which gives +rise to day and night in some favoured spots like Womla." + +"After all," said I, "tis a feminine trait. _Souvent femme varie._" + +"Oh, she is constant to her lord the sun," rejoined Gazen. "She never +turns her back upon him, but if I have not discovered a mare's nest, +which is very likely, she becks and bows to him a good deal, and thus +maintains her 'infinite variety.'" + +The cloudy surface of Mercury now lay far beneath us, and the glowing +disc of the sun, which appeared four or five times larger than it does +on the earth, had taken a bluish tinge--a proof that we had reached a +very great altitude. + +"What a magnificent 'sun-spot!'" exclaimed the professor in a tone of +admiration. "Just take a peep at it." + +I placed my eye to the telescope, and saw the glowing surface of the +disc resolved into a marvellous web of shining patches on a dimmer +background, and in the midst a large blotch which reminded me of a +quarry hole as delineated on the plan of a surveyor. + +"Have you been able to throw any fresh light on these mysterious +'spots?'" I enquired. + +"I am more than ever persuaded they are breaks in the photosphere caused +by eruptions of heated matter, chiefly gaseous from the +interior--eruptions such as might give rise to craters like that of +Womla, or those of the moon, were the sun cooler. No doubt that eminent +authority, Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil, regards them as aerial +hurricanes; but the more I see, the more I am constrained to regard +Sylvanus Pettifer Possil as a silly vain asteroid." + +While Gazen was yet speaking we both became sensible of an unwonted +stillness in the car. + +The machinery had ceased to vibrate. + +Our feelings at this discovery were akin to those of passengers in an +ocean steamer when the screw stops--a welcome relief to the monotony of +the voyage, a vague apprehension of danger, and curiosity to learn what +had happened. + +"Is there anything wrong, Carmichael?" asked Gazen through the speaking +tube. + +There was no response. + +"I say, Carmichael, is anything the matter?" he reiterated in a louder +tone. + +Still no answer. + +We were now thoroughly alarmed, and though it was against the rules, we +descended into the machinery room. The cause of Carmichael's silence was +only too apparent. We saw him lying on the floor beside his strange +machine, with his head leaning against the wall. There was a placid +expression on his face, and he appeared to slumber; but we soon found +that he was either in a faint or dead. Without loss of time we tried the +first simple restoratives at hand, but they proved of no avail. + +Gazen went and called Miss Carmichael. + +She had been resting in her cabin after her trying experience with the +dragon, and although most anxious about her father, and far from well +herself, she behaved with calm self-possession. + +"I think the heat has overcome him," she said, after a quick +examination; and truly the cabin was insufferably hot, thanks to the +machinery and the fervid rays of the sun. + +We could not open the scuttles and admit fresh air, for there was little +or none to admit. + +"I shall try oxygen," she said on reflecting a moment. + +Accordingly, while Gazen, in obedience to her directions began to work +Carmichael's arms up and down, after the method of artificial +respiration which had brought me round at the outset of our journey, she +and I administered oxygen gas from one of our steel bottles to his lungs +by means of a makeshift funnel applied to his mouth. In some fifteen or +twenty minutes he began to show signs of returning animation, and soon +afterwards, to our great relief, he opened his eyes. + +At first he looked about him in a bewildered way, and then he seemed to +recollect his whereabouts. After an ineffectual attempt to speak, and +move his limbs, he fixed his eyes with a meaning expression on the +engines. + +We had forgotten their stoppage. Miss Carmichael sprang to investigate +the cause. + +"They are jammed," she said after a short inspection. "The essential +part is jammed with the heat. Whatever is to be done?" + +We stared at each other blankly as the terrible import of her words came +home to us. Unless we could start the machines again, we must inevitably +fall back on Mercury. Perhaps we were falling now! + +We endeavoured to think of a ready and practicable means of cooling the +engines, but without success. The water and oil on board was lukewarm; +none of us knew how to make a freezing mixture even if we had the +materials; our stock of liquid air had long been spent. + +Miss Carmichael tried to make her father understand the difficulty in +hopes that he would suggest a remedy, but all her efforts were in vain. +Carmichael lay with his eyes closed in a kind of lethargy or paralysis. + +"Perhaps, when we are falling through the planet's atmosphere," said I, +"if we open the scuttles and let the cold air blow through the room, it +will cool the engines." + +"I'm afraid there will not be time," replied Gazen, shaking his head; +"we shall fall much faster than we rose. The friction of the air against +the car will generate heat. We shall drop down like a meteoric stone and +be smashed to atoms." + +"We have parachutes," said Miss Carmichael, "do you think we shall be +able to save our lives?" + +"I doubt it," answered Gazen sadly. "They would be torn and whirled +away." + +"So far as I can see there is only one hope for us," said I. "If we +should happen to fall into a deep sea or lake, the car would rise to the +surface again." + +"Yes, that is true," responded Gazen; "the car is hollow and light. It +would float. The water would also cool the machines and we might +escape." + +The bare possibility cheered us with a ray of hope. + +"If we only had time, my father might recover, and I believe he would +save us yet," said Miss Carmichael. + +"I wonder how much time we have," muttered Gazen. + +"We can't tell," said I. "It depends on the height we had reached and +the speed we were going at when the engines stopped. We shall rise like +a ball thrown into the air and then fall back to the ground." + +"I wonder if we are still rising," ejaculated Gazen. "Let us take a look +at the planet." + +"Don't be long," pleaded Miss Carmichael, as we turned to go. +"Meanwhile, I shall try and bring my father round." + +On getting to the observatory, we consulted the atmospheric pressure +gauge and found it out of use, a sign that we had attained an altitude +beyond the atmosphere of Mercury, and were now in empty space. + +We turned to the planet, whose enormous disc, muffled in cloud, was +shining lividly in the weird sky. At one part of the limb a range of +lofty mountain peaks rose above the clouds and chequered them with +shadow. + +Fixing our eyes upon this landmark we watched it with bated breath. Was +it coming nearer, or was it receding from us? That was the momentous +question. + +My feelings might be compared to those of a prisoner at the bar watching +the face of the juryman who is about to deliver the verdict. + +After a time--I know not how long--but it seemed an age--the professor +exclaimed, + +"I believe we are still rising." + +It was my own impression, for the peak I was regarding had grown as I +thought smaller, but I did not feel sure, and preferred to trust the +more experienced eyes of the astronomer. + +"I shall try the telescope," he went on; "we are a long way from the +planet." + +"How far do you think?" + +"Many thousand miles at least." + +"So much the better. We shall get more time." + +"Humph! prolonging the agony, that's all. I begin to wish it was all +over." + +Gazen directed his instrument on the planet, and we resumed our +observations. + +"We are no longer rising," said Gazen after a time. "I suppose we are +near the turning-point." + +As a prisoner scans the countenance of the judge who is about to +pronounce the sentence of life or death, I scanned the cloudy surface +underneath us, to see if I could discover any signs of an ocean that +would break our fall, but the vapours were too thick and compact. + +Every instant I expected to hear the fatal intelligence that our descent +had begun. + +"Strange!" muttered Gazen by-and-by, as if speaking to himself. + +"What is strange?" + +"We are neither rising nor falling now. We don't seem to move." + +"Impossible!" + +"Nevertheless, it's a fact," he exclaimed at the end of some minutes. +"The focus of the telescope is constant. We are evidently standing +still." + +His words sounded like a reprieve to a condemned man on the morning of +his execution, and in the revulsion of my feeling I shouted, + +"Hurrah!" + +"What can it mean?" cried Gazen. + +"Simply this," said I joyfully. "We have reached the 'dead-point,' where +the attraction of Mercury on the car is balanced by the attraction of +the sun. It can't be anything else." + +"Wait a minute," said Gazen, making a rapid calculation. "Yes, yes, +probably you are right. I did not think we had come so far; but I had +forgotten that gravitation on Mercury is only half as strong as it is on +the Earth or Venus. Let us go and tell Miss Carmichael." + +We hurried downstairs to the engine room and found her kneeling beside +her father, who was no better. + +She did not seem much enlivened by the good news. + +"What will that do for us?" she enquired doubtfully. + +"We can remain here as long as we like, suspended between the Sun and +Mercury," replied Gazen. + +"Is it better to linger and die in a living tomb than be dashed to +pieces and have done with it?" + +"But we shall gain time for your father to recover." + +"I am afraid my father will never recover in this place. The heat is +killing him. Unless we can get further away from the sun he will die, +I'm sure he will." + +Her eyes filled with tears. + +"Don't distress yourself, dear Miss Carmichael, please don't," said +Gazen tenderly. "Now that we have time to think, perhaps we shall hit +upon some plan." + +An idea flashed into my head. + +"Look here," said I to Gazen, "you remember our conversation in your +observatory one day on the propelling power of rockets--how a rocket +might be used to drive a car through space?" + +"Yes; but we have no rockets." + +"No, but we have rifles, and rifle bullets fired from the car, though +not so powerful, will have a similar effect." + +"Well?" + +"The car is now at rest in space. A slight impulse will direct it one +way or another. Why should we not send it off in such a way that in +falling towards Mercury it will not strike the planet, but circle round +it; or if it should fall towards the surface, will do so at a great +slant, and allow the atmosphere to cool the engines." + +"Let me see," said Gazen, drawing a diagram in his note-book, and +studying it attentively. "Yes, there is something in that. It's a +forlorn hope at best, but perhaps it's our only hope. If we could only +get into the shadow of the planet we might be saved." + +As delay might prove fatal to Carmichael, and since it was uncertain +whether he could right the engines in their present situation, we +decided to act on the suggestion without loss of time. Gazen and I +calculated the positions of the rifles and the number of shots to be +fired in order to give the required impetus to the car. The engine-room, +being well provided with scuttles, was chosen as the scene of our +operations. A brace of magazine rifles were fixed through two of the +scuttles in such a way that the recoil of the shots would urge the car +in an oblique direction backwards, so as to clear or almost clear the +planet, allowance being made for the forward motion of the latter in its +orbit. Needless to say, the barrel of each rifle was packed round so as +to keep the air in the car from escaping into space. + +At a given signal the rifles were discharged simultaneously by Gazen and +myself. There was little noise, but the car trembled with the shock, and +the prostrate man opened his eyes. + +Had it produced the desired effect? We could not tell without an appeal +to the telescope. + +"I'll be back in a moment," cried Gazen, springing upstairs to the +observatory. + +"Do you feel any better, father?" enquired Miss Carmichael, laying her +cool hand on the invalid's fevered brow. + +He winked, and tried to nod in the affirmative. "Were you asleep, +father? Did the shock rouse you?" + +He winked again. + +"Do you know what we are doing?" Before he could answer the foot of +Gazen sounded on the stair. He had left us with an eager, almost a +confident eye. He came back looking grave in the extreme. + +"We are not falling towards Mercury," he said gloomily. "_We are rushing +to the sun!_" + +I cannot depict our emotion at this awful announcement which changed our +hopes into despair. Probably it affected each of us in a different +manner. I cannot recollect my own feelings well enough to analyse them, +and suppose I must have been astounded for a time. A vision of the car, +plunging through an atmosphere of flame, into the fiery entrails of the +sun, flashed across my excited brain, and then I seemed to lose the +power of thought. + +"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," said I at last, in frivolous +reaction. + +"His will be done!" murmured Miss Carmichael, instinctively drawing +closer to her father, who seemed to realise our jeopardy. + +"We must look the matter in the face," said Gazen, with a sigh. + +"What a death!" I exclaimed, "to sit and watch the vast glowing furnace +that is to swallow us up come nearer and nearer, second after second, +minute after minute, hour after hour." + +"The nearer we approach the sun the faster we shall go," said Gazen. +"For one thing, we shall be dead long before we reach him. The heat will +stifle us. It will be all over in a few hours." + +What a death! To see, to feel ourselves roasting as in an oven. It was +too horrible. + +"Are you certain there is no mistake?" I asked at length. + +"Quite," replied Gazen. "Come and see for yourself." + +We had all but gained the door when Miss Carmichael followed us. + +"Professor," she said, with a tremor in her voice, and a look of +supplication in her eyes, "you will come back soon--you will not leave +us long." + +"No, my darling--I beg your pardon," answered Gazen, obeying the impulse +of his heart. "God knows I would give my life to save you if I could." + +In another instant he had locked her in his arms. + +I left them together, and ascended to the observatory, where Gazen soon +afterwards rejoined me. + +"I'm the happiest man alive," said he, with a beaming countenance. +"Congratulate me. I'm betrothed to Miss Carmichael." + +I took his proffered hand, scarcely knowing whether to laugh or cry. + +"It seems to me that I have found my life in losing it," he continued +with a grim smile. "Saturn! what a courtship is ours--what an +engagement--what a bridal bed! But there, old fellow, I'm afraid I'm +happier than you--alone in spirit, and separated from her you love. +Perhaps I was wrong to carry you away from Venus--it has not turned out +well--but I acted for the best. Forgive me!" + +I wrung his hand in silence. + +"Now let us take a look through the telescope," he went on, wiping his +eyes, and adjusting the instrument. "You will see how soon it gets out +of focus. We are flying from Mercury, my friend, faster and faster." + +It was true. + +"But I don't understand how that should be," said I. "The firing ought +to have had a contrary effect." + +"The rifles are not to blame," answered Gazen. "If we had used them +earlier we might have saved ourselves. But all the time that we were +discussing ways and means, and making our preparations to shoot, we +were gradually drifting towards the sun without knowing it. We +overlooked the fact that the orbit of Mercury is very far from circular, +and that he is now moving further away from the sun every instant. As a +consequence his attractive power over the car is growing weaker every +moment. The car had reached the 'dead-point' where the attractive +powers of the sun and planet over it just balanced each other; but as +that of the planet grew feebler the balance turned, and the car was +drawn with ever accelerating velocity towards the sun." + +"Like enough." + +"I can satisfy you of it by pointing the telescope at a sun-spot," said +Gazen, bringing the instrument to bear upon the sun. "You will then see +how fast we are running to perdition. I say--what would our friends in +London think if they could see us now? Wouldn't old Possil snigger! +Well, I shall get the better of him at last. I shall solve the great +mystery of the 'sun-spots' and the 'willow leaves.' Only he will never +know it. That's a bitter drop in the cup!" + +So saying, he applied his eye to the telescope, his ruling passion +strong in death. For myself, as often as I had admired the glorious +luminary, I could not think of it now without a shudder, and fell a +prey to my own melancholy ruminations. + +So this was the end! After all our care and forethought, after all our +struggles, after all our success, to perish miserably like moths in a +candle, to plunge headlong into that immense conflagration as a vessel +dives into the ocean, and is never heard of more! Not a vestige of us, +not even a charred bone to tell the tale. Alumion--our friends at +home--when they admired the sun would they ever fancy that it was our +grave--ever dream that our ashes were whirling in its flames. The cry of +Othello, in his despair, which I had learned at school, came back to my +mind--"Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in +steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!" + +Regrets, remorse, and bitter reflections overwhelmed me. Why had we not +stayed in Venus? Why had we come to Mercury? Why had we endeavoured to +do so much? What folly had drawn me into this mad venture at all? No, I +could not say that. I could not call it folly which had brought me to +Alumion. I had no regret, but on the contrary an unspeakable joy and +gratitude on that score. But why had we attempted to approach so near +the sun, daring the heat, which had jammed our engines, and disabled +our best intellect; risking the powerful attraction that was hurrying us +to our doom? + +Suddenly a peculiar thrill shook the car. With a bounding heart I +started to my feet and dashed into the engine-room. It was true then. +Yes, it was true. _The engines were at work, and we were saved!_ + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HOME AGAIN. + + +We owed our salvation to Mr. Carmichael. The firing of our magazine +rifles, followed by the news of our perilous situation, had roused him +from his lethargy. Although still unable to speak, he had contrived by +means of his eyes to make his daughter understand that he wished another +dose of oxygen. When she was about to administer it, he called her +attention to the fact that in expanding as it issued from the cylinder, +the gas became very cold. She caught his meaning instantly, and on +applying the gas to the sensitive parts of the machinery had succeeded +in cooling and releasing them. + +It seems that Carmichael, in order to save time, had been working the +engines at an unusually high speed, which, together with the heat of the +sun, had caused them to jam. Their enforced rest had of itself allowed +them to cool somewhat, and by reducing the speed until we reached a +cooler region, they did not stick again. + +Carmichael recovered from his illness, and the journey to the earth was +accomplished without accident. We landed safely on some undiscovered +islands in the Arctic Circle, and after a flying visit to the North Pole +in the vicinity, we bore away for England, keeping as high over the sea +as possible to escape notice. Going southward we passed through all +sorts of weather, thick snow, hurricanes of wind and rain, dry or wet +fogs, and so forth; but it made no difference to us. Crossing +Spitzbergen, the car was frosted over with ice needles, which, however, +were soon thawed by a warmer current of air. Between Iceland and the +coast of Norway we glided through a magnificent aurora borealis that +covered the whole sky with a luminous curtain, and made us fancy we had +floated unawares into the fabulous Niffleheim of the old Scandinavian +gods. Near the Faroe Islands we dashed into a violent thunderstorm, and +were almost deafened by the terrific explosions, or blinded by the +flashes of lightning. Otherwise we could enjoy both of these electrical +displays without fear, as the metallic shell of the car was a good +protective screen. Certainly our flying machine would be an excellent +means of making observations in meteorology, from the sampling of +cirrus cloud to the chasing of a tornado. + +The first sign of man we saw was a ship rolling in a storm off the +Hebrides; but apparently she was not in distress, else we should have +gone to her succour. How easy with such a car to rescue lives and +property from sinking ships, and even patrol the seas in search of them! + +The sun was setting in purple and gold as we approached the English +coast, and although at our elevation we were still in sunshine, the +twilight had begun to gather over the distant land. The first sound we +heard was the moaning of the tide along the shore, and the mournful +sighing of the wind among the trees. Hills, fields, and woods lay +beneath us like a garden in miniature. The lamps and fires of lonely +villages and farmhouses twinkled like glow-worms in the dusk. A railway +train, with its white puff of smoke and lighted carriages, seemed to be +crawling like a fiery caterpillar along the ground; but in a few moments +we had left it far behind. As it grew darker and darker we descended +nearer to the surface. A herd of sheep stood huddled on the grass, and +stared at us; a flock of geese ran cackling into a farmyard; the +watch-dog barked and tugged furiously at his chain; a little boy +screamed with fright. + +"That sounds homely," said the professor to Miss Carmichael and myself, +who were standing with him on the gallery outside the car. "It's the +sweetest music I've heard for many a day. Certainly Venus was a charming +place, but I for one am jolly glad to get home again." + +Yes, I must confess that I too felt a deep and tranquil pleasure in +returning to the familiar scenes and the beloved soil of my infancy. + +"You don't seem to care much for Venus," said Miss Carmichael to Gazen. +"Probably if you had been born there you would have liked it better." + +"That may be. If you would like a place, it is well to be born in it." + +"Perhaps if you are a good boy you will go to Venus when you die." + +"I'm afraid it won't suit my mental constitution. They don't care for +science there, and I don't care for anything else. Mars would fit me +better, I imagine." + +"Venus is my favourite," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, then, it's good enough for me," responded Gazen. + +Their talk set me thinking of Alumion, and my strange fancy that I had +known her in another world. Suddenly it occurred to me that in many of +her ways and looks she bore a singular resemblance to my first love, who +had died in childhood. That was nearly seventeen years ago. +Seventeen--it was just the age of Alumion. Could it be possible that she +and Alumion were one and the same soul? + +"I should like to go back to Venus," said Miss Carmichael. "We can go +there now at any time." + +"Of course we can," replied Gazen; "and to Mars as well. Your father's +invention opens up a bewildering prospect of complications in the +universe. So long as each planet was isolated, and left to manage its +own affairs, the politics of the solar system were comparatively simple; +but what will they be when one globe interferes with another? Think of a +German fleet of ether-ships on the prowl for a cosmical empire, +bombarding Womla, and turning it into a Prussian fortress, or an +emporium for cheap goods." + +"Father was talking of that very matter the other night," said Miss +Carmichael, "and he declared that rather than see any harm come to Womla +he would keep his invention a secret--at all events for a thousand years +longer." + +We had glided rapidly across the Black Country, with its furnaces and +forges blazing in the darkness, and now the dull red glow of the +metropolis was visible on the horizon. Half-an-hour later we descended +in the garden of Carmichael's cottage, and found everything as snug as +when we had left it. + +Leaving my fellow-travellers there, I took the train for London, and was +driven to my club, where I intended to sleep. It was a raw wet evening, +and in spite of a certain joy at being home again, I could not help +feeling that my heart was no longer here, but in another planet. After +the sublime deserts of space, and the delightful paradise of Womla, the +busy streets, the blinding glare of the lamps, the splashing vehicles, +the blatant newspaper men, the swarms of people crossing each other's +paths, and occasionally kicking each other's heels, everyone intent on +his own affairs of business or pleasure, were disenchanting, to say the +least. I seemed to have awakened from a beautiful dream, and fallen into +a dismal nightmare. + +In the smoking-room of the club the first person I saw was my friend the +Viscount, who was sitting just where I had left him on the night we +started for Venus, with his glass of toddy before him, and a cigar +between his lips. + +"Hallo!" he exclaimed on seeing me. "Haven't seen you for some +time--must be nearly two months. Been abroad? You look brown." + +"Yes." + +"Well, suppose we finish our game of chess." + +"With pleasure." + +"You remember the wager--a thousand to a hundred sovereigns that I win." + +He was the better player, and although I had a slight advantage in the +game as it stood, I was by no means certain of winning, especially as I +was tired and sleepy; but ever since my sojourn in Venus, my intellect +had been unusually clear and active. I played as I had never played +before, and in three moves had won the wager. + +"That will pay my travelling expenses," said I, pocketing his cheque. + + * * * * * + +I ought perhaps to mention that Professor Gazen carried out his +intention of reading a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society on his +alleged discovery of a diurnal nutation or "wobbling" of the planet +Venus; but I regret to say that owing to preconceived opinions and +personal prejudices, his ingenious theory met with a reception far below +its merits. By the terms of our agreement he was forbidden to divulge +the secret of our expedition until my own account appeared, but some +telescopic observations he had made since coming home had provided him +with independent proofs. + +"Do you think Professor Possil will be present?" said I to him, as we +dined together before we went to the meeting. + +"Sure to be," replied Gazen. "He never misses an opportunity of +attacking me. 'Tis the nature of the animal. But I flatter myself I +shall get the laugh on him this time." + +The hall was full. The hearty welcome of the Fellows showed their high +appreciation of Professor Gazen, and made me feel quite proud of his +acquaintance. They listened to his discourse on the movements of Venus, +and his new hypothesis, with all the solemnity of a Roman senate +deliberating on the destiny of a nation. When he had finished in a salvo +of applause, the president, a man of grave and dignified demeanour, as +became his office, complimented the author on his communication, which +from the startling novelty of the subject would, he believed, give rise +to an interesting discussion, and after calling on Professor Possil, he +resumed his chair. That illustrious man, whose insignificant appearance +belied his fame, responded to the invitation with a show of reluctance, +from a conspicuous place in the front row of the audience, and +immediately assailed the new hypothesis in his most uncompromising +fashion. + +"Never in his experience of the Society," he said, "and never perhaps in +the history of astronomy, had an alleged discovery of such magnitude and +consequence been promulgated on the strength of such flimsy evidence;" +and after traversing in detail all the arguments of his opponent, he +declared it his firm conviction that the effects which Professor Gazen +had thought fit to advance as a "discovery," were neither more nor less +than an optical illusion, not to say a mental hallucination. + +Judging from the applause which greeted his remarks, the majority of his +hearers were evidently of the same opinion. + +A grim smile settled on my companion's face, and I could see that he +maintained his temper with increasing difficulty, as one speaker after +another delivered his mind in much the same sarcastic style of +criticism. + +At length his turn came to make a reply. + +"Mr. President and gentlemen," said he with an air of smiling +confidence, "at this late hour I do not propose to occupy the meeting +with a refutation of all the various comments of the distinguished +Fellows who have spoken; but as my learned friend, Professor Possil, has +thought fit to charge me with bringing my discovery before the Society +on insufficient grounds, I think it right to say that I possess much +more conclusive evidence, which for the present, circumstances have +prevented me from laying before you." + +"Mr. President," exclaimed the celebrated Possil, starting to his feet, +"I should like to ask whether it is altogether in good faith for a +Fellow of this Society to bring forward what he calls a discovery, and +keep back the most important part of the proof. Might I enquire of the +author of the paper what is the nature of this suppressed evidence?" + +"Simply that I have been there," answered Gazen, forgetting his promise +to me in the excitement of the combat. + +"Where?" demanded the astonished Possil. + +"Venus." + +There was a loud burst of sceptical laughter. + +"I think, sir," said Professor Possil to the Chair, with exasperating +coolness, "I think, sir, that after the astounding revelation of the +learned professor, we shall be perfectly justified in concluding on +sufficient evidence that the professor's head, and not the planet Venus, +has been 'wobbling' of late." + +"What I say is true," cried Gazen, nettled at this rude insinuation. + +Cries of "Order, order," "withdraw," "apologise," resounded on every +side. + +"I cannot apologise for the truth," retorted Gazen hotly. + +"Mr. President," continued the pugnacious and imperturbable Fossil, "I +venture to submit that the preposterous assertions we have just heard +are better adapted to a meeting of the Fellows of Colney Hatch than of +this Society, and I beg to move that our unfortunate friend be called +upon to leave the meeting in charge of some responsible person, who will +conduct him safely to his home, and deliver him into the custody of his +friends." + +"Come on! They're a pack of fools!" cried Gazen to me hoarsely, as, +followed by the jeers of his companions, he arose and left the room. + + * * * * * + +I have only to add that Professor Gazen and Miss Carmichael are about +to be married. For myself, as soon as the ceremony is over I shall +return to Venus and Alumion. + +THE END. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Trip to Venus, by John Munro + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13716 *** diff --git a/13716-h/13716-h.htm b/13716-h/13716-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..00d7fd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/13716-h/13716-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5779 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Trip To Venus, by John Munro. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 8%; + margin-right: 8%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 6em; margin-right: 6em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:4em; margin-right:4em; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13716 ***</div> + +<h1>A TRIP TO VENUS</h1> + +<h2>A NOVEL BY JOHN MUNRO</h2> + +<h4><i>Author of the "The Wire and the Wave," +"The Story of Electricity," etc., etc.</i></h4> +<br /> + +<h4>Published in 1897 by Jarrold & Sons, London</h4> + +<br /> + +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> + +<h4>CHAPTER I.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_I'>A MESSAGE FROM MARS</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER II.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_II'>HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS?</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER III.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_III'>A NEW FORCE</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER IV.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'>THE ELECTRIC ORRERY</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER V.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_V'>LEAVING THE EARTH</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER VI.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_VI'>IN SPACE</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER VII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_VII'>ARRIVING IN VENUS</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER VIII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'>THE CRATER LAND</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER IX.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'>THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER X.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_X'>ALUMION</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER XI.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'>THE FLYING APE</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER XII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'>SUNWARD HO!</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER XIII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'>HOME AGAIN</a></h4> + + +<br /> + +<div class='blkquot'><p>"The heaven that rolls around cries aloud to you while it displays its +eternal harmony, and yet your eyes are fixed upon the earth alone."</p> + +<p>DANTE.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"This truth within thy mind rehearse,<br /></span> +<span> That in a boúndless universe<br /></span> +<span> Is boundless better, boundless worse.<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Think you this mould of hopes and fears<br /></span> +<span> Could find no statelier than his peers<br /></span> +<span> In yonder hundred million spheres?"<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span>TENNYSON.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> + +<h2>A TRIP TO VENUS.</h2> +<br /> + +<a name='CHAPTER_I'></a><h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>A MESSAGE FROM MARS.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>While I was glancing at the <i>Times</i> newspaper in a morning train for +London my eyes fell on the following item:—</p> + +<div class='blkquot'><p>A STRANGE LIGHT ON MARS.—On Monday afternoon, Dr. Krueger, who is + in charge of the central bureau at Kiel, telegraphed to his + correspondents:—</p> + +<p> "<i>Projection lumineuse dans région australe du terminateur de Mars + observée par Javelle 28 courant, 16 heures.—Perrotin.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>In plain English, at 4 a.m., a ray of light had been observed on the +disc of the planet Mars in or near the "terminator"; that is to say, the +zone of twilight separating day from night. The news was doubly +interesting to me, because a singular dream of "Sunrise in the Moon" had +quickened my imagination as to the wonders of the universe beyond our +little globe, and because of a never-to-be-forgotten experience of mine +with an aged astronomer several years ago.</p> + +<p>This extraordinary man, living the life of a recluse in his own +observatory, which was situated in a lonely part of the country, had, or +at any rate, believed that he had, opened up a communication with the +inhabitants of Mars, by means of powerful electric lights, flashing in +the manner of a signal-lantern or heliograph. I had set him down as a +monomaniac; but who knows? perhaps he was not so crazy after all.</p> + +<p>When evening came I turned to the books, and gathered a great deal about +the fiery planet, including the fact that a stout man, a Daniel Lambert, +could jump his own height there with the greatest ease. Very likely; but +I was seeking information on the strange light, and as I could not find +any I resolved to walk over and consult my old friend, Professor Gazen, +the well-known astronomer, who had made his mark by a series of splendid +researches with the spectroscope into the constitution of the sun and +other celestial bodies.</p> + +<p>It was a fine clear night. The sky was cloudless and of a deep dark +blue, which revealed the highest heavens and the silvery lustre of the +Milky Way. The great belt of Orion shone conspicuously in the east, and +Sirius blazed a living gem more to the south. I looked for Mars, and +soon found him farther to the north, a large red star, amongst the white +of the encircling constellations.</p> + +<p>Professor Gazen was quite alone in his observatory when I arrived, and +busily engaged in writing or computing at his desk.</p> + +<p>"I hope I'm not disturbing you," said I, as we shook hands; "I know that +you astronomers must work when the fine night cometh."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it," he replied cordially; "I'm observing one of the +nebulas just now, but it won't be in sight for a long time yet."</p> + +<p>"What about this mysterious light on Mars. Have you seen anything of +it?"</p> + +<p>Gazen laughed.</p> + +<p>"I have not," said he, "though I did look the other night."</p> + +<p>"You believe that something of the kind has been seen?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly. The Nice Observatory, of which Monsieur Perrotin is +director, has one of the finest telescopes in existence, and Monsieur +Javelle is well-known for his careful work."</p> + +<p>"How do you account for it?"</p> + +<p>"The light is not outside the disc," responded Gazen, "else I should +ascribe it to a small comet. It may be due to an aurora in Mars as a +writer in <i>Nature</i> has suggested, or to a range of snowy Alps, or even +to a bright cloud, reflecting the sunrise. Possibly the Martians have +seen the forest fires in America, and started a rival illumination."</p> + +<p>"What strikes you as the likeliest of these notions?"</p> + +<p>"Mountain peaks catching the sunshine."</p> + +<p>"Might it not be the glare of a city, or a powerful search-light—in +short, a signal?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, no," exclaimed the astronomer, smiling incredulously. "The +idea of signalling has got into people's heads through the outcry raised +about it some time ago, when Mars was in 'opposition' and near the +earth. I suppose you are thinking of the plan for raising and lowering +the lights of London to attract the notice of the Martians?"</p> + +<p>"No; I believe I told you of the singular experience I had some five or +six years ago with an old astronomer, who thought he had established an +optical telegraph to Mars?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I remember now. Ah, that poor old chap was insane. Like the +astronomer in <i>Rasselas</i>, he had brooded so long in solitude over his +visionary idea that he had come to imagine it a reality."</p> + +<p>"Might there not be some truth in his notion? Perhaps he was only a +little before his time."</p> + +<p>Gazen shook his head.</p> + +<p>"You see," he replied, "Mars is a much older planet than ours. In winter +the Arctic snows extend to within forty degrees of the equator, and the +climate must be very cold. If human beings ever existed on it they must +have died out long ago, or sunk to the condition of the Eskimo."</p> + +<p>"May not the climate be softened by conditions of land and sea unknown +to us? May not the science and civilisation of the Martians enable them +to cope with the low temperature?"</p> + +<p>"The atmosphere of Mars is as rare as ours at a height of six miles, and +a warm-blooded creature like man would expire in it."</p> + +<p>"Like man, yes," I answered; "but man was made for this world. We are +too apt to measure things by our own experience. Why should we limit the +potentiality of life by what we know of this planet?"</p> + +<p>"In the next place," went on Gazen, ignoring my remark, "the old +astronomer's plan of signalling by strong lights was quite +impracticable. No artificial light is capable of reaching to Mars. Think +of the immense distance and the two atmospheres to penetrate! The man +was mad, as mad as a March hare! though why a March hare is mad I'm sure +I don't know."</p> + +<p>"I read the other day of an electric light in America which can be seen +150 miles through the lower atmosphere. Such a light, if properly +directed, might be visible on Mars; and, for aught we know, the Martians +may have discovered a still stronger beam."</p> + +<p>"And if they have, the odds against their signalling just when we are +alive to the possibility of it are simply tremendous."</p> + +<p>"I see nothing incredible in the coincidence. Two heads often conceive +the same idea about the same time, and why not two planets, if the hour +be ripe? Surely there is one and the same inspiring Soul in all the +universe. Besides, they may have been signalling for centuries, off and +on, without our knowing it."</p> + +<p>"Then, again," said Gazen, with a pawky twinkle in his eye, "our +electric light may have woke them up."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are signalling now," said I, "while we are wasting +precious time. I wish you would look."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you like; but I don't think you'll see any 'luminous +projections,' human or otherwise."</p> + +<p>"I shall see the face of Mars, anyhow, and that will be a rare +experience. It seems to me that a view of the heavenly bodies through a +fine telescope, as well as a tour round the world, should form a part +of a liberal education. How many run to and fro upon the earth, hunting +for sights at great trouble and expense, but how few even think of that +sublimer scenery of the sky which can be seen without stirring far from +home! A peep at some distant orb has power to raise and purify our +thoughts like a strain of sacred music, or a noble picture, or a passage +from the grander poets. It always does one good."</p> + +<p>Professor Gazen silently turned the great refracting telescope in the +direction of Mars, and peered attentively through its mighty tube for +several minutes.</p> + +<p>"Is there any light?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"None," he replied, shaking his head. "Look for yourself."</p> + +<p>I took his place at the eye-piece, and was almost startled to find the +little coppery star, which I had seen half-an-hour before, apparently +quite near, and transformed into a large globe. It resembled a gibbous +moon, for a considerable part of its disc was illuminated by the sun.</p> + +<p>A dazzling spot marked one of its poles, and the rest of its visible +surface was mottled with ruddy and greenish tints which faded into white +at the rim. Fascinated by the spectacle of that living world, seen at a +glance, and pursuing its appointed course through the illimitable ether, +I forgot my quest, and a religious awe came over me akin to that felt +under the dome of a vast cathedral.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you make of it?"</p> + +<p>The voice recalled me to myself, and I began to scrutinise the dim and +shadowy border of the terminator for the feeblest ray of light, but all +in vain.</p> + +<p>"I can't see any 'luminous projection'; but what a magnificent object in +the telescope!"</p> + +<p>"It is indeed," rejoined the professor, "and though we have not many +opportunities of seeing it, we know it better than the other planets, +and almost as well as the moon. Its features have been carefully mapped +like those of the moon, and christened after celebrated astronomers."</p> + +<p>"Yourself included, I hope."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I have not that honour. It is true that a man I know, an +enthusiastic amateur in astronomy, dubbed a lot of holes and corners in +the moon after his private friends and acquaintances, myself amongst +them: 'Snook's Crater,' 'Smith's Bottom,' 'Tiddler's Cove,' and so on; +but I regret to say the authorities declined to sanction his +nomenclature."</p> + +<p>"I presume that bright spot on the Southern limb is one of the polar +ice-caps," said I, still keeping my eye on the planet.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the professor, "and they are seen to wax and wane in +winter and summer. The reddish-yellow tracts are doubtless continents of +an ochrey soil; and not, as some think, of a ruddy vegetation. The +greenish-grey patches are probably seas and lakes. The land and water +are better mixed on Mars than on the earth—a fact which tends to +equalise the climate. There is a belt of continents round the equator: +'Copernicus,' 'Galileo,' 'Dawes,' and others, having long winding lakes +and inlets. These are separated by narrow seas from other islands on the +north or south, such as: 'Haze Land, 'Storm Land,' and so forth, which +occupy what we should call the temperate zones, beneath the poles; but I +suspect they are frigid enough. If you look closely you will see some +narrow streaks crossing the continents like fractures. These are the +famous 'Canals' of Schiaparelli, who discovered (and I wish I had his +eyes) that many of them were 'doubled,' that is, had another canal +alongside. Some of these are nearly 2,000 miles long, by fifty miles +broad, and 300 miles apart."</p> + +<p>"That beats the Suez Canal."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid they are not artificial. The doubling is chiefly observed +at the vernal equinox, our month of May, and is perhaps due to spring +floods, or vegetation in valleys of the like trend, as we find in +Siberia. The massing of clouds or mists will account for the peculiar +whiteness at the edge of the limb, and an occasional veiling of the +landscape."</p> + +<p>While he spoke, my attention was suddenly arrested by a vivid point of +light which appeared on the dark side of the terminator, and south of +the equator.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" I exclaimed, involuntarily. "There's a light!"</p> + +<p>"Really!" responded Gazen, in a tone of surprise, not unmingled with +doubt. "Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Quite. There is a distinct light on one of the continents."</p> + +<p>"Let me see it, will you?" he rejoined, hastily; and I yielded up my +place to him.</p> + +<p>"Why, so there is," he declared, after a pause. "I suspect it has been +hidden under a cloud till now."</p> + +<p>We turned and looked at each other in silence.</p> + +<p>"It can't be the light Javelle saw," ejaculated Gazen at length. "That +was on Hellas Land."</p> + +<p>"Should the Martians be signalling they would probably use a system of +lights. I daresay they possess an electric telegraph to work it."</p> + +<p>The professor put his eye to the glass again, and I awaited the result +of his observation with eager interest.</p> + +<p>"It's as steady as possible," said he.</p> + +<p>"The steadiness puzzles me," I replied. "If it would only flash I should +call it a signal."</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily to us," said Gazen, with mock gravity. "You see, it +might be a lighthouse flashing on the Kaiser Sea, or a night message in +the autumn manoeuvres of the Martians, who are, no doubt, very warlike; +or even the advertisement of a new soap."</p> + +<p>"Seriously, what do you think of it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I confess it's a mystery to me," he answered, pondering deeply; and +then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added: "I wonder if it's any +good trying the spectroscope on it?"</p> + +<p>So saying, he attached to the telescope a magnificent spectroscope, +which he employed in his researches on the nebulæ, and renewed his +observation.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the most remarkable thing in all my professional +experience," he exclaimed, resigning his place at the instrument to me.</p> + +<p>"What is?" I demanded, looking into the spectroscope, where I could +distinguish several faint streaks of coloured light on a darker +background.</p> + +<p>"You know that we can tell the nature of a substance that is burning by +splitting up the light which comes from it in the prism of a +spectroscope. Well, these bright lines of different colours are the +spectrum of a luminous gas."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Have you any idea as to the origin of the blaze?"</p> + +<p>"It may be electrical—for instance, an aurora. It may be a volcanic +eruption, or a lake of fire such as the crater of Kilauea. Really, I +can't say. Let me see if I can identify the bright lines of the +spectrum."</p> + +<p>I yielded the spectroscope to him, and scarcely had he looked into it +ere he cried out—</p> + +<p>"By all that's wonderful, the spectrum has changed. Eureka! It's +thallium now. I should know that splendid green line amongst a +thousand."</p> + +<p>"Thallium!" I exclaimed, astonished in my turn.</p> + +<p>"Yes," responded Gazen, hurriedly. "Make a note of the observation, and +also of the time. You will find a book for the purpose lying on the +desk."</p> + +<p>I did as directed, and awaited further orders. The silence was so great +that I could plainly hear the ticking of my watch laid on the desk +before me. At the end of several minutes the professor cried—</p> + +<p>"It has changed again: make another note."</p> + +<p>"What is it now?"</p> + +<p>"Sodium. The yellow bands are unmistakable."</p> + +<p>A deep stillness reigned as before.</p> + +<p>"There she goes again," exclaimed the professor, much excited. "Now I +can see a couple of blue lines. What can that be? I believe it's +indium."</p> + +<p>Another long pause ensued.</p> + +<p>"Now they are gone," ejaculated Gazen once more. "A red and a yellow +line have taken their place. That should be lithium. Hey, presto!—and +all was dark."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"It's all over." With these words he removed the spectroscope from the +telescope, and gazed anxiously at the planet "The light is gone," he +continued, after a minute. "Perhaps another cloud is passing over it. +Well, we must wait. In the meantime let us consider the situation. It +seems to me that we have every reason to be satisfied with our night's +work. What do you think?"</p> + +<p>There was a glow of triumph on his countenance as he came and stood +before me.</p> + +<p>"I believe it's a signal," said I, with an air of conviction.</p> + +<p>"But how?"</p> + +<p>"Why should it change so regularly? I've timed each spectrum, and found +it to last about five minutes before another took its place."</p> + +<p>The professor remained thoughtful and silent.</p> + +<p>"Is it not by the light which comes from them that we have gained all +our knowledge of the constitution of the heavenly bodies?" I continued. +"A ray from the remotest star brings in its heart a secret message to +him who can read it. Now, the Martians would naturally resort to the +same medium of communication as the most obvious, simple, and +practicable. By producing a powerful light they might hope to attract +our attention, and by imbuing it with characteristic spectra, easily +recognised and changed at intervals, they would distinguish the light +from every other, and show us that it must have had an intelligent +origin."</p> + +<p>"What then?"</p> + +<p>"We should know that the Martians had a civilisation at least as high as +our own. To my mind, that would be a great discovery—the greatest since +the world began."</p> + +<p>"But of little use to either party."</p> + +<p>"As for that, a good many of our discoveries, especially in astronomy, +are not of much use. Suppose you find out the chemical composition of +the nebulæ you are studying, will that lower the price of bread? No; but +it will interest and enlighten us. If the Martians can tell us what Mars +is made of, and we can return the compliment as regards the earth, that +will be a service."</p> + +<p>"But the correspondence must then cease, as the editors say."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that."</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow! How on earth are we to understand what the Martians +say, and how on Mars are they to understand what we say? We have no +common code."</p> + +<p>"True; but the chemical bodies have certain well-defined properties, +have they not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Each has a peculiarity marking it from all the rest. For example, +two or more may resemble each other in colour or hardness, but not in +weight."</p> + +<p>"Precisely. Now, by comparing their spectra can we not be led to +distinguish a particular quality, and grasp the idea of it? In short, +can the Martians not impress that idea on us by their +spectro-telegraph?"</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean," said Professor Gazen; "and, now I think of it, +all the spectra we have seen belong to the group called 'metals of the +alkalies and alkaline earths,' which, of course, have distinctive +properties."</p> + +<p>"At first, I should think the Martians would only try to attract our +notice by striking spectra."</p> + +<p>"Lithium is the lightest metal known to us."</p> + +<p>"Well, we might get the idea of 'lightness' from that."</p> + +<p>"Sodium," continued the professor, "sodium is a very soft metal, with so +strong an affinity for oxygen that it burns in water. Manganese, which +belongs to the 'iron group,' is hard enough to scratch glass; and, like +iron, is decidedly magnetic. Copper is red—"</p> + +<p>"The signals for colour we might get from the spectra direct."</p> + +<p>"Mercury or quicksilver is fluid at ordinary temperatures, and that +might lead us to the idea of movement—animation—life itself."</p> + +<p>"Having got certain fundamental ideas," I went on, "by combining these +we might arrive at other distinct conceptions. We might build up an +ideographic or glyphic language of signs—the signs being spectra. The +numerals might be telegraphed by simple occultations of the light. Then +from spectra we might pass by an easy step to equivalent signals of +long and short flashes in various combinations, also made by occulting +the light. With such a code, our correspondence might go on at great +length, and present no difficulty; but, of course, we must be able to +reply."</p> + +<p>"If the Martians are as clever as you are pleased to imagine, we ought +to learn a good deal from them."</p> + +<p>"I hope we may, and I'm sure the world will be all the better for a +little superior enlightenment on some points."</p> + +<p>"Well, we must follow the matter up, at all events," said the professor, +taking another peep through the telescope. "For the present the Martian +philosophers appear to have shut up shop; and, as my nebula has now +risen, I should like to do a little work on it before daybreak. Look +here, if it's a fine night, can you join me to-morrow? We shall then +continue our observations; but, in the meanwhile, you had better say +nothing about them."</p> + +<p>On my way home I looked for the ruddy planet as I had done in the +earlier part of the night, but with very different feelings in my heart. +The ice of distance and isolation separating me from it seemed to have +broken down since then, and instead of a cold and alien star, I saw a +friendly and familiar world—a companion to our own in the eternal +solitude of the universe.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_II'></a><h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS?</h4> +<br /> + +<p>The next evening promised well, and I kept my appointment, but +unfortunately a slight haze gathered in the sky and prevented us from +making further observations. While hoping in vain for it to clear away, +Professor Gazen and I talked over the possibility of journeying to other +worlds. The gist of our argument was afterwards published in a +conversation, entitled "Can we reach the other planets?" which appeared +in <i>The Day after To-morrow</i>. It ran as follows:</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. (<i>the writer</i>). "Do you think we shall ever be able to leave the +earth and travel through space to Mars or Venus, and the other members +of the Solar System?"</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. (<i>Checking an impulse to smile and shaking his head</i>), "Oh, no! +Never."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Yet science is working miracles, or what would have been +accounted miracles in ancient times."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "No doubt, and hence people are apt to suppose that science can do +everything; but after all Nature has set bounds to her achievements."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Still, we don't know what we can and what we cannot do until we +try."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Not always; but in this case I think we know. The celestial bodies +are evidently isolated in space, and the tenants of one cannot pass to +another. We are confined to our own planet."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "A similar objection might have been urged against the plan of +Columbus."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "That was different. Columbus only sailed through unknown seas to a +distant continent. We are free to explore every nook and cranny of the +earth, but how shall we cross the immense void which parts us from +another world, except on the wings of the imagination?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Great discoveries and inventions are born of dreams. There are +minds which can foresee what lies before us, and the march of science +brings it within our reach. All or nearly all our great scientific +victories have been foretold, and they have generally been achieved by +more than one person when the time came. The telescope was a dream for +ages, so was the telephone, steam and electric locomotion, aerial +navigation. Why should we scout the dream of visiting other worlds, +which is at least as old as Lucian? Ere long, and perhaps before the +century is out, we shall be flying through the air to the various +countries of the globe. In succeeding centuries what is to hinder us +from travelling through space to different planets?"</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Quite impossible. Consider the tremendous distance—the lifeless +vacuum—that separates us even from the moon. Two hundred and forty +thousand miles of empty space."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Some ten times round the world. Well, is that tremendous vacuum +absolutely impassable?"</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "To any but Jules Verne and his hero, the illustrious Barbicane, +president of the Gun Club."<a name='FNanchor_1_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_1_1'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> + +<div class='note'><a name='Footnote_1_1'></a><p><a href='#FNanchor_1_1'>[1]</a> <i>The Voyage à la Lune</i>, by Jules Verne.</p></div> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Jules Verne has an original mind, and his ideas, though +extravagant, are not without value. Some of them have been realised, and +it may be worth while to examine his notion of firing a shot from the +earth to the moon. The projectile, if I remember, was an aluminium shell +in the shape of a conical bullet, and contained three men, a dog or two, +and several fowls, together with provisions and instruments. It was air +tight, warmed and illuminated with coal gas, and the oxygen for +breathing was got from chlorate of potash, while the carbonic acid +produced by the lungs and gas-burners was absorbed with caustic potash +to keep the air pure. This bullet-car was fired from a colossal +cast-iron gun founded in the sand. It was aimed at a point in the sky, +the zenith, in fact, where it would strike the moon four days later, +that is, after it had crossed the intervening space. The charge of +gun-cotton was calculated to give the projectile a velocity sufficient +to carry it past the 'dead-point,' where the gravity of the earth upon +it was just balanced by that of the moon, and enable it to fall towards +the moon for the rest of the way. The sudden shock of the discharge on +the car and its occupants was broken by means of spring buffers and +water pressure."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "The last arrangement was altogether inadequate."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "It was certainly a defect in the scheme."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Besides, the initial velocity of the bullet to carry it beyond the +'dead-point,' was, I think, 12,000 yards a second, or something like +seven miles a second."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "His estimate was too high. An initial velocity of 9,000 yards, or +five miles a second, would carry a projectile beyond the sensible +attraction of the earth towards the moon, the planets, or anywhere; in +short, to an infinite distance. Indeed, a slightly lower velocity would +suffice in the case of the moon, owing to her attraction."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "But how are we to give the bullet that velocity? I believe the +highest velocity obtained from a single discharge of cordite, one of our +best explosives, was rather less than 4,000 feet, or only about +three-quarters of a mile per second. With such a velocity, the +projectile would simply rise to a great height and then fall back to the +ground."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Both of these drawbacks can be overcome. We are not limited to a +single discharge. Dr. S. Tolver Preston, the well-known writer on +molecular science, has pointed out that a very high velocity can be got +by the use of a compound gun, or, in other words, a gun which fires +another gun as a projectile.<a name='FNanchor_2_2'></a><a href='#Footnote_2_2'><sup>[2]</sup></a> Imagine a first gun of enormous +dimensions loaded with a smaller gun, which in turn is loaded with the +bullet. The discharge of the first gun shoots the second gun into the +air, with a certain velocity. If, now, the second gun, at the instant it +leaves the muzzle of the first, is fired automatically, say by +utilising the first discharge to press a spring which can react on a +hammer or needle, the bullet will acquire a velocity due to both +discharges, and equivalent to the velocity of the second gun at the time +it was fired plus the velocity produced by the explosion of its own +charge. In this way, by employing a series of guns, fired from each +other in succession, we can graduate the starting shock, and give the +bullet a final velocity sufficient to raise it against gravity, and the +resistance of the atmosphere, which grows less as it advances, and send +it away to the moon or some other distant orb."</p> + +<div class='note'><p><a name='Footnote_2_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_2_2'>[2]</a> <i>Engineering</i>, January 13th, 1893.</p></div> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Your spit-fire mode of progression is well enough in theory, but +it strikes me as just a little complicated and risky. I, for one, +shouldn't care to emulate Elijah and shoot up to Heaven in that style."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "If it be all right in theory, it will be all right in practice. +However, instead of explosives we might employ compressed air to get the +required velocity. In the air-gun or cannon, as you probably know, a +quantity of air, compressed within a chamber of the breech, is allowed +suddenly to expand behind the bullet and eject it from the barrel. Now, +one might manage with a simple gun of this sort, provided it had a very +long barrel, and a series of air chambers at intervals from the breech +to the muzzle. Each of these chambers, beginning at the breech, could be +opened in turn as the bullet passed along the barrel, so that every +escaping jet of gas would give it an additional impulse."</p> + +<p><i>G.</i> (<i>with growing interest</i>). "That sounds neater. You might work the +chambers by electricity."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "We could even have an electric gun. Conceive a bobbin wound with +insulated wire in lieu of thread, and having the usual hole through the +axis of the frame. If a current of electricity be sent through the wire, +the bobbin will become a hollow magnet or 'solenoid,' and a plug of soft +iron placed at one end will be sucked into the hole. In this experiment +we have the germ of a solenoid cannon. The bobbin stands for the +gun-barrel, the plug for the bullet-car, and the magnetism for the +ejecting force. We can arrange the wire and current so as to draw the +plug or car right through the hole or barrel, and if we have a series of +solenoids end to end in one straight line, we can switch the current +through each in succession, and send the projectile with gathering +velocity through the interior of them all. In practice the barrel would +consist of a long straight tube, wide and strong enough to contain the +bullet-car without flexure, and begirt with giant solenoids at +intervals. Each of the solenoids would be excited by a powerful current, +one after the other, so as to urge the projectile with accelerating +speed along the tube, and launch it into the vast."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "That looks still better than the pneumatic gun."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "A magnetic gun would have several advantages. For instance, the +currents can be sent through the solenoids in turn as quickly as we +desire by means of a commutator in a convenient spot, for instance, at +the butt end of the gun, so as to follow up the bullet with ease, and +give it a planetary flight. By a proper adjustment of the solenoids and +currents, this could be done so gradually as to prevent a starting shock +to the occupants of the car. The velocity attained by the car would, of +course, depend on the number and power of the solenoids. If, for +example, each solenoid communicated to the car a velocity of nine yards +per second, a thousand solenoids, each magnetically stronger than +another in going from breech to muzzle, would be required to give a +final velocity of five miles a second. In such a case, the length of the +barrel would be at least 1,000 yards. Economy and safety would determine +the best proportions for the gun, but we are now considering the +feasibility of the project, not its cost. With regard to position and +supports, the gun might be constructed along the slope of a hill or +mound steep enough to give it the angle or elevation due to the aim. As +the barrel would not have to resist an explosive force, it should not be +difficult to make, and the inside could be lubricated to diminish the +friction of the projectile in passing through it. Moreover, it is +conceivable that the car need never touch the sides, for by a proper +adjustment of the magnetism of the solenoids we might suspend it in +mid-air like Mahomet's coffin, and make it glide along the magnetic axis +of the tube."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "It seems a promising idea for an actual gun, or an electric +despatch and parcel post, or even a railway. The bullet, I suppose, +would be of iron."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Probably; but aluminium is magnetic in a lower degree than iron, +and its greater lightness might prove in its favour. We might also +magnetise the car, say by surrounding it with a coil of wire excited +from an accumulator on board. The car, of course, would be hermetically +sealed, but it would have doors and windows which could be opened at +pleasure. In open space it would be warmed and lighted by the sun, and +in the shadow of a planet, if need were, by coal-gas and electricity. +In either case, to temper the extremes of heat or cold, the interior +could be lined with a non-conductor. Liquefied oxygen or air for +breathing, and condensed fare would sustain the inmates; and on the +whole they might enjoy a comfortable passage through the void, taking +scientific observations, and talking over their experiences."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "It would be a novel observatory, quite free from atmospheric +troubles. They might be able to make some astronomical discoveries."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "A novel laboratory as well, for in space beyond the attraction of +the earth there would be no gravity. The travellers would not feel a +sense of weight, but as the change would be gradual they would get +accustomed to it, and suffer no inconvenience."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "They would keep their gravity in losing it."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "The car, meeting with practically no resistance in the ether, +would tend to move in the same direction with the same velocity, and +anything put overboard would neither fall nor rise, but simply float +alongside. When the car came within the sensible attraction of the moon, +its velocity would gradually increase as they approached each other."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Always supposing the aim of the gun to have been exact. You might +hit the moon, with its large disc and comparatively short range, +provided no wandering meteorite diverted the bullet from its course; but +it would be impossible to hit a planet, such as Venus or Mars, a mere +point of light, and thirty or forty million miles away, especially as +both the earth and planet are in rapid motion. A flying rifle-shot from +a lightning express at a distant swallow would have more chance of +success. If you missed the mark, the projectile would wheel round the +planet, and either become its satellite or return towards the earth like +that of Jules Verne in his fascinating romance."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Jules Verne, and other writers on this subject, appear to have +assumed that all the initial effort should come from the cannon. Perhaps +it did not suit his literary purpose to employ any other driving force. +At all events he possessed one in the rockets of Michel Ardan, the +genial Frenchman of the party, which were intended to break the fall of +the projectile on the moon."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "If I recollect, they were actually fired to give the car a fillip +when it reached the dead-point on its way back to the earth."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Even in a vacuum, where an ordinary propeller could not act, the +bullet may become a prime mover, and co-operate with the gun. A rocket +can burn without an atmosphere, and the recoil of the rushing fumes will +impel the car onwards."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Do you think a rocket would have sufficient power to be of any +service?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Ten or twelve large rockets, capable of exerting a united back +pressure of one and a half tons during five or six minutes on a car of +that weight at the earth's surface, would give it in free space a +velocity of two miles a second, which, of course, would not be lost by +friction."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "So that it would not be absolutely necessary to give the +projectile an initial velocity of five miles a second."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "No; and, besides, we are not solely dependent on the rocket. A jet +of gas, at a very high pressure, escaping from an orifice into the +vacuum or ether, would give us a very high propelling force. By +compressing air, oxygen, or coal-gas (useful otherwise) in iron +cylinders with closed vents, which could be opened, we should have a +store of energy serviceable at any time to drive the car. In this way a +pressure or thrust of several tons on the square inch might be applied +to the car as long as we had gas to push it forwards."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Certainly, and by applying the pressure, whether from the rocket +or the gas, to the front and sides, as well as to the rear of the car, +you would be able to regulate the speed, and direct the car wherever you +wanted to go."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Moreover, beyond the range of gravitation, we could steer and +travel by pumping out the respired air, or occasionally projecting a +pebble from the car through a stuffing box in the wall, or else by +firing a shot from a pistol."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "You might even have a battery of machine guns on board, and +decimate the hosts of heaven."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Our bullets would fly straight enough, anyhow, and I suppose they +would hit something in course of time."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "If they struck the earth they would be solemnly registered as +falling stars."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Certainly they would be burnt up in passing through the atmosphere +of a planet and do no harm to its inhabitants."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Well, now, granting that you could propel the car, and that +although your gun was badly aimed you could steer towards a planet, how +long would the journey take?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "The self-movement of the car would enable us to save time, which +is a matter of the first importance on such a trip. In the plan of Jules +Verne, the bullet derives all its motion from the initial effort, and +consequently slows down as it rises against the earth's attraction, +until it begins again to quicken under the gravitation of the moon. +Hence his voyage to our satellite occupied four days. As we could +maintain the velocity of the car, however, we should accomplish the +distance in thirteen hours at a speed of five miles a second, and more +or less in proportion."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "About as long as the journey from London to Aberdeen by rail. What +about Mars or Venus?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "At the same speed we should cover the 36,000,000 miles to these +planets in 2,000 hours, or 84 days, that is, about three months. With a +speed of ten miles a second, which is not impossible, we could reach +them in six weeks."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "One could scarcely go round the world in the same time. But, +having got to a planet, how are you going to land on it? Are you not +afraid you will be dissipated like a meteorite by the intense heat of +friction with the planet's atmosphere, or else be smashed to atoms by +the shock?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "We might steer by the stars to a point on the planet's orbit, +mathematically fixed in advance, and wait there until it comes up. The +atmosphere of the approaching planet would act as a kind of buffer, and +the fall of the car could be further checked by our means of recoil, and +also by a large parachute. We should probably be able to descend quite +slowly to the surface in this way without damage; but in case of peril, +we could have small parachutes in readiness as life-buoys, and leap from +the car when it was nearing the ground."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "I presume you are taking into account the velocity of the planet +in its orbit? That of the earth is 18 miles a second, or a hundred times +faster than a rifle bullet; that of Venus, which is nearer the sun, is a +few miles more; and that of Mars, which is further from the sun, is +rather less."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "For that reason the more distant planets would be preferable to +land on. Uranus, for instance, has an orbital velocity of four miles a +second, and his gravity is about three-fourths that of the earth. +Moreover, his axis lies almost exactly on the plane of the ecliptic, so +that we could choose a waiting place on his orbit where the line of his +axis lay in the direction of his motion, and simply descend on one of +his poles, at which the stationary atmosphere would not whirl the car, +and where we might also profit by an ascending current of air. The +attraction of the sun is so slight at the distance of Uranus, that a +stone flung out of the car would have no perceptible motion, as it +would only fall towards the sun a mere fraction of an inch per second, +or some 355 feet an hour; hence, as Dr. Preston has calculated, one +ounce of matter ejected from the car towards the sun every five minutes, +with a velocity of 880 feet a second, would suffice to keep a car of one +and a half tons at rest on the orbit of the planet. Indeed, the vitiated +air, escaping from the car through a small hole by its own pressure, +would probably serve the purpose. Just before the planet came up, and in +the nick of time we could fire some rockets, and give the car a velocity +of two or three miles a second in the direction of the planet's motion, +so that he would overtake us, with a speed not over great to ensure a +safe descent. Our parachutes would be out, and at the first contact with +the atmosphere, the car would probably be blown away; but it would soon +acquire the velocity of the planet, and gradually sink downwards to the +surface."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "What puzzles me is how you are to get back to the earth."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Whoever goes must take the risk; but if, as appears likely, both +Mars and Venus are inhabited by intelligent beings, we should probably +be able to construct another cannon and return the way we came."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. (<i>smiling</i>). "Well, I confess the project does not look so +impracticable as it did. After all, travelling in a vacuum seems rather +pleasant. One of these days, I suppose, we astronomers will be packed in +bullets and fired into the ether to observe eclipses and comets' tails."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "In all that has been said we have confined ourselves to ways and +means already known; but science is young, and we shall probably +discover new sources of energy. It may even be possible to dispense with +the gun, and travel in a locomotive car. Lord Kelvin has shown that if +Lessage's hypothesis of gravitation be correct, a crystal or other body +may be found which is lighter along one axis than another, and thus we +may be able to draw an unlimited supply of power from gravity by simply +changing the position of the crystal; for example, by raising it when +lighter, and letting it fall when heavier. This form of 'perpetual +motion' might be equally obtainable if Dr. Preston's<a name='FNanchor_3_3'></a><a href='#Footnote_3_3'><sup>[3]</sup></a> theory of an +ether as the cause of gravity be true. Indeed, Professor Poynting is now +engaged in searching for such a crystal, which, if discovered, will +upset the second law of thermo-dynamics. I merely mention this to show +that science is on the track of concealed motive powers derived from +the ether, and we cannot now tell what the engines of the future will be +like. For ought we know, the time is coming when there will be a regular +mail service between the earth and Mars or Venus, cheap trips to +Mercury, and exploring expeditions to Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus."</p> + +<div class='note'><p><a name='Footnote_3_3'></a><a href='#FNanchor_3_3'>[3]</a> <i>Philosophical Magazine</i>, February, 1895.</p></div> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_III'></a><h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>A NEW FORCE.</h4> + +<br /> +<div class='blkquot'><p>"SIR,</p> + +<p> "I have read your article on the possibility of travelling to the + other members of the Solar system with much interest. It is a + problem at which I, myself, have been working for a great many + years, and I believe that I have now discovered a means of solving + it in a practical manner. If you would care to see my experiments, + and will do me the honour of coming here, I shall be glad to show + them in confidence any time you may appoint.—Yours truly,</p> + +<p> "NASMYTH CARMICHAEL."</p></div> + +<p>The above letter, marked "Private," was forwarded to me through the +editor of <i>The Day After To-morrow</i>. The writer of it was a total +stranger to me, even by report, and at first I did not know what to make +of it. Was the man a charlatan, or a "crank?" There were no signs of +craziness or humbug in his frank and simple sentences. Had he really +found out a way of crossing the celestial spaces? In these days it is +better not to be too sceptical as to what science will accomplish. It +is, in fact, wise to keep the mind open and suspend the judgment. We are +standing on the threshold of the Arcana, and at any hour the +search-light of our intellect may penetrate the darkness, and reveal to +our wondering gaze the depths of the inner mechanism of Nature.</p> + +<p>I resolved to accept his invitation.</p> + +<p>A few days later I presented myself at the home of my unknown +correspondent. It was a lonely little cottage, in the midst of a wild +flat or waste of common ground on the outskirts of London. I should say +it had once been the dwelling of a woodman engaged in the neighbouring +forest. A tall, thick hedge of holly surrounded the large garden, and +almost concealed it from the curiosity of an occasional wanderer on the +heath.</p> + +<p>Certainly it did not look the sort of place to find a man of science, +and the old misgivings assailed my mind in greater force than ever. Half +regretting that I had come, and feeling in a dubious element, I opened +the wicket, and knocked at the door.</p> + +<p>It was answered by a young woman, in a plain gown of some dark stuff, +with a white collar round the neck. In spite of her dress I could see +that she was not an ordinary cottage girl. Pretty, without being +beautiful, there was a distinction in her voice and manner which bespoke +the gentlewoman. With a pleasant smile, she welcomed me as one who had +been expected, and ushered me into a small sitting-room, poorly +furnished, but with a taste and refinement unusual in a workman's home. +A large piano stood in one of the corners, and a pile of classical music +lay on a chair beside it. The mantelpiece was decorated with cut +flowers, and the walls were hung with portraits and sketches in crayons +and water-colour.</p> + +<p>"My father will be down in a moment," she said, with a slight American +accent. "He is delighted to have the pleasure of meeting you. It is so +kind of you to come."</p> + +<p>Before I had time to respond, Mr. Carmichael entered the parlour. He was +a man of striking and venerable presence. His long white locks, his +bulging brow, pregnant with brain, his bushy eyebrows and deep blue-grey +eyes, his aquiline nose and flowing beard, gave an Olympian cast to his +noble head. Withal, I could not help noticing that his countenance was +lined with care, his black coat seamed and threadbare, his hands rough +and horny, like those of a workman. If he appeared a god, it was a god +in exile or disgrace; a Saturn rather than a Jove.</p> + +<p>"Now to the matter," said he, after a few words of kindly welcome. +"Evidently the question of inter-planetary travel is coming to the +front. In your article you suggest that a locomotive car, that is to +say, a car able to propel itself through what we, in our ignorance, call +empty space, though, in reality, it is chock-full, and very 'thrang' as +the Scotch say, might yet be contrived, and even worked by energy drawn +from the ether direct. When I read that, sir, I sat up and rubbed my +eyes."</p> + +<p>"Your spectacles, father," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's the same thing," went on the old man. "For like many another +prophet, sir, you had prophesied better than you knew."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?" I inquired, with a puzzled air.</p> + +<p>"If you will step with me into the garden I will show you."</p> + +<p>I rose and followed him into a large shed, which was fitted up as a +workshop and laboratory. It contained several large benches, provided +with turning lathes and tools, a quantity of chemicals, and scientific +apparatus.</p> + +<p>"I am going to do a thing that I have never done in my life before," +said Mr. Carmichael, in a sad and doubtful tone; "I have kept this +secret so long that it seems like parting with myself to disclose it, +to disclose even the existence of it. I have fed upon it as a young man +feeds on love. It has been my nourishment, my manna in the wilderness of +this world, my solace under a thousand trials, my inspiration from on +High. I verily believe it has kept my old carcase together. Mind!" he +added, with a penetrating glance of his grey eyes, which gleamed under +their bushy brows like a pool of water in a cavern overhung with +brambles, "promise me that whatever you see and hear will remain a +secret on your part. Never breathe a word of it to a living soul. You +are the only person, except my own daughter, whom I have ever taken into +my confidence."</p> + +<p>I gave him my word of honour.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he continued, lifting a small metal box from one of the +tables, and patting it with his hand. "I have been working at the +subject of aerial navigation for well-nigh thirty years, and this is the +result."</p> + +<p>I looked at the metal case, but could see nothing remarkable about it.</p> + +<p>"It seems a little thing, hardly worth a few pence, and yet how much I +have paid for it!" said the inventor, with a sigh, and a far-away +expression in his eyes. "Many a time it has reminded me of the mouse's +nest that was turned up by the ploughshare.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"'Thy wee bit heap o' strae and stibble<br /></span> +<span> Has cost thee mony a weary nibble.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of course this is only a model."</p> + +<p>"A model of a flying machine?" I inquired, in a tone of surprise.</p> + +<p>"You may call it so," he answered; "but it is a flying machine that does +not fly or soar in the strict sense of the words, for it has neither +wings nor aeroplane. It is, in fact, an aerial locomotive, as you will +see."</p> + +<p>While he spoke, Mr. Carmichael opened the case of the instrument, and +adjusted the mechanism inside. Immediately afterwards, to my +astonishment, the box suddenly left his hands, and flew, or rather +glided, swiftly through the air, and must have dashed itself against the +wall of the laboratory had not its master run and caught it.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!" I exclaimed, forgetting the attitude of caution and reserve +which I had deemed it prudent to adopt.</p> + +<p>The inventor laughed with childish glee, enjoying his triumph, and +stroking the case as though it were a kitten.</p> + +<p>"It would be off again if I would let it. Whoa, there!" said he, again +adjusting the mechanism. "I can make it rise, or sink, or steer, to one +side or the other, just as I please. If you will kindly hold it for a +minute, I will make it go up to the ceiling. Don't be afraid, it won't +bite you."</p> + +<p>I took the uncanny little instrument in my hands, whilst Mr. Carmichael +ascended a ladder to a kind of loft in the shed. It only weighed a few +pounds, and yet I could feel it exerting a strong force to escape.</p> + +<p>"Ready!" cried the inventor, "now let go," and sure enough, the box rose +steadily upwards until it came within his grasp. "I am going to send it +down to you again," he continued, and I expected to see it drop like a +stone to the ground; but, strange to say, it circled gracefully through +the air in a spiral curve, and landed gently at my feet.</p> + +<p>"You see I have entire control over it," said Mr. Carmichael, rejoining +me; "but all you have seen has taken place in air, and you might, +therefore, suppose that I have an air propellor inside, and that air is +necessary to react against it, like water against the screw of a +steamboat, in order to produce the motion. I will now show you that air +is not required, and that my locomotive works quite as well in a +vacuum."</p> + +<p>So saying, he put the model under a large bell-jar, from which he +exhausted the air with a pump; and even then it moved about with as much +alacrity and freedom as it had done in the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>I confess that I was still haunted by a lingering suspicion of the +machine and its inventor; but this experiment went far to destroy it. +Even if the motive power was derived from a coiled spring, or compressed +air, or electricity, in the box, how was it possible to make it act +without the resistance offered by the air? Magnetism was equally out of +the question, since no conceivable arrangement of magnets could have +brought about the movements I had seen. Either I was hypnotised, and +imposed upon, or else this man had discovered what had been unknown to +science. His earnest and straightforward manner was not that of a +mountebank. There had been no attempt to surround his work with mystery, +and cloak his demonstration in unmeaning verbiage. It is true I had +never heard of him in the world of science, but after all an outsider +often makes a great discovery under the nose of the professors.</p> + +<p>"Am I to understand," said I, "that you have found a way of navigating +both the atmosphere and the ether?"</p> + +<p>"As you see," he replied, briefly.</p> + +<p>"What the model has done, you are able to do on a larger scale—in a +practical manner?"</p> + +<p>"Assuredly. It is only a matter of size."</p> + +<p>"And you can maintain the motion?"</p> + +<p>"As long as you like."</p> + +<p>"Marvellous! And how is it done?"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed the inventor, "that is my secret. I am afraid I must not +answer that question at present."</p> + +<p>"Is the plan not patented?"</p> + +<p>"No. The fact is, I have not yet investigated the subject as fully as I +would like. My mind is not quite clear as to the causes of the +phenomena. I have discovered a new field of research, and great +discoveries are still to be made in it. Were I to patent the machine, I +should have to divulge what I know. Indeed, but for the sake of my +daughter, I am not sure that I should ever patent it. Even as it stands, +it will revolutionise not merely our modes of travel, but our +industries. It has been to me a labour of love, not of money; and I +would gladly make it a gift of love to my fellowmen."</p> + +<p>"It is the right spirit," said I; "and I have no doubt that a grateful +world would reward you."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't like to trust it," replied Mr. Carmichael, with a smile and +shrug of the shoulders. "How many inventors has it doomed to pine in +poverty and neglect, or die of a broken heart? How often has it stolen, +aye stolen, the priceless fruits of their genius and labour? Speaking +for myself, I don't complain; I haven't had much to do with it. My +withdrawal from it has been voluntary. I was born in the south of +Scotland, and educated for the medical profession; but I emigrated to +America, and was engaged in one of Colonel Fremont's exploring +expeditions to the Rocky Mountains. After that I was appointed to the +chair of Physical Science in a college of Louisville, Kentucky, where my +daughter was born. One day, when I was experimenting to find out +something else, I fell by accident upon the track of my discovery, and +ever since I have devoted my life to the investigation. It appeared to +me of the very highest importance. As time went on, I grew more and more +absorbed in it. Every hour that I had to give to my official and social +duties seemed thrown away. A man cannot serve two masters, and as I also +found it difficult to carry on my experiments in secrecy, I resigned my +post. I had become a citizen of the United States, but my wife was a +Welshwoman, and had relations in England. So we came to London. When +she died, I settled in this isolated spot, where I could study in peace, +enjoy the fresh air, and easily get the requisite books and apparatus. +Here, with my daughter, I live a very secluded life. She is my sole +companion, my housekeeper, my servant, and my assistant in the +laboratory. She knows as much about my machine, and can work it as well +as I do myself. Indeed, I don't know what I should have done without +her. She has denied herself the ordinary amusements of her age. Her +devotion to me has been beautiful."</p> + +<p>The voice of the old man trembled, and I fancied I could read in his +hollow eyes the untold martyrdom of genius.</p> + +<p>"At last," he continued, "I have brought the matter into a practical +shape, and like many other inventors, for the first time I stand in need +of advice. Happening to see your article in the Magazine, I resolved to +invite you to come and see what I have done in hopes that you might be +able to advise and perhaps help me."</p> + +<p>"I think," said I, after a moment's reflection, "I think the next thing +to be done is to make a large working machine, and try it on a voyage."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," he replied; "and I am prepared to build one that will go to +any part of the earth, or explore the higher regions of the atmosphere, +or go down under the sea, or even make a trip to one of the nearer +planets, Mars or Venus as the case may be. But I am poor; my little +fortune is all but exhausted, and here, at the end of the race, within +sight of the goal, I lack the wherewithal to reach it. Now, sir, if you +can see your way to provide the funds, I will give you a share in the +profits of the invention."</p> + +<p>I pondered his words in silence. Visions of travel through the air in +distant lands, above the rhododendron forests of the Himalayas, or the +green Savannahs of the Orinoco, the coral isles of the Pacific; yea, +further still, through the starlit crypts of space to other spheres were +hovering in my fancy. The singular history of the man, too, had touched +my feelings. Nevertheless, I hesitated to accept his offer there and +then. It was hardly a proposal to decide upon without due consideration.</p> + +<p>"I will think it over and let you know," said I at length. "Have you any +objection to my consulting Professor Gazen, the well-known astronomer? +He is a friend of mine. Perhaps he will be able to assist us."</p> + +<p>"None whatever, so long as he keeps the affair to himself. You can +bring him to see the experiments if you like. All I reserve is that I +shall not be asked to explain the inner action of the machine. That must +remain a secret; but some day I hope to show you even that."</p> + +<p>"Thanks."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV'></a><h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>THE ELECTRIC ORRERY.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"Half-moon Junction! Change here for Venus, Mercury, the Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!"</p> + +<p>So I called in the style of a Clapham railway porter, as I entered the +observatory of Professor Gazen on the following night.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" said he with a smile. "Are you imitating the +officials of the Universal Navigation Company in the distant future?"</p> + +<p>"Not so distant as you may imagine," I responded significantly; and then +I told him all that I had seen and heard of the new flying machine.</p> + +<p>The professor listened with serious attention, but manifested neither +astonishment nor scepticism.</p> + +<p>"What do you think about it?" I asked. "What should I do in the case?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hardly know," he replied doubtfully. "It is rather out of my +line, and after my experience with Mars the other night, I am not +inclined to dogmatise. At all events, I should like to see and try the +machine before giving an opinion."</p> + +<p>"I will arrange for that with the inventor."</p> + +<p>"Possibly I can find out something about him from my American +friends—if he is genuine. What's his name again?"</p> + +<p>"Carmichael—Nasmyth Carmichael."</p> + +<p>"Nasmyth Carmichael," repeated Gazen, musingly. "It seems to me I've +heard the name somewhere. Yes, now I recollect. When I was a student at +Cambridge, I remember reading a textbook on physics by Professor Nasmyth +Carmichael, an American, and a capital book it was—beautifully simple, +clear, and profound like Nature herself. Professors, as a rule, and +especially professors of science, are not the best writers in the world. +Pity they can't teach the economy of energy without wasting that of +their readers. Carmichael's book was not a dead system of mathematics +and figures, but rather a living tale, with illustrations drawn from +every part of the world. I got far more help from it than the prescribed +treatises, and the best of that was a liking for the subject. I believe +I should have been plucked without it."</p> + +<p>"The very man, no doubt."</p> + +<p>"He was remarkably sane when he wrote that book, whatever he is now. As +to his character, that is another question. Given a work of science, to +find the character of the author. Problem."</p> + +<p>"I shall proceed cautiously in the affair. Before I commit myself, I +must be satisfied by inspection and trial that there is neither trickery +nor self-delusion on his part. We can make some trial trips, and gain +experience before we attempt to leave the world."</p> + +<p>"If you take my advice you will keep to the earth altogether."</p> + +<p>"Surely, if we can ascend into the higher regions of the atmosphere, we +can traverse empty space. You would have me stop within sight of the +goal. The end of travel is to reach the other planets."</p> + +<p>"Why not say the fixed stars when you are about it?"</p> + +<p>"That's impossible."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, with a vessel large enough to contain the necessaries +of life, a select party of ladies and gentlemen might start for the +Milky Way, and if all went right, their descendants would arrive there +in the course of a few million years."</p> + +<p>"Rather a long journey, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>"What would you have? A million years quotha! nay, not so much. It +depends on the speed and the direction taken. If they were able to +cover, say, the distance from Liverpool to New York in a tenth of a +second, they would get to Alpha in the constellation Centaur, perhaps +the nearest of the fixed stars, in twenty or thirty years—a mere +bagatelle. But why should we stop there?" went on Gazen. "Why should we +not build large vessels for the navigation of the ether—artificial +planets in fact—and go cruising about in space, from universe to +universe, on a celestial Cook's excursion—"</p> + +<p>"We are doing that now, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but in tow of the Sun. Not at our own sweet will, like gipsies in +a caravan. Independent, free of rent and taxes, these hollow planetoids +would serve for schools, hotels, dwelling-houses—"</p> + +<p>"And lunatic asylums."</p> + +<p>"They would relieve the surplus population of the globe," continued +Gazen, warming to his theme. "It is an idea of the first political +importance—especially to British statesmen. The Empire is only in its +infancy. With a fleet of ethereal gunboats we might colonise the solar +system, and annex the stars. What a stroke of business!"</p> + +<p>"Another illusion gone," I observed "Think of Manchester cotton in the +Pleiades! Of Scotch whiskey in Orion! However, I am afraid your policy +would lead to international complications. The French would set up a +claim for 'Ancient Lights.' The Germans would discover a nebulous +Hinterland under their protection. The Americans would protest in the +name of the Monroe Doctrine. It is necessary to be modest. Let us return +to our muttons."</p> + +<p>"Everybody will be able to pick a world that suits him," pursued Gazen, +still on the trail of his thought. "If he grows tired of one he can look +round for a better. Criminals will be weeded out and sent to Coventry, I +mean transplanted into a worse. When a planet is dying of old age, the +inhabitants will flit to another."</p> + +<p>"Seriously, if Carmichael's machine turns out all right, will you join +me in a trip?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, no. I believe I shall wait and see how you get on first."</p> + +<p>"And where would you advise me to go, Mars or Venus?"</p> + +<p>The professor smiled, but I was quite in earnest.</p> + +<p>"Well," he replied, "Mars is evidently inhabited; but so is Venus, +probably, and of the two I think you will find her the more hospitable +and the nearest. When do you propose to start?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps within six months."</p> + +<p>"We must consider their relative distances from the earth. By the way, +I don't think you have seen my new electrical orrery."</p> + +<p>"An electrical orrery," I exclaimed. "Surely that is something new!"</p> + +<p>"So far as I am aware; but you never know in these days. There is +nothing new under the sun, or even above it."</p> + +<p>So saying, he opened a small door in the side of the observatory, and, +ushering me into a very dark apartment, closed it behind us.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, there is no danger," said he, taking me by the arm, and +guiding me for several paces into the darkness.</p> + +<p>At length we halted, and I looked all around me, but was unable to +perceive a single object.</p> + +<p>"Where are we?" I enquired; "in the realms of Chaos and Old Night?"</p> + +<p>"You are now in the centre of the Universe," replied Gazen; "or, to +speak more correctly, at a point in space overlooking the solar system."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't see it," said I. "Have you got such a thing as a match +about you?"</p> + +<p>"Let there be light!" responded Gazen in a reverent manner, and +instantly a soft, weird radiance was over all. The contrast of that +sudden illumination with the preceding darkness was electrical in more +senses than one, and I could not repress a cry of genuine admiration.</p> + +<p>A kind of twilight still reigned, and after the first moment of +surprise, I perceived that we were standing on a light metal gangway in +the middle of a great hollow cell of a luminous black or dark blue +colour, relieved by innumerable bright points, and resembling the night +sky in miniature.</p> + +<p>"I need hardly say that is a model of the celestial sphere," whispered +Gazen, indicating the starry vault.</p> + +<p>"It is a wonderful imitation," I responded, my awestruck eyes wandering +over the mysterious tracts of the Milky Way and the familiar +constellations of the mimic heavens. "May I ask how it is done—how you +produce that impression of infinite distance?"</p> + +<p>"By means of translucent shells illuminated from behind. The stars, of +course, are electric lamps, and some of them, as you see, have a tinge +of red or blue."</p> + +<p>Most of the light, however, came from a brilliant globe of a bluish +lustre, which appeared to occupy the centre of the crystal sphere, and +was surrounded by a number of smaller and fainter orbs that shone by its +reflected rays.</p> + +<p>"This, again, is a model of the solar system," said Gazen. "The central +luminary is, of course, the sun, and the others are the planets with +their satellites."</p> + +<p>"They seem to float in air."</p> + +<p>"That is because their supports are invisible, or nearly so. Both their +lights and periodic motions are produced by the electric current."</p> + +<p>"Surely they are not moving now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, and with velocities proportionate to those of the real bodies; +but you know that whilst the actual movements of the sun and planets are +so rapid, the dimensions of the system are so vast that if you could +survey the whole from a standpoint in space, as we are supposed to do, +it would appear at rest. Let us look at them a little closer."</p> + +<p>I followed Gazen along the gangway which encircled the orrery, and +allowed us to survey each of the planets closer at hand.</p> + +<p>"This kind of place would make a good theatre for a class in astronomy," +said I, "or for the meetings of the Interplanetary Congress of +Astronomers, in the year 2000. You can turn on the stars and planets +when you please. I wish you would give me a lecture on the subject now. +My knowledge is a little the worse for wear, and a man ought to know +something of the worlds around him—especially if he intends to visit +them."</p> + +<p>"I should only bore you with an old story."</p> + +<p>"Not at all. You cannot be too simple and elementary. Regard me as a +small boy in the stage of</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"'Twinkle, twinkle, little star,<br /></span> +<span> How I wonder what you are!'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Very well, my little man, have you any idea how many stars you can see +on a clear night?"</p> + +<p>"Billions."</p> + +<p>"No, Tommy. You are wrong, my dear boy. Go to the foot of your class. +With the naked eye we can only distinguish three or four thousand, but +with the telescope we are able to count at least fifty millions. They +are thickest in the Milky Way, which, as you can see, runs all round the +heavens, over your head, and under your feet, like an irregular tract of +hazy light, a girdle of stars in short. Of course we cannot tell how +many more there are beyond the range of vision, or what other galaxies +may be scattered in the depths of space. The stars are suns, larger or +smaller than our own, and of various colours—white, blue, yellow, +green, and red. Some are single, but others are held together in pairs +or groups by the force of gravitation. From their immense distance they +appear fixed to us, but in reality they are flying in all directions at +enormous velocities. Alpha, of the constellation Cygnus, for example, is +coming towards us at a speed of 500 million leagues per annum, and some +move a great deal faster. Most of them probably have planets circling +round them in different stages of growth, but these are invisible to us. +Here and there amongst them we find luminous patches or 'nebulæ,' which +prove to be either clusters of stars or stupendous clouds of glowing +gases. Our sun is a solitary blue star on the verge of the Milky Way, 20 +billion miles from Alpha Centauri his next-door neighbour. He is +travelling in a straight line towards the constellation Hercules at the +rate of 20,000 miles an hour, much quicker than a rifle bullet; and, +nevertheless, he will take more than a million years to cover the +distance. Eight large or major planets, with their satellites, and a +flock of minor planets or planetoids, are revolving round him as their +common centre and luminary at various distances, but all in the same +direction. The orbits, or paths, about the sun are ovals or ellipses, +almost circular, of which the sun occupies one focus, and they are so +nearly in one plane, or at one level, that if seen from the sun, they +would appear to wander along a narrow belt of the heavens, called the +zodiac, which extends a few degrees on each side of the Elliptic or +apparent course of the sun against the stars. The planets are all +globes, more or less flat at the poles, like an orange, and each is +turning and swaying on its axis, thus exposing every part to the light +and warmth of the sun. They are divided by the planetoids into an inner +and an outer band. The inner four are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and +Mars; the outer four are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Moreover, +a number of comets and swarms of meteoric stones or meteorites are +circulating round the sun in eccentric paths, which cross those of the +planets. Such is the solar system—a lonely archipelago in the ethereal +ocean—a little family of worlds."</p> + +<p>"Not without its jars, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>"The sun is chief of the clan," continued Gazen, "and keeps it together +by the mysterious tie of gravitation. While flying through space, he +turns round his own axis like a rifle bullet in 25 or 26 days. His +diameter is 860,000 miles, and although he is not much denser than +sea-water, his mass is over 700 times greater than the combined mass of +all his retinue. Gravity on his surface being 28 times stronger than on +the earth, a piece of timber would be as heavy as gold there, and a +stone let fall would drop 460 feet the first second instead of 16 feet +as here. He is built of the same kind of matter as the earth and other +planets, but is hotter than the hottest electric arc or reverberatory +furnace. Apparently his glowing bulk is made up of several concentric +shells like an onion. First there is a kernel or liquid nucleus, +probably as dense as pitch. Above it is the photosphere, the part we +usually see, a jacket of incandescent clouds, or vapours, which in the +telescope is seen to resemble 'willow leaves,' or 'rice grains in a +plate of soup,' and in the spectroscope to reveal the rays of iron, +manganese, or other heavy elements. What we call 'faculæ' (or little +torches), are brighter streaks, not unlike some kinds of coral. The +'Sunspots' are immense gaps or holes in the photosphere, some of them +150,000 miles in diameter, which afford us a peep at the glowing +interior. There are different theories as to their nature, hence they +provide rival astronomers with an excellent opportunity of spotting each +other's reputations. For instance, I look upon them as eruptions, and +Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil (my pet aversion) regards them as +cyclonic storms; consequently we never lose an opportunity of erupting +and storming at each other. Above the photosphere comes a stratum of +cooler vapours and gases, namely, hydrogen and helium, a very light +element recently found on the earth, along with argon, in the rare +mineral cleveite. Tremendous jets of blazing hydrogen are seen to burst +through the clouds of the photosphere, and play about in this higher +region like the flames of a coal fire. These are the famous 'red flames' +or 'prominences,' which are seen during a total eclipse as a ragged +fringe of rosy fire about the black disc of the moon. Some of them rush +through the chromosphere to a height of 80,000 miles in 15 minutes.</p> + +<p>"Higher still is the 'corona,' an aureole of silvery beams visible in a +total eclipse, and resembling the star of a decoration. The streamers +have been traced for hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the solar +disc. It appears to consist of meteoric stones, illuminated by the +sunlight as well as of incandescent vapours of 'coronium,' a very light +element unknown on the earth, and probably, too, of electrical +discharges. The 'zodiacal light,' that silvery glow often seen in the +west after sunset, or in the east before sunrise, may be a prolongation +of it."</p> + +<p>"I daresay these meteorites are swarming about the sun like midges about +a lamp," said I.</p> + +<p>"And just as eager to get burnt up," replied Gazen, with a smile. "Let +us pass now to the planets. The little one next the sun is Mercury, who +can be seen as a rosy-white star soon after sunset or before sunrise. He +is about 36 million miles, more or less, from the sun; travels round his +orbit in 88 days, the length of his year; and spins about his axis in +24 hours, making a day and night. His diameter is 3,000 miles, and his +mass is nearly seven times that of an equal volume of water. The +attraction of gravity on his surface is barely half that on the earth, +and a man would feel very light there. Mercury seems to have a dense +atmosphere, and probably high mountains, if not active volcanoes. The +sunshine is from four to nine times stronger there than on the earth, +and as summer and winter follow each other in six weeks, he is doubtless +rather warm.</p> + +<p>"Venus, the 'Shepherd's Star,' and the brightest object in the heavens +after the moon, can sometimes be seen by day, and casts a distinct +shadow at night. She is about 67 million miles from the sun, revolves +round him in 225 days, and rotates on her axis in 23 to 24 hours, or as +Schiaparelli believes, in 224 days. Her diameter is 7,600 miles, and her +mass nearly five times that of an equal volume of water. Gravity is +rather less there than it is here. Like Mercury, she appears to have a +cloudy atmosphere, and very high mountains. On the whole she resembles +the earth, but is, perhaps, a younger as well as a warmer planet.</p> + +<p>"The green ball, next to Venus, is, I need hardly say, our own dear +little world. Terra, or the earth, is 93 million miles from the sun, +goes round him in 365 days, and turns on her axis in 24 hours less four +minutes. Her diameter is 7,918 miles, and her density is 5.66 times that +of water. She is attended by a single satellite, the moon, which +revolves round her in 27.3 days, at a distance of 238,000 miles. The +moon rotates on her axis in about the same time, and hence we can only +see one side of her. She is 2,160 miles in diameter, but her mass is +only one-eightieth that of the earth. A pound weight on the moon would +scale six pounds on the earth. Having little or no atmosphere or water, +she is apparently a dead world.</p> + +<p>"The red planet beyond the earth is Mars, who appears in the sky as a +ruddy gold or coppery star. He is 141 million miles from the sun, +travels his orbit in 687 days, and wheels round his axis in 24 hours 37 +minutes. His diameter is 4,200 miles, and his mass about one-ninth that +of the earth. A body weighing two pounds on the earth would only make +half a pound on Mars. As you know, his atmosphere is clear and thin, his +surface flat, and subject to floods from the melting of the polar snows. +Mars is evidently a colder and more aged planet than the earth.</p> + +<p>"He is accompanied by two little moons, Phobos (Fear), which is from ten +to forty miles in diameter, and revolves round him in 7 hours 39 +minutes, at a distance of 6,000 miles, a fact unparalleled in astronomy; +and Deimos (Rout), who completes a revolution in 30 hours 18 minutes, at +a distance of 14,500 miles.</p> + +<p>"About 400 planetoids have been discovered up to now, but we are always +catching more of them. Medusa, the nearest, is 198 million miles, and +Thule, the farthest, is 396 million miles from the sun. Vesta, the +brightest and probably the largest, a pale yellow, or, as some say, +bluish white orb, visible with the naked eye, is from 200 to 400 miles +in diameter. It is impossible to say which is the smallest. Probably the +mass of the whole is not greater than one quarter that of the earth.</p> + +<p>"Jupiter, surnamed the 'giant planet,' who almost rivals Venus in her +splendour, is 480 million miles from the sun; travels round his orbit in +12 years less 50 days; and is believed to whirl round his axis in 10 +hours. His diameter is 85,000 miles, and his bulk is not only 1,200 +times that of the earth, but exceeds that of all the other planets put +together. Nevertheless, his mass is only 200 to 300 times that of the +earth, for his density is not much greater than that of water. What we +see is evidently his vaporous atmosphere, which is marked by coloured +spots and bands or belts, probably caused by storms and currents, +especially in the equatorial regions. Jupiter is thought to be self +luminous, at least in parts, and is, perchance, a cooling star, not yet +entirely crusted over.</p> + +<p>"Four or five numbered satellites, about the size of our moon and +upwards, are circulating round him in orbits from 2,000 to 1,000,000 +miles distant in periods ranging from 11 hours to 16 days 18 hours.</p> + +<p>"Saturn, the 'ringed planet,' who appears as a dull red star of the +first magnitude, is the most interesting of all the planets. He is 884 +million miles from the sun; his period of revolution is 29½ years, and +he turns on his axis in 10 hours 14 minutes. His diameter is 75,000 +miles, but his mass is only 94 times that of the earth, for he is +lighter than pinewood. His atmosphere is marked with spots and belts, +and on the whole his condition is like that of Jupiter.</p> + +<p>"Two flat rings or hoops, divided by a dark space, encircle his ball in +the plane of his equator. The inner ring is over 18,000 miles from the +ball, and nearly 17,000 miles broad. The gap between is 1,750 miles +wide, and the outer ring is over 10,000 miles broad. The rings are +banded, bright or dark, and vary in thickness from 40 to 250 miles. They +consist of innumerable small satellites and meteoric stones, travelling +round the ball in rather more than ten hours, and are brightest in +their densest parts. Of course they form a magnificent object in the +night sky of the planet, and it may be that our own zodiacal light is +the last vestige of a similar ring, and not an extension of the solar +corona.</p> + +<p>"Saturn has eight moons outside his rings, the nearest, Mimas, being +115,000, and the farthest, Japetus, 220,400 miles from his ball. With +the exception of Japetus, they revolve round him in the plane of his +rings, and when these are seen edgewise, appear to run along it like +beads on a string.</p> + +<p>"Uranus, the next planet visible, is a pale star of the sixth magnitude, +1,770 million miles from the sun, and completes his round in 84 years. +His axis, differing from those of the foregoing planets, lies almost in +the plane of his orbit, but we cannot speak as to his axial rotation. He +is 31,000 miles in diameter, and somewhat heavier, bulk for bulk, than +water. Four satellites revolve round him, the nearest, Ariel, being +103,500, and the farthest, Oberon, 347,500 miles distant. Unlike the +orbits of the foregoing satellites, which are nearly in the same plane +as the orbits of their primaries, those of the satellites of Uranus are +almost perpendicular to his own. They are travelled in periods of two +and a half to thirteen and a half days.</p> + +<p>"Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, but seen as a pale blue star in +the telescope, is 2,780 million miles from the sun, and makes a +revolution in 165 years. His diameter is about 35,000 miles, and his +density rather less than that of water.</p> + +<p>"Neptune has one satellite, at a distance of 202,000 miles, which, like +those of Uranus, revolves about its primary in an orbit at a +considerable angle to his own in five days twenty-one hours. Both +Neptune and Uranus are probably dying suns.</p> + +<p>"Comets of unknown number travel in long elliptical or parabolic orbits +round the sun at great velocities. They seem to consist partly of +glowing vapours, especially hydrogen, and partly of meteoric stones. +'Shooting stars,' that is to say, stones which fall to the earth, are +known to swarm in their wake, and are believed to be as plentiful in +space as fishes in the sea."</p> + +<p>"The trash or leavings of creation," said I reflectively.</p> + +<p>"And the raw material, for nothing is lost," rejoined Gazen. "Now, in +spite of all its diversity, there is a remarkable symmetry in the solar +system. The planets are all moving round the sun in one direction along +circular paths. As a rule each is nearly as far again from the sun as +the next within it. Thus, if we take Mercury as ¾ inch from the sun, +Venus is about 1¼ inches, the Earth 2¼, Mars 2, the planetoids 5¼, +Jupiter 9¾, Saturn 14, Uranus 36, and Neptune 60 inches. On the same +scale, by the way, Enckes' comet at Aphelion, its farthest distance from +the sun, would be about 12 feet; Donatis almost a mile; and Alpha +Centauri, a near star in the Milky Way, some ten miles.</p> + +<p>"The stately march of the planets in their orbits becomes slower the +farther they are from the sun. The velocity of Mercury in its orbit is +thirty, that of Jupiter is eight, and that of Neptune is only three +miles a second. On the other hand, the inner planets, as a rule, take +some twenty-four hours, and the outer only ten hours to spin round their +axis. The inner planets are small in comparison with the outer. If we +represent the sun by a gourd, 20 inches in diameter, Mercury will seem a +bilberry (⅟₁₆ inch) Venus, a white currant, the Earth a black currant +(¼ inch), Mars a red currant (⅛ inch), the planetoids as fine seed, +Jupiter an orange or peach (2 inches), Saturn a nectarine or greengage +(1 inch), Uranus a red cherry (¾ inch), and Neptune a white cherry +(barely 1 inch in diameter). By putting the sun and planets in a row, +and drawing a contour of the whole, we obtain the figure of a dirk, a +bodkin, or an Indian club, in which the sun stands for the knob +(disproportionately big), the inner planets for the handle, and the +outer for the blade or body. Again, the average density of the inner +planets exceeds that of the outer by nearly five to one, but the mass of +any planet is greater than the combined masses of all which are smaller +than it. The inner planets derive all their light and heat from the sun, +and have few or no satellites; whereas the outer, to all appearance, are +secondary suns, and have their own retinue of worlds. On the similitude +of a clan or house we may regard the inner planets as the immediate +retainers of the chief, and the outer as the chieftains of their own +septs or families."</p> + +<p>"How do you account for the symmetrical arrangement?" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"The origin of the solar system is, you know, a mystery," replied the +astronomer. "According to the nebular hypothesis we may imagine that two +or more dark suns, perhaps encircled with planets, have come into +collision. Burst into atoms by the stupendous shock they would fill the +surrounding region with a vast nebula of incandescent gases in a state +of violent agitation. Its luminous fringes would fly immeasurably beyond +the present orbit of Neptune, and then rush inwards to the centre, only +to be driven outwards again. Surging out and in, the fluid mass would +expand and contract alternately, until in course of ages the fiery +tides would cease to ebb and flow. If the impact had been somewhat +indirect it would rotate slowly on its axis, and under the influence of +gravity and centrifugal force acquire a globular shape which would +gradually flatten to a lenticular disc. As it cooled and shrank in +volume it would whirl the faster round its axis, and grow the denser +towards its heart. By and by, as the centrifugal force overcame gravity, +the nebula would part, and the lighter outskirts would be shed one after +another in concentric rings to mould the planets. The inner rings, being +relatively small and heavy, would probably condense much sooner than the +large, light, outer rings. The planetoids are apparently the rubbish of +a ring which has failed to condense into one body, perhaps through its +uniformity or thinness. The separation of so big a mass as Jupiter might +well attenuate the border."</p> + +<p>"If the planetoids were born of a single small ring, might not several +planets be condensed from a large one?"</p> + +<p>"I see nothing to hinder it. A large ring might split into smaller +rings, or condense in several centres."</p> + +<p>"Because it seems to me that might explain the distinction between the +inner and the outer planets. Perhaps the outer were first thrown off in +one immense ring, and then the inner in a smaller ring. Before +separation the nebula viewed edgewise might resemble your Indian club."</p> + +<p>"A 'dumb-bell nebula,' like those we find in the heavens," observed +Gazen. "Be that as it may, the rings would collect into balls, and some +of these, especially the outer, would cast off rings which would +condense into moons, always excepting the rings of Saturn, which, like +the planetoids, are evidently a failure. The solar system would then +appear as a group of suns, a cluster of stars, in short, a +constellation. Each would be what we call a 'nebulous star,' not unlike +the sun at present; that is to say, it would be surrounded by a glowing +atmosphere of vapours, and perhaps meteoric matter. Under the action of +gravity, centrifugal force, and tidal retardation, their orbits would +become more circular, they would gradually move further apart, rotate +more slowly on their axes, and assume the shapes they have now. In +cooling down, new chemical compounds, and probably elements would be +formed, since the so-called elements are perhaps mere combinations of a +primordial substance which have been produced at various temperatures. +The heavier elements, such as platinum, gold, and iron, would sink +towards the core; and the lighter, such as carbon, silicon, oxygen, +nitrogen, and hydrogen, would rise towards the surface. A crust would +form, and portions of it breaking in or bursting out together with +eruptions and floods of molten lava, would disturb the poise of the +planet, and give rise to inequalities of surface, to continents, and +mountains. When the crust was sufficiently stable, sound, and cool, the +mists and clouds would condense into rivers, lakes, or seas, and the +atmosphere would become clear. In due course life would make its +appearance."</p> + +<p>"Can you account for that mystery?"</p> + +<p>"No. Science is bound in honour, no doubt, to explain all it can without +calling in a special act of creation; but the origin of life and +intelligence seems to go beyond it, so far. Spontaneous generation from +dead matter is ruled out of court at present. We believe that life only +proceeds from life. As for the hypothesis that meteoric stones, the +'moss-grown fragments of another world' may have brought life to the +earth, I hardly know what to think of it."</p> + +<p>"Has life ever been found on a meteoric stone?"</p> + +<p>"Not that I know. Carbon, at all events in the state of graphite and +diamond, has been got from them. They arc generally a kind of slag, +containing nodules or crystals of iron, nickle, and other metals, and +look to me as if they had solidified from a liquid or vapour. Are they +ruins of an earlier cosmos—the crumbs of an exploded world—matter +ejected from the sun—the snow of a nebulous ring—frozen spray from the +fiery surge of a nebula? we cannot tell; but, according to the meteoric +as distinguished from the nebular hypothesis of the solar system, the +sun, planets, and comets, as well as the stars and nebula were all +generated by the clash of meteorites; and not as I have supposed, of +dead globes."</p> + +<p>"Which hypothesis do you believe?"</p> + +<p>"There may be some truth in both," replied Gazen. "The two processes +might even go on together. What if meteorites are simply frozen nebula? +It is certain that the earth is still growing a little from the fall of +meteoric stones, and that part of the sun's heat comes from meteoric +fuel. Most of it, however, arises from the shrinkage of his bulk. Five +or ten million years ago the sun was double the size he is now. Twenty +or thirty million years ago he was rather a nebula than a sun. In five +or ten million more he will probably be as Jupiter is now—a smoking +cinder."</p> + +<p>"And the earth—how long is it since she was crusted over?"</p> + +<p>"Anything from ten to several hundred million years. In that time the +stratified rocks have been deposited under water, the land and sea have +taken their present configurations; the atmosphere has been purified; +plants and animals have spread all over the surface. Man has probably +been from twenty to a hundred thousand years or more on the earth, but +his civilization is a thing of yesterday."</p> + +<p>"How long will the earth continue fit for life?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps five or ten million years. The entire solar system is gradually +losing its internal heat, and must inevitably die of sheer inanition. +The time is coming when the sun will drift through space, a black star +in the midst of dead worlds. Perhaps the system will fall together, +perhaps it will run against a star. In either case there would probably +be a 'new heaven and a new earth.'"</p> + +<p>"Born like a phoenix from the ashes of the old," said I, feeling the +justice of the well-worn simile.</p> + +<p>"I daresay the process goes on to all eternity."</p> + +<p>"Like enough."</p> + +<p>The sublime idea, with its prospect of the infinite, held us for a time +in silence. At length my thoughts reverted to the original question +which had been forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Now, whether should I go to Mars or Venus?" I enquired, fixing my eyes +on these planets and trying to estimate their relative distances from +the earth.</p> + +<p>Gazen made a mental computation, and replied with decision,</p> + +<p>"Venus."</p> + +<p>"All right," I responded. "Venus let it be."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_V'></a><h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>LEAVING THE EARTH.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"Check!"</p> + +<p>I was playing a game of chess with an old acquaintance, Viscount ——, +after dinner, one evening, in the luxurious smoking-room of a +fashionable club in the West End of London.</p> + +<p>Having got his queen into a very tight corner, I sipped a glass of wine, +lit a Turkish cigarette, and leaned back in my chair with an agreeable +sense of triumph.</p> + +<p>My companion, on the other hand, puffed rapidly at his cigar, and took a +long drink of hot whiskey and water, then fixed his attention on the +board, and stroked his beard with an air of the deepest gravity. Had you +only seen his face at that moment you would have supposed that all the +care of a mighty empire weighed upon his shoulders. The countenance of a +grand vizier, engaged in considering an ultimatum of Lord Salisbury, +were frivolous in comparison. There is little doubt that if Lord —— +had applied to the serious business of life as much earnest deliberation +as he gave to the movement of a pawn, he would have made a very +different figure in Society. But having been born without any effort of +his own to all that most men covet—rank, wealth, and title—he showed a +rare spirit of contentment, and did his best to make the world happier +by enjoying himself.</p> + +<p>As he was a very slow player, I began to think of a matter which lay +nearer to my heart than the game, I mean the project of travelling to +Venus. Tests of the new flying machine, by Professor Gazen and myself, +as well as our enquiries into the character of Mr. Carmichael, having +proved quite satisfactory, I had signed an agreement for the +construction of an ethereal ship or car, equally capable of navigating +the atmosphere to distant regions of the globe, and of traversing the +immense reaches of empty space between the earth and the other members +of the solar system.</p> + +<p>As Miss Carmichael had determined to accompany her father, and assist +him in his labours, it was built to carry three persons, with room to +spare for another, and the trial trips, made secretly on foggy nights, +had encouraged us to undertake the longer voyage into space. I am glad +to say that Professor Gazen, having taken part in one of these, had got +the better of his caution, and finally made up his mind to join the +expedition.</p> + +<p>I suspect that he was influenced in his decision by the heroic example +of Miss Carmichael. At all events I know he tried very hard to dissuade +her from going; but all his arguments could not shake her inflexible +resolution, and truly, there was something sublime in the quiet fidelity +of this young woman to her aged father which commanded our admiration.</p> + +<p>At length, all preparations for the voyage were complete, and as we did +not wish to excite any remark, it was arranged that we should start on +the first night that was dark enough to conceal our movements.</p> + +<p>While these thoughts were passing through my head, a footman, in plush, +entered the smoking-room, and presented a telegram on a golden salver. +Anticipating the contents, I tore it open, and read as follows:</p> + +<div class='blkquot'><p>"<i>We leave to-night. Come on at once.</i>—CARMICHAEL."</p></div> + +<p>After writing a reply to the message, I turned to the Viscount, who had +never raised his eyes from the board, and said,</p> + +<p>"You had better give me the game."</p> + +<p>He simply stared at me, and asked,</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, make it a draw."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear no. Let's play it out."</p> + +<p>"I can't. I'm sorry to say I must leave you now. I have just received a +telegram making an urgent appointment. When beauty calls—"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" replied his lordship, with an amiable smile. "In that case we'll +finish it another time. I mean to win this game."</p> + +<p>"It will take you all your time."</p> + +<p>"I'll wager you ten to one—a thousand sovereigns to a hundred that I +win."</p> + +<p>It is not my habit to lay wagers; but I was anxious to be gone.</p> + +<p>"All right," I responded with a laugh, as I went away. "Good-night!"</p> + +<p>On arriving at Mr. Carmichael's cottage I found the rest of the party +waiting for me. No time was lost in proceeding to the garden, where the +car stood ready to mount into the air. All the lights were out, and in +the darkness it might have been mistaken for a tubular boiler of a dumpy +shape. It was built of aluminium steel, able to withstand the impact of +a meteorite, and the interior was lined with caoutchouc, which is a +non-conductor of heat, as well as air-proof. The foot or basement +contained the driving mechanism, and a small cabin for Mr. Carmichael. +The upper shell, or main body, of an oval contour, projected beyond the +basement, and was surmounted by an observatory and conning tower. It was +divided into several compartments, that in the middle being the saloon, +or common chamber. At one end there was a berth for Miss Carmichael, and +at the other one for Professor Gazen and myself, with a snug little +smoking cell adjoining it. Every additional cubic inch was utilised for +the storage of provisions, cooking utensils, arms, books, and scientific +apparatus.</p> + +<p>The vessel was entered by a door in the middle, and a railed gallery or +deck ran round it outside. The interior was lighted by ports, or +scuttles, of stout glass; but electricity was also at our service. Air +constantly evaporating from the liquid state would fill the rooms, and +could escape through vent holes in the walls. This artificial atmosphere +was supplemented by a reserve fund of pure oxygen gas compressed in +steel cylinders, and a quantity of chemicals for purifying the air. It +need hardly be said that we did not burden the ship with unnecessary +articles, and that every piece of furniture was of the lightest and most +useful kind.</p> + +<p>I think we all felt the solemnity of the moment as we stepped into the +black hull which might prove our living coffin. No friends were by to +sadden us with their parting; but the old earth had grown dearer to us +now that we were about to leave it, perhaps for ever. Mr. Carmichael +descended by the trap into the engine room, while we others stood on the +landing beside the open door, mute and expectant.</p> + +<p>Presently, a shudder of the vessel sent a strange thrill to our hearts, +and almost before we knew it, we had left the ground.</p> + +<p>"We're off!" ejaculated Gazen, and although a slight vibration was all +the movement we could feel, we saw the earth sinking away from us. At +first we rose very slowly, because the machine had to contend against +the force of gravity; but as the weight of the car diminished the higher +we ascended, our speed gradually augmented, and we knew that in the long +run it would become prodigious. The night was moonless, and a thick +mantle of clouds obscured the heavens; but the planet Venus was now an +evening star, and after attaining a considerable height, we steered +towards the west. Our course took us over the metropolis, which lay +beneath us like a vast conflagration.</p> + +<p>Far as the eye could see, myriads of lights glimmered like watch fires +through the murk of the dismal streets, growing thicker and thicker as +we approached the heart of the city, and appearing to blend their +lustres. Through the midst of the glittering expanse we could trace the +black tide of the river, crossed by the sparkling lines of the bridges, +and reflecting the red lanterns of the ships and barges. The principal +squares and thoroughfares were picked out, with rows and clusters of gas +and electric lamps, as with studs of gold and silver. The clock on the +Houses of Parliament glowed like the full moon on a harvest night. Now +and again the weird blaze of a furnace, or the shifting beam of an +advertisement, attracted our attention. With indescribable emotion we +hung over the immense panorama, and recognised the familiar streets and +buildings—the Bank and Post Office, St. Paul's Cathedral and Newgate +Prison, the Law Courts and Somerset House, the British Museum, the +National Gallery of Arts, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. We +watched the busy multitudes swarming like ants in the glare of the +pavements from the dreary slums and stalls of Whitechapel to the +newspaper offices of Fleet Street; the shops and theatres of the Strand; +the music halls and restaurants of Piccadilly Circus. A deep and +continuous roar, a sound like that of the ocean ascended from the +toiling millions below.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it awful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a tone of reverence. +"What a city! I seem to understand how an angel feels when he regards +the world in space, or a God when He listens to the prayers of +humanity."</p> + +<p>"For my part," said Gazen, "I feel as though I were standing on my +head."</p> + +<p>By this time we had lost the sense of danger, and gathered confidence in +our mode of travel.</p> + +<p>"I fancy the clouds overhead are the real earth," explained the +astronomer, "and that I'm looking down into the starry heavens, with its +Milky Way. I say, though, isn't it jolly up here—soaring above all +these moiling mannikins below—wasting their precious lives grubbing in +the mire—dead to the glories of the universe—seeking happiness and +finding misery. Ugh!—wish I had a packet of dynamite to drop amongst +them and make them look up. Hallo!"</p> + +<p>The earth had suddenly vanished from our sight.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI'></a><h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>IN SPACE.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>We had entered the clouds.</p> + +<p>For half-an-hour we were muffled in a cold, damp mist, and total +darkness, and had begun to think of going indoors when, all at once, the +car burst into the pure and starlit region of the upper air.</p> + +<p>A cry of joyous admiration escaped from us all.</p> + +<p>The spectacle before us was indeed sublime.</p> + +<p>The sky of a deep dark blue was hung with innumerable stars, which +seemed to float in the limpid ether, and the rolling vapours through +which we had passed were drawn like a sable curtain between us and the +lower world. The stillness was so profound that we could hear the +beating of our own hearts.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a solemn whisper, as if +she were afraid that angels might hear.</p> + +<p>"There is Venus right ahead," cried the astronomer, but in a softer +tone than usual, perhaps out of respect for the sovereign laws of the +universe. "The course is clear now—we are fairly on the open sea—I +mean the open ether. I must get out my telescope."</p> + +<p>"The sky does not look sad here, as it always does on the earth—to me +at least," whispered Miss Carmichael, after Gazen had left us alone. "I +suppose that is because there is so much sadness around us and within us +there."</p> + +<p>"The atmosphere, too, is often very impure," I replied, also in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Up here I enjoy a sense of absolute peace and well-being, if not +happiness," she murmured. "I feel raised above all the miseries of +life—they appear to me so paltry and so vain."</p> + +<p>"As when we reach a higher moral elevation," said I, drifting into a +confidential mood, like passengers on the deck of a ship, under the +mysterious glamour of the night-sky. "Such moments are too rare in life. +Do you remember the lines of Shakespeare:—</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"'Look, how the floor of heaven<br /></span> +<span> Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold:<br /></span> +<span> There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st,<br /></span> +<span> But in his motion like an angel sings,<br /></span> +<span> Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims:<br /></span> +<span> Such harmony is in immortal souls;<br /></span> +<span> But whilst this muddy vesture of decay<br /></span> +<span> Doth grossly close it in—we cannot hear it.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"True," responded Miss Carmichael, "and now I begin to feel like a +disembodied spirit—a 'young-eyed cherubim.' I seem to belong already to +a better planet. Should you not like to dwell here for ever, far away +from the carking cares and troubles of the world?"</p> + +<p>The unwonted sadness of her tone reminded me of her devoted life, and I +turned towards her with new interest and sympathy. She was looking at +the Evening Star, whose bright beam softened the irregularities of her +profile, and made her almost beautiful.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered, and the words "with you" formed themselves in my +heart. I know not what folly I might have spoken had not the +conversation been interrupted by Gazen, who called out in his unromantic +style,</p> + +<p>"I say, Miss Carmichael! Won't you come and take a look at Venus?"</p> + +<p>She rose at once, and I followed her to the observatory.</p> + +<p>The telescope was very powerful for its size, and showed the dusky night +side of the planet against the brilliant crescent of the day like the +"new moon in the arms of the old," or, as Miss Carmichael said, "like an +amethyst in a silver clasp."</p> + +<p>"Really, it is not unlike that," said Gazen, pleased with her feminine +conceit. "If the instrument were stronger you would probably see the +clasp go all round the dusky violet body like a bright ring, and +probably, too, an ashen light within it, such as we see on the dark side +of the moon. By-and-by, as we get nearer, we shall study the markings of +the terminator, and a shallow notch that is just visible on the inner +edge of the southern horn. Can you see it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think I can. What is it?" replied Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Probably a vast crater, or else a range of high mountains intercepting +the sunlight, and making a scallop in the border of the terminator. +However, that is a secret for us to find out. We know very little of the +planet Venus—not even the length of her day. Some think it is eight +months long, others twenty-four hours. We shall see. I have begun to +keep a record of our discoveries, and some day—when I return to town—I +hope to read a paper on the subject before the most potent, grave, and +learned Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society—I rather think I +shall surprise them—I do not say startle—it is impossible to startle +the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society—or even to astonish +them—you might as well hope to tickle the Sphinx—but I fancy it will +stir them up a little, especially my friend Professor Sylvanus Pettifer +Possil. However, I must take care not to give them the slightest hint of +what they are to expect beforehand, otherwise they will declare they +knew all about it already."</p> + +<p>"Has it struck you that up here the stars appear of different colours at +various distances," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," answered Gazen, "and in the pure atmosphere of the desert, or +on the summit of high mountains, we notice a similar effect. The stars +have been compared to the trees of a forest, in different stages of +growth and decay. Some of them are growing in splendour, and others +again are dying out. Arcturus, a red star, for example, is fast cooling +to a cinder. Capella, over there, is a yellow star, like our own sun, +and past his prime. Sirius, that brilliant white or bluish star, which +flashes like a diamond in the south, is one of the fiercest. He is a +double star, his companion being seven and himself thirteen times +massier than the sun; but they are fifty times brighter, and a million +times further off, that is to say, one hundred billion miles away. +These double or twin stars are often very beautiful. The twins are of +all colours, and generally match well with each other—for instance, +purple and orange—green and orange—red and green—blue and pale +green—white and ruby. One of the prettiest lies in the constellation +Cygnus. I will show it to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, looking through the glass. +"The bigger star is a golden or topaz yellow, and the smaller a light +sapphire blue."</p> + +<p>"Some of the star groups and nebulæ are just as pretty," observed Gazen, +turning his telescope to another part of the heavens; "most of the stars +are white, but there is a sprinkling of yellow, blue, and red amongst +them—I mean, of course, to our view, for the absorption of our +atmosphere alters the tint."</p> + +<p>"Does that mean that there is more youth than age, more life than death, +in the universe?" enquired Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," replied the astronomer. "There is apparently no lack of +vigour in the Cosmos—no great sign of decrepitude; but we must remember +that we see the younger and brighter stars better than the others, and +for aught we know there are many dark suns or extinct stars, as well as +planets and their satellites. I should not like to say that the +population of space is going down; but on the whole it may be +stationary. I wish I could show you the cluster in Toucan, a rosy star +in a ring of white ones."</p> + +<p>"Like a brooch of pearls," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Yes—not unlike that," responded Gazen, evidently amused at her +comparison. "But that constellation is in the Southern Hemisphere. +However, here is the 'ring' or 'planetary' nebula in the Lyre."</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful thing!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, with her eye at the +instrument. "It looks to me like a golden hoop, with diamond dust +inside."</p> + +<p>I do not know where Miss Carmichael got her knowledge of jewellery, for +to all appearance she wore none.</p> + +<p>"Or the cup of a flower," she added, raising her head.</p> + +<p>"Poets have called the stars 'fleurs de ciel,'" said Gazen, shifting the +telescope, "and if so, the nebula are the orchids; for they imitate +crabs, birds, dumb-bells, spirals, and so forth. Take a look at this +one, and tell us what you think of it."</p> + +<p>"I see a cloud of silver light in the dark sky," said Miss Carmichael, +after observing it.</p> + +<p>"What does it resemble?"</p> + +<p>"It's rather like a pansy—or—"</p> + +<p>"Anything else?"</p> + +<p>"A human face!"</p> + +<p>"Not far out," rejoined Gazen. "It is called the Devil Nebula!"</p> + +<p>"And what is it?" enquired Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"It is a cluster of stars—a spawn of worlds, if I may use the +expression," answered Gazen.</p> + +<p>"And what are they made of? I know very little of astronomy."</p> + +<p>"The same stuff as the earth—the same stuff as ourselves—hydrogen, +iron, carbon, and other chemical elements. Just as all the books in the +world are composed of the same letters, so all the celestial bodies are +built of the same elements. Everything is everywhere—"</p> + +<p>Gazen was evidently in his own element, and began a long lecture on the +constitution of the universe, which appeared to interest Miss Carmichael +very much. Somehow it jarred upon me, and I retired to the little +smoking-room, where I lit a cigar, and sat down beside the open scuttles +to enjoy a quiet smoke.</p> + +<p>"Why am I displeased with the lucubrations of the professor?" I said to +myself. "Am I jealous of him because he has monopolised the attention of +Miss Carmichael? No, I think not. I confess to a certain interest in +Miss Carmichael. I believe she is a noble girl, intelligent and +affectionate, simple and true; with a touch of poetry in her nature +which I had never suspected. She will make an excellent companion to the +fortunate man who wins her. When I remember the hard life she has led so +far, I confess I cannot help sympathising with her; but surely I am not +in love?"</p> + +<p>I regret to say that my friend the astronomer, with all his good +qualities, was not quite free from the arrogance which leads some men of +science to assume a proprietary right in the objects of their discovery. +To hear him speak you would think he had created the stars, instead of +explaining a secret of their constitution. However, I was used to that +little failing in his manner. It was not that. No, it was chiefly the +matter of his discourse which had been distasteful to me. The sight of +that glorious firmament had filled me with a sentiment of awe and +reverence to which his dry and brutal facts were a kind of desecration. +Why should our sentiment so often shrink from knowledge? Are we afraid +its purity may be contaminated and defiled? Why should science be so +inimical to poetry? Is it because the reality is never equal to our +dreams? There is more in this antipathy than the fear of disillusion +and alloyment. Some of it arises from a difference in the attitude of +the mind.</p> + +<p>To the poet, nature is a living mystery. He does not seek to know what +it is, or how it works. He allows it as a whole to impress itself on his +entire soul, like the reflection in a mirror, and is content with the +illusion, the effect. By its power and beauty it awakens ideas and +sentiments within him. He does not even consider the part which his own +mind plays, and as his fancy is quite free, he tends to personify +inanimate things, as the ancients did the sun and moon.</p> + +<p>To the man of science, on the other hand, nature is a molecular +mechanism. He wishes to understand its construction, and mode of action. +He enquires into its particular parts with his intellect, and tries to +penetrate the illusion in order to lay bare its cause. Heedless of its +power and beauty, he remains uninfluenced by sentiment, and mistrusting +the part played by his own mind, he tends to destroy the habit of +personification.</p> + +<p>Hence that opposition between science and poetry which Coleridge pointed +out. The spirit of poetry is driven away by the spirit of science, just +as Eros fled before the curiosity of Psyche.</p> + +<p>How can I enjoy the perfume of a rose if I am thinking of its cellular +tissue? I grow blind to the beauty of the Venus de Medicis when I +measure its dimensions, or analyse its marble. What do I care for the +drama if I am bent on going behind the scenes and examining the stage +machinery? The telescope has banished Phoebus and Diana from our +literature, and the spectroscope has vulgarised the stars.</p> + +<p>Will science make an end of poetry as Renan and many others have +thought? Surely not? Poetry is quite as natural and as needful to +mankind as science. All men are poetical, as they are scientific, more +or less.</p> + +<p>It might even be argued that poetry is for the general, for the man as a +man; while science is for the particular, for the man as a specialist; +and that poetry is a higher and more essential boon than science, +because it speaks to the heart, not merely to the head, and keeps alive +the celestial as well as the terrestrial portion of our nature.</p> + +<p>Shall we prefer the cause to the effect, and the means to the end, or +exalt the matter above the form, and the letter above the spirit? Does +not the tissue exist for the sweetness of the rose, the marble for the +beauty of the stature, and the mechanism for the illusion of the play? +The "opposition" between science and poetry lies not in the object, but +in our mode of regarding it. The scientific and the poetical spirit are +complementary, as the inside to the outside of a garment, and if they +seem to drive each other away it is because the mind cannot easily +entertain and employ both together; but one is passive when the other is +active.</p> + +<p>Keats drank "confusion to Newton" for destroying the poetry of the +rainbow by showing how the colours were elicited; but after all was +Newton guilty? Why should a true knowledge of the cause destroy the +poetry of an effect? Every effect must be produced somehow. The rainbow +is not less beautiful in itself because I know that it is due to the +refraction of light. The diamond loses none of its lustre although +chemistry has proved it to be carbon; the heavens are still glorious +even if the stars are red-hot balls.</p> + +<p>But stones, carbon, and light are familiar commonplace things, and +fraught with prosaic associations.</p> + +<p>True, and yet natural things are noble in themselves, and only vulgar in +our usage. It is for us to purify and raise our thoughts. Instead of +losing our interest in the universe because it is all of the same stuff, +we should rather wonder at the miracle which has formed so rich a +variety out of a common element.</p> + +<p>But the mystery is gone, and the feelings and fancies which arose from +it.</p> + +<p>In exchange for the mystery we have truth, which excites other emotions +and ideas. Moreover, the mystery is only pushed further back. We cannot +tell what the elements really are; they will never be more than symbols +to us, and all nature at bottom will ever remain a mystery to us: an +organised illusion. Think, too, of the innumerable worlds amongst the +stars, and the eternity of the past and future. Whether we look into the +depths of space beyond the reach of telescope and microscope, or +backward and forward along the vistas of time, we shall find ourselves +surrounded with an impenetrable mystery in which the imagination is free +to rove.</p> + +<p>Science, far from destroying, will foster and develop poetry. It is the +part of the scientific to serve the poetical spirit by providing it with +fresh matter. The poet will take the truth discovered by the man of +science, and purify it from vulgar associations, or stamp it with a +beautiful and ideal form.</p> + +<p>Consider the vast horizons opened to the vision of the poet by the +investigations of science and the doctrine of evolution. At present the +spirit of science is perhaps more active than the spirit of poetry, but +we are passing through an unsettled to a settled period. Tennyson was +the voice of the transition; but the singer of evolution is to come, and +after him the poet of truth.</p> + +<p>If we allowed the scientific to drive away the poetical spirit, we +should have to go in quest of it again, as the forlorn Psyche went in +search of Eros. It is necessary to the proper balance and harmony of our +minds, to the purification of our feelings, and the right enjoyment of +life. Poetry expresses the inmost soul of man, and science can never +take its place. Religion apart, what does the present age of science +need more than poetry? What would benefit a hard-headed, matter-of-fact +man of science like Professor Gazen if not the arts of the sublime and +beautiful—if not a poetical companion—such as Miss Carmichael?</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Thus, after a long rambling meditation, I had come back to my bachelor +friend and the fair American.</p> + +<p>"Yes," thought I, rather uneasily, I must confess, for I could not +disguise from myself the fact that I was taken with her, "Gazen and she +are not an ill-matched pair by any means. They are alike in many +respects, and a contrast in others. They have common ground in their +love and aptitude for science; yet each has something which the other +lacks. She has poetry and sentiment for instance, but he—well, I'm +afraid that if he ever had any it has all evaporated by this time. On +the other hand, she"—but it puzzled me to think of any good quality +that Miss Carmichael did not possess, and I began to consider that she +would be throwing herself away upon him. "They seem to get on well +together, however—monstrously well. I wonder what star he is picking to +pieces now?"</p> + +<p>I listened for the sound of their voices, but not a murmur passed +through the curtain which I had drawn across the entrance to the smoking +cabin. Only a peculiar tremor from the mysterious engines broke the +utter stillness. Was I growing deaf? I snapped my fingers to reassure +myself, and the sound startled me like the crack of a pistol. Evidently +my sense of hearing had become abnormally acute. My mind, too, was +preternaturally clear, and the solitude became so irksome that I rose +from my seat, and looked out of the scuttles to relieve the tension of +my nerves.</p> + +<p>Apparently we had reached a great height in the atmosphere, for the sky +was a dead black, and the stars had ceased to twinkle. By the same +illusion which lifts the horizon of the sea to the level of the +spectator on a hillside, the sable cloud beneath was dished out, and the +car seemed to float in the middle of an immense dark sphere, whose upper +half was strewn with silver. Looking down into the dark gulf below, I +could see a ruddy light streaming through a rift in the clouds. It was +probably a last glimpse of London, or some neighbouring town; but soon +the rolling vapours closed, and shut it out.</p> + +<p>I now realised to the full that I was <i>nowhere</i>, or to speak more +correctly, a wanderer in empty space—that I had left one world behind +me and was travelling to another, like a disembodied spirit crossing the +gloomy Styx. A strange serenity took possession of my soul, and all that +had polluted or degraded it in the lower life seemed to fall away from +it like the shadow of an evil dream.</p> + +<p>In the depths of my heart I no longer felt sorry to quit the earth. It +seemed to me now, a place where the loveliest things never come to +birth, or die the soonest—where life itself hangs on a blind mischance, +where true friendship is afraid to show its face, where pure love is +unrequited or betrayed, and the noblest benefactors of their fellowmen +have been reviled or done to death—a place which we regard as a heaven +when we enter it, and a hell before we leave it. . . . No, I was not +sorry to quit the earth.</p> + +<p>And the beautiful planet, shining there so peacefully in the west, was +it any better? At a like distance the earth would seem still fairer, and +perhaps even now some wretch in Venus is asking himself a similar +question. Is it not probable that just as all the worlds are made of the +same materials, so the mixture of good and evil is much the same in all? +I turned to the stars, where in all ages man has sought an answer to his +riddles. The better land! Where is it? if not among the stars. I am now +in the old heaven above the clouds. Does it lie <i>within</i> the visible +universe, as it lies within the heart when peace and happiness are +there?</p> + +<p>In that pure ether the glory of the firmament was revealed to me as it +had never been on the earth, where it is often veiled with clouds and +mist, or marred by houses and surrounding objects—where the quietude of +the mind is also apt to be disturbed by sordid and perplexing cares. Its +awful sublimity overwhelmed my faculties, and its majesty inspired me +with a kind of dread. In presence of these countless orbs my own +nothingness came home to me, and a voice seemed to whisper in my ear,</p> + +<p>"Hush! What art thou? Be humble and revere."</p> + +<p>After a while, I perceived a pure celestial radiance of a marvellous +whiteness dawning in the east. By slow degrees it spread over the +starlit sky, lightening its blackness to a deep Prussian blue, and +lining the sable clouds on the horizon with silver. At length the round +disc of the sun, whiter than the full moon, and intolerably bright, rose +into view.</p> + +<p>With the intention of rejoining Professor Gazen in the observatory, and +seeing it through his telescope, I flung away my cigar, and stepped +towards the door of the cabin; but ere I had gone two paces, I suddenly +reeled and fell. At first I imagined that an accident had happened to +the car, but soon realised that I myself was at fault. Dizzy and faint, +with a bounding pulse, an aching head, and a panting chest, I raised +myself with great difficulty into a seat, and tried to collect my +thoughts. For the last quarter of an hour I had been aware of a growing +uneasiness, but the spectacle of sunrise had entranced me, and I forgot +it. Suspecting an attack of "mountain sickness" owing to the rarity of +the atmosphere, I attempted to rise and close the scuttles, but found +that I had lost all power in my lower limbs. The pain in my head +increased, the palpitation of my heart grew more violent, my ears rang +like a bell, and I literally gasped for breath. Moreover, I felt a +peculiar dryness in my throat, and a disagreeable taste of blood in my +mouth. What was to be done? I tried again to reach the door, but only to +find that I could not even move my arms, let alone my feet. +Nevertheless, I was singularly free from agitation or alarm, and my mind +was just as clear as it is now. I reflected that as the car was ever +rising into a rarer atmosphere, my only hope of salvation lay in calling +for help, and that as the paralysis was gaining on my whole body, not a +moment was to be lost. I shouted with all my strength; but beyond a sort +of hiss, not a sound escaped my lips. The profound silence of the car +now struck me in a new light. Had Gazen and Miss Carmichael not +committed the same blunder, and suffered a like fate? Perhaps even +Carmichael himself had been equally careless, and the flying machine, +now masterless, was carrying us Heaven knows whither. Strange to say I +entertained these sinister apprehensions without the least emotion. I +had lost all feeling of pain or anxiety, and was perfectly tranquil and +indifferent to anything that might happen. It is possible that with the +paralysis of my powers to help myself, I was also relieved by nature +from the fears of death. I began to think of the sensation which our +mysterious disappearance would make in the newspapers, and of divers +other matters, such as my own boyhood and my friends, when all at once +my eyes grew dim—and I remembered nothing more.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII'></a><h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h4>ARRIVING IN VENUS.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"Try to speak—there's a good fellow—open your eyes."</p> + +<p>I heard the words as in a dream. I recognised the voice of Gazen, but it +seemed to come from the far distance. Opening my eyes I found myself +prostrate on the floor of the smoking room, with the professor and Miss +Carmichael kneeling beside me. There was a look of great anxiety on +their faces.</p> + +<p>"I'm all right," said I feebly. "I'm so glad you are safe."</p> + +<p>It appears that a short time before, Gazen had closed the scuttles of +the observatory and returned with Miss Carmichael to the saloon, then, +after calling to me without receiving any answer, had opened the door of +the smoking-room and seen me lying in a dead faint. Luckily Miss +Carmichael had acquired some knowledge of medicine, partly from her +father, and without loss of time they applied themselves to bring me +round by the method of artificial respiration employed in cases of +drowning or lightning stroke.</p> + +<p>It would be tedious to narrate all the particulars of our journey +through the dark abyss, particularly as nothing very important befell +us, and one day passed like another. Now and then a small meteoric stone +struck the car and glanced off its rounded sides.</p> + +<p>"Old Charon," as Gazen and I had nicknamed Carmichael, after the grim +ferryman of the Styx, seldom forsook his engines, and Miss Carmichael +spent a good deal of her time along with him. Occasionally she chatted +with Gazen and myself in the saloon, or helped us to make scientific +observations; but although neither of us openly confessed it, I think we +both felt that she did not give us quite enough of her company. Her +manner seemed to betray no preference for one or the other.</p> + +<p>Did she, by her feminine instinct, perceive that we were both solicitous +of her company, and was she afraid of exciting jealousy between us? In +any case we were all the more glad to see her when she did join us. No +doubt men in general, and professors in particular, are fond of +communicating knowledge, but a great deal depends on the pupil; and +certainly I was surprised to see how the hard and dry astronomer beamed +with delight as he initiated this young lady into the mysteries of the +apparatus, and what a deal of trouble he took to cram her lovely head +with mathematics.</p> + +<p>We noted the temperature of space as we darted onwards, and discovered +that it contains a trace of gases lost from the atmospheres of the +heavenly bodies. We also found there a sprinkling of minute organisms, +which had probably strayed from some living world. Gazen suggested that +these might sow the seeds of organic life in brand-new planets, ready +for them, but perhaps that was only his scientific joke. The jokes of +science are frequently so well disguised, that many people take them for +earnest.</p> + +<p>Gazen made numerous observations of the celestial bodies, more +especially the sun, which now appeared as a globe of lilac fire in the +centre of a silvery lustre, but I will leave him to publish his results +in his own fashion. We may claim to have seen the South Pole, but, of +course, at a distance too great for scientific purposes. Judging by its +appearance, I should say it was surrounded by a frozen land. The earth, +with its ruddy and green continents, delineated as on a map, or veiled +in belted clouds, was a magnificent object for the telescope as it +wheeled in the blue rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour, with a kind of loving fascination, we watched it +growing "fine by degrees and beautifully less," until at last it waned +into a bright star.</p> + +<p>Venus, on the other hand, waxed more and more brilliant until it +rivalled the moon, and Mercury appeared as a rosy star not far from it.</p> + +<p>We soon got accustomed to the funereal aspect of the sky, and the utter +silence of space. Indeed, I was not so much impressed by the reality as +I had been by the simulacrum in my dream of sunrise in the moon. When I +looked at the weird radiance of the sun, however, I realised as I had +never done before that he was only a star seen comparatively near, and +that the earth was but his insignificant satellite. Moreover, when I +gazed down into the yawning gulf, with its strange constellations so far +<i>beneath</i> us, I felt to the full the awful loneliness of the universe; +and how that all life and soul were confined to mere sunlit specks +thinly scattered here and there in the blackness of eternal night.</p> + +<p>Steering a calculated course by the stars, we reached the orbit of +Venus, and travelled along it in advance of the planet with a velocity +rather less than her own, so as to allow her to overtake us. Some +notion of the eagerness with which we scanned her approach may be +gathered by imagining the moon to fall towards the earth. Slowly and +steadily the illuminated crescent of the planet grew in bulk and +definition, until we could plainly distinguish all the features of her +disc without the aid of glasses. For the most part she was wrapped in +clouds, of a dazzling lustre at the equator, and duskier towards the +poles. Here and there a gap in the vapour revealed the summit of a +mountain range, or the dark surface of a plain or sea.</p> + +<p>I need hardly say that none of us viewed the majestic approach of this +new world, suspended in the ether, and visibly turning round its axis, +without emotion. The boundary of day and night was fairly well marked, +and I pictured to myself the wave of living creatures rising from their +sleep to life and activity on one side, and going to sleep again on the +other, as it crept slowly over the surface. To compare small things with +great, the denizens of a planet reminded me of performers under the +limelight of a darkened theatre:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"All the world's a stage!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We amused ourselves with conjectures as to our probable fate on Venus, +supposing we should arrive there safe and sound.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the authorities will demand our passports," said I. "Perhaps +we shall be tried and condemned to death for invading a friendly +planet."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," said Gazen, "if they were to put +us into their zoological gardens as a rare species of monkey."</p> + +<p>"What a ridiculous idea!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael. "Now <i>I</i> feel sure +they will pay us divine honours. Won't it be nice?"</p> + +<p>"You will make a perfect divinity," rejoined the professor with +consummate gallantry. "For my part I shall feel more at home in a +menagerie."</p> + +<p>Thus far we had not observed any signs of intelligent beings on the +cloudy globe, and it was still doubtful whether we should not discover +it to be a lifeless world.</p> + +<p>Our track did not lie exactly on the orbit of the planet, but +sufficiently beneath it to let her attraction pull the car up towards +her Southern Pole as it passed above us; and by this course of action we +trusted to enjoy a wider field of atmosphere to manoeuvre in, and +probably a safer descent into a cooler climate than we should have +experienced in attempting to land on the equator.</p> + +<p>By an illusion familiar in the case of railway trains, it seemed to us +that the car was stationary, and the planet rushing towards us. On it +came like a great shield of silver and ebony, eclipsing the stars and +growing vaster every moment. Under the driving force of the engines and +the gravity of the planet, our car was falling obliquely towards the +orbit, like a small boat trying to cross the bows of an ironclad, and a +collision seemed inevitable. Being on the sunward side we could see more +and more of the illuminated crescent as it drew near, and were filled +with amazement at the sublime spectacle afforded by the strange contrast +between the purple splendour of the solar disc in the black abyss of +ether and the pure white celestial radiance which was reflected from the +atmosphere of the planet.</p> + +<p>The climax of magnificence was reached when the approaching surface came +so close as to appear concave, and our little ark floated above a +hemisphere of dazzling brightness under a hemisphere of appalling +darkness faintly relieved by the glimmer of stars and the purple glory +of the sun.</p> + +<p>Ere we could express our admiration, however, we were startled by a +magical transformation of the scene. The sky suddenly became blue, the +stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the +broad day was all around us.</p> + +<p>"Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and +wonder.</p> + +<p>"We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with +alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?"</p> + +<p>So saying he opened one of the scuttles, and a whiff of fresh air blew +into the car. Thrusting his nose out, he sniffed cautiously for a while +and then drew several long breaths.</p> + +<p>"It seems all right as regards quality," he remarked, "but there's too +little body in it. We must wait until we get nearer the ground before we +can go outside the car."</p> + +<p>The pressure of the atmosphere as taken by an aneroid barometer +confirmed his observation, but as we were ignorant of its average +density it could not give us any certain indication of our height. Far +beneath us an ideal world of clouds hid the surface from our view. We +seemed to be floating above a range of snowy Alps, their dusky valleys +filled with glaciers, and their sovereign peaks glittering in the sun +like diamonds. As we descended in a long slant, their dazzling summits +rose to meet us, and the infinite play of light and shade became more +and more beautiful. The gliding car threw a distinct shadow which +travelled along the white screen, and equally to our surprise and +delight became fringed with coloured circles resembling rainbows.</p> + +<p>"It is a good omen!" cried Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" responded the professor, shaking his head but smiling +good-humouredly; "that is a mere superstition I'm afraid. It is simply +an optical effect, a variety of the phenomenon called 'anthelia,' like +Ulloa's Circle and the famous 'Spectre of the Brocken.'"</p> + +<p>"Explain it how you will," rejoined Miss Carmichael, "to me it is an +emblem of hope. It cheers my heart."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear it, and I should be very sorry to crush your +hopes," said Gazen pleasantly. "We can sometimes derive moral +encouragement and profit from external phenomena. A rainbow in the midst +of a storm is a cheering sight. I daresay there is a reasonable basis, +too, for certain superstitions. St. Elmo's Fire may, for instance, from +natural causes, be a sign of good weather, only there is nothing +supernatural about it."</p> + +<p>"I am not in the secrets of the supernatural," replied Miss Carmichael, +"but I believe that if we do not look for the supernatural, if we shut +our eyes to it, we are not likely to see it."</p> + +<p>"Science has proved that so many things formerly thought to be +supernatural are quite natural," observed the astronomer a little more +humbly.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the natural and the supernatural are one," said Miss +Carmichael. "Does a thing cease to be supernatural because we know +something about it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it may have another meaning for us. Before the days of science, +great mistakes were made in our interpretations of phenomena. +Superstition is born of ignorance, and we can see the germ of it in the +child who is frightened by a bogie, or the horse that shies at the +moonlight."</p> + +<p>"Its higher parent is a belief in the unseen."</p> + +<p>"In any case it has done an immense amount of harm," said the professor.</p> + +<p>"And probably quite as much good," responded Miss Carmichael. "However, +don't think me a friend of superstition. But in getting rid of it let us +take care that we do not fall into the opposite error. It seems to me +that if science had all its own way it would reduce man and nature to a +little machine working in the corner of a big one; but I think it will +cost us too dear if it make us lose our sense of the divine origin and +spiritual significance of the universe."</p> + +<p>Further argument was cut short by the car suddenly dashing into the +clouds with a noiseless ease that astonished us, for they had appeared +as solid as the rock.</p> + +<p>Lost in the vapours, our car seemed at rest; but although we saw +nothing, we could hear a vague and distant murmur which charmed our ears +after the long silence of space like a strain of music. Whether this was +due to the sounds of the surface collected in the clouds, or to +electrical discharges I cannot say, for we were trying to solve the +mystery by hearkening to it, when it abruptly died away as the car shot +into the clear air beneath the clouds.</p> + +<p>"The sea! the sea!" cried Miss Carmichael, starting up in joyful +excitement to join her father; and sure enough we were flying above a +dark blue hemisphere which could only be the ocean.</p> + +<p>Gazen now made another test of the atmosphere, and, finding it +satisfactory, we opened the door of the car and ventured on the gallery.</p> + +<p>After our confinement the fresh air acted like a charm. It felt so cool +and sweet in the nostrils that every breath was a pleasure. We inhaled +it in long, deep, loving draughts, which imparted vigour to our +exhausted frames, and intoxicated our spirits like laughing gas. I could +hardly restrain a wild impulse to leap from the car into the unruffled +bosom of the sea below, and Gazen, habitually staid, actually shouted +with glee. His voice startled the utter stillness, and was mocked by a +faint echo from the surface of the water. By timing the interval between +a call and its echo we found it nearly ten seconds, which corresponded +to a height of about a mile. A repetition of the test from time to time +showed that the car was now travelling at a fairly constant level. The +wide ocean spread all around us; neither sail nor shore, nor living +creature was visible, and we had begun to ask ourselves whether we had +not found a watery planet, when Gazen suddenly cried out,</p> + +<p>"Land!"</p> + +<p>"Whereaway?" I enquired with breathless interest.</p> + +<p>He pointed a little to the right of our course, and following the +direction of his finger, I saw a dim outline where sea and sky met. It +might have been mistaken for the tip of a cloud, but as we advanced it +rose above the horizon and took a definite shape not unlike a truncated +cone.</p> + +<p>The glasses showed it to be an island apparently of volcanic formation, +and after a brief consultation with Carmichael, we steered towards it. +The emotion of Columbus when he arrived at the Bahamas affords, perhaps, +the nearest parallel to our feelings, but in our case the land in sight +was the outlier of another planet. Watchful curiosity and silent +expectation, the ineffable sorcery of new scenes, the mystery of the +unknown, the romance of adventure, the exultation of triumph, and the +dread of disaster, were inextricably blended in our hearts. It was a +glorious hour, and come what might, we all felt that we had not lived in +vain.</p> + +<p>The island rose out of the sea like a volcanic peak, and was evidently +encircled with a barrier reef, as we could trace a line of snowy surf +breaking on its outer verge, and parting the sapphire blue of the deep +water without from the emerald green shoals within. The coast, sweeping +in beautiful bays, dotted with overgrown islets, and fended by rocky +promontories, was rimmed with beaches of yellow sand. The steep sides of +the mountain, broken with precipices, and shaggy with vegetation, +ascended from a multitude of spurs and buttresses, resembling billows of +verdure, and towered into the clouds.</p> + +<p>I have used the word verdure, but it is really a misnomer, for although +the prevailing tint of the foliage was a dark green, the entire forest +was streaked like a rainbow with innumerable flowers, and the breeze +which blew from it was laden with the most delightful perfume, Evidently +it was all a howling wilderness, for we could not detect the slightest +vestige of human dwellings or cultivation. We did not even observe any +signs of bird or beast. A profound stillness brooded over the solitude, +and was scarcely broken by the drowsy murmur of distant waterfalls.</p> + +<p>A forest, like the sea or desert, has a magical power to stimulate the +fancy and touch the primitive chords of the heart. Even a Scotch +hillside, or a Devonshire moor, can throw their wild spells over the +civilised man of letters, and appeal to savage or poetical instincts +underlying all his culture. So now, where everything seen or unseen, was +new and strange, and the imagination was quite free to rove, the charm +was more intense. We stood and gazed upon the moving panorama like +persons in a trance. The trees and plants grew in zones according to +their different levels above the sea, after the manner of those on the +earth, but we were too high to distinguish the various kinds. +Apparently, however, feathery palms and gigantic grasses prevailed in +the lower, and glossy evergreens, resembling the magnolia and +rhododendron, in the middle grounds. All this part of the forest was so +thickly encumbered with flowering creepers and parasites as to seem one +immense bower, dense enough to exclude the sunlight and make a perpetual +twilight underneath. The higher slopes were clad with pine-trees, having +long thin needles, which hung from their boughs like fringes of green +hair, and bushy shrubs which reminded me of heaths. Above these, +enormous ferns with fronds twenty or thirty feet in length, and thickets +draped in variegated mosses were thriving in the spray of a thousand +slender cataracts which poured from the brink of the precipitous crags +on the summit of the mountain.</p> + +<p>Seen from a distance, the cliffs appeared of a ruddy tint, but on coming +closer we found this was due to myriads of huge lichens of a deep +crimson and orange, and that the natural colours of the rock, vermilion +and blue, lemon, yellow, purple, and olive green, almost vied with those +of the forest lower down the steep.</p> + +<p>We glided over the crest at a point where it was almost free of cloud, +and were astonished to find it carved by the weather into the most +fantastic shapes, rudely imitating the colossal figures of men and +animals, or the towers and turrets of ruined castles. After the novelty +of this goblin architecture had passed, however, its effect was somewhat +dreary. The wind, moaning through the lifeless aisles and crannies of +the dripping rocks, the rolling mist and shuddering pools of water, +induced a sense of loneliness and depression. The revulsion in our +feelings was therefore all the greater when the car suddenly escaped +from this height of desolation, and a magnificent prospect burst upon +our view.</p> + +<p>An immense valley seemed to lie far beneath us, but it was really a +table-land of hills, rocks, and mountains, shaggy with vegetation, and +flung together in riotous confusion like the billows of a raging sea. +The stupendous cliffs behind us dropped sheerly down to the level of the +plateau, some ten or twenty thousand feet below, and swept around it as +a curving wall on either hand until they vanished in the distance. It +was evidently the crater of the extinct volcano.</p> + +<p>Our journey across that blooming wilderness will never fade from my +recollection, but when I attempt to give the reader an idea of it, +impressions crowd so thick and fast upon me as to choke my utterance; I +am equally in danger of soaring into a wild extravagance of generality +and sinking into a mere catalogue of detail. Yet I find it impossible +to hit a mean that can do any justice to it. The extraordinary way in +which the ancient lavas of the interior had been riven, upheaved, and +piled upon each other by the volcanic forces, the bewildering variety +and exuberance of the tropical plants and trees which battened on the +rich and crumbling soil, completely baffles all description. What the +imagination is unable to conceive, and the eye itself is overpowered in +beholding, the pen can never hope to depict. Let the grandest mountain +scenes of your memory be jumbled together as in a dream and overgrown +with the maddest jungles of the Ganges or the Amazon, and the +phantasmagoria would still be nothing to the living reality.</p> + +<p>Most of the highest peaks and ridges, as well as the deepest valleys and +ravines, were covered with the embowering forest; but here and there a +huge boss of granite or porphyry reared its bare scalp out of the +verdure like the head and shoulders of some antediluvian monster. The +gigantic palms and foliage trees, all tufted with air-plants or +strangled with climbers, were literally buried in flowers of every hue, +and the crown of the forest rolled under us like a sea of blossoms. +Every moment one enchanting prospect after another opened to our +wondering eyes. Now it was a waterfall, gleaming like a vein of silver +on the brow of a lofty precipice, and descending into a lakelet bordered +with red, blue, and yellow lilies. Again it was a natural bridge, +spanning a deep chasm or tunnel in the rock, through which a river +boiled and roared in a series of cascades and rapids. Ever and anon we +passed over glades and prairies, carpeted with orchids, and dotted with +clumps of shrubbery, a mass of golden bloom, or tremendous blocks of +basalt hung with crimson creepers. Butterflies with azure wings of a +surprising spread and lustre, alighted on the flowers, and great birds +of resplendent plumage flashed from grove to grove. A sun, twice the +diameter of ours, blazed in the northern sky, but the intensity of his +rays was tempered by a thin veil of cloud. The atmosphere although warm +and moist, was not oppressive like that of a forcing-house, and the +breeze was balmy with delicious perfume.</p> + +<p>As each new marvel came in sight, unstaled by familiar and untarnished +by vulgar associations, fresh from the hand of nature, so to speak, we +were filled as we had never been before with an intoxicating sense of +the divine mystery and miracle of life. For myself I was fairly +dumbfounded with amazement, and my companion, the hard-headed sceptical +astronomer, kept on crying and muttering to himself, "My God! my God!" +as if he had become a drivelling fool.</p> + +<p>We travelled league after league of this paradise run wild (I cannot +tell how many) without noticing any change in the character of the +scenery. At length, however, it grew less savage by degrees, and we +entered on a park-like country which gained in loveliness what it lost +in grandeur. Low hills, clad from base to summit in masses of gorgeous +bloom, and mirrored in sequestered lakes fringed with pied water-lilies; +groves of majestic cedars inviting to repose; rambling shrubberies and +evergreen trees festooned with flowering vines; brooks as clear as +crystal, murmuring over their pebbly beds, now hiding under drooping +boughs, now lost in brakes of tall reeds and foliage plants; grassy +meadows gay with crocusses, hyacinths, and tulips, or such-like flowers; +isolated rocks and boulders mantled with vivid moss and lichens; hot +springs falling over basins and terraces of tinted alabaster; clustering +palms and groups of spiry pine-trees; geysers throwing up columns of +spray tinged with rainbows; all these and a thousand other features of +the landscape which must be nameless passed before our view.</p> + +<p>Again and again we startled some herd of wild quadrupeds or flock of +gaudy birds unknown to science. Legions of large and burnished insects, +veritable living jewels, might be seen everywhere, and flaunting +butterflies hovered about the car. So far we had not observed the least +sign of human occupation, and yet, as Gazen remarked, the appearance of +the country seemed to betray the influence of art. It had not the wild +and wasteful luxuriance of the earlier tract, of a region left entirely +in the hands of Nature, but rather of a paradise which had been dressed +and kept by the gods.</p> + +<p>Owing to the height at which we were travelling, and the undulating +character of the surface, we could not see very far ahead. At length, +however, on emerging from a gap in a range of hills, we came upon a vast +plain or prairie stretching away into the distance, and there in the +blue haze of the horizon we saw, or fancied we saw, the architecture and +gardens of a great city, on the borders of a lake, and above the lake, +suspended in mid-air, a spectral palace, glittering in the sunbeams.</p> + +<p>We raised a shout of joy and triumph at this discovery.</p> + +<p>"Stop a minute, though," said Gazen, and a shade of doubt passed over +his face. "Perhaps it is only a mirage."</p> + +<p>We levelled our glasses at the distant scene, and scanned it with +palpitating hearts. We could discern the general shape, and even the +details of many houses, and the roofs and minarets of the palace, which +was evidently built on the top of an island in the midst of the lake.</p> + +<p>"That is not a phantasm," said I at last; "it is a real city."</p> + +<p>Gazen made no reply, but turned and silently shook me by the hand. The +tears were standing in his eyes.</p> + +<p>A delightful breeze, fragrant with innumerable flowers, mantled the long +grass of the prairie which was threaded by a maze of silver streams, and +diversified with bosky woodlands. Ere long we observed fantastic +cottages and picturesque villas nestling in the coppices, and as may be +imagined we were all on tip-toe with curiosity to catch a sight of their +inhabitants. We were anxious to see whether they looked like human +beings, and how they were disposed towards us.</p> + +<p>For a long time we looked in vain, but at length we saw a figure moving +across the prairie which turned out to be that of—a <i>man</i>. Yes, a man +like ourselves, but well stricken in years, and to judge by his costume +apparently a savage. His back was towards us, and as we floated past the +professor shouted in a tone loud enough for him to hear,</p> + +<p>"Good evening, sir."</p> + +<p>The native started, and lifting his eyes to the car beheld it with +astonishment and awe. He raised his hands in the air, then dropped them +by his side, and sank upon his knees.</p> + +<p>"That's a good sign," said Gazen with a grim smile. "I wonder if he +understands English. Let's try him again," and he cried out, "What's the +name of this place?" but the car was going rapidly, and if there was any +response it was lost upon the wind.</p> + +<p>As we approached the city, the cottages became thicker and thicker. They +were of various sizes, and of a light fanciful design adapted to a warm +climate. Each of them was surrounded by a grove or garden rich in +flowers and fruit. There were grassy trails and roads from one to +another, but we did not see any fields or fences, flocks or herds.</p> + +<p>We also saw more and more of the inhabitants—men, women, and children. +They were evidently a fine race, tall, handsome, and of white +complexion; but the men in general were darker than the women. From +their gay dresses, and the condition of the land, we had set them down +for savages; but on a nearer view, their lack of arms, the beauty of +their homes, and their own graceful demeanour, obliged us to reconsider +our opinion. When they first saw the car they did not fly in terror, or +muster hastily in armed and yelling bands. Many of them ran and cried, +it is true, but only to call their friends, and while some stood with +bowed heads and upraised hands as the car floated by, others, like the +old man, fell upon their knees as though in prayer.</p> + +<p>It was getting late in the day, and the sun was now sloping to the crest +of the mountain wall encircling the crater. Accordingly we held a +consultation with Carmichael as to whether we should land there, or +proceed to the city.</p> + +<p>Carmichael thought we should go on.</p> + +<p>"But," said Gazen, "would it not be safer to try the temper of the +people first, here in the country?"</p> + +<p>"These people are not savages," replied Carmichael. "They are civilised, +or semi-civilised, else how could they have built so fine a city as that +appears. If we should see any signs of hostility amongst them, however, +the car is plated with metal and will protect us—we have arms and can +defend ourselves—and, besides, we can rise again, and slip away from +them."</p> + +<p>We decided to advance, but Gazen and I took the precaution to belt on +our revolvers.</p> + +<p>The huge limb of the sun, red and glowing, sank to rest in a bed of +purple clouds on the summit of the rosy precipice, and filled all the +green plain with a rich amber light. The fantastic towers and trees of +the distant city by the lake shone in his mellow lustre; the solitary +island swam in a flood of gold, and the quaint edifice which crowned it +blazed with insufferable splendour. As the eerie gloaming died in the +west, and thin grey mists began to veil the outlandish scene, we +realised to the full that we were all alone and friendless in an unknown +world, and a deep sentiment of exile took possession of our souls.</p> + +<p>The gloaming fell, and myriads of lights twinkled in the dusk, some +flitting about like fireflies, others stationary, while a hum of many +voices ascended to our ears. The lights showed us that we were gliding +over the city, and the voices told us that our arrival was causing a +great commotion. Presently we floated above a large open space or +square, lit with coloured lanterns, and evidently adorned with trees, +fountains, and statuary. Here a great number of people had assembled, +and as they appeared quite orderly and peaceable, we determined to land. +While the car descended cautiously, Gazen and I kept a sharp watch on +the crowd, with our revolvers in our hands. Instead of anger and +resistance, however, the natives only manifested friendly signs of +welcome. They withdrew to a respectful distance, and, dropping on their +knees, burst into a song or hymn of wonderful sweetness as the car +touched the ground.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a><h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>THE CRATER LAND.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>A man of dignified and venerable mien stepped from the crowd, and +followed by a train of youths and maidens, each bearing a vase or a tray +of fruit and flowers, came towards the car. While yet some ten or twelve +paces distant he stopped, and saluted Gazen and myself by lifting his +hands gracefully in the air, and bowing his head. After we had +acknowledged his greeting with due respect, he addressed us, speaking +fluently, and in a reverent, not to say a humble tone; but his words, +being entirely strange to our ears, we could only shake our heads with a +baffled smile, and reply in English that we did not understand. On this +a look of doubt and wonder passed over his face, and pointing, first to +the car, then to the sky, he seemed to enquire whether we had not +dropped from the clouds. We nodded our assent, and the astronomer, +indicating the Earth, which was now shining in the east as a beautiful +green star, endeavoured to let him know by signs that we had come from +there.</p> + +<p>The countenance of our host seemed to brighten again, and, saluting us +with a profound obeisance, he said a few words to the attendants, who +advanced to the car, and sinking upon their knees proffered us their +charming tribute.</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed Gazen, testifying his delight and manifesting his +gratitude by an elaborate pantomime.</p> + +<p>I am afraid his performance must have appeared slightly ludicrous to the +Venusians, for one or two of the younger girls had some difficulty in +keeping their gravity. On a hint from the Elder the young people retired +to their places, leaving their offerings upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"They don't intend to starve us at all events," muttered Gazen to me, in +an undertone. "The very fragrance of these fruits entices a man to eat +them; but will they agree with our stomachs? Notwithstanding my +scientific curiosity, and my natural appetite, I am quite willing to let +you and Carmichael try them first."</p> + +<p>Having found the value of gestures in our intercourse, the Elder leaned +his head on one hand, and pointed with the other to a large house at +the upper end of the square. His meaning was plain; but as we had +already made up our minds to stay in the car, at all events until we had +looked about us, Gazen signified as much by energetic but indescribable +actions, and further contrived to intimate that we were all thoroughly +tired and worn out with our voyage.</p> + +<p>The Senior politely took the hint, and repeating his courteous salute, +withdrew from our presence, accompanied by his followers.</p> + +<p>"I told you so!" cried Miss Carmichael, when Gazen and I re-entered the +car. "They are treating us like superior beings."</p> + +<p>"It shows their good sense," replied Gazen, and even as he spoke a +strain of heavenly music rose from the assembled multitude, and +gradually died away as they departed to their homes.</p> + +<p>We could not sufficiently admire the beauty and fragrance of the flowers +and fruit, or the exquisite workmanship of the vases they had brought. +What struck us most was the lovely iridescence which they all displayed +in different lights. The vases in particular seemed to be carved out of +living opals, yet each was large enough to contain several pints of +liquor. Miss Carmichael decorated the dinner-table with a selection from +the trays, but although we found the fruits and beverages delicious to +the taste, we prudently partook very sparingly of them.</p> + +<p>After dinner we all went outside to enjoy the cool evening breeze, but +without actually leaving the car. It was hardly dusk, only a kind of +twilight or gloaming, and it did not seem to grow any darker. Yet +innumerable fire-flies, bright as glow-lamps, and of every hue, were +flashing like diamonds against the whispering foliage of the trees.</p> + +<p>With the exception of an occasional group or a solitary who stopped +awhile to look at the car and then passed on, the square was deserted; +but the dwellings around it were lighted up, and being of a very open +construction, we could see into them, and hear the voices of the inmates +feasting and making merry. Needless to say that everything we observed +was interesting to us, for it was all strange; but we were so much +exhausted with excitement that we were fain to go to bed.</p> + +<p>Next day the professor and I, obeying a common impulse of travellers, +got up early and went forth to survey our new quarters. It was a +splendid morning, the whole atmosphere steeped in sunshine, and musical +with the songs of birds. The big sun was peeping over the distant wall +of the crater, but we did not feel his rays uncomfortably hot. A sky of +the loveliest azure was streaked with thin white clouds, drawn across it +like muslin curtains, and a cooling breeze played gently upon the skin. +The dewy air, so spring-like, fresh and sweet, was a positive pleasure +to breathe, and we both felt the intoxication, the rapture of life, as +we had never felt it since our boyhood. The grass underfoot was green as +emerald, and soft as velvet; fountains were flashing in the sunshine, +statues gleaming amongst the flowering trees, and birds of brilliant +plumage glancing everywhere.</p> + +<p>The square opened on the lake, and afforded us a magnificent view of the +island. It was conical in shape, and the peak, no doubt, of an old +volcanic vent. I should say it was at least a thousand feet in height; +the sides were a veritable "hanging garden," wild and luxuriant; and the +summit was crowned by a glittering mass of domes, minarets, and spires. +Numbers of people, old and young, were bathing along the beach, and +swimming, diving, and splashing each other in the water with innocent +glee. Large birds, resembling swans, double the size of ours, and of +pale blue, rose, yellow, and green, as well as white plumage, were +floating in and out, and some of the children were riding on their +backs. Fantastic boats, with carved and painted prows, might be seen +crossing the lake in all directions, some under sail, and others with +rowers, keeping stroke to the rhythm of their songs. The shores of the +lake, sloping quietly to the waterside, were covered more or less +thickly with the houses and gardens of the city, and far in the +distance, perhaps fifty, perhaps a hundred miles away, the view was +bounded by the dim and ruddy precipice of the crater wall.</p> + +<p>Regaling our eyes on the beautiful prospect, and our lungs on the pure +atmosphere, we wandered along the beach, ever and anon pausing to admire +the strange forms and beautiful colouring of the shells and seaweeds, or +to pick up a rare pebble, then shie it away again, little thinking that +it might have been a ruby, sapphire, or topaz, worth a king's ransom on +the earth. At length the way was barred by the mouth of a broad river, +and after a refreshing plunge in the lake, we returned home to +breakfast.</p> + +<p>During our absence Carmichael had been visited by our venerable host of +the evening, whose name was Dinus, and a young man called Otāré, who +turned out to be his son. They had brought a fresh supply of dainties, +and what was still more important, some pictorial dictionaries and +drawings which would enable us to learn their language. As the structure +of it was simple, and the vocabulary not very copious, and as we also +enjoyed the tuition of the young man, who was devoted to our service, +and conducted us in most of our walks abroad, at the end of a fortnight +we could maintain a conversation with tolerable fluency.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, and afterwards, we learned a good deal about the +country, and the manners and customs of its inhabitants. Womla, or +Woom-la, which means the "bowl" or hollow-land, is evidently the crater +of an extinct volcano of enormous dimensions, such as are believed to +exist upon the moon. It belongs to an archipelago of similar islands, +which are widely scattered over a vast ocean in this part of Venus, but +is, we were told, far distant from the nearest of them. The climate may +be described as a perpetual spring and summer, with a sky nearly always +serene, and of a beautiful azure blue, veiled with soft and fleecy +clouds.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the lofty walls of the crater, which penetrate the clouds and +condense their moisture, the land is watered with many streams. These +flow into the central lake, which discharges into the surrounding ocean +by a rift or chasm in the mountain side. Moreover, there are frequent +showers, and heavy dews by night, to refresh the surface of the ground. +Thunderstorms occur on the tops of the mountain and in the open sea; +but very seldom within the enchanted girdle of the crater. The air is +remarkably pure, sweet, and exhilarating, owing doubtless to the high +percentage of oxygen it contains, and the absence of foreign matter, +such as microbes, dust, and obnoxious fumes. In fact, we all felt a +distinct improvement in our health and spirits, a kind of mental +intoxication which was really more than a rejuvenescence. Nor was the +heat very trying, even in the middle of the day, because although the +sun was twice as large as on the earth, he did not rise far above the +horizon, and cooling breezes blew from the chilled summit of the cliffs. +The vegetation seems to go on budding, flowering, and fruiting +perpetually, as in the Elysian Fields of Homer, where</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Joys ever young, unmixed with pain or fear,<br /></span> +<span> Fill the wide circle of the eternal year:<br /></span> +<span> Stern winter smiles on that auspicious clime<br /></span> +<span> The fields are florid with unfading prime;<br /></span> +<span> From the bleak Pole no winds inclement blow,<br /></span> +<span> Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow;<br /></span> +<span> But from the breezy deep the blessèd inhale,<br /></span> +<span> The fragrant murmurs of the western gale."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The mysterious behaviour of the sun was a great puzzle to our +astronomer. I have said that he rose very little above the horizon, or +in other words the lip of the crater, as might be expected from our high +southern latitude; but we soon found that he always rose and sank at the +same place. In the morning he peeped above the cliffs, and in the +evening he dipped again behind them, leaving a twilight or gloaming (I +can scarcely call it dusk), which continued throughout the night. From +his fixity in azimuth, Gazen concluded that Schiaparelli, the famous +Italian observer, was right in supposing that Venus takes as long to +turn about her own axis as she does to go round the sun, and that as a +consequence she always presents the same side to her luminary. All that +we heard from the natives tended to confirm this view. They told us that +far away to the east and west of Womla there was a desert land, covered +with snow and ice, on which the sun never shone. We also gathered that +the sun rises to a greater and lesser height above the cliffs +alternately, thus producing a succession of warmer and cooler seasons; a +fact which agrees with Schiaparelli's observation that the axis of the +planet sways to and from the sun. Gazen was intensely delighted at this +discovery, partly for its own sake, but mainly, I think, because it +would afford him an opportunity of crushing the celebrated Pettifer +Possil, his professional antagonist, who, it seems, is bitterly opposed +to the doctrines of Schiaparelli. But why did the sun rise and set every +fifteen hours or thereabout, and so make what I have called a "day" and +"night"? Why did he not continue in the same spot, except for the slow +change caused by the nutation or nodding of Venus? Gazen was much +perplexed over this anomaly, and sought an explanation of it in the +refraction of the atmosphere above the cliffs producing an apparent but +not a real motion of the orb.</p> + +<p>The territory of Womla may be divided into three zones, namely, a +central plain under cultivation, a belt of undulating hills, kept as a +park or pleasaunce, and a magnificent, nay, a sublime wilderness, next +to the crater wall.</p> + +<p>The natural wealth of the country is very great. Some of its productions +resemble and others are different from those of the earth. We saw gold, +silver, copper, tin, and iron, as well as metals which were quite new to +us. Some of these had a purple, blue, or green colour, and emitted a +most agreeable fragrance. There are granites and porphyries, marbles and +petrifactions of the most exquisite grain or tints. Precious stones like +the diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, emerald, garnet, opal, turquoise, +and others familiar or unfamiliar to us, fairly abound, and can be +picked up on the shores of the lake. I presume that many of them have +been formed on a large scale in chasms of the rock by the volcanic fumes +of the crater.</p> + +<p>What struck us most of all, however, was the prevalence of +phosphorescent minerals which absorbed the sunlight by day, and +glimmered feebly in the dusk. Professor Gazen seems to think that the +presence of snow and clouds, together with these phosphorescent bodies, +may help to account for the mysterious luminosity on the dark side of +Venus.</p> + +<p>The vegetation is wonderfully rich, varied, and luxuriant. As a rule, +the foliage is thick and glossy; but while it is green to blackness in +some of the trees, it is parti-coloured or iridescent in others. Many of +the flowers, too, are iridescent, or change their hues from hour to +hour. The beauty and profusion of the flowers is beyond conception, and +some of the loveliest grow on what I should take for palms, ferns, +canes, and grasses. A distant forest or woodland rivals the splendid +plumage of some tropical bird. We heard of "singing flowers," including +a water-lily which bursts open with a musical note, and of many plants +which are sensitive to heat as well as touch, and if Gazen be correct, +to electricity and magnetism. We saw one in a house which was said to +require a change of scene from time to time else it would languish and +die.</p> + +<p>The borders of the lakes and ponds teemed with corals, delicate +seaweeds, and lovely shells. Innumerable fishes of gay and brilliant +hues darted and burned in the water like broken rainbows.</p> + +<p>Reptiles are not very common, at least, in the cultivated zone; but we +saw a few snakes, tortoises, and lizards, all brightly and harmoniously +marked. One of the snakes was phosphorescent, and one of the lizards +could sit up like a dog, or fly in the air like a swallow. The variety +and beauty of the birds, as well as the charm of their song, exceed all +description. Most of them have iridescent feathers, several are +wingless, and one at least has teeth. The insects are a match for the +birds in point of beauty, if not also in size and musical qualities. +Many of them are luminescent, and omit steady or flashing lights of +every tint all through the night.</p> + +<p>There are few large quadrupeds in the country, and so far as we could +learn none of these are predaceous. We saw an animal resembling a deer +on one hand, and a tapir on the other, as well as a kind of toed horse +or hipparion, and a number of domestic pets all strange to us.</p> + +<p>The people, according to their tradition, came originally from a +temperate land far across the ocean to the south-east, which is now a +dark and frozen desert. They are a remarkably fine race, probably of +mixed descent, for they found Womla inhabited, and their complexions +vary from a dazzling blonde to an olive-green brunette. They are nearly +all very handsome, both in face and figure, and I should say that many +of them more than realise our ideals of beauty. As a rule, the +countenances of the men are open, frank, and noble; those of the women +are sweet, smiling, and serene. Free of care and trouble, or unaffected +by it, mere existence is a pleasure to them, and not a few appear to +live in a kind of rapture, such as I have seen in the eyes of a young +artist on the earth while regarding a beautiful woman or a glorious +landscape. Their attitudes and movements are full of dignity and grace. +In fact, during my walks abroad, I frequently found myself admiring +their natural groups, and fancying myself in ancient Greece, as depicted +by our modern painters. Their style of beauty is not unlike that of the +old Hellenes, but I doubt whether the delicacy and bloom of their skins +has ever been matched on our planet except, perhaps, in a few favoured +persons.</p> + +<p>From some experiments made by Gazen, it would appear that while their +senses of sight and touch are keener, their senses of hearing and also +of heat are rather blunter than ours.</p> + +<p>Partly owing to the genial climate, their love of beauty, and their easy +existence, their dress is of a simple and graceful order. Many of their +light robes and shining veils are woven from silky fibres which grow on +the trees, and tinged with beautiful dyes. Bright, witty, and ingenious, +as well as guileless, chaste, and happy, I can only compare them to +grown-up children—but the children of a god-like race. Thanks to the +purity of their blood, and the gentleness of their dispositions, +together with their favourable circumstances, they live almost exempt +from disease, or pain, or crime, and finally die in peace at the good +old age of a hundred or a hundred and fifty years.</p> + +<p>Their voices are so pleasing, and their language is so melodious that I +enjoyed hearing their talk before I understood a word of it. Moreover, +their delightful manners evince a rare delicacy of sentiment and +appreciation of the beautiful in life. We foreigners must have been +objects of the liveliest curiosity to them, yet they never showed it in +their conduct; they never stared at us, or stopped to enquire about us, +but courteously saluted us wherever we went, and left us to make +ourselves at home. We never saw an ugly or unbecoming gesture, and we +never heard a rude, unmannerly word all the time we stayed in Womla.</p> + +<p>Some of their public buildings are magnificent; but most of their +private houses are pretty one-storied cottages, each more or less +isolated in a big garden, and beyond earshot of the rest. They are +elegant, not to say fanciful constructions of stone and timber, +generally of an oval shape, or at least with rounded outlines; but +sometimes rambling, and varying much in detail. Everyone seems to follow +his particular bent and taste in the fashion of his home. Many of them +have balconies or verandahs, and also terraces on the roof, where the +inmates can sit and enjoy the surrounding view. They are doorless, and +the outer walls are usually open so that one may see inside; but in +stormy weather they are closed by panels of wood, and a translucent +mineral resembling glass. They are divided into rooms by mats and +curtains, or partitions and screens of wood, which are sometimes +decorated with paintings of inimitable beauty. The ceilings are usually +of carved wood, and the floors inlaid with marbles, corals, and the +richer stones. There are no stuffy carpets on the floors, or hangings on +the walls to collect the dust. The light easy furniture is for the most +part made of precious or fragrant woods of divers colours—red, black, +yellow, blue, white, and green. At night the rooms are softly and +agreeably lighted by phosphorescent tablets, or lamps of glow-worms and +fire-flies in crystal vases.</p> + +<p>The dishes and utensils not only serve but adorn the home. Most of the +implements and fittings are made of coloured metals or alloys. Many of +the cups and vessels are beautifully cut from shells and diamonds, +rubies, or other precious stones. Statuary, manuscripts, and musical +instruments, bespeak their taste and genius for the fine arts.</p> + +<p>Their love of Nature is also shown in their gardens and pleasure +grounds, which are stocked with the rarest flowers, fruits, and pet +animals; such as bright fishes, luminous frogs and moths, singing birds, +and so forth, none of which are captives in the strict sense of the +word.</p> + +<p>Members of one family live under the same roof, or at all events within +the same ground. The father is head of the household, and the highest in +authority. The mother is next, and the children follow in the order of +their age. They hold that the proper place for the woman is between the +man and the child, and that her nature, which partakes of both, fits +her for it. On the rare occasions when authority needs to be exercised +it is promptly obeyed. All the members of the family mix freely together +in mutual confidence and love, with reverence, but not fear. They are +very clean and dainty in their habits. To every house, either in an open +court or in the garden, there is a bathing pond of running water, with a +fountain playing in the middle, where they can bathe at any time without +going to the lake.</p> + +<p>They deem it not only gross to eat flesh or fish, but also barbarous, +nay cruel, to enjoy and sustain their own lives through the suffering +and death of other creatures. This feeling, or prejudice as some would +call it, extends even to eggs. They live chiefly on fruits, nuts, edible +flowers, grain, herbs, gums, and roots, which are in great profusion. I +did not see any alcoholic, or at least intoxicating beverages amongst +them. Their drink is water, either pure or else from mineral springs, +and the delectable juices of certain fruits and plants. They eat +together, chatting merrily the while, and afterwards recline on couches +listening to some tale, or song, or piece of music, but taking care not +to fall asleep, as they believe it is injurious.</p> + +<p>They rejoice when a child is born, and cherish it as the most holy +gift. For the first eight or ten years of its life it is left as much as +possible to the teaching of Nature, care being taken to guard it from +serious harm. It is allowed to run wild about the gardens and fields, +developing its bodily powers in play, and gaining a practical experience +of the most elementary facts. After that it goes to school, at first for +a short time, then, as it becomes used to the confinement and study, for +a longer and longer period each day. Their end in education is to +produce noble men and women; that is to say, physical, moral, and +intellectual beauty by assisting the natural growth. They hold it a sin +to falsify or distort the mind, as well as the soul or body of a child. +They seem to be as careful to cultivate the genius and temperament as +the heart and conscience. Their object is to train and form the pupil +according to the intention of Nature without forcing him beyond his +strength, or into an artificial mould. Studious to preserve the harmony +and unity of mind, soul, and body, they never foster one to the +detriment of the others, but seek to develop the whole person.</p> + +<p>It is not so much words as things, not so much facts, dates, and +figures, as principles, ideas, and sentiments, which they endeavour to +teach. The scholar is made familiar with what he is told by observation +and experience whenever it is possible, for that is how Nature teaches. +Precept, they say, is good, and example is better; but an ideal of +perfection is best of all.</p> + +<p>At first more attention is paid to the cultivation of the body than the +mind. Not only are the boys and girls trained in open-air gymnasia, or +contend in games, but they also work in the gardens, and during the +holidays are sent into the wilderness under the guidance of their +elders, especially their elder brothers, to rough it there in primitive +freedom.</p> + +<p>The first lessons of the pupil are very short and simple, but as his +mind ripens they become longer and more difficult. The education of the +soul precedes that of the mind. They wish to make their children good +before they make them clever; and good by the feelings of the heart +rather than the instruction of the head. Every care is taken to refine +and strengthen the sentiments and instincts, the conscience, good sense +and taste, as well as the affections, filial piety, friendship, and the +love of Nature. Spiritual and moral ideals are inculcated by means of +innocent and simple tales or narratives. Children are taught to obey the +authority placed over them, or in their own breast, and to sacrifice all +to their duty. The conduct of the teacher must be irreproachable, +because he is a model to them; but while they look upon him as their +friend and guide, he leaves them free to choose their own companions and +amuse themselves in their own way.</p> + +<p>In the cultivation of the mind they give the first and foremost place to +the imagination. The reason, they say, is mechanical, and cannot rise +above the known; that is to say, the real; whereas the imagination is +creative and attains to the unknown, the ideal. Its highest work is the +creation of beauty. Because it is unruly, and precarious in its action, +however, the imagination requires the most careful guidance, and the +assistance of the reason. Students are taught to idealise and invent, as +well as to analyse and reason, but without disturbing the equilibrium of +the faculties by acquiring a pronounced habit of one or the other. It is +better, they say, to be reasonable than a reasoner; to be imaginative +than a dreamer; and to have discernment or insight than mere knowledge.</p> + +<p>The most important study of all is the art of living, or in other words +the art of leading a simple, noble, and beautiful life. It finishes +their education, and consists in the reduction of their highest precepts +and ideals to practice. The reasons for every lesson are given so far +as they are known, and they are always founded in the nature of things. +A pupil is taught to act in a particular way, not in the hope of a +reward or in the fear of punishment, but because it would be contrary to +the laws of matter and spirit to act otherwise; in short, because it is +right. They hold that life is its own end as well as its own reward. +According as it is good or bad, so it achieves or fails of its purpose, +and is happy or miserable. We are happy by our emotions or feelings, and +through these by our actions. Happiness comes from goodness, but is not +perfect without health, beauty, and fitness: hence the pupils are taught +self-regulation, practical hygiene, and a graceful manner. Indeed, their +passion for beauty is such that they regard nothing as perfect until it +is beautiful.</p> + +<p>As beauty of mind, soul, and body, is their aim, a beautiful person is +held in the highest honour. Prizes are offered for beauty, and statues +are erected to the winners. Many are called after some particular trait; +for example, "Timāré of the lovely toes," and a pretty eyelash is a +title to public fame. Beauty they say is twice blessed, since it pleases +the possessor as well as others.</p> + +<p>The sense of existence, apart from what they do or gain, is their chief +happiness. Their "ealo," or the height of felicity, is a passive rather +than an active state. It is (if I am not mistaken) a kind of serene +rapture or tranquil ecstasy of the soul, which is born doubtless from a +perfect harmony between the person and his environment. In it, they say, +the illusion of the world is complete, and life is another name for +music and love.</p> + +<p>As far as I could learn, this condition, though independent of sexual +love, is enhanced by it. On the one hand it is spoiled by too much +thought, and on the other by too much passion. They cherish it as they +cherish all the natural illusions (which are sacred in their eyes), but +being a state of repose it is transient, and only to be enjoyed from +time to time.</p> + +<p>Since an unfit employment is a mistake, and a source of unhappiness, +everyone is free to choose the work that suits his nature. Parents and +teachers only help him to discover himself. One is called to his work by +a love for it, and the pleasure he takes in doing it easily and well. If +his bent is vague or tardy, he is allowed to change, and feel his way to +it by trial. Since the work or vocation is not a means of living, there +is no compulsion in it. Their aim is to do right in carrying out the +true intentions of Nature.</p> + +<p>For the same reason everyone is free to choose the partner of his life. +They are monogamists, and believe that nothing can justify marriage but +love on both sides. The rite is very simple, and consists in the elected +pair sipping from the same dish of sacred water. It is called "drinking +of the cup."</p> + +<p>Most of them die gradually of old age, and they do not seem to share our +fear and horror of death, but to regard it with a sad and pleasing +melancholy. The body is reduced to ashes on a pyre of fragrant wood, and +the songs they sing around it only breathe a tender regret for their +loss, mingled with a joyful hope of meeting again. They neither preserve +the dust as a memento, nor wear any kind of mourning; but they cherish +the memory of the absent in their hearts.</p> + +<p>They believe that labour like virtue is a necessity, and its own reward; +but it is moderate labour of the right sort, which is a blessing and not +a curse. They all seem happy at their work, which is often cheered by +music, songs, or tales. Everyone enjoys his task, and tries to attain +the perfection of skill and grace. Those who excel are honoured, and +sometimes commemorated with statues.</p> + +<p>They seem artists in all, and above all. They hold that every beautiful +thing has a use, and they never make a useful thing without beauty. +Apart from portraits, their pictures and statuary are mostly historical, +or else ideal representations. Many of these are typical of life; for +example, a boy at play, a pair of lovers, a mother weaning her child, +and the parting of friends. The ideal of art is to them not merely a +show to please the eye for a while, but a model to be realised in their +own lives; and I daresay it has helped to make them such a fine people. +They are clever architects and gardeners. Indeed, the whole country may +be described as a vast ornamental garden. In the middle zone, which +borders on the wilderness, their wonderful art of beautifying natural +scenery is at its best. They have a good many simple machines and +implements, but I should not call them a scientific people. Gazen, who +enquired into the matter, was told by Otāré, himself an artist, by the +way, that science in their opinion had a tendency to destroy the +illusion of Nature and impair the finer sentiments and spontaneity of +the soul; hence they left the systematic study of it to the few who +possess a decided bias for it. As a rule they are content to admire.</p> + +<p>They have many books of various kinds, either printed or finely written +and illustrated by hand. I should say their favourite reading was +history and travels, or else poetry and fiction; anything having a +human interest, more especially of a pathetic order. Everyone is taught +to read aloud, and if he possess the voice and talent, to recite. Poets +are highly esteemed, and not only read their poems to the people, but +also teach elocution. They have dramatic performances on certain days, +and seem to prefer tragedies or affecting plays, perhaps because these +awaken feelings which their happy lot in general permits to sleep. They +are very fond of music, and can all sing or play on some musical +instrument. Their favourite melodies are mostly in a minor key, and they +dislike noisy music; indeed, noise of any sort. Gesture and the dance +are fine arts, and they can imitate almost any action without words. A +favourite amusement is to gather in the dusk of the evening, crowned +with flowers, or wearing fanciful dresses, and sing or dance together by +the light of the fire-flies.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of the whole island live as one happy family. +Recognising their kinship by intermarriage, and their isolation in the +world, they never forget that the good or ill of a part is the good or +ill of the whole, and their object is to secure the happiness of one and +all. It is considered right to help another in trouble before thinking +of oneself.</p> + +<p>When Gazen explained the doctrine of "the struggle for existence ending +in the survival of the fittest" to Otāré, he replied that it was an +excellent principle for snakes; but he considered it beneath the dignity +and wisdom of men to struggle for a life which could be maintained by +the labour of love, and ought to be devoted to rational or spiritual +enjoyment.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the helpful spirit which animates them, and the bounty of +Nature, nobody is ever in want. As a rule, the garden around each home +provides for the family, and any surplus goes to the public stores, or +rather free tables, where anyone takes what he may require.</p> + +<p>As I have already hinted, personal merit of every kind is honoured +amongst them.</p> + +<p>Dinus, the gentleman who received us on the night of our arrival, is the +chief man or head of the community, and was appointed to the post for +his wisdom, character, and age. He is assisted in the government by a +council of a hundred men, and there are district officers in various +parts of the country.</p> + +<p>They have no laws, or at all events their old laws have become a dead +letter. Custom and public opinion take their place. Crime is practically +unknown amongst them, and when a misdemeanour is committed the culprit +is in general sufficiently punished by his own shame and remorse. +However, they have certain humane penalties, such as fines or +restitution of stolen goods; but they never resort to violence or take +life, and only in extreme cases of depravity and madness do they +infringe on the liberty of an individual.</p> + +<p>Quarrels and sickness of mind or body are almost unknown amongst them. +The care and cure of the person is a portion of the art of life as it is +taught in the schools.</p> + +<p>An account of this remarkable people would not be complete without some +reference to their religion; but owing to their reticence on sacred +subjects, and the shortness of our visit, I was unable to learn much +about it. They believe, however, in a Supreme Being, whom they only name +by epithets such as "The Giver" or "The Divine Artist." They also +believe in the immortality of the soul. One of their proverbs, "Life is +good, and good is life," implies that goodness means life, and badness +death. They hold that every thought, word, and deed, is by the nature of +things its own reward or punishment, here or hereafter. Their ideals of +childlike innocence, and the reign of love, seem to be essentially +Christian. Their solicitude and kindness extends to all that lives and +suffers, and they regard the world around them as a divine work which +they are to reverence and perfect.</p> + +<p>Our visit fell during a great religious festival and holiday, which they +keep once a year, and by the courtesy of Dinus, or his son, we witnessed +many of their sacred concerts, dances, games, and other celebrations. Of +these, however, I shall only describe the principal ceremony, which is +called "Plucking the Flower," and appears to symbolise the passage of +the soul into a higher life.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX'></a><h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<h4>THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Early on the chief day of the festival Otāré came and took us to see the +mystical rite of cutting the "Flower of the Soul."</p> + +<p>The morning was fine, and the clear waters of the lake were bright with +boats filled with joyous parties bound like ourselves for the Holy +Island.</p> + +<p>Landing at a noble quay of red granite, we climbed the steep and shaggy +sides of the mountain by a sacred and winding avenue, bordered with +blooming trees and statuary. Most of the figures were exquisitely carved +in a white wood or stone, having a pearly sheen, and represented the +former priestesses of the Temple, or illustrated the animating spirit of +the cult.</p> + +<p>On gaining the summit we found ourselves at the brim of a spacious +hollow or basin, which in past ages must have been the crater of the +volcanic peak. The grassy slopes of the basin were laid out in flower +gardens and terraces of coloured marbles, shaded with sombre trees, and +ornamented with sculpture. In the bottom lay an oval sheet of water a +mile long or more, and from the midst of it, towards the near end, a +beautiful islet, crowned by a magnificent temple, rose like a mirage to +the view, and seemed to float on its glassy bosom.</p> + +<p>Words of mine cannot give any idea of that sublime architecture, which +resembled no earthly order, though it seemed to partake of both the +Saracenic and the Indian. Fragrant timber, precious stones, and +burnished metals; in fine, the richest materials known to the builders, +had been united with consummate art into one harmonious emblem of their +faith. The first beams of the rising sun blazed on its golden roof and +fretted pinnacles of diamond, and ruby, sapphire, topaz, and emerald; +but the lower part was still in shadow. Nevertheless, we could +distinguish a grand portal in the southern front, which faced the sun, +and a broad flight of marble steps descending from it into the water; +but the massive doors were shut, and not a soul was to be seen about the +temple.</p> + +<p>As the worshippers arrived they seated themselves on the turf amongst +the flowering shrubs, or on the benches along the terraces, and either +spoke in subdued tones, or preserved a religious silence. Otāré led us +to a kind of throne or stand facing the temple, and raised above the +other seats, where his father, as chief of the community, sat in state. +Dinus received us with his usual gracious dignity, and gave us chairs on +his right and left hand.</p> + +<p>From this height we enjoyed a splendid panorama of the Craterland, at +least that portion which had already caught the sunshine. It lay beneath +us like a picture, the surface rising in a series of zones from the +central sea, which mirrored the serene azure and plume-like vapours of +the heavens, through the sweet meadows, and the smiling gardens, to the +luxuriant wilderness beyond; and we could plainly see the shadow of the +bounding rampart shrink towards the south as the sun mounted higher and +higher.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely dawn. A rosy mist hung like a veil of gauze over the +southern sky, and from behind a bar of purple cloud, lined with gold, +which rested on the summit of the cliffs, a coronet of auroral beams or +crepuscular rays, blue on a pink ground, shot upwards, heralding the +advent of the sun, and reminding me of the ancient simile of the earth +as a bride awaiting the arrival of her lord.</p> + +<p>At length the first glowing tip of the solar disc peeped over the rim +of the crater, and a deep low murmur, swelling to a shrill cry, ascended +from the passive multitude.</p> + +<p>All the people rose to their feet, and every eye was turned on the south +front of the temple, which was now illuminated to the edge of the water. +As the sunlight crept over the surface it sparkled on the dense foliage +of what seemed a bed of water-lilies flourishing quite close to the +marble stairs.</p> + +<p>Presently a rich and stately barge, moved by crimson oars, and enlivened +with young girls draped in sky-blue, was seen to glide round a corner of +the temple, and come to rest beside the water-lilies.</p> + +<p>A deep silence, as of breathless expectation, fell upon the vast +assembly, and then, without other warning, the great purple doors of the +temple swung open, and revealed a white-robed figure walking at the head +of a glittering procession of maidens decked in jewels and luminous +scarves, which vied with the colours of the rainbow. It was the young +priestess and her train of virgins.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously the immense multitude raised their voices in a sacred +hymn of melting sweetness, very low at first, but gathering volume as +the priestess descended the marble stairs to the waterside.</p> + +<p>Here, on the lowest of the steps, one of her maidens put into her hand +a sacred knife or sickle, which, as Otāré informed us had a blade of +gold, and a handle of opal. The woman then retired, and we saw her stand +erect for a moment in the full blaze of the mellow sunlight, with her +golden hair falling about her in a kind of glory, and stretch out her +arms towards the sun in a superb attitude of adoration. Then, with a +slow and swan-like movement, she entered the water, and wading among the +lilies, cut the sacred blossom, and held it aloft in triumph, while the +music swelled to a mighty pæan of thanksgiving and praise.</p> + +<p>After that she went on board the barge, which had been waiting for her, +and was rowed around the border of the lake not far from the shore, so +that the onlookers might see the loveliness of the flower, and even +smell its perfume. The barge was not unlike an ancient galley in shape, +but ornately curved like the proa of a South Sea Islander. The rowers +were concealed underneath the deck, but the crimson oars kept time to +the music of their voices, and the spectators joined in the song as the +vessel glided onwards.</p> + +<p>As for the priestess, she lay reclining under a golden canopy on the +poop, with her face half turned towards the people, and holding the +sacred lily in her hand, whilst two of her maidens fanned her with +brilliant plumes,</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"And made their bends adorning."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Ever since she had come out of the temple I had scarcely taken my eyes +off her, and now that I could see the marvellous beauty of her +countenance, I was absolutely fascinated. Never shall I forget these +moments as long as I live, and yet I cannot give a clear and connected +relation of them. I see only a picture in my mind of a purple couch +under a golden canopy, a fair form, a beautiful head crowned with golden +hair, a glowing arm holding a white flower on its long green stalk. +Suddenly, as if impelled by an instinct, she turns her face full upon me +as the barge comes opposite to her father's throne. I see her great +violet eyes fixed upon mine as though she would read into my very soul. +I do not shrink from that pure search. On the contrary, I feel myself +drawn towards her by an irresistible attraction, and return her gaze.</p> + +<p>She does not look away. She smiles—yes, she smiles upon me, and +inclines her head to see me, like a sunflower following the sun, as she +is floating past.</p> + +<p>From that moment I was an altered man. The vision of that peerless +beauty had worked a miracle in my nature. A strange peace, an +unfathomable joy, I should rather say an ecstacy of bliss, reigned in my +heart. I felt that I had found something for which my soul had craved +without knowing it, and had been seeking unawares—something beyond all +price, which is not merely the best that life, eternity, can offer; but +gives to life, eternity, an inestimable value—I felt that I had found +the counterpart of myself—the celestial mate of my spirit. Henceforth +there was only one woman in the world, in the universe, for me. A +mysterious instinct whispered that we belonged to each other—that this +incomparable creature was mine by an inviolable right, if not on this +side of time at all events hereafter, and for ever. I felt, too, that my +own being had now completed its development, and burst into bloom like a +plant under the vivifying rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>Exulting in my new-found happiness, and overcome with gratitude for it, +I watched the receding boat in a sort of trance until the matter-of-fact +voice of Gazen broke the spell.</p> + +<p>"Prettiest sight I ever saw in my life," said he to Otāré. "Quite a +living picture."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you like it," responded Otāré evidently gratified.</p> + +<p>"But what is the good of it?" enquired the professor.</p> + +<p>"The good of it?" rejoined the Venusian; "it is beautiful, and gives us +pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course; but what is the meaning—the inner meaning of it?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! the meaning of it," said Otāré, a new light breaking on him, "I +will explain. You saw the flower which the priestess cut and carried in +her hand—?"</p> + +<p>"A kind of water-lily, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is the Sacred Lily. The plant is rooted in the mire at the +bottom of the pond, and grows up through the water to the surface. The +stem rises in a serpentine curve, and terminates in a flower-bud, which +opens with a sigh of delight when the sun strikes upon it, and fills the +air with its perfume."</p> + +<p>"A sigh, did you say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a low sweet sound resembling a sigh. The flower is white—'living +white'—that is to say, white shot with many colours like the opal. We +call it the Sun Lily, or 'Flower of the Soul.'"</p> + +<p>"Why 'Flower of the Soul?'"</p> + +<p>"Because we say it has the infinite and ever-changing beauty of the +soul. It is an emblem of Love, and its manifestations—beauty, genius, +holiness. In particular it signifies the birth or awakening of love in +the human soul. As the plant may be said to exist for the flower, its +chief glory, so the man attains his perfection through love, which +confers a boundless and immortal worth upon his life. As the root takes +from the soil and the flower brings forth the fruit, so hate feeds upon +the ill, and love dies for the good of others. It also represents the +human race, for man, and especially woman, may be regarded as the flower +of this lower world. Moreover, the entire plant, root, stem, and flower, +is symbolical of all creation, and some of our poets have named it the +'Lily of Life.' For as the plant begins in the black earth to end in the +sunny ether, so the world, the universe, begins in chaos and darkness, +to end in light and order; begins in matter and force, to end in life +and spirit—begins in hate and selfishness, to end in love and +self-sacrifice—begins in ugliness, to end in beauty. Thus the flower +and root stand for the upper and lower limits or poles of nature, and +the stalk which joins them for the upward range or path of creation. It +is a beautiful stem, curving in opposite ways like a serpent, or the +side of a wave; in fact, it is the most beautiful curve we know—it runs +like this."</p> + +<p>Here Otāré described a flamboyant curve in the air with his finger.</p> + +<p>"If I'm not mistaken it is what our artists call the 'line of beauty,'" +observed Gazen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed!" responded Otāré, with pleased surprise. "Well, with us it +is a symbol of the continuous unfolding of things; the graceful progress +of development."</p> + +<p>"So the path of evolution is the 'line of beauty,'" said the professor.</p> + +<p>"Apparently," rejoined Otāré, "and as the ends of the curve point +oppositely, we say that a thing has not reached its final stage—that +its development is not complete—until it has turned to its opposite. +Thus man is not a finished being until hate and selfishness have turned +to love and self-sacrifice. The flower of the soul is love, and as the +sun is an emblem of the divine love, when the sacred lily opens and +displays all its beauty in the sunshine, it means to us that the flower +of the soul blooms in the smile of 'The Giver.'"</p> + +<p>"I see," said the professor; "and what is done with the flower?"</p> + +<p>"It is an offering," replied Otāré, "and after the Priestess of the +Lily, or Priestess of the Sun, as we call her, has shown it to the +people it will be treasured in the temple, and will never fade."</p> + +<p>"Beautiful woman, the priestess! And so young."</p> + +<p>"She is barely seventeen. The Priestess of the Sun Lily must be in the +flower of her age, and the early dawn of her womanhood. Every year by +the popular voice she is chosen from all the maidens of the country for +her intelligence, beauty, and goodness. For a year before the ceremony +she lives in the temple with her maidens, and never leaves the sacred +island, or has any visitors from the outer world. During this period she +undergoes a preparation and purification for the fulfilment of her holy +office—the culling of the flower. It consists mainly in the study of +our sacred writings, the eating of a certain food, and bathing in the +waters of a holy fountain, which issues from the rock in a sacred grotto +of the island. When the ceremony of cutting the lily is over, and the +holy month has expired, that is to say in ten days from now, she will +leave the temple and return to her family. Another girl will take her +place—the priestess appointed for the coming year—in fact, the maiden +who gave her the sickle."</p> + +<p>I had listened to this conversation with breathless interest, but +without daring to take part in it.</p> + +<p>"Will she ever marry?" enquired Gazen.</p> + +<p>I waited for the answer with a beating heart.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," replied Otāré, "why not? She will marry if she finds a lover +whom she can love. There are many who admire Alumion."</p> + +<p>"What of yourself?" asked the professor, smiling pointedly. "You seem to +know a good deal about her."</p> + +<p>"I am her brother."</p> + +<p>Nothing more was said, for at this moment the barge was seen coming from +behind the temple, after having made a round of the spectators, and +presently drew up at the marble stairs. Again the doors swung open, and +the maidens reappeared to welcome their mistress with a song of joy. I +saw her ascend the steps bearing the lily in her hand, then turn and +wave an adieu to the multitude, who responded by a parting hymn as the +great purple valves closed together and rapt her from my sight.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_X'></a><h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h4>ALUMION.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Alumion—Alumion—I could think of nothing but Alumion. Her very name +was music in my ears, and her image in my heart was a perpetual banquet +of delight I had never known such felicity before. My inclination for +Miss Carmichael and every other transient affection or interest I may +have felt was altogether of a lower strain—with one exception, a boyish +admiration for a school girl who died a mere child. The ethereal flame +of this new passion seemed to purify all that was earthly, and exalt all +that was celestial in my nature. This beautiful land, so green and +smiling under a sky of serene azure and snowy wreaths, became as the +highest heaven to me, and I wandered about in a dream of ecstacy like +one of the blessed gods inebriated with nectar.</p> + +<p>I avoided my travelling companions. Their worldly conversation jarred on +the mood I was in, and I preferred my own thoughts to their pursuits. +As my sole desire was to hear about Alumion, and if possible to see her +again, I courted the society of Dinus and Otāré. I knew, of course, that +in ten days she would return to her family, but I thought I might be +able to visit the temple and perhaps get a glimpse of her. However, I +learned from her father that during the sacred festival the temple was +closed to the outer world. It was not indeed forbidden to land on the +holy island, but it was considered a sacrilege for anyone not having +business there to enter the precincts of the temple, excepting on the +day of the ceremony which had just taken place. While bound to respect +this taboo, I was, nevertheless, drawn by an irresistible attraction to +the island, where I frequently spent hours in sailing about the wooded +shores, or loitering in the sacred avenue, hoping against hope that I +might see her passing by or in the distance. Although I was not so +fortunate, I enjoyed the satisfaction of being nearer to her, and as the +island seemed a perfect solitude, I could indulge my reverie in peace.</p> + +<p>At last I made a discovery. In describing the ceremony of the Flower, +Otāré had spoken of a sacred grotto where the priestess went to bathe, +and on questioning him further, I ascertained that it was situated on +the shore of the island in a bay or inlet to the eastward of the quay, +and that she took her customary bath at set of sun.</p> + +<p>That afternoon I made a thorough search and found a cavern in the rock +close to the beach of a secluded cove which I had overlooked until then. +A footpath, winding down the mountain side through the forest led to its +mouth, which was overhung and almost hid by a rich creeper with large +crimson blossoms. It was evidently the spot mentioned by Otāré, but +wishing to make sure, and impelled by curiosity in spite of a more +hallowed feeling, I lifted the creeper and was about to peer into the +darkness, when a sudden noise within made me jump back with affright. It +was the most horrible and excruciating shriek I had ever heard in my +life. If anyone by a refinement of cruelty were to compound a torture +for the ears, I do not think he could produce anything half so piercing, +gruesome, and discordant.</p> + +<p>It seemed the cry of an animal—a wild beast—and I began to think I was +mistaken in the place; but the sun was near its setting now, and it was +too late to seek further afield. I therefore returned to my boat and +withdrew under the overarching boughs of some trees where I could see +without being seen.</p> + +<p>I had not long to wait. Between the flowering shrubs I noticed that a +figure—a woman by her undulating grace—was coming down the path. A +thin wrap or veil of changing stuff, with gleams of azure and fiery red, +was flung about her person. Presently she stepped upon the beach into +the mellow gloaming, and stood like a statue, with her eyes bent on the +sinking orb, which threw a trail of splendour across the lake.</p> + +<p>It was the priestess, and apparently alone. A closer view of her person +brought me no disenchantment. Perfect beauty, like the sublime, produces +an impression of the infinite, and I only speak the literal truth when I +say that she appeared infinitely beautiful to me. Her golden hair, +rippling over the delicate ear and gathered into a knot behind, her +large violet eyes and blooming white skin, her Grecian profile and +stately yet flowing form, might have become an Aphrodite of Xeuxis or +Praxiteles; but her serene and gracious countenance beamed with a pure +seraphic light which is wanting to the classical goddess, and must be +sought in the Madonnas of Raphael. Moreover, she had an indescribable +look of girlish innocence, winsome sweetness, and pitiful tenderness, +which belonged to none of these ideals, and marked her as a simple, +loving, perishable child of earth.</p> + +<p>I gazed upon her marvellous beauty with a kind of religious veneration, +at once attracted by her womanly charm and awed by her god-like dignity, +yet with a strange, a divine state of repose and pure rapture in my +heart for which there is no name.</p> + +<p>Would that the happiness, the bliss of looking upon her, of being near +her, might have lasted for ever!</p> + +<p>I knew, however, that she would soon enter the grotto and be lost to me. +Should I speak? In this fraternal community what was there to prevent +it? Something held me back. Otāré had said that the priestess was +isolated from the outer world during her year of office; but that was +only a general statement. Mine was a peculiar case. I was a stranger. I +did not belong to their world, and was not supposed to know the ins and +outs of their customs. Besides, why should custom stand between such a +love as mine and its object? Conventional propriety was for the pitiful +earth and its wretched abortive passions. Perhaps I should frighten her? +No, I did not believe it. In this golden land even the birds seemed +fearless. As well think to frighten an angel in Heaven.</p> + +<p>While I was debating the question within myself she glanced into the +foliage where I was hidden. How my heart throbbed! I fancied that she +saw me, and trembled with emotion; but I was mistaken, for she turned +and walked towards the cavern.</p> + +<p>Suddenly I remembered the alarming sound within the cave, and breaking +through the covert, called after her.</p> + +<p>"Take care, take care! There is a wild beast in the grotto. I heard it +cry."</p> + +<p>She looked round and started when she saw me. The surprise, visible on +her face, seemed to melt into recognition.</p> + +<p>"It is kind of you to warn me," she responded with a frank smile, "but I +am not in danger. There is no wild animal inside."</p> + +<p>Her low sweet voice was quite in keeping with her beauty. Every note +rung clear and melodious as a bell.</p> + +<p>"But the awful cry?" I rejoined with a puzzled air.</p> + +<p>"Was that of a particular pet of mine," she answered laughingly.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said I smiling for company, "I am a stranger here, as you +can see, and did not know any better."</p> + +<p>"You are one of the travellers from another world, are you not?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! you have heard of our arrival."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes! An event so important was not kept from me. I saw you sitting +beside my father on the day of the Flower, and I knew you again. I am +afraid our country will seem very odd to you. Have you enjoyed your +stay?"</p> + +<p>"So much. I cannot tell you how much."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will remain with us a long time."</p> + +<p>"I should like to stop here for ever."</p> + +<p>She blushed and smiled with pleasure at these words, then, raising her +arms in a noble salute, inclined her head, and entered the cavern.</p> + +<p>I returned to the car in a delirium of happiness. I had seen her again, +I had actually spoken with her. <i>She knew me!</i> Every detail of her look +and accent was indelibly printed on my memory. All next day I wandered +about in a kind of transport, feasting on the recollection of what had +passed between us, and revolving over my future course of action. In two +days the holy time would end, and I should have an opportunity of +meeting her at home; but with the chance of seeing her again at the +grotto, I could not wait. I was allured towards her by the most +delicious fascination. Such a love as mine looked down upon the petty +proprieties which keep lovers apart, yet are sometimes so needful in our +wicked world. In this noble planet life was free and simple, because it +was beautiful and good. I determined to revisit the cove that evening, +and if I should see her again, to declare my secret.</p> + +<p>Had I counted the cost? With such a passion it is not a question of +cost. I was well aware that if she did not reciprocate my affection she +would never marry me. Nor did I wish it otherwise. I would not ask her +to sacrifice herself for my sake. If, as my heart fondly hoped, she +accepted me, I would not allow anything to stand between us for a +moment. I would abandon the expedition if necessary, and remain in +Venus. If, on the other hand, she refused me as my judgment feared, I +would return to the earth as a new man, ennobled by a glorious love, +reverencing myself that I was capable of it, cherishing her image in my +heart as the ideal of womanhood, and grateful for having seen and known +her. Surely a rich reward for all the perils of the journey.</p> + +<p>Sunset found me in the cove, not hidden by the leaves as before, but +sitting in the boat astrand. She came. To-night her veil was of a golden +yellow shading into dark green. A beautiful smile of recognition passed +over her face when she saw me, and we greeted one another in the +graceful fashion of the country.</p> + +<p>I did not speak of the weather or give an excuse for my presence there, +as I might have done to a woman of the world. With Alumion I felt that +all such artificial forms were idle, and that I could reveal my inmost +soul without disguise, in all its naked sincerity.</p> + +<p>"I have brought you some flowers," said I, offering her a nosegay which +I had picked. "Will you accept them?"</p> + +<p>"I thank you," she replied with a beaming smile as she came and took +them from my hand. "They are very beautiful, and I shall keep them for +your sake."</p> + +<p>"For my sake!"</p> + +<p>Inspired by love I continued in a voice trembling with emotion,</p> + +<p>"Alumion—can you not guess what brings me here?"</p> + +<p>A blush rose to her cheek as she bent over the flowers.</p> + +<p>"It is because I love you," said I; "because I have loved you ever since +I saw you on the day you cut the sacred lily; because I love +you—worship you—with all my heart and soul."</p> + +<p>She was silent.</p> + +<p>"If I am wrong, forgive me," I went on in a pleading tone. "Blame the +spell your beauty has cast over me, but do not banish me from your +presence, which is life and light to me."</p> + +<p>"Wrong!" she murmured, lifting her wondrous eyes to mine. "Can it be +wrong to love, or to speak of love? Why should I send you away from me +because you love me? Is not love the glory of the heart, as the sun is +the glory of the world? Rejoice, then, in your love as I do in mine."</p> + +<p>"As you do?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, as I do. I should have spoken sooner, but my heart was full of +happiness. For I also love you. I have loved you from the beginning."</p> + +<p>With a cry of unspeakable joy I sprang from the boat, and would have +flung myself at her feet to kiss her hand or the hem of her garment, but +she drew back with a look of apprehension.</p> + +<p>"Touch me not," she said gravely, "for by the custom of our land I am +holy. Until to-morrow at sunset I am consecrated to The Giver."</p> + +<p>"Pardon my ignorance," I responded rather crestfallen. "Your will shall +be my law. I only wished to manifest my eternal gratitude and devotion +to you."</p> + +<p>"Kneel not to me," she rejoined, "but rather to The Giver, who has so +strangely brought us together. How many ages we might have wandered +from world to world without finding each other again!"</p> + +<p>"You think we have met before then?" I enquired eagerly, for the same +thought had been haunting my own mind. It seemed to me that I had known +Alumion always.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly," she replied, "for you and I are kindred souls who have been +separated in another world, by death or evil; and now that we have met +again, let us be faithful and loving to each other."</p> + +<p>"Nothing shall separate us any more."</p> + +<p>The words had scarcely passed my lips when the same terrible cry which I +had heard once before sounded from the interior of the grotto.</p> + +<p>Alumion called or rather sang out a response to the cry, which I did not +understand, then said to me in her ordinary voice,</p> + +<p>"It is Siloo. I must go now and give him food."</p> + +<p>I was curious to know who or what was Siloo, but did not dare to ask. +She raised her arms gracefully and smiled a sweet farewell.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to leave me like that?" said I.</p> + +<p>"What would you have?" she answered, turning towards the cave.</p> + +<p>"In my country lovers bind themselves by mutual vows."</p> + +<p>"What need of vows? Have we not confessed our loves?"</p> + +<p>"Will you not tell me when I shall see you again? Will you not say when +you will be mine—when you will marry me?"</p> + +<p>A blush mounted to her cheek as she answered with a divine glance,</p> + +<p>"Meet me at sunset to-morrow, and I will be yours."</p> + +<p>As yet I had not mentioned my adventure with Alumion to any of my +companions, but that night I said to Gazen, as we smoked our cigars +together,</p> + +<p>"Wish me joy, old fellow! I am going to be married."</p> + +<p>He seemed quite dumbfounded, and I rather think he fancied that I must +have come to an understanding with Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Really!" said he with the air of a man plucking up heart after an +unexpected blow. "May I ask who is the lady?"</p> + +<p>"The Priestess of the Lily."</p> + +<p>"The Priestess!" he exclaimed utterly astonished, but at the same time +vastly relieved. "The Priestess! Come, now, you are joking."</p> + +<p>"Never was more serious in my life."</p> + +<p>Then I told him what had happened, how I had met her, and my engagement +to marry her.</p> + +<p>"If you will take my advice," said he dryly, "you'll do nothing of the +kind."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Have you considered the matter?" he replied significantly.</p> + +<p>"Considered the matter! A love like mine does not 'consider the matter' +as though it were a problem in Euclid. With such a woman as Alumion a +lover does not stop to 'consider the matter,' unless he is a fool."</p> + +<p>"A woman—yes; but remember that she is a woman of another planet. She +might not make a suitable wife for you."</p> + +<p>"I love her. I love her as I can never love a woman of our world. She is +a thousand times more beautiful and good than any woman I have ever +known. She is an ideal woman—a perfect woman—an angel in human form."</p> + +<p>"That may be; but what will her family say?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Gazen, don't you know they manage these things better here. +Thank goodness, the 'family' does not interfere with love affairs in +this happy land! We love each other, we have agreed to be married, and +that is quite sufficient. No need to get the 'consent of the parents,' +or make a 'settlement,' or give out the banns, or buy a government +license as though a wife were contraband goods, or hire a string of +four-wheelers, or tip the pew-opener. What has love to do with +pew-openers? Why should the finest thing in life become the prey of such +vulgar parasites? Why should our heavenliest moments be profaned and +spoiled by needless worries—hateful to the name of love? Our wedding +will be very simple. We shall not even want you as groomsman or Miss +Carmichael as bridesmaid. I daresay we shall get along without cake and +speeches, and as for the rice and old boots, upon my word, I don't think +we shall miss them."</p> + +<p>"And if it is a fair question, when will the—the simple ceremony take +place?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow evening."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the professor, taken by surprise. "I +thought a priestess could not marry."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow at sunset she will be a free woman. Her priesthood will come +to an end."</p> + +<p>"And—pardon me—but what are you going to do with her when you've got +her? Will you bring her home to the car—there is very little room here, +as you know. Do you propose to take her to the earth, where I'm afraid +she will probably die like a tender plant or a bird of paradise in a +cage? Do you think her father would consent to that?"</p> + +<p>"We are not going away just yet. There will be time enough to arrange +about that."</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't stay here much longer. I must get back to my work—and +you know we intended to pay a flying visit to Mercury, and if possible +to get a closer look at the sun."</p> + +<p>"All right. You can go as soon as you like. I shall remain behind. +Carmichael will take you to the earth, and then come back here for me."</p> + +<p>"You talk as if it were merely a question of a drive."</p> + +<p>"I think we have proved that it is not more dangerous to go from one +planet to another than it is to get about town."</p> + +<p>"If an accident <i>should</i> occur. If Carmichael cannot return—"</p> + +<p>"I shall be much happier here than I should be on the earth. Even if I +had never met Alumion I think I should come back and stay on Venus."</p> + +<p>"It is certainly a better world, as far as we have seen, but remember +your own words, 'Man was made for the earth.' Don't you think this +eternal summer—these Elysian Fields—would pall upon you in course of +time? Constant bliss, like everlasting honey, might cloy your earthly +palate, and make you sigh for our poor, old, wicked, miserable world, +that in spite of all its faults and crimes, is yet so interesting, so +variable, so dramatic—so dear."</p> + +<p>"Never. With Alumion even Hades would be an Elysium."</p> + +<p>"Think of your friends at home, and what you owe to them; how they will +miss you."</p> + +<p>"I cannot be of much service to them. They will soon forget me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are mistaken there," said Gazen, assuming a more serious +air. "In any case I for one shall miss you. In fact, to speak plainly, I +shall feel aggrieved—hurt. You and I are old friends, and when you +asked me to join you in this expedition I was moved by friendship as +well as interest. Certainly, I never dreamed that you would desert the +ship. I thought it was understood that we should sink or swim together. +If you leave us I shan't answer for the consequences. I appreciate the +dilemma in which you are placed, but surely friendship has a prior if a +weaker claim than love-passion. Surely you owe some allegiance to +Carmichael and myself."</p> + +<p>"What would you have me do?"</p> + +<p>"Only to carry out the original plan of the voyage. Promise me that you +will stick to the ship. Afterwards you can return to Venus and do as you +please. Stanley, you know, made his greatest journey into Africa between +his engagement and his marriage."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I promise."</p> + +<p>With an agitated mind I repaired to the tryst next evening and waited +for Alumion. How should I break the news to her, and how would she +receive it?</p> + +<p>The cool airs of the water, and the glorious pageant of the sunset +calmed my troubled spirit. All day the serene and beamy azure of the +heavens had been plumed with snowy cloudlets of graceful and capricious +form, which, as the sun sank to the horizon, were tinged with fleeting +glows resembling the iris of a dove's neck, or the hues of a dying +dolphin. The great luminary himself was lost in a golden glamour, and a +single bright star shone palely through a rosy mist, which covered all +the southern sky, like a diamond seen through a bridal veil of gauze.</p> + +<p>That lone star was the earth.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, I felt a kind of yearning towards it, a yearning as of +home-sickness, and it seemed to reproach me for having thought of +forsaking it. I wondered what my friends were doing now within that +blaze; perhaps they were looking at Venus and speculating on what I was +about. How delighted I should be to see them again, and show them my +incomparable wife—but could I ever take her there?</p> + +<p>Whilst I was musing, the low sweet voice of Alumion thrilled me to the +marrow. I turned and saw her. She was dressed to-night in a filmy +vesture of opalescent or pearly white, partly diaphanous, and having a +deep fringe of gold. There was a pink blush on her cheek and a sparkle +of girlish love in her celestial eyes. Never had she seemed more +ravishingly beautiful.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Beauty too rare for use, for earth too dear."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"You were gazing on the star. You did not hear my coming," she said with +a little feminine pout.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of you, darling."</p> + +<p>She smiled again.</p> + +<p>"Is it not a lovely star?" she said. "We call it the star of Love—the +star of the Blest."</p> + +<p>"It is my home."</p> + +<p>"Your home!" she exclaimed with a look of surprise and wonderment.</p> + +<p>"You have heard that I come from another world."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I did not know it was a star. And is that beautiful star your +home?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, beloved; and I am sorry to say I must return there soon again."</p> + +<p>"And I will go! You will take me with you to that fair world!"</p> + +<p>I thought of all the crime and folly, the deceit, violence, and +wretchedness lurking behind that pure and peaceful ray. Alas! how could +I tell her the truth and destroy her illusions. She was innocent as a +child, and an instinct warned me to keep the knowledge of evil from her, +while a contrary spirit urged me to speak.</p> + +<p>"You might not find it so fair as it looks from here."</p> + +<p>"I am sure it cannot be an evil world since you come from it. To us it +is a sacred star."</p> + +<p>"If the inhabitants could see it as I do now, perhaps the sight would +make them lead better lives—would shame them into being worthier of +their dwelling-place."</p> + +<p>"Are they not good?" she asked with a look of wonder and sorrowful +compassion. "Then how unhappy they must be."</p> + +<p>"Some are good and some are bad. Everything is mixed in our world—the +strong and the weak—the rich and the poor—the happy and the +miserable."</p> + +<p>"But do the good not help the bad?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, to a certain extent; but life is a struggle there; every man for +himself; and the good very often find it hard to secure a little +happiness for themselves."</p> + +<p>"How can they be happy when they know that others are suffering and in +want, that others are bad? I long to go and help them."</p> + +<p>"Darling, you are an angel, and I adore you; but, believe me, you alone +could do very little. One has already come and taught us how to love and +cherish each other, that the strong should help the weak, the rich give +to the poor, and the happy comfort the wretched. His followers believe +that He came from Heaven, and yet after nineteen hundred years I am +afraid that some of them do not fully understand the plain meaning of +His words, or else find it convenient to ignore them."</p> + +<p>"But many of us will go there. We will bring the sinful and the +suffering over here to Womla and make them happy."</p> + +<p>"I am touched by your simple faith in us, dearest It does you honour, +but I fear it is mistaken. What would you say if the very people you had +saved and befriended were to turn round and take your country from you, +perhaps even destroy you? Such ingratitude is not unknown in our +world."</p> + +<p>"If they are so wicked they have the more need of help."</p> + +<p>"In any case, darling, I cannot take you with me, for the vessel we came +in is too small; but I will come back as soon as possible and stay with +you in Womla. How happy we shall be!"</p> + +<p>"In Womla—no. We should not be quite at rest."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall seek out some desert star where we can live only for each +other."</p> + +<p>"You do not understand me. Neither in Womla nor in a desert star could +we be happy in a selfish love, knowing that others were in pain."</p> + +<p>"Better I had not spoken of my world at all."</p> + +<p>"No, a thousand times no!" cried Alumion with fervour. "For you have +opened up to me a new source of happiness—of blessedness which I have +never known before. Only let us go together to your world and minister +to the unfortunate."</p> + +<p>"Well, darling, we will think of it; but see! the sun has set and you +are free again. I came to marry you, but since I must return so soon to +my own world, perhaps it would be well to postpone the ceremony until I +come back here."</p> + +<p>"Why should we do that?"</p> + +<p>Evidently she had no idea of the dangers of the journey, or how long it +would take.</p> + +<p>"If anything should happen to me. If I should die and never return."</p> + +<p>"Ah! do not speak of that. The Giver will preserve you."</p> + +<p>"But life is uncertain."</p> + +<p>"Beloved, I shall never love another but you; therefore, let us unite +ourselves, as we are already united in heart and soul, henceforth and +forever. Come!"</p> + +<p>With these words she turned and glided towards the sacred grotto. I held +aside the flowering creeper which hung over the entrance like a curtain, +and followed her within. To my great surprise the interior was neither +dark nor dusky, but filled with a soft and luscious light from myriads +of glow-worms and fire-flies of various colours, which glimmered on the +walls like tiny electric lamps, or sparkled in the facets of the gems +and spars depending from the roof. Judging by their shape and tint I +imagine that some of these incrustations are native crystals of the +diamond and ruby, the sapphire, topaz, and emerald. In a deep recess or +alcove on one side a spring of clear water gushed from the rock into a +natural basin of sinter, enamelled inside and out with the precious +opal. Owing perhaps to the minerals through which it had passed the +liquid shed a delicious perfume in the air, and made a bath fit for the +goddess of beauty.</p> + +<p>I had scarcely time to look about me when a strange and wonderful melody +of most entrancing sweetness echoed through the cavern.</p> + +<p>"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion softly, and the music, which I cannot +compare to any earthly strain, ceased in a moment. Presently I was more +than startled to see in the gloomier background of the cavern a great +white serpent glide like a ghost along the floor and come straight +towards us. His milk-white body was speckled all over with jewelled +scales, and shone with a pale blue phosphorescence; his eyes blazed in +his head like twin carbuncles, and in spite of my instinctive dread of +snakes, I could not help admiring his repulsive beauty. Presently he +reared his long neck, and faced us with his forked tongue playing out +and in. I shrank back, for I thought he was about to spring upon me; but +Alumion, laughing gaily at my fears, stepped quickly up to him, and +stroked him with her hand. The serpent laid his head caressingly upon +her shoulder and emitted a low faint note of pleasure.</p> + +<p>Alumion then took a shallow dish or patera, and, filling it from a vase +which she carried with her set it upon the floor for the snake to feed.</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to be afraid of that gruesome reptile," said I +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," she replied smiling. "Siloo knows me very well."</p> + +<p>"Tell me, was it he who made the music a little while ago?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and also the noise which alarmed you the first night you wandered +here. The music comes from his head, and the noise is from his tail. +That is why we call him Siloo."</p> + +<p>The word, as nearly as I can translate it, means harmony, order, +measure, proportion, in the Womla tongue.</p> + +<p>"Does he always live in this cave?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is a sacred animal with us, and long ago was worshipped and +consulted by our forefathers, and those who preceded them in the +island."</p> + +<p>"Is he very old?"</p> + +<p>"None can tell how old. Some say he is immortal. Others think he is only +the offspring of the snake worshipped by our forefathers. He is guardian +of the sacred fountain whose waters we are about to drink."</p> + +<p>When she had spoken, Alumion tripped to the flowing spring, and, taking +a cup which was standing on the edge of the basin, filled it from the +pellucid stream.</p> + +<p>"Give me your hand," she murmured, holding out her own, and lifting her +celestial eyes, so full of love and tenderness, to mine. It was a dainty +hand, plump, lilywhite, and dimpled, with tapering fingers; and as I +felt her warm and silk-soft touch for the first time, my soul melted +within me, and my whole being thrilled with delight. Her rosy lips +parted with pleasure, and a delicate blush mantled her blooming cheeks +and full white throat.</p> + +<p>I gazed in rapture on her divine countenance, so like a speaking flower, +the image of a beautiful soul on which neither sorrow, care, nor passion +had ever left a trace.</p> + +<p>She raised the cup, and having sipped of the water, handed it to me in +silence. I sought the place where her lips had touched the brim and +drank. Now whether it was phantasy or some foreign ingredient I cannot +tell, but the water seemed to taste like nectar, and to run through all +my veins like wine.</p> + +<p>The glamour of the lights and the perfume of the waters wrought upon my +senses, and, yielding to the intoxication of my love, I caught Alumion +to my arms.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the most appalling noise rent the air, and caused me to spring +back from my bride in terror. It came from the rattlesnake. His grisly +body swayed to and fro, his gaping mouth displayed all its horrid fangs, +and his large eyes burned like two red-hot coals.</p> + +<p>"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion hastily in a tone of command. "Down, +Siloo!"</p> + +<p>The serpent at once obeyed her voice and retired again to his dish.</p> + +<p>"He thought I was going to harm you," I exclaimed, not without a sense +of relief. "Or perhaps he was jealous of me."</p> + +<p>"Remember this is holy ground," responded Alumion.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," I said, feeling her reproof. "My love—your beauty—must +be my excuse."</p> + +<p>"We must part now," she continued, with a blinding glance and a +ravishing smile. "I have some last offices to perform here. We shall +meet to-morrow at my father's house."</p> + +<p>On my way home the blood coursed through my veins like an immortal ichor +of the gods, full of sweet and inextinguishable fire. Inebriated with +the cup of bliss which I had only tasted, I began to repent me of my +promise to leave Womla.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow Alumion will be mine," I reflected, "but for how long? A few +days at the most. It is too bad!"</p> + +<p>An idea struck me.</p> + +<p>"Gazen," said I that night as soon as I had a convenient opportunity to +speak with him, "I have married Alumion."</p> + +<p>"Married her!" he exclaimed, completely taken aback.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is to say, I have gone through the formal ceremony of +marriage. I have drunk of the cup."</p> + +<p>"But you promised me you would do nothing of the kind."</p> + +<p>"I said I would go back to the earth with you, and I will keep my word. +But I must say that since I agreed to your wishes in the matter, I think +you owe me some concession, and I want you to leave me in Womla while +you go on to Mercury, and then come back here to pick me up. That will +give me a longer honeymoon."</p> + +<p>"Impossible, my dear fellow—quite impossible," replied the professor. +"Venus will be too far out of our way home. We have no oxygen to waste, +and can't go hunting you in your love affairs all round the solar +system."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, I shall stay behind."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear fellow—"</p> + +<p>"Say no more about it. I have made up my mind."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI'></a><h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<h4>THE FLYING APE.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>It was broad day when I awoke, and oppressively warm in the little +cabin. My first thoughts were of Alumion, the consecration of our loves, +and my resolution to abide in Venus. In getting up I felt so light and +buoyant that for a moment I fancied I must be giddy, but on reflection I +ascribed the sensation to the intoxication of passion, and the +exhilarating atmosphere of the planet. I looked out of a window towards +the blessed island of my dreams, and to my blank amazement found that +<i>it was gone!</i> I could neither see anything of the lake, the square, nor +the town, but only a bare and rugged platform of weathered rocks, and +the cloudy sky above it.</p> + +<p>What was the matter? Had Gazen and Carmichael taken it into their heads +to make an excursion, such as we had often planned, in order to observe +something more of the country? Yes, that was it, no doubt.</p> + +<p>Under the circumstances I was far from pleased with them for having +carried me off without asking my leave, knowing as they should have +done, that I would be eager to rejoin Alumion; but experience of travel +had taught me that a man must not expect to have it all his own way, and +should know when to let his companions have theirs, and above all things +to keep his temper. I, therefore, decided to take their behaviour in +good part, more especially as we could always return to the capital as +quickly as we had come from it.</p> + +<p>Apparently there was nobody in the car but myself. Wondering, and +perhaps a trifle uneasy at the dead stillness, I dressed rapidly and +went outside.</p> + +<p>The welkin was wholly overcast with dense, murky vapours, which totally +hid the sun, and the air was excessively hot, moist, and sultry as +before a thunderstorm—an unusual phenomenon in Womla. Black boulders +and crags, speckled with lichens, and carpeted with coarse herbage, shut +out the prospect on every side but one, where the edge of the platform +on which the car was resting ran along the sky. I saw it all now. Gazen +and Carmichael had made a journey to the extreme verge of the country; +to the very summit of the precipice which surrounded the Crater Land.</p> + +<p>Picking my steps over the rough rocks like one who treads on air, I +hastened to the brink of the platform. If the car were on the further +side of the summit I should be able to see the wide ocean, but if, as I +fondly hoped, it were on the hither side, I should enjoy a far-off +glimpse of the city and its holy island, which had become a heaven to +me. How different was the scene which met my view!</p> + +<p>I was looking away over a vast plain towards a distant range of volcanic +mountains. A broad river wound through the midst between isolated +volcanoes, curling with smoke, and thick forests of a sable hue, or +expanded into marshy lakes half lost in brakes of grisly reeds, on the +margin of which living monsters were plashing in the mud, or soaring +into the air on dusky pinions.</p> + +<p>My first shock of surprise passed into a fearful admiration for the +savage and gloomy grandeur of the primeval landscape; but as that +feeling wore away the old irritation against my fellow-travellers came +back. From all I had heard or seen there was no such place as this in +Womla, and as it dawned upon me that they had migrated to some other +island, or perhaps continent in Venus, I forgot my good resolution, and +shouted indignantly,</p> + +<p>"Gazen, Gazen! Hallo there! Hallo!"</p> + +<p>There was no response, and the dead silence that swallowed up my voice +was awful. Had anything happened to my companions, and was I left alone +in this appalling solitude? Was I in my right senses, or was I not? I +shouted again at the very pitch of my voice, and this time an answering +cry came to my relief. On turning in the direction from which it +proceeded, I observed Professor Gazen coming slowly towards me, round a +mass of turretted rocks.</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of all this?" I demanded petulantly, as he came +near, gingerly stepping from stone to stone.</p> + +<p>He made no reply, but seemed to be meditating what he would say.</p> + +<p>"A nice trick you've played me! Wherever have we got to?"</p> + +<p>"Mercury," replied Gazen coolly.</p> + +<p>"<i>Mercury!</i>" I exclaimed, fairly astounded. "Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Not at all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come!" said I sarcastically, "that won't do. A joke is a joke; but +I'm not in a merry mood this morning."</p> + +<p>"So I see. A laugh would do you good."</p> + +<p>"Well, where are we?"</p> + +<p>"In Mercury."</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" I ejaculated. "Last night I went to bed in Venus, and +you want me to believe that I've woke up on Mercury. Tell that to the +marines."</p> + +<p>"Last night you say; but do you know how long you have slept? And have +you forgotten that we are now so near the sun—that the attraction of +the sun on the car has assisted the machines to propel us through the +intermediate space?"</p> + +<p>I had not thought of that.</p> + +<p>"Then it is true."</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"And why have you come here—what authority—what right—had you to +carry me off in this manner without my consent?" I burst out angrily. +"You knew I had made up my mind to stay in Venus. I took you into my +confidence and told you about my love affair. Why have you betrayed that +confidence, and kidnapped me like a slave or a lunatic?"</p> + +<p>"Hear me, old friend," said Gazen softly. "We have all noticed a decided +change in you of late—ever since the day of the ceremony on the island. +You have been like a different person—absent in your mind—incoherent +in your speech—abrupt in your manner. You have forsaken your old +friends completely, and apparently lost all interest in their doings, +all desire for their company. In short, you have behaved like a man +beside himself, distraught. We could not make it out, and we had many +anxious consultations about the matter. I wondered whether you had had a +sunstroke. Carmichael suggested that the stimulating air of Venus had +affected your brain. Miss Carmichael alone suspected that you were in +love; but I would not believe her. I had been so much in your society +without having seen anything to justify her suspicion, and you yourself +had never breathed a word to lend it colour. Carmichael and I sought to +question you about your health, and the influence of the sun and air +upon you, while Miss Carmichael tried to draw you on the subject of the +ladies. All in vain. We could not solve the mystery, and as your +condition was evidently growing worse and worse, we resolved to leave +the planet. Although it was not in the original programme, we had +sometimes talked of extending our journey to Mercury, so as to visit all +the inferior planets, and give me an opportunity of getting as near the +sun as possible for my observations, and this project was made the +pretext for hastening our departure.</p> + +<p>"We submitted the plan to you, and you know the rest. After you had +given us your word of honour that you would break with the lady and +return home with us for the sake of your friends, after we had made all +our preparations to start, you came back at the eleventh hour, and +declared that you had made up your mind to stay behind. If anything had +been wanted to prove to us that you were hopelessly +infatuated—hypnotised—mad—it would have been that; and as we were +morally bound to fetch you back with us, we took the bull by the horns, +and carried you off in spite of yourself."</p> + +<p>"You had no business to do anything of the kind," I replied hotly. "I am +chiefly responsible for this expedition."</p> + +<p>"True; but you forget that Carmichael is the nominal leader, by your own +agreement, and we are all to some extent under his orders. I, too, was +bound in honour to bring you safe home if I could."</p> + +<p>"Bound in honour to take care of <i>me</i>! You treat me like a baby."</p> + +<p>"People don't come away on such an adventure as ours without a tacit if +not a formal understanding to protect each other to the best of their +ability, and besides, I had given my word to your friends that I would +do my best to help you through. When you come to your senses you will +acknowledge that we did right."</p> + +<p>Despite my excusable anger and vexation, the calm and friendly +explanation of the professor was not without its effect on me. It was +true that I had broken my promise to my fellow-travellers; true that +Carmichael was commander of the expedition. I was myself at fault. And +yet what a disappointment! What would Alumion think of me! After all my +vows of eternal fidelity, uttered as they had been in that sacred spot, +I had sneaked away like a thief in the night.</p> + +<p>"I shall go back to Venus," said I, in a determined manner.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut," said Gazen, with a good-natured smile; "you had better give +up that idea. You are clearly the victim of hypnotic influence—of +suggestion. By-and-by it will lose its hold on you, and you will regain +your freedom of action."</p> + +<p>"Never!" I exclaimed, with all the energy of my soul. "My dear Gazen, +you are quite mistaken in supposing anything of the kind. I was never +saner in my life. Nay, it is only now that I know what it is to be sane; +what life was meant to be. Hypnotic suggestion! Pshaw! I know what I am +doing as well as you do. I am not a fool. I am only seeking my own +happiness—and hers—I tell you that a single moment in her society is +worth a whole lifetime on the earth. What do I say? A lifetime? An +eternity. Heaven itself were nothing to me without her. I would not take +it as a gift. I shall go back. I must go back. I cannot live without +her."</p> + +<p>"Take time to consider at all events," said Gazen, somewhat impressed by +my vehemence. "In the meantime let us join Miss Carmichael. She is +beyond the rocks there sketching the valley."</p> + +<p>We walked in that direction.</p> + +<p>"You may return to the earth," said I; "but on the way you must drop me +at Venus."</p> + +<p>Gazen had no opportunity of answering, for just at that moment we were +startled by a piercing shriek from behind the crags, and rushing, or +rather bounding forward, saw a sight that made our very blood run cold.</p> + +<p>A flying monster, with enormous bat-like wings and hanging legs, was +evidently swooping down on Miss Carmichael, as she stood beside her +easel on the brow of the cliff.</p> + +<p>"Run for your life!" roared Gazen, dashing towards her with frantic +speed.</p> + +<p>Alas! she did not hear him, or else she was fascinated by the +approaching horror, and rooted to the spot. He was still several hundred +yards from her, but owing to the feebleness of gravity on the planet he +was so preternaturally light and nimble that he might have covered the +distance in a minute or so, had he been more accustomed to control his +limbs, and the ground been smoother. As it was he leaped high into the +air, and rebounded from the stones like an india-rubber ball, at the +risk of spraining his ankles or breaking his neck, while brandishing his +arms, and firing his pistol, and hooting with all his force of lung to +frighten away the monster.</p> + +<p>Too late. The huge leathery wings of the dragon overshadowed the +shrinking form of the girl, and the talons of its drooping feet caught +in her dress. She made one desperate, but futile effort to free herself +from its terrible clutch, and, screaming loudly for help, was borne away +over the abyss of the valley as easily as a lamb is carried by an eagle.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Heaven!" cried Gazen, stopping with a gesture of despair.</p> + +<p>He was deeply moved, and pale as death; but he did not altogether lose +his head.</p> + +<p>What was to be done?</p> + +<p>"The car—the car!" he exclaimed. "We must follow her in the car. Keep +your eye on the beast while I go for it."</p> + +<p>Carmichael was fast asleep in his cabin, after his long weary vigil +during the passage from Venus, but the car was quickly put in motion, +and I jumped on board just as it cleared the brink of the precipice.</p> + +<p>The dragon, which had the start of us by a mile or more, was apparently +steering for the mountains on the other side of the valley. +Notwithstanding its enormous bulk, and the dead weight hanging from its +claws, it flew with surprising speed, owing to the weakness of gravity +and the vast spread of its wings.</p> + +<p>I shall never forget that singular chase, which is probably unparalleled +in the history of the universe. A prey to anxiety and the most +distressing emotions, we did not properly observe the marvellous, the +Titanic, I had almost said the diabolical aspect of the country beneath +us, and still we could not altogether blind ourselves to it. Colossal +jungles, resembling brakes of moss and canes five hundred or a thousand +feet in height—creeks as black as porter, gliding under their dank and +rotting aisles—mountainous quadrupeds or lizards crashing and tearing +through their branches—one of them at least six hundred feet in length, +with a ridgy back and long spiky tail, dragging on the ground, a baleful +green eye, and a crooked mouth full of horrid fangs, which made it look +the very incarnation of cruelty and brute strength—black lakes and +grisly reeds as high as bamboo—prodigious black serpents troubling the +water, and rearing their long spiry necks above the surface—gigantic +alligators and crocodiles resting motionless in the shallows, with their +snouts high in the air—hideous toads or such-like forbidding reptiles, +many with tusks like the walrus, and some with glorious eyes, crouching +on the banks or waddling in the reeds, and so enormous as to give +variety to the landscape—volcanic craters, with red-hot lava simmering +in their depths, and emitting fumes of sulphur, which might have choked +us had we not closed the scuttles—while over all great dragons and +other bat-like animals were flitting through the dusky atmosphere like +demons in a nightmare.</p> + +<p>Little by little we gained upon our quarry, but being afraid to run him +too close for fear that he might drop his victim, we kept at a safe +distance behind him, yet within rifle range, and near enough to make a +prompt attack when he should settle on the ground.</p> + +<p>At length we reached the other side of the valley, and found to our +intense satisfaction that the monster was making for a rocky ledge on +the shoulder of an extinct volcano, where we could see the yawning mouth +of what appeared an immense cavern.</p> + +<p>"That is probably his den," said Gazen, who was now as collected as I +have ever seen him. Nevertheless all his faculties were on the stretch. +His keen grey eye was everywhere, and his active mind was calculating +every chance. I felt then as I had often felt before that in action as +well as in thought the professor was a man of no common mark.</p> + +<p>The event showed that his surmise was correct, for soon after he had +spoken the dragon uttered a startling cry—a kind of squawk like that of +a drake, but much louder, hoarser, shriller—and alighted on the ground.</p> + +<p>"There is not a moment to lose," said Gazen. "We must attack him before +he enters the cave."</p> + +<p>Certainly the darkness inside the cavern would give the beast a great +advantage, and although we might succeed in killing him, we could +scarcely hope to find Miss Carmichael alive. Was she alive now? I had my +doubts, but I kept them to myself. Since she had been carried away she +had not given the smallest sign of life, not even when the dragon +settled. Perhaps, however, she had merely lost her senses through +fright, and was still in a dead faint.</p> + +<p>We might have fought the creature from the air, but we had decided to +assail him on the solid ground, because we should thus be able to +scatter and take him in the flank, if not in the rear.</p> + +<p>While Carmichael landed his car the astronomer and I kept a sharp watch +on the beast, all ready to fire at the first movement which seemed to +threaten the safety of the young girl, who was lying motionless at the +bottom of a slope or talus which led up to the mouth of the cavern. +Freed from his burden the dragon now stood erect, and a more awful +monster it would be difficult to conceive. He must have been at least +forty feet in stature, yet he gave us an impression of squat and sturdy +strength.</p> + +<p>I have called him a dragon, but he was not at all like the dragons of +our imagination. With his great bullet head and prick ears, his beetling +brows and deep sunken eyes, his ferocious mouth and protruding tusks, +his short thick neck and massive shoulders, his large, gawky, and +misshapen trunk, coated with dingy brown fur, shading into dirty yellow +on the stomach, his stout, bandy legs armed with curving talons, and his +huge leathern wings hanging in loose folds about him, he looked more +like an imp of Satan than a dragon.</p> + +<p>Hitherto he had not appeared to notice his pursuers; but now that he was +freer to observe, the grating of the car upon the rocks caught his +attention. He turned quickly, and stared at the apparition of the +vessel, which must have been a strange object to him; but he did not +seem to take alarm. It was the gaze of a jaguar or a tiger who sees +something curious in the jungle—vigilant and deadly if you like, but +neither scared nor fierce.</p> + +<p>We lost no time in sallying forth, all three of us, armed with magazine +rifle, cutlass, and revolver. Mr. Carmichael in the middle, I on the +lower, and Gazen on the upper side, or that nearest to Miss Carmichael. +The rocks around were slippery with ordure, and the sickening stench of +rotting skeletons made our very gorge rise. Suddenly a loud squeaking in +the direction of the cave arrested us, and before we had recovered from +our surprise, nearly a dozen young dragons, each about the size of a +man, tumbled hastily down the slope, and rushed upon the lifeless form +of Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott, there's the whole family," muttered Gazen between his +teeth, at the same time bringing his rifle to the shoulder, and firing +in quick succession.</p> + +<p>The foremost of the crew, which had already flung itself upon the prey, +was seen to spring head over heels into the air, and fall back dead; +another lay writhing in agony upon the ground, and uttering strangely +human shrieks; whilst the others, terrified by the noise, turned and +fled back helter-skelter to the cave.</p> + +<p>The old one, roused to anger by the injury done to his offspring, +snarled ferociously at his enemies and, drawing himself to his full +height, made a furious dash for Gazen.</p> + +<p>Our rifles cracked again and again; the monster started as he felt the +shots, and halted, glaring from one to another of us like a man +irresolute. Purple streams were gushing from his head and sides; he +attempted to fly, and ran towards the brink of the ledge; but ere he +could gain sufficient impetus to launch himself into the air, he +staggered and fell heavily to the ground, with his broken wings beneath +him.</p> + +<p>Gazen, quicker than her father, flew towards Miss Carmichael, and bent +over her.</p> + +<p>"Is she alive?" enquired Carmichael, in breathless and trembling +accents.</p> + +<p>"Yes, thank God," responded Gazen fervently; as he raised her hand to +his lips and kissed it.</p> + +<p>There were tears of joy in his eyes, and I knew then what I had long +suspected, that he loved her.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a loud croak in the distance caused us to look up, and we +beheld another dragon on the wing, coining rapidly towards us from a +pass among the mountains. There was not a moment to be lost, and Gazen, +taking Miss Carmichael in his arms, we all hurried on board the car, +eager to escape from this revolting spot.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII'></a><h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> + +<h4>SUNWARD HO!</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"By the way," said Gazen to me, "I've got a new theory for the rising +and sinking of the sun behind the cliffs at Womla—a theory that will +simply explode Professor Possil, and shake the Royal Astronomical +Society to its foundations."</p> + +<p>The astronomer and I were together in the observatory, where he was +adjusting his telescope to look at the sun. After our misadventure with +the flying ape, we had returned to our former station on the summit of +the mountain, to pick up the drawing materials of Miss Carmichael; but +as Gazen was anxious to get as near the sun as possible, and being +disgusted with the infernal scenery as well as the foetid, malarial +atmosphere of Mercury, we left as soon as we had replenished our cistern +from the pools in the rock.</p> + +<p>"Another theory?" I responded. "Thought you had settled that question."</p> + +<p>"Alas, my friend, theories, like political treatises, are made to be +broken."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of it now?"</p> + +<p>"You remember how we came to the conclusion that Schiaparelli was right, +and that the planet Venus, by rotating about her own axis in the same +time as she takes to revolve around the sun, always keeps the same face +turned to the sun, one hemisphere being in perpetual light and summer, +whilst the other is in perpetual darkness and winter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You remember, too, how we explained the growing altitude of the sun in +the heavens which culminated on the great day of the Festival, by +supposing that the axis of the planet swayed to and from the sun so as +to tilt each pole towards the sun, and the other from it, alternately, +thus producing what by courtesy we may call the seasons in Womla?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, judging from the observations I have made, we were probably right +so far; but if you recollect, I accounted for the mysterious daily rise +and set of the sun, if I may use the words, by changes in the density of +the atmosphere bending the solar rays, and making the disk appear to +rise and sink periodically, though in reality it does nothing of the +kind. A similar effect is well-known on the earth. It produces the +'after glow' on the peaks of the Alps when the sun is far below the +horizon; it sometimes makes the sun bob up and down again after sunset, +and it has been known to make the sun show in the Arctic regions three +weeks before the proper time. I had some difficulty in understanding how +the effect could take place so regularly."</p> + +<p>"I think you ascribed it to the interaction of the solar heat and the +evaporation from the surface."</p> + +<p>"Quite so. I assumed that when the sun is low the vapours above the edge +of the crater and elsewhere cool and condense, thus bending the rays and +seeming to lift the sun higher; but after a time the rays heat and +rarefy the vapours, thus lowering the sun again. It seemed a plausible +hypothesis and satisfied me for a time, but still not altogether, and +now I believe I have made a discovery."</p> + +<p>"And it is?"</p> + +<p>"That Venus is a wobbler."</p> + +<p>"A wobbler?"</p> + +<p>"That she wobbles—that she doesn't keep steady—swings from side to +side. You have seen a top, how stiff and erect it is when it is spinning +fast, and how it wobbles when it is spinning slow, just before it +falls. Well, I think something of the kind is going on with Venus. The +earth may be compared to a top that is whirling fast, and Venus to one +that has slowed down. She is less able than the earth to resist the +disturbing attraction of the sun on the inequalities of her figure, and +therefore she wobbles. In addition to the slow swinging of her axis +which produces her 'seasons,' she has a quicker nodding, which gives +rise to day and night in some favoured spots like Womla."</p> + +<p>"After all," said I, "tis a feminine trait. <i>Souvent femme varie.</i>"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she is constant to her lord the sun," rejoined Gazen. "She never +turns her back upon him, but if I have not discovered a mare's nest, +which is very likely, she becks and bows to him a good deal, and thus +maintains her 'infinite variety.'"</p> + +<p>The cloudy surface of Mercury now lay far beneath us, and the glowing +disc of the sun, which appeared four or five times larger than it does +on the earth, had taken a bluish tinge—a proof that we had reached a +very great altitude.</p> + +<p>"What a magnificent 'sun-spot!'" exclaimed the professor in a tone of +admiration. "Just take a peep at it."</p> + +<p>I placed my eye to the telescope, and saw the glowing surface of the +disc resolved into a marvellous web of shining patches on a dimmer +background, and in the midst a large blotch which reminded me of a +quarry hole as delineated on the plan of a surveyor.</p> + +<p>"Have you been able to throw any fresh light on these mysterious +'spots?'" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"I am more than ever persuaded they are breaks in the photosphere caused +by eruptions of heated matter, chiefly gaseous from the +interior—eruptions such as might give rise to craters like that of +Womla, or those of the moon, were the sun cooler. No doubt that eminent +authority, Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil, regards them as aerial +hurricanes; but the more I see, the more I am constrained to regard +Sylvanus Pettifer Possil as a silly vain asteroid."</p> + +<p>While Gazen was yet speaking we both became sensible of an unwonted +stillness in the car.</p> + +<p>The machinery had ceased to vibrate.</p> + +<p>Our feelings at this discovery were akin to those of passengers in an +ocean steamer when the screw stops—a welcome relief to the monotony of +the voyage, a vague apprehension of danger, and curiosity to learn what +had happened.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything wrong, Carmichael?" asked Gazen through the speaking +tube.</p> + +<p>There was no response.</p> + +<p>"I say, Carmichael, is anything the matter?" he reiterated in a louder +tone.</p> + +<p>Still no answer.</p> + +<p>We were now thoroughly alarmed, and though it was against the rules, we +descended into the machinery room. The cause of Carmichael's silence was +only too apparent. We saw him lying on the floor beside his strange +machine, with his head leaning against the wall. There was a placid +expression on his face, and he appeared to slumber; but we soon found +that he was either in a faint or dead. Without loss of time we tried the +first simple restoratives at hand, but they proved of no avail.</p> + +<p>Gazen went and called Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>She had been resting in her cabin after her trying experience with the +dragon, and although most anxious about her father, and far from well +herself, she behaved with calm self-possession.</p> + +<p>"I think the heat has overcome him," she said, after a quick +examination; and truly the cabin was insufferably hot, thanks to the +machinery and the fervid rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>We could not open the scuttles and admit fresh air, for there was little +or none to admit.</p> + +<p>"I shall try oxygen," she said on reflecting a moment.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, while Gazen, in obedience to her directions began to work +Carmichael's arms up and down, after the method of artificial +respiration which had brought me round at the outset of our journey, she +and I administered oxygen gas from one of our steel bottles to his lungs +by means of a makeshift funnel applied to his mouth. In some fifteen or +twenty minutes he began to show signs of returning animation, and soon +afterwards, to our great relief, he opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>At first he looked about him in a bewildered way, and then he seemed to +recollect his whereabouts. After an ineffectual attempt to speak, and +move his limbs, he fixed his eyes with a meaning expression on the +engines.</p> + +<p>We had forgotten their stoppage. Miss Carmichael sprang to investigate +the cause.</p> + +<p>"They are jammed," she said after a short inspection. "The essential +part is jammed with the heat. Whatever is to be done?"</p> + +<p>We stared at each other blankly as the terrible import of her words came +home to us. Unless we could start the machines again, we must inevitably +fall back on Mercury. Perhaps we were falling now!</p> + +<p>We endeavoured to think of a ready and practicable means of cooling the +engines, but without success. The water and oil on board was lukewarm; +none of us knew how to make a freezing mixture even if we had the +materials; our stock of liquid air had long been spent.</p> + +<p>Miss Carmichael tried to make her father understand the difficulty in +hopes that he would suggest a remedy, but all her efforts were in vain. +Carmichael lay with his eyes closed in a kind of lethargy or paralysis.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, when we are falling through the planet's atmosphere," said I, +"if we open the scuttles and let the cold air blow through the room, it +will cool the engines."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid there will not be time," replied Gazen, shaking his head; +"we shall fall much faster than we rose. The friction of the air against +the car will generate heat. We shall drop down like a meteoric stone and +be smashed to atoms."</p> + +<p>"We have parachutes," said Miss Carmichael, "do you think we shall be +able to save our lives?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," answered Gazen sadly. "They would be torn and whirled +away."</p> + +<p>"So far as I can see there is only one hope for us," said I. "If we +should happen to fall into a deep sea or lake, the car would rise to the +surface again."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is true," responded Gazen; "the car is hollow and light. It +would float. The water would also cool the machines and we might +escape."</p> + +<p>The bare possibility cheered us with a ray of hope.</p> + +<p>"If we only had time, my father might recover, and I believe he would +save us yet," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how much time we have," muttered Gazen.</p> + +<p>"We can't tell," said I. "It depends on the height we had reached and +the speed we were going at when the engines stopped. We shall rise like +a ball thrown into the air and then fall back to the ground."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we are still rising," ejaculated Gazen. "Let us take a look +at the planet."</p> + +<p>"Don't be long," pleaded Miss Carmichael, as we turned to go. +"Meanwhile, I shall try and bring my father round."</p> + +<p>On getting to the observatory, we consulted the atmospheric pressure +gauge and found it out of use, a sign that we had attained an altitude +beyond the atmosphere of Mercury, and were now in empty space.</p> + +<p>We turned to the planet, whose enormous disc, muffled in cloud, was +shining lividly in the weird sky. At one part of the limb a range of +lofty mountain peaks rose above the clouds and chequered them with +shadow.</p> + +<p>Fixing our eyes upon this landmark we watched it with bated breath. Was +it coming nearer, or was it receding from us? That was the momentous +question.</p> + +<p>My feelings might be compared to those of a prisoner at the bar watching +the face of the juryman who is about to deliver the verdict.</p> + +<p>After a time—I know not how long—but it seemed an age—the professor +exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"I believe we are still rising."</p> + +<p>It was my own impression, for the peak I was regarding had grown as I +thought smaller, but I did not feel sure, and preferred to trust the +more experienced eyes of the astronomer.</p> + +<p>"I shall try the telescope," he went on; "we are a long way from the +planet."</p> + +<p>"How far do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Many thousand miles at least."</p> + +<p>"So much the better. We shall get more time."</p> + +<p>"Humph! prolonging the agony, that's all. I begin to wish it was all +over."</p> + +<p>Gazen directed his instrument on the planet, and we resumed our +observations.</p> + +<p>"We are no longer rising," said Gazen after a time. "I suppose we are +near the turning-point."</p> + +<p>As a prisoner scans the countenance of the judge who is about to +pronounce the sentence of life or death, I scanned the cloudy surface +underneath us, to see if I could discover any signs of an ocean that +would break our fall, but the vapours were too thick and compact.</p> + +<p>Every instant I expected to hear the fatal intelligence that our descent +had begun.</p> + +<p>"Strange!" muttered Gazen by-and-by, as if speaking to himself.</p> + +<p>"What is strange?"</p> + +<p>"We are neither rising nor falling now. We don't seem to move."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, it's a fact," he exclaimed at the end of some minutes. +"The focus of the telescope is constant. We are evidently standing +still."</p> + +<p>His words sounded like a reprieve to a condemned man on the morning of +his execution, and in the revulsion of my feeling I shouted,</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!"</p> + +<p>"What can it mean?" cried Gazen.</p> + +<p>"Simply this," said I joyfully. "We have reached the 'dead-point,' where +the attraction of Mercury on the car is balanced by the attraction of +the sun. It can't be anything else."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," said Gazen, making a rapid calculation. "Yes, yes, +probably you are right. I did not think we had come so far; but I had +forgotten that gravitation on Mercury is only half as strong as it is on +the Earth or Venus. Let us go and tell Miss Carmichael."</p> + +<p>We hurried downstairs to the engine room and found her kneeling beside +her father, who was no better.</p> + +<p>She did not seem much enlivened by the good news.</p> + +<p>"What will that do for us?" she enquired doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"We can remain here as long as we like, suspended between the Sun and +Mercury," replied Gazen.</p> + +<p>"Is it better to linger and die in a living tomb than be dashed to +pieces and have done with it?"</p> + +<p>"But we shall gain time for your father to recover."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid my father will never recover in this place. The heat is +killing him. Unless we can get further away from the sun he will die, +I'm sure he will."</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"Don't distress yourself, dear Miss Carmichael, please don't," said +Gazen tenderly. "Now that we have time to think, perhaps we shall hit +upon some plan."</p> + +<p>An idea flashed into my head.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said I to Gazen, "you remember our conversation in your +observatory one day on the propelling power of rockets—how a rocket +might be used to drive a car through space?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but we have no rockets."</p> + +<p>"No, but we have rifles, and rifle bullets fired from the car, though +not so powerful, will have a similar effect."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"The car is now at rest in space. A slight impulse will direct it one +way or another. Why should we not send it off in such a way that in +falling towards Mercury it will not strike the planet, but circle round +it; or if it should fall towards the surface, will do so at a great +slant, and allow the atmosphere to cool the engines."</p> + +<p>"Let me see," said Gazen, drawing a diagram in his note-book, and +studying it attentively. "Yes, there is something in that. It's a +forlorn hope at best, but perhaps it's our only hope. If we could only +get into the shadow of the planet we might be saved."</p> + +<p>As delay might prove fatal to Carmichael, and since it was uncertain +whether he could right the engines in their present situation, we +decided to act on the suggestion without loss of time. Gazen and I +calculated the positions of the rifles and the number of shots to be +fired in order to give the required impetus to the car. The engine-room, +being well provided with scuttles, was chosen as the scene of our +operations. A brace of magazine rifles were fixed through two of the +scuttles in such a way that the recoil of the shots would urge the car +in an oblique direction backwards, so as to clear or almost clear the +planet, allowance being made for the forward motion of the latter in its +orbit. Needless to say, the barrel of each rifle was packed round so as +to keep the air in the car from escaping into space.</p> + +<p>At a given signal the rifles were discharged simultaneously by Gazen and +myself. There was little noise, but the car trembled with the shock, and +the prostrate man opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>Had it produced the desired effect? We could not tell without an appeal +to the telescope.</p> + +<p>"I'll be back in a moment," cried Gazen, springing upstairs to the +observatory.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel any better, father?" enquired Miss Carmichael, laying her +cool hand on the invalid's fevered brow.</p> + +<p>He winked, and tried to nod in the affirmative. "Were you asleep, +father? Did the shock rouse you?"</p> + +<p>He winked again.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what we are doing?" Before he could answer the foot of +Gazen sounded on the stair. He had left us with an eager, almost a +confident eye. He came back looking grave in the extreme.</p> + +<p>"We are not falling towards Mercury," he said gloomily. "<i>We are rushing +to the sun!</i>"</p> + +<p>I cannot depict our emotion at this awful announcement which changed our +hopes into despair. Probably it affected each of us in a different +manner. I cannot recollect my own feelings well enough to analyse them, +and suppose I must have been astounded for a time. A vision of the car, +plunging through an atmosphere of flame, into the fiery entrails of the +sun, flashed across my excited brain, and then I seemed to lose the +power of thought.</p> + +<p>"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," said I at last, in frivolous +reaction.</p> + +<p>"His will be done!" murmured Miss Carmichael, instinctively drawing +closer to her father, who seemed to realise our jeopardy.</p> + +<p>"We must look the matter in the face," said Gazen, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>"What a death!" I exclaimed, "to sit and watch the vast glowing furnace +that is to swallow us up come nearer and nearer, second after second, +minute after minute, hour after hour."</p> + +<p>"The nearer we approach the sun the faster we shall go," said Gazen. +"For one thing, we shall be dead long before we reach him. The heat will +stifle us. It will be all over in a few hours."</p> + +<p>What a death! To see, to feel ourselves roasting as in an oven. It was +too horrible.</p> + +<p>"Are you certain there is no mistake?" I asked at length.</p> + +<p>"Quite," replied Gazen. "Come and see for yourself."</p> + +<p>We had all but gained the door when Miss Carmichael followed us.</p> + +<p>"Professor," she said, with a tremor in her voice, and a look of +supplication in her eyes, "you will come back soon—you will not leave +us long."</p> + +<p>"No, my darling—I beg your pardon," answered Gazen, obeying the impulse +of his heart. "God knows I would give my life to save you if I could."</p> + +<p>In another instant he had locked her in his arms.</p> + +<p>I left them together, and ascended to the observatory, where Gazen soon +afterwards rejoined me.</p> + +<p>"I'm the happiest man alive," said he, with a beaming countenance. +"Congratulate me. I'm betrothed to Miss Carmichael."</p> + +<p>I took his proffered hand, scarcely knowing whether to laugh or cry.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that I have found my life in losing it," he continued +with a grim smile. "Saturn! what a courtship is ours—what an +engagement—what a bridal bed! But there, old fellow, I'm afraid I'm +happier than you—alone in spirit, and separated from her you love. +Perhaps I was wrong to carry you away from Venus—it has not turned out +well—but I acted for the best. Forgive me!"</p> + +<p>I wrung his hand in silence.</p> + +<p>"Now let us take a look through the telescope," he went on, wiping his +eyes, and adjusting the instrument. "You will see how soon it gets out +of focus. We are flying from Mercury, my friend, faster and faster."</p> + +<p>It was true.</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand how that should be," said I. "The firing ought +to have had a contrary effect."</p> + +<p>"The rifles are not to blame," answered Gazen. "If we had used them +earlier we might have saved ourselves. But all the time that we were +discussing ways and means, and making our preparations to shoot, we +were gradually drifting towards the sun without knowing it. We +overlooked the fact that the orbit of Mercury is very far from circular, +and that he is now moving further away from the sun every instant. As a +consequence his attractive power over the car is growing weaker every +moment. The car had reached the 'dead-point' where the attractive +powers of the sun and planet over it just balanced each other; but as +that of the planet grew feebler the balance turned, and the car was +drawn with ever accelerating velocity towards the sun."</p> + +<p>"Like enough."</p> + +<p>"I can satisfy you of it by pointing the telescope at a sun-spot," said +Gazen, bringing the instrument to bear upon the sun. "You will then see +how fast we are running to perdition. I say—what would our friends in +London think if they could see us now? Wouldn't old Possil snigger! +Well, I shall get the better of him at last. I shall solve the great +mystery of the 'sun-spots' and the 'willow leaves.' Only he will never +know it. That's a bitter drop in the cup!"</p> + +<p>So saying, he applied his eye to the telescope, his ruling passion +strong in death. For myself, as often as I had admired the glorious +luminary, I could not think of it now without a shudder, and fell a +prey to my own melancholy ruminations.</p> + +<p>So this was the end! After all our care and forethought, after all our +struggles, after all our success, to perish miserably like moths in a +candle, to plunge headlong into that immense conflagration as a vessel +dives into the ocean, and is never heard of more! Not a vestige of us, +not even a charred bone to tell the tale. Alumion—our friends at +home—when they admired the sun would they ever fancy that it was our +grave—ever dream that our ashes were whirling in its flames. The cry of +Othello, in his despair, which I had learned at school, came back to my +mind—"Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in +steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!"</p> + +<p>Regrets, remorse, and bitter reflections overwhelmed me. Why had we not +stayed in Venus? Why had we come to Mercury? Why had we endeavoured to +do so much? What folly had drawn me into this mad venture at all? No, I +could not say that. I could not call it folly which had brought me to +Alumion. I had no regret, but on the contrary an unspeakable joy and +gratitude on that score. But why had we attempted to approach so near +the sun, daring the heat, which had jammed our engines, and disabled +our best intellect; risking the powerful attraction that was hurrying us +to our doom?</p> + +<p>Suddenly a peculiar thrill shook the car. With a bounding heart I +started to my feet and dashed into the engine-room. It was true then. +Yes, it was true. <i>The engines were at work, and we were saved!</i></p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII'></a><h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + +<h4>HOME AGAIN.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>We owed our salvation to Mr. Carmichael. The firing of our magazine +rifles, followed by the news of our perilous situation, had roused him +from his lethargy. Although still unable to speak, he had contrived by +means of his eyes to make his daughter understand that he wished another +dose of oxygen. When she was about to administer it, he called her +attention to the fact that in expanding as it issued from the cylinder, +the gas became very cold. She caught his meaning instantly, and on +applying the gas to the sensitive parts of the machinery had succeeded +in cooling and releasing them.</p> + +<p>It seems that Carmichael, in order to save time, had been working the +engines at an unusually high speed, which, together with the heat of the +sun, had caused them to jam. Their enforced rest had of itself allowed +them to cool somewhat, and by reducing the speed until we reached a +cooler region, they did not stick again.</p> + +<p>Carmichael recovered from his illness, and the journey to the earth was +accomplished without accident. We landed safely on some undiscovered +islands in the Arctic Circle, and after a flying visit to the North Pole +in the vicinity, we bore away for England, keeping as high over the sea +as possible to escape notice. Going southward we passed through all +sorts of weather, thick snow, hurricanes of wind and rain, dry or wet +fogs, and so forth; but it made no difference to us. Crossing +Spitzbergen, the car was frosted over with ice needles, which, however, +were soon thawed by a warmer current of air. Between Iceland and the +coast of Norway we glided through a magnificent aurora borealis that +covered the whole sky with a luminous curtain, and made us fancy we had +floated unawares into the fabulous Niffleheim of the old Scandinavian +gods. Near the Faroe Islands we dashed into a violent thunderstorm, and +were almost deafened by the terrific explosions, or blinded by the +flashes of lightning. Otherwise we could enjoy both of these electrical +displays without fear, as the metallic shell of the car was a good +protective screen. Certainly our flying machine would be an excellent +means of making observations in meteorology, from the sampling of +cirrus cloud to the chasing of a tornado.</p> + +<p>The first sign of man we saw was a ship rolling in a storm off the +Hebrides; but apparently she was not in distress, else we should have +gone to her succour. How easy with such a car to rescue lives and +property from sinking ships, and even patrol the seas in search of them!</p> + +<p>The sun was setting in purple and gold as we approached the English +coast, and although at our elevation we were still in sunshine, the +twilight had begun to gather over the distant land. The first sound we +heard was the moaning of the tide along the shore, and the mournful +sighing of the wind among the trees. Hills, fields, and woods lay +beneath us like a garden in miniature. The lamps and fires of lonely +villages and farmhouses twinkled like glow-worms in the dusk. A railway +train, with its white puff of smoke and lighted carriages, seemed to be +crawling like a fiery caterpillar along the ground; but in a few moments +we had left it far behind. As it grew darker and darker we descended +nearer to the surface. A herd of sheep stood huddled on the grass, and +stared at us; a flock of geese ran cackling into a farmyard; the +watch-dog barked and tugged furiously at his chain; a little boy +screamed with fright.</p> + +<p>"That sounds homely," said the professor to Miss Carmichael and myself, +who were standing with him on the gallery outside the car. "It's the +sweetest music I've heard for many a day. Certainly Venus was a charming +place, but I for one am jolly glad to get home again."</p> + +<p>Yes, I must confess that I too felt a deep and tranquil pleasure in +returning to the familiar scenes and the beloved soil of my infancy.</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to care much for Venus," said Miss Carmichael to Gazen. +"Probably if you had been born there you would have liked it better."</p> + +<p>"That may be. If you would like a place, it is well to be born in it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps if you are a good boy you will go to Venus when you die."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it won't suit my mental constitution. They don't care for +science there, and I don't care for anything else. Mars would fit me +better, I imagine."</p> + +<p>"Venus is my favourite," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, it's good enough for me," responded Gazen.</p> + +<p>Their talk set me thinking of Alumion, and my strange fancy that I had +known her in another world. Suddenly it occurred to me that in many of +her ways and looks she bore a singular resemblance to my first love, who +had died in childhood. That was nearly seventeen years ago. +Seventeen—it was just the age of Alumion. Could it be possible that she +and Alumion were one and the same soul?</p> + +<p>"I should like to go back to Venus," said Miss Carmichael. "We can go +there now at any time."</p> + +<p>"Of course we can," replied Gazen; "and to Mars as well. Your father's +invention opens up a bewildering prospect of complications in the +universe. So long as each planet was isolated, and left to manage its +own affairs, the politics of the solar system were comparatively simple; +but what will they be when one globe interferes with another? Think of a +German fleet of ether-ships on the prowl for a cosmical empire, +bombarding Womla, and turning it into a Prussian fortress, or an +emporium for cheap goods."</p> + +<p>"Father was talking of that very matter the other night," said Miss +Carmichael, "and he declared that rather than see any harm come to Womla +he would keep his invention a secret—at all events for a thousand years +longer."</p> + +<p>We had glided rapidly across the Black Country, with its furnaces and +forges blazing in the darkness, and now the dull red glow of the +metropolis was visible on the horizon. Half-an-hour later we descended +in the garden of Carmichael's cottage, and found everything as snug as +when we had left it.</p> + +<p>Leaving my fellow-travellers there, I took the train for London, and was +driven to my club, where I intended to sleep. It was a raw wet evening, +and in spite of a certain joy at being home again, I could not help +feeling that my heart was no longer here, but in another planet. After +the sublime deserts of space, and the delightful paradise of Womla, the +busy streets, the blinding glare of the lamps, the splashing vehicles, +the blatant newspaper men, the swarms of people crossing each other's +paths, and occasionally kicking each other's heels, everyone intent on +his own affairs of business or pleasure, were disenchanting, to say the +least. I seemed to have awakened from a beautiful dream, and fallen into +a dismal nightmare.</p> + +<p>In the smoking-room of the club the first person I saw was my friend the +Viscount, who was sitting just where I had left him on the night we +started for Venus, with his glass of toddy before him, and a cigar +between his lips.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" he exclaimed on seeing me. "Haven't seen you for some +time—must be nearly two months. Been abroad? You look brown."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, suppose we finish our game of chess."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure."</p> + +<p>"You remember the wager—a thousand to a hundred sovereigns that I win."</p> + +<p>He was the better player, and although I had a slight advantage in the +game as it stood, I was by no means certain of winning, especially as I +was tired and sleepy; but ever since my sojourn in Venus, my intellect +had been unusually clear and active. I played as I had never played +before, and in three moves had won the wager.</p> + +<p>"That will pay my travelling expenses," said I, pocketing his cheque.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I ought perhaps to mention that Professor Gazen carried out his +intention of reading a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society on his +alleged discovery of a diurnal nutation or "wobbling" of the planet +Venus; but I regret to say that owing to preconceived opinions and +personal prejudices, his ingenious theory met with a reception far below +its merits. By the terms of our agreement he was forbidden to divulge +the secret of our expedition until my own account appeared, but some +telescopic observations he had made since coming home had provided him +with independent proofs.</p> + +<p>"Do you think Professor Possil will be present?" said I to him, as we +dined together before we went to the meeting.</p> + +<p>"Sure to be," replied Gazen. "He never misses an opportunity of +attacking me. 'Tis the nature of the animal. But I flatter myself I +shall get the laugh on him this time."</p> + +<p>The hall was full. The hearty welcome of the Fellows showed their high +appreciation of Professor Gazen, and made me feel quite proud of his +acquaintance. They listened to his discourse on the movements of Venus, +and his new hypothesis, with all the solemnity of a Roman senate +deliberating on the destiny of a nation. When he had finished in a salvo +of applause, the president, a man of grave and dignified demeanour, as +became his office, complimented the author on his communication, which +from the startling novelty of the subject would, he believed, give rise +to an interesting discussion, and after calling on Professor Possil, he +resumed his chair. That illustrious man, whose insignificant appearance +belied his fame, responded to the invitation with a show of reluctance, +from a conspicuous place in the front row of the audience, and +immediately assailed the new hypothesis in his most uncompromising +fashion.</p> + +<p>"Never in his experience of the Society," he said, "and never perhaps in +the history of astronomy, had an alleged discovery of such magnitude and +consequence been promulgated on the strength of such flimsy evidence;" +and after traversing in detail all the arguments of his opponent, he +declared it his firm conviction that the effects which Professor Gazen +had thought fit to advance as a "discovery," were neither more nor less +than an optical illusion, not to say a mental hallucination.</p> + +<p>Judging from the applause which greeted his remarks, the majority of his +hearers were evidently of the same opinion.</p> + +<p>A grim smile settled on my companion's face, and I could see that he +maintained his temper with increasing difficulty, as one speaker after +another delivered his mind in much the same sarcastic style of +criticism.</p> + +<p>At length his turn came to make a reply.</p> + +<p>"Mr. President and gentlemen," said he with an air of smiling +confidence, "at this late hour I do not propose to occupy the meeting +with a refutation of all the various comments of the distinguished +Fellows who have spoken; but as my learned friend, Professor Possil, has +thought fit to charge me with bringing my discovery before the Society +on insufficient grounds, I think it right to say that I possess much +more conclusive evidence, which for the present, circumstances have +prevented me from laying before you."</p> + +<p>"Mr. President," exclaimed the celebrated Possil, starting to his feet, +"I should like to ask whether it is altogether in good faith for a +Fellow of this Society to bring forward what he calls a discovery, and +keep back the most important part of the proof. Might I enquire of the +author of the paper what is the nature of this suppressed evidence?"</p> + +<p>"Simply that I have been there," answered Gazen, forgetting his promise +to me in the excitement of the combat.</p> + +<p>"Where?" demanded the astonished Possil.</p> + +<p>"Venus."</p> + +<p>There was a loud burst of sceptical laughter.</p> + +<p>"I think, sir," said Professor Possil to the Chair, with exasperating +coolness, "I think, sir, that after the astounding revelation of the +learned professor, we shall be perfectly justified in concluding on +sufficient evidence that the professor's head, and not the planet Venus, +has been 'wobbling' of late."</p> + +<p>"What I say is true," cried Gazen, nettled at this rude insinuation.</p> + +<p>Cries of "Order, order," "withdraw," "apologise," resounded on every +side.</p> + +<p>"I cannot apologise for the truth," retorted Gazen hotly.</p> + +<p>"Mr. President," continued the pugnacious and imperturbable Fossil, "I +venture to submit that the preposterous assertions we have just heard +are better adapted to a meeting of the Fellows of Colney Hatch than of +this Society, and I beg to move that our unfortunate friend be called +upon to leave the meeting in charge of some responsible person, who will +conduct him safely to his home, and deliver him into the custody of his +friends."</p> + +<p>"Come on! They're a pack of fools!" cried Gazen to me hoarsely, as, +followed by the jeers of his companions, he arose and left the room.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I have only to add that Professor Gazen and Miss Carmichael are about +to be married. For myself, as soon as the ceremony is over I shall +return to Venus and Alumion.</p> + +<br /> + +<h4>THE END.</h4> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13716 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d83b3d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #13716 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13716) diff --git a/old/13716-0.txt b/old/13716-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..90d42c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13716-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6123 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Trip to Venus, by John Munro + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Trip to Venus + +Author: John Munro + +Release Date: October 11, 2004 [EBook #13716] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + + + + + +A TRIP TO VENUS + + +A NOVEL BY JOHN MUNRO + +Author of the "The Wire and the Wave," +"The Story of Electricity," etc., etc. + + +Published in 1897 by Jarrold & Sons, London + + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER I. A MESSAGE FROM MARS + +CHAPTER II. HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + +CHAPTER III. A NEW FORCE + +CHAPTER IV. THE ELECTRIC ORRERY + +CHAPTER V. LEAVING THE EARTH + +CHAPTER VI. IN SPACE + +CHAPTER VII. ARRIVING IN VENUS + +CHAPTER VIII. THE CRATER LAND + +CHAPTER IX. THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL + +CHAPTER X. ALUMION + +CHAPTER XI. THE FLYING APE + +CHAPTER XII. SUNWARD HO! + +CHAPTER XIII. HOME AGAIN + + + + + + "The heaven that rolls around cries aloud to you while it displays + its eternal harmony, and yet your eyes are fixed upon the earth + alone." + + DANTE. + + + "This truth within thy mind rehearse, + That in a boúndless universe + Is boundless better, boundless worse. + + "Think you this mould of hopes and fears + Could find no statelier than his peers + In yonder hundred million spheres?" + + TENNYSON. + + + + +A TRIP TO VENUS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MESSAGE FROM MARS. + + +While I was glancing at the _Times_ newspaper in a morning train for +London my eyes fell on the following item:-- + + A STRANGE LIGHT ON MARS.--On Monday afternoon, Dr. Krueger, who is + in charge of the central bureau at Kiel, telegraphed to his + correspondents:-- + + "_Projection lumineuse dans région australe du terminateur de Mars + observée par Javelle 28 courant, 16 heures.--Perrotin._" + +In plain English, at 4 a.m., a ray of light had been observed on the +disc of the planet Mars in or near the "terminator"; that is to say, the +zone of twilight separating day from night. The news was doubly +interesting to me, because a singular dream of "Sunrise in the Moon" had +quickened my imagination as to the wonders of the universe beyond our +little globe, and because of a never-to-be-forgotten experience of mine +with an aged astronomer several years ago. + +This extraordinary man, living the life of a recluse in his own +observatory, which was situated in a lonely part of the country, had, or +at any rate, believed that he had, opened up a communication with the +inhabitants of Mars, by means of powerful electric lights, flashing in +the manner of a signal-lantern or heliograph. I had set him down as a +monomaniac; but who knows? perhaps he was not so crazy after all. + +When evening came I turned to the books, and gathered a great deal about +the fiery planet, including the fact that a stout man, a Daniel Lambert, +could jump his own height there with the greatest ease. Very likely; but +I was seeking information on the strange light, and as I could not find +any I resolved to walk over and consult my old friend, Professor Gazen, +the well-known astronomer, who had made his mark by a series of splendid +researches with the spectroscope into the constitution of the sun and +other celestial bodies. + +It was a fine clear night. The sky was cloudless and of a deep dark +blue, which revealed the highest heavens and the silvery lustre of the +Milky Way. The great belt of Orion shone conspicuously in the east, and +Sirius blazed a living gem more to the south. I looked for Mars, and +soon found him farther to the north, a large red star, amongst the white +of the encircling constellations. + +Professor Gazen was quite alone in his observatory when I arrived, and +busily engaged in writing or computing at his desk. + +"I hope I'm not disturbing you," said I, as we shook hands; "I know that +you astronomers must work when the fine night cometh." + +"Don't mention it," he replied cordially; "I'm observing one of the +nebulas just now, but it won't be in sight for a long time yet." + +"What about this mysterious light on Mars. Have you seen anything of +it?" + +Gazen laughed. + +"I have not," said he, "though I did look the other night." + +"You believe that something of the kind has been seen?" + +"Oh, certainly. The Nice Observatory, of which Monsieur Perrotin is +director, has one of the finest telescopes in existence, and Monsieur +Javelle is well-known for his careful work." + +"How do you account for it?" + +"The light is not outside the disc," responded Gazen, "else I should +ascribe it to a small comet. It may be due to an aurora in Mars as a +writer in _Nature_ has suggested, or to a range of snowy Alps, or even +to a bright cloud, reflecting the sunrise. Possibly the Martians have +seen the forest fires in America, and started a rival illumination." + +"What strikes you as the likeliest of these notions?" + +"Mountain peaks catching the sunshine." + +"Might it not be the glare of a city, or a powerful search-light--in +short, a signal?" + +"Oh dear, no," exclaimed the astronomer, smiling incredulously. "The +idea of signalling has got into people's heads through the outcry raised +about it some time ago, when Mars was in 'opposition' and near the +earth. I suppose you are thinking of the plan for raising and lowering +the lights of London to attract the notice of the Martians?" + +"No; I believe I told you of the singular experience I had some five or +six years ago with an old astronomer, who thought he had established an +optical telegraph to Mars?" + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. Ah, that poor old chap was insane. Like the +astronomer in _Rasselas_, he had brooded so long in solitude over his +visionary idea that he had come to imagine it a reality." + +"Might there not be some truth in his notion? Perhaps he was only a +little before his time." + +Gazen shook his head. + +"You see," he replied, "Mars is a much older planet than ours. In winter +the Arctic snows extend to within forty degrees of the equator, and the +climate must be very cold. If human beings ever existed on it they must +have died out long ago, or sunk to the condition of the Eskimo." + +"May not the climate be softened by conditions of land and sea unknown +to us? May not the science and civilisation of the Martians enable them +to cope with the low temperature?" + +"The atmosphere of Mars is as rare as ours at a height of six miles, and +a warm-blooded creature like man would expire in it." + +"Like man, yes," I answered; "but man was made for this world. We are +too apt to measure things by our own experience. Why should we limit the +potentiality of life by what we know of this planet?" + +"In the next place," went on Gazen, ignoring my remark, "the old +astronomer's plan of signalling by strong lights was quite +impracticable. No artificial light is capable of reaching to Mars. Think +of the immense distance and the two atmospheres to penetrate! The man +was mad, as mad as a March hare! though why a March hare is mad I'm sure +I don't know." + +"I read the other day of an electric light in America which can be seen +150 miles through the lower atmosphere. Such a light, if properly +directed, might be visible on Mars; and, for aught we know, the Martians +may have discovered a still stronger beam." + +"And if they have, the odds against their signalling just when we are +alive to the possibility of it are simply tremendous." + +"I see nothing incredible in the coincidence. Two heads often conceive +the same idea about the same time, and why not two planets, if the hour +be ripe? Surely there is one and the same inspiring Soul in all the +universe. Besides, they may have been signalling for centuries, off and +on, without our knowing it." + +"Then, again," said Gazen, with a pawky twinkle in his eye, "our +electric light may have woke them up." + +"Perhaps they are signalling now," said I, "while we are wasting +precious time. I wish you would look." + +"Yes, if you like; but I don't think you'll see any 'luminous +projections,' human or otherwise." + +"I shall see the face of Mars, anyhow, and that will be a rare +experience. It seems to me that a view of the heavenly bodies through a +fine telescope, as well as a tour round the world, should form a part +of a liberal education. How many run to and fro upon the earth, hunting +for sights at great trouble and expense, but how few even think of that +sublimer scenery of the sky which can be seen without stirring far from +home! A peep at some distant orb has power to raise and purify our +thoughts like a strain of sacred music, or a noble picture, or a passage +from the grander poets. It always does one good." + +Professor Gazen silently turned the great refracting telescope in the +direction of Mars, and peered attentively through its mighty tube for +several minutes. + +"Is there any light?" I inquired. + +"None," he replied, shaking his head. "Look for yourself." + +I took his place at the eye-piece, and was almost startled to find the +little coppery star, which I had seen half-an-hour before, apparently +quite near, and transformed into a large globe. It resembled a gibbous +moon, for a considerable part of its disc was illuminated by the sun. + +A dazzling spot marked one of its poles, and the rest of its visible +surface was mottled with ruddy and greenish tints which faded into white +at the rim. Fascinated by the spectacle of that living world, seen at a +glance, and pursuing its appointed course through the illimitable ether, +I forgot my quest, and a religious awe came over me akin to that felt +under the dome of a vast cathedral. + +"Well, what do you make of it?" + +The voice recalled me to myself, and I began to scrutinise the dim and +shadowy border of the terminator for the feeblest ray of light, but all +in vain. + +"I can't see any 'luminous projection'; but what a magnificent object in +the telescope!" + +"It is indeed," rejoined the professor, "and though we have not many +opportunities of seeing it, we know it better than the other planets, +and almost as well as the moon. Its features have been carefully mapped +like those of the moon, and christened after celebrated astronomers." + +"Yourself included, I hope." + +"No, sir; I have not that honour. It is true that a man I know, an +enthusiastic amateur in astronomy, dubbed a lot of holes and corners in +the moon after his private friends and acquaintances, myself amongst +them: 'Snook's Crater,' 'Smith's Bottom,' 'Tiddler's Cove,' and so on; +but I regret to say the authorities declined to sanction his +nomenclature." + +"I presume that bright spot on the Southern limb is one of the polar +ice-caps," said I, still keeping my eye on the planet. + +"Yes," replied the professor, "and they are seen to wax and wane in +winter and summer. The reddish-yellow tracts are doubtless continents of +an ochrey soil; and not, as some think, of a ruddy vegetation. The +greenish-grey patches are probably seas and lakes. The land and water +are better mixed on Mars than on the earth--a fact which tends to +equalise the climate. There is a belt of continents round the equator: +'Copernicus,' 'Galileo,' 'Dawes,' and others, having long winding lakes +and inlets. These are separated by narrow seas from other islands on the +north or south, such as: 'Haze Land, 'Storm Land,' and so forth, which +occupy what we should call the temperate zones, beneath the poles; but I +suspect they are frigid enough. If you look closely you will see some +narrow streaks crossing the continents like fractures. These are the +famous 'Canals' of Schiaparelli, who discovered (and I wish I had his +eyes) that many of them were 'doubled,' that is, had another canal +alongside. Some of these are nearly 2,000 miles long, by fifty miles +broad, and 300 miles apart." + +"That beats the Suez Canal." + +"I am afraid they are not artificial. The doubling is chiefly observed +at the vernal equinox, our month of May, and is perhaps due to spring +floods, or vegetation in valleys of the like trend, as we find in +Siberia. The massing of clouds or mists will account for the peculiar +whiteness at the edge of the limb, and an occasional veiling of the +landscape." + +While he spoke, my attention was suddenly arrested by a vivid point of +light which appeared on the dark side of the terminator, and south of +the equator. + +"Hallo!" I exclaimed, involuntarily. "There's a light!" + +"Really!" responded Gazen, in a tone of surprise, not unmingled with +doubt. "Are you sure?" + +"Quite. There is a distinct light on one of the continents." + +"Let me see it, will you?" he rejoined, hastily; and I yielded up my +place to him. + +"Why, so there is," he declared, after a pause. "I suspect it has been +hidden under a cloud till now." + +We turned and looked at each other in silence. + +"It can't be the light Javelle saw," ejaculated Gazen at length. "That +was on Hellas Land." + +"Should the Martians be signalling they would probably use a system of +lights. I daresay they possess an electric telegraph to work it." + +The professor put his eye to the glass again, and I awaited the result +of his observation with eager interest. + +"It's as steady as possible," said he. + +"The steadiness puzzles me," I replied. "If it would only flash I should +call it a signal." + +"Not necessarily to us," said Gazen, with mock gravity. "You see, it +might be a lighthouse flashing on the Kaiser Sea, or a night message in +the autumn manoeuvres of the Martians, who are, no doubt, very warlike; +or even the advertisement of a new soap." + +"Seriously, what do you think of it?" I asked. + +"I confess it's a mystery to me," he answered, pondering deeply; and +then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added: "I wonder if it's any +good trying the spectroscope on it?" + +So saying, he attached to the telescope a magnificent spectroscope, +which he employed in his researches on the nebulæ, and renewed his +observation. + +"Well, that's the most remarkable thing in all my professional +experience," he exclaimed, resigning his place at the instrument to me. + +"What is?" I demanded, looking into the spectroscope, where I could +distinguish several faint streaks of coloured light on a darker +background. + +"You know that we can tell the nature of a substance that is burning by +splitting up the light which comes from it in the prism of a +spectroscope. Well, these bright lines of different colours are the +spectrum of a luminous gas." + +"Indeed! Have you any idea as to the origin of the blaze?" + +"It may be electrical--for instance, an aurora. It may be a volcanic +eruption, or a lake of fire such as the crater of Kilauea. Really, I +can't say. Let me see if I can identify the bright lines of the +spectrum." + +I yielded the spectroscope to him, and scarcely had he looked into it +ere he cried out-- + +"By all that's wonderful, the spectrum has changed. Eureka! It's +thallium now. I should know that splendid green line amongst a +thousand." + +"Thallium!" I exclaimed, astonished in my turn. + +"Yes," responded Gazen, hurriedly. "Make a note of the observation, and +also of the time. You will find a book for the purpose lying on the +desk." + +I did as directed, and awaited further orders. The silence was so great +that I could plainly hear the ticking of my watch laid on the desk +before me. At the end of several minutes the professor cried-- + +"It has changed again: make another note." + +"What is it now?" + +"Sodium. The yellow bands are unmistakable." + +A deep stillness reigned as before. + +"There she goes again," exclaimed the professor, much excited. "Now I +can see a couple of blue lines. What can that be? I believe it's +indium." + +Another long pause ensued. + +"Now they are gone," ejaculated Gazen once more. "A red and a yellow +line have taken their place. That should be lithium. Hey, presto!--and +all was dark." + +"What's the matter?" + +"It's all over." With these words he removed the spectroscope from the +telescope, and gazed anxiously at the planet "The light is gone," he +continued, after a minute. "Perhaps another cloud is passing over it. +Well, we must wait. In the meantime let us consider the situation. It +seems to me that we have every reason to be satisfied with our night's +work. What do you think?" + +There was a glow of triumph on his countenance as he came and stood +before me. + +"I believe it's a signal," said I, with an air of conviction. + +"But how?" + +"Why should it change so regularly? I've timed each spectrum, and found +it to last about five minutes before another took its place." + +The professor remained thoughtful and silent. + +"Is it not by the light which comes from them that we have gained all +our knowledge of the constitution of the heavenly bodies?" I continued. +"A ray from the remotest star brings in its heart a secret message to +him who can read it. Now, the Martians would naturally resort to the +same medium of communication as the most obvious, simple, and +practicable. By producing a powerful light they might hope to attract +our attention, and by imbuing it with characteristic spectra, easily +recognised and changed at intervals, they would distinguish the light +from every other, and show us that it must have had an intelligent +origin." + +"What then?" + +"We should know that the Martians had a civilisation at least as high as +our own. To my mind, that would be a great discovery--the greatest since +the world began." + +"But of little use to either party." + +"As for that, a good many of our discoveries, especially in astronomy, +are not of much use. Suppose you find out the chemical composition of +the nebulæ you are studying, will that lower the price of bread? No; but +it will interest and enlighten us. If the Martians can tell us what Mars +is made of, and we can return the compliment as regards the earth, that +will be a service." + +"But the correspondence must then cease, as the editors say." + +"I'm not so sure of that." + +"My dear fellow! How on earth are we to understand what the Martians +say, and how on Mars are they to understand what we say? We have no +common code." + +"True; but the chemical bodies have certain well-defined properties, +have they not?" + +"Yes. Each has a peculiarity marking it from all the rest. For example, +two or more may resemble each other in colour or hardness, but not in +weight." + +"Precisely. Now, by comparing their spectra can we not be led to +distinguish a particular quality, and grasp the idea of it? In short, +can the Martians not impress that idea on us by their +spectro-telegraph?" + +"I see what you mean," said Professor Gazen; "and, now I think of it, +all the spectra we have seen belong to the group called 'metals of the +alkalies and alkaline earths,' which, of course, have distinctive +properties." + +"At first, I should think the Martians would only try to attract our +notice by striking spectra." + +"Lithium is the lightest metal known to us." + +"Well, we might get the idea of 'lightness' from that." + +"Sodium," continued the professor, "sodium is a very soft metal, with so +strong an affinity for oxygen that it burns in water. Manganese, which +belongs to the 'iron group,' is hard enough to scratch glass; and, like +iron, is decidedly magnetic. Copper is red--" + +"The signals for colour we might get from the spectra direct." + +"Mercury or quicksilver is fluid at ordinary temperatures, and that +might lead us to the idea of movement--animation--life itself." + +"Having got certain fundamental ideas," I went on, "by combining these +we might arrive at other distinct conceptions. We might build up an +ideographic or glyphic language of signs--the signs being spectra. The +numerals might be telegraphed by simple occultations of the light. Then +from spectra we might pass by an easy step to equivalent signals of +long and short flashes in various combinations, also made by occulting +the light. With such a code, our correspondence might go on at great +length, and present no difficulty; but, of course, we must be able to +reply." + +"If the Martians are as clever as you are pleased to imagine, we ought +to learn a good deal from them." + +"I hope we may, and I'm sure the world will be all the better for a +little superior enlightenment on some points." + +"Well, we must follow the matter up, at all events," said the professor, +taking another peep through the telescope. "For the present the Martian +philosophers appear to have shut up shop; and, as my nebula has now +risen, I should like to do a little work on it before daybreak. Look +here, if it's a fine night, can you join me to-morrow? We shall then +continue our observations; but, in the meanwhile, you had better say +nothing about them." + +On my way home I looked for the ruddy planet as I had done in the +earlier part of the night, but with very different feelings in my heart. +The ice of distance and isolation separating me from it seemed to have +broken down since then, and instead of a cold and alien star, I saw a +friendly and familiar world--a companion to our own in the eternal +solitude of the universe. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + + +The next evening promised well, and I kept my appointment, but +unfortunately a slight haze gathered in the sky and prevented us from +making further observations. While hoping in vain for it to clear away, +Professor Gazen and I talked over the possibility of journeying to other +worlds. The gist of our argument was afterwards published in a +conversation, entitled "Can we reach the other planets?" which appeared +in _The Day after To-morrow_. It ran as follows: + +_I_. (_the writer_). "Do you think we shall ever be able to leave the +earth and travel through space to Mars or Venus, and the other members +of the Solar System?" + +_G_. (_Checking an impulse to smile and shaking his head_), "Oh, no! +Never." + +_I_. "Yet science is working miracles, or what would have been +accounted miracles in ancient times." + +_G_. "No doubt, and hence people are apt to suppose that science can do +everything; but after all Nature has set bounds to her achievements." + +_I_. "Still, we don't know what we can and what we cannot do until we +try." + +_G_. "Not always; but in this case I think we know. The celestial bodies +are evidently isolated in space, and the tenants of one cannot pass to +another. We are confined to our own planet." + +_I_. "A similar objection might have been urged against the plan of +Columbus." + +_G_. "That was different. Columbus only sailed through unknown seas to a +distant continent. We are free to explore every nook and cranny of the +earth, but how shall we cross the immense void which parts us from +another world, except on the wings of the imagination?" + +_I_. "Great discoveries and inventions are born of dreams. There are +minds which can foresee what lies before us, and the march of science +brings it within our reach. All or nearly all our great scientific +victories have been foretold, and they have generally been achieved by +more than one person when the time came. The telescope was a dream for +ages, so was the telephone, steam and electric locomotion, aerial +navigation. Why should we scout the dream of visiting other worlds, +which is at least as old as Lucian? Ere long, and perhaps before the +century is out, we shall be flying through the air to the various +countries of the globe. In succeeding centuries what is to hinder us +from travelling through space to different planets?" + +_G_. "Quite impossible. Consider the tremendous distance--the lifeless +vacuum--that separates us even from the moon. Two hundred and forty +thousand miles of empty space." + +_I_. "Some ten times round the world. Well, is that tremendous vacuum +absolutely impassable?" + +_G_. "To any but Jules Verne and his hero, the illustrious Barbicane, +president of the Gun Club."[1] + + [Footnote 1: _The Voyage à la Lune_, by Jules Verne.] + +_I_. "Jules Verne has an original mind, and his ideas, though +extravagant, are not without value. Some of them have been realised, and +it may be worth while to examine his notion of firing a shot from the +earth to the moon. The projectile, if I remember, was an aluminium shell +in the shape of a conical bullet, and contained three men, a dog or two, +and several fowls, together with provisions and instruments. It was air +tight, warmed and illuminated with coal gas, and the oxygen for +breathing was got from chlorate of potash, while the carbonic acid +produced by the lungs and gas-burners was absorbed with caustic potash +to keep the air pure. This bullet-car was fired from a colossal +cast-iron gun founded in the sand. It was aimed at a point in the sky, +the zenith, in fact, where it would strike the moon four days later, +that is, after it had crossed the intervening space. The charge of +gun-cotton was calculated to give the projectile a velocity sufficient +to carry it past the 'dead-point,' where the gravity of the earth upon +it was just balanced by that of the moon, and enable it to fall towards +the moon for the rest of the way. The sudden shock of the discharge on +the car and its occupants was broken by means of spring buffers and +water pressure." + +_G_. "The last arrangement was altogether inadequate." + +_I_. "It was certainly a defect in the scheme." + +_G_. "Besides, the initial velocity of the bullet to carry it beyond the +'dead-point,' was, I think, 12,000 yards a second, or something like +seven miles a second." + +_I_. "His estimate was too high. An initial velocity of 9,000 yards, or +five miles a second, would carry a projectile beyond the sensible +attraction of the earth towards the moon, the planets, or anywhere; in +short, to an infinite distance. Indeed, a slightly lower velocity would +suffice in the case of the moon, owing to her attraction." + +_G_. "But how are we to give the bullet that velocity? I believe the +highest velocity obtained from a single discharge of cordite, one of our +best explosives, was rather less than 4,000 feet, or only about +three-quarters of a mile per second. With such a velocity, the +projectile would simply rise to a great height and then fall back to the +ground." + +_I_. "Both of these drawbacks can be overcome. We are not limited to a +single discharge. Dr. S. Tolver Preston, the well-known writer on +molecular science, has pointed out that a very high velocity can be got +by the use of a compound gun, or, in other words, a gun which fires +another gun as a projectile.[2] Imagine a first gun of enormous +dimensions loaded with a smaller gun, which in turn is loaded with the +bullet. The discharge of the first gun shoots the second gun into the +air, with a certain velocity. If, now, the second gun, at the instant it +leaves the muzzle of the first, is fired automatically, say by +utilising the first discharge to press a spring which can react on a +hammer or needle, the bullet will acquire a velocity due to both +discharges, and equivalent to the velocity of the second gun at the time +it was fired plus the velocity produced by the explosion of its own +charge. In this way, by employing a series of guns, fired from each +other in succession, we can graduate the starting shock, and give the +bullet a final velocity sufficient to raise it against gravity, and the +resistance of the atmosphere, which grows less as it advances, and send +it away to the moon or some other distant orb." + + [Footnote 2: _Engineering_, January 13th, 1893.] + +_G_. "Your spit-fire mode of progression is well enough in theory, but +it strikes me as just a little complicated and risky. I, for one, +shouldn't care to emulate Elijah and shoot up to Heaven in that style." + +_I_. "If it be all right in theory, it will be all right in practice. +However, instead of explosives we might employ compressed air to get the +required velocity. In the air-gun or cannon, as you probably know, a +quantity of air, compressed within a chamber of the breech, is allowed +suddenly to expand behind the bullet and eject it from the barrel. Now, +one might manage with a simple gun of this sort, provided it had a very +long barrel, and a series of air chambers at intervals from the breech +to the muzzle. Each of these chambers, beginning at the breech, could be +opened in turn as the bullet passed along the barrel, so that every +escaping jet of gas would give it an additional impulse." + +_G._ (_with growing interest_). "That sounds neater. You might work the +chambers by electricity." + +_I_. "We could even have an electric gun. Conceive a bobbin wound with +insulated wire in lieu of thread, and having the usual hole through the +axis of the frame. If a current of electricity be sent through the wire, +the bobbin will become a hollow magnet or 'solenoid,' and a plug of soft +iron placed at one end will be sucked into the hole. In this experiment +we have the germ of a solenoid cannon. The bobbin stands for the +gun-barrel, the plug for the bullet-car, and the magnetism for the +ejecting force. We can arrange the wire and current so as to draw the +plug or car right through the hole or barrel, and if we have a series of +solenoids end to end in one straight line, we can switch the current +through each in succession, and send the projectile with gathering +velocity through the interior of them all. In practice the barrel would +consist of a long straight tube, wide and strong enough to contain the +bullet-car without flexure, and begirt with giant solenoids at +intervals. Each of the solenoids would be excited by a powerful current, +one after the other, so as to urge the projectile with accelerating +speed along the tube, and launch it into the vast." + +_G_. "That looks still better than the pneumatic gun." + +_I_. "A magnetic gun would have several advantages. For instance, the +currents can be sent through the solenoids in turn as quickly as we +desire by means of a commutator in a convenient spot, for instance, at +the butt end of the gun, so as to follow up the bullet with ease, and +give it a planetary flight. By a proper adjustment of the solenoids and +currents, this could be done so gradually as to prevent a starting shock +to the occupants of the car. The velocity attained by the car would, of +course, depend on the number and power of the solenoids. If, for +example, each solenoid communicated to the car a velocity of nine yards +per second, a thousand solenoids, each magnetically stronger than +another in going from breech to muzzle, would be required to give a +final velocity of five miles a second. In such a case, the length of the +barrel would be at least 1,000 yards. Economy and safety would determine +the best proportions for the gun, but we are now considering the +feasibility of the project, not its cost. With regard to position and +supports, the gun might be constructed along the slope of a hill or +mound steep enough to give it the angle or elevation due to the aim. As +the barrel would not have to resist an explosive force, it should not be +difficult to make, and the inside could be lubricated to diminish the +friction of the projectile in passing through it. Moreover, it is +conceivable that the car need never touch the sides, for by a proper +adjustment of the magnetism of the solenoids we might suspend it in +mid-air like Mahomet's coffin, and make it glide along the magnetic axis +of the tube." + +_G_. "It seems a promising idea for an actual gun, or an electric +despatch and parcel post, or even a railway. The bullet, I suppose, +would be of iron." + +_I_. "Probably; but aluminium is magnetic in a lower degree than iron, +and its greater lightness might prove in its favour. We might also +magnetise the car, say by surrounding it with a coil of wire excited +from an accumulator on board. The car, of course, would be hermetically +sealed, but it would have doors and windows which could be opened at +pleasure. In open space it would be warmed and lighted by the sun, and +in the shadow of a planet, if need were, by coal-gas and electricity. +In either case, to temper the extremes of heat or cold, the interior +could be lined with a non-conductor. Liquefied oxygen or air for +breathing, and condensed fare would sustain the inmates; and on the +whole they might enjoy a comfortable passage through the void, taking +scientific observations, and talking over their experiences." + +_G_. "It would be a novel observatory, quite free from atmospheric +troubles. They might be able to make some astronomical discoveries." + +_I_. "A novel laboratory as well, for in space beyond the attraction of +the earth there would be no gravity. The travellers would not feel a +sense of weight, but as the change would be gradual they would get +accustomed to it, and suffer no inconvenience." + +_G_. "They would keep their gravity in losing it." + +_I_. "The car, meeting with practically no resistance in the ether, +would tend to move in the same direction with the same velocity, and +anything put overboard would neither fall nor rise, but simply float +alongside. When the car came within the sensible attraction of the moon, +its velocity would gradually increase as they approached each other." + +_G_. "Always supposing the aim of the gun to have been exact. You might +hit the moon, with its large disc and comparatively short range, +provided no wandering meteorite diverted the bullet from its course; but +it would be impossible to hit a planet, such as Venus or Mars, a mere +point of light, and thirty or forty million miles away, especially as +both the earth and planet are in rapid motion. A flying rifle-shot from +a lightning express at a distant swallow would have more chance of +success. If you missed the mark, the projectile would wheel round the +planet, and either become its satellite or return towards the earth like +that of Jules Verne in his fascinating romance." + +_I_. "Jules Verne, and other writers on this subject, appear to have +assumed that all the initial effort should come from the cannon. Perhaps +it did not suit his literary purpose to employ any other driving force. +At all events he possessed one in the rockets of Michel Ardan, the +genial Frenchman of the party, which were intended to break the fall of +the projectile on the moon." + +_G_. "If I recollect, they were actually fired to give the car a fillip +when it reached the dead-point on its way back to the earth." + +_I_. "Even in a vacuum, where an ordinary propeller could not act, the +bullet may become a prime mover, and co-operate with the gun. A rocket +can burn without an atmosphere, and the recoil of the rushing fumes will +impel the car onwards." + +_G_. "Do you think a rocket would have sufficient power to be of any +service?" + +_I_. "Ten or twelve large rockets, capable of exerting a united back +pressure of one and a half tons during five or six minutes on a car of +that weight at the earth's surface, would give it in free space a +velocity of two miles a second, which, of course, would not be lost by +friction." + +_G_. "So that it would not be absolutely necessary to give the +projectile an initial velocity of five miles a second." + +_I_. "No; and, besides, we are not solely dependent on the rocket. A jet +of gas, at a very high pressure, escaping from an orifice into the +vacuum or ether, would give us a very high propelling force. By +compressing air, oxygen, or coal-gas (useful otherwise) in iron +cylinders with closed vents, which could be opened, we should have a +store of energy serviceable at any time to drive the car. In this way a +pressure or thrust of several tons on the square inch might be applied +to the car as long as we had gas to push it forwards." + +_G_. "Certainly, and by applying the pressure, whether from the rocket +or the gas, to the front and sides, as well as to the rear of the car, +you would be able to regulate the speed, and direct the car wherever you +wanted to go." + +_I_. "Moreover, beyond the range of gravitation, we could steer and +travel by pumping out the respired air, or occasionally projecting a +pebble from the car through a stuffing box in the wall, or else by +firing a shot from a pistol." + +_G_. "You might even have a battery of machine guns on board, and +decimate the hosts of heaven." + +_I_. "Our bullets would fly straight enough, anyhow, and I suppose they +would hit something in course of time." + +_G_. "If they struck the earth they would be solemnly registered as +falling stars." + +_I_. "Certainly they would be burnt up in passing through the atmosphere +of a planet and do no harm to its inhabitants." + +_G_. "Well, now, granting that you could propel the car, and that +although your gun was badly aimed you could steer towards a planet, how +long would the journey take?" + +_I_. "The self-movement of the car would enable us to save time, which +is a matter of the first importance on such a trip. In the plan of Jules +Verne, the bullet derives all its motion from the initial effort, and +consequently slows down as it rises against the earth's attraction, +until it begins again to quicken under the gravitation of the moon. +Hence his voyage to our satellite occupied four days. As we could +maintain the velocity of the car, however, we should accomplish the +distance in thirteen hours at a speed of five miles a second, and more +or less in proportion." + +_G_. "About as long as the journey from London to Aberdeen by rail. What +about Mars or Venus?" + +_I_. "At the same speed we should cover the 36,000,000 miles to these +planets in 2,000 hours, or 84 days, that is, about three months. With a +speed of ten miles a second, which is not impossible, we could reach +them in six weeks." + +_G_. "One could scarcely go round the world in the same time. But, +having got to a planet, how are you going to land on it? Are you not +afraid you will be dissipated like a meteorite by the intense heat of +friction with the planet's atmosphere, or else be smashed to atoms by +the shock?" + +_I_. "We might steer by the stars to a point on the planet's orbit, +mathematically fixed in advance, and wait there until it comes up. The +atmosphere of the approaching planet would act as a kind of buffer, and +the fall of the car could be further checked by our means of recoil, and +also by a large parachute. We should probably be able to descend quite +slowly to the surface in this way without damage; but in case of peril, +we could have small parachutes in readiness as life-buoys, and leap from +the car when it was nearing the ground." + +_G_. "I presume you are taking into account the velocity of the planet +in its orbit? That of the earth is 18 miles a second, or a hundred times +faster than a rifle bullet; that of Venus, which is nearer the sun, is a +few miles more; and that of Mars, which is further from the sun, is +rather less." + +_I_. "For that reason the more distant planets would be preferable to +land on. Uranus, for instance, has an orbital velocity of four miles a +second, and his gravity is about three-fourths that of the earth. +Moreover, his axis lies almost exactly on the plane of the ecliptic, so +that we could choose a waiting place on his orbit where the line of his +axis lay in the direction of his motion, and simply descend on one of +his poles, at which the stationary atmosphere would not whirl the car, +and where we might also profit by an ascending current of air. The +attraction of the sun is so slight at the distance of Uranus, that a +stone flung out of the car would have no perceptible motion, as it +would only fall towards the sun a mere fraction of an inch per second, +or some 355 feet an hour; hence, as Dr. Preston has calculated, one +ounce of matter ejected from the car towards the sun every five minutes, +with a velocity of 880 feet a second, would suffice to keep a car of one +and a half tons at rest on the orbit of the planet. Indeed, the vitiated +air, escaping from the car through a small hole by its own pressure, +would probably serve the purpose. Just before the planet came up, and in +the nick of time we could fire some rockets, and give the car a velocity +of two or three miles a second in the direction of the planet's motion, +so that he would overtake us, with a speed not over great to ensure a +safe descent. Our parachutes would be out, and at the first contact with +the atmosphere, the car would probably be blown away; but it would soon +acquire the velocity of the planet, and gradually sink downwards to the +surface." + +_G_. "What puzzles me is how you are to get back to the earth." + +_I_. "Whoever goes must take the risk; but if, as appears likely, both +Mars and Venus are inhabited by intelligent beings, we should probably +be able to construct another cannon and return the way we came." + +_G_. (_smiling_). "Well, I confess the project does not look so +impracticable as it did. After all, travelling in a vacuum seems rather +pleasant. One of these days, I suppose, we astronomers will be packed in +bullets and fired into the ether to observe eclipses and comets' tails." + +_I_. "In all that has been said we have confined ourselves to ways and +means already known; but science is young, and we shall probably +discover new sources of energy. It may even be possible to dispense with +the gun, and travel in a locomotive car. Lord Kelvin has shown that if +Lessage's hypothesis of gravitation be correct, a crystal or other body +may be found which is lighter along one axis than another, and thus we +may be able to draw an unlimited supply of power from gravity by simply +changing the position of the crystal; for example, by raising it when +lighter, and letting it fall when heavier. This form of 'perpetual +motion' might be equally obtainable if Dr. Preston's[3] theory of an +ether as the cause of gravity be true. Indeed, Professor Poynting is now +engaged in searching for such a crystal, which, if discovered, will +upset the second law of thermo-dynamics. I merely mention this to show +that science is on the track of concealed motive powers derived from +the ether, and we cannot now tell what the engines of the future will be +like. For ought we know, the time is coming when there will be a regular +mail service between the earth and Mars or Venus, cheap trips to +Mercury, and exploring expeditions to Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus." + + [Footnote 3: _Philosophical Magazine_, February, 1895.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NEW FORCE. + + + "SIR, + + "I have read your article on the possibility of travelling to the + other members of the Solar system with much interest. It is a + problem at which I, myself, have been working for a great many + years, and I believe that I have now discovered a means of solving + it in a practical manner. If you would care to see my experiments, + and will do me the honour of coming here, I shall be glad to show + them in confidence any time you may appoint.--Yours truly, + + "NASMYTH CARMICHAEL." + +The above letter, marked "Private," was forwarded to me through the +editor of _The Day After To-morrow_. The writer of it was a total +stranger to me, even by report, and at first I did not know what to make +of it. Was the man a charlatan, or a "crank?" There were no signs of +craziness or humbug in his frank and simple sentences. Had he really +found out a way of crossing the celestial spaces? In these days it is +better not to be too sceptical as to what science will accomplish. It +is, in fact, wise to keep the mind open and suspend the judgment. We are +standing on the threshold of the Arcana, and at any hour the +search-light of our intellect may penetrate the darkness, and reveal to +our wondering gaze the depths of the inner mechanism of Nature. + +I resolved to accept his invitation. + +A few days later I presented myself at the home of my unknown +correspondent. It was a lonely little cottage, in the midst of a wild +flat or waste of common ground on the outskirts of London. I should say +it had once been the dwelling of a woodman engaged in the neighbouring +forest. A tall, thick hedge of holly surrounded the large garden, and +almost concealed it from the curiosity of an occasional wanderer on the +heath. + +Certainly it did not look the sort of place to find a man of science, +and the old misgivings assailed my mind in greater force than ever. Half +regretting that I had come, and feeling in a dubious element, I opened +the wicket, and knocked at the door. + +It was answered by a young woman, in a plain gown of some dark stuff, +with a white collar round the neck. In spite of her dress I could see +that she was not an ordinary cottage girl. Pretty, without being +beautiful, there was a distinction in her voice and manner which bespoke +the gentlewoman. With a pleasant smile, she welcomed me as one who had +been expected, and ushered me into a small sitting-room, poorly +furnished, but with a taste and refinement unusual in a workman's home. +A large piano stood in one of the corners, and a pile of classical music +lay on a chair beside it. The mantelpiece was decorated with cut +flowers, and the walls were hung with portraits and sketches in crayons +and water-colour. + +"My father will be down in a moment," she said, with a slight American +accent. "He is delighted to have the pleasure of meeting you. It is so +kind of you to come." + +Before I had time to respond, Mr. Carmichael entered the parlour. He was +a man of striking and venerable presence. His long white locks, his +bulging brow, pregnant with brain, his bushy eyebrows and deep blue-grey +eyes, his aquiline nose and flowing beard, gave an Olympian cast to his +noble head. Withal, I could not help noticing that his countenance was +lined with care, his black coat seamed and threadbare, his hands rough +and horny, like those of a workman. If he appeared a god, it was a god +in exile or disgrace; a Saturn rather than a Jove. + +"Now to the matter," said he, after a few words of kindly welcome. +"Evidently the question of inter-planetary travel is coming to the +front. In your article you suggest that a locomotive car, that is to +say, a car able to propel itself through what we, in our ignorance, call +empty space, though, in reality, it is chock-full, and very 'thrang' as +the Scotch say, might yet be contrived, and even worked by energy drawn +from the ether direct. When I read that, sir, I sat up and rubbed my +eyes." + +"Your spectacles, father," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, it's the same thing," went on the old man. "For like many another +prophet, sir, you had prophesied better than you knew." + +"How do you mean?" I inquired, with a puzzled air. + +"If you will step with me into the garden I will show you." + +I rose and followed him into a large shed, which was fitted up as a +workshop and laboratory. It contained several large benches, provided +with turning lathes and tools, a quantity of chemicals, and scientific +apparatus. + +"I am going to do a thing that I have never done in my life before," +said Mr. Carmichael, in a sad and doubtful tone; "I have kept this +secret so long that it seems like parting with myself to disclose it, +to disclose even the existence of it. I have fed upon it as a young man +feeds on love. It has been my nourishment, my manna in the wilderness of +this world, my solace under a thousand trials, my inspiration from on +High. I verily believe it has kept my old carcase together. Mind!" he +added, with a penetrating glance of his grey eyes, which gleamed under +their bushy brows like a pool of water in a cavern overhung with +brambles, "promise me that whatever you see and hear will remain a +secret on your part. Never breathe a word of it to a living soul. You +are the only person, except my own daughter, whom I have ever taken into +my confidence." + +I gave him my word of honour. + +"Very well," he continued, lifting a small metal box from one of the +tables, and patting it with his hand. "I have been working at the +subject of aerial navigation for well-nigh thirty years, and this is the +result." + +I looked at the metal case, but could see nothing remarkable about it. + +"It seems a little thing, hardly worth a few pence, and yet how much I +have paid for it!" said the inventor, with a sigh, and a far-away +expression in his eyes. "Many a time it has reminded me of the mouse's +nest that was turned up by the ploughshare. + + "'Thy wee bit heap o' strae and stibble + Has cost thee mony a weary nibble.' + +Of course this is only a model." + +"A model of a flying machine?" I inquired, in a tone of surprise. + +"You may call it so," he answered; "but it is a flying machine that does +not fly or soar in the strict sense of the words, for it has neither +wings nor aeroplane. It is, in fact, an aerial locomotive, as you will +see." + +While he spoke, Mr. Carmichael opened the case of the instrument, and +adjusted the mechanism inside. Immediately afterwards, to my +astonishment, the box suddenly left his hands, and flew, or rather +glided, swiftly through the air, and must have dashed itself against the +wall of the laboratory had not its master run and caught it. + +"Wonderful!" I exclaimed, forgetting the attitude of caution and reserve +which I had deemed it prudent to adopt. + +The inventor laughed with childish glee, enjoying his triumph, and +stroking the case as though it were a kitten. + +"It would be off again if I would let it. Whoa, there!" said he, again +adjusting the mechanism. "I can make it rise, or sink, or steer, to one +side or the other, just as I please. If you will kindly hold it for a +minute, I will make it go up to the ceiling. Don't be afraid, it won't +bite you." + +I took the uncanny little instrument in my hands, whilst Mr. Carmichael +ascended a ladder to a kind of loft in the shed. It only weighed a few +pounds, and yet I could feel it exerting a strong force to escape. + +"Ready!" cried the inventor, "now let go," and sure enough, the box rose +steadily upwards until it came within his grasp. "I am going to send it +down to you again," he continued, and I expected to see it drop like a +stone to the ground; but, strange to say, it circled gracefully through +the air in a spiral curve, and landed gently at my feet. + +"You see I have entire control over it," said Mr. Carmichael, rejoining +me; "but all you have seen has taken place in air, and you might, +therefore, suppose that I have an air propellor inside, and that air is +necessary to react against it, like water against the screw of a +steamboat, in order to produce the motion. I will now show you that air +is not required, and that my locomotive works quite as well in a +vacuum." + +So saying, he put the model under a large bell-jar, from which he +exhausted the air with a pump; and even then it moved about with as much +alacrity and freedom as it had done in the atmosphere. + +I confess that I was still haunted by a lingering suspicion of the +machine and its inventor; but this experiment went far to destroy it. +Even if the motive power was derived from a coiled spring, or compressed +air, or electricity, in the box, how was it possible to make it act +without the resistance offered by the air? Magnetism was equally out of +the question, since no conceivable arrangement of magnets could have +brought about the movements I had seen. Either I was hypnotised, and +imposed upon, or else this man had discovered what had been unknown to +science. His earnest and straightforward manner was not that of a +mountebank. There had been no attempt to surround his work with mystery, +and cloak his demonstration in unmeaning verbiage. It is true I had +never heard of him in the world of science, but after all an outsider +often makes a great discovery under the nose of the professors. + +"Am I to understand," said I, "that you have found a way of navigating +both the atmosphere and the ether?" + +"As you see," he replied, briefly. + +"What the model has done, you are able to do on a larger scale--in a +practical manner?" + +"Assuredly. It is only a matter of size." + +"And you can maintain the motion?" + +"As long as you like." + +"Marvellous! And how is it done?" + +"Ah!" exclaimed the inventor, "that is my secret. I am afraid I must not +answer that question at present." + +"Is the plan not patented?" + +"No. The fact is, I have not yet investigated the subject as fully as I +would like. My mind is not quite clear as to the causes of the +phenomena. I have discovered a new field of research, and great +discoveries are still to be made in it. Were I to patent the machine, I +should have to divulge what I know. Indeed, but for the sake of my +daughter, I am not sure that I should ever patent it. Even as it stands, +it will revolutionise not merely our modes of travel, but our +industries. It has been to me a labour of love, not of money; and I +would gladly make it a gift of love to my fellowmen." + +"It is the right spirit," said I; "and I have no doubt that a grateful +world would reward you." + +"I wouldn't like to trust it," replied Mr. Carmichael, with a smile and +shrug of the shoulders. "How many inventors has it doomed to pine in +poverty and neglect, or die of a broken heart? How often has it stolen, +aye stolen, the priceless fruits of their genius and labour? Speaking +for myself, I don't complain; I haven't had much to do with it. My +withdrawal from it has been voluntary. I was born in the south of +Scotland, and educated for the medical profession; but I emigrated to +America, and was engaged in one of Colonel Fremont's exploring +expeditions to the Rocky Mountains. After that I was appointed to the +chair of Physical Science in a college of Louisville, Kentucky, where my +daughter was born. One day, when I was experimenting to find out +something else, I fell by accident upon the track of my discovery, and +ever since I have devoted my life to the investigation. It appeared to +me of the very highest importance. As time went on, I grew more and more +absorbed in it. Every hour that I had to give to my official and social +duties seemed thrown away. A man cannot serve two masters, and as I also +found it difficult to carry on my experiments in secrecy, I resigned my +post. I had become a citizen of the United States, but my wife was a +Welshwoman, and had relations in England. So we came to London. When +she died, I settled in this isolated spot, where I could study in peace, +enjoy the fresh air, and easily get the requisite books and apparatus. +Here, with my daughter, I live a very secluded life. She is my sole +companion, my housekeeper, my servant, and my assistant in the +laboratory. She knows as much about my machine, and can work it as well +as I do myself. Indeed, I don't know what I should have done without +her. She has denied herself the ordinary amusements of her age. Her +devotion to me has been beautiful." + +The voice of the old man trembled, and I fancied I could read in his +hollow eyes the untold martyrdom of genius. + +"At last," he continued, "I have brought the matter into a practical +shape, and like many other inventors, for the first time I stand in need +of advice. Happening to see your article in the Magazine, I resolved to +invite you to come and see what I have done in hopes that you might be +able to advise and perhaps help me." + +"I think," said I, after a moment's reflection, "I think the next thing +to be done is to make a large working machine, and try it on a voyage." + +"Quite so," he replied; "and I am prepared to build one that will go to +any part of the earth, or explore the higher regions of the atmosphere, +or go down under the sea, or even make a trip to one of the nearer +planets, Mars or Venus as the case may be. But I am poor; my little +fortune is all but exhausted, and here, at the end of the race, within +sight of the goal, I lack the wherewithal to reach it. Now, sir, if you +can see your way to provide the funds, I will give you a share in the +profits of the invention." + +I pondered his words in silence. Visions of travel through the air in +distant lands, above the rhododendron forests of the Himalayas, or the +green Savannahs of the Orinoco, the coral isles of the Pacific; yea, +further still, through the starlit crypts of space to other spheres were +hovering in my fancy. The singular history of the man, too, had touched +my feelings. Nevertheless, I hesitated to accept his offer there and +then. It was hardly a proposal to decide upon without due consideration. + +"I will think it over and let you know," said I at length. "Have you any +objection to my consulting Professor Gazen, the well-known astronomer? +He is a friend of mine. Perhaps he will be able to assist us." + +"None whatever, so long as he keeps the affair to himself. You can +bring him to see the experiments if you like. All I reserve is that I +shall not be asked to explain the inner action of the machine. That must +remain a secret; but some day I hope to show you even that." + +"Thanks." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ELECTRIC ORRERY. + + +"Half-moon Junction! Change here for Venus, Mercury, the Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!" + +So I called in the style of a Clapham railway porter, as I entered the +observatory of Professor Gazen on the following night. + +"What is the matter?" said he with a smile. "Are you imitating the +officials of the Universal Navigation Company in the distant future?" + +"Not so distant as you may imagine," I responded significantly; and then +I told him all that I had seen and heard of the new flying machine. + +The professor listened with serious attention, but manifested neither +astonishment nor scepticism. + +"What do you think about it?" I asked. "What should I do in the case?" + +"Well, I hardly know," he replied doubtfully. "It is rather out of my +line, and after my experience with Mars the other night, I am not +inclined to dogmatise. At all events, I should like to see and try the +machine before giving an opinion." + +"I will arrange for that with the inventor." + +"Possibly I can find out something about him from my American +friends--if he is genuine. What's his name again?" + +"Carmichael--Nasmyth Carmichael." + +"Nasmyth Carmichael," repeated Gazen, musingly. "It seems to me I've +heard the name somewhere. Yes, now I recollect. When I was a student at +Cambridge, I remember reading a textbook on physics by Professor Nasmyth +Carmichael, an American, and a capital book it was--beautifully simple, +clear, and profound like Nature herself. Professors, as a rule, and +especially professors of science, are not the best writers in the world. +Pity they can't teach the economy of energy without wasting that of +their readers. Carmichael's book was not a dead system of mathematics +and figures, but rather a living tale, with illustrations drawn from +every part of the world. I got far more help from it than the prescribed +treatises, and the best of that was a liking for the subject. I believe +I should have been plucked without it." + +"The very man, no doubt." + +"He was remarkably sane when he wrote that book, whatever he is now. As +to his character, that is another question. Given a work of science, to +find the character of the author. Problem." + +"I shall proceed cautiously in the affair. Before I commit myself, I +must be satisfied by inspection and trial that there is neither trickery +nor self-delusion on his part. We can make some trial trips, and gain +experience before we attempt to leave the world." + +"If you take my advice you will keep to the earth altogether." + +"Surely, if we can ascend into the higher regions of the atmosphere, we +can traverse empty space. You would have me stop within sight of the +goal. The end of travel is to reach the other planets." + +"Why not say the fixed stars when you are about it?" + +"That's impossible." + +"On the contrary, with a vessel large enough to contain the necessaries +of life, a select party of ladies and gentlemen might start for the +Milky Way, and if all went right, their descendants would arrive there +in the course of a few million years." + +"Rather a long journey, I'm afraid." + +"What would you have? A million years quotha! nay, not so much. It +depends on the speed and the direction taken. If they were able to +cover, say, the distance from Liverpool to New York in a tenth of a +second, they would get to Alpha in the constellation Centaur, perhaps +the nearest of the fixed stars, in twenty or thirty years--a mere +bagatelle. But why should we stop there?" went on Gazen. "Why should we +not build large vessels for the navigation of the ether--artificial +planets in fact--and go cruising about in space, from universe to +universe, on a celestial Cook's excursion--" + +"We are doing that now, I believe." + +"Yes, but in tow of the Sun. Not at our own sweet will, like gipsies in +a caravan. Independent, free of rent and taxes, these hollow planetoids +would serve for schools, hotels, dwelling-houses--" + +"And lunatic asylums." + +"They would relieve the surplus population of the globe," continued +Gazen, warming to his theme. "It is an idea of the first political +importance--especially to British statesmen. The Empire is only in its +infancy. With a fleet of ethereal gunboats we might colonise the solar +system, and annex the stars. What a stroke of business!" + +"Another illusion gone," I observed "Think of Manchester cotton in the +Pleiades! Of Scotch whiskey in Orion! However, I am afraid your policy +would lead to international complications. The French would set up a +claim for 'Ancient Lights.' The Germans would discover a nebulous +Hinterland under their protection. The Americans would protest in the +name of the Monroe Doctrine. It is necessary to be modest. Let us return +to our muttons." + +"Everybody will be able to pick a world that suits him," pursued Gazen, +still on the trail of his thought. "If he grows tired of one he can look +round for a better. Criminals will be weeded out and sent to Coventry, I +mean transplanted into a worse. When a planet is dying of old age, the +inhabitants will flit to another." + +"Seriously, if Carmichael's machine turns out all right, will you join +me in a trip?" + +"Thanks, no. I believe I shall wait and see how you get on first." + +"And where would you advise me to go, Mars or Venus?" + +The professor smiled, but I was quite in earnest. + +"Well," he replied, "Mars is evidently inhabited; but so is Venus, +probably, and of the two I think you will find her the more hospitable +and the nearest. When do you propose to start?" + +"Perhaps within six months." + +"We must consider their relative distances from the earth. By the way, +I don't think you have seen my new electrical orrery." + +"An electrical orrery," I exclaimed. "Surely that is something new!" + +"So far as I am aware; but you never know in these days. There is +nothing new under the sun, or even above it." + +So saying, he opened a small door in the side of the observatory, and, +ushering me into a very dark apartment, closed it behind us. + +"Follow me, there is no danger," said he, taking me by the arm, and +guiding me for several paces into the darkness. + +At length we halted, and I looked all around me, but was unable to +perceive a single object. + +"Where are we?" I enquired; "in the realms of Chaos and Old Night?" + +"You are now in the centre of the Universe," replied Gazen; "or, to +speak more correctly, at a point in space overlooking the solar system." + +"Well, I can't see it," said I. "Have you got such a thing as a match +about you?" + +"Let there be light!" responded Gazen in a reverent manner, and +instantly a soft, weird radiance was over all. The contrast of that +sudden illumination with the preceding darkness was electrical in more +senses than one, and I could not repress a cry of genuine admiration. + +A kind of twilight still reigned, and after the first moment of +surprise, I perceived that we were standing on a light metal gangway in +the middle of a great hollow cell of a luminous black or dark blue +colour, relieved by innumerable bright points, and resembling the night +sky in miniature. + +"I need hardly say that is a model of the celestial sphere," whispered +Gazen, indicating the starry vault. + +"It is a wonderful imitation," I responded, my awestruck eyes wandering +over the mysterious tracts of the Milky Way and the familiar +constellations of the mimic heavens. "May I ask how it is done--how you +produce that impression of infinite distance?" + +"By means of translucent shells illuminated from behind. The stars, of +course, are electric lamps, and some of them, as you see, have a tinge +of red or blue." + +Most of the light, however, came from a brilliant globe of a bluish +lustre, which appeared to occupy the centre of the crystal sphere, and +was surrounded by a number of smaller and fainter orbs that shone by its +reflected rays. + +"This, again, is a model of the solar system," said Gazen. "The central +luminary is, of course, the sun, and the others are the planets with +their satellites." + +"They seem to float in air." + +"That is because their supports are invisible, or nearly so. Both their +lights and periodic motions are produced by the electric current." + +"Surely they are not moving now?" + +"Oh, yes, and with velocities proportionate to those of the real bodies; +but you know that whilst the actual movements of the sun and planets are +so rapid, the dimensions of the system are so vast that if you could +survey the whole from a standpoint in space, as we are supposed to do, +it would appear at rest. Let us look at them a little closer." + +I followed Gazen along the gangway which encircled the orrery, and +allowed us to survey each of the planets closer at hand. + +"This kind of place would make a good theatre for a class in astronomy," +said I, "or for the meetings of the Interplanetary Congress of +Astronomers, in the year 2000. You can turn on the stars and planets +when you please. I wish you would give me a lecture on the subject now. +My knowledge is a little the worse for wear, and a man ought to know +something of the worlds around him--especially if he intends to visit +them." + +"I should only bore you with an old story." + +"Not at all. You cannot be too simple and elementary. Regard me as a +small boy in the stage of + + "'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, + How I wonder what you are!'" + +"Very well, my little man, have you any idea how many stars you can see +on a clear night?" + +"Billions." + +"No, Tommy. You are wrong, my dear boy. Go to the foot of your class. +With the naked eye we can only distinguish three or four thousand, but +with the telescope we are able to count at least fifty millions. They +are thickest in the Milky Way, which, as you can see, runs all round the +heavens, over your head, and under your feet, like an irregular tract of +hazy light, a girdle of stars in short. Of course we cannot tell how +many more there are beyond the range of vision, or what other galaxies +may be scattered in the depths of space. The stars are suns, larger or +smaller than our own, and of various colours--white, blue, yellow, +green, and red. Some are single, but others are held together in pairs +or groups by the force of gravitation. From their immense distance they +appear fixed to us, but in reality they are flying in all directions at +enormous velocities. Alpha, of the constellation Cygnus, for example, is +coming towards us at a speed of 500 million leagues per annum, and some +move a great deal faster. Most of them probably have planets circling +round them in different stages of growth, but these are invisible to us. +Here and there amongst them we find luminous patches or 'nebulæ,' which +prove to be either clusters of stars or stupendous clouds of glowing +gases. Our sun is a solitary blue star on the verge of the Milky Way, 20 +billion miles from Alpha Centauri his next-door neighbour. He is +travelling in a straight line towards the constellation Hercules at the +rate of 20,000 miles an hour, much quicker than a rifle bullet; and, +nevertheless, he will take more than a million years to cover the +distance. Eight large or major planets, with their satellites, and a +flock of minor planets or planetoids, are revolving round him as their +common centre and luminary at various distances, but all in the same +direction. The orbits, or paths, about the sun are ovals or ellipses, +almost circular, of which the sun occupies one focus, and they are so +nearly in one plane, or at one level, that if seen from the sun, they +would appear to wander along a narrow belt of the heavens, called the +zodiac, which extends a few degrees on each side of the Elliptic or +apparent course of the sun against the stars. The planets are all +globes, more or less flat at the poles, like an orange, and each is +turning and swaying on its axis, thus exposing every part to the light +and warmth of the sun. They are divided by the planetoids into an inner +and an outer band. The inner four are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and +Mars; the outer four are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Moreover, +a number of comets and swarms of meteoric stones or meteorites are +circulating round the sun in eccentric paths, which cross those of the +planets. Such is the solar system--a lonely archipelago in the ethereal +ocean--a little family of worlds." + +"Not without its jars, I'm afraid." + +"The sun is chief of the clan," continued Gazen, "and keeps it together +by the mysterious tie of gravitation. While flying through space, he +turns round his own axis like a rifle bullet in 25 or 26 days. His +diameter is 860,000 miles, and although he is not much denser than +sea-water, his mass is over 700 times greater than the combined mass of +all his retinue. Gravity on his surface being 28 times stronger than on +the earth, a piece of timber would be as heavy as gold there, and a +stone let fall would drop 460 feet the first second instead of 16 feet +as here. He is built of the same kind of matter as the earth and other +planets, but is hotter than the hottest electric arc or reverberatory +furnace. Apparently his glowing bulk is made up of several concentric +shells like an onion. First there is a kernel or liquid nucleus, +probably as dense as pitch. Above it is the photosphere, the part we +usually see, a jacket of incandescent clouds, or vapours, which in the +telescope is seen to resemble 'willow leaves,' or 'rice grains in a +plate of soup,' and in the spectroscope to reveal the rays of iron, +manganese, or other heavy elements. What we call 'faculæ' (or little +torches), are brighter streaks, not unlike some kinds of coral. The +'Sunspots' are immense gaps or holes in the photosphere, some of them +150,000 miles in diameter, which afford us a peep at the glowing +interior. There are different theories as to their nature, hence they +provide rival astronomers with an excellent opportunity of spotting each +other's reputations. For instance, I look upon them as eruptions, and +Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil (my pet aversion) regards them as +cyclonic storms; consequently we never lose an opportunity of erupting +and storming at each other. Above the photosphere comes a stratum of +cooler vapours and gases, namely, hydrogen and helium, a very light +element recently found on the earth, along with argon, in the rare +mineral cleveite. Tremendous jets of blazing hydrogen are seen to burst +through the clouds of the photosphere, and play about in this higher +region like the flames of a coal fire. These are the famous 'red flames' +or 'prominences,' which are seen during a total eclipse as a ragged +fringe of rosy fire about the black disc of the moon. Some of them rush +through the chromosphere to a height of 80,000 miles in 15 minutes. + +"Higher still is the 'corona,' an aureole of silvery beams visible in a +total eclipse, and resembling the star of a decoration. The streamers +have been traced for hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the solar +disc. It appears to consist of meteoric stones, illuminated by the +sunlight as well as of incandescent vapours of 'coronium,' a very light +element unknown on the earth, and probably, too, of electrical +discharges. The 'zodiacal light,' that silvery glow often seen in the +west after sunset, or in the east before sunrise, may be a prolongation +of it." + +"I daresay these meteorites are swarming about the sun like midges about +a lamp," said I. + +"And just as eager to get burnt up," replied Gazen, with a smile. "Let +us pass now to the planets. The little one next the sun is Mercury, who +can be seen as a rosy-white star soon after sunset or before sunrise. He +is about 36 million miles, more or less, from the sun; travels round his +orbit in 88 days, the length of his year; and spins about his axis in +24 hours, making a day and night. His diameter is 3,000 miles, and his +mass is nearly seven times that of an equal volume of water. The +attraction of gravity on his surface is barely half that on the earth, +and a man would feel very light there. Mercury seems to have a dense +atmosphere, and probably high mountains, if not active volcanoes. The +sunshine is from four to nine times stronger there than on the earth, +and as summer and winter follow each other in six weeks, he is doubtless +rather warm. + +"Venus, the 'Shepherd's Star,' and the brightest object in the heavens +after the moon, can sometimes be seen by day, and casts a distinct +shadow at night. She is about 67 million miles from the sun, revolves +round him in 225 days, and rotates on her axis in 23 to 24 hours, or as +Schiaparelli believes, in 224 days. Her diameter is 7,600 miles, and her +mass nearly five times that of an equal volume of water. Gravity is +rather less there than it is here. Like Mercury, she appears to have a +cloudy atmosphere, and very high mountains. On the whole she resembles +the earth, but is, perhaps, a younger as well as a warmer planet. + +"The green ball, next to Venus, is, I need hardly say, our own dear +little world. Terra, or the earth, is 93 million miles from the sun, +goes round him in 365 days, and turns on her axis in 24 hours less four +minutes. Her diameter is 7,918 miles, and her density is 5.66 times that +of water. She is attended by a single satellite, the moon, which +revolves round her in 27.3 days, at a distance of 238,000 miles. The +moon rotates on her axis in about the same time, and hence we can only +see one side of her. She is 2,160 miles in diameter, but her mass is +only one-eightieth that of the earth. A pound weight on the moon would +scale six pounds on the earth. Having little or no atmosphere or water, +she is apparently a dead world. + +"The red planet beyond the earth is Mars, who appears in the sky as a +ruddy gold or coppery star. He is 141 million miles from the sun, +travels his orbit in 687 days, and wheels round his axis in 24 hours 37 +minutes. His diameter is 4,200 miles, and his mass about one-ninth that +of the earth. A body weighing two pounds on the earth would only make +half a pound on Mars. As you know, his atmosphere is clear and thin, his +surface flat, and subject to floods from the melting of the polar snows. +Mars is evidently a colder and more aged planet than the earth. + +"He is accompanied by two little moons, Phobos (Fear), which is from ten +to forty miles in diameter, and revolves round him in 7 hours 39 +minutes, at a distance of 6,000 miles, a fact unparalleled in astronomy; +and Deimos (Rout), who completes a revolution in 30 hours 18 minutes, at +a distance of 14,500 miles. + +"About 400 planetoids have been discovered up to now, but we are always +catching more of them. Medusa, the nearest, is 198 million miles, and +Thule, the farthest, is 396 million miles from the sun. Vesta, the +brightest and probably the largest, a pale yellow, or, as some say, +bluish white orb, visible with the naked eye, is from 200 to 400 miles +in diameter. It is impossible to say which is the smallest. Probably the +mass of the whole is not greater than one quarter that of the earth. + +"Jupiter, surnamed the 'giant planet,' who almost rivals Venus in her +splendour, is 480 million miles from the sun; travels round his orbit in +12 years less 50 days; and is believed to whirl round his axis in 10 +hours. His diameter is 85,000 miles, and his bulk is not only 1,200 +times that of the earth, but exceeds that of all the other planets put +together. Nevertheless, his mass is only 200 to 300 times that of the +earth, for his density is not much greater than that of water. What we +see is evidently his vaporous atmosphere, which is marked by coloured +spots and bands or belts, probably caused by storms and currents, +especially in the equatorial regions. Jupiter is thought to be self +luminous, at least in parts, and is, perchance, a cooling star, not yet +entirely crusted over. + +"Four or five numbered satellites, about the size of our moon and +upwards, are circulating round him in orbits from 2,000 to 1,000,000 +miles distant in periods ranging from 11 hours to 16 days 18 hours. + +"Saturn, the 'ringed planet,' who appears as a dull red star of the +first magnitude, is the most interesting of all the planets. He is 884 +million miles from the sun; his period of revolution is 29½ years, and +he turns on his axis in 10 hours 14 minutes. His diameter is 75,000 +miles, but his mass is only 94 times that of the earth, for he is +lighter than pinewood. His atmosphere is marked with spots and belts, +and on the whole his condition is like that of Jupiter. + +"Two flat rings or hoops, divided by a dark space, encircle his ball in +the plane of his equator. The inner ring is over 18,000 miles from the +ball, and nearly 17,000 miles broad. The gap between is 1,750 miles +wide, and the outer ring is over 10,000 miles broad. The rings are +banded, bright or dark, and vary in thickness from 40 to 250 miles. They +consist of innumerable small satellites and meteoric stones, travelling +round the ball in rather more than ten hours, and are brightest in +their densest parts. Of course they form a magnificent object in the +night sky of the planet, and it may be that our own zodiacal light is +the last vestige of a similar ring, and not an extension of the solar +corona. + +"Saturn has eight moons outside his rings, the nearest, Mimas, being +115,000, and the farthest, Japetus, 220,400 miles from his ball. With +the exception of Japetus, they revolve round him in the plane of his +rings, and when these are seen edgewise, appear to run along it like +beads on a string. + +"Uranus, the next planet visible, is a pale star of the sixth magnitude, +1,770 million miles from the sun, and completes his round in 84 years. +His axis, differing from those of the foregoing planets, lies almost in +the plane of his orbit, but we cannot speak as to his axial rotation. He +is 31,000 miles in diameter, and somewhat heavier, bulk for bulk, than +water. Four satellites revolve round him, the nearest, Ariel, being +103,500, and the farthest, Oberon, 347,500 miles distant. Unlike the +orbits of the foregoing satellites, which are nearly in the same plane +as the orbits of their primaries, those of the satellites of Uranus are +almost perpendicular to his own. They are travelled in periods of two +and a half to thirteen and a half days. + +"Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, but seen as a pale blue star in +the telescope, is 2,780 million miles from the sun, and makes a +revolution in 165 years. His diameter is about 35,000 miles, and his +density rather less than that of water. + +"Neptune has one satellite, at a distance of 202,000 miles, which, like +those of Uranus, revolves about its primary in an orbit at a +considerable angle to his own in five days twenty-one hours. Both +Neptune and Uranus are probably dying suns. + +"Comets of unknown number travel in long elliptical or parabolic orbits +round the sun at great velocities. They seem to consist partly of +glowing vapours, especially hydrogen, and partly of meteoric stones. +'Shooting stars,' that is to say, stones which fall to the earth, are +known to swarm in their wake, and are believed to be as plentiful in +space as fishes in the sea." + +"The trash or leavings of creation," said I reflectively. + +"And the raw material, for nothing is lost," rejoined Gazen. "Now, in +spite of all its diversity, there is a remarkable symmetry in the solar +system. The planets are all moving round the sun in one direction along +circular paths. As a rule each is nearly as far again from the sun as +the next within it. Thus, if we take Mercury as ¾ inch from the sun, +Venus is about 1¼ inches, the Earth 2¼, Mars 2, the planetoids 5¼, +Jupiter 9¾, Saturn 14, Uranus 36, and Neptune 60 inches. On the same +scale, by the way, Enckes' comet at Aphelion, its farthest distance from +the sun, would be about 12 feet; Donatis almost a mile; and Alpha +Centauri, a near star in the Milky Way, some ten miles. + +"The stately march of the planets in their orbits becomes slower the +farther they are from the sun. The velocity of Mercury in its orbit is +thirty, that of Jupiter is eight, and that of Neptune is only three +miles a second. On the other hand, the inner planets, as a rule, take +some twenty-four hours, and the outer only ten hours to spin round their +axis. The inner planets are small in comparison with the outer. If we +represent the sun by a gourd, 20 inches in diameter, Mercury will seem a +bilberry (⅟₁₆ inch) Venus, a white currant, the Earth a black currant +(¼ inch), Mars a red currant (⅛ inch), the planetoids as fine seed, +Jupiter an orange or peach (2 inches), Saturn a nectarine or greengage +(1 inch), Uranus a red cherry (¾ inch), and Neptune a white cherry +(barely 1 inch in diameter). By putting the sun and planets in a row, +and drawing a contour of the whole, we obtain the figure of a dirk, a +bodkin, or an Indian club, in which the sun stands for the knob +(disproportionately big), the inner planets for the handle, and the +outer for the blade or body. Again, the average density of the inner +planets exceeds that of the outer by nearly five to one, but the mass of +any planet is greater than the combined masses of all which are smaller +than it. The inner planets derive all their light and heat from the sun, +and have few or no satellites; whereas the outer, to all appearance, are +secondary suns, and have their own retinue of worlds. On the similitude +of a clan or house we may regard the inner planets as the immediate +retainers of the chief, and the outer as the chieftains of their own +septs or families." + +"How do you account for the symmetrical arrangement?" I enquired. + +"The origin of the solar system is, you know, a mystery," replied the +astronomer. "According to the nebular hypothesis we may imagine that two +or more dark suns, perhaps encircled with planets, have come into +collision. Burst into atoms by the stupendous shock they would fill the +surrounding region with a vast nebula of incandescent gases in a state +of violent agitation. Its luminous fringes would fly immeasurably beyond +the present orbit of Neptune, and then rush inwards to the centre, only +to be driven outwards again. Surging out and in, the fluid mass would +expand and contract alternately, until in course of ages the fiery +tides would cease to ebb and flow. If the impact had been somewhat +indirect it would rotate slowly on its axis, and under the influence of +gravity and centrifugal force acquire a globular shape which would +gradually flatten to a lenticular disc. As it cooled and shrank in +volume it would whirl the faster round its axis, and grow the denser +towards its heart. By and by, as the centrifugal force overcame gravity, +the nebula would part, and the lighter outskirts would be shed one after +another in concentric rings to mould the planets. The inner rings, being +relatively small and heavy, would probably condense much sooner than the +large, light, outer rings. The planetoids are apparently the rubbish of +a ring which has failed to condense into one body, perhaps through its +uniformity or thinness. The separation of so big a mass as Jupiter might +well attenuate the border." + +"If the planetoids were born of a single small ring, might not several +planets be condensed from a large one?" + +"I see nothing to hinder it. A large ring might split into smaller +rings, or condense in several centres." + +"Because it seems to me that might explain the distinction between the +inner and the outer planets. Perhaps the outer were first thrown off in +one immense ring, and then the inner in a smaller ring. Before +separation the nebula viewed edgewise might resemble your Indian club." + +"A 'dumb-bell nebula,' like those we find in the heavens," observed +Gazen. "Be that as it may, the rings would collect into balls, and some +of these, especially the outer, would cast off rings which would +condense into moons, always excepting the rings of Saturn, which, like +the planetoids, are evidently a failure. The solar system would then +appear as a group of suns, a cluster of stars, in short, a +constellation. Each would be what we call a 'nebulous star,' not unlike +the sun at present; that is to say, it would be surrounded by a glowing +atmosphere of vapours, and perhaps meteoric matter. Under the action of +gravity, centrifugal force, and tidal retardation, their orbits would +become more circular, they would gradually move further apart, rotate +more slowly on their axes, and assume the shapes they have now. In +cooling down, new chemical compounds, and probably elements would be +formed, since the so-called elements are perhaps mere combinations of a +primordial substance which have been produced at various temperatures. +The heavier elements, such as platinum, gold, and iron, would sink +towards the core; and the lighter, such as carbon, silicon, oxygen, +nitrogen, and hydrogen, would rise towards the surface. A crust would +form, and portions of it breaking in or bursting out together with +eruptions and floods of molten lava, would disturb the poise of the +planet, and give rise to inequalities of surface, to continents, and +mountains. When the crust was sufficiently stable, sound, and cool, the +mists and clouds would condense into rivers, lakes, or seas, and the +atmosphere would become clear. In due course life would make its +appearance." + +"Can you account for that mystery?" + +"No. Science is bound in honour, no doubt, to explain all it can without +calling in a special act of creation; but the origin of life and +intelligence seems to go beyond it, so far. Spontaneous generation from +dead matter is ruled out of court at present. We believe that life only +proceeds from life. As for the hypothesis that meteoric stones, the +'moss-grown fragments of another world' may have brought life to the +earth, I hardly know what to think of it." + +"Has life ever been found on a meteoric stone?" + +"Not that I know. Carbon, at all events in the state of graphite and +diamond, has been got from them. They arc generally a kind of slag, +containing nodules or crystals of iron, nickle, and other metals, and +look to me as if they had solidified from a liquid or vapour. Are they +ruins of an earlier cosmos--the crumbs of an exploded world--matter +ejected from the sun--the snow of a nebulous ring--frozen spray from the +fiery surge of a nebula? we cannot tell; but, according to the meteoric +as distinguished from the nebular hypothesis of the solar system, the +sun, planets, and comets, as well as the stars and nebula were all +generated by the clash of meteorites; and not as I have supposed, of +dead globes." + +"Which hypothesis do you believe?" + +"There may be some truth in both," replied Gazen. "The two processes +might even go on together. What if meteorites are simply frozen nebula? +It is certain that the earth is still growing a little from the fall of +meteoric stones, and that part of the sun's heat comes from meteoric +fuel. Most of it, however, arises from the shrinkage of his bulk. Five +or ten million years ago the sun was double the size he is now. Twenty +or thirty million years ago he was rather a nebula than a sun. In five +or ten million more he will probably be as Jupiter is now--a smoking +cinder." + +"And the earth--how long is it since she was crusted over?" + +"Anything from ten to several hundred million years. In that time the +stratified rocks have been deposited under water, the land and sea have +taken their present configurations; the atmosphere has been purified; +plants and animals have spread all over the surface. Man has probably +been from twenty to a hundred thousand years or more on the earth, but +his civilization is a thing of yesterday." + +"How long will the earth continue fit for life?" + +"Perhaps five or ten million years. The entire solar system is gradually +losing its internal heat, and must inevitably die of sheer inanition. +The time is coming when the sun will drift through space, a black star +in the midst of dead worlds. Perhaps the system will fall together, +perhaps it will run against a star. In either case there would probably +be a 'new heaven and a new earth.'" + +"Born like a phoenix from the ashes of the old," said I, feeling the +justice of the well-worn simile. + +"I daresay the process goes on to all eternity." + +"Like enough." + +The sublime idea, with its prospect of the infinite, held us for a time +in silence. At length my thoughts reverted to the original question +which had been forgotten. + +"Now, whether should I go to Mars or Venus?" I enquired, fixing my eyes +on these planets and trying to estimate their relative distances from +the earth. + +Gazen made a mental computation, and replied with decision, + +"Venus." + +"All right," I responded. "Venus let it be." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LEAVING THE EARTH. + + +"Check!" + +I was playing a game of chess with an old acquaintance, Viscount ----, +after dinner, one evening, in the luxurious smoking-room of a +fashionable club in the West End of London. + +Having got his queen into a very tight corner, I sipped a glass of wine, +lit a Turkish cigarette, and leaned back in my chair with an agreeable +sense of triumph. + +My companion, on the other hand, puffed rapidly at his cigar, and took a +long drink of hot whiskey and water, then fixed his attention on the +board, and stroked his beard with an air of the deepest gravity. Had you +only seen his face at that moment you would have supposed that all the +care of a mighty empire weighed upon his shoulders. The countenance of a +grand vizier, engaged in considering an ultimatum of Lord Salisbury, +were frivolous in comparison. There is little doubt that if Lord ---- +had applied to the serious business of life as much earnest deliberation +as he gave to the movement of a pawn, he would have made a very +different figure in Society. But having been born without any effort of +his own to all that most men covet--rank, wealth, and title--he showed a +rare spirit of contentment, and did his best to make the world happier +by enjoying himself. + +As he was a very slow player, I began to think of a matter which lay +nearer to my heart than the game, I mean the project of travelling to +Venus. Tests of the new flying machine, by Professor Gazen and myself, +as well as our enquiries into the character of Mr. Carmichael, having +proved quite satisfactory, I had signed an agreement for the +construction of an ethereal ship or car, equally capable of navigating +the atmosphere to distant regions of the globe, and of traversing the +immense reaches of empty space between the earth and the other members +of the solar system. + +As Miss Carmichael had determined to accompany her father, and assist +him in his labours, it was built to carry three persons, with room to +spare for another, and the trial trips, made secretly on foggy nights, +had encouraged us to undertake the longer voyage into space. I am glad +to say that Professor Gazen, having taken part in one of these, had got +the better of his caution, and finally made up his mind to join the +expedition. + +I suspect that he was influenced in his decision by the heroic example +of Miss Carmichael. At all events I know he tried very hard to dissuade +her from going; but all his arguments could not shake her inflexible +resolution, and truly, there was something sublime in the quiet fidelity +of this young woman to her aged father which commanded our admiration. + +At length, all preparations for the voyage were complete, and as we did +not wish to excite any remark, it was arranged that we should start on +the first night that was dark enough to conceal our movements. + +While these thoughts were passing through my head, a footman, in plush, +entered the smoking-room, and presented a telegram on a golden salver. +Anticipating the contents, I tore it open, and read as follows: + + "_We leave to-night. Come on at once._--CARMICHAEL." + +After writing a reply to the message, I turned to the Viscount, who had +never raised his eyes from the board, and said, + +"You had better give me the game." + +He simply stared at me, and asked, + +"Why?" + +"Well, make it a draw." + +"Oh, dear no. Let's play it out." + +"I can't. I'm sorry to say I must leave you now. I have just received a +telegram making an urgent appointment. When beauty calls--" + +"Oh!" replied his lordship, with an amiable smile. "In that case we'll +finish it another time. I mean to win this game." + +"It will take you all your time." + +"I'll wager you ten to one--a thousand sovereigns to a hundred that I +win." + +It is not my habit to lay wagers; but I was anxious to be gone. + +"All right," I responded with a laugh, as I went away. "Good-night!" + +On arriving at Mr. Carmichael's cottage I found the rest of the party +waiting for me. No time was lost in proceeding to the garden, where the +car stood ready to mount into the air. All the lights were out, and in +the darkness it might have been mistaken for a tubular boiler of a dumpy +shape. It was built of aluminium steel, able to withstand the impact of +a meteorite, and the interior was lined with caoutchouc, which is a +non-conductor of heat, as well as air-proof. The foot or basement +contained the driving mechanism, and a small cabin for Mr. Carmichael. +The upper shell, or main body, of an oval contour, projected beyond the +basement, and was surmounted by an observatory and conning tower. It was +divided into several compartments, that in the middle being the saloon, +or common chamber. At one end there was a berth for Miss Carmichael, and +at the other one for Professor Gazen and myself, with a snug little +smoking cell adjoining it. Every additional cubic inch was utilised for +the storage of provisions, cooking utensils, arms, books, and scientific +apparatus. + +The vessel was entered by a door in the middle, and a railed gallery or +deck ran round it outside. The interior was lighted by ports, or +scuttles, of stout glass; but electricity was also at our service. Air +constantly evaporating from the liquid state would fill the rooms, and +could escape through vent holes in the walls. This artificial atmosphere +was supplemented by a reserve fund of pure oxygen gas compressed in +steel cylinders, and a quantity of chemicals for purifying the air. It +need hardly be said that we did not burden the ship with unnecessary +articles, and that every piece of furniture was of the lightest and most +useful kind. + +I think we all felt the solemnity of the moment as we stepped into the +black hull which might prove our living coffin. No friends were by to +sadden us with their parting; but the old earth had grown dearer to us +now that we were about to leave it, perhaps for ever. Mr. Carmichael +descended by the trap into the engine room, while we others stood on the +landing beside the open door, mute and expectant. + +Presently, a shudder of the vessel sent a strange thrill to our hearts, +and almost before we knew it, we had left the ground. + +"We're off!" ejaculated Gazen, and although a slight vibration was all +the movement we could feel, we saw the earth sinking away from us. At +first we rose very slowly, because the machine had to contend against +the force of gravity; but as the weight of the car diminished the higher +we ascended, our speed gradually augmented, and we knew that in the long +run it would become prodigious. The night was moonless, and a thick +mantle of clouds obscured the heavens; but the planet Venus was now an +evening star, and after attaining a considerable height, we steered +towards the west. Our course took us over the metropolis, which lay +beneath us like a vast conflagration. + +Far as the eye could see, myriads of lights glimmered like watch fires +through the murk of the dismal streets, growing thicker and thicker as +we approached the heart of the city, and appearing to blend their +lustres. Through the midst of the glittering expanse we could trace the +black tide of the river, crossed by the sparkling lines of the bridges, +and reflecting the red lanterns of the ships and barges. The principal +squares and thoroughfares were picked out, with rows and clusters of gas +and electric lamps, as with studs of gold and silver. The clock on the +Houses of Parliament glowed like the full moon on a harvest night. Now +and again the weird blaze of a furnace, or the shifting beam of an +advertisement, attracted our attention. With indescribable emotion we +hung over the immense panorama, and recognised the familiar streets and +buildings--the Bank and Post Office, St. Paul's Cathedral and Newgate +Prison, the Law Courts and Somerset House, the British Museum, the +National Gallery of Arts, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. We +watched the busy multitudes swarming like ants in the glare of the +pavements from the dreary slums and stalls of Whitechapel to the +newspaper offices of Fleet Street; the shops and theatres of the Strand; +the music halls and restaurants of Piccadilly Circus. A deep and +continuous roar, a sound like that of the ocean ascended from the +toiling millions below. + +"Isn't it awful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a tone of reverence. +"What a city! I seem to understand how an angel feels when he regards +the world in space, or a God when He listens to the prayers of +humanity." + +"For my part," said Gazen, "I feel as though I were standing on my +head." + +By this time we had lost the sense of danger, and gathered confidence in +our mode of travel. + +"I fancy the clouds overhead are the real earth," explained the +astronomer, "and that I'm looking down into the starry heavens, with its +Milky Way. I say, though, isn't it jolly up here--soaring above all +these moiling mannikins below--wasting their precious lives grubbing in +the mire--dead to the glories of the universe--seeking happiness and +finding misery. Ugh!--wish I had a packet of dynamite to drop amongst +them and make them look up. Hallo!" + +The earth had suddenly vanished from our sight. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN SPACE. + + +We had entered the clouds. + +For half-an-hour we were muffled in a cold, damp mist, and total +darkness, and had begun to think of going indoors when, all at once, the +car burst into the pure and starlit region of the upper air. + +A cry of joyous admiration escaped from us all. + +The spectacle before us was indeed sublime. + +The sky of a deep dark blue was hung with innumerable stars, which +seemed to float in the limpid ether, and the rolling vapours through +which we had passed were drawn like a sable curtain between us and the +lower world. The stillness was so profound that we could hear the +beating of our own hearts. + +"How beautiful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a solemn whisper, as if +she were afraid that angels might hear. + +"There is Venus right ahead," cried the astronomer, but in a softer +tone than usual, perhaps out of respect for the sovereign laws of the +universe. "The course is clear now--we are fairly on the open sea--I +mean the open ether. I must get out my telescope." + +"The sky does not look sad here, as it always does on the earth--to me +at least," whispered Miss Carmichael, after Gazen had left us alone. "I +suppose that is because there is so much sadness around us and within us +there." + +"The atmosphere, too, is often very impure," I replied, also in a +whisper. + +"Up here I enjoy a sense of absolute peace and well-being, if not +happiness," she murmured. "I feel raised above all the miseries of +life--they appear to me so paltry and so vain." + +"As when we reach a higher moral elevation," said I, drifting into a +confidential mood, like passengers on the deck of a ship, under the +mysterious glamour of the night-sky. "Such moments are too rare in life. +Do you remember the lines of Shakespeare:-- + + "'Look, how the floor of heaven + Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: + There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, + But in his motion like an angel sings, + Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: + Such harmony is in immortal souls; + But whilst this muddy vesture of decay + Doth grossly close it in--we cannot hear it.'" + +"True," responded Miss Carmichael, "and now I begin to feel like a +disembodied spirit--a 'young-eyed cherubim.' I seem to belong already to +a better planet. Should you not like to dwell here for ever, far away +from the carking cares and troubles of the world?" + +The unwonted sadness of her tone reminded me of her devoted life, and I +turned towards her with new interest and sympathy. She was looking at +the Evening Star, whose bright beam softened the irregularities of her +profile, and made her almost beautiful. + +"Yes," I answered, and the words "with you" formed themselves in my +heart. I know not what folly I might have spoken had not the +conversation been interrupted by Gazen, who called out in his unromantic +style, + +"I say, Miss Carmichael! Won't you come and take a look at Venus?" + +She rose at once, and I followed her to the observatory. + +The telescope was very powerful for its size, and showed the dusky night +side of the planet against the brilliant crescent of the day like the +"new moon in the arms of the old," or, as Miss Carmichael said, "like an +amethyst in a silver clasp." + +"Really, it is not unlike that," said Gazen, pleased with her feminine +conceit. "If the instrument were stronger you would probably see the +clasp go all round the dusky violet body like a bright ring, and +probably, too, an ashen light within it, such as we see on the dark side +of the moon. By-and-by, as we get nearer, we shall study the markings of +the terminator, and a shallow notch that is just visible on the inner +edge of the southern horn. Can you see it?" + +"Yes, I think I can. What is it?" replied Miss Carmichael. + +"Probably a vast crater, or else a range of high mountains intercepting +the sunlight, and making a scallop in the border of the terminator. +However, that is a secret for us to find out. We know very little of the +planet Venus--not even the length of her day. Some think it is eight +months long, others twenty-four hours. We shall see. I have begun to +keep a record of our discoveries, and some day--when I return to town--I +hope to read a paper on the subject before the most potent, grave, and +learned Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--I rather think I +shall surprise them--I do not say startle--it is impossible to startle +the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--or even to astonish +them--you might as well hope to tickle the Sphinx--but I fancy it will +stir them up a little, especially my friend Professor Sylvanus Pettifer +Possil. However, I must take care not to give them the slightest hint of +what they are to expect beforehand, otherwise they will declare they +knew all about it already." + +"Has it struck you that up here the stars appear of different colours at +various distances," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Oh, yes," answered Gazen, "and in the pure atmosphere of the desert, or +on the summit of high mountains, we notice a similar effect. The stars +have been compared to the trees of a forest, in different stages of +growth and decay. Some of them are growing in splendour, and others +again are dying out. Arcturus, a red star, for example, is fast cooling +to a cinder. Capella, over there, is a yellow star, like our own sun, +and past his prime. Sirius, that brilliant white or bluish star, which +flashes like a diamond in the south, is one of the fiercest. He is a +double star, his companion being seven and himself thirteen times +massier than the sun; but they are fifty times brighter, and a million +times further off, that is to say, one hundred billion miles away. +These double or twin stars are often very beautiful. The twins are of +all colours, and generally match well with each other--for instance, +purple and orange--green and orange--red and green--blue and pale +green--white and ruby. One of the prettiest lies in the constellation +Cygnus. I will show it to you." + +"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, looking through the glass. +"The bigger star is a golden or topaz yellow, and the smaller a light +sapphire blue." + +"Some of the star groups and nebulæ are just as pretty," observed Gazen, +turning his telescope to another part of the heavens; "most of the stars +are white, but there is a sprinkling of yellow, blue, and red amongst +them--I mean, of course, to our view, for the absorption of our +atmosphere alters the tint." + +"Does that mean that there is more youth than age, more life than death, +in the universe?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"Not exactly," replied the astronomer. "There is apparently no lack of +vigour in the Cosmos--no great sign of decrepitude; but we must remember +that we see the younger and brighter stars better than the others, and +for aught we know there are many dark suns or extinct stars, as well as +planets and their satellites. I should not like to say that the +population of space is going down; but on the whole it may be +stationary. I wish I could show you the cluster in Toucan, a rosy star +in a ring of white ones." + +"Like a brooch of pearls," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Yes--not unlike that," responded Gazen, evidently amused at her +comparison. "But that constellation is in the Southern Hemisphere. +However, here is the 'ring' or 'planetary' nebula in the Lyre." + +"What a wonderful thing!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, with her eye at the +instrument. "It looks to me like a golden hoop, with diamond dust +inside." + +I do not know where Miss Carmichael got her knowledge of jewellery, for +to all appearance she wore none. + +"Or the cup of a flower," she added, raising her head. + +"Poets have called the stars 'fleurs de ciel,'" said Gazen, shifting the +telescope, "and if so, the nebula are the orchids; for they imitate +crabs, birds, dumb-bells, spirals, and so forth. Take a look at this +one, and tell us what you think of it." + +"I see a cloud of silver light in the dark sky," said Miss Carmichael, +after observing it. + +"What does it resemble?" + +"It's rather like a pansy--or--" + +"Anything else?" + +"A human face!" + +"Not far out," rejoined Gazen. "It is called the Devil Nebula!" + +"And what is it?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"It is a cluster of stars--a spawn of worlds, if I may use the +expression," answered Gazen. + +"And what are they made of? I know very little of astronomy." + +"The same stuff as the earth--the same stuff as ourselves--hydrogen, +iron, carbon, and other chemical elements. Just as all the books in the +world are composed of the same letters, so all the celestial bodies are +built of the same elements. Everything is everywhere--" + +Gazen was evidently in his own element, and began a long lecture on the +constitution of the universe, which appeared to interest Miss Carmichael +very much. Somehow it jarred upon me, and I retired to the little +smoking-room, where I lit a cigar, and sat down beside the open scuttles +to enjoy a quiet smoke. + +"Why am I displeased with the lucubrations of the professor?" I said to +myself. "Am I jealous of him because he has monopolised the attention of +Miss Carmichael? No, I think not. I confess to a certain interest in +Miss Carmichael. I believe she is a noble girl, intelligent and +affectionate, simple and true; with a touch of poetry in her nature +which I had never suspected. She will make an excellent companion to the +fortunate man who wins her. When I remember the hard life she has led so +far, I confess I cannot help sympathising with her; but surely I am not +in love?" + +I regret to say that my friend the astronomer, with all his good +qualities, was not quite free from the arrogance which leads some men of +science to assume a proprietary right in the objects of their discovery. +To hear him speak you would think he had created the stars, instead of +explaining a secret of their constitution. However, I was used to that +little failing in his manner. It was not that. No, it was chiefly the +matter of his discourse which had been distasteful to me. The sight of +that glorious firmament had filled me with a sentiment of awe and +reverence to which his dry and brutal facts were a kind of desecration. +Why should our sentiment so often shrink from knowledge? Are we afraid +its purity may be contaminated and defiled? Why should science be so +inimical to poetry? Is it because the reality is never equal to our +dreams? There is more in this antipathy than the fear of disillusion +and alloyment. Some of it arises from a difference in the attitude of +the mind. + +To the poet, nature is a living mystery. He does not seek to know what +it is, or how it works. He allows it as a whole to impress itself on his +entire soul, like the reflection in a mirror, and is content with the +illusion, the effect. By its power and beauty it awakens ideas and +sentiments within him. He does not even consider the part which his own +mind plays, and as his fancy is quite free, he tends to personify +inanimate things, as the ancients did the sun and moon. + +To the man of science, on the other hand, nature is a molecular +mechanism. He wishes to understand its construction, and mode of action. +He enquires into its particular parts with his intellect, and tries to +penetrate the illusion in order to lay bare its cause. Heedless of its +power and beauty, he remains uninfluenced by sentiment, and mistrusting +the part played by his own mind, he tends to destroy the habit of +personification. + +Hence that opposition between science and poetry which Coleridge pointed +out. The spirit of poetry is driven away by the spirit of science, just +as Eros fled before the curiosity of Psyche. + +How can I enjoy the perfume of a rose if I am thinking of its cellular +tissue? I grow blind to the beauty of the Venus de Medicis when I +measure its dimensions, or analyse its marble. What do I care for the +drama if I am bent on going behind the scenes and examining the stage +machinery? The telescope has banished Phoebus and Diana from our +literature, and the spectroscope has vulgarised the stars. + +Will science make an end of poetry as Renan and many others have +thought? Surely not? Poetry is quite as natural and as needful to +mankind as science. All men are poetical, as they are scientific, more +or less. + +It might even be argued that poetry is for the general, for the man as a +man; while science is for the particular, for the man as a specialist; +and that poetry is a higher and more essential boon than science, +because it speaks to the heart, not merely to the head, and keeps alive +the celestial as well as the terrestrial portion of our nature. + +Shall we prefer the cause to the effect, and the means to the end, or +exalt the matter above the form, and the letter above the spirit? Does +not the tissue exist for the sweetness of the rose, the marble for the +beauty of the stature, and the mechanism for the illusion of the play? +The "opposition" between science and poetry lies not in the object, but +in our mode of regarding it. The scientific and the poetical spirit are +complementary, as the inside to the outside of a garment, and if they +seem to drive each other away it is because the mind cannot easily +entertain and employ both together; but one is passive when the other is +active. + +Keats drank "confusion to Newton" for destroying the poetry of the +rainbow by showing how the colours were elicited; but after all was +Newton guilty? Why should a true knowledge of the cause destroy the +poetry of an effect? Every effect must be produced somehow. The rainbow +is not less beautiful in itself because I know that it is due to the +refraction of light. The diamond loses none of its lustre although +chemistry has proved it to be carbon; the heavens are still glorious +even if the stars are red-hot balls. + +But stones, carbon, and light are familiar commonplace things, and +fraught with prosaic associations. + +True, and yet natural things are noble in themselves, and only vulgar in +our usage. It is for us to purify and raise our thoughts. Instead of +losing our interest in the universe because it is all of the same stuff, +we should rather wonder at the miracle which has formed so rich a +variety out of a common element. + +But the mystery is gone, and the feelings and fancies which arose from +it. + +In exchange for the mystery we have truth, which excites other emotions +and ideas. Moreover, the mystery is only pushed further back. We cannot +tell what the elements really are; they will never be more than symbols +to us, and all nature at bottom will ever remain a mystery to us: an +organised illusion. Think, too, of the innumerable worlds amongst the +stars, and the eternity of the past and future. Whether we look into the +depths of space beyond the reach of telescope and microscope, or +backward and forward along the vistas of time, we shall find ourselves +surrounded with an impenetrable mystery in which the imagination is free +to rove. + +Science, far from destroying, will foster and develop poetry. It is the +part of the scientific to serve the poetical spirit by providing it with +fresh matter. The poet will take the truth discovered by the man of +science, and purify it from vulgar associations, or stamp it with a +beautiful and ideal form. + +Consider the vast horizons opened to the vision of the poet by the +investigations of science and the doctrine of evolution. At present the +spirit of science is perhaps more active than the spirit of poetry, but +we are passing through an unsettled to a settled period. Tennyson was +the voice of the transition; but the singer of evolution is to come, and +after him the poet of truth. + +If we allowed the scientific to drive away the poetical spirit, we +should have to go in quest of it again, as the forlorn Psyche went in +search of Eros. It is necessary to the proper balance and harmony of our +minds, to the purification of our feelings, and the right enjoyment of +life. Poetry expresses the inmost soul of man, and science can never +take its place. Religion apart, what does the present age of science +need more than poetry? What would benefit a hard-headed, matter-of-fact +man of science like Professor Gazen if not the arts of the sublime and +beautiful--if not a poetical companion--such as Miss Carmichael? + + * * * * * + +Thus, after a long rambling meditation, I had come back to my bachelor +friend and the fair American. + +"Yes," thought I, rather uneasily, I must confess, for I could not +disguise from myself the fact that I was taken with her, "Gazen and she +are not an ill-matched pair by any means. They are alike in many +respects, and a contrast in others. They have common ground in their +love and aptitude for science; yet each has something which the other +lacks. She has poetry and sentiment for instance, but he--well, I'm +afraid that if he ever had any it has all evaporated by this time. On +the other hand, she"--but it puzzled me to think of any good quality +that Miss Carmichael did not possess, and I began to consider that she +would be throwing herself away upon him. "They seem to get on well +together, however--monstrously well. I wonder what star he is picking to +pieces now?" + +I listened for the sound of their voices, but not a murmur passed +through the curtain which I had drawn across the entrance to the smoking +cabin. Only a peculiar tremor from the mysterious engines broke the +utter stillness. Was I growing deaf? I snapped my fingers to reassure +myself, and the sound startled me like the crack of a pistol. Evidently +my sense of hearing had become abnormally acute. My mind, too, was +preternaturally clear, and the solitude became so irksome that I rose +from my seat, and looked out of the scuttles to relieve the tension of +my nerves. + +Apparently we had reached a great height in the atmosphere, for the sky +was a dead black, and the stars had ceased to twinkle. By the same +illusion which lifts the horizon of the sea to the level of the +spectator on a hillside, the sable cloud beneath was dished out, and the +car seemed to float in the middle of an immense dark sphere, whose upper +half was strewn with silver. Looking down into the dark gulf below, I +could see a ruddy light streaming through a rift in the clouds. It was +probably a last glimpse of London, or some neighbouring town; but soon +the rolling vapours closed, and shut it out. + +I now realised to the full that I was _nowhere_, or to speak more +correctly, a wanderer in empty space--that I had left one world behind +me and was travelling to another, like a disembodied spirit crossing the +gloomy Styx. A strange serenity took possession of my soul, and all that +had polluted or degraded it in the lower life seemed to fall away from +it like the shadow of an evil dream. + +In the depths of my heart I no longer felt sorry to quit the earth. It +seemed to me now, a place where the loveliest things never come to +birth, or die the soonest--where life itself hangs on a blind mischance, +where true friendship is afraid to show its face, where pure love is +unrequited or betrayed, and the noblest benefactors of their fellowmen +have been reviled or done to death--a place which we regard as a heaven +when we enter it, and a hell before we leave it. . . . No, I was not +sorry to quit the earth. + +And the beautiful planet, shining there so peacefully in the west, was +it any better? At a like distance the earth would seem still fairer, and +perhaps even now some wretch in Venus is asking himself a similar +question. Is it not probable that just as all the worlds are made of the +same materials, so the mixture of good and evil is much the same in all? +I turned to the stars, where in all ages man has sought an answer to his +riddles. The better land! Where is it? if not among the stars. I am now +in the old heaven above the clouds. Does it lie _within_ the visible +universe, as it lies within the heart when peace and happiness are +there? + +In that pure ether the glory of the firmament was revealed to me as it +had never been on the earth, where it is often veiled with clouds and +mist, or marred by houses and surrounding objects--where the quietude of +the mind is also apt to be disturbed by sordid and perplexing cares. Its +awful sublimity overwhelmed my faculties, and its majesty inspired me +with a kind of dread. In presence of these countless orbs my own +nothingness came home to me, and a voice seemed to whisper in my ear, + +"Hush! What art thou? Be humble and revere." + +After a while, I perceived a pure celestial radiance of a marvellous +whiteness dawning in the east. By slow degrees it spread over the +starlit sky, lightening its blackness to a deep Prussian blue, and +lining the sable clouds on the horizon with silver. At length the round +disc of the sun, whiter than the full moon, and intolerably bright, rose +into view. + +With the intention of rejoining Professor Gazen in the observatory, and +seeing it through his telescope, I flung away my cigar, and stepped +towards the door of the cabin; but ere I had gone two paces, I suddenly +reeled and fell. At first I imagined that an accident had happened to +the car, but soon realised that I myself was at fault. Dizzy and faint, +with a bounding pulse, an aching head, and a panting chest, I raised +myself with great difficulty into a seat, and tried to collect my +thoughts. For the last quarter of an hour I had been aware of a growing +uneasiness, but the spectacle of sunrise had entranced me, and I forgot +it. Suspecting an attack of "mountain sickness" owing to the rarity of +the atmosphere, I attempted to rise and close the scuttles, but found +that I had lost all power in my lower limbs. The pain in my head +increased, the palpitation of my heart grew more violent, my ears rang +like a bell, and I literally gasped for breath. Moreover, I felt a +peculiar dryness in my throat, and a disagreeable taste of blood in my +mouth. What was to be done? I tried again to reach the door, but only to +find that I could not even move my arms, let alone my feet. +Nevertheless, I was singularly free from agitation or alarm, and my mind +was just as clear as it is now. I reflected that as the car was ever +rising into a rarer atmosphere, my only hope of salvation lay in calling +for help, and that as the paralysis was gaining on my whole body, not a +moment was to be lost. I shouted with all my strength; but beyond a sort +of hiss, not a sound escaped my lips. The profound silence of the car +now struck me in a new light. Had Gazen and Miss Carmichael not +committed the same blunder, and suffered a like fate? Perhaps even +Carmichael himself had been equally careless, and the flying machine, +now masterless, was carrying us Heaven knows whither. Strange to say I +entertained these sinister apprehensions without the least emotion. I +had lost all feeling of pain or anxiety, and was perfectly tranquil and +indifferent to anything that might happen. It is possible that with the +paralysis of my powers to help myself, I was also relieved by nature +from the fears of death. I began to think of the sensation which our +mysterious disappearance would make in the newspapers, and of divers +other matters, such as my own boyhood and my friends, when all at once +my eyes grew dim--and I remembered nothing more. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ARRIVING IN VENUS. + + +"Try to speak--there's a good fellow--open your eyes." + +I heard the words as in a dream. I recognised the voice of Gazen, but it +seemed to come from the far distance. Opening my eyes I found myself +prostrate on the floor of the smoking room, with the professor and Miss +Carmichael kneeling beside me. There was a look of great anxiety on +their faces. + +"I'm all right," said I feebly. "I'm so glad you are safe." + +It appears that a short time before, Gazen had closed the scuttles of +the observatory and returned with Miss Carmichael to the saloon, then, +after calling to me without receiving any answer, had opened the door of +the smoking-room and seen me lying in a dead faint. Luckily Miss +Carmichael had acquired some knowledge of medicine, partly from her +father, and without loss of time they applied themselves to bring me +round by the method of artificial respiration employed in cases of +drowning or lightning stroke. + +It would be tedious to narrate all the particulars of our journey +through the dark abyss, particularly as nothing very important befell +us, and one day passed like another. Now and then a small meteoric stone +struck the car and glanced off its rounded sides. + +"Old Charon," as Gazen and I had nicknamed Carmichael, after the grim +ferryman of the Styx, seldom forsook his engines, and Miss Carmichael +spent a good deal of her time along with him. Occasionally she chatted +with Gazen and myself in the saloon, or helped us to make scientific +observations; but although neither of us openly confessed it, I think we +both felt that she did not give us quite enough of her company. Her +manner seemed to betray no preference for one or the other. + +Did she, by her feminine instinct, perceive that we were both solicitous +of her company, and was she afraid of exciting jealousy between us? In +any case we were all the more glad to see her when she did join us. No +doubt men in general, and professors in particular, are fond of +communicating knowledge, but a great deal depends on the pupil; and +certainly I was surprised to see how the hard and dry astronomer beamed +with delight as he initiated this young lady into the mysteries of the +apparatus, and what a deal of trouble he took to cram her lovely head +with mathematics. + +We noted the temperature of space as we darted onwards, and discovered +that it contains a trace of gases lost from the atmospheres of the +heavenly bodies. We also found there a sprinkling of minute organisms, +which had probably strayed from some living world. Gazen suggested that +these might sow the seeds of organic life in brand-new planets, ready +for them, but perhaps that was only his scientific joke. The jokes of +science are frequently so well disguised, that many people take them for +earnest. + +Gazen made numerous observations of the celestial bodies, more +especially the sun, which now appeared as a globe of lilac fire in the +centre of a silvery lustre, but I will leave him to publish his results +in his own fashion. We may claim to have seen the South Pole, but, of +course, at a distance too great for scientific purposes. Judging by its +appearance, I should say it was surrounded by a frozen land. The earth, +with its ruddy and green continents, delineated as on a map, or veiled +in belted clouds, was a magnificent object for the telescope as it +wheeled in the blue rays of the sun. + +Hour after hour, with a kind of loving fascination, we watched it +growing "fine by degrees and beautifully less," until at last it waned +into a bright star. + +Venus, on the other hand, waxed more and more brilliant until it +rivalled the moon, and Mercury appeared as a rosy star not far from it. + +We soon got accustomed to the funereal aspect of the sky, and the utter +silence of space. Indeed, I was not so much impressed by the reality as +I had been by the simulacrum in my dream of sunrise in the moon. When I +looked at the weird radiance of the sun, however, I realised as I had +never done before that he was only a star seen comparatively near, and +that the earth was but his insignificant satellite. Moreover, when I +gazed down into the yawning gulf, with its strange constellations so far +_beneath_ us, I felt to the full the awful loneliness of the universe; +and how that all life and soul were confined to mere sunlit specks +thinly scattered here and there in the blackness of eternal night. + +Steering a calculated course by the stars, we reached the orbit of +Venus, and travelled along it in advance of the planet with a velocity +rather less than her own, so as to allow her to overtake us. Some +notion of the eagerness with which we scanned her approach may be +gathered by imagining the moon to fall towards the earth. Slowly and +steadily the illuminated crescent of the planet grew in bulk and +definition, until we could plainly distinguish all the features of her +disc without the aid of glasses. For the most part she was wrapped in +clouds, of a dazzling lustre at the equator, and duskier towards the +poles. Here and there a gap in the vapour revealed the summit of a +mountain range, or the dark surface of a plain or sea. + +I need hardly say that none of us viewed the majestic approach of this +new world, suspended in the ether, and visibly turning round its axis, +without emotion. The boundary of day and night was fairly well marked, +and I pictured to myself the wave of living creatures rising from their +sleep to life and activity on one side, and going to sleep again on the +other, as it crept slowly over the surface. To compare small things with +great, the denizens of a planet reminded me of performers under the +limelight of a darkened theatre: + + "All the world's a stage!" + +We amused ourselves with conjectures as to our probable fate on Venus, +supposing we should arrive there safe and sound. + +"I suppose the authorities will demand our passports," said I. "Perhaps +we shall be tried and condemned to death for invading a friendly +planet." + +"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," said Gazen, "if they were to put +us into their zoological gardens as a rare species of monkey." + +"What a ridiculous idea!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael. "Now _I_ feel sure +they will pay us divine honours. Won't it be nice?" + +"You will make a perfect divinity," rejoined the professor with +consummate gallantry. "For my part I shall feel more at home in a +menagerie." + +Thus far we had not observed any signs of intelligent beings on the +cloudy globe, and it was still doubtful whether we should not discover +it to be a lifeless world. + +Our track did not lie exactly on the orbit of the planet, but +sufficiently beneath it to let her attraction pull the car up towards +her Southern Pole as it passed above us; and by this course of action we +trusted to enjoy a wider field of atmosphere to manoeuvre in, and +probably a safer descent into a cooler climate than we should have +experienced in attempting to land on the equator. + +By an illusion familiar in the case of railway trains, it seemed to us +that the car was stationary, and the planet rushing towards us. On it +came like a great shield of silver and ebony, eclipsing the stars and +growing vaster every moment. Under the driving force of the engines and +the gravity of the planet, our car was falling obliquely towards the +orbit, like a small boat trying to cross the bows of an ironclad, and a +collision seemed inevitable. Being on the sunward side we could see more +and more of the illuminated crescent as it drew near, and were filled +with amazement at the sublime spectacle afforded by the strange contrast +between the purple splendour of the solar disc in the black abyss of +ether and the pure white celestial radiance which was reflected from the +atmosphere of the planet. + +The climax of magnificence was reached when the approaching surface came +so close as to appear concave, and our little ark floated above a +hemisphere of dazzling brightness under a hemisphere of appalling +darkness faintly relieved by the glimmer of stars and the purple glory +of the sun. + +Ere we could express our admiration, however, we were startled by a +magical transformation of the scene. The sky suddenly became blue, the +stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the +broad day was all around us. + +"Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and +wonder. + +"We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with +alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?" + +So saying he opened one of the scuttles, and a whiff of fresh air blew +into the car. Thrusting his nose out, he sniffed cautiously for a while +and then drew several long breaths. + +"It seems all right as regards quality," he remarked, "but there's too +little body in it. We must wait until we get nearer the ground before we +can go outside the car." + +The pressure of the atmosphere as taken by an aneroid barometer +confirmed his observation, but as we were ignorant of its average +density it could not give us any certain indication of our height. Far +beneath us an ideal world of clouds hid the surface from our view. We +seemed to be floating above a range of snowy Alps, their dusky valleys +filled with glaciers, and their sovereign peaks glittering in the sun +like diamonds. As we descended in a long slant, their dazzling summits +rose to meet us, and the infinite play of light and shade became more +and more beautiful. The gliding car threw a distinct shadow which +travelled along the white screen, and equally to our surprise and +delight became fringed with coloured circles resembling rainbows. + +"It is a good omen!" cried Miss Carmichael. + +"Humph!" responded the professor, shaking his head but smiling +good-humouredly; "that is a mere superstition I'm afraid. It is simply +an optical effect, a variety of the phenomenon called 'anthelia,' like +Ulloa's Circle and the famous 'Spectre of the Brocken.'" + +"Explain it how you will," rejoined Miss Carmichael, "to me it is an +emblem of hope. It cheers my heart." + +"I am very glad to hear it, and I should be very sorry to crush your +hopes," said Gazen pleasantly. "We can sometimes derive moral +encouragement and profit from external phenomena. A rainbow in the midst +of a storm is a cheering sight. I daresay there is a reasonable basis, +too, for certain superstitions. St. Elmo's Fire may, for instance, from +natural causes, be a sign of good weather, only there is nothing +supernatural about it." + +"I am not in the secrets of the supernatural," replied Miss Carmichael, +"but I believe that if we do not look for the supernatural, if we shut +our eyes to it, we are not likely to see it." + +"Science has proved that so many things formerly thought to be +supernatural are quite natural," observed the astronomer a little more +humbly. + +"Perhaps the natural and the supernatural are one," said Miss +Carmichael. "Does a thing cease to be supernatural because we know +something about it?" + +"Well, it may have another meaning for us. Before the days of science, +great mistakes were made in our interpretations of phenomena. +Superstition is born of ignorance, and we can see the germ of it in the +child who is frightened by a bogie, or the horse that shies at the +moonlight." + +"Its higher parent is a belief in the unseen." + +"In any case it has done an immense amount of harm," said the professor. + +"And probably quite as much good," responded Miss Carmichael. "However, +don't think me a friend of superstition. But in getting rid of it let us +take care that we do not fall into the opposite error. It seems to me +that if science had all its own way it would reduce man and nature to a +little machine working in the corner of a big one; but I think it will +cost us too dear if it make us lose our sense of the divine origin and +spiritual significance of the universe." + +Further argument was cut short by the car suddenly dashing into the +clouds with a noiseless ease that astonished us, for they had appeared +as solid as the rock. + +Lost in the vapours, our car seemed at rest; but although we saw +nothing, we could hear a vague and distant murmur which charmed our ears +after the long silence of space like a strain of music. Whether this was +due to the sounds of the surface collected in the clouds, or to +electrical discharges I cannot say, for we were trying to solve the +mystery by hearkening to it, when it abruptly died away as the car shot +into the clear air beneath the clouds. + +"The sea! the sea!" cried Miss Carmichael, starting up in joyful +excitement to join her father; and sure enough we were flying above a +dark blue hemisphere which could only be the ocean. + +Gazen now made another test of the atmosphere, and, finding it +satisfactory, we opened the door of the car and ventured on the gallery. + +After our confinement the fresh air acted like a charm. It felt so cool +and sweet in the nostrils that every breath was a pleasure. We inhaled +it in long, deep, loving draughts, which imparted vigour to our +exhausted frames, and intoxicated our spirits like laughing gas. I could +hardly restrain a wild impulse to leap from the car into the unruffled +bosom of the sea below, and Gazen, habitually staid, actually shouted +with glee. His voice startled the utter stillness, and was mocked by a +faint echo from the surface of the water. By timing the interval between +a call and its echo we found it nearly ten seconds, which corresponded +to a height of about a mile. A repetition of the test from time to time +showed that the car was now travelling at a fairly constant level. The +wide ocean spread all around us; neither sail nor shore, nor living +creature was visible, and we had begun to ask ourselves whether we had +not found a watery planet, when Gazen suddenly cried out, + +"Land!" + +"Whereaway?" I enquired with breathless interest. + +He pointed a little to the right of our course, and following the +direction of his finger, I saw a dim outline where sea and sky met. It +might have been mistaken for the tip of a cloud, but as we advanced it +rose above the horizon and took a definite shape not unlike a truncated +cone. + +The glasses showed it to be an island apparently of volcanic formation, +and after a brief consultation with Carmichael, we steered towards it. +The emotion of Columbus when he arrived at the Bahamas affords, perhaps, +the nearest parallel to our feelings, but in our case the land in sight +was the outlier of another planet. Watchful curiosity and silent +expectation, the ineffable sorcery of new scenes, the mystery of the +unknown, the romance of adventure, the exultation of triumph, and the +dread of disaster, were inextricably blended in our hearts. It was a +glorious hour, and come what might, we all felt that we had not lived in +vain. + +The island rose out of the sea like a volcanic peak, and was evidently +encircled with a barrier reef, as we could trace a line of snowy surf +breaking on its outer verge, and parting the sapphire blue of the deep +water without from the emerald green shoals within. The coast, sweeping +in beautiful bays, dotted with overgrown islets, and fended by rocky +promontories, was rimmed with beaches of yellow sand. The steep sides of +the mountain, broken with precipices, and shaggy with vegetation, +ascended from a multitude of spurs and buttresses, resembling billows of +verdure, and towered into the clouds. + +I have used the word verdure, but it is really a misnomer, for although +the prevailing tint of the foliage was a dark green, the entire forest +was streaked like a rainbow with innumerable flowers, and the breeze +which blew from it was laden with the most delightful perfume, Evidently +it was all a howling wilderness, for we could not detect the slightest +vestige of human dwellings or cultivation. We did not even observe any +signs of bird or beast. A profound stillness brooded over the solitude, +and was scarcely broken by the drowsy murmur of distant waterfalls. + +A forest, like the sea or desert, has a magical power to stimulate the +fancy and touch the primitive chords of the heart. Even a Scotch +hillside, or a Devonshire moor, can throw their wild spells over the +civilised man of letters, and appeal to savage or poetical instincts +underlying all his culture. So now, where everything seen or unseen, was +new and strange, and the imagination was quite free to rove, the charm +was more intense. We stood and gazed upon the moving panorama like +persons in a trance. The trees and plants grew in zones according to +their different levels above the sea, after the manner of those on the +earth, but we were too high to distinguish the various kinds. +Apparently, however, feathery palms and gigantic grasses prevailed in +the lower, and glossy evergreens, resembling the magnolia and +rhododendron, in the middle grounds. All this part of the forest was so +thickly encumbered with flowering creepers and parasites as to seem one +immense bower, dense enough to exclude the sunlight and make a perpetual +twilight underneath. The higher slopes were clad with pine-trees, having +long thin needles, which hung from their boughs like fringes of green +hair, and bushy shrubs which reminded me of heaths. Above these, +enormous ferns with fronds twenty or thirty feet in length, and thickets +draped in variegated mosses were thriving in the spray of a thousand +slender cataracts which poured from the brink of the precipitous crags +on the summit of the mountain. + +Seen from a distance, the cliffs appeared of a ruddy tint, but on coming +closer we found this was due to myriads of huge lichens of a deep +crimson and orange, and that the natural colours of the rock, vermilion +and blue, lemon, yellow, purple, and olive green, almost vied with those +of the forest lower down the steep. + +We glided over the crest at a point where it was almost free of cloud, +and were astonished to find it carved by the weather into the most +fantastic shapes, rudely imitating the colossal figures of men and +animals, or the towers and turrets of ruined castles. After the novelty +of this goblin architecture had passed, however, its effect was somewhat +dreary. The wind, moaning through the lifeless aisles and crannies of +the dripping rocks, the rolling mist and shuddering pools of water, +induced a sense of loneliness and depression. The revulsion in our +feelings was therefore all the greater when the car suddenly escaped +from this height of desolation, and a magnificent prospect burst upon +our view. + +An immense valley seemed to lie far beneath us, but it was really a +table-land of hills, rocks, and mountains, shaggy with vegetation, and +flung together in riotous confusion like the billows of a raging sea. +The stupendous cliffs behind us dropped sheerly down to the level of the +plateau, some ten or twenty thousand feet below, and swept around it as +a curving wall on either hand until they vanished in the distance. It +was evidently the crater of the extinct volcano. + +Our journey across that blooming wilderness will never fade from my +recollection, but when I attempt to give the reader an idea of it, +impressions crowd so thick and fast upon me as to choke my utterance; I +am equally in danger of soaring into a wild extravagance of generality +and sinking into a mere catalogue of detail. Yet I find it impossible +to hit a mean that can do any justice to it. The extraordinary way in +which the ancient lavas of the interior had been riven, upheaved, and +piled upon each other by the volcanic forces, the bewildering variety +and exuberance of the tropical plants and trees which battened on the +rich and crumbling soil, completely baffles all description. What the +imagination is unable to conceive, and the eye itself is overpowered in +beholding, the pen can never hope to depict. Let the grandest mountain +scenes of your memory be jumbled together as in a dream and overgrown +with the maddest jungles of the Ganges or the Amazon, and the +phantasmagoria would still be nothing to the living reality. + +Most of the highest peaks and ridges, as well as the deepest valleys and +ravines, were covered with the embowering forest; but here and there a +huge boss of granite or porphyry reared its bare scalp out of the +verdure like the head and shoulders of some antediluvian monster. The +gigantic palms and foliage trees, all tufted with air-plants or +strangled with climbers, were literally buried in flowers of every hue, +and the crown of the forest rolled under us like a sea of blossoms. +Every moment one enchanting prospect after another opened to our +wondering eyes. Now it was a waterfall, gleaming like a vein of silver +on the brow of a lofty precipice, and descending into a lakelet bordered +with red, blue, and yellow lilies. Again it was a natural bridge, +spanning a deep chasm or tunnel in the rock, through which a river +boiled and roared in a series of cascades and rapids. Ever and anon we +passed over glades and prairies, carpeted with orchids, and dotted with +clumps of shrubbery, a mass of golden bloom, or tremendous blocks of +basalt hung with crimson creepers. Butterflies with azure wings of a +surprising spread and lustre, alighted on the flowers, and great birds +of resplendent plumage flashed from grove to grove. A sun, twice the +diameter of ours, blazed in the northern sky, but the intensity of his +rays was tempered by a thin veil of cloud. The atmosphere although warm +and moist, was not oppressive like that of a forcing-house, and the +breeze was balmy with delicious perfume. + +As each new marvel came in sight, unstaled by familiar and untarnished +by vulgar associations, fresh from the hand of nature, so to speak, we +were filled as we had never been before with an intoxicating sense of +the divine mystery and miracle of life. For myself I was fairly +dumbfounded with amazement, and my companion, the hard-headed sceptical +astronomer, kept on crying and muttering to himself, "My God! my God!" +as if he had become a drivelling fool. + +We travelled league after league of this paradise run wild (I cannot +tell how many) without noticing any change in the character of the +scenery. At length, however, it grew less savage by degrees, and we +entered on a park-like country which gained in loveliness what it lost +in grandeur. Low hills, clad from base to summit in masses of gorgeous +bloom, and mirrored in sequestered lakes fringed with pied water-lilies; +groves of majestic cedars inviting to repose; rambling shrubberies and +evergreen trees festooned with flowering vines; brooks as clear as +crystal, murmuring over their pebbly beds, now hiding under drooping +boughs, now lost in brakes of tall reeds and foliage plants; grassy +meadows gay with crocusses, hyacinths, and tulips, or such-like flowers; +isolated rocks and boulders mantled with vivid moss and lichens; hot +springs falling over basins and terraces of tinted alabaster; clustering +palms and groups of spiry pine-trees; geysers throwing up columns of +spray tinged with rainbows; all these and a thousand other features of +the landscape which must be nameless passed before our view. + +Again and again we startled some herd of wild quadrupeds or flock of +gaudy birds unknown to science. Legions of large and burnished insects, +veritable living jewels, might be seen everywhere, and flaunting +butterflies hovered about the car. So far we had not observed the least +sign of human occupation, and yet, as Gazen remarked, the appearance of +the country seemed to betray the influence of art. It had not the wild +and wasteful luxuriance of the earlier tract, of a region left entirely +in the hands of Nature, but rather of a paradise which had been dressed +and kept by the gods. + +Owing to the height at which we were travelling, and the undulating +character of the surface, we could not see very far ahead. At length, +however, on emerging from a gap in a range of hills, we came upon a vast +plain or prairie stretching away into the distance, and there in the +blue haze of the horizon we saw, or fancied we saw, the architecture and +gardens of a great city, on the borders of a lake, and above the lake, +suspended in mid-air, a spectral palace, glittering in the sunbeams. + +We raised a shout of joy and triumph at this discovery. + +"Stop a minute, though," said Gazen, and a shade of doubt passed over +his face. "Perhaps it is only a mirage." + +We levelled our glasses at the distant scene, and scanned it with +palpitating hearts. We could discern the general shape, and even the +details of many houses, and the roofs and minarets of the palace, which +was evidently built on the top of an island in the midst of the lake. + +"That is not a phantasm," said I at last; "it is a real city." + +Gazen made no reply, but turned and silently shook me by the hand. The +tears were standing in his eyes. + +A delightful breeze, fragrant with innumerable flowers, mantled the long +grass of the prairie which was threaded by a maze of silver streams, and +diversified with bosky woodlands. Ere long we observed fantastic +cottages and picturesque villas nestling in the coppices, and as may be +imagined we were all on tip-toe with curiosity to catch a sight of their +inhabitants. We were anxious to see whether they looked like human +beings, and how they were disposed towards us. + +For a long time we looked in vain, but at length we saw a figure moving +across the prairie which turned out to be that of--a _man_. Yes, a man +like ourselves, but well stricken in years, and to judge by his costume +apparently a savage. His back was towards us, and as we floated past the +professor shouted in a tone loud enough for him to hear, + +"Good evening, sir." + +The native started, and lifting his eyes to the car beheld it with +astonishment and awe. He raised his hands in the air, then dropped them +by his side, and sank upon his knees. + +"That's a good sign," said Gazen with a grim smile. "I wonder if he +understands English. Let's try him again," and he cried out, "What's the +name of this place?" but the car was going rapidly, and if there was any +response it was lost upon the wind. + +As we approached the city, the cottages became thicker and thicker. They +were of various sizes, and of a light fanciful design adapted to a warm +climate. Each of them was surrounded by a grove or garden rich in +flowers and fruit. There were grassy trails and roads from one to +another, but we did not see any fields or fences, flocks or herds. + +We also saw more and more of the inhabitants--men, women, and children. +They were evidently a fine race, tall, handsome, and of white +complexion; but the men in general were darker than the women. From +their gay dresses, and the condition of the land, we had set them down +for savages; but on a nearer view, their lack of arms, the beauty of +their homes, and their own graceful demeanour, obliged us to reconsider +our opinion. When they first saw the car they did not fly in terror, or +muster hastily in armed and yelling bands. Many of them ran and cried, +it is true, but only to call their friends, and while some stood with +bowed heads and upraised hands as the car floated by, others, like the +old man, fell upon their knees as though in prayer. + +It was getting late in the day, and the sun was now sloping to the crest +of the mountain wall encircling the crater. Accordingly we held a +consultation with Carmichael as to whether we should land there, or +proceed to the city. + +Carmichael thought we should go on. + +"But," said Gazen, "would it not be safer to try the temper of the +people first, here in the country?" + +"These people are not savages," replied Carmichael. "They are civilised, +or semi-civilised, else how could they have built so fine a city as that +appears. If we should see any signs of hostility amongst them, however, +the car is plated with metal and will protect us--we have arms and can +defend ourselves--and, besides, we can rise again, and slip away from +them." + +We decided to advance, but Gazen and I took the precaution to belt on +our revolvers. + +The huge limb of the sun, red and glowing, sank to rest in a bed of +purple clouds on the summit of the rosy precipice, and filled all the +green plain with a rich amber light. The fantastic towers and trees of +the distant city by the lake shone in his mellow lustre; the solitary +island swam in a flood of gold, and the quaint edifice which crowned it +blazed with insufferable splendour. As the eerie gloaming died in the +west, and thin grey mists began to veil the outlandish scene, we +realised to the full that we were all alone and friendless in an unknown +world, and a deep sentiment of exile took possession of our souls. + +The gloaming fell, and myriads of lights twinkled in the dusk, some +flitting about like fireflies, others stationary, while a hum of many +voices ascended to our ears. The lights showed us that we were gliding +over the city, and the voices told us that our arrival was causing a +great commotion. Presently we floated above a large open space or +square, lit with coloured lanterns, and evidently adorned with trees, +fountains, and statuary. Here a great number of people had assembled, +and as they appeared quite orderly and peaceable, we determined to land. +While the car descended cautiously, Gazen and I kept a sharp watch on +the crowd, with our revolvers in our hands. Instead of anger and +resistance, however, the natives only manifested friendly signs of +welcome. They withdrew to a respectful distance, and, dropping on their +knees, burst into a song or hymn of wonderful sweetness as the car +touched the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CRATER LAND. + + +A man of dignified and venerable mien stepped from the crowd, and +followed by a train of youths and maidens, each bearing a vase or a tray +of fruit and flowers, came towards the car. While yet some ten or twelve +paces distant he stopped, and saluted Gazen and myself by lifting his +hands gracefully in the air, and bowing his head. After we had +acknowledged his greeting with due respect, he addressed us, speaking +fluently, and in a reverent, not to say a humble tone; but his words, +being entirely strange to our ears, we could only shake our heads with a +baffled smile, and reply in English that we did not understand. On this +a look of doubt and wonder passed over his face, and pointing, first to +the car, then to the sky, he seemed to enquire whether we had not +dropped from the clouds. We nodded our assent, and the astronomer, +indicating the Earth, which was now shining in the east as a beautiful +green star, endeavoured to let him know by signs that we had come from +there. + +The countenance of our host seemed to brighten again, and, saluting us +with a profound obeisance, he said a few words to the attendants, who +advanced to the car, and sinking upon their knees proffered us their +charming tribute. + +"Good!" exclaimed Gazen, testifying his delight and manifesting his +gratitude by an elaborate pantomime. + +I am afraid his performance must have appeared slightly ludicrous to the +Venusians, for one or two of the younger girls had some difficulty in +keeping their gravity. On a hint from the Elder the young people retired +to their places, leaving their offerings upon the ground. + +"They don't intend to starve us at all events," muttered Gazen to me, in +an undertone. "The very fragrance of these fruits entices a man to eat +them; but will they agree with our stomachs? Notwithstanding my +scientific curiosity, and my natural appetite, I am quite willing to let +you and Carmichael try them first." + +Having found the value of gestures in our intercourse, the Elder leaned +his head on one hand, and pointed with the other to a large house at +the upper end of the square. His meaning was plain; but as we had +already made up our minds to stay in the car, at all events until we had +looked about us, Gazen signified as much by energetic but indescribable +actions, and further contrived to intimate that we were all thoroughly +tired and worn out with our voyage. + +The Senior politely took the hint, and repeating his courteous salute, +withdrew from our presence, accompanied by his followers. + +"I told you so!" cried Miss Carmichael, when Gazen and I re-entered the +car. "They are treating us like superior beings." + +"It shows their good sense," replied Gazen, and even as he spoke a +strain of heavenly music rose from the assembled multitude, and +gradually died away as they departed to their homes. + +We could not sufficiently admire the beauty and fragrance of the flowers +and fruit, or the exquisite workmanship of the vases they had brought. +What struck us most was the lovely iridescence which they all displayed +in different lights. The vases in particular seemed to be carved out of +living opals, yet each was large enough to contain several pints of +liquor. Miss Carmichael decorated the dinner-table with a selection from +the trays, but although we found the fruits and beverages delicious to +the taste, we prudently partook very sparingly of them. + +After dinner we all went outside to enjoy the cool evening breeze, but +without actually leaving the car. It was hardly dusk, only a kind of +twilight or gloaming, and it did not seem to grow any darker. Yet +innumerable fire-flies, bright as glow-lamps, and of every hue, were +flashing like diamonds against the whispering foliage of the trees. + +With the exception of an occasional group or a solitary who stopped +awhile to look at the car and then passed on, the square was deserted; +but the dwellings around it were lighted up, and being of a very open +construction, we could see into them, and hear the voices of the inmates +feasting and making merry. Needless to say that everything we observed +was interesting to us, for it was all strange; but we were so much +exhausted with excitement that we were fain to go to bed. + +Next day the professor and I, obeying a common impulse of travellers, +got up early and went forth to survey our new quarters. It was a +splendid morning, the whole atmosphere steeped in sunshine, and musical +with the songs of birds. The big sun was peeping over the distant wall +of the crater, but we did not feel his rays uncomfortably hot. A sky of +the loveliest azure was streaked with thin white clouds, drawn across it +like muslin curtains, and a cooling breeze played gently upon the skin. +The dewy air, so spring-like, fresh and sweet, was a positive pleasure +to breathe, and we both felt the intoxication, the rapture of life, as +we had never felt it since our boyhood. The grass underfoot was green as +emerald, and soft as velvet; fountains were flashing in the sunshine, +statues gleaming amongst the flowering trees, and birds of brilliant +plumage glancing everywhere. + +The square opened on the lake, and afforded us a magnificent view of the +island. It was conical in shape, and the peak, no doubt, of an old +volcanic vent. I should say it was at least a thousand feet in height; +the sides were a veritable "hanging garden," wild and luxuriant; and the +summit was crowned by a glittering mass of domes, minarets, and spires. +Numbers of people, old and young, were bathing along the beach, and +swimming, diving, and splashing each other in the water with innocent +glee. Large birds, resembling swans, double the size of ours, and of +pale blue, rose, yellow, and green, as well as white plumage, were +floating in and out, and some of the children were riding on their +backs. Fantastic boats, with carved and painted prows, might be seen +crossing the lake in all directions, some under sail, and others with +rowers, keeping stroke to the rhythm of their songs. The shores of the +lake, sloping quietly to the waterside, were covered more or less +thickly with the houses and gardens of the city, and far in the +distance, perhaps fifty, perhaps a hundred miles away, the view was +bounded by the dim and ruddy precipice of the crater wall. + +Regaling our eyes on the beautiful prospect, and our lungs on the pure +atmosphere, we wandered along the beach, ever and anon pausing to admire +the strange forms and beautiful colouring of the shells and seaweeds, or +to pick up a rare pebble, then shie it away again, little thinking that +it might have been a ruby, sapphire, or topaz, worth a king's ransom on +the earth. At length the way was barred by the mouth of a broad river, +and after a refreshing plunge in the lake, we returned home to +breakfast. + +During our absence Carmichael had been visited by our venerable host of +the evening, whose name was Dinus, and a young man called Otāré, who +turned out to be his son. They had brought a fresh supply of dainties, +and what was still more important, some pictorial dictionaries and +drawings which would enable us to learn their language. As the structure +of it was simple, and the vocabulary not very copious, and as we also +enjoyed the tuition of the young man, who was devoted to our service, +and conducted us in most of our walks abroad, at the end of a fortnight +we could maintain a conversation with tolerable fluency. + +In the meanwhile, and afterwards, we learned a good deal about the +country, and the manners and customs of its inhabitants. Womla, or +Woom-la, which means the "bowl" or hollow-land, is evidently the crater +of an extinct volcano of enormous dimensions, such as are believed to +exist upon the moon. It belongs to an archipelago of similar islands, +which are widely scattered over a vast ocean in this part of Venus, but +is, we were told, far distant from the nearest of them. The climate may +be described as a perpetual spring and summer, with a sky nearly always +serene, and of a beautiful azure blue, veiled with soft and fleecy +clouds. + +Thanks to the lofty walls of the crater, which penetrate the clouds and +condense their moisture, the land is watered with many streams. These +flow into the central lake, which discharges into the surrounding ocean +by a rift or chasm in the mountain side. Moreover, there are frequent +showers, and heavy dews by night, to refresh the surface of the ground. +Thunderstorms occur on the tops of the mountain and in the open sea; +but very seldom within the enchanted girdle of the crater. The air is +remarkably pure, sweet, and exhilarating, owing doubtless to the high +percentage of oxygen it contains, and the absence of foreign matter, +such as microbes, dust, and obnoxious fumes. In fact, we all felt a +distinct improvement in our health and spirits, a kind of mental +intoxication which was really more than a rejuvenescence. Nor was the +heat very trying, even in the middle of the day, because although the +sun was twice as large as on the earth, he did not rise far above the +horizon, and cooling breezes blew from the chilled summit of the cliffs. +The vegetation seems to go on budding, flowering, and fruiting +perpetually, as in the Elysian Fields of Homer, where + + "Joys ever young, unmixed with pain or fear, + Fill the wide circle of the eternal year: + Stern winter smiles on that auspicious clime + The fields are florid with unfading prime; + From the bleak Pole no winds inclement blow, + Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow; + But from the breezy deep the blessèd inhale, + The fragrant murmurs of the western gale." + +The mysterious behaviour of the sun was a great puzzle to our +astronomer. I have said that he rose very little above the horizon, or +in other words the lip of the crater, as might be expected from our high +southern latitude; but we soon found that he always rose and sank at the +same place. In the morning he peeped above the cliffs, and in the +evening he dipped again behind them, leaving a twilight or gloaming (I +can scarcely call it dusk), which continued throughout the night. From +his fixity in azimuth, Gazen concluded that Schiaparelli, the famous +Italian observer, was right in supposing that Venus takes as long to +turn about her own axis as she does to go round the sun, and that as a +consequence she always presents the same side to her luminary. All that +we heard from the natives tended to confirm this view. They told us that +far away to the east and west of Womla there was a desert land, covered +with snow and ice, on which the sun never shone. We also gathered that +the sun rises to a greater and lesser height above the cliffs +alternately, thus producing a succession of warmer and cooler seasons; a +fact which agrees with Schiaparelli's observation that the axis of the +planet sways to and from the sun. Gazen was intensely delighted at this +discovery, partly for its own sake, but mainly, I think, because it +would afford him an opportunity of crushing the celebrated Pettifer +Possil, his professional antagonist, who, it seems, is bitterly opposed +to the doctrines of Schiaparelli. But why did the sun rise and set every +fifteen hours or thereabout, and so make what I have called a "day" and +"night"? Why did he not continue in the same spot, except for the slow +change caused by the nutation or nodding of Venus? Gazen was much +perplexed over this anomaly, and sought an explanation of it in the +refraction of the atmosphere above the cliffs producing an apparent but +not a real motion of the orb. + +The territory of Womla may be divided into three zones, namely, a +central plain under cultivation, a belt of undulating hills, kept as a +park or pleasaunce, and a magnificent, nay, a sublime wilderness, next +to the crater wall. + +The natural wealth of the country is very great. Some of its productions +resemble and others are different from those of the earth. We saw gold, +silver, copper, tin, and iron, as well as metals which were quite new to +us. Some of these had a purple, blue, or green colour, and emitted a +most agreeable fragrance. There are granites and porphyries, marbles and +petrifactions of the most exquisite grain or tints. Precious stones like +the diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, emerald, garnet, opal, turquoise, +and others familiar or unfamiliar to us, fairly abound, and can be +picked up on the shores of the lake. I presume that many of them have +been formed on a large scale in chasms of the rock by the volcanic fumes +of the crater. + +What struck us most of all, however, was the prevalence of +phosphorescent minerals which absorbed the sunlight by day, and +glimmered feebly in the dusk. Professor Gazen seems to think that the +presence of snow and clouds, together with these phosphorescent bodies, +may help to account for the mysterious luminosity on the dark side of +Venus. + +The vegetation is wonderfully rich, varied, and luxuriant. As a rule, +the foliage is thick and glossy; but while it is green to blackness in +some of the trees, it is parti-coloured or iridescent in others. Many of +the flowers, too, are iridescent, or change their hues from hour to +hour. The beauty and profusion of the flowers is beyond conception, and +some of the loveliest grow on what I should take for palms, ferns, +canes, and grasses. A distant forest or woodland rivals the splendid +plumage of some tropical bird. We heard of "singing flowers," including +a water-lily which bursts open with a musical note, and of many plants +which are sensitive to heat as well as touch, and if Gazen be correct, +to electricity and magnetism. We saw one in a house which was said to +require a change of scene from time to time else it would languish and +die. + +The borders of the lakes and ponds teemed with corals, delicate +seaweeds, and lovely shells. Innumerable fishes of gay and brilliant +hues darted and burned in the water like broken rainbows. + +Reptiles are not very common, at least, in the cultivated zone; but we +saw a few snakes, tortoises, and lizards, all brightly and harmoniously +marked. One of the snakes was phosphorescent, and one of the lizards +could sit up like a dog, or fly in the air like a swallow. The variety +and beauty of the birds, as well as the charm of their song, exceed all +description. Most of them have iridescent feathers, several are +wingless, and one at least has teeth. The insects are a match for the +birds in point of beauty, if not also in size and musical qualities. +Many of them are luminescent, and omit steady or flashing lights of +every tint all through the night. + +There are few large quadrupeds in the country, and so far as we could +learn none of these are predaceous. We saw an animal resembling a deer +on one hand, and a tapir on the other, as well as a kind of toed horse +or hipparion, and a number of domestic pets all strange to us. + +The people, according to their tradition, came originally from a +temperate land far across the ocean to the south-east, which is now a +dark and frozen desert. They are a remarkably fine race, probably of +mixed descent, for they found Womla inhabited, and their complexions +vary from a dazzling blonde to an olive-green brunette. They are nearly +all very handsome, both in face and figure, and I should say that many +of them more than realise our ideals of beauty. As a rule, the +countenances of the men are open, frank, and noble; those of the women +are sweet, smiling, and serene. Free of care and trouble, or unaffected +by it, mere existence is a pleasure to them, and not a few appear to +live in a kind of rapture, such as I have seen in the eyes of a young +artist on the earth while regarding a beautiful woman or a glorious +landscape. Their attitudes and movements are full of dignity and grace. +In fact, during my walks abroad, I frequently found myself admiring +their natural groups, and fancying myself in ancient Greece, as depicted +by our modern painters. Their style of beauty is not unlike that of the +old Hellenes, but I doubt whether the delicacy and bloom of their skins +has ever been matched on our planet except, perhaps, in a few favoured +persons. + +From some experiments made by Gazen, it would appear that while their +senses of sight and touch are keener, their senses of hearing and also +of heat are rather blunter than ours. + +Partly owing to the genial climate, their love of beauty, and their easy +existence, their dress is of a simple and graceful order. Many of their +light robes and shining veils are woven from silky fibres which grow on +the trees, and tinged with beautiful dyes. Bright, witty, and ingenious, +as well as guileless, chaste, and happy, I can only compare them to +grown-up children--but the children of a god-like race. Thanks to the +purity of their blood, and the gentleness of their dispositions, +together with their favourable circumstances, they live almost exempt +from disease, or pain, or crime, and finally die in peace at the good +old age of a hundred or a hundred and fifty years. + +Their voices are so pleasing, and their language is so melodious that I +enjoyed hearing their talk before I understood a word of it. Moreover, +their delightful manners evince a rare delicacy of sentiment and +appreciation of the beautiful in life. We foreigners must have been +objects of the liveliest curiosity to them, yet they never showed it in +their conduct; they never stared at us, or stopped to enquire about us, +but courteously saluted us wherever we went, and left us to make +ourselves at home. We never saw an ugly or unbecoming gesture, and we +never heard a rude, unmannerly word all the time we stayed in Womla. + +Some of their public buildings are magnificent; but most of their +private houses are pretty one-storied cottages, each more or less +isolated in a big garden, and beyond earshot of the rest. They are +elegant, not to say fanciful constructions of stone and timber, +generally of an oval shape, or at least with rounded outlines; but +sometimes rambling, and varying much in detail. Everyone seems to follow +his particular bent and taste in the fashion of his home. Many of them +have balconies or verandahs, and also terraces on the roof, where the +inmates can sit and enjoy the surrounding view. They are doorless, and +the outer walls are usually open so that one may see inside; but in +stormy weather they are closed by panels of wood, and a translucent +mineral resembling glass. They are divided into rooms by mats and +curtains, or partitions and screens of wood, which are sometimes +decorated with paintings of inimitable beauty. The ceilings are usually +of carved wood, and the floors inlaid with marbles, corals, and the +richer stones. There are no stuffy carpets on the floors, or hangings on +the walls to collect the dust. The light easy furniture is for the most +part made of precious or fragrant woods of divers colours--red, black, +yellow, blue, white, and green. At night the rooms are softly and +agreeably lighted by phosphorescent tablets, or lamps of glow-worms and +fire-flies in crystal vases. + +The dishes and utensils not only serve but adorn the home. Most of the +implements and fittings are made of coloured metals or alloys. Many of +the cups and vessels are beautifully cut from shells and diamonds, +rubies, or other precious stones. Statuary, manuscripts, and musical +instruments, bespeak their taste and genius for the fine arts. + +Their love of Nature is also shown in their gardens and pleasure +grounds, which are stocked with the rarest flowers, fruits, and pet +animals; such as bright fishes, luminous frogs and moths, singing birds, +and so forth, none of which are captives in the strict sense of the +word. + +Members of one family live under the same roof, or at all events within +the same ground. The father is head of the household, and the highest in +authority. The mother is next, and the children follow in the order of +their age. They hold that the proper place for the woman is between the +man and the child, and that her nature, which partakes of both, fits +her for it. On the rare occasions when authority needs to be exercised +it is promptly obeyed. All the members of the family mix freely together +in mutual confidence and love, with reverence, but not fear. They are +very clean and dainty in their habits. To every house, either in an open +court or in the garden, there is a bathing pond of running water, with a +fountain playing in the middle, where they can bathe at any time without +going to the lake. + +They deem it not only gross to eat flesh or fish, but also barbarous, +nay cruel, to enjoy and sustain their own lives through the suffering +and death of other creatures. This feeling, or prejudice as some would +call it, extends even to eggs. They live chiefly on fruits, nuts, edible +flowers, grain, herbs, gums, and roots, which are in great profusion. I +did not see any alcoholic, or at least intoxicating beverages amongst +them. Their drink is water, either pure or else from mineral springs, +and the delectable juices of certain fruits and plants. They eat +together, chatting merrily the while, and afterwards recline on couches +listening to some tale, or song, or piece of music, but taking care not +to fall asleep, as they believe it is injurious. + +They rejoice when a child is born, and cherish it as the most holy +gift. For the first eight or ten years of its life it is left as much as +possible to the teaching of Nature, care being taken to guard it from +serious harm. It is allowed to run wild about the gardens and fields, +developing its bodily powers in play, and gaining a practical experience +of the most elementary facts. After that it goes to school, at first for +a short time, then, as it becomes used to the confinement and study, for +a longer and longer period each day. Their end in education is to +produce noble men and women; that is to say, physical, moral, and +intellectual beauty by assisting the natural growth. They hold it a sin +to falsify or distort the mind, as well as the soul or body of a child. +They seem to be as careful to cultivate the genius and temperament as +the heart and conscience. Their object is to train and form the pupil +according to the intention of Nature without forcing him beyond his +strength, or into an artificial mould. Studious to preserve the harmony +and unity of mind, soul, and body, they never foster one to the +detriment of the others, but seek to develop the whole person. + +It is not so much words as things, not so much facts, dates, and +figures, as principles, ideas, and sentiments, which they endeavour to +teach. The scholar is made familiar with what he is told by observation +and experience whenever it is possible, for that is how Nature teaches. +Precept, they say, is good, and example is better; but an ideal of +perfection is best of all. + +At first more attention is paid to the cultivation of the body than the +mind. Not only are the boys and girls trained in open-air gymnasia, or +contend in games, but they also work in the gardens, and during the +holidays are sent into the wilderness under the guidance of their +elders, especially their elder brothers, to rough it there in primitive +freedom. + +The first lessons of the pupil are very short and simple, but as his +mind ripens they become longer and more difficult. The education of the +soul precedes that of the mind. They wish to make their children good +before they make them clever; and good by the feelings of the heart +rather than the instruction of the head. Every care is taken to refine +and strengthen the sentiments and instincts, the conscience, good sense +and taste, as well as the affections, filial piety, friendship, and the +love of Nature. Spiritual and moral ideals are inculcated by means of +innocent and simple tales or narratives. Children are taught to obey the +authority placed over them, or in their own breast, and to sacrifice all +to their duty. The conduct of the teacher must be irreproachable, +because he is a model to them; but while they look upon him as their +friend and guide, he leaves them free to choose their own companions and +amuse themselves in their own way. + +In the cultivation of the mind they give the first and foremost place to +the imagination. The reason, they say, is mechanical, and cannot rise +above the known; that is to say, the real; whereas the imagination is +creative and attains to the unknown, the ideal. Its highest work is the +creation of beauty. Because it is unruly, and precarious in its action, +however, the imagination requires the most careful guidance, and the +assistance of the reason. Students are taught to idealise and invent, as +well as to analyse and reason, but without disturbing the equilibrium of +the faculties by acquiring a pronounced habit of one or the other. It is +better, they say, to be reasonable than a reasoner; to be imaginative +than a dreamer; and to have discernment or insight than mere knowledge. + +The most important study of all is the art of living, or in other words +the art of leading a simple, noble, and beautiful life. It finishes +their education, and consists in the reduction of their highest precepts +and ideals to practice. The reasons for every lesson are given so far +as they are known, and they are always founded in the nature of things. +A pupil is taught to act in a particular way, not in the hope of a +reward or in the fear of punishment, but because it would be contrary to +the laws of matter and spirit to act otherwise; in short, because it is +right. They hold that life is its own end as well as its own reward. +According as it is good or bad, so it achieves or fails of its purpose, +and is happy or miserable. We are happy by our emotions or feelings, and +through these by our actions. Happiness comes from goodness, but is not +perfect without health, beauty, and fitness: hence the pupils are taught +self-regulation, practical hygiene, and a graceful manner. Indeed, their +passion for beauty is such that they regard nothing as perfect until it +is beautiful. + +As beauty of mind, soul, and body, is their aim, a beautiful person is +held in the highest honour. Prizes are offered for beauty, and statues +are erected to the winners. Many are called after some particular trait; +for example, "Timāré of the lovely toes," and a pretty eyelash is a +title to public fame. Beauty they say is twice blessed, since it pleases +the possessor as well as others. + +The sense of existence, apart from what they do or gain, is their chief +happiness. Their "ealo," or the height of felicity, is a passive rather +than an active state. It is (if I am not mistaken) a kind of serene +rapture or tranquil ecstasy of the soul, which is born doubtless from a +perfect harmony between the person and his environment. In it, they say, +the illusion of the world is complete, and life is another name for +music and love. + +As far as I could learn, this condition, though independent of sexual +love, is enhanced by it. On the one hand it is spoiled by too much +thought, and on the other by too much passion. They cherish it as they +cherish all the natural illusions (which are sacred in their eyes), but +being a state of repose it is transient, and only to be enjoyed from +time to time. + +Since an unfit employment is a mistake, and a source of unhappiness, +everyone is free to choose the work that suits his nature. Parents and +teachers only help him to discover himself. One is called to his work by +a love for it, and the pleasure he takes in doing it easily and well. If +his bent is vague or tardy, he is allowed to change, and feel his way to +it by trial. Since the work or vocation is not a means of living, there +is no compulsion in it. Their aim is to do right in carrying out the +true intentions of Nature. + +For the same reason everyone is free to choose the partner of his life. +They are monogamists, and believe that nothing can justify marriage but +love on both sides. The rite is very simple, and consists in the elected +pair sipping from the same dish of sacred water. It is called "drinking +of the cup." + +Most of them die gradually of old age, and they do not seem to share our +fear and horror of death, but to regard it with a sad and pleasing +melancholy. The body is reduced to ashes on a pyre of fragrant wood, and +the songs they sing around it only breathe a tender regret for their +loss, mingled with a joyful hope of meeting again. They neither preserve +the dust as a memento, nor wear any kind of mourning; but they cherish +the memory of the absent in their hearts. + +They believe that labour like virtue is a necessity, and its own reward; +but it is moderate labour of the right sort, which is a blessing and not +a curse. They all seem happy at their work, which is often cheered by +music, songs, or tales. Everyone enjoys his task, and tries to attain +the perfection of skill and grace. Those who excel are honoured, and +sometimes commemorated with statues. + +They seem artists in all, and above all. They hold that every beautiful +thing has a use, and they never make a useful thing without beauty. +Apart from portraits, their pictures and statuary are mostly historical, +or else ideal representations. Many of these are typical of life; for +example, a boy at play, a pair of lovers, a mother weaning her child, +and the parting of friends. The ideal of art is to them not merely a +show to please the eye for a while, but a model to be realised in their +own lives; and I daresay it has helped to make them such a fine people. +They are clever architects and gardeners. Indeed, the whole country may +be described as a vast ornamental garden. In the middle zone, which +borders on the wilderness, their wonderful art of beautifying natural +scenery is at its best. They have a good many simple machines and +implements, but I should not call them a scientific people. Gazen, who +enquired into the matter, was told by Otāré, himself an artist, by the +way, that science in their opinion had a tendency to destroy the +illusion of Nature and impair the finer sentiments and spontaneity of +the soul; hence they left the systematic study of it to the few who +possess a decided bias for it. As a rule they are content to admire. + +They have many books of various kinds, either printed or finely written +and illustrated by hand. I should say their favourite reading was +history and travels, or else poetry and fiction; anything having a +human interest, more especially of a pathetic order. Everyone is taught +to read aloud, and if he possess the voice and talent, to recite. Poets +are highly esteemed, and not only read their poems to the people, but +also teach elocution. They have dramatic performances on certain days, +and seem to prefer tragedies or affecting plays, perhaps because these +awaken feelings which their happy lot in general permits to sleep. They +are very fond of music, and can all sing or play on some musical +instrument. Their favourite melodies are mostly in a minor key, and they +dislike noisy music; indeed, noise of any sort. Gesture and the dance +are fine arts, and they can imitate almost any action without words. A +favourite amusement is to gather in the dusk of the evening, crowned +with flowers, or wearing fanciful dresses, and sing or dance together by +the light of the fire-flies. + +The inhabitants of the whole island live as one happy family. +Recognising their kinship by intermarriage, and their isolation in the +world, they never forget that the good or ill of a part is the good or +ill of the whole, and their object is to secure the happiness of one and +all. It is considered right to help another in trouble before thinking +of oneself. + +When Gazen explained the doctrine of "the struggle for existence ending +in the survival of the fittest" to Otāré, he replied that it was an +excellent principle for snakes; but he considered it beneath the dignity +and wisdom of men to struggle for a life which could be maintained by +the labour of love, and ought to be devoted to rational or spiritual +enjoyment. + +Thanks to the helpful spirit which animates them, and the bounty of +Nature, nobody is ever in want. As a rule, the garden around each home +provides for the family, and any surplus goes to the public stores, or +rather free tables, where anyone takes what he may require. + +As I have already hinted, personal merit of every kind is honoured +amongst them. + +Dinus, the gentleman who received us on the night of our arrival, is the +chief man or head of the community, and was appointed to the post for +his wisdom, character, and age. He is assisted in the government by a +council of a hundred men, and there are district officers in various +parts of the country. + +They have no laws, or at all events their old laws have become a dead +letter. Custom and public opinion take their place. Crime is practically +unknown amongst them, and when a misdemeanour is committed the culprit +is in general sufficiently punished by his own shame and remorse. +However, they have certain humane penalties, such as fines or +restitution of stolen goods; but they never resort to violence or take +life, and only in extreme cases of depravity and madness do they +infringe on the liberty of an individual. + +Quarrels and sickness of mind or body are almost unknown amongst them. +The care and cure of the person is a portion of the art of life as it is +taught in the schools. + +An account of this remarkable people would not be complete without some +reference to their religion; but owing to their reticence on sacred +subjects, and the shortness of our visit, I was unable to learn much +about it. They believe, however, in a Supreme Being, whom they only name +by epithets such as "The Giver" or "The Divine Artist." They also +believe in the immortality of the soul. One of their proverbs, "Life is +good, and good is life," implies that goodness means life, and badness +death. They hold that every thought, word, and deed, is by the nature of +things its own reward or punishment, here or hereafter. Their ideals of +childlike innocence, and the reign of love, seem to be essentially +Christian. Their solicitude and kindness extends to all that lives and +suffers, and they regard the world around them as a divine work which +they are to reverence and perfect. + +Our visit fell during a great religious festival and holiday, which they +keep once a year, and by the courtesy of Dinus, or his son, we witnessed +many of their sacred concerts, dances, games, and other celebrations. Of +these, however, I shall only describe the principal ceremony, which is +called "Plucking the Flower," and appears to symbolise the passage of +the soul into a higher life. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL. + + +Early on the chief day of the festival Otāré came and took us to see the +mystical rite of cutting the "Flower of the Soul." + +The morning was fine, and the clear waters of the lake were bright with +boats filled with joyous parties bound like ourselves for the Holy +Island. + +Landing at a noble quay of red granite, we climbed the steep and shaggy +sides of the mountain by a sacred and winding avenue, bordered with +blooming trees and statuary. Most of the figures were exquisitely carved +in a white wood or stone, having a pearly sheen, and represented the +former priestesses of the Temple, or illustrated the animating spirit of +the cult. + +On gaining the summit we found ourselves at the brim of a spacious +hollow or basin, which in past ages must have been the crater of the +volcanic peak. The grassy slopes of the basin were laid out in flower +gardens and terraces of coloured marbles, shaded with sombre trees, and +ornamented with sculpture. In the bottom lay an oval sheet of water a +mile long or more, and from the midst of it, towards the near end, a +beautiful islet, crowned by a magnificent temple, rose like a mirage to +the view, and seemed to float on its glassy bosom. + +Words of mine cannot give any idea of that sublime architecture, which +resembled no earthly order, though it seemed to partake of both the +Saracenic and the Indian. Fragrant timber, precious stones, and +burnished metals; in fine, the richest materials known to the builders, +had been united with consummate art into one harmonious emblem of their +faith. The first beams of the rising sun blazed on its golden roof and +fretted pinnacles of diamond, and ruby, sapphire, topaz, and emerald; +but the lower part was still in shadow. Nevertheless, we could +distinguish a grand portal in the southern front, which faced the sun, +and a broad flight of marble steps descending from it into the water; +but the massive doors were shut, and not a soul was to be seen about the +temple. + +As the worshippers arrived they seated themselves on the turf amongst +the flowering shrubs, or on the benches along the terraces, and either +spoke in subdued tones, or preserved a religious silence. Otāré led us +to a kind of throne or stand facing the temple, and raised above the +other seats, where his father, as chief of the community, sat in state. +Dinus received us with his usual gracious dignity, and gave us chairs on +his right and left hand. + +From this height we enjoyed a splendid panorama of the Craterland, at +least that portion which had already caught the sunshine. It lay beneath +us like a picture, the surface rising in a series of zones from the +central sea, which mirrored the serene azure and plume-like vapours of +the heavens, through the sweet meadows, and the smiling gardens, to the +luxuriant wilderness beyond; and we could plainly see the shadow of the +bounding rampart shrink towards the south as the sun mounted higher and +higher. + +It was a lovely dawn. A rosy mist hung like a veil of gauze over the +southern sky, and from behind a bar of purple cloud, lined with gold, +which rested on the summit of the cliffs, a coronet of auroral beams or +crepuscular rays, blue on a pink ground, shot upwards, heralding the +advent of the sun, and reminding me of the ancient simile of the earth +as a bride awaiting the arrival of her lord. + +At length the first glowing tip of the solar disc peeped over the rim +of the crater, and a deep low murmur, swelling to a shrill cry, ascended +from the passive multitude. + +All the people rose to their feet, and every eye was turned on the south +front of the temple, which was now illuminated to the edge of the water. +As the sunlight crept over the surface it sparkled on the dense foliage +of what seemed a bed of water-lilies flourishing quite close to the +marble stairs. + +Presently a rich and stately barge, moved by crimson oars, and enlivened +with young girls draped in sky-blue, was seen to glide round a corner of +the temple, and come to rest beside the water-lilies. + +A deep silence, as of breathless expectation, fell upon the vast +assembly, and then, without other warning, the great purple doors of the +temple swung open, and revealed a white-robed figure walking at the head +of a glittering procession of maidens decked in jewels and luminous +scarves, which vied with the colours of the rainbow. It was the young +priestess and her train of virgins. + +Simultaneously the immense multitude raised their voices in a sacred +hymn of melting sweetness, very low at first, but gathering volume as +the priestess descended the marble stairs to the waterside. + +Here, on the lowest of the steps, one of her maidens put into her hand +a sacred knife or sickle, which, as Otāré informed us had a blade of +gold, and a handle of opal. The woman then retired, and we saw her stand +erect for a moment in the full blaze of the mellow sunlight, with her +golden hair falling about her in a kind of glory, and stretch out her +arms towards the sun in a superb attitude of adoration. Then, with a +slow and swan-like movement, she entered the water, and wading among the +lilies, cut the sacred blossom, and held it aloft in triumph, while the +music swelled to a mighty pæan of thanksgiving and praise. + +After that she went on board the barge, which had been waiting for her, +and was rowed around the border of the lake not far from the shore, so +that the onlookers might see the loveliness of the flower, and even +smell its perfume. The barge was not unlike an ancient galley in shape, +but ornately curved like the proa of a South Sea Islander. The rowers +were concealed underneath the deck, but the crimson oars kept time to +the music of their voices, and the spectators joined in the song as the +vessel glided onwards. + +As for the priestess, she lay reclining under a golden canopy on the +poop, with her face half turned towards the people, and holding the +sacred lily in her hand, whilst two of her maidens fanned her with +brilliant plumes, + + "And made their bends adorning." + +Ever since she had come out of the temple I had scarcely taken my eyes +off her, and now that I could see the marvellous beauty of her +countenance, I was absolutely fascinated. Never shall I forget these +moments as long as I live, and yet I cannot give a clear and connected +relation of them. I see only a picture in my mind of a purple couch +under a golden canopy, a fair form, a beautiful head crowned with golden +hair, a glowing arm holding a white flower on its long green stalk. +Suddenly, as if impelled by an instinct, she turns her face full upon me +as the barge comes opposite to her father's throne. I see her great +violet eyes fixed upon mine as though she would read into my very soul. +I do not shrink from that pure search. On the contrary, I feel myself +drawn towards her by an irresistible attraction, and return her gaze. + +She does not look away. She smiles--yes, she smiles upon me, and +inclines her head to see me, like a sunflower following the sun, as she +is floating past. + +From that moment I was an altered man. The vision of that peerless +beauty had worked a miracle in my nature. A strange peace, an +unfathomable joy, I should rather say an ecstacy of bliss, reigned in my +heart. I felt that I had found something for which my soul had craved +without knowing it, and had been seeking unawares--something beyond all +price, which is not merely the best that life, eternity, can offer; but +gives to life, eternity, an inestimable value--I felt that I had found +the counterpart of myself--the celestial mate of my spirit. Henceforth +there was only one woman in the world, in the universe, for me. A +mysterious instinct whispered that we belonged to each other--that this +incomparable creature was mine by an inviolable right, if not on this +side of time at all events hereafter, and for ever. I felt, too, that my +own being had now completed its development, and burst into bloom like a +plant under the vivifying rays of the sun. + +Exulting in my new-found happiness, and overcome with gratitude for it, +I watched the receding boat in a sort of trance until the matter-of-fact +voice of Gazen broke the spell. + +"Prettiest sight I ever saw in my life," said he to Otāré. "Quite a +living picture." + +"I am glad you like it," responded Otāré evidently gratified. + +"But what is the good of it?" enquired the professor. + +"The good of it?" rejoined the Venusian; "it is beautiful, and gives us +pleasure." + +"Oh, of course; but what is the meaning--the inner meaning of it?" + +"Ah! the meaning of it," said Otāré, a new light breaking on him, "I +will explain. You saw the flower which the priestess cut and carried in +her hand--?" + +"A kind of water-lily, is it not?" + +"Yes, it is the Sacred Lily. The plant is rooted in the mire at the +bottom of the pond, and grows up through the water to the surface. The +stem rises in a serpentine curve, and terminates in a flower-bud, which +opens with a sigh of delight when the sun strikes upon it, and fills the +air with its perfume." + +"A sigh, did you say?" + +"Yes, a low sweet sound resembling a sigh. The flower is white--'living +white'--that is to say, white shot with many colours like the opal. We +call it the Sun Lily, or 'Flower of the Soul.'" + +"Why 'Flower of the Soul?'" + +"Because we say it has the infinite and ever-changing beauty of the +soul. It is an emblem of Love, and its manifestations--beauty, genius, +holiness. In particular it signifies the birth or awakening of love in +the human soul. As the plant may be said to exist for the flower, its +chief glory, so the man attains his perfection through love, which +confers a boundless and immortal worth upon his life. As the root takes +from the soil and the flower brings forth the fruit, so hate feeds upon +the ill, and love dies for the good of others. It also represents the +human race, for man, and especially woman, may be regarded as the flower +of this lower world. Moreover, the entire plant, root, stem, and flower, +is symbolical of all creation, and some of our poets have named it the +'Lily of Life.' For as the plant begins in the black earth to end in the +sunny ether, so the world, the universe, begins in chaos and darkness, +to end in light and order; begins in matter and force, to end in life +and spirit--begins in hate and selfishness, to end in love and +self-sacrifice--begins in ugliness, to end in beauty. Thus the flower +and root stand for the upper and lower limits or poles of nature, and +the stalk which joins them for the upward range or path of creation. It +is a beautiful stem, curving in opposite ways like a serpent, or the +side of a wave; in fact, it is the most beautiful curve we know--it runs +like this." + +Here Otāré described a flamboyant curve in the air with his finger. + +"If I'm not mistaken it is what our artists call the 'line of beauty,'" +observed Gazen. + +"Oh, indeed!" responded Otāré, with pleased surprise. "Well, with us it +is a symbol of the continuous unfolding of things; the graceful progress +of development." + +"So the path of evolution is the 'line of beauty,'" said the professor. + +"Apparently," rejoined Otāré, "and as the ends of the curve point +oppositely, we say that a thing has not reached its final stage--that +its development is not complete--until it has turned to its opposite. +Thus man is not a finished being until hate and selfishness have turned +to love and self-sacrifice. The flower of the soul is love, and as the +sun is an emblem of the divine love, when the sacred lily opens and +displays all its beauty in the sunshine, it means to us that the flower +of the soul blooms in the smile of 'The Giver.'" + +"I see," said the professor; "and what is done with the flower?" + +"It is an offering," replied Otāré, "and after the Priestess of the +Lily, or Priestess of the Sun, as we call her, has shown it to the +people it will be treasured in the temple, and will never fade." + +"Beautiful woman, the priestess! And so young." + +"She is barely seventeen. The Priestess of the Sun Lily must be in the +flower of her age, and the early dawn of her womanhood. Every year by +the popular voice she is chosen from all the maidens of the country for +her intelligence, beauty, and goodness. For a year before the ceremony +she lives in the temple with her maidens, and never leaves the sacred +island, or has any visitors from the outer world. During this period she +undergoes a preparation and purification for the fulfilment of her holy +office--the culling of the flower. It consists mainly in the study of +our sacred writings, the eating of a certain food, and bathing in the +waters of a holy fountain, which issues from the rock in a sacred grotto +of the island. When the ceremony of cutting the lily is over, and the +holy month has expired, that is to say in ten days from now, she will +leave the temple and return to her family. Another girl will take her +place--the priestess appointed for the coming year--in fact, the maiden +who gave her the sickle." + +I had listened to this conversation with breathless interest, but +without daring to take part in it. + +"Will she ever marry?" enquired Gazen. + +I waited for the answer with a beating heart. + +"Oh, yes," replied Otāré, "why not? She will marry if she finds a lover +whom she can love. There are many who admire Alumion." + +"What of yourself?" asked the professor, smiling pointedly. "You seem to +know a good deal about her." + +"I am her brother." + +Nothing more was said, for at this moment the barge was seen coming from +behind the temple, after having made a round of the spectators, and +presently drew up at the marble stairs. Again the doors swung open, and +the maidens reappeared to welcome their mistress with a song of joy. I +saw her ascend the steps bearing the lily in her hand, then turn and +wave an adieu to the multitude, who responded by a parting hymn as the +great purple valves closed together and rapt her from my sight. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ALUMION. + + +Alumion--Alumion--I could think of nothing but Alumion. Her very name +was music in my ears, and her image in my heart was a perpetual banquet +of delight I had never known such felicity before. My inclination for +Miss Carmichael and every other transient affection or interest I may +have felt was altogether of a lower strain--with one exception, a boyish +admiration for a school girl who died a mere child. The ethereal flame +of this new passion seemed to purify all that was earthly, and exalt all +that was celestial in my nature. This beautiful land, so green and +smiling under a sky of serene azure and snowy wreaths, became as the +highest heaven to me, and I wandered about in a dream of ecstacy like +one of the blessed gods inebriated with nectar. + +I avoided my travelling companions. Their worldly conversation jarred on +the mood I was in, and I preferred my own thoughts to their pursuits. +As my sole desire was to hear about Alumion, and if possible to see her +again, I courted the society of Dinus and Otāré. I knew, of course, that +in ten days she would return to her family, but I thought I might be +able to visit the temple and perhaps get a glimpse of her. However, I +learned from her father that during the sacred festival the temple was +closed to the outer world. It was not indeed forbidden to land on the +holy island, but it was considered a sacrilege for anyone not having +business there to enter the precincts of the temple, excepting on the +day of the ceremony which had just taken place. While bound to respect +this taboo, I was, nevertheless, drawn by an irresistible attraction to +the island, where I frequently spent hours in sailing about the wooded +shores, or loitering in the sacred avenue, hoping against hope that I +might see her passing by or in the distance. Although I was not so +fortunate, I enjoyed the satisfaction of being nearer to her, and as the +island seemed a perfect solitude, I could indulge my reverie in peace. + +At last I made a discovery. In describing the ceremony of the Flower, +Otāré had spoken of a sacred grotto where the priestess went to bathe, +and on questioning him further, I ascertained that it was situated on +the shore of the island in a bay or inlet to the eastward of the quay, +and that she took her customary bath at set of sun. + +That afternoon I made a thorough search and found a cavern in the rock +close to the beach of a secluded cove which I had overlooked until then. +A footpath, winding down the mountain side through the forest led to its +mouth, which was overhung and almost hid by a rich creeper with large +crimson blossoms. It was evidently the spot mentioned by Otāré, but +wishing to make sure, and impelled by curiosity in spite of a more +hallowed feeling, I lifted the creeper and was about to peer into the +darkness, when a sudden noise within made me jump back with affright. It +was the most horrible and excruciating shriek I had ever heard in my +life. If anyone by a refinement of cruelty were to compound a torture +for the ears, I do not think he could produce anything half so piercing, +gruesome, and discordant. + +It seemed the cry of an animal--a wild beast--and I began to think I was +mistaken in the place; but the sun was near its setting now, and it was +too late to seek further afield. I therefore returned to my boat and +withdrew under the overarching boughs of some trees where I could see +without being seen. + +I had not long to wait. Between the flowering shrubs I noticed that a +figure--a woman by her undulating grace--was coming down the path. A +thin wrap or veil of changing stuff, with gleams of azure and fiery red, +was flung about her person. Presently she stepped upon the beach into +the mellow gloaming, and stood like a statue, with her eyes bent on the +sinking orb, which threw a trail of splendour across the lake. + +It was the priestess, and apparently alone. A closer view of her person +brought me no disenchantment. Perfect beauty, like the sublime, produces +an impression of the infinite, and I only speak the literal truth when I +say that she appeared infinitely beautiful to me. Her golden hair, +rippling over the delicate ear and gathered into a knot behind, her +large violet eyes and blooming white skin, her Grecian profile and +stately yet flowing form, might have become an Aphrodite of Xeuxis or +Praxiteles; but her serene and gracious countenance beamed with a pure +seraphic light which is wanting to the classical goddess, and must be +sought in the Madonnas of Raphael. Moreover, she had an indescribable +look of girlish innocence, winsome sweetness, and pitiful tenderness, +which belonged to none of these ideals, and marked her as a simple, +loving, perishable child of earth. + +I gazed upon her marvellous beauty with a kind of religious veneration, +at once attracted by her womanly charm and awed by her god-like dignity, +yet with a strange, a divine state of repose and pure rapture in my +heart for which there is no name. + +Would that the happiness, the bliss of looking upon her, of being near +her, might have lasted for ever! + +I knew, however, that she would soon enter the grotto and be lost to me. +Should I speak? In this fraternal community what was there to prevent +it? Something held me back. Otāré had said that the priestess was +isolated from the outer world during her year of office; but that was +only a general statement. Mine was a peculiar case. I was a stranger. I +did not belong to their world, and was not supposed to know the ins and +outs of their customs. Besides, why should custom stand between such a +love as mine and its object? Conventional propriety was for the pitiful +earth and its wretched abortive passions. Perhaps I should frighten her? +No, I did not believe it. In this golden land even the birds seemed +fearless. As well think to frighten an angel in Heaven. + +While I was debating the question within myself she glanced into the +foliage where I was hidden. How my heart throbbed! I fancied that she +saw me, and trembled with emotion; but I was mistaken, for she turned +and walked towards the cavern. + +Suddenly I remembered the alarming sound within the cave, and breaking +through the covert, called after her. + +"Take care, take care! There is a wild beast in the grotto. I heard it +cry." + +She looked round and started when she saw me. The surprise, visible on +her face, seemed to melt into recognition. + +"It is kind of you to warn me," she responded with a frank smile, "but I +am not in danger. There is no wild animal inside." + +Her low sweet voice was quite in keeping with her beauty. Every note +rung clear and melodious as a bell. + +"But the awful cry?" I rejoined with a puzzled air. + +"Was that of a particular pet of mine," she answered laughingly. + +"Pardon me," said I smiling for company, "I am a stranger here, as you +can see, and did not know any better." + +"You are one of the travellers from another world, are you not?" + +"Ah! you have heard of our arrival." + +"Oh yes! An event so important was not kept from me. I saw you sitting +beside my father on the day of the Flower, and I knew you again. I am +afraid our country will seem very odd to you. Have you enjoyed your +stay?" + +"So much. I cannot tell you how much." + +"I hope you will remain with us a long time." + +"I should like to stop here for ever." + +She blushed and smiled with pleasure at these words, then, raising her +arms in a noble salute, inclined her head, and entered the cavern. + +I returned to the car in a delirium of happiness. I had seen her again, +I had actually spoken with her. _She knew me!_ Every detail of her look +and accent was indelibly printed on my memory. All next day I wandered +about in a kind of transport, feasting on the recollection of what had +passed between us, and revolving over my future course of action. In two +days the holy time would end, and I should have an opportunity of +meeting her at home; but with the chance of seeing her again at the +grotto, I could not wait. I was allured towards her by the most +delicious fascination. Such a love as mine looked down upon the petty +proprieties which keep lovers apart, yet are sometimes so needful in our +wicked world. In this noble planet life was free and simple, because it +was beautiful and good. I determined to revisit the cove that evening, +and if I should see her again, to declare my secret. + +Had I counted the cost? With such a passion it is not a question of +cost. I was well aware that if she did not reciprocate my affection she +would never marry me. Nor did I wish it otherwise. I would not ask her +to sacrifice herself for my sake. If, as my heart fondly hoped, she +accepted me, I would not allow anything to stand between us for a +moment. I would abandon the expedition if necessary, and remain in +Venus. If, on the other hand, she refused me as my judgment feared, I +would return to the earth as a new man, ennobled by a glorious love, +reverencing myself that I was capable of it, cherishing her image in my +heart as the ideal of womanhood, and grateful for having seen and known +her. Surely a rich reward for all the perils of the journey. + +Sunset found me in the cove, not hidden by the leaves as before, but +sitting in the boat astrand. She came. To-night her veil was of a golden +yellow shading into dark green. A beautiful smile of recognition passed +over her face when she saw me, and we greeted one another in the +graceful fashion of the country. + +I did not speak of the weather or give an excuse for my presence there, +as I might have done to a woman of the world. With Alumion I felt that +all such artificial forms were idle, and that I could reveal my inmost +soul without disguise, in all its naked sincerity. + +"I have brought you some flowers," said I, offering her a nosegay which +I had picked. "Will you accept them?" + +"I thank you," she replied with a beaming smile as she came and took +them from my hand. "They are very beautiful, and I shall keep them for +your sake." + +"For my sake!" + +Inspired by love I continued in a voice trembling with emotion, + +"Alumion--can you not guess what brings me here?" + +A blush rose to her cheek as she bent over the flowers. + +"It is because I love you," said I; "because I have loved you ever since +I saw you on the day you cut the sacred lily; because I love +you--worship you--with all my heart and soul." + +She was silent. + +"If I am wrong, forgive me," I went on in a pleading tone. "Blame the +spell your beauty has cast over me, but do not banish me from your +presence, which is life and light to me." + +"Wrong!" she murmured, lifting her wondrous eyes to mine. "Can it be +wrong to love, or to speak of love? Why should I send you away from me +because you love me? Is not love the glory of the heart, as the sun is +the glory of the world? Rejoice, then, in your love as I do in mine." + +"As you do?" + +"Yes, as I do. I should have spoken sooner, but my heart was full of +happiness. For I also love you. I have loved you from the beginning." + +With a cry of unspeakable joy I sprang from the boat, and would have +flung myself at her feet to kiss her hand or the hem of her garment, but +she drew back with a look of apprehension. + +"Touch me not," she said gravely, "for by the custom of our land I am +holy. Until to-morrow at sunset I am consecrated to The Giver." + +"Pardon my ignorance," I responded rather crestfallen. "Your will shall +be my law. I only wished to manifest my eternal gratitude and devotion +to you." + +"Kneel not to me," she rejoined, "but rather to The Giver, who has so +strangely brought us together. How many ages we might have wandered +from world to world without finding each other again!" + +"You think we have met before then?" I enquired eagerly, for the same +thought had been haunting my own mind. It seemed to me that I had known +Alumion always. + +"Assuredly," she replied, "for you and I are kindred souls who have been +separated in another world, by death or evil; and now that we have met +again, let us be faithful and loving to each other." + +"Nothing shall separate us any more." + +The words had scarcely passed my lips when the same terrible cry which I +had heard once before sounded from the interior of the grotto. + +Alumion called or rather sang out a response to the cry, which I did not +understand, then said to me in her ordinary voice, + +"It is Siloo. I must go now and give him food." + +I was curious to know who or what was Siloo, but did not dare to ask. +She raised her arms gracefully and smiled a sweet farewell. + +"Are you going to leave me like that?" said I. + +"What would you have?" she answered, turning towards the cave. + +"In my country lovers bind themselves by mutual vows." + +"What need of vows? Have we not confessed our loves?" + +"Will you not tell me when I shall see you again? Will you not say when +you will be mine--when you will marry me?" + +A blush mounted to her cheek as she answered with a divine glance, + +"Meet me at sunset to-morrow, and I will be yours." + +As yet I had not mentioned my adventure with Alumion to any of my +companions, but that night I said to Gazen, as we smoked our cigars +together, + +"Wish me joy, old fellow! I am going to be married." + +He seemed quite dumbfounded, and I rather think he fancied that I must +have come to an understanding with Miss Carmichael. + +"Really!" said he with the air of a man plucking up heart after an +unexpected blow. "May I ask who is the lady?" + +"The Priestess of the Lily." + +"The Priestess!" he exclaimed utterly astonished, but at the same time +vastly relieved. "The Priestess! Come, now, you are joking." + +"Never was more serious in my life." + +Then I told him what had happened, how I had met her, and my engagement +to marry her. + +"If you will take my advice," said he dryly, "you'll do nothing of the +kind." + +"Why?" + +"Have you considered the matter?" he replied significantly. + +"Considered the matter! A love like mine does not 'consider the matter' +as though it were a problem in Euclid. With such a woman as Alumion a +lover does not stop to 'consider the matter,' unless he is a fool." + +"A woman--yes; but remember that she is a woman of another planet. She +might not make a suitable wife for you." + +"I love her. I love her as I can never love a woman of our world. She is +a thousand times more beautiful and good than any woman I have ever +known. She is an ideal woman--a perfect woman--an angel in human form." + +"That may be; but what will her family say?" + +"My dear Gazen, don't you know they manage these things better here. +Thank goodness, the 'family' does not interfere with love affairs in +this happy land! We love each other, we have agreed to be married, and +that is quite sufficient. No need to get the 'consent of the parents,' +or make a 'settlement,' or give out the banns, or buy a government +license as though a wife were contraband goods, or hire a string of +four-wheelers, or tip the pew-opener. What has love to do with +pew-openers? Why should the finest thing in life become the prey of such +vulgar parasites? Why should our heavenliest moments be profaned and +spoiled by needless worries--hateful to the name of love? Our wedding +will be very simple. We shall not even want you as groomsman or Miss +Carmichael as bridesmaid. I daresay we shall get along without cake and +speeches, and as for the rice and old boots, upon my word, I don't think +we shall miss them." + +"And if it is a fair question, when will the--the simple ceremony take +place?" + +"To-morrow evening." + +"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the professor, taken by surprise. "I +thought a priestess could not marry." + +"To-morrow at sunset she will be a free woman. Her priesthood will come +to an end." + +"And--pardon me--but what are you going to do with her when you've got +her? Will you bring her home to the car--there is very little room here, +as you know. Do you propose to take her to the earth, where I'm afraid +she will probably die like a tender plant or a bird of paradise in a +cage? Do you think her father would consent to that?" + +"We are not going away just yet. There will be time enough to arrange +about that." + +"Well, we can't stay here much longer. I must get back to my work--and +you know we intended to pay a flying visit to Mercury, and if possible +to get a closer look at the sun." + +"All right. You can go as soon as you like. I shall remain behind. +Carmichael will take you to the earth, and then come back here for me." + +"You talk as if it were merely a question of a drive." + +"I think we have proved that it is not more dangerous to go from one +planet to another than it is to get about town." + +"If an accident _should_ occur. If Carmichael cannot return--" + +"I shall be much happier here than I should be on the earth. Even if I +had never met Alumion I think I should come back and stay on Venus." + +"It is certainly a better world, as far as we have seen, but remember +your own words, 'Man was made for the earth.' Don't you think this +eternal summer--these Elysian Fields--would pall upon you in course of +time? Constant bliss, like everlasting honey, might cloy your earthly +palate, and make you sigh for our poor, old, wicked, miserable world, +that in spite of all its faults and crimes, is yet so interesting, so +variable, so dramatic--so dear." + +"Never. With Alumion even Hades would be an Elysium." + +"Think of your friends at home, and what you owe to them; how they will +miss you." + +"I cannot be of much service to them. They will soon forget me." + +"Perhaps you are mistaken there," said Gazen, assuming a more serious +air. "In any case I for one shall miss you. In fact, to speak plainly, I +shall feel aggrieved--hurt. You and I are old friends, and when you +asked me to join you in this expedition I was moved by friendship as +well as interest. Certainly, I never dreamed that you would desert the +ship. I thought it was understood that we should sink or swim together. +If you leave us I shan't answer for the consequences. I appreciate the +dilemma in which you are placed, but surely friendship has a prior if a +weaker claim than love-passion. Surely you owe some allegiance to +Carmichael and myself." + +"What would you have me do?" + +"Only to carry out the original plan of the voyage. Promise me that you +will stick to the ship. Afterwards you can return to Venus and do as you +please. Stanley, you know, made his greatest journey into Africa between +his engagement and his marriage." + +"Very well, I promise." + +With an agitated mind I repaired to the tryst next evening and waited +for Alumion. How should I break the news to her, and how would she +receive it? + +The cool airs of the water, and the glorious pageant of the sunset +calmed my troubled spirit. All day the serene and beamy azure of the +heavens had been plumed with snowy cloudlets of graceful and capricious +form, which, as the sun sank to the horizon, were tinged with fleeting +glows resembling the iris of a dove's neck, or the hues of a dying +dolphin. The great luminary himself was lost in a golden glamour, and a +single bright star shone palely through a rosy mist, which covered all +the southern sky, like a diamond seen through a bridal veil of gauze. + +That lone star was the earth. + +Strange to say, I felt a kind of yearning towards it, a yearning as of +home-sickness, and it seemed to reproach me for having thought of +forsaking it. I wondered what my friends were doing now within that +blaze; perhaps they were looking at Venus and speculating on what I was +about. How delighted I should be to see them again, and show them my +incomparable wife--but could I ever take her there? + +Whilst I was musing, the low sweet voice of Alumion thrilled me to the +marrow. I turned and saw her. She was dressed to-night in a filmy +vesture of opalescent or pearly white, partly diaphanous, and having a +deep fringe of gold. There was a pink blush on her cheek and a sparkle +of girlish love in her celestial eyes. Never had she seemed more +ravishingly beautiful. + + "Beauty too rare for use, for earth too dear." + +"You were gazing on the star. You did not hear my coming," she said with +a little feminine pout. + +"I was thinking of you, darling." + +She smiled again. + +"Is it not a lovely star?" she said. "We call it the star of Love--the +star of the Blest." + +"It is my home." + +"Your home!" she exclaimed with a look of surprise and wonderment. + +"You have heard that I come from another world." + +"Yes, but I did not know it was a star. And is that beautiful star your +home?" + +"Yes, beloved; and I am sorry to say I must return there soon again." + +"And I will go! You will take me with you to that fair world!" + +I thought of all the crime and folly, the deceit, violence, and +wretchedness lurking behind that pure and peaceful ray. Alas! how could +I tell her the truth and destroy her illusions. She was innocent as a +child, and an instinct warned me to keep the knowledge of evil from her, +while a contrary spirit urged me to speak. + +"You might not find it so fair as it looks from here." + +"I am sure it cannot be an evil world since you come from it. To us it +is a sacred star." + +"If the inhabitants could see it as I do now, perhaps the sight would +make them lead better lives--would shame them into being worthier of +their dwelling-place." + +"Are they not good?" she asked with a look of wonder and sorrowful +compassion. "Then how unhappy they must be." + +"Some are good and some are bad. Everything is mixed in our world--the +strong and the weak--the rich and the poor--the happy and the +miserable." + +"But do the good not help the bad?" + +"Yes, to a certain extent; but life is a struggle there; every man for +himself; and the good very often find it hard to secure a little +happiness for themselves." + +"How can they be happy when they know that others are suffering and in +want, that others are bad? I long to go and help them." + +"Darling, you are an angel, and I adore you; but, believe me, you alone +could do very little. One has already come and taught us how to love and +cherish each other, that the strong should help the weak, the rich give +to the poor, and the happy comfort the wretched. His followers believe +that He came from Heaven, and yet after nineteen hundred years I am +afraid that some of them do not fully understand the plain meaning of +His words, or else find it convenient to ignore them." + +"But many of us will go there. We will bring the sinful and the +suffering over here to Womla and make them happy." + +"I am touched by your simple faith in us, dearest It does you honour, +but I fear it is mistaken. What would you say if the very people you had +saved and befriended were to turn round and take your country from you, +perhaps even destroy you? Such ingratitude is not unknown in our +world." + +"If they are so wicked they have the more need of help." + +"In any case, darling, I cannot take you with me, for the vessel we came +in is too small; but I will come back as soon as possible and stay with +you in Womla. How happy we shall be!" + +"In Womla--no. We should not be quite at rest." + +"Then we shall seek out some desert star where we can live only for each +other." + +"You do not understand me. Neither in Womla nor in a desert star could +we be happy in a selfish love, knowing that others were in pain." + +"Better I had not spoken of my world at all." + +"No, a thousand times no!" cried Alumion with fervour. "For you have +opened up to me a new source of happiness--of blessedness which I have +never known before. Only let us go together to your world and minister +to the unfortunate." + +"Well, darling, we will think of it; but see! the sun has set and you +are free again. I came to marry you, but since I must return so soon to +my own world, perhaps it would be well to postpone the ceremony until I +come back here." + +"Why should we do that?" + +Evidently she had no idea of the dangers of the journey, or how long it +would take. + +"If anything should happen to me. If I should die and never return." + +"Ah! do not speak of that. The Giver will preserve you." + +"But life is uncertain." + +"Beloved, I shall never love another but you; therefore, let us unite +ourselves, as we are already united in heart and soul, henceforth and +forever. Come!" + +With these words she turned and glided towards the sacred grotto. I held +aside the flowering creeper which hung over the entrance like a curtain, +and followed her within. To my great surprise the interior was neither +dark nor dusky, but filled with a soft and luscious light from myriads +of glow-worms and fire-flies of various colours, which glimmered on the +walls like tiny electric lamps, or sparkled in the facets of the gems +and spars depending from the roof. Judging by their shape and tint I +imagine that some of these incrustations are native crystals of the +diamond and ruby, the sapphire, topaz, and emerald. In a deep recess or +alcove on one side a spring of clear water gushed from the rock into a +natural basin of sinter, enamelled inside and out with the precious +opal. Owing perhaps to the minerals through which it had passed the +liquid shed a delicious perfume in the air, and made a bath fit for the +goddess of beauty. + +I had scarcely time to look about me when a strange and wonderful melody +of most entrancing sweetness echoed through the cavern. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion softly, and the music, which I cannot +compare to any earthly strain, ceased in a moment. Presently I was more +than startled to see in the gloomier background of the cavern a great +white serpent glide like a ghost along the floor and come straight +towards us. His milk-white body was speckled all over with jewelled +scales, and shone with a pale blue phosphorescence; his eyes blazed in +his head like twin carbuncles, and in spite of my instinctive dread of +snakes, I could not help admiring his repulsive beauty. Presently he +reared his long neck, and faced us with his forked tongue playing out +and in. I shrank back, for I thought he was about to spring upon me; but +Alumion, laughing gaily at my fears, stepped quickly up to him, and +stroked him with her hand. The serpent laid his head caressingly upon +her shoulder and emitted a low faint note of pleasure. + +Alumion then took a shallow dish or patera, and, filling it from a vase +which she carried with her set it upon the floor for the snake to feed. + +"You don't seem to be afraid of that gruesome reptile," said I +pleasantly. + +"Oh, no," she replied smiling. "Siloo knows me very well." + +"Tell me, was it he who made the music a little while ago?" + +"Yes, and also the noise which alarmed you the first night you wandered +here. The music comes from his head, and the noise is from his tail. +That is why we call him Siloo." + +The word, as nearly as I can translate it, means harmony, order, +measure, proportion, in the Womla tongue. + +"Does he always live in this cave?" + +"Yes, he is a sacred animal with us, and long ago was worshipped and +consulted by our forefathers, and those who preceded them in the +island." + +"Is he very old?" + +"None can tell how old. Some say he is immortal. Others think he is only +the offspring of the snake worshipped by our forefathers. He is guardian +of the sacred fountain whose waters we are about to drink." + +When she had spoken, Alumion tripped to the flowing spring, and, taking +a cup which was standing on the edge of the basin, filled it from the +pellucid stream. + +"Give me your hand," she murmured, holding out her own, and lifting her +celestial eyes, so full of love and tenderness, to mine. It was a dainty +hand, plump, lilywhite, and dimpled, with tapering fingers; and as I +felt her warm and silk-soft touch for the first time, my soul melted +within me, and my whole being thrilled with delight. Her rosy lips +parted with pleasure, and a delicate blush mantled her blooming cheeks +and full white throat. + +I gazed in rapture on her divine countenance, so like a speaking flower, +the image of a beautiful soul on which neither sorrow, care, nor passion +had ever left a trace. + +She raised the cup, and having sipped of the water, handed it to me in +silence. I sought the place where her lips had touched the brim and +drank. Now whether it was phantasy or some foreign ingredient I cannot +tell, but the water seemed to taste like nectar, and to run through all +my veins like wine. + +The glamour of the lights and the perfume of the waters wrought upon my +senses, and, yielding to the intoxication of my love, I caught Alumion +to my arms. + +Suddenly the most appalling noise rent the air, and caused me to spring +back from my bride in terror. It came from the rattlesnake. His grisly +body swayed to and fro, his gaping mouth displayed all its horrid fangs, +and his large eyes burned like two red-hot coals. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion hastily in a tone of command. "Down, +Siloo!" + +The serpent at once obeyed her voice and retired again to his dish. + +"He thought I was going to harm you," I exclaimed, not without a sense +of relief. "Or perhaps he was jealous of me." + +"Remember this is holy ground," responded Alumion. + +"Forgive me," I said, feeling her reproof. "My love--your beauty--must +be my excuse." + +"We must part now," she continued, with a blinding glance and a +ravishing smile. "I have some last offices to perform here. We shall +meet to-morrow at my father's house." + +On my way home the blood coursed through my veins like an immortal ichor +of the gods, full of sweet and inextinguishable fire. Inebriated with +the cup of bliss which I had only tasted, I began to repent me of my +promise to leave Womla. + +"To-morrow Alumion will be mine," I reflected, "but for how long? A few +days at the most. It is too bad!" + +An idea struck me. + +"Gazen," said I that night as soon as I had a convenient opportunity to +speak with him, "I have married Alumion." + +"Married her!" he exclaimed, completely taken aback. + +"Yes, that is to say, I have gone through the formal ceremony of +marriage. I have drunk of the cup." + +"But you promised me you would do nothing of the kind." + +"I said I would go back to the earth with you, and I will keep my word. +But I must say that since I agreed to your wishes in the matter, I think +you owe me some concession, and I want you to leave me in Womla while +you go on to Mercury, and then come back here to pick me up. That will +give me a longer honeymoon." + +"Impossible, my dear fellow--quite impossible," replied the professor. +"Venus will be too far out of our way home. We have no oxygen to waste, +and can't go hunting you in your love affairs all round the solar +system." + +"Very well, then, I shall stay behind." + +"But, my dear fellow--" + +"Say no more about it. I have made up my mind." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE FLYING APE. + + +It was broad day when I awoke, and oppressively warm in the little +cabin. My first thoughts were of Alumion, the consecration of our loves, +and my resolution to abide in Venus. In getting up I felt so light and +buoyant that for a moment I fancied I must be giddy, but on reflection I +ascribed the sensation to the intoxication of passion, and the +exhilarating atmosphere of the planet. I looked out of a window towards +the blessed island of my dreams, and to my blank amazement found that +_it was gone!_ I could neither see anything of the lake, the square, nor +the town, but only a bare and rugged platform of weathered rocks, and +the cloudy sky above it. + +What was the matter? Had Gazen and Carmichael taken it into their heads +to make an excursion, such as we had often planned, in order to observe +something more of the country? Yes, that was it, no doubt. + +Under the circumstances I was far from pleased with them for having +carried me off without asking my leave, knowing as they should have +done, that I would be eager to rejoin Alumion; but experience of travel +had taught me that a man must not expect to have it all his own way, and +should know when to let his companions have theirs, and above all things +to keep his temper. I, therefore, decided to take their behaviour in +good part, more especially as we could always return to the capital as +quickly as we had come from it. + +Apparently there was nobody in the car but myself. Wondering, and +perhaps a trifle uneasy at the dead stillness, I dressed rapidly and +went outside. + +The welkin was wholly overcast with dense, murky vapours, which totally +hid the sun, and the air was excessively hot, moist, and sultry as +before a thunderstorm--an unusual phenomenon in Womla. Black boulders +and crags, speckled with lichens, and carpeted with coarse herbage, shut +out the prospect on every side but one, where the edge of the platform +on which the car was resting ran along the sky. I saw it all now. Gazen +and Carmichael had made a journey to the extreme verge of the country; +to the very summit of the precipice which surrounded the Crater Land. + +Picking my steps over the rough rocks like one who treads on air, I +hastened to the brink of the platform. If the car were on the further +side of the summit I should be able to see the wide ocean, but if, as I +fondly hoped, it were on the hither side, I should enjoy a far-off +glimpse of the city and its holy island, which had become a heaven to +me. How different was the scene which met my view! + +I was looking away over a vast plain towards a distant range of volcanic +mountains. A broad river wound through the midst between isolated +volcanoes, curling with smoke, and thick forests of a sable hue, or +expanded into marshy lakes half lost in brakes of grisly reeds, on the +margin of which living monsters were plashing in the mud, or soaring +into the air on dusky pinions. + +My first shock of surprise passed into a fearful admiration for the +savage and gloomy grandeur of the primeval landscape; but as that +feeling wore away the old irritation against my fellow-travellers came +back. From all I had heard or seen there was no such place as this in +Womla, and as it dawned upon me that they had migrated to some other +island, or perhaps continent in Venus, I forgot my good resolution, and +shouted indignantly, + +"Gazen, Gazen! Hallo there! Hallo!" + +There was no response, and the dead silence that swallowed up my voice +was awful. Had anything happened to my companions, and was I left alone +in this appalling solitude? Was I in my right senses, or was I not? I +shouted again at the very pitch of my voice, and this time an answering +cry came to my relief. On turning in the direction from which it +proceeded, I observed Professor Gazen coming slowly towards me, round a +mass of turretted rocks. + +"What is the meaning of all this?" I demanded petulantly, as he came +near, gingerly stepping from stone to stone. + +He made no reply, but seemed to be meditating what he would say. + +"A nice trick you've played me! Wherever have we got to?" + +"Mercury," replied Gazen coolly. + +"_Mercury!_" I exclaimed, fairly astounded. "Impossible!" + +"Not at all." + +"Oh, come!" said I sarcastically, "that won't do. A joke is a joke; but +I'm not in a merry mood this morning." + +"So I see. A laugh would do you good." + +"Well, where are we?" + +"In Mercury." + +"What nonsense!" I ejaculated. "Last night I went to bed in Venus, and +you want me to believe that I've woke up on Mercury. Tell that to the +marines." + +"Last night you say; but do you know how long you have slept? And have +you forgotten that we are now so near the sun--that the attraction of +the sun on the car has assisted the machines to propel us through the +intermediate space?" + +I had not thought of that. + +"Then it is true." + +"Of course." + +"And why have you come here--what authority--what right--had you to +carry me off in this manner without my consent?" I burst out angrily. +"You knew I had made up my mind to stay in Venus. I took you into my +confidence and told you about my love affair. Why have you betrayed that +confidence, and kidnapped me like a slave or a lunatic?" + +"Hear me, old friend," said Gazen softly. "We have all noticed a decided +change in you of late--ever since the day of the ceremony on the island. +You have been like a different person--absent in your mind--incoherent +in your speech--abrupt in your manner. You have forsaken your old +friends completely, and apparently lost all interest in their doings, +all desire for their company. In short, you have behaved like a man +beside himself, distraught. We could not make it out, and we had many +anxious consultations about the matter. I wondered whether you had had a +sunstroke. Carmichael suggested that the stimulating air of Venus had +affected your brain. Miss Carmichael alone suspected that you were in +love; but I would not believe her. I had been so much in your society +without having seen anything to justify her suspicion, and you yourself +had never breathed a word to lend it colour. Carmichael and I sought to +question you about your health, and the influence of the sun and air +upon you, while Miss Carmichael tried to draw you on the subject of the +ladies. All in vain. We could not solve the mystery, and as your +condition was evidently growing worse and worse, we resolved to leave +the planet. Although it was not in the original programme, we had +sometimes talked of extending our journey to Mercury, so as to visit all +the inferior planets, and give me an opportunity of getting as near the +sun as possible for my observations, and this project was made the +pretext for hastening our departure. + +"We submitted the plan to you, and you know the rest. After you had +given us your word of honour that you would break with the lady and +return home with us for the sake of your friends, after we had made all +our preparations to start, you came back at the eleventh hour, and +declared that you had made up your mind to stay behind. If anything had +been wanted to prove to us that you were hopelessly +infatuated--hypnotised--mad--it would have been that; and as we were +morally bound to fetch you back with us, we took the bull by the horns, +and carried you off in spite of yourself." + +"You had no business to do anything of the kind," I replied hotly. "I am +chiefly responsible for this expedition." + +"True; but you forget that Carmichael is the nominal leader, by your own +agreement, and we are all to some extent under his orders. I, too, was +bound in honour to bring you safe home if I could." + +"Bound in honour to take care of _me_! You treat me like a baby." + +"People don't come away on such an adventure as ours without a tacit if +not a formal understanding to protect each other to the best of their +ability, and besides, I had given my word to your friends that I would +do my best to help you through. When you come to your senses you will +acknowledge that we did right." + +Despite my excusable anger and vexation, the calm and friendly +explanation of the professor was not without its effect on me. It was +true that I had broken my promise to my fellow-travellers; true that +Carmichael was commander of the expedition. I was myself at fault. And +yet what a disappointment! What would Alumion think of me! After all my +vows of eternal fidelity, uttered as they had been in that sacred spot, +I had sneaked away like a thief in the night. + +"I shall go back to Venus," said I, in a determined manner. + +"Tut, tut," said Gazen, with a good-natured smile; "you had better give +up that idea. You are clearly the victim of hypnotic influence--of +suggestion. By-and-by it will lose its hold on you, and you will regain +your freedom of action." + +"Never!" I exclaimed, with all the energy of my soul. "My dear Gazen, +you are quite mistaken in supposing anything of the kind. I was never +saner in my life. Nay, it is only now that I know what it is to be sane; +what life was meant to be. Hypnotic suggestion! Pshaw! I know what I am +doing as well as you do. I am not a fool. I am only seeking my own +happiness--and hers--I tell you that a single moment in her society is +worth a whole lifetime on the earth. What do I say? A lifetime? An +eternity. Heaven itself were nothing to me without her. I would not take +it as a gift. I shall go back. I must go back. I cannot live without +her." + +"Take time to consider at all events," said Gazen, somewhat impressed by +my vehemence. "In the meantime let us join Miss Carmichael. She is +beyond the rocks there sketching the valley." + +We walked in that direction. + +"You may return to the earth," said I; "but on the way you must drop me +at Venus." + +Gazen had no opportunity of answering, for just at that moment we were +startled by a piercing shriek from behind the crags, and rushing, or +rather bounding forward, saw a sight that made our very blood run cold. + +A flying monster, with enormous bat-like wings and hanging legs, was +evidently swooping down on Miss Carmichael, as she stood beside her +easel on the brow of the cliff. + +"Run for your life!" roared Gazen, dashing towards her with frantic +speed. + +Alas! she did not hear him, or else she was fascinated by the +approaching horror, and rooted to the spot. He was still several hundred +yards from her, but owing to the feebleness of gravity on the planet he +was so preternaturally light and nimble that he might have covered the +distance in a minute or so, had he been more accustomed to control his +limbs, and the ground been smoother. As it was he leaped high into the +air, and rebounded from the stones like an india-rubber ball, at the +risk of spraining his ankles or breaking his neck, while brandishing his +arms, and firing his pistol, and hooting with all his force of lung to +frighten away the monster. + +Too late. The huge leathery wings of the dragon overshadowed the +shrinking form of the girl, and the talons of its drooping feet caught +in her dress. She made one desperate, but futile effort to free herself +from its terrible clutch, and, screaming loudly for help, was borne away +over the abyss of the valley as easily as a lamb is carried by an eagle. + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Gazen, stopping with a gesture of despair. + +He was deeply moved, and pale as death; but he did not altogether lose +his head. + +What was to be done? + +"The car--the car!" he exclaimed. "We must follow her in the car. Keep +your eye on the beast while I go for it." + +Carmichael was fast asleep in his cabin, after his long weary vigil +during the passage from Venus, but the car was quickly put in motion, +and I jumped on board just as it cleared the brink of the precipice. + +The dragon, which had the start of us by a mile or more, was apparently +steering for the mountains on the other side of the valley. +Notwithstanding its enormous bulk, and the dead weight hanging from its +claws, it flew with surprising speed, owing to the weakness of gravity +and the vast spread of its wings. + +I shall never forget that singular chase, which is probably unparalleled +in the history of the universe. A prey to anxiety and the most +distressing emotions, we did not properly observe the marvellous, the +Titanic, I had almost said the diabolical aspect of the country beneath +us, and still we could not altogether blind ourselves to it. Colossal +jungles, resembling brakes of moss and canes five hundred or a thousand +feet in height--creeks as black as porter, gliding under their dank and +rotting aisles--mountainous quadrupeds or lizards crashing and tearing +through their branches--one of them at least six hundred feet in length, +with a ridgy back and long spiky tail, dragging on the ground, a baleful +green eye, and a crooked mouth full of horrid fangs, which made it look +the very incarnation of cruelty and brute strength--black lakes and +grisly reeds as high as bamboo--prodigious black serpents troubling the +water, and rearing their long spiry necks above the surface--gigantic +alligators and crocodiles resting motionless in the shallows, with their +snouts high in the air--hideous toads or such-like forbidding reptiles, +many with tusks like the walrus, and some with glorious eyes, crouching +on the banks or waddling in the reeds, and so enormous as to give +variety to the landscape--volcanic craters, with red-hot lava simmering +in their depths, and emitting fumes of sulphur, which might have choked +us had we not closed the scuttles--while over all great dragons and +other bat-like animals were flitting through the dusky atmosphere like +demons in a nightmare. + +Little by little we gained upon our quarry, but being afraid to run him +too close for fear that he might drop his victim, we kept at a safe +distance behind him, yet within rifle range, and near enough to make a +prompt attack when he should settle on the ground. + +At length we reached the other side of the valley, and found to our +intense satisfaction that the monster was making for a rocky ledge on +the shoulder of an extinct volcano, where we could see the yawning mouth +of what appeared an immense cavern. + +"That is probably his den," said Gazen, who was now as collected as I +have ever seen him. Nevertheless all his faculties were on the stretch. +His keen grey eye was everywhere, and his active mind was calculating +every chance. I felt then as I had often felt before that in action as +well as in thought the professor was a man of no common mark. + +The event showed that his surmise was correct, for soon after he had +spoken the dragon uttered a startling cry--a kind of squawk like that of +a drake, but much louder, hoarser, shriller--and alighted on the ground. + +"There is not a moment to lose," said Gazen. "We must attack him before +he enters the cave." + +Certainly the darkness inside the cavern would give the beast a great +advantage, and although we might succeed in killing him, we could +scarcely hope to find Miss Carmichael alive. Was she alive now? I had my +doubts, but I kept them to myself. Since she had been carried away she +had not given the smallest sign of life, not even when the dragon +settled. Perhaps, however, she had merely lost her senses through +fright, and was still in a dead faint. + +We might have fought the creature from the air, but we had decided to +assail him on the solid ground, because we should thus be able to +scatter and take him in the flank, if not in the rear. + +While Carmichael landed his car the astronomer and I kept a sharp watch +on the beast, all ready to fire at the first movement which seemed to +threaten the safety of the young girl, who was lying motionless at the +bottom of a slope or talus which led up to the mouth of the cavern. +Freed from his burden the dragon now stood erect, and a more awful +monster it would be difficult to conceive. He must have been at least +forty feet in stature, yet he gave us an impression of squat and sturdy +strength. + +I have called him a dragon, but he was not at all like the dragons of +our imagination. With his great bullet head and prick ears, his beetling +brows and deep sunken eyes, his ferocious mouth and protruding tusks, +his short thick neck and massive shoulders, his large, gawky, and +misshapen trunk, coated with dingy brown fur, shading into dirty yellow +on the stomach, his stout, bandy legs armed with curving talons, and his +huge leathern wings hanging in loose folds about him, he looked more +like an imp of Satan than a dragon. + +Hitherto he had not appeared to notice his pursuers; but now that he was +freer to observe, the grating of the car upon the rocks caught his +attention. He turned quickly, and stared at the apparition of the +vessel, which must have been a strange object to him; but he did not +seem to take alarm. It was the gaze of a jaguar or a tiger who sees +something curious in the jungle--vigilant and deadly if you like, but +neither scared nor fierce. + +We lost no time in sallying forth, all three of us, armed with magazine +rifle, cutlass, and revolver. Mr. Carmichael in the middle, I on the +lower, and Gazen on the upper side, or that nearest to Miss Carmichael. +The rocks around were slippery with ordure, and the sickening stench of +rotting skeletons made our very gorge rise. Suddenly a loud squeaking in +the direction of the cave arrested us, and before we had recovered from +our surprise, nearly a dozen young dragons, each about the size of a +man, tumbled hastily down the slope, and rushed upon the lifeless form +of Miss Carmichael. + +"Great Scott, there's the whole family," muttered Gazen between his +teeth, at the same time bringing his rifle to the shoulder, and firing +in quick succession. + +The foremost of the crew, which had already flung itself upon the prey, +was seen to spring head over heels into the air, and fall back dead; +another lay writhing in agony upon the ground, and uttering strangely +human shrieks; whilst the others, terrified by the noise, turned and +fled back helter-skelter to the cave. + +The old one, roused to anger by the injury done to his offspring, +snarled ferociously at his enemies and, drawing himself to his full +height, made a furious dash for Gazen. + +Our rifles cracked again and again; the monster started as he felt the +shots, and halted, glaring from one to another of us like a man +irresolute. Purple streams were gushing from his head and sides; he +attempted to fly, and ran towards the brink of the ledge; but ere he +could gain sufficient impetus to launch himself into the air, he +staggered and fell heavily to the ground, with his broken wings beneath +him. + +Gazen, quicker than her father, flew towards Miss Carmichael, and bent +over her. + +"Is she alive?" enquired Carmichael, in breathless and trembling +accents. + +"Yes, thank God," responded Gazen fervently; as he raised her hand to +his lips and kissed it. + +There were tears of joy in his eyes, and I knew then what I had long +suspected, that he loved her. + +Suddenly a loud croak in the distance caused us to look up, and we +beheld another dragon on the wing, coining rapidly towards us from a +pass among the mountains. There was not a moment to be lost, and Gazen, +taking Miss Carmichael in his arms, we all hurried on board the car, +eager to escape from this revolting spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SUNWARD HO! + + +"By the way," said Gazen to me, "I've got a new theory for the rising +and sinking of the sun behind the cliffs at Womla--a theory that will +simply explode Professor Possil, and shake the Royal Astronomical +Society to its foundations." + +The astronomer and I were together in the observatory, where he was +adjusting his telescope to look at the sun. After our misadventure with +the flying ape, we had returned to our former station on the summit of +the mountain, to pick up the drawing materials of Miss Carmichael; but +as Gazen was anxious to get as near the sun as possible, and being +disgusted with the infernal scenery as well as the foetid, malarial +atmosphere of Mercury, we left as soon as we had replenished our cistern +from the pools in the rock. + +"Another theory?" I responded. "Thought you had settled that question." + +"Alas, my friend, theories, like political treatises, are made to be +broken." + +"Well, what do you think of it now?" + +"You remember how we came to the conclusion that Schiaparelli was right, +and that the planet Venus, by rotating about her own axis in the same +time as she takes to revolve around the sun, always keeps the same face +turned to the sun, one hemisphere being in perpetual light and summer, +whilst the other is in perpetual darkness and winter?" + +"Yes." + +"You remember, too, how we explained the growing altitude of the sun in +the heavens which culminated on the great day of the Festival, by +supposing that the axis of the planet swayed to and from the sun so as +to tilt each pole towards the sun, and the other from it, alternately, +thus producing what by courtesy we may call the seasons in Womla?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, judging from the observations I have made, we were probably right +so far; but if you recollect, I accounted for the mysterious daily rise +and set of the sun, if I may use the words, by changes in the density of +the atmosphere bending the solar rays, and making the disk appear to +rise and sink periodically, though in reality it does nothing of the +kind. A similar effect is well-known on the earth. It produces the +'after glow' on the peaks of the Alps when the sun is far below the +horizon; it sometimes makes the sun bob up and down again after sunset, +and it has been known to make the sun show in the Arctic regions three +weeks before the proper time. I had some difficulty in understanding how +the effect could take place so regularly." + +"I think you ascribed it to the interaction of the solar heat and the +evaporation from the surface." + +"Quite so. I assumed that when the sun is low the vapours above the edge +of the crater and elsewhere cool and condense, thus bending the rays and +seeming to lift the sun higher; but after a time the rays heat and +rarefy the vapours, thus lowering the sun again. It seemed a plausible +hypothesis and satisfied me for a time, but still not altogether, and +now I believe I have made a discovery." + +"And it is?" + +"That Venus is a wobbler." + +"A wobbler?" + +"That she wobbles--that she doesn't keep steady--swings from side to +side. You have seen a top, how stiff and erect it is when it is spinning +fast, and how it wobbles when it is spinning slow, just before it +falls. Well, I think something of the kind is going on with Venus. The +earth may be compared to a top that is whirling fast, and Venus to one +that has slowed down. She is less able than the earth to resist the +disturbing attraction of the sun on the inequalities of her figure, and +therefore she wobbles. In addition to the slow swinging of her axis +which produces her 'seasons,' she has a quicker nodding, which gives +rise to day and night in some favoured spots like Womla." + +"After all," said I, "tis a feminine trait. _Souvent femme varie._" + +"Oh, she is constant to her lord the sun," rejoined Gazen. "She never +turns her back upon him, but if I have not discovered a mare's nest, +which is very likely, she becks and bows to him a good deal, and thus +maintains her 'infinite variety.'" + +The cloudy surface of Mercury now lay far beneath us, and the glowing +disc of the sun, which appeared four or five times larger than it does +on the earth, had taken a bluish tinge--a proof that we had reached a +very great altitude. + +"What a magnificent 'sun-spot!'" exclaimed the professor in a tone of +admiration. "Just take a peep at it." + +I placed my eye to the telescope, and saw the glowing surface of the +disc resolved into a marvellous web of shining patches on a dimmer +background, and in the midst a large blotch which reminded me of a +quarry hole as delineated on the plan of a surveyor. + +"Have you been able to throw any fresh light on these mysterious +'spots?'" I enquired. + +"I am more than ever persuaded they are breaks in the photosphere caused +by eruptions of heated matter, chiefly gaseous from the +interior--eruptions such as might give rise to craters like that of +Womla, or those of the moon, were the sun cooler. No doubt that eminent +authority, Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil, regards them as aerial +hurricanes; but the more I see, the more I am constrained to regard +Sylvanus Pettifer Possil as a silly vain asteroid." + +While Gazen was yet speaking we both became sensible of an unwonted +stillness in the car. + +The machinery had ceased to vibrate. + +Our feelings at this discovery were akin to those of passengers in an +ocean steamer when the screw stops--a welcome relief to the monotony of +the voyage, a vague apprehension of danger, and curiosity to learn what +had happened. + +"Is there anything wrong, Carmichael?" asked Gazen through the speaking +tube. + +There was no response. + +"I say, Carmichael, is anything the matter?" he reiterated in a louder +tone. + +Still no answer. + +We were now thoroughly alarmed, and though it was against the rules, we +descended into the machinery room. The cause of Carmichael's silence was +only too apparent. We saw him lying on the floor beside his strange +machine, with his head leaning against the wall. There was a placid +expression on his face, and he appeared to slumber; but we soon found +that he was either in a faint or dead. Without loss of time we tried the +first simple restoratives at hand, but they proved of no avail. + +Gazen went and called Miss Carmichael. + +She had been resting in her cabin after her trying experience with the +dragon, and although most anxious about her father, and far from well +herself, she behaved with calm self-possession. + +"I think the heat has overcome him," she said, after a quick +examination; and truly the cabin was insufferably hot, thanks to the +machinery and the fervid rays of the sun. + +We could not open the scuttles and admit fresh air, for there was little +or none to admit. + +"I shall try oxygen," she said on reflecting a moment. + +Accordingly, while Gazen, in obedience to her directions began to work +Carmichael's arms up and down, after the method of artificial +respiration which had brought me round at the outset of our journey, she +and I administered oxygen gas from one of our steel bottles to his lungs +by means of a makeshift funnel applied to his mouth. In some fifteen or +twenty minutes he began to show signs of returning animation, and soon +afterwards, to our great relief, he opened his eyes. + +At first he looked about him in a bewildered way, and then he seemed to +recollect his whereabouts. After an ineffectual attempt to speak, and +move his limbs, he fixed his eyes with a meaning expression on the +engines. + +We had forgotten their stoppage. Miss Carmichael sprang to investigate +the cause. + +"They are jammed," she said after a short inspection. "The essential +part is jammed with the heat. Whatever is to be done?" + +We stared at each other blankly as the terrible import of her words came +home to us. Unless we could start the machines again, we must inevitably +fall back on Mercury. Perhaps we were falling now! + +We endeavoured to think of a ready and practicable means of cooling the +engines, but without success. The water and oil on board was lukewarm; +none of us knew how to make a freezing mixture even if we had the +materials; our stock of liquid air had long been spent. + +Miss Carmichael tried to make her father understand the difficulty in +hopes that he would suggest a remedy, but all her efforts were in vain. +Carmichael lay with his eyes closed in a kind of lethargy or paralysis. + +"Perhaps, when we are falling through the planet's atmosphere," said I, +"if we open the scuttles and let the cold air blow through the room, it +will cool the engines." + +"I'm afraid there will not be time," replied Gazen, shaking his head; +"we shall fall much faster than we rose. The friction of the air against +the car will generate heat. We shall drop down like a meteoric stone and +be smashed to atoms." + +"We have parachutes," said Miss Carmichael, "do you think we shall be +able to save our lives?" + +"I doubt it," answered Gazen sadly. "They would be torn and whirled +away." + +"So far as I can see there is only one hope for us," said I. "If we +should happen to fall into a deep sea or lake, the car would rise to the +surface again." + +"Yes, that is true," responded Gazen; "the car is hollow and light. It +would float. The water would also cool the machines and we might +escape." + +The bare possibility cheered us with a ray of hope. + +"If we only had time, my father might recover, and I believe he would +save us yet," said Miss Carmichael. + +"I wonder how much time we have," muttered Gazen. + +"We can't tell," said I. "It depends on the height we had reached and +the speed we were going at when the engines stopped. We shall rise like +a ball thrown into the air and then fall back to the ground." + +"I wonder if we are still rising," ejaculated Gazen. "Let us take a look +at the planet." + +"Don't be long," pleaded Miss Carmichael, as we turned to go. +"Meanwhile, I shall try and bring my father round." + +On getting to the observatory, we consulted the atmospheric pressure +gauge and found it out of use, a sign that we had attained an altitude +beyond the atmosphere of Mercury, and were now in empty space. + +We turned to the planet, whose enormous disc, muffled in cloud, was +shining lividly in the weird sky. At one part of the limb a range of +lofty mountain peaks rose above the clouds and chequered them with +shadow. + +Fixing our eyes upon this landmark we watched it with bated breath. Was +it coming nearer, or was it receding from us? That was the momentous +question. + +My feelings might be compared to those of a prisoner at the bar watching +the face of the juryman who is about to deliver the verdict. + +After a time--I know not how long--but it seemed an age--the professor +exclaimed, + +"I believe we are still rising." + +It was my own impression, for the peak I was regarding had grown as I +thought smaller, but I did not feel sure, and preferred to trust the +more experienced eyes of the astronomer. + +"I shall try the telescope," he went on; "we are a long way from the +planet." + +"How far do you think?" + +"Many thousand miles at least." + +"So much the better. We shall get more time." + +"Humph! prolonging the agony, that's all. I begin to wish it was all +over." + +Gazen directed his instrument on the planet, and we resumed our +observations. + +"We are no longer rising," said Gazen after a time. "I suppose we are +near the turning-point." + +As a prisoner scans the countenance of the judge who is about to +pronounce the sentence of life or death, I scanned the cloudy surface +underneath us, to see if I could discover any signs of an ocean that +would break our fall, but the vapours were too thick and compact. + +Every instant I expected to hear the fatal intelligence that our descent +had begun. + +"Strange!" muttered Gazen by-and-by, as if speaking to himself. + +"What is strange?" + +"We are neither rising nor falling now. We don't seem to move." + +"Impossible!" + +"Nevertheless, it's a fact," he exclaimed at the end of some minutes. +"The focus of the telescope is constant. We are evidently standing +still." + +His words sounded like a reprieve to a condemned man on the morning of +his execution, and in the revulsion of my feeling I shouted, + +"Hurrah!" + +"What can it mean?" cried Gazen. + +"Simply this," said I joyfully. "We have reached the 'dead-point,' where +the attraction of Mercury on the car is balanced by the attraction of +the sun. It can't be anything else." + +"Wait a minute," said Gazen, making a rapid calculation. "Yes, yes, +probably you are right. I did not think we had come so far; but I had +forgotten that gravitation on Mercury is only half as strong as it is on +the Earth or Venus. Let us go and tell Miss Carmichael." + +We hurried downstairs to the engine room and found her kneeling beside +her father, who was no better. + +She did not seem much enlivened by the good news. + +"What will that do for us?" she enquired doubtfully. + +"We can remain here as long as we like, suspended between the Sun and +Mercury," replied Gazen. + +"Is it better to linger and die in a living tomb than be dashed to +pieces and have done with it?" + +"But we shall gain time for your father to recover." + +"I am afraid my father will never recover in this place. The heat is +killing him. Unless we can get further away from the sun he will die, +I'm sure he will." + +Her eyes filled with tears. + +"Don't distress yourself, dear Miss Carmichael, please don't," said +Gazen tenderly. "Now that we have time to think, perhaps we shall hit +upon some plan." + +An idea flashed into my head. + +"Look here," said I to Gazen, "you remember our conversation in your +observatory one day on the propelling power of rockets--how a rocket +might be used to drive a car through space?" + +"Yes; but we have no rockets." + +"No, but we have rifles, and rifle bullets fired from the car, though +not so powerful, will have a similar effect." + +"Well?" + +"The car is now at rest in space. A slight impulse will direct it one +way or another. Why should we not send it off in such a way that in +falling towards Mercury it will not strike the planet, but circle round +it; or if it should fall towards the surface, will do so at a great +slant, and allow the atmosphere to cool the engines." + +"Let me see," said Gazen, drawing a diagram in his note-book, and +studying it attentively. "Yes, there is something in that. It's a +forlorn hope at best, but perhaps it's our only hope. If we could only +get into the shadow of the planet we might be saved." + +As delay might prove fatal to Carmichael, and since it was uncertain +whether he could right the engines in their present situation, we +decided to act on the suggestion without loss of time. Gazen and I +calculated the positions of the rifles and the number of shots to be +fired in order to give the required impetus to the car. The engine-room, +being well provided with scuttles, was chosen as the scene of our +operations. A brace of magazine rifles were fixed through two of the +scuttles in such a way that the recoil of the shots would urge the car +in an oblique direction backwards, so as to clear or almost clear the +planet, allowance being made for the forward motion of the latter in its +orbit. Needless to say, the barrel of each rifle was packed round so as +to keep the air in the car from escaping into space. + +At a given signal the rifles were discharged simultaneously by Gazen and +myself. There was little noise, but the car trembled with the shock, and +the prostrate man opened his eyes. + +Had it produced the desired effect? We could not tell without an appeal +to the telescope. + +"I'll be back in a moment," cried Gazen, springing upstairs to the +observatory. + +"Do you feel any better, father?" enquired Miss Carmichael, laying her +cool hand on the invalid's fevered brow. + +He winked, and tried to nod in the affirmative. "Were you asleep, +father? Did the shock rouse you?" + +He winked again. + +"Do you know what we are doing?" Before he could answer the foot of +Gazen sounded on the stair. He had left us with an eager, almost a +confident eye. He came back looking grave in the extreme. + +"We are not falling towards Mercury," he said gloomily. "_We are rushing +to the sun!_" + +I cannot depict our emotion at this awful announcement which changed our +hopes into despair. Probably it affected each of us in a different +manner. I cannot recollect my own feelings well enough to analyse them, +and suppose I must have been astounded for a time. A vision of the car, +plunging through an atmosphere of flame, into the fiery entrails of the +sun, flashed across my excited brain, and then I seemed to lose the +power of thought. + +"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," said I at last, in frivolous +reaction. + +"His will be done!" murmured Miss Carmichael, instinctively drawing +closer to her father, who seemed to realise our jeopardy. + +"We must look the matter in the face," said Gazen, with a sigh. + +"What a death!" I exclaimed, "to sit and watch the vast glowing furnace +that is to swallow us up come nearer and nearer, second after second, +minute after minute, hour after hour." + +"The nearer we approach the sun the faster we shall go," said Gazen. +"For one thing, we shall be dead long before we reach him. The heat will +stifle us. It will be all over in a few hours." + +What a death! To see, to feel ourselves roasting as in an oven. It was +too horrible. + +"Are you certain there is no mistake?" I asked at length. + +"Quite," replied Gazen. "Come and see for yourself." + +We had all but gained the door when Miss Carmichael followed us. + +"Professor," she said, with a tremor in her voice, and a look of +supplication in her eyes, "you will come back soon--you will not leave +us long." + +"No, my darling--I beg your pardon," answered Gazen, obeying the impulse +of his heart. "God knows I would give my life to save you if I could." + +In another instant he had locked her in his arms. + +I left them together, and ascended to the observatory, where Gazen soon +afterwards rejoined me. + +"I'm the happiest man alive," said he, with a beaming countenance. +"Congratulate me. I'm betrothed to Miss Carmichael." + +I took his proffered hand, scarcely knowing whether to laugh or cry. + +"It seems to me that I have found my life in losing it," he continued +with a grim smile. "Saturn! what a courtship is ours--what an +engagement--what a bridal bed! But there, old fellow, I'm afraid I'm +happier than you--alone in spirit, and separated from her you love. +Perhaps I was wrong to carry you away from Venus--it has not turned out +well--but I acted for the best. Forgive me!" + +I wrung his hand in silence. + +"Now let us take a look through the telescope," he went on, wiping his +eyes, and adjusting the instrument. "You will see how soon it gets out +of focus. We are flying from Mercury, my friend, faster and faster." + +It was true. + +"But I don't understand how that should be," said I. "The firing ought +to have had a contrary effect." + +"The rifles are not to blame," answered Gazen. "If we had used them +earlier we might have saved ourselves. But all the time that we were +discussing ways and means, and making our preparations to shoot, we +were gradually drifting towards the sun without knowing it. We +overlooked the fact that the orbit of Mercury is very far from circular, +and that he is now moving further away from the sun every instant. As a +consequence his attractive power over the car is growing weaker every +moment. The car had reached the 'dead-point' where the attractive +powers of the sun and planet over it just balanced each other; but as +that of the planet grew feebler the balance turned, and the car was +drawn with ever accelerating velocity towards the sun." + +"Like enough." + +"I can satisfy you of it by pointing the telescope at a sun-spot," said +Gazen, bringing the instrument to bear upon the sun. "You will then see +how fast we are running to perdition. I say--what would our friends in +London think if they could see us now? Wouldn't old Possil snigger! +Well, I shall get the better of him at last. I shall solve the great +mystery of the 'sun-spots' and the 'willow leaves.' Only he will never +know it. That's a bitter drop in the cup!" + +So saying, he applied his eye to the telescope, his ruling passion +strong in death. For myself, as often as I had admired the glorious +luminary, I could not think of it now without a shudder, and fell a +prey to my own melancholy ruminations. + +So this was the end! After all our care and forethought, after all our +struggles, after all our success, to perish miserably like moths in a +candle, to plunge headlong into that immense conflagration as a vessel +dives into the ocean, and is never heard of more! Not a vestige of us, +not even a charred bone to tell the tale. Alumion--our friends at +home--when they admired the sun would they ever fancy that it was our +grave--ever dream that our ashes were whirling in its flames. The cry of +Othello, in his despair, which I had learned at school, came back to my +mind--"Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in +steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!" + +Regrets, remorse, and bitter reflections overwhelmed me. Why had we not +stayed in Venus? Why had we come to Mercury? Why had we endeavoured to +do so much? What folly had drawn me into this mad venture at all? No, I +could not say that. I could not call it folly which had brought me to +Alumion. I had no regret, but on the contrary an unspeakable joy and +gratitude on that score. But why had we attempted to approach so near +the sun, daring the heat, which had jammed our engines, and disabled +our best intellect; risking the powerful attraction that was hurrying us +to our doom? + +Suddenly a peculiar thrill shook the car. With a bounding heart I +started to my feet and dashed into the engine-room. It was true then. +Yes, it was true. _The engines were at work, and we were saved!_ + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HOME AGAIN. + + +We owed our salvation to Mr. Carmichael. The firing of our magazine +rifles, followed by the news of our perilous situation, had roused him +from his lethargy. Although still unable to speak, he had contrived by +means of his eyes to make his daughter understand that he wished another +dose of oxygen. When she was about to administer it, he called her +attention to the fact that in expanding as it issued from the cylinder, +the gas became very cold. She caught his meaning instantly, and on +applying the gas to the sensitive parts of the machinery had succeeded +in cooling and releasing them. + +It seems that Carmichael, in order to save time, had been working the +engines at an unusually high speed, which, together with the heat of the +sun, had caused them to jam. Their enforced rest had of itself allowed +them to cool somewhat, and by reducing the speed until we reached a +cooler region, they did not stick again. + +Carmichael recovered from his illness, and the journey to the earth was +accomplished without accident. We landed safely on some undiscovered +islands in the Arctic Circle, and after a flying visit to the North Pole +in the vicinity, we bore away for England, keeping as high over the sea +as possible to escape notice. Going southward we passed through all +sorts of weather, thick snow, hurricanes of wind and rain, dry or wet +fogs, and so forth; but it made no difference to us. Crossing +Spitzbergen, the car was frosted over with ice needles, which, however, +were soon thawed by a warmer current of air. Between Iceland and the +coast of Norway we glided through a magnificent aurora borealis that +covered the whole sky with a luminous curtain, and made us fancy we had +floated unawares into the fabulous Niffleheim of the old Scandinavian +gods. Near the Faroe Islands we dashed into a violent thunderstorm, and +were almost deafened by the terrific explosions, or blinded by the +flashes of lightning. Otherwise we could enjoy both of these electrical +displays without fear, as the metallic shell of the car was a good +protective screen. Certainly our flying machine would be an excellent +means of making observations in meteorology, from the sampling of +cirrus cloud to the chasing of a tornado. + +The first sign of man we saw was a ship rolling in a storm off the +Hebrides; but apparently she was not in distress, else we should have +gone to her succour. How easy with such a car to rescue lives and +property from sinking ships, and even patrol the seas in search of them! + +The sun was setting in purple and gold as we approached the English +coast, and although at our elevation we were still in sunshine, the +twilight had begun to gather over the distant land. The first sound we +heard was the moaning of the tide along the shore, and the mournful +sighing of the wind among the trees. Hills, fields, and woods lay +beneath us like a garden in miniature. The lamps and fires of lonely +villages and farmhouses twinkled like glow-worms in the dusk. A railway +train, with its white puff of smoke and lighted carriages, seemed to be +crawling like a fiery caterpillar along the ground; but in a few moments +we had left it far behind. As it grew darker and darker we descended +nearer to the surface. A herd of sheep stood huddled on the grass, and +stared at us; a flock of geese ran cackling into a farmyard; the +watch-dog barked and tugged furiously at his chain; a little boy +screamed with fright. + +"That sounds homely," said the professor to Miss Carmichael and myself, +who were standing with him on the gallery outside the car. "It's the +sweetest music I've heard for many a day. Certainly Venus was a charming +place, but I for one am jolly glad to get home again." + +Yes, I must confess that I too felt a deep and tranquil pleasure in +returning to the familiar scenes and the beloved soil of my infancy. + +"You don't seem to care much for Venus," said Miss Carmichael to Gazen. +"Probably if you had been born there you would have liked it better." + +"That may be. If you would like a place, it is well to be born in it." + +"Perhaps if you are a good boy you will go to Venus when you die." + +"I'm afraid it won't suit my mental constitution. They don't care for +science there, and I don't care for anything else. Mars would fit me +better, I imagine." + +"Venus is my favourite," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, then, it's good enough for me," responded Gazen. + +Their talk set me thinking of Alumion, and my strange fancy that I had +known her in another world. Suddenly it occurred to me that in many of +her ways and looks she bore a singular resemblance to my first love, who +had died in childhood. That was nearly seventeen years ago. +Seventeen--it was just the age of Alumion. Could it be possible that she +and Alumion were one and the same soul? + +"I should like to go back to Venus," said Miss Carmichael. "We can go +there now at any time." + +"Of course we can," replied Gazen; "and to Mars as well. Your father's +invention opens up a bewildering prospect of complications in the +universe. So long as each planet was isolated, and left to manage its +own affairs, the politics of the solar system were comparatively simple; +but what will they be when one globe interferes with another? Think of a +German fleet of ether-ships on the prowl for a cosmical empire, +bombarding Womla, and turning it into a Prussian fortress, or an +emporium for cheap goods." + +"Father was talking of that very matter the other night," said Miss +Carmichael, "and he declared that rather than see any harm come to Womla +he would keep his invention a secret--at all events for a thousand years +longer." + +We had glided rapidly across the Black Country, with its furnaces and +forges blazing in the darkness, and now the dull red glow of the +metropolis was visible on the horizon. Half-an-hour later we descended +in the garden of Carmichael's cottage, and found everything as snug as +when we had left it. + +Leaving my fellow-travellers there, I took the train for London, and was +driven to my club, where I intended to sleep. It was a raw wet evening, +and in spite of a certain joy at being home again, I could not help +feeling that my heart was no longer here, but in another planet. After +the sublime deserts of space, and the delightful paradise of Womla, the +busy streets, the blinding glare of the lamps, the splashing vehicles, +the blatant newspaper men, the swarms of people crossing each other's +paths, and occasionally kicking each other's heels, everyone intent on +his own affairs of business or pleasure, were disenchanting, to say the +least. I seemed to have awakened from a beautiful dream, and fallen into +a dismal nightmare. + +In the smoking-room of the club the first person I saw was my friend the +Viscount, who was sitting just where I had left him on the night we +started for Venus, with his glass of toddy before him, and a cigar +between his lips. + +"Hallo!" he exclaimed on seeing me. "Haven't seen you for some +time--must be nearly two months. Been abroad? You look brown." + +"Yes." + +"Well, suppose we finish our game of chess." + +"With pleasure." + +"You remember the wager--a thousand to a hundred sovereigns that I win." + +He was the better player, and although I had a slight advantage in the +game as it stood, I was by no means certain of winning, especially as I +was tired and sleepy; but ever since my sojourn in Venus, my intellect +had been unusually clear and active. I played as I had never played +before, and in three moves had won the wager. + +"That will pay my travelling expenses," said I, pocketing his cheque. + + * * * * * + +I ought perhaps to mention that Professor Gazen carried out his +intention of reading a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society on his +alleged discovery of a diurnal nutation or "wobbling" of the planet +Venus; but I regret to say that owing to preconceived opinions and +personal prejudices, his ingenious theory met with a reception far below +its merits. By the terms of our agreement he was forbidden to divulge +the secret of our expedition until my own account appeared, but some +telescopic observations he had made since coming home had provided him +with independent proofs. + +"Do you think Professor Possil will be present?" said I to him, as we +dined together before we went to the meeting. + +"Sure to be," replied Gazen. "He never misses an opportunity of +attacking me. 'Tis the nature of the animal. But I flatter myself I +shall get the laugh on him this time." + +The hall was full. The hearty welcome of the Fellows showed their high +appreciation of Professor Gazen, and made me feel quite proud of his +acquaintance. They listened to his discourse on the movements of Venus, +and his new hypothesis, with all the solemnity of a Roman senate +deliberating on the destiny of a nation. When he had finished in a salvo +of applause, the president, a man of grave and dignified demeanour, as +became his office, complimented the author on his communication, which +from the startling novelty of the subject would, he believed, give rise +to an interesting discussion, and after calling on Professor Possil, he +resumed his chair. That illustrious man, whose insignificant appearance +belied his fame, responded to the invitation with a show of reluctance, +from a conspicuous place in the front row of the audience, and +immediately assailed the new hypothesis in his most uncompromising +fashion. + +"Never in his experience of the Society," he said, "and never perhaps in +the history of astronomy, had an alleged discovery of such magnitude and +consequence been promulgated on the strength of such flimsy evidence;" +and after traversing in detail all the arguments of his opponent, he +declared it his firm conviction that the effects which Professor Gazen +had thought fit to advance as a "discovery," were neither more nor less +than an optical illusion, not to say a mental hallucination. + +Judging from the applause which greeted his remarks, the majority of his +hearers were evidently of the same opinion. + +A grim smile settled on my companion's face, and I could see that he +maintained his temper with increasing difficulty, as one speaker after +another delivered his mind in much the same sarcastic style of +criticism. + +At length his turn came to make a reply. + +"Mr. President and gentlemen," said he with an air of smiling +confidence, "at this late hour I do not propose to occupy the meeting +with a refutation of all the various comments of the distinguished +Fellows who have spoken; but as my learned friend, Professor Possil, has +thought fit to charge me with bringing my discovery before the Society +on insufficient grounds, I think it right to say that I possess much +more conclusive evidence, which for the present, circumstances have +prevented me from laying before you." + +"Mr. President," exclaimed the celebrated Possil, starting to his feet, +"I should like to ask whether it is altogether in good faith for a +Fellow of this Society to bring forward what he calls a discovery, and +keep back the most important part of the proof. Might I enquire of the +author of the paper what is the nature of this suppressed evidence?" + +"Simply that I have been there," answered Gazen, forgetting his promise +to me in the excitement of the combat. + +"Where?" demanded the astonished Possil. + +"Venus." + +There was a loud burst of sceptical laughter. + +"I think, sir," said Professor Possil to the Chair, with exasperating +coolness, "I think, sir, that after the astounding revelation of the +learned professor, we shall be perfectly justified in concluding on +sufficient evidence that the professor's head, and not the planet Venus, +has been 'wobbling' of late." + +"What I say is true," cried Gazen, nettled at this rude insinuation. + +Cries of "Order, order," "withdraw," "apologise," resounded on every +side. + +"I cannot apologise for the truth," retorted Gazen hotly. + +"Mr. President," continued the pugnacious and imperturbable Fossil, "I +venture to submit that the preposterous assertions we have just heard +are better adapted to a meeting of the Fellows of Colney Hatch than of +this Society, and I beg to move that our unfortunate friend be called +upon to leave the meeting in charge of some responsible person, who will +conduct him safely to his home, and deliver him into the custody of his +friends." + +"Come on! They're a pack of fools!" cried Gazen to me hoarsely, as, +followed by the jeers of his companions, he arose and left the room. + + * * * * * + +I have only to add that Professor Gazen and Miss Carmichael are about +to be married. For myself, as soon as the ceremony is over I shall +return to Venus and Alumion. + +THE END. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Trip to Venus, by John Munro + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + +***** This file should be named 13716-0.txt or 13716-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/7/1/13716/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/13716-0.zip b/old/13716-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a958f6b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13716-0.zip diff --git a/old/13716-8.txt b/old/13716-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a62850a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13716-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6123 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Trip to Venus, by John Munro + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Trip to Venus + +Author: John Munro + +Release Date: October 11, 2004 [EBook #13716] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + + + + + +A TRIP TO VENUS + + +A NOVEL BY JOHN MUNRO + +Author of the "The Wire and the Wave," +"The Story of Electricity," etc., etc. + + +Published in 1897 by Jarrold & Sons, London + + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER I. A MESSAGE FROM MARS + +CHAPTER II. HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + +CHAPTER III. A NEW FORCE + +CHAPTER IV. THE ELECTRIC ORRERY + +CHAPTER V. LEAVING THE EARTH + +CHAPTER VI. IN SPACE + +CHAPTER VII. ARRIVING IN VENUS + +CHAPTER VIII. THE CRATER LAND + +CHAPTER IX. THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL + +CHAPTER X. ALUMION + +CHAPTER XI. THE FLYING APE + +CHAPTER XII. SUNWARD HO! + +CHAPTER XIII. HOME AGAIN + + + + + + "The heaven that rolls around cries aloud to you while it displays + its eternal harmony, and yet your eyes are fixed upon the earth + alone." + + DANTE. + + + "This truth within thy mind rehearse, + That in a bondless universe + Is boundless better, boundless worse. + + "Think you this mould of hopes and fears + Could find no statelier than his peers + In yonder hundred million spheres?" + + TENNYSON. + + + + +A TRIP TO VENUS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MESSAGE FROM MARS. + + +While I was glancing at the _Times_ newspaper in a morning train for +London my eyes fell on the following item:-- + + A STRANGE LIGHT ON MARS.--On Monday afternoon, Dr. Krueger, who is + in charge of the central bureau at Kiel, telegraphed to his + correspondents:-- + + "_Projection lumineuse dans rgion australe du terminateur de Mars + observe par Javelle 28 courant, 16 heures.--Perrotin._" + +In plain English, at 4 a.m., a ray of light had been observed on the +disc of the planet Mars in or near the "terminator"; that is to say, the +zone of twilight separating day from night. The news was doubly +interesting to me, because a singular dream of "Sunrise in the Moon" had +quickened my imagination as to the wonders of the universe beyond our +little globe, and because of a never-to-be-forgotten experience of mine +with an aged astronomer several years ago. + +This extraordinary man, living the life of a recluse in his own +observatory, which was situated in a lonely part of the country, had, or +at any rate, believed that he had, opened up a communication with the +inhabitants of Mars, by means of powerful electric lights, flashing in +the manner of a signal-lantern or heliograph. I had set him down as a +monomaniac; but who knows? perhaps he was not so crazy after all. + +When evening came I turned to the books, and gathered a great deal about +the fiery planet, including the fact that a stout man, a Daniel Lambert, +could jump his own height there with the greatest ease. Very likely; but +I was seeking information on the strange light, and as I could not find +any I resolved to walk over and consult my old friend, Professor Gazen, +the well-known astronomer, who had made his mark by a series of splendid +researches with the spectroscope into the constitution of the sun and +other celestial bodies. + +It was a fine clear night. The sky was cloudless and of a deep dark +blue, which revealed the highest heavens and the silvery lustre of the +Milky Way. The great belt of Orion shone conspicuously in the east, and +Sirius blazed a living gem more to the south. I looked for Mars, and +soon found him farther to the north, a large red star, amongst the white +of the encircling constellations. + +Professor Gazen was quite alone in his observatory when I arrived, and +busily engaged in writing or computing at his desk. + +"I hope I'm not disturbing you," said I, as we shook hands; "I know that +you astronomers must work when the fine night cometh." + +"Don't mention it," he replied cordially; "I'm observing one of the +nebulas just now, but it won't be in sight for a long time yet." + +"What about this mysterious light on Mars. Have you seen anything of +it?" + +Gazen laughed. + +"I have not," said he, "though I did look the other night." + +"You believe that something of the kind has been seen?" + +"Oh, certainly. The Nice Observatory, of which Monsieur Perrotin is +director, has one of the finest telescopes in existence, and Monsieur +Javelle is well-known for his careful work." + +"How do you account for it?" + +"The light is not outside the disc," responded Gazen, "else I should +ascribe it to a small comet. It may be due to an aurora in Mars as a +writer in _Nature_ has suggested, or to a range of snowy Alps, or even +to a bright cloud, reflecting the sunrise. Possibly the Martians have +seen the forest fires in America, and started a rival illumination." + +"What strikes you as the likeliest of these notions?" + +"Mountain peaks catching the sunshine." + +"Might it not be the glare of a city, or a powerful search-light--in +short, a signal?" + +"Oh dear, no," exclaimed the astronomer, smiling incredulously. "The +idea of signalling has got into people's heads through the outcry raised +about it some time ago, when Mars was in 'opposition' and near the +earth. I suppose you are thinking of the plan for raising and lowering +the lights of London to attract the notice of the Martians?" + +"No; I believe I told you of the singular experience I had some five or +six years ago with an old astronomer, who thought he had established an +optical telegraph to Mars?" + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. Ah, that poor old chap was insane. Like the +astronomer in _Rasselas_, he had brooded so long in solitude over his +visionary idea that he had come to imagine it a reality." + +"Might there not be some truth in his notion? Perhaps he was only a +little before his time." + +Gazen shook his head. + +"You see," he replied, "Mars is a much older planet than ours. In winter +the Arctic snows extend to within forty degrees of the equator, and the +climate must be very cold. If human beings ever existed on it they must +have died out long ago, or sunk to the condition of the Eskimo." + +"May not the climate be softened by conditions of land and sea unknown +to us? May not the science and civilisation of the Martians enable them +to cope with the low temperature?" + +"The atmosphere of Mars is as rare as ours at a height of six miles, and +a warm-blooded creature like man would expire in it." + +"Like man, yes," I answered; "but man was made for this world. We are +too apt to measure things by our own experience. Why should we limit the +potentiality of life by what we know of this planet?" + +"In the next place," went on Gazen, ignoring my remark, "the old +astronomer's plan of signalling by strong lights was quite +impracticable. No artificial light is capable of reaching to Mars. Think +of the immense distance and the two atmospheres to penetrate! The man +was mad, as mad as a March hare! though why a March hare is mad I'm sure +I don't know." + +"I read the other day of an electric light in America which can be seen +150 miles through the lower atmosphere. Such a light, if properly +directed, might be visible on Mars; and, for aught we know, the Martians +may have discovered a still stronger beam." + +"And if they have, the odds against their signalling just when we are +alive to the possibility of it are simply tremendous." + +"I see nothing incredible in the coincidence. Two heads often conceive +the same idea about the same time, and why not two planets, if the hour +be ripe? Surely there is one and the same inspiring Soul in all the +universe. Besides, they may have been signalling for centuries, off and +on, without our knowing it." + +"Then, again," said Gazen, with a pawky twinkle in his eye, "our +electric light may have woke them up." + +"Perhaps they are signalling now," said I, "while we are wasting +precious time. I wish you would look." + +"Yes, if you like; but I don't think you'll see any 'luminous +projections,' human or otherwise." + +"I shall see the face of Mars, anyhow, and that will be a rare +experience. It seems to me that a view of the heavenly bodies through a +fine telescope, as well as a tour round the world, should form a part +of a liberal education. How many run to and fro upon the earth, hunting +for sights at great trouble and expense, but how few even think of that +sublimer scenery of the sky which can be seen without stirring far from +home! A peep at some distant orb has power to raise and purify our +thoughts like a strain of sacred music, or a noble picture, or a passage +from the grander poets. It always does one good." + +Professor Gazen silently turned the great refracting telescope in the +direction of Mars, and peered attentively through its mighty tube for +several minutes. + +"Is there any light?" I inquired. + +"None," he replied, shaking his head. "Look for yourself." + +I took his place at the eye-piece, and was almost startled to find the +little coppery star, which I had seen half-an-hour before, apparently +quite near, and transformed into a large globe. It resembled a gibbous +moon, for a considerable part of its disc was illuminated by the sun. + +A dazzling spot marked one of its poles, and the rest of its visible +surface was mottled with ruddy and greenish tints which faded into white +at the rim. Fascinated by the spectacle of that living world, seen at a +glance, and pursuing its appointed course through the illimitable ether, +I forgot my quest, and a religious awe came over me akin to that felt +under the dome of a vast cathedral. + +"Well, what do you make of it?" + +The voice recalled me to myself, and I began to scrutinise the dim and +shadowy border of the terminator for the feeblest ray of light, but all +in vain. + +"I can't see any 'luminous projection'; but what a magnificent object in +the telescope!" + +"It is indeed," rejoined the professor, "and though we have not many +opportunities of seeing it, we know it better than the other planets, +and almost as well as the moon. Its features have been carefully mapped +like those of the moon, and christened after celebrated astronomers." + +"Yourself included, I hope." + +"No, sir; I have not that honour. It is true that a man I know, an +enthusiastic amateur in astronomy, dubbed a lot of holes and corners in +the moon after his private friends and acquaintances, myself amongst +them: 'Snook's Crater,' 'Smith's Bottom,' 'Tiddler's Cove,' and so on; +but I regret to say the authorities declined to sanction his +nomenclature." + +"I presume that bright spot on the Southern limb is one of the polar +ice-caps," said I, still keeping my eye on the planet. + +"Yes," replied the professor, "and they are seen to wax and wane in +winter and summer. The reddish-yellow tracts are doubtless continents of +an ochrey soil; and not, as some think, of a ruddy vegetation. The +greenish-grey patches are probably seas and lakes. The land and water +are better mixed on Mars than on the earth--a fact which tends to +equalise the climate. There is a belt of continents round the equator: +'Copernicus,' 'Galileo,' 'Dawes,' and others, having long winding lakes +and inlets. These are separated by narrow seas from other islands on the +north or south, such as: 'Haze Land, 'Storm Land,' and so forth, which +occupy what we should call the temperate zones, beneath the poles; but I +suspect they are frigid enough. If you look closely you will see some +narrow streaks crossing the continents like fractures. These are the +famous 'Canals' of Schiaparelli, who discovered (and I wish I had his +eyes) that many of them were 'doubled,' that is, had another canal +alongside. Some of these are nearly 2,000 miles long, by fifty miles +broad, and 300 miles apart." + +"That beats the Suez Canal." + +"I am afraid they are not artificial. The doubling is chiefly observed +at the vernal equinox, our month of May, and is perhaps due to spring +floods, or vegetation in valleys of the like trend, as we find in +Siberia. The massing of clouds or mists will account for the peculiar +whiteness at the edge of the limb, and an occasional veiling of the +landscape." + +While he spoke, my attention was suddenly arrested by a vivid point of +light which appeared on the dark side of the terminator, and south of +the equator. + +"Hallo!" I exclaimed, involuntarily. "There's a light!" + +"Really!" responded Gazen, in a tone of surprise, not unmingled with +doubt. "Are you sure?" + +"Quite. There is a distinct light on one of the continents." + +"Let me see it, will you?" he rejoined, hastily; and I yielded up my +place to him. + +"Why, so there is," he declared, after a pause. "I suspect it has been +hidden under a cloud till now." + +We turned and looked at each other in silence. + +"It can't be the light Javelle saw," ejaculated Gazen at length. "That +was on Hellas Land." + +"Should the Martians be signalling they would probably use a system of +lights. I daresay they possess an electric telegraph to work it." + +The professor put his eye to the glass again, and I awaited the result +of his observation with eager interest. + +"It's as steady as possible," said he. + +"The steadiness puzzles me," I replied. "If it would only flash I should +call it a signal." + +"Not necessarily to us," said Gazen, with mock gravity. "You see, it +might be a lighthouse flashing on the Kaiser Sea, or a night message in +the autumn manoeuvres of the Martians, who are, no doubt, very warlike; +or even the advertisement of a new soap." + +"Seriously, what do you think of it?" I asked. + +"I confess it's a mystery to me," he answered, pondering deeply; and +then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added: "I wonder if it's any +good trying the spectroscope on it?" + +So saying, he attached to the telescope a magnificent spectroscope, +which he employed in his researches on the nebul, and renewed his +observation. + +"Well, that's the most remarkable thing in all my professional +experience," he exclaimed, resigning his place at the instrument to me. + +"What is?" I demanded, looking into the spectroscope, where I could +distinguish several faint streaks of coloured light on a darker +background. + +"You know that we can tell the nature of a substance that is burning by +splitting up the light which comes from it in the prism of a +spectroscope. Well, these bright lines of different colours are the +spectrum of a luminous gas." + +"Indeed! Have you any idea as to the origin of the blaze?" + +"It may be electrical--for instance, an aurora. It may be a volcanic +eruption, or a lake of fire such as the crater of Kilauea. Really, I +can't say. Let me see if I can identify the bright lines of the +spectrum." + +I yielded the spectroscope to him, and scarcely had he looked into it +ere he cried out-- + +"By all that's wonderful, the spectrum has changed. Eureka! It's +thallium now. I should know that splendid green line amongst a +thousand." + +"Thallium!" I exclaimed, astonished in my turn. + +"Yes," responded Gazen, hurriedly. "Make a note of the observation, and +also of the time. You will find a book for the purpose lying on the +desk." + +I did as directed, and awaited further orders. The silence was so great +that I could plainly hear the ticking of my watch laid on the desk +before me. At the end of several minutes the professor cried-- + +"It has changed again: make another note." + +"What is it now?" + +"Sodium. The yellow bands are unmistakable." + +A deep stillness reigned as before. + +"There she goes again," exclaimed the professor, much excited. "Now I +can see a couple of blue lines. What can that be? I believe it's +indium." + +Another long pause ensued. + +"Now they are gone," ejaculated Gazen once more. "A red and a yellow +line have taken their place. That should be lithium. Hey, presto!--and +all was dark." + +"What's the matter?" + +"It's all over." With these words he removed the spectroscope from the +telescope, and gazed anxiously at the planet "The light is gone," he +continued, after a minute. "Perhaps another cloud is passing over it. +Well, we must wait. In the meantime let us consider the situation. It +seems to me that we have every reason to be satisfied with our night's +work. What do you think?" + +There was a glow of triumph on his countenance as he came and stood +before me. + +"I believe it's a signal," said I, with an air of conviction. + +"But how?" + +"Why should it change so regularly? I've timed each spectrum, and found +it to last about five minutes before another took its place." + +The professor remained thoughtful and silent. + +"Is it not by the light which comes from them that we have gained all +our knowledge of the constitution of the heavenly bodies?" I continued. +"A ray from the remotest star brings in its heart a secret message to +him who can read it. Now, the Martians would naturally resort to the +same medium of communication as the most obvious, simple, and +practicable. By producing a powerful light they might hope to attract +our attention, and by imbuing it with characteristic spectra, easily +recognised and changed at intervals, they would distinguish the light +from every other, and show us that it must have had an intelligent +origin." + +"What then?" + +"We should know that the Martians had a civilisation at least as high as +our own. To my mind, that would be a great discovery--the greatest since +the world began." + +"But of little use to either party." + +"As for that, a good many of our discoveries, especially in astronomy, +are not of much use. Suppose you find out the chemical composition of +the nebul you are studying, will that lower the price of bread? No; but +it will interest and enlighten us. If the Martians can tell us what Mars +is made of, and we can return the compliment as regards the earth, that +will be a service." + +"But the correspondence must then cease, as the editors say." + +"I'm not so sure of that." + +"My dear fellow! How on earth are we to understand what the Martians +say, and how on Mars are they to understand what we say? We have no +common code." + +"True; but the chemical bodies have certain well-defined properties, +have they not?" + +"Yes. Each has a peculiarity marking it from all the rest. For example, +two or more may resemble each other in colour or hardness, but not in +weight." + +"Precisely. Now, by comparing their spectra can we not be led to +distinguish a particular quality, and grasp the idea of it? In short, +can the Martians not impress that idea on us by their +spectro-telegraph?" + +"I see what you mean," said Professor Gazen; "and, now I think of it, +all the spectra we have seen belong to the group called 'metals of the +alkalies and alkaline earths,' which, of course, have distinctive +properties." + +"At first, I should think the Martians would only try to attract our +notice by striking spectra." + +"Lithium is the lightest metal known to us." + +"Well, we might get the idea of 'lightness' from that." + +"Sodium," continued the professor, "sodium is a very soft metal, with so +strong an affinity for oxygen that it burns in water. Manganese, which +belongs to the 'iron group,' is hard enough to scratch glass; and, like +iron, is decidedly magnetic. Copper is red--" + +"The signals for colour we might get from the spectra direct." + +"Mercury or quicksilver is fluid at ordinary temperatures, and that +might lead us to the idea of movement--animation--life itself." + +"Having got certain fundamental ideas," I went on, "by combining these +we might arrive at other distinct conceptions. We might build up an +ideographic or glyphic language of signs--the signs being spectra. The +numerals might be telegraphed by simple occultations of the light. Then +from spectra we might pass by an easy step to equivalent signals of +long and short flashes in various combinations, also made by occulting +the light. With such a code, our correspondence might go on at great +length, and present no difficulty; but, of course, we must be able to +reply." + +"If the Martians are as clever as you are pleased to imagine, we ought +to learn a good deal from them." + +"I hope we may, and I'm sure the world will be all the better for a +little superior enlightenment on some points." + +"Well, we must follow the matter up, at all events," said the professor, +taking another peep through the telescope. "For the present the Martian +philosophers appear to have shut up shop; and, as my nebula has now +risen, I should like to do a little work on it before daybreak. Look +here, if it's a fine night, can you join me to-morrow? We shall then +continue our observations; but, in the meanwhile, you had better say +nothing about them." + +On my way home I looked for the ruddy planet as I had done in the +earlier part of the night, but with very different feelings in my heart. +The ice of distance and isolation separating me from it seemed to have +broken down since then, and instead of a cold and alien star, I saw a +friendly and familiar world--a companion to our own in the eternal +solitude of the universe. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + + +The next evening promised well, and I kept my appointment, but +unfortunately a slight haze gathered in the sky and prevented us from +making further observations. While hoping in vain for it to clear away, +Professor Gazen and I talked over the possibility of journeying to other +worlds. The gist of our argument was afterwards published in a +conversation, entitled "Can we reach the other planets?" which appeared +in _The Day after To-morrow_. It ran as follows: + +_I_. (_the writer_). "Do you think we shall ever be able to leave the +earth and travel through space to Mars or Venus, and the other members +of the Solar System?" + +_G_. (_Checking an impulse to smile and shaking his head_), "Oh, no! +Never." + +_I_. "Yet science is working miracles, or what would have been +accounted miracles in ancient times." + +_G_. "No doubt, and hence people are apt to suppose that science can do +everything; but after all Nature has set bounds to her achievements." + +_I_. "Still, we don't know what we can and what we cannot do until we +try." + +_G_. "Not always; but in this case I think we know. The celestial bodies +are evidently isolated in space, and the tenants of one cannot pass to +another. We are confined to our own planet." + +_I_. "A similar objection might have been urged against the plan of +Columbus." + +_G_. "That was different. Columbus only sailed through unknown seas to a +distant continent. We are free to explore every nook and cranny of the +earth, but how shall we cross the immense void which parts us from +another world, except on the wings of the imagination?" + +_I_. "Great discoveries and inventions are born of dreams. There are +minds which can foresee what lies before us, and the march of science +brings it within our reach. All or nearly all our great scientific +victories have been foretold, and they have generally been achieved by +more than one person when the time came. The telescope was a dream for +ages, so was the telephone, steam and electric locomotion, aerial +navigation. Why should we scout the dream of visiting other worlds, +which is at least as old as Lucian? Ere long, and perhaps before the +century is out, we shall be flying through the air to the various +countries of the globe. In succeeding centuries what is to hinder us +from travelling through space to different planets?" + +_G_. "Quite impossible. Consider the tremendous distance--the lifeless +vacuum--that separates us even from the moon. Two hundred and forty +thousand miles of empty space." + +_I_. "Some ten times round the world. Well, is that tremendous vacuum +absolutely impassable?" + +_G_. "To any but Jules Verne and his hero, the illustrious Barbicane, +president of the Gun Club."[1] + + [Footnote 1: _The Voyage la Lune_, by Jules Verne.] + +_I_. "Jules Verne has an original mind, and his ideas, though +extravagant, are not without value. Some of them have been realised, and +it may be worth while to examine his notion of firing a shot from the +earth to the moon. The projectile, if I remember, was an aluminium shell +in the shape of a conical bullet, and contained three men, a dog or two, +and several fowls, together with provisions and instruments. It was air +tight, warmed and illuminated with coal gas, and the oxygen for +breathing was got from chlorate of potash, while the carbonic acid +produced by the lungs and gas-burners was absorbed with caustic potash +to keep the air pure. This bullet-car was fired from a colossal +cast-iron gun founded in the sand. It was aimed at a point in the sky, +the zenith, in fact, where it would strike the moon four days later, +that is, after it had crossed the intervening space. The charge of +gun-cotton was calculated to give the projectile a velocity sufficient +to carry it past the 'dead-point,' where the gravity of the earth upon +it was just balanced by that of the moon, and enable it to fall towards +the moon for the rest of the way. The sudden shock of the discharge on +the car and its occupants was broken by means of spring buffers and +water pressure." + +_G_. "The last arrangement was altogether inadequate." + +_I_. "It was certainly a defect in the scheme." + +_G_. "Besides, the initial velocity of the bullet to carry it beyond the +'dead-point,' was, I think, 12,000 yards a second, or something like +seven miles a second." + +_I_. "His estimate was too high. An initial velocity of 9,000 yards, or +five miles a second, would carry a projectile beyond the sensible +attraction of the earth towards the moon, the planets, or anywhere; in +short, to an infinite distance. Indeed, a slightly lower velocity would +suffice in the case of the moon, owing to her attraction." + +_G_. "But how are we to give the bullet that velocity? I believe the +highest velocity obtained from a single discharge of cordite, one of our +best explosives, was rather less than 4,000 feet, or only about +three-quarters of a mile per second. With such a velocity, the +projectile would simply rise to a great height and then fall back to the +ground." + +_I_. "Both of these drawbacks can be overcome. We are not limited to a +single discharge. Dr. S. Tolver Preston, the well-known writer on +molecular science, has pointed out that a very high velocity can be got +by the use of a compound gun, or, in other words, a gun which fires +another gun as a projectile.[2] Imagine a first gun of enormous +dimensions loaded with a smaller gun, which in turn is loaded with the +bullet. The discharge of the first gun shoots the second gun into the +air, with a certain velocity. If, now, the second gun, at the instant it +leaves the muzzle of the first, is fired automatically, say by +utilising the first discharge to press a spring which can react on a +hammer or needle, the bullet will acquire a velocity due to both +discharges, and equivalent to the velocity of the second gun at the time +it was fired plus the velocity produced by the explosion of its own +charge. In this way, by employing a series of guns, fired from each +other in succession, we can graduate the starting shock, and give the +bullet a final velocity sufficient to raise it against gravity, and the +resistance of the atmosphere, which grows less as it advances, and send +it away to the moon or some other distant orb." + + [Footnote 2: _Engineering_, January 13th, 1893.] + +_G_. "Your spit-fire mode of progression is well enough in theory, but +it strikes me as just a little complicated and risky. I, for one, +shouldn't care to emulate Elijah and shoot up to Heaven in that style." + +_I_. "If it be all right in theory, it will be all right in practice. +However, instead of explosives we might employ compressed air to get the +required velocity. In the air-gun or cannon, as you probably know, a +quantity of air, compressed within a chamber of the breech, is allowed +suddenly to expand behind the bullet and eject it from the barrel. Now, +one might manage with a simple gun of this sort, provided it had a very +long barrel, and a series of air chambers at intervals from the breech +to the muzzle. Each of these chambers, beginning at the breech, could be +opened in turn as the bullet passed along the barrel, so that every +escaping jet of gas would give it an additional impulse." + +_G._ (_with growing interest_). "That sounds neater. You might work the +chambers by electricity." + +_I_. "We could even have an electric gun. Conceive a bobbin wound with +insulated wire in lieu of thread, and having the usual hole through the +axis of the frame. If a current of electricity be sent through the wire, +the bobbin will become a hollow magnet or 'solenoid,' and a plug of soft +iron placed at one end will be sucked into the hole. In this experiment +we have the germ of a solenoid cannon. The bobbin stands for the +gun-barrel, the plug for the bullet-car, and the magnetism for the +ejecting force. We can arrange the wire and current so as to draw the +plug or car right through the hole or barrel, and if we have a series of +solenoids end to end in one straight line, we can switch the current +through each in succession, and send the projectile with gathering +velocity through the interior of them all. In practice the barrel would +consist of a long straight tube, wide and strong enough to contain the +bullet-car without flexure, and begirt with giant solenoids at +intervals. Each of the solenoids would be excited by a powerful current, +one after the other, so as to urge the projectile with accelerating +speed along the tube, and launch it into the vast." + +_G_. "That looks still better than the pneumatic gun." + +_I_. "A magnetic gun would have several advantages. For instance, the +currents can be sent through the solenoids in turn as quickly as we +desire by means of a commutator in a convenient spot, for instance, at +the butt end of the gun, so as to follow up the bullet with ease, and +give it a planetary flight. By a proper adjustment of the solenoids and +currents, this could be done so gradually as to prevent a starting shock +to the occupants of the car. The velocity attained by the car would, of +course, depend on the number and power of the solenoids. If, for +example, each solenoid communicated to the car a velocity of nine yards +per second, a thousand solenoids, each magnetically stronger than +another in going from breech to muzzle, would be required to give a +final velocity of five miles a second. In such a case, the length of the +barrel would be at least 1,000 yards. Economy and safety would determine +the best proportions for the gun, but we are now considering the +feasibility of the project, not its cost. With regard to position and +supports, the gun might be constructed along the slope of a hill or +mound steep enough to give it the angle or elevation due to the aim. As +the barrel would not have to resist an explosive force, it should not be +difficult to make, and the inside could be lubricated to diminish the +friction of the projectile in passing through it. Moreover, it is +conceivable that the car need never touch the sides, for by a proper +adjustment of the magnetism of the solenoids we might suspend it in +mid-air like Mahomet's coffin, and make it glide along the magnetic axis +of the tube." + +_G_. "It seems a promising idea for an actual gun, or an electric +despatch and parcel post, or even a railway. The bullet, I suppose, +would be of iron." + +_I_. "Probably; but aluminium is magnetic in a lower degree than iron, +and its greater lightness might prove in its favour. We might also +magnetise the car, say by surrounding it with a coil of wire excited +from an accumulator on board. The car, of course, would be hermetically +sealed, but it would have doors and windows which could be opened at +pleasure. In open space it would be warmed and lighted by the sun, and +in the shadow of a planet, if need were, by coal-gas and electricity. +In either case, to temper the extremes of heat or cold, the interior +could be lined with a non-conductor. Liquefied oxygen or air for +breathing, and condensed fare would sustain the inmates; and on the +whole they might enjoy a comfortable passage through the void, taking +scientific observations, and talking over their experiences." + +_G_. "It would be a novel observatory, quite free from atmospheric +troubles. They might be able to make some astronomical discoveries." + +_I_. "A novel laboratory as well, for in space beyond the attraction of +the earth there would be no gravity. The travellers would not feel a +sense of weight, but as the change would be gradual they would get +accustomed to it, and suffer no inconvenience." + +_G_. "They would keep their gravity in losing it." + +_I_. "The car, meeting with practically no resistance in the ether, +would tend to move in the same direction with the same velocity, and +anything put overboard would neither fall nor rise, but simply float +alongside. When the car came within the sensible attraction of the moon, +its velocity would gradually increase as they approached each other." + +_G_. "Always supposing the aim of the gun to have been exact. You might +hit the moon, with its large disc and comparatively short range, +provided no wandering meteorite diverted the bullet from its course; but +it would be impossible to hit a planet, such as Venus or Mars, a mere +point of light, and thirty or forty million miles away, especially as +both the earth and planet are in rapid motion. A flying rifle-shot from +a lightning express at a distant swallow would have more chance of +success. If you missed the mark, the projectile would wheel round the +planet, and either become its satellite or return towards the earth like +that of Jules Verne in his fascinating romance." + +_I_. "Jules Verne, and other writers on this subject, appear to have +assumed that all the initial effort should come from the cannon. Perhaps +it did not suit his literary purpose to employ any other driving force. +At all events he possessed one in the rockets of Michel Ardan, the +genial Frenchman of the party, which were intended to break the fall of +the projectile on the moon." + +_G_. "If I recollect, they were actually fired to give the car a fillip +when it reached the dead-point on its way back to the earth." + +_I_. "Even in a vacuum, where an ordinary propeller could not act, the +bullet may become a prime mover, and co-operate with the gun. A rocket +can burn without an atmosphere, and the recoil of the rushing fumes will +impel the car onwards." + +_G_. "Do you think a rocket would have sufficient power to be of any +service?" + +_I_. "Ten or twelve large rockets, capable of exerting a united back +pressure of one and a half tons during five or six minutes on a car of +that weight at the earth's surface, would give it in free space a +velocity of two miles a second, which, of course, would not be lost by +friction." + +_G_. "So that it would not be absolutely necessary to give the +projectile an initial velocity of five miles a second." + +_I_. "No; and, besides, we are not solely dependent on the rocket. A jet +of gas, at a very high pressure, escaping from an orifice into the +vacuum or ether, would give us a very high propelling force. By +compressing air, oxygen, or coal-gas (useful otherwise) in iron +cylinders with closed vents, which could be opened, we should have a +store of energy serviceable at any time to drive the car. In this way a +pressure or thrust of several tons on the square inch might be applied +to the car as long as we had gas to push it forwards." + +_G_. "Certainly, and by applying the pressure, whether from the rocket +or the gas, to the front and sides, as well as to the rear of the car, +you would be able to regulate the speed, and direct the car wherever you +wanted to go." + +_I_. "Moreover, beyond the range of gravitation, we could steer and +travel by pumping out the respired air, or occasionally projecting a +pebble from the car through a stuffing box in the wall, or else by +firing a shot from a pistol." + +_G_. "You might even have a battery of machine guns on board, and +decimate the hosts of heaven." + +_I_. "Our bullets would fly straight enough, anyhow, and I suppose they +would hit something in course of time." + +_G_. "If they struck the earth they would be solemnly registered as +falling stars." + +_I_. "Certainly they would be burnt up in passing through the atmosphere +of a planet and do no harm to its inhabitants." + +_G_. "Well, now, granting that you could propel the car, and that +although your gun was badly aimed you could steer towards a planet, how +long would the journey take?" + +_I_. "The self-movement of the car would enable us to save time, which +is a matter of the first importance on such a trip. In the plan of Jules +Verne, the bullet derives all its motion from the initial effort, and +consequently slows down as it rises against the earth's attraction, +until it begins again to quicken under the gravitation of the moon. +Hence his voyage to our satellite occupied four days. As we could +maintain the velocity of the car, however, we should accomplish the +distance in thirteen hours at a speed of five miles a second, and more +or less in proportion." + +_G_. "About as long as the journey from London to Aberdeen by rail. What +about Mars or Venus?" + +_I_. "At the same speed we should cover the 36,000,000 miles to these +planets in 2,000 hours, or 84 days, that is, about three months. With a +speed of ten miles a second, which is not impossible, we could reach +them in six weeks." + +_G_. "One could scarcely go round the world in the same time. But, +having got to a planet, how are you going to land on it? Are you not +afraid you will be dissipated like a meteorite by the intense heat of +friction with the planet's atmosphere, or else be smashed to atoms by +the shock?" + +_I_. "We might steer by the stars to a point on the planet's orbit, +mathematically fixed in advance, and wait there until it comes up. The +atmosphere of the approaching planet would act as a kind of buffer, and +the fall of the car could be further checked by our means of recoil, and +also by a large parachute. We should probably be able to descend quite +slowly to the surface in this way without damage; but in case of peril, +we could have small parachutes in readiness as life-buoys, and leap from +the car when it was nearing the ground." + +_G_. "I presume you are taking into account the velocity of the planet +in its orbit? That of the earth is 18 miles a second, or a hundred times +faster than a rifle bullet; that of Venus, which is nearer the sun, is a +few miles more; and that of Mars, which is further from the sun, is +rather less." + +_I_. "For that reason the more distant planets would be preferable to +land on. Uranus, for instance, has an orbital velocity of four miles a +second, and his gravity is about three-fourths that of the earth. +Moreover, his axis lies almost exactly on the plane of the ecliptic, so +that we could choose a waiting place on his orbit where the line of his +axis lay in the direction of his motion, and simply descend on one of +his poles, at which the stationary atmosphere would not whirl the car, +and where we might also profit by an ascending current of air. The +attraction of the sun is so slight at the distance of Uranus, that a +stone flung out of the car would have no perceptible motion, as it +would only fall towards the sun a mere fraction of an inch per second, +or some 355 feet an hour; hence, as Dr. Preston has calculated, one +ounce of matter ejected from the car towards the sun every five minutes, +with a velocity of 880 feet a second, would suffice to keep a car of one +and a half tons at rest on the orbit of the planet. Indeed, the vitiated +air, escaping from the car through a small hole by its own pressure, +would probably serve the purpose. Just before the planet came up, and in +the nick of time we could fire some rockets, and give the car a velocity +of two or three miles a second in the direction of the planet's motion, +so that he would overtake us, with a speed not over great to ensure a +safe descent. Our parachutes would be out, and at the first contact with +the atmosphere, the car would probably be blown away; but it would soon +acquire the velocity of the planet, and gradually sink downwards to the +surface." + +_G_. "What puzzles me is how you are to get back to the earth." + +_I_. "Whoever goes must take the risk; but if, as appears likely, both +Mars and Venus are inhabited by intelligent beings, we should probably +be able to construct another cannon and return the way we came." + +_G_. (_smiling_). "Well, I confess the project does not look so +impracticable as it did. After all, travelling in a vacuum seems rather +pleasant. One of these days, I suppose, we astronomers will be packed in +bullets and fired into the ether to observe eclipses and comets' tails." + +_I_. "In all that has been said we have confined ourselves to ways and +means already known; but science is young, and we shall probably +discover new sources of energy. It may even be possible to dispense with +the gun, and travel in a locomotive car. Lord Kelvin has shown that if +Lessage's hypothesis of gravitation be correct, a crystal or other body +may be found which is lighter along one axis than another, and thus we +may be able to draw an unlimited supply of power from gravity by simply +changing the position of the crystal; for example, by raising it when +lighter, and letting it fall when heavier. This form of 'perpetual +motion' might be equally obtainable if Dr. Preston's[3] theory of an +ether as the cause of gravity be true. Indeed, Professor Poynting is now +engaged in searching for such a crystal, which, if discovered, will +upset the second law of thermo-dynamics. I merely mention this to show +that science is on the track of concealed motive powers derived from +the ether, and we cannot now tell what the engines of the future will be +like. For ought we know, the time is coming when there will be a regular +mail service between the earth and Mars or Venus, cheap trips to +Mercury, and exploring expeditions to Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus." + + [Footnote 3: _Philosophical Magazine_, February, 1895.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NEW FORCE. + + + "SIR, + + "I have read your article on the possibility of travelling to the + other members of the Solar system with much interest. It is a + problem at which I, myself, have been working for a great many + years, and I believe that I have now discovered a means of solving + it in a practical manner. If you would care to see my experiments, + and will do me the honour of coming here, I shall be glad to show + them in confidence any time you may appoint.--Yours truly, + + "NASMYTH CARMICHAEL." + +The above letter, marked "Private," was forwarded to me through the +editor of _The Day After To-morrow_. The writer of it was a total +stranger to me, even by report, and at first I did not know what to make +of it. Was the man a charlatan, or a "crank?" There were no signs of +craziness or humbug in his frank and simple sentences. Had he really +found out a way of crossing the celestial spaces? In these days it is +better not to be too sceptical as to what science will accomplish. It +is, in fact, wise to keep the mind open and suspend the judgment. We are +standing on the threshold of the Arcana, and at any hour the +search-light of our intellect may penetrate the darkness, and reveal to +our wondering gaze the depths of the inner mechanism of Nature. + +I resolved to accept his invitation. + +A few days later I presented myself at the home of my unknown +correspondent. It was a lonely little cottage, in the midst of a wild +flat or waste of common ground on the outskirts of London. I should say +it had once been the dwelling of a woodman engaged in the neighbouring +forest. A tall, thick hedge of holly surrounded the large garden, and +almost concealed it from the curiosity of an occasional wanderer on the +heath. + +Certainly it did not look the sort of place to find a man of science, +and the old misgivings assailed my mind in greater force than ever. Half +regretting that I had come, and feeling in a dubious element, I opened +the wicket, and knocked at the door. + +It was answered by a young woman, in a plain gown of some dark stuff, +with a white collar round the neck. In spite of her dress I could see +that she was not an ordinary cottage girl. Pretty, without being +beautiful, there was a distinction in her voice and manner which bespoke +the gentlewoman. With a pleasant smile, she welcomed me as one who had +been expected, and ushered me into a small sitting-room, poorly +furnished, but with a taste and refinement unusual in a workman's home. +A large piano stood in one of the corners, and a pile of classical music +lay on a chair beside it. The mantelpiece was decorated with cut +flowers, and the walls were hung with portraits and sketches in crayons +and water-colour. + +"My father will be down in a moment," she said, with a slight American +accent. "He is delighted to have the pleasure of meeting you. It is so +kind of you to come." + +Before I had time to respond, Mr. Carmichael entered the parlour. He was +a man of striking and venerable presence. His long white locks, his +bulging brow, pregnant with brain, his bushy eyebrows and deep blue-grey +eyes, his aquiline nose and flowing beard, gave an Olympian cast to his +noble head. Withal, I could not help noticing that his countenance was +lined with care, his black coat seamed and threadbare, his hands rough +and horny, like those of a workman. If he appeared a god, it was a god +in exile or disgrace; a Saturn rather than a Jove. + +"Now to the matter," said he, after a few words of kindly welcome. +"Evidently the question of inter-planetary travel is coming to the +front. In your article you suggest that a locomotive car, that is to +say, a car able to propel itself through what we, in our ignorance, call +empty space, though, in reality, it is chock-full, and very 'thrang' as +the Scotch say, might yet be contrived, and even worked by energy drawn +from the ether direct. When I read that, sir, I sat up and rubbed my +eyes." + +"Your spectacles, father," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, it's the same thing," went on the old man. "For like many another +prophet, sir, you had prophesied better than you knew." + +"How do you mean?" I inquired, with a puzzled air. + +"If you will step with me into the garden I will show you." + +I rose and followed him into a large shed, which was fitted up as a +workshop and laboratory. It contained several large benches, provided +with turning lathes and tools, a quantity of chemicals, and scientific +apparatus. + +"I am going to do a thing that I have never done in my life before," +said Mr. Carmichael, in a sad and doubtful tone; "I have kept this +secret so long that it seems like parting with myself to disclose it, +to disclose even the existence of it. I have fed upon it as a young man +feeds on love. It has been my nourishment, my manna in the wilderness of +this world, my solace under a thousand trials, my inspiration from on +High. I verily believe it has kept my old carcase together. Mind!" he +added, with a penetrating glance of his grey eyes, which gleamed under +their bushy brows like a pool of water in a cavern overhung with +brambles, "promise me that whatever you see and hear will remain a +secret on your part. Never breathe a word of it to a living soul. You +are the only person, except my own daughter, whom I have ever taken into +my confidence." + +I gave him my word of honour. + +"Very well," he continued, lifting a small metal box from one of the +tables, and patting it with his hand. "I have been working at the +subject of aerial navigation for well-nigh thirty years, and this is the +result." + +I looked at the metal case, but could see nothing remarkable about it. + +"It seems a little thing, hardly worth a few pence, and yet how much I +have paid for it!" said the inventor, with a sigh, and a far-away +expression in his eyes. "Many a time it has reminded me of the mouse's +nest that was turned up by the ploughshare. + + "'Thy wee bit heap o' strae and stibble + Has cost thee mony a weary nibble.' + +Of course this is only a model." + +"A model of a flying machine?" I inquired, in a tone of surprise. + +"You may call it so," he answered; "but it is a flying machine that does +not fly or soar in the strict sense of the words, for it has neither +wings nor aeroplane. It is, in fact, an aerial locomotive, as you will +see." + +While he spoke, Mr. Carmichael opened the case of the instrument, and +adjusted the mechanism inside. Immediately afterwards, to my +astonishment, the box suddenly left his hands, and flew, or rather +glided, swiftly through the air, and must have dashed itself against the +wall of the laboratory had not its master run and caught it. + +"Wonderful!" I exclaimed, forgetting the attitude of caution and reserve +which I had deemed it prudent to adopt. + +The inventor laughed with childish glee, enjoying his triumph, and +stroking the case as though it were a kitten. + +"It would be off again if I would let it. Whoa, there!" said he, again +adjusting the mechanism. "I can make it rise, or sink, or steer, to one +side or the other, just as I please. If you will kindly hold it for a +minute, I will make it go up to the ceiling. Don't be afraid, it won't +bite you." + +I took the uncanny little instrument in my hands, whilst Mr. Carmichael +ascended a ladder to a kind of loft in the shed. It only weighed a few +pounds, and yet I could feel it exerting a strong force to escape. + +"Ready!" cried the inventor, "now let go," and sure enough, the box rose +steadily upwards until it came within his grasp. "I am going to send it +down to you again," he continued, and I expected to see it drop like a +stone to the ground; but, strange to say, it circled gracefully through +the air in a spiral curve, and landed gently at my feet. + +"You see I have entire control over it," said Mr. Carmichael, rejoining +me; "but all you have seen has taken place in air, and you might, +therefore, suppose that I have an air propellor inside, and that air is +necessary to react against it, like water against the screw of a +steamboat, in order to produce the motion. I will now show you that air +is not required, and that my locomotive works quite as well in a +vacuum." + +So saying, he put the model under a large bell-jar, from which he +exhausted the air with a pump; and even then it moved about with as much +alacrity and freedom as it had done in the atmosphere. + +I confess that I was still haunted by a lingering suspicion of the +machine and its inventor; but this experiment went far to destroy it. +Even if the motive power was derived from a coiled spring, or compressed +air, or electricity, in the box, how was it possible to make it act +without the resistance offered by the air? Magnetism was equally out of +the question, since no conceivable arrangement of magnets could have +brought about the movements I had seen. Either I was hypnotised, and +imposed upon, or else this man had discovered what had been unknown to +science. His earnest and straightforward manner was not that of a +mountebank. There had been no attempt to surround his work with mystery, +and cloak his demonstration in unmeaning verbiage. It is true I had +never heard of him in the world of science, but after all an outsider +often makes a great discovery under the nose of the professors. + +"Am I to understand," said I, "that you have found a way of navigating +both the atmosphere and the ether?" + +"As you see," he replied, briefly. + +"What the model has done, you are able to do on a larger scale--in a +practical manner?" + +"Assuredly. It is only a matter of size." + +"And you can maintain the motion?" + +"As long as you like." + +"Marvellous! And how is it done?" + +"Ah!" exclaimed the inventor, "that is my secret. I am afraid I must not +answer that question at present." + +"Is the plan not patented?" + +"No. The fact is, I have not yet investigated the subject as fully as I +would like. My mind is not quite clear as to the causes of the +phenomena. I have discovered a new field of research, and great +discoveries are still to be made in it. Were I to patent the machine, I +should have to divulge what I know. Indeed, but for the sake of my +daughter, I am not sure that I should ever patent it. Even as it stands, +it will revolutionise not merely our modes of travel, but our +industries. It has been to me a labour of love, not of money; and I +would gladly make it a gift of love to my fellowmen." + +"It is the right spirit," said I; "and I have no doubt that a grateful +world would reward you." + +"I wouldn't like to trust it," replied Mr. Carmichael, with a smile and +shrug of the shoulders. "How many inventors has it doomed to pine in +poverty and neglect, or die of a broken heart? How often has it stolen, +aye stolen, the priceless fruits of their genius and labour? Speaking +for myself, I don't complain; I haven't had much to do with it. My +withdrawal from it has been voluntary. I was born in the south of +Scotland, and educated for the medical profession; but I emigrated to +America, and was engaged in one of Colonel Fremont's exploring +expeditions to the Rocky Mountains. After that I was appointed to the +chair of Physical Science in a college of Louisville, Kentucky, where my +daughter was born. One day, when I was experimenting to find out +something else, I fell by accident upon the track of my discovery, and +ever since I have devoted my life to the investigation. It appeared to +me of the very highest importance. As time went on, I grew more and more +absorbed in it. Every hour that I had to give to my official and social +duties seemed thrown away. A man cannot serve two masters, and as I also +found it difficult to carry on my experiments in secrecy, I resigned my +post. I had become a citizen of the United States, but my wife was a +Welshwoman, and had relations in England. So we came to London. When +she died, I settled in this isolated spot, where I could study in peace, +enjoy the fresh air, and easily get the requisite books and apparatus. +Here, with my daughter, I live a very secluded life. She is my sole +companion, my housekeeper, my servant, and my assistant in the +laboratory. She knows as much about my machine, and can work it as well +as I do myself. Indeed, I don't know what I should have done without +her. She has denied herself the ordinary amusements of her age. Her +devotion to me has been beautiful." + +The voice of the old man trembled, and I fancied I could read in his +hollow eyes the untold martyrdom of genius. + +"At last," he continued, "I have brought the matter into a practical +shape, and like many other inventors, for the first time I stand in need +of advice. Happening to see your article in the Magazine, I resolved to +invite you to come and see what I have done in hopes that you might be +able to advise and perhaps help me." + +"I think," said I, after a moment's reflection, "I think the next thing +to be done is to make a large working machine, and try it on a voyage." + +"Quite so," he replied; "and I am prepared to build one that will go to +any part of the earth, or explore the higher regions of the atmosphere, +or go down under the sea, or even make a trip to one of the nearer +planets, Mars or Venus as the case may be. But I am poor; my little +fortune is all but exhausted, and here, at the end of the race, within +sight of the goal, I lack the wherewithal to reach it. Now, sir, if you +can see your way to provide the funds, I will give you a share in the +profits of the invention." + +I pondered his words in silence. Visions of travel through the air in +distant lands, above the rhododendron forests of the Himalayas, or the +green Savannahs of the Orinoco, the coral isles of the Pacific; yea, +further still, through the starlit crypts of space to other spheres were +hovering in my fancy. The singular history of the man, too, had touched +my feelings. Nevertheless, I hesitated to accept his offer there and +then. It was hardly a proposal to decide upon without due consideration. + +"I will think it over and let you know," said I at length. "Have you any +objection to my consulting Professor Gazen, the well-known astronomer? +He is a friend of mine. Perhaps he will be able to assist us." + +"None whatever, so long as he keeps the affair to himself. You can +bring him to see the experiments if you like. All I reserve is that I +shall not be asked to explain the inner action of the machine. That must +remain a secret; but some day I hope to show you even that." + +"Thanks." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ELECTRIC ORRERY. + + +"Half-moon Junction! Change here for Venus, Mercury, the Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!" + +So I called in the style of a Clapham railway porter, as I entered the +observatory of Professor Gazen on the following night. + +"What is the matter?" said he with a smile. "Are you imitating the +officials of the Universal Navigation Company in the distant future?" + +"Not so distant as you may imagine," I responded significantly; and then +I told him all that I had seen and heard of the new flying machine. + +The professor listened with serious attention, but manifested neither +astonishment nor scepticism. + +"What do you think about it?" I asked. "What should I do in the case?" + +"Well, I hardly know," he replied doubtfully. "It is rather out of my +line, and after my experience with Mars the other night, I am not +inclined to dogmatise. At all events, I should like to see and try the +machine before giving an opinion." + +"I will arrange for that with the inventor." + +"Possibly I can find out something about him from my American +friends--if he is genuine. What's his name again?" + +"Carmichael--Nasmyth Carmichael." + +"Nasmyth Carmichael," repeated Gazen, musingly. "It seems to me I've +heard the name somewhere. Yes, now I recollect. When I was a student at +Cambridge, I remember reading a textbook on physics by Professor Nasmyth +Carmichael, an American, and a capital book it was--beautifully simple, +clear, and profound like Nature herself. Professors, as a rule, and +especially professors of science, are not the best writers in the world. +Pity they can't teach the economy of energy without wasting that of +their readers. Carmichael's book was not a dead system of mathematics +and figures, but rather a living tale, with illustrations drawn from +every part of the world. I got far more help from it than the prescribed +treatises, and the best of that was a liking for the subject. I believe +I should have been plucked without it." + +"The very man, no doubt." + +"He was remarkably sane when he wrote that book, whatever he is now. As +to his character, that is another question. Given a work of science, to +find the character of the author. Problem." + +"I shall proceed cautiously in the affair. Before I commit myself, I +must be satisfied by inspection and trial that there is neither trickery +nor self-delusion on his part. We can make some trial trips, and gain +experience before we attempt to leave the world." + +"If you take my advice you will keep to the earth altogether." + +"Surely, if we can ascend into the higher regions of the atmosphere, we +can traverse empty space. You would have me stop within sight of the +goal. The end of travel is to reach the other planets." + +"Why not say the fixed stars when you are about it?" + +"That's impossible." + +"On the contrary, with a vessel large enough to contain the necessaries +of life, a select party of ladies and gentlemen might start for the +Milky Way, and if all went right, their descendants would arrive there +in the course of a few million years." + +"Rather a long journey, I'm afraid." + +"What would you have? A million years quotha! nay, not so much. It +depends on the speed and the direction taken. If they were able to +cover, say, the distance from Liverpool to New York in a tenth of a +second, they would get to Alpha in the constellation Centaur, perhaps +the nearest of the fixed stars, in twenty or thirty years--a mere +bagatelle. But why should we stop there?" went on Gazen. "Why should we +not build large vessels for the navigation of the ether--artificial +planets in fact--and go cruising about in space, from universe to +universe, on a celestial Cook's excursion--" + +"We are doing that now, I believe." + +"Yes, but in tow of the Sun. Not at our own sweet will, like gipsies in +a caravan. Independent, free of rent and taxes, these hollow planetoids +would serve for schools, hotels, dwelling-houses--" + +"And lunatic asylums." + +"They would relieve the surplus population of the globe," continued +Gazen, warming to his theme. "It is an idea of the first political +importance--especially to British statesmen. The Empire is only in its +infancy. With a fleet of ethereal gunboats we might colonise the solar +system, and annex the stars. What a stroke of business!" + +"Another illusion gone," I observed "Think of Manchester cotton in the +Pleiades! Of Scotch whiskey in Orion! However, I am afraid your policy +would lead to international complications. The French would set up a +claim for 'Ancient Lights.' The Germans would discover a nebulous +Hinterland under their protection. The Americans would protest in the +name of the Monroe Doctrine. It is necessary to be modest. Let us return +to our muttons." + +"Everybody will be able to pick a world that suits him," pursued Gazen, +still on the trail of his thought. "If he grows tired of one he can look +round for a better. Criminals will be weeded out and sent to Coventry, I +mean transplanted into a worse. When a planet is dying of old age, the +inhabitants will flit to another." + +"Seriously, if Carmichael's machine turns out all right, will you join +me in a trip?" + +"Thanks, no. I believe I shall wait and see how you get on first." + +"And where would you advise me to go, Mars or Venus?" + +The professor smiled, but I was quite in earnest. + +"Well," he replied, "Mars is evidently inhabited; but so is Venus, +probably, and of the two I think you will find her the more hospitable +and the nearest. When do you propose to start?" + +"Perhaps within six months." + +"We must consider their relative distances from the earth. By the way, +I don't think you have seen my new electrical orrery." + +"An electrical orrery," I exclaimed. "Surely that is something new!" + +"So far as I am aware; but you never know in these days. There is +nothing new under the sun, or even above it." + +So saying, he opened a small door in the side of the observatory, and, +ushering me into a very dark apartment, closed it behind us. + +"Follow me, there is no danger," said he, taking me by the arm, and +guiding me for several paces into the darkness. + +At length we halted, and I looked all around me, but was unable to +perceive a single object. + +"Where are we?" I enquired; "in the realms of Chaos and Old Night?" + +"You are now in the centre of the Universe," replied Gazen; "or, to +speak more correctly, at a point in space overlooking the solar system." + +"Well, I can't see it," said I. "Have you got such a thing as a match +about you?" + +"Let there be light!" responded Gazen in a reverent manner, and +instantly a soft, weird radiance was over all. The contrast of that +sudden illumination with the preceding darkness was electrical in more +senses than one, and I could not repress a cry of genuine admiration. + +A kind of twilight still reigned, and after the first moment of +surprise, I perceived that we were standing on a light metal gangway in +the middle of a great hollow cell of a luminous black or dark blue +colour, relieved by innumerable bright points, and resembling the night +sky in miniature. + +"I need hardly say that is a model of the celestial sphere," whispered +Gazen, indicating the starry vault. + +"It is a wonderful imitation," I responded, my awestruck eyes wandering +over the mysterious tracts of the Milky Way and the familiar +constellations of the mimic heavens. "May I ask how it is done--how you +produce that impression of infinite distance?" + +"By means of translucent shells illuminated from behind. The stars, of +course, are electric lamps, and some of them, as you see, have a tinge +of red or blue." + +Most of the light, however, came from a brilliant globe of a bluish +lustre, which appeared to occupy the centre of the crystal sphere, and +was surrounded by a number of smaller and fainter orbs that shone by its +reflected rays. + +"This, again, is a model of the solar system," said Gazen. "The central +luminary is, of course, the sun, and the others are the planets with +their satellites." + +"They seem to float in air." + +"That is because their supports are invisible, or nearly so. Both their +lights and periodic motions are produced by the electric current." + +"Surely they are not moving now?" + +"Oh, yes, and with velocities proportionate to those of the real bodies; +but you know that whilst the actual movements of the sun and planets are +so rapid, the dimensions of the system are so vast that if you could +survey the whole from a standpoint in space, as we are supposed to do, +it would appear at rest. Let us look at them a little closer." + +I followed Gazen along the gangway which encircled the orrery, and +allowed us to survey each of the planets closer at hand. + +"This kind of place would make a good theatre for a class in astronomy," +said I, "or for the meetings of the Interplanetary Congress of +Astronomers, in the year 2000. You can turn on the stars and planets +when you please. I wish you would give me a lecture on the subject now. +My knowledge is a little the worse for wear, and a man ought to know +something of the worlds around him--especially if he intends to visit +them." + +"I should only bore you with an old story." + +"Not at all. You cannot be too simple and elementary. Regard me as a +small boy in the stage of + + "'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, + How I wonder what you are!'" + +"Very well, my little man, have you any idea how many stars you can see +on a clear night?" + +"Billions." + +"No, Tommy. You are wrong, my dear boy. Go to the foot of your class. +With the naked eye we can only distinguish three or four thousand, but +with the telescope we are able to count at least fifty millions. They +are thickest in the Milky Way, which, as you can see, runs all round the +heavens, over your head, and under your feet, like an irregular tract of +hazy light, a girdle of stars in short. Of course we cannot tell how +many more there are beyond the range of vision, or what other galaxies +may be scattered in the depths of space. The stars are suns, larger or +smaller than our own, and of various colours--white, blue, yellow, +green, and red. Some are single, but others are held together in pairs +or groups by the force of gravitation. From their immense distance they +appear fixed to us, but in reality they are flying in all directions at +enormous velocities. Alpha, of the constellation Cygnus, for example, is +coming towards us at a speed of 500 million leagues per annum, and some +move a great deal faster. Most of them probably have planets circling +round them in different stages of growth, but these are invisible to us. +Here and there amongst them we find luminous patches or 'nebul,' which +prove to be either clusters of stars or stupendous clouds of glowing +gases. Our sun is a solitary blue star on the verge of the Milky Way, 20 +billion miles from Alpha Centauri his next-door neighbour. He is +travelling in a straight line towards the constellation Hercules at the +rate of 20,000 miles an hour, much quicker than a rifle bullet; and, +nevertheless, he will take more than a million years to cover the +distance. Eight large or major planets, with their satellites, and a +flock of minor planets or planetoids, are revolving round him as their +common centre and luminary at various distances, but all in the same +direction. The orbits, or paths, about the sun are ovals or ellipses, +almost circular, of which the sun occupies one focus, and they are so +nearly in one plane, or at one level, that if seen from the sun, they +would appear to wander along a narrow belt of the heavens, called the +zodiac, which extends a few degrees on each side of the Elliptic or +apparent course of the sun against the stars. The planets are all +globes, more or less flat at the poles, like an orange, and each is +turning and swaying on its axis, thus exposing every part to the light +and warmth of the sun. They are divided by the planetoids into an inner +and an outer band. The inner four are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and +Mars; the outer four are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Moreover, +a number of comets and swarms of meteoric stones or meteorites are +circulating round the sun in eccentric paths, which cross those of the +planets. Such is the solar system--a lonely archipelago in the ethereal +ocean--a little family of worlds." + +"Not without its jars, I'm afraid." + +"The sun is chief of the clan," continued Gazen, "and keeps it together +by the mysterious tie of gravitation. While flying through space, he +turns round his own axis like a rifle bullet in 25 or 26 days. His +diameter is 860,000 miles, and although he is not much denser than +sea-water, his mass is over 700 times greater than the combined mass of +all his retinue. Gravity on his surface being 28 times stronger than on +the earth, a piece of timber would be as heavy as gold there, and a +stone let fall would drop 460 feet the first second instead of 16 feet +as here. He is built of the same kind of matter as the earth and other +planets, but is hotter than the hottest electric arc or reverberatory +furnace. Apparently his glowing bulk is made up of several concentric +shells like an onion. First there is a kernel or liquid nucleus, +probably as dense as pitch. Above it is the photosphere, the part we +usually see, a jacket of incandescent clouds, or vapours, which in the +telescope is seen to resemble 'willow leaves,' or 'rice grains in a +plate of soup,' and in the spectroscope to reveal the rays of iron, +manganese, or other heavy elements. What we call 'facul' (or little +torches), are brighter streaks, not unlike some kinds of coral. The +'Sunspots' are immense gaps or holes in the photosphere, some of them +150,000 miles in diameter, which afford us a peep at the glowing +interior. There are different theories as to their nature, hence they +provide rival astronomers with an excellent opportunity of spotting each +other's reputations. For instance, I look upon them as eruptions, and +Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil (my pet aversion) regards them as +cyclonic storms; consequently we never lose an opportunity of erupting +and storming at each other. Above the photosphere comes a stratum of +cooler vapours and gases, namely, hydrogen and helium, a very light +element recently found on the earth, along with argon, in the rare +mineral cleveite. Tremendous jets of blazing hydrogen are seen to burst +through the clouds of the photosphere, and play about in this higher +region like the flames of a coal fire. These are the famous 'red flames' +or 'prominences,' which are seen during a total eclipse as a ragged +fringe of rosy fire about the black disc of the moon. Some of them rush +through the chromosphere to a height of 80,000 miles in 15 minutes. + +"Higher still is the 'corona,' an aureole of silvery beams visible in a +total eclipse, and resembling the star of a decoration. The streamers +have been traced for hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the solar +disc. It appears to consist of meteoric stones, illuminated by the +sunlight as well as of incandescent vapours of 'coronium,' a very light +element unknown on the earth, and probably, too, of electrical +discharges. The 'zodiacal light,' that silvery glow often seen in the +west after sunset, or in the east before sunrise, may be a prolongation +of it." + +"I daresay these meteorites are swarming about the sun like midges about +a lamp," said I. + +"And just as eager to get burnt up," replied Gazen, with a smile. "Let +us pass now to the planets. The little one next the sun is Mercury, who +can be seen as a rosy-white star soon after sunset or before sunrise. He +is about 36 million miles, more or less, from the sun; travels round his +orbit in 88 days, the length of his year; and spins about his axis in +24 hours, making a day and night. His diameter is 3,000 miles, and his +mass is nearly seven times that of an equal volume of water. The +attraction of gravity on his surface is barely half that on the earth, +and a man would feel very light there. Mercury seems to have a dense +atmosphere, and probably high mountains, if not active volcanoes. The +sunshine is from four to nine times stronger there than on the earth, +and as summer and winter follow each other in six weeks, he is doubtless +rather warm. + +"Venus, the 'Shepherd's Star,' and the brightest object in the heavens +after the moon, can sometimes be seen by day, and casts a distinct +shadow at night. She is about 67 million miles from the sun, revolves +round him in 225 days, and rotates on her axis in 23 to 24 hours, or as +Schiaparelli believes, in 224 days. Her diameter is 7,600 miles, and her +mass nearly five times that of an equal volume of water. Gravity is +rather less there than it is here. Like Mercury, she appears to have a +cloudy atmosphere, and very high mountains. On the whole she resembles +the earth, but is, perhaps, a younger as well as a warmer planet. + +"The green ball, next to Venus, is, I need hardly say, our own dear +little world. Terra, or the earth, is 93 million miles from the sun, +goes round him in 365 days, and turns on her axis in 24 hours less four +minutes. Her diameter is 7,918 miles, and her density is 5.66 times that +of water. She is attended by a single satellite, the moon, which +revolves round her in 27.3 days, at a distance of 238,000 miles. The +moon rotates on her axis in about the same time, and hence we can only +see one side of her. She is 2,160 miles in diameter, but her mass is +only one-eightieth that of the earth. A pound weight on the moon would +scale six pounds on the earth. Having little or no atmosphere or water, +she is apparently a dead world. + +"The red planet beyond the earth is Mars, who appears in the sky as a +ruddy gold or coppery star. He is 141 million miles from the sun, +travels his orbit in 687 days, and wheels round his axis in 24 hours 37 +minutes. His diameter is 4,200 miles, and his mass about one-ninth that +of the earth. A body weighing two pounds on the earth would only make +half a pound on Mars. As you know, his atmosphere is clear and thin, his +surface flat, and subject to floods from the melting of the polar snows. +Mars is evidently a colder and more aged planet than the earth. + +"He is accompanied by two little moons, Phobos (Fear), which is from ten +to forty miles in diameter, and revolves round him in 7 hours 39 +minutes, at a distance of 6,000 miles, a fact unparalleled in astronomy; +and Deimos (Rout), who completes a revolution in 30 hours 18 minutes, at +a distance of 14,500 miles. + +"About 400 planetoids have been discovered up to now, but we are always +catching more of them. Medusa, the nearest, is 198 million miles, and +Thule, the farthest, is 396 million miles from the sun. Vesta, the +brightest and probably the largest, a pale yellow, or, as some say, +bluish white orb, visible with the naked eye, is from 200 to 400 miles +in diameter. It is impossible to say which is the smallest. Probably the +mass of the whole is not greater than one quarter that of the earth. + +"Jupiter, surnamed the 'giant planet,' who almost rivals Venus in her +splendour, is 480 million miles from the sun; travels round his orbit in +12 years less 50 days; and is believed to whirl round his axis in 10 +hours. His diameter is 85,000 miles, and his bulk is not only 1,200 +times that of the earth, but exceeds that of all the other planets put +together. Nevertheless, his mass is only 200 to 300 times that of the +earth, for his density is not much greater than that of water. What we +see is evidently his vaporous atmosphere, which is marked by coloured +spots and bands or belts, probably caused by storms and currents, +especially in the equatorial regions. Jupiter is thought to be self +luminous, at least in parts, and is, perchance, a cooling star, not yet +entirely crusted over. + +"Four or five numbered satellites, about the size of our moon and +upwards, are circulating round him in orbits from 2,000 to 1,000,000 +miles distant in periods ranging from 11 hours to 16 days 18 hours. + +"Saturn, the 'ringed planet,' who appears as a dull red star of the +first magnitude, is the most interesting of all the planets. He is 884 +million miles from the sun; his period of revolution is 29 years, and +he turns on his axis in 10 hours 14 minutes. His diameter is 75,000 +miles, but his mass is only 94 times that of the earth, for he is +lighter than pinewood. His atmosphere is marked with spots and belts, +and on the whole his condition is like that of Jupiter. + +"Two flat rings or hoops, divided by a dark space, encircle his ball in +the plane of his equator. The inner ring is over 18,000 miles from the +ball, and nearly 17,000 miles broad. The gap between is 1,750 miles +wide, and the outer ring is over 10,000 miles broad. The rings are +banded, bright or dark, and vary in thickness from 40 to 250 miles. They +consist of innumerable small satellites and meteoric stones, travelling +round the ball in rather more than ten hours, and are brightest in +their densest parts. Of course they form a magnificent object in the +night sky of the planet, and it may be that our own zodiacal light is +the last vestige of a similar ring, and not an extension of the solar +corona. + +"Saturn has eight moons outside his rings, the nearest, Mimas, being +115,000, and the farthest, Japetus, 220,400 miles from his ball. With +the exception of Japetus, they revolve round him in the plane of his +rings, and when these are seen edgewise, appear to run along it like +beads on a string. + +"Uranus, the next planet visible, is a pale star of the sixth magnitude, +1,770 million miles from the sun, and completes his round in 84 years. +His axis, differing from those of the foregoing planets, lies almost in +the plane of his orbit, but we cannot speak as to his axial rotation. He +is 31,000 miles in diameter, and somewhat heavier, bulk for bulk, than +water. Four satellites revolve round him, the nearest, Ariel, being +103,500, and the farthest, Oberon, 347,500 miles distant. Unlike the +orbits of the foregoing satellites, which are nearly in the same plane +as the orbits of their primaries, those of the satellites of Uranus are +almost perpendicular to his own. They are travelled in periods of two +and a half to thirteen and a half days. + +"Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, but seen as a pale blue star in +the telescope, is 2,780 million miles from the sun, and makes a +revolution in 165 years. His diameter is about 35,000 miles, and his +density rather less than that of water. + +"Neptune has one satellite, at a distance of 202,000 miles, which, like +those of Uranus, revolves about its primary in an orbit at a +considerable angle to his own in five days twenty-one hours. Both +Neptune and Uranus are probably dying suns. + +"Comets of unknown number travel in long elliptical or parabolic orbits +round the sun at great velocities. They seem to consist partly of +glowing vapours, especially hydrogen, and partly of meteoric stones. +'Shooting stars,' that is to say, stones which fall to the earth, are +known to swarm in their wake, and are believed to be as plentiful in +space as fishes in the sea." + +"The trash or leavings of creation," said I reflectively. + +"And the raw material, for nothing is lost," rejoined Gazen. "Now, in +spite of all its diversity, there is a remarkable symmetry in the solar +system. The planets are all moving round the sun in one direction along +circular paths. As a rule each is nearly as far again from the sun as +the next within it. Thus, if we take Mercury as inch from the sun, +Venus is about 1 inches, the Earth 2, Mars 2, the planetoids 5, +Jupiter 9, Saturn 14, Uranus 36, and Neptune 60 inches. On the same +scale, by the way, Enckes' comet at Aphelion, its farthest distance from +the sun, would be about 12 feet; Donatis almost a mile; and Alpha +Centauri, a near star in the Milky Way, some ten miles. + +"The stately march of the planets in their orbits becomes slower the +farther they are from the sun. The velocity of Mercury in its orbit is +thirty, that of Jupiter is eight, and that of Neptune is only three +miles a second. On the other hand, the inner planets, as a rule, take +some twenty-four hours, and the outer only ten hours to spin round their +axis. The inner planets are small in comparison with the outer. If we +represent the sun by a gourd, 20 inches in diameter, Mercury will seem a +bilberry ({~FRACTION NUMERATOR ONE~}{~SUBSCRIPT ONE~}{~SUBSCRIPT SIX~} inch) Venus, a white currant, the Earth a black currant +( inch), Mars a red currant ({~VULGAR FRACTION ONE EIGHTH~} inch), the planetoids as fine seed, +Jupiter an orange or peach (2 inches), Saturn a nectarine or greengage +(1 inch), Uranus a red cherry ( inch), and Neptune a white cherry +(barely 1 inch in diameter). By putting the sun and planets in a row, +and drawing a contour of the whole, we obtain the figure of a dirk, a +bodkin, or an Indian club, in which the sun stands for the knob +(disproportionately big), the inner planets for the handle, and the +outer for the blade or body. Again, the average density of the inner +planets exceeds that of the outer by nearly five to one, but the mass of +any planet is greater than the combined masses of all which are smaller +than it. The inner planets derive all their light and heat from the sun, +and have few or no satellites; whereas the outer, to all appearance, are +secondary suns, and have their own retinue of worlds. On the similitude +of a clan or house we may regard the inner planets as the immediate +retainers of the chief, and the outer as the chieftains of their own +septs or families." + +"How do you account for the symmetrical arrangement?" I enquired. + +"The origin of the solar system is, you know, a mystery," replied the +astronomer. "According to the nebular hypothesis we may imagine that two +or more dark suns, perhaps encircled with planets, have come into +collision. Burst into atoms by the stupendous shock they would fill the +surrounding region with a vast nebula of incandescent gases in a state +of violent agitation. Its luminous fringes would fly immeasurably beyond +the present orbit of Neptune, and then rush inwards to the centre, only +to be driven outwards again. Surging out and in, the fluid mass would +expand and contract alternately, until in course of ages the fiery +tides would cease to ebb and flow. If the impact had been somewhat +indirect it would rotate slowly on its axis, and under the influence of +gravity and centrifugal force acquire a globular shape which would +gradually flatten to a lenticular disc. As it cooled and shrank in +volume it would whirl the faster round its axis, and grow the denser +towards its heart. By and by, as the centrifugal force overcame gravity, +the nebula would part, and the lighter outskirts would be shed one after +another in concentric rings to mould the planets. The inner rings, being +relatively small and heavy, would probably condense much sooner than the +large, light, outer rings. The planetoids are apparently the rubbish of +a ring which has failed to condense into one body, perhaps through its +uniformity or thinness. The separation of so big a mass as Jupiter might +well attenuate the border." + +"If the planetoids were born of a single small ring, might not several +planets be condensed from a large one?" + +"I see nothing to hinder it. A large ring might split into smaller +rings, or condense in several centres." + +"Because it seems to me that might explain the distinction between the +inner and the outer planets. Perhaps the outer were first thrown off in +one immense ring, and then the inner in a smaller ring. Before +separation the nebula viewed edgewise might resemble your Indian club." + +"A 'dumb-bell nebula,' like those we find in the heavens," observed +Gazen. "Be that as it may, the rings would collect into balls, and some +of these, especially the outer, would cast off rings which would +condense into moons, always excepting the rings of Saturn, which, like +the planetoids, are evidently a failure. The solar system would then +appear as a group of suns, a cluster of stars, in short, a +constellation. Each would be what we call a 'nebulous star,' not unlike +the sun at present; that is to say, it would be surrounded by a glowing +atmosphere of vapours, and perhaps meteoric matter. Under the action of +gravity, centrifugal force, and tidal retardation, their orbits would +become more circular, they would gradually move further apart, rotate +more slowly on their axes, and assume the shapes they have now. In +cooling down, new chemical compounds, and probably elements would be +formed, since the so-called elements are perhaps mere combinations of a +primordial substance which have been produced at various temperatures. +The heavier elements, such as platinum, gold, and iron, would sink +towards the core; and the lighter, such as carbon, silicon, oxygen, +nitrogen, and hydrogen, would rise towards the surface. A crust would +form, and portions of it breaking in or bursting out together with +eruptions and floods of molten lava, would disturb the poise of the +planet, and give rise to inequalities of surface, to continents, and +mountains. When the crust was sufficiently stable, sound, and cool, the +mists and clouds would condense into rivers, lakes, or seas, and the +atmosphere would become clear. In due course life would make its +appearance." + +"Can you account for that mystery?" + +"No. Science is bound in honour, no doubt, to explain all it can without +calling in a special act of creation; but the origin of life and +intelligence seems to go beyond it, so far. Spontaneous generation from +dead matter is ruled out of court at present. We believe that life only +proceeds from life. As for the hypothesis that meteoric stones, the +'moss-grown fragments of another world' may have brought life to the +earth, I hardly know what to think of it." + +"Has life ever been found on a meteoric stone?" + +"Not that I know. Carbon, at all events in the state of graphite and +diamond, has been got from them. They arc generally a kind of slag, +containing nodules or crystals of iron, nickle, and other metals, and +look to me as if they had solidified from a liquid or vapour. Are they +ruins of an earlier cosmos--the crumbs of an exploded world--matter +ejected from the sun--the snow of a nebulous ring--frozen spray from the +fiery surge of a nebula? we cannot tell; but, according to the meteoric +as distinguished from the nebular hypothesis of the solar system, the +sun, planets, and comets, as well as the stars and nebula were all +generated by the clash of meteorites; and not as I have supposed, of +dead globes." + +"Which hypothesis do you believe?" + +"There may be some truth in both," replied Gazen. "The two processes +might even go on together. What if meteorites are simply frozen nebula? +It is certain that the earth is still growing a little from the fall of +meteoric stones, and that part of the sun's heat comes from meteoric +fuel. Most of it, however, arises from the shrinkage of his bulk. Five +or ten million years ago the sun was double the size he is now. Twenty +or thirty million years ago he was rather a nebula than a sun. In five +or ten million more he will probably be as Jupiter is now--a smoking +cinder." + +"And the earth--how long is it since she was crusted over?" + +"Anything from ten to several hundred million years. In that time the +stratified rocks have been deposited under water, the land and sea have +taken their present configurations; the atmosphere has been purified; +plants and animals have spread all over the surface. Man has probably +been from twenty to a hundred thousand years or more on the earth, but +his civilization is a thing of yesterday." + +"How long will the earth continue fit for life?" + +"Perhaps five or ten million years. The entire solar system is gradually +losing its internal heat, and must inevitably die of sheer inanition. +The time is coming when the sun will drift through space, a black star +in the midst of dead worlds. Perhaps the system will fall together, +perhaps it will run against a star. In either case there would probably +be a 'new heaven and a new earth.'" + +"Born like a phoenix from the ashes of the old," said I, feeling the +justice of the well-worn simile. + +"I daresay the process goes on to all eternity." + +"Like enough." + +The sublime idea, with its prospect of the infinite, held us for a time +in silence. At length my thoughts reverted to the original question +which had been forgotten. + +"Now, whether should I go to Mars or Venus?" I enquired, fixing my eyes +on these planets and trying to estimate their relative distances from +the earth. + +Gazen made a mental computation, and replied with decision, + +"Venus." + +"All right," I responded. "Venus let it be." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LEAVING THE EARTH. + + +"Check!" + +I was playing a game of chess with an old acquaintance, Viscount ----, +after dinner, one evening, in the luxurious smoking-room of a +fashionable club in the West End of London. + +Having got his queen into a very tight corner, I sipped a glass of wine, +lit a Turkish cigarette, and leaned back in my chair with an agreeable +sense of triumph. + +My companion, on the other hand, puffed rapidly at his cigar, and took a +long drink of hot whiskey and water, then fixed his attention on the +board, and stroked his beard with an air of the deepest gravity. Had you +only seen his face at that moment you would have supposed that all the +care of a mighty empire weighed upon his shoulders. The countenance of a +grand vizier, engaged in considering an ultimatum of Lord Salisbury, +were frivolous in comparison. There is little doubt that if Lord ---- +had applied to the serious business of life as much earnest deliberation +as he gave to the movement of a pawn, he would have made a very +different figure in Society. But having been born without any effort of +his own to all that most men covet--rank, wealth, and title--he showed a +rare spirit of contentment, and did his best to make the world happier +by enjoying himself. + +As he was a very slow player, I began to think of a matter which lay +nearer to my heart than the game, I mean the project of travelling to +Venus. Tests of the new flying machine, by Professor Gazen and myself, +as well as our enquiries into the character of Mr. Carmichael, having +proved quite satisfactory, I had signed an agreement for the +construction of an ethereal ship or car, equally capable of navigating +the atmosphere to distant regions of the globe, and of traversing the +immense reaches of empty space between the earth and the other members +of the solar system. + +As Miss Carmichael had determined to accompany her father, and assist +him in his labours, it was built to carry three persons, with room to +spare for another, and the trial trips, made secretly on foggy nights, +had encouraged us to undertake the longer voyage into space. I am glad +to say that Professor Gazen, having taken part in one of these, had got +the better of his caution, and finally made up his mind to join the +expedition. + +I suspect that he was influenced in his decision by the heroic example +of Miss Carmichael. At all events I know he tried very hard to dissuade +her from going; but all his arguments could not shake her inflexible +resolution, and truly, there was something sublime in the quiet fidelity +of this young woman to her aged father which commanded our admiration. + +At length, all preparations for the voyage were complete, and as we did +not wish to excite any remark, it was arranged that we should start on +the first night that was dark enough to conceal our movements. + +While these thoughts were passing through my head, a footman, in plush, +entered the smoking-room, and presented a telegram on a golden salver. +Anticipating the contents, I tore it open, and read as follows: + + "_We leave to-night. Come on at once._--CARMICHAEL." + +After writing a reply to the message, I turned to the Viscount, who had +never raised his eyes from the board, and said, + +"You had better give me the game." + +He simply stared at me, and asked, + +"Why?" + +"Well, make it a draw." + +"Oh, dear no. Let's play it out." + +"I can't. I'm sorry to say I must leave you now. I have just received a +telegram making an urgent appointment. When beauty calls--" + +"Oh!" replied his lordship, with an amiable smile. "In that case we'll +finish it another time. I mean to win this game." + +"It will take you all your time." + +"I'll wager you ten to one--a thousand sovereigns to a hundred that I +win." + +It is not my habit to lay wagers; but I was anxious to be gone. + +"All right," I responded with a laugh, as I went away. "Good-night!" + +On arriving at Mr. Carmichael's cottage I found the rest of the party +waiting for me. No time was lost in proceeding to the garden, where the +car stood ready to mount into the air. All the lights were out, and in +the darkness it might have been mistaken for a tubular boiler of a dumpy +shape. It was built of aluminium steel, able to withstand the impact of +a meteorite, and the interior was lined with caoutchouc, which is a +non-conductor of heat, as well as air-proof. The foot or basement +contained the driving mechanism, and a small cabin for Mr. Carmichael. +The upper shell, or main body, of an oval contour, projected beyond the +basement, and was surmounted by an observatory and conning tower. It was +divided into several compartments, that in the middle being the saloon, +or common chamber. At one end there was a berth for Miss Carmichael, and +at the other one for Professor Gazen and myself, with a snug little +smoking cell adjoining it. Every additional cubic inch was utilised for +the storage of provisions, cooking utensils, arms, books, and scientific +apparatus. + +The vessel was entered by a door in the middle, and a railed gallery or +deck ran round it outside. The interior was lighted by ports, or +scuttles, of stout glass; but electricity was also at our service. Air +constantly evaporating from the liquid state would fill the rooms, and +could escape through vent holes in the walls. This artificial atmosphere +was supplemented by a reserve fund of pure oxygen gas compressed in +steel cylinders, and a quantity of chemicals for purifying the air. It +need hardly be said that we did not burden the ship with unnecessary +articles, and that every piece of furniture was of the lightest and most +useful kind. + +I think we all felt the solemnity of the moment as we stepped into the +black hull which might prove our living coffin. No friends were by to +sadden us with their parting; but the old earth had grown dearer to us +now that we were about to leave it, perhaps for ever. Mr. Carmichael +descended by the trap into the engine room, while we others stood on the +landing beside the open door, mute and expectant. + +Presently, a shudder of the vessel sent a strange thrill to our hearts, +and almost before we knew it, we had left the ground. + +"We're off!" ejaculated Gazen, and although a slight vibration was all +the movement we could feel, we saw the earth sinking away from us. At +first we rose very slowly, because the machine had to contend against +the force of gravity; but as the weight of the car diminished the higher +we ascended, our speed gradually augmented, and we knew that in the long +run it would become prodigious. The night was moonless, and a thick +mantle of clouds obscured the heavens; but the planet Venus was now an +evening star, and after attaining a considerable height, we steered +towards the west. Our course took us over the metropolis, which lay +beneath us like a vast conflagration. + +Far as the eye could see, myriads of lights glimmered like watch fires +through the murk of the dismal streets, growing thicker and thicker as +we approached the heart of the city, and appearing to blend their +lustres. Through the midst of the glittering expanse we could trace the +black tide of the river, crossed by the sparkling lines of the bridges, +and reflecting the red lanterns of the ships and barges. The principal +squares and thoroughfares were picked out, with rows and clusters of gas +and electric lamps, as with studs of gold and silver. The clock on the +Houses of Parliament glowed like the full moon on a harvest night. Now +and again the weird blaze of a furnace, or the shifting beam of an +advertisement, attracted our attention. With indescribable emotion we +hung over the immense panorama, and recognised the familiar streets and +buildings--the Bank and Post Office, St. Paul's Cathedral and Newgate +Prison, the Law Courts and Somerset House, the British Museum, the +National Gallery of Arts, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. We +watched the busy multitudes swarming like ants in the glare of the +pavements from the dreary slums and stalls of Whitechapel to the +newspaper offices of Fleet Street; the shops and theatres of the Strand; +the music halls and restaurants of Piccadilly Circus. A deep and +continuous roar, a sound like that of the ocean ascended from the +toiling millions below. + +"Isn't it awful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a tone of reverence. +"What a city! I seem to understand how an angel feels when he regards +the world in space, or a God when He listens to the prayers of +humanity." + +"For my part," said Gazen, "I feel as though I were standing on my +head." + +By this time we had lost the sense of danger, and gathered confidence in +our mode of travel. + +"I fancy the clouds overhead are the real earth," explained the +astronomer, "and that I'm looking down into the starry heavens, with its +Milky Way. I say, though, isn't it jolly up here--soaring above all +these moiling mannikins below--wasting their precious lives grubbing in +the mire--dead to the glories of the universe--seeking happiness and +finding misery. Ugh!--wish I had a packet of dynamite to drop amongst +them and make them look up. Hallo!" + +The earth had suddenly vanished from our sight. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN SPACE. + + +We had entered the clouds. + +For half-an-hour we were muffled in a cold, damp mist, and total +darkness, and had begun to think of going indoors when, all at once, the +car burst into the pure and starlit region of the upper air. + +A cry of joyous admiration escaped from us all. + +The spectacle before us was indeed sublime. + +The sky of a deep dark blue was hung with innumerable stars, which +seemed to float in the limpid ether, and the rolling vapours through +which we had passed were drawn like a sable curtain between us and the +lower world. The stillness was so profound that we could hear the +beating of our own hearts. + +"How beautiful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a solemn whisper, as if +she were afraid that angels might hear. + +"There is Venus right ahead," cried the astronomer, but in a softer +tone than usual, perhaps out of respect for the sovereign laws of the +universe. "The course is clear now--we are fairly on the open sea--I +mean the open ether. I must get out my telescope." + +"The sky does not look sad here, as it always does on the earth--to me +at least," whispered Miss Carmichael, after Gazen had left us alone. "I +suppose that is because there is so much sadness around us and within us +there." + +"The atmosphere, too, is often very impure," I replied, also in a +whisper. + +"Up here I enjoy a sense of absolute peace and well-being, if not +happiness," she murmured. "I feel raised above all the miseries of +life--they appear to me so paltry and so vain." + +"As when we reach a higher moral elevation," said I, drifting into a +confidential mood, like passengers on the deck of a ship, under the +mysterious glamour of the night-sky. "Such moments are too rare in life. +Do you remember the lines of Shakespeare:-- + + "'Look, how the floor of heaven + Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: + There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, + But in his motion like an angel sings, + Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: + Such harmony is in immortal souls; + But whilst this muddy vesture of decay + Doth grossly close it in--we cannot hear it.'" + +"True," responded Miss Carmichael, "and now I begin to feel like a +disembodied spirit--a 'young-eyed cherubim.' I seem to belong already to +a better planet. Should you not like to dwell here for ever, far away +from the carking cares and troubles of the world?" + +The unwonted sadness of her tone reminded me of her devoted life, and I +turned towards her with new interest and sympathy. She was looking at +the Evening Star, whose bright beam softened the irregularities of her +profile, and made her almost beautiful. + +"Yes," I answered, and the words "with you" formed themselves in my +heart. I know not what folly I might have spoken had not the +conversation been interrupted by Gazen, who called out in his unromantic +style, + +"I say, Miss Carmichael! Won't you come and take a look at Venus?" + +She rose at once, and I followed her to the observatory. + +The telescope was very powerful for its size, and showed the dusky night +side of the planet against the brilliant crescent of the day like the +"new moon in the arms of the old," or, as Miss Carmichael said, "like an +amethyst in a silver clasp." + +"Really, it is not unlike that," said Gazen, pleased with her feminine +conceit. "If the instrument were stronger you would probably see the +clasp go all round the dusky violet body like a bright ring, and +probably, too, an ashen light within it, such as we see on the dark side +of the moon. By-and-by, as we get nearer, we shall study the markings of +the terminator, and a shallow notch that is just visible on the inner +edge of the southern horn. Can you see it?" + +"Yes, I think I can. What is it?" replied Miss Carmichael. + +"Probably a vast crater, or else a range of high mountains intercepting +the sunlight, and making a scallop in the border of the terminator. +However, that is a secret for us to find out. We know very little of the +planet Venus--not even the length of her day. Some think it is eight +months long, others twenty-four hours. We shall see. I have begun to +keep a record of our discoveries, and some day--when I return to town--I +hope to read a paper on the subject before the most potent, grave, and +learned Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--I rather think I +shall surprise them--I do not say startle--it is impossible to startle +the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--or even to astonish +them--you might as well hope to tickle the Sphinx--but I fancy it will +stir them up a little, especially my friend Professor Sylvanus Pettifer +Possil. However, I must take care not to give them the slightest hint of +what they are to expect beforehand, otherwise they will declare they +knew all about it already." + +"Has it struck you that up here the stars appear of different colours at +various distances," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Oh, yes," answered Gazen, "and in the pure atmosphere of the desert, or +on the summit of high mountains, we notice a similar effect. The stars +have been compared to the trees of a forest, in different stages of +growth and decay. Some of them are growing in splendour, and others +again are dying out. Arcturus, a red star, for example, is fast cooling +to a cinder. Capella, over there, is a yellow star, like our own sun, +and past his prime. Sirius, that brilliant white or bluish star, which +flashes like a diamond in the south, is one of the fiercest. He is a +double star, his companion being seven and himself thirteen times +massier than the sun; but they are fifty times brighter, and a million +times further off, that is to say, one hundred billion miles away. +These double or twin stars are often very beautiful. The twins are of +all colours, and generally match well with each other--for instance, +purple and orange--green and orange--red and green--blue and pale +green--white and ruby. One of the prettiest lies in the constellation +Cygnus. I will show it to you." + +"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, looking through the glass. +"The bigger star is a golden or topaz yellow, and the smaller a light +sapphire blue." + +"Some of the star groups and nebul are just as pretty," observed Gazen, +turning his telescope to another part of the heavens; "most of the stars +are white, but there is a sprinkling of yellow, blue, and red amongst +them--I mean, of course, to our view, for the absorption of our +atmosphere alters the tint." + +"Does that mean that there is more youth than age, more life than death, +in the universe?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"Not exactly," replied the astronomer. "There is apparently no lack of +vigour in the Cosmos--no great sign of decrepitude; but we must remember +that we see the younger and brighter stars better than the others, and +for aught we know there are many dark suns or extinct stars, as well as +planets and their satellites. I should not like to say that the +population of space is going down; but on the whole it may be +stationary. I wish I could show you the cluster in Toucan, a rosy star +in a ring of white ones." + +"Like a brooch of pearls," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Yes--not unlike that," responded Gazen, evidently amused at her +comparison. "But that constellation is in the Southern Hemisphere. +However, here is the 'ring' or 'planetary' nebula in the Lyre." + +"What a wonderful thing!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, with her eye at the +instrument. "It looks to me like a golden hoop, with diamond dust +inside." + +I do not know where Miss Carmichael got her knowledge of jewellery, for +to all appearance she wore none. + +"Or the cup of a flower," she added, raising her head. + +"Poets have called the stars 'fleurs de ciel,'" said Gazen, shifting the +telescope, "and if so, the nebula are the orchids; for they imitate +crabs, birds, dumb-bells, spirals, and so forth. Take a look at this +one, and tell us what you think of it." + +"I see a cloud of silver light in the dark sky," said Miss Carmichael, +after observing it. + +"What does it resemble?" + +"It's rather like a pansy--or--" + +"Anything else?" + +"A human face!" + +"Not far out," rejoined Gazen. "It is called the Devil Nebula!" + +"And what is it?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"It is a cluster of stars--a spawn of worlds, if I may use the +expression," answered Gazen. + +"And what are they made of? I know very little of astronomy." + +"The same stuff as the earth--the same stuff as ourselves--hydrogen, +iron, carbon, and other chemical elements. Just as all the books in the +world are composed of the same letters, so all the celestial bodies are +built of the same elements. Everything is everywhere--" + +Gazen was evidently in his own element, and began a long lecture on the +constitution of the universe, which appeared to interest Miss Carmichael +very much. Somehow it jarred upon me, and I retired to the little +smoking-room, where I lit a cigar, and sat down beside the open scuttles +to enjoy a quiet smoke. + +"Why am I displeased with the lucubrations of the professor?" I said to +myself. "Am I jealous of him because he has monopolised the attention of +Miss Carmichael? No, I think not. I confess to a certain interest in +Miss Carmichael. I believe she is a noble girl, intelligent and +affectionate, simple and true; with a touch of poetry in her nature +which I had never suspected. She will make an excellent companion to the +fortunate man who wins her. When I remember the hard life she has led so +far, I confess I cannot help sympathising with her; but surely I am not +in love?" + +I regret to say that my friend the astronomer, with all his good +qualities, was not quite free from the arrogance which leads some men of +science to assume a proprietary right in the objects of their discovery. +To hear him speak you would think he had created the stars, instead of +explaining a secret of their constitution. However, I was used to that +little failing in his manner. It was not that. No, it was chiefly the +matter of his discourse which had been distasteful to me. The sight of +that glorious firmament had filled me with a sentiment of awe and +reverence to which his dry and brutal facts were a kind of desecration. +Why should our sentiment so often shrink from knowledge? Are we afraid +its purity may be contaminated and defiled? Why should science be so +inimical to poetry? Is it because the reality is never equal to our +dreams? There is more in this antipathy than the fear of disillusion +and alloyment. Some of it arises from a difference in the attitude of +the mind. + +To the poet, nature is a living mystery. He does not seek to know what +it is, or how it works. He allows it as a whole to impress itself on his +entire soul, like the reflection in a mirror, and is content with the +illusion, the effect. By its power and beauty it awakens ideas and +sentiments within him. He does not even consider the part which his own +mind plays, and as his fancy is quite free, he tends to personify +inanimate things, as the ancients did the sun and moon. + +To the man of science, on the other hand, nature is a molecular +mechanism. He wishes to understand its construction, and mode of action. +He enquires into its particular parts with his intellect, and tries to +penetrate the illusion in order to lay bare its cause. Heedless of its +power and beauty, he remains uninfluenced by sentiment, and mistrusting +the part played by his own mind, he tends to destroy the habit of +personification. + +Hence that opposition between science and poetry which Coleridge pointed +out. The spirit of poetry is driven away by the spirit of science, just +as Eros fled before the curiosity of Psyche. + +How can I enjoy the perfume of a rose if I am thinking of its cellular +tissue? I grow blind to the beauty of the Venus de Medicis when I +measure its dimensions, or analyse its marble. What do I care for the +drama if I am bent on going behind the scenes and examining the stage +machinery? The telescope has banished Phoebus and Diana from our +literature, and the spectroscope has vulgarised the stars. + +Will science make an end of poetry as Renan and many others have +thought? Surely not? Poetry is quite as natural and as needful to +mankind as science. All men are poetical, as they are scientific, more +or less. + +It might even be argued that poetry is for the general, for the man as a +man; while science is for the particular, for the man as a specialist; +and that poetry is a higher and more essential boon than science, +because it speaks to the heart, not merely to the head, and keeps alive +the celestial as well as the terrestrial portion of our nature. + +Shall we prefer the cause to the effect, and the means to the end, or +exalt the matter above the form, and the letter above the spirit? Does +not the tissue exist for the sweetness of the rose, the marble for the +beauty of the stature, and the mechanism for the illusion of the play? +The "opposition" between science and poetry lies not in the object, but +in our mode of regarding it. The scientific and the poetical spirit are +complementary, as the inside to the outside of a garment, and if they +seem to drive each other away it is because the mind cannot easily +entertain and employ both together; but one is passive when the other is +active. + +Keats drank "confusion to Newton" for destroying the poetry of the +rainbow by showing how the colours were elicited; but after all was +Newton guilty? Why should a true knowledge of the cause destroy the +poetry of an effect? Every effect must be produced somehow. The rainbow +is not less beautiful in itself because I know that it is due to the +refraction of light. The diamond loses none of its lustre although +chemistry has proved it to be carbon; the heavens are still glorious +even if the stars are red-hot balls. + +But stones, carbon, and light are familiar commonplace things, and +fraught with prosaic associations. + +True, and yet natural things are noble in themselves, and only vulgar in +our usage. It is for us to purify and raise our thoughts. Instead of +losing our interest in the universe because it is all of the same stuff, +we should rather wonder at the miracle which has formed so rich a +variety out of a common element. + +But the mystery is gone, and the feelings and fancies which arose from +it. + +In exchange for the mystery we have truth, which excites other emotions +and ideas. Moreover, the mystery is only pushed further back. We cannot +tell what the elements really are; they will never be more than symbols +to us, and all nature at bottom will ever remain a mystery to us: an +organised illusion. Think, too, of the innumerable worlds amongst the +stars, and the eternity of the past and future. Whether we look into the +depths of space beyond the reach of telescope and microscope, or +backward and forward along the vistas of time, we shall find ourselves +surrounded with an impenetrable mystery in which the imagination is free +to rove. + +Science, far from destroying, will foster and develop poetry. It is the +part of the scientific to serve the poetical spirit by providing it with +fresh matter. The poet will take the truth discovered by the man of +science, and purify it from vulgar associations, or stamp it with a +beautiful and ideal form. + +Consider the vast horizons opened to the vision of the poet by the +investigations of science and the doctrine of evolution. At present the +spirit of science is perhaps more active than the spirit of poetry, but +we are passing through an unsettled to a settled period. Tennyson was +the voice of the transition; but the singer of evolution is to come, and +after him the poet of truth. + +If we allowed the scientific to drive away the poetical spirit, we +should have to go in quest of it again, as the forlorn Psyche went in +search of Eros. It is necessary to the proper balance and harmony of our +minds, to the purification of our feelings, and the right enjoyment of +life. Poetry expresses the inmost soul of man, and science can never +take its place. Religion apart, what does the present age of science +need more than poetry? What would benefit a hard-headed, matter-of-fact +man of science like Professor Gazen if not the arts of the sublime and +beautiful--if not a poetical companion--such as Miss Carmichael? + + * * * * * + +Thus, after a long rambling meditation, I had come back to my bachelor +friend and the fair American. + +"Yes," thought I, rather uneasily, I must confess, for I could not +disguise from myself the fact that I was taken with her, "Gazen and she +are not an ill-matched pair by any means. They are alike in many +respects, and a contrast in others. They have common ground in their +love and aptitude for science; yet each has something which the other +lacks. She has poetry and sentiment for instance, but he--well, I'm +afraid that if he ever had any it has all evaporated by this time. On +the other hand, she"--but it puzzled me to think of any good quality +that Miss Carmichael did not possess, and I began to consider that she +would be throwing herself away upon him. "They seem to get on well +together, however--monstrously well. I wonder what star he is picking to +pieces now?" + +I listened for the sound of their voices, but not a murmur passed +through the curtain which I had drawn across the entrance to the smoking +cabin. Only a peculiar tremor from the mysterious engines broke the +utter stillness. Was I growing deaf? I snapped my fingers to reassure +myself, and the sound startled me like the crack of a pistol. Evidently +my sense of hearing had become abnormally acute. My mind, too, was +preternaturally clear, and the solitude became so irksome that I rose +from my seat, and looked out of the scuttles to relieve the tension of +my nerves. + +Apparently we had reached a great height in the atmosphere, for the sky +was a dead black, and the stars had ceased to twinkle. By the same +illusion which lifts the horizon of the sea to the level of the +spectator on a hillside, the sable cloud beneath was dished out, and the +car seemed to float in the middle of an immense dark sphere, whose upper +half was strewn with silver. Looking down into the dark gulf below, I +could see a ruddy light streaming through a rift in the clouds. It was +probably a last glimpse of London, or some neighbouring town; but soon +the rolling vapours closed, and shut it out. + +I now realised to the full that I was _nowhere_, or to speak more +correctly, a wanderer in empty space--that I had left one world behind +me and was travelling to another, like a disembodied spirit crossing the +gloomy Styx. A strange serenity took possession of my soul, and all that +had polluted or degraded it in the lower life seemed to fall away from +it like the shadow of an evil dream. + +In the depths of my heart I no longer felt sorry to quit the earth. It +seemed to me now, a place where the loveliest things never come to +birth, or die the soonest--where life itself hangs on a blind mischance, +where true friendship is afraid to show its face, where pure love is +unrequited or betrayed, and the noblest benefactors of their fellowmen +have been reviled or done to death--a place which we regard as a heaven +when we enter it, and a hell before we leave it. . . . No, I was not +sorry to quit the earth. + +And the beautiful planet, shining there so peacefully in the west, was +it any better? At a like distance the earth would seem still fairer, and +perhaps even now some wretch in Venus is asking himself a similar +question. Is it not probable that just as all the worlds are made of the +same materials, so the mixture of good and evil is much the same in all? +I turned to the stars, where in all ages man has sought an answer to his +riddles. The better land! Where is it? if not among the stars. I am now +in the old heaven above the clouds. Does it lie _within_ the visible +universe, as it lies within the heart when peace and happiness are +there? + +In that pure ether the glory of the firmament was revealed to me as it +had never been on the earth, where it is often veiled with clouds and +mist, or marred by houses and surrounding objects--where the quietude of +the mind is also apt to be disturbed by sordid and perplexing cares. Its +awful sublimity overwhelmed my faculties, and its majesty inspired me +with a kind of dread. In presence of these countless orbs my own +nothingness came home to me, and a voice seemed to whisper in my ear, + +"Hush! What art thou? Be humble and revere." + +After a while, I perceived a pure celestial radiance of a marvellous +whiteness dawning in the east. By slow degrees it spread over the +starlit sky, lightening its blackness to a deep Prussian blue, and +lining the sable clouds on the horizon with silver. At length the round +disc of the sun, whiter than the full moon, and intolerably bright, rose +into view. + +With the intention of rejoining Professor Gazen in the observatory, and +seeing it through his telescope, I flung away my cigar, and stepped +towards the door of the cabin; but ere I had gone two paces, I suddenly +reeled and fell. At first I imagined that an accident had happened to +the car, but soon realised that I myself was at fault. Dizzy and faint, +with a bounding pulse, an aching head, and a panting chest, I raised +myself with great difficulty into a seat, and tried to collect my +thoughts. For the last quarter of an hour I had been aware of a growing +uneasiness, but the spectacle of sunrise had entranced me, and I forgot +it. Suspecting an attack of "mountain sickness" owing to the rarity of +the atmosphere, I attempted to rise and close the scuttles, but found +that I had lost all power in my lower limbs. The pain in my head +increased, the palpitation of my heart grew more violent, my ears rang +like a bell, and I literally gasped for breath. Moreover, I felt a +peculiar dryness in my throat, and a disagreeable taste of blood in my +mouth. What was to be done? I tried again to reach the door, but only to +find that I could not even move my arms, let alone my feet. +Nevertheless, I was singularly free from agitation or alarm, and my mind +was just as clear as it is now. I reflected that as the car was ever +rising into a rarer atmosphere, my only hope of salvation lay in calling +for help, and that as the paralysis was gaining on my whole body, not a +moment was to be lost. I shouted with all my strength; but beyond a sort +of hiss, not a sound escaped my lips. The profound silence of the car +now struck me in a new light. Had Gazen and Miss Carmichael not +committed the same blunder, and suffered a like fate? Perhaps even +Carmichael himself had been equally careless, and the flying machine, +now masterless, was carrying us Heaven knows whither. Strange to say I +entertained these sinister apprehensions without the least emotion. I +had lost all feeling of pain or anxiety, and was perfectly tranquil and +indifferent to anything that might happen. It is possible that with the +paralysis of my powers to help myself, I was also relieved by nature +from the fears of death. I began to think of the sensation which our +mysterious disappearance would make in the newspapers, and of divers +other matters, such as my own boyhood and my friends, when all at once +my eyes grew dim--and I remembered nothing more. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ARRIVING IN VENUS. + + +"Try to speak--there's a good fellow--open your eyes." + +I heard the words as in a dream. I recognised the voice of Gazen, but it +seemed to come from the far distance. Opening my eyes I found myself +prostrate on the floor of the smoking room, with the professor and Miss +Carmichael kneeling beside me. There was a look of great anxiety on +their faces. + +"I'm all right," said I feebly. "I'm so glad you are safe." + +It appears that a short time before, Gazen had closed the scuttles of +the observatory and returned with Miss Carmichael to the saloon, then, +after calling to me without receiving any answer, had opened the door of +the smoking-room and seen me lying in a dead faint. Luckily Miss +Carmichael had acquired some knowledge of medicine, partly from her +father, and without loss of time they applied themselves to bring me +round by the method of artificial respiration employed in cases of +drowning or lightning stroke. + +It would be tedious to narrate all the particulars of our journey +through the dark abyss, particularly as nothing very important befell +us, and one day passed like another. Now and then a small meteoric stone +struck the car and glanced off its rounded sides. + +"Old Charon," as Gazen and I had nicknamed Carmichael, after the grim +ferryman of the Styx, seldom forsook his engines, and Miss Carmichael +spent a good deal of her time along with him. Occasionally she chatted +with Gazen and myself in the saloon, or helped us to make scientific +observations; but although neither of us openly confessed it, I think we +both felt that she did not give us quite enough of her company. Her +manner seemed to betray no preference for one or the other. + +Did she, by her feminine instinct, perceive that we were both solicitous +of her company, and was she afraid of exciting jealousy between us? In +any case we were all the more glad to see her when she did join us. No +doubt men in general, and professors in particular, are fond of +communicating knowledge, but a great deal depends on the pupil; and +certainly I was surprised to see how the hard and dry astronomer beamed +with delight as he initiated this young lady into the mysteries of the +apparatus, and what a deal of trouble he took to cram her lovely head +with mathematics. + +We noted the temperature of space as we darted onwards, and discovered +that it contains a trace of gases lost from the atmospheres of the +heavenly bodies. We also found there a sprinkling of minute organisms, +which had probably strayed from some living world. Gazen suggested that +these might sow the seeds of organic life in brand-new planets, ready +for them, but perhaps that was only his scientific joke. The jokes of +science are frequently so well disguised, that many people take them for +earnest. + +Gazen made numerous observations of the celestial bodies, more +especially the sun, which now appeared as a globe of lilac fire in the +centre of a silvery lustre, but I will leave him to publish his results +in his own fashion. We may claim to have seen the South Pole, but, of +course, at a distance too great for scientific purposes. Judging by its +appearance, I should say it was surrounded by a frozen land. The earth, +with its ruddy and green continents, delineated as on a map, or veiled +in belted clouds, was a magnificent object for the telescope as it +wheeled in the blue rays of the sun. + +Hour after hour, with a kind of loving fascination, we watched it +growing "fine by degrees and beautifully less," until at last it waned +into a bright star. + +Venus, on the other hand, waxed more and more brilliant until it +rivalled the moon, and Mercury appeared as a rosy star not far from it. + +We soon got accustomed to the funereal aspect of the sky, and the utter +silence of space. Indeed, I was not so much impressed by the reality as +I had been by the simulacrum in my dream of sunrise in the moon. When I +looked at the weird radiance of the sun, however, I realised as I had +never done before that he was only a star seen comparatively near, and +that the earth was but his insignificant satellite. Moreover, when I +gazed down into the yawning gulf, with its strange constellations so far +_beneath_ us, I felt to the full the awful loneliness of the universe; +and how that all life and soul were confined to mere sunlit specks +thinly scattered here and there in the blackness of eternal night. + +Steering a calculated course by the stars, we reached the orbit of +Venus, and travelled along it in advance of the planet with a velocity +rather less than her own, so as to allow her to overtake us. Some +notion of the eagerness with which we scanned her approach may be +gathered by imagining the moon to fall towards the earth. Slowly and +steadily the illuminated crescent of the planet grew in bulk and +definition, until we could plainly distinguish all the features of her +disc without the aid of glasses. For the most part she was wrapped in +clouds, of a dazzling lustre at the equator, and duskier towards the +poles. Here and there a gap in the vapour revealed the summit of a +mountain range, or the dark surface of a plain or sea. + +I need hardly say that none of us viewed the majestic approach of this +new world, suspended in the ether, and visibly turning round its axis, +without emotion. The boundary of day and night was fairly well marked, +and I pictured to myself the wave of living creatures rising from their +sleep to life and activity on one side, and going to sleep again on the +other, as it crept slowly over the surface. To compare small things with +great, the denizens of a planet reminded me of performers under the +limelight of a darkened theatre: + + "All the world's a stage!" + +We amused ourselves with conjectures as to our probable fate on Venus, +supposing we should arrive there safe and sound. + +"I suppose the authorities will demand our passports," said I. "Perhaps +we shall be tried and condemned to death for invading a friendly +planet." + +"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," said Gazen, "if they were to put +us into their zoological gardens as a rare species of monkey." + +"What a ridiculous idea!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael. "Now _I_ feel sure +they will pay us divine honours. Won't it be nice?" + +"You will make a perfect divinity," rejoined the professor with +consummate gallantry. "For my part I shall feel more at home in a +menagerie." + +Thus far we had not observed any signs of intelligent beings on the +cloudy globe, and it was still doubtful whether we should not discover +it to be a lifeless world. + +Our track did not lie exactly on the orbit of the planet, but +sufficiently beneath it to let her attraction pull the car up towards +her Southern Pole as it passed above us; and by this course of action we +trusted to enjoy a wider field of atmosphere to manoeuvre in, and +probably a safer descent into a cooler climate than we should have +experienced in attempting to land on the equator. + +By an illusion familiar in the case of railway trains, it seemed to us +that the car was stationary, and the planet rushing towards us. On it +came like a great shield of silver and ebony, eclipsing the stars and +growing vaster every moment. Under the driving force of the engines and +the gravity of the planet, our car was falling obliquely towards the +orbit, like a small boat trying to cross the bows of an ironclad, and a +collision seemed inevitable. Being on the sunward side we could see more +and more of the illuminated crescent as it drew near, and were filled +with amazement at the sublime spectacle afforded by the strange contrast +between the purple splendour of the solar disc in the black abyss of +ether and the pure white celestial radiance which was reflected from the +atmosphere of the planet. + +The climax of magnificence was reached when the approaching surface came +so close as to appear concave, and our little ark floated above a +hemisphere of dazzling brightness under a hemisphere of appalling +darkness faintly relieved by the glimmer of stars and the purple glory +of the sun. + +Ere we could express our admiration, however, we were startled by a +magical transformation of the scene. The sky suddenly became blue, the +stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the +broad day was all around us. + +"Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and +wonder. + +"We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with +alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?" + +So saying he opened one of the scuttles, and a whiff of fresh air blew +into the car. Thrusting his nose out, he sniffed cautiously for a while +and then drew several long breaths. + +"It seems all right as regards quality," he remarked, "but there's too +little body in it. We must wait until we get nearer the ground before we +can go outside the car." + +The pressure of the atmosphere as taken by an aneroid barometer +confirmed his observation, but as we were ignorant of its average +density it could not give us any certain indication of our height. Far +beneath us an ideal world of clouds hid the surface from our view. We +seemed to be floating above a range of snowy Alps, their dusky valleys +filled with glaciers, and their sovereign peaks glittering in the sun +like diamonds. As we descended in a long slant, their dazzling summits +rose to meet us, and the infinite play of light and shade became more +and more beautiful. The gliding car threw a distinct shadow which +travelled along the white screen, and equally to our surprise and +delight became fringed with coloured circles resembling rainbows. + +"It is a good omen!" cried Miss Carmichael. + +"Humph!" responded the professor, shaking his head but smiling +good-humouredly; "that is a mere superstition I'm afraid. It is simply +an optical effect, a variety of the phenomenon called 'anthelia,' like +Ulloa's Circle and the famous 'Spectre of the Brocken.'" + +"Explain it how you will," rejoined Miss Carmichael, "to me it is an +emblem of hope. It cheers my heart." + +"I am very glad to hear it, and I should be very sorry to crush your +hopes," said Gazen pleasantly. "We can sometimes derive moral +encouragement and profit from external phenomena. A rainbow in the midst +of a storm is a cheering sight. I daresay there is a reasonable basis, +too, for certain superstitions. St. Elmo's Fire may, for instance, from +natural causes, be a sign of good weather, only there is nothing +supernatural about it." + +"I am not in the secrets of the supernatural," replied Miss Carmichael, +"but I believe that if we do not look for the supernatural, if we shut +our eyes to it, we are not likely to see it." + +"Science has proved that so many things formerly thought to be +supernatural are quite natural," observed the astronomer a little more +humbly. + +"Perhaps the natural and the supernatural are one," said Miss +Carmichael. "Does a thing cease to be supernatural because we know +something about it?" + +"Well, it may have another meaning for us. Before the days of science, +great mistakes were made in our interpretations of phenomena. +Superstition is born of ignorance, and we can see the germ of it in the +child who is frightened by a bogie, or the horse that shies at the +moonlight." + +"Its higher parent is a belief in the unseen." + +"In any case it has done an immense amount of harm," said the professor. + +"And probably quite as much good," responded Miss Carmichael. "However, +don't think me a friend of superstition. But in getting rid of it let us +take care that we do not fall into the opposite error. It seems to me +that if science had all its own way it would reduce man and nature to a +little machine working in the corner of a big one; but I think it will +cost us too dear if it make us lose our sense of the divine origin and +spiritual significance of the universe." + +Further argument was cut short by the car suddenly dashing into the +clouds with a noiseless ease that astonished us, for they had appeared +as solid as the rock. + +Lost in the vapours, our car seemed at rest; but although we saw +nothing, we could hear a vague and distant murmur which charmed our ears +after the long silence of space like a strain of music. Whether this was +due to the sounds of the surface collected in the clouds, or to +electrical discharges I cannot say, for we were trying to solve the +mystery by hearkening to it, when it abruptly died away as the car shot +into the clear air beneath the clouds. + +"The sea! the sea!" cried Miss Carmichael, starting up in joyful +excitement to join her father; and sure enough we were flying above a +dark blue hemisphere which could only be the ocean. + +Gazen now made another test of the atmosphere, and, finding it +satisfactory, we opened the door of the car and ventured on the gallery. + +After our confinement the fresh air acted like a charm. It felt so cool +and sweet in the nostrils that every breath was a pleasure. We inhaled +it in long, deep, loving draughts, which imparted vigour to our +exhausted frames, and intoxicated our spirits like laughing gas. I could +hardly restrain a wild impulse to leap from the car into the unruffled +bosom of the sea below, and Gazen, habitually staid, actually shouted +with glee. His voice startled the utter stillness, and was mocked by a +faint echo from the surface of the water. By timing the interval between +a call and its echo we found it nearly ten seconds, which corresponded +to a height of about a mile. A repetition of the test from time to time +showed that the car was now travelling at a fairly constant level. The +wide ocean spread all around us; neither sail nor shore, nor living +creature was visible, and we had begun to ask ourselves whether we had +not found a watery planet, when Gazen suddenly cried out, + +"Land!" + +"Whereaway?" I enquired with breathless interest. + +He pointed a little to the right of our course, and following the +direction of his finger, I saw a dim outline where sea and sky met. It +might have been mistaken for the tip of a cloud, but as we advanced it +rose above the horizon and took a definite shape not unlike a truncated +cone. + +The glasses showed it to be an island apparently of volcanic formation, +and after a brief consultation with Carmichael, we steered towards it. +The emotion of Columbus when he arrived at the Bahamas affords, perhaps, +the nearest parallel to our feelings, but in our case the land in sight +was the outlier of another planet. Watchful curiosity and silent +expectation, the ineffable sorcery of new scenes, the mystery of the +unknown, the romance of adventure, the exultation of triumph, and the +dread of disaster, were inextricably blended in our hearts. It was a +glorious hour, and come what might, we all felt that we had not lived in +vain. + +The island rose out of the sea like a volcanic peak, and was evidently +encircled with a barrier reef, as we could trace a line of snowy surf +breaking on its outer verge, and parting the sapphire blue of the deep +water without from the emerald green shoals within. The coast, sweeping +in beautiful bays, dotted with overgrown islets, and fended by rocky +promontories, was rimmed with beaches of yellow sand. The steep sides of +the mountain, broken with precipices, and shaggy with vegetation, +ascended from a multitude of spurs and buttresses, resembling billows of +verdure, and towered into the clouds. + +I have used the word verdure, but it is really a misnomer, for although +the prevailing tint of the foliage was a dark green, the entire forest +was streaked like a rainbow with innumerable flowers, and the breeze +which blew from it was laden with the most delightful perfume, Evidently +it was all a howling wilderness, for we could not detect the slightest +vestige of human dwellings or cultivation. We did not even observe any +signs of bird or beast. A profound stillness brooded over the solitude, +and was scarcely broken by the drowsy murmur of distant waterfalls. + +A forest, like the sea or desert, has a magical power to stimulate the +fancy and touch the primitive chords of the heart. Even a Scotch +hillside, or a Devonshire moor, can throw their wild spells over the +civilised man of letters, and appeal to savage or poetical instincts +underlying all his culture. So now, where everything seen or unseen, was +new and strange, and the imagination was quite free to rove, the charm +was more intense. We stood and gazed upon the moving panorama like +persons in a trance. The trees and plants grew in zones according to +their different levels above the sea, after the manner of those on the +earth, but we were too high to distinguish the various kinds. +Apparently, however, feathery palms and gigantic grasses prevailed in +the lower, and glossy evergreens, resembling the magnolia and +rhododendron, in the middle grounds. All this part of the forest was so +thickly encumbered with flowering creepers and parasites as to seem one +immense bower, dense enough to exclude the sunlight and make a perpetual +twilight underneath. The higher slopes were clad with pine-trees, having +long thin needles, which hung from their boughs like fringes of green +hair, and bushy shrubs which reminded me of heaths. Above these, +enormous ferns with fronds twenty or thirty feet in length, and thickets +draped in variegated mosses were thriving in the spray of a thousand +slender cataracts which poured from the brink of the precipitous crags +on the summit of the mountain. + +Seen from a distance, the cliffs appeared of a ruddy tint, but on coming +closer we found this was due to myriads of huge lichens of a deep +crimson and orange, and that the natural colours of the rock, vermilion +and blue, lemon, yellow, purple, and olive green, almost vied with those +of the forest lower down the steep. + +We glided over the crest at a point where it was almost free of cloud, +and were astonished to find it carved by the weather into the most +fantastic shapes, rudely imitating the colossal figures of men and +animals, or the towers and turrets of ruined castles. After the novelty +of this goblin architecture had passed, however, its effect was somewhat +dreary. The wind, moaning through the lifeless aisles and crannies of +the dripping rocks, the rolling mist and shuddering pools of water, +induced a sense of loneliness and depression. The revulsion in our +feelings was therefore all the greater when the car suddenly escaped +from this height of desolation, and a magnificent prospect burst upon +our view. + +An immense valley seemed to lie far beneath us, but it was really a +table-land of hills, rocks, and mountains, shaggy with vegetation, and +flung together in riotous confusion like the billows of a raging sea. +The stupendous cliffs behind us dropped sheerly down to the level of the +plateau, some ten or twenty thousand feet below, and swept around it as +a curving wall on either hand until they vanished in the distance. It +was evidently the crater of the extinct volcano. + +Our journey across that blooming wilderness will never fade from my +recollection, but when I attempt to give the reader an idea of it, +impressions crowd so thick and fast upon me as to choke my utterance; I +am equally in danger of soaring into a wild extravagance of generality +and sinking into a mere catalogue of detail. Yet I find it impossible +to hit a mean that can do any justice to it. The extraordinary way in +which the ancient lavas of the interior had been riven, upheaved, and +piled upon each other by the volcanic forces, the bewildering variety +and exuberance of the tropical plants and trees which battened on the +rich and crumbling soil, completely baffles all description. What the +imagination is unable to conceive, and the eye itself is overpowered in +beholding, the pen can never hope to depict. Let the grandest mountain +scenes of your memory be jumbled together as in a dream and overgrown +with the maddest jungles of the Ganges or the Amazon, and the +phantasmagoria would still be nothing to the living reality. + +Most of the highest peaks and ridges, as well as the deepest valleys and +ravines, were covered with the embowering forest; but here and there a +huge boss of granite or porphyry reared its bare scalp out of the +verdure like the head and shoulders of some antediluvian monster. The +gigantic palms and foliage trees, all tufted with air-plants or +strangled with climbers, were literally buried in flowers of every hue, +and the crown of the forest rolled under us like a sea of blossoms. +Every moment one enchanting prospect after another opened to our +wondering eyes. Now it was a waterfall, gleaming like a vein of silver +on the brow of a lofty precipice, and descending into a lakelet bordered +with red, blue, and yellow lilies. Again it was a natural bridge, +spanning a deep chasm or tunnel in the rock, through which a river +boiled and roared in a series of cascades and rapids. Ever and anon we +passed over glades and prairies, carpeted with orchids, and dotted with +clumps of shrubbery, a mass of golden bloom, or tremendous blocks of +basalt hung with crimson creepers. Butterflies with azure wings of a +surprising spread and lustre, alighted on the flowers, and great birds +of resplendent plumage flashed from grove to grove. A sun, twice the +diameter of ours, blazed in the northern sky, but the intensity of his +rays was tempered by a thin veil of cloud. The atmosphere although warm +and moist, was not oppressive like that of a forcing-house, and the +breeze was balmy with delicious perfume. + +As each new marvel came in sight, unstaled by familiar and untarnished +by vulgar associations, fresh from the hand of nature, so to speak, we +were filled as we had never been before with an intoxicating sense of +the divine mystery and miracle of life. For myself I was fairly +dumbfounded with amazement, and my companion, the hard-headed sceptical +astronomer, kept on crying and muttering to himself, "My God! my God!" +as if he had become a drivelling fool. + +We travelled league after league of this paradise run wild (I cannot +tell how many) without noticing any change in the character of the +scenery. At length, however, it grew less savage by degrees, and we +entered on a park-like country which gained in loveliness what it lost +in grandeur. Low hills, clad from base to summit in masses of gorgeous +bloom, and mirrored in sequestered lakes fringed with pied water-lilies; +groves of majestic cedars inviting to repose; rambling shrubberies and +evergreen trees festooned with flowering vines; brooks as clear as +crystal, murmuring over their pebbly beds, now hiding under drooping +boughs, now lost in brakes of tall reeds and foliage plants; grassy +meadows gay with crocusses, hyacinths, and tulips, or such-like flowers; +isolated rocks and boulders mantled with vivid moss and lichens; hot +springs falling over basins and terraces of tinted alabaster; clustering +palms and groups of spiry pine-trees; geysers throwing up columns of +spray tinged with rainbows; all these and a thousand other features of +the landscape which must be nameless passed before our view. + +Again and again we startled some herd of wild quadrupeds or flock of +gaudy birds unknown to science. Legions of large and burnished insects, +veritable living jewels, might be seen everywhere, and flaunting +butterflies hovered about the car. So far we had not observed the least +sign of human occupation, and yet, as Gazen remarked, the appearance of +the country seemed to betray the influence of art. It had not the wild +and wasteful luxuriance of the earlier tract, of a region left entirely +in the hands of Nature, but rather of a paradise which had been dressed +and kept by the gods. + +Owing to the height at which we were travelling, and the undulating +character of the surface, we could not see very far ahead. At length, +however, on emerging from a gap in a range of hills, we came upon a vast +plain or prairie stretching away into the distance, and there in the +blue haze of the horizon we saw, or fancied we saw, the architecture and +gardens of a great city, on the borders of a lake, and above the lake, +suspended in mid-air, a spectral palace, glittering in the sunbeams. + +We raised a shout of joy and triumph at this discovery. + +"Stop a minute, though," said Gazen, and a shade of doubt passed over +his face. "Perhaps it is only a mirage." + +We levelled our glasses at the distant scene, and scanned it with +palpitating hearts. We could discern the general shape, and even the +details of many houses, and the roofs and minarets of the palace, which +was evidently built on the top of an island in the midst of the lake. + +"That is not a phantasm," said I at last; "it is a real city." + +Gazen made no reply, but turned and silently shook me by the hand. The +tears were standing in his eyes. + +A delightful breeze, fragrant with innumerable flowers, mantled the long +grass of the prairie which was threaded by a maze of silver streams, and +diversified with bosky woodlands. Ere long we observed fantastic +cottages and picturesque villas nestling in the coppices, and as may be +imagined we were all on tip-toe with curiosity to catch a sight of their +inhabitants. We were anxious to see whether they looked like human +beings, and how they were disposed towards us. + +For a long time we looked in vain, but at length we saw a figure moving +across the prairie which turned out to be that of--a _man_. Yes, a man +like ourselves, but well stricken in years, and to judge by his costume +apparently a savage. His back was towards us, and as we floated past the +professor shouted in a tone loud enough for him to hear, + +"Good evening, sir." + +The native started, and lifting his eyes to the car beheld it with +astonishment and awe. He raised his hands in the air, then dropped them +by his side, and sank upon his knees. + +"That's a good sign," said Gazen with a grim smile. "I wonder if he +understands English. Let's try him again," and he cried out, "What's the +name of this place?" but the car was going rapidly, and if there was any +response it was lost upon the wind. + +As we approached the city, the cottages became thicker and thicker. They +were of various sizes, and of a light fanciful design adapted to a warm +climate. Each of them was surrounded by a grove or garden rich in +flowers and fruit. There were grassy trails and roads from one to +another, but we did not see any fields or fences, flocks or herds. + +We also saw more and more of the inhabitants--men, women, and children. +They were evidently a fine race, tall, handsome, and of white +complexion; but the men in general were darker than the women. From +their gay dresses, and the condition of the land, we had set them down +for savages; but on a nearer view, their lack of arms, the beauty of +their homes, and their own graceful demeanour, obliged us to reconsider +our opinion. When they first saw the car they did not fly in terror, or +muster hastily in armed and yelling bands. Many of them ran and cried, +it is true, but only to call their friends, and while some stood with +bowed heads and upraised hands as the car floated by, others, like the +old man, fell upon their knees as though in prayer. + +It was getting late in the day, and the sun was now sloping to the crest +of the mountain wall encircling the crater. Accordingly we held a +consultation with Carmichael as to whether we should land there, or +proceed to the city. + +Carmichael thought we should go on. + +"But," said Gazen, "would it not be safer to try the temper of the +people first, here in the country?" + +"These people are not savages," replied Carmichael. "They are civilised, +or semi-civilised, else how could they have built so fine a city as that +appears. If we should see any signs of hostility amongst them, however, +the car is plated with metal and will protect us--we have arms and can +defend ourselves--and, besides, we can rise again, and slip away from +them." + +We decided to advance, but Gazen and I took the precaution to belt on +our revolvers. + +The huge limb of the sun, red and glowing, sank to rest in a bed of +purple clouds on the summit of the rosy precipice, and filled all the +green plain with a rich amber light. The fantastic towers and trees of +the distant city by the lake shone in his mellow lustre; the solitary +island swam in a flood of gold, and the quaint edifice which crowned it +blazed with insufferable splendour. As the eerie gloaming died in the +west, and thin grey mists began to veil the outlandish scene, we +realised to the full that we were all alone and friendless in an unknown +world, and a deep sentiment of exile took possession of our souls. + +The gloaming fell, and myriads of lights twinkled in the dusk, some +flitting about like fireflies, others stationary, while a hum of many +voices ascended to our ears. The lights showed us that we were gliding +over the city, and the voices told us that our arrival was causing a +great commotion. Presently we floated above a large open space or +square, lit with coloured lanterns, and evidently adorned with trees, +fountains, and statuary. Here a great number of people had assembled, +and as they appeared quite orderly and peaceable, we determined to land. +While the car descended cautiously, Gazen and I kept a sharp watch on +the crowd, with our revolvers in our hands. Instead of anger and +resistance, however, the natives only manifested friendly signs of +welcome. They withdrew to a respectful distance, and, dropping on their +knees, burst into a song or hymn of wonderful sweetness as the car +touched the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CRATER LAND. + + +A man of dignified and venerable mien stepped from the crowd, and +followed by a train of youths and maidens, each bearing a vase or a tray +of fruit and flowers, came towards the car. While yet some ten or twelve +paces distant he stopped, and saluted Gazen and myself by lifting his +hands gracefully in the air, and bowing his head. After we had +acknowledged his greeting with due respect, he addressed us, speaking +fluently, and in a reverent, not to say a humble tone; but his words, +being entirely strange to our ears, we could only shake our heads with a +baffled smile, and reply in English that we did not understand. On this +a look of doubt and wonder passed over his face, and pointing, first to +the car, then to the sky, he seemed to enquire whether we had not +dropped from the clouds. We nodded our assent, and the astronomer, +indicating the Earth, which was now shining in the east as a beautiful +green star, endeavoured to let him know by signs that we had come from +there. + +The countenance of our host seemed to brighten again, and, saluting us +with a profound obeisance, he said a few words to the attendants, who +advanced to the car, and sinking upon their knees proffered us their +charming tribute. + +"Good!" exclaimed Gazen, testifying his delight and manifesting his +gratitude by an elaborate pantomime. + +I am afraid his performance must have appeared slightly ludicrous to the +Venusians, for one or two of the younger girls had some difficulty in +keeping their gravity. On a hint from the Elder the young people retired +to their places, leaving their offerings upon the ground. + +"They don't intend to starve us at all events," muttered Gazen to me, in +an undertone. "The very fragrance of these fruits entices a man to eat +them; but will they agree with our stomachs? Notwithstanding my +scientific curiosity, and my natural appetite, I am quite willing to let +you and Carmichael try them first." + +Having found the value of gestures in our intercourse, the Elder leaned +his head on one hand, and pointed with the other to a large house at +the upper end of the square. His meaning was plain; but as we had +already made up our minds to stay in the car, at all events until we had +looked about us, Gazen signified as much by energetic but indescribable +actions, and further contrived to intimate that we were all thoroughly +tired and worn out with our voyage. + +The Senior politely took the hint, and repeating his courteous salute, +withdrew from our presence, accompanied by his followers. + +"I told you so!" cried Miss Carmichael, when Gazen and I re-entered the +car. "They are treating us like superior beings." + +"It shows their good sense," replied Gazen, and even as he spoke a +strain of heavenly music rose from the assembled multitude, and +gradually died away as they departed to their homes. + +We could not sufficiently admire the beauty and fragrance of the flowers +and fruit, or the exquisite workmanship of the vases they had brought. +What struck us most was the lovely iridescence which they all displayed +in different lights. The vases in particular seemed to be carved out of +living opals, yet each was large enough to contain several pints of +liquor. Miss Carmichael decorated the dinner-table with a selection from +the trays, but although we found the fruits and beverages delicious to +the taste, we prudently partook very sparingly of them. + +After dinner we all went outside to enjoy the cool evening breeze, but +without actually leaving the car. It was hardly dusk, only a kind of +twilight or gloaming, and it did not seem to grow any darker. Yet +innumerable fire-flies, bright as glow-lamps, and of every hue, were +flashing like diamonds against the whispering foliage of the trees. + +With the exception of an occasional group or a solitary who stopped +awhile to look at the car and then passed on, the square was deserted; +but the dwellings around it were lighted up, and being of a very open +construction, we could see into them, and hear the voices of the inmates +feasting and making merry. Needless to say that everything we observed +was interesting to us, for it was all strange; but we were so much +exhausted with excitement that we were fain to go to bed. + +Next day the professor and I, obeying a common impulse of travellers, +got up early and went forth to survey our new quarters. It was a +splendid morning, the whole atmosphere steeped in sunshine, and musical +with the songs of birds. The big sun was peeping over the distant wall +of the crater, but we did not feel his rays uncomfortably hot. A sky of +the loveliest azure was streaked with thin white clouds, drawn across it +like muslin curtains, and a cooling breeze played gently upon the skin. +The dewy air, so spring-like, fresh and sweet, was a positive pleasure +to breathe, and we both felt the intoxication, the rapture of life, as +we had never felt it since our boyhood. The grass underfoot was green as +emerald, and soft as velvet; fountains were flashing in the sunshine, +statues gleaming amongst the flowering trees, and birds of brilliant +plumage glancing everywhere. + +The square opened on the lake, and afforded us a magnificent view of the +island. It was conical in shape, and the peak, no doubt, of an old +volcanic vent. I should say it was at least a thousand feet in height; +the sides were a veritable "hanging garden," wild and luxuriant; and the +summit was crowned by a glittering mass of domes, minarets, and spires. +Numbers of people, old and young, were bathing along the beach, and +swimming, diving, and splashing each other in the water with innocent +glee. Large birds, resembling swans, double the size of ours, and of +pale blue, rose, yellow, and green, as well as white plumage, were +floating in and out, and some of the children were riding on their +backs. Fantastic boats, with carved and painted prows, might be seen +crossing the lake in all directions, some under sail, and others with +rowers, keeping stroke to the rhythm of their songs. The shores of the +lake, sloping quietly to the waterside, were covered more or less +thickly with the houses and gardens of the city, and far in the +distance, perhaps fifty, perhaps a hundred miles away, the view was +bounded by the dim and ruddy precipice of the crater wall. + +Regaling our eyes on the beautiful prospect, and our lungs on the pure +atmosphere, we wandered along the beach, ever and anon pausing to admire +the strange forms and beautiful colouring of the shells and seaweeds, or +to pick up a rare pebble, then shie it away again, little thinking that +it might have been a ruby, sapphire, or topaz, worth a king's ransom on +the earth. At length the way was barred by the mouth of a broad river, +and after a refreshing plunge in the lake, we returned home to +breakfast. + +During our absence Carmichael had been visited by our venerable host of +the evening, whose name was Dinus, and a young man called Otar, who +turned out to be his son. They had brought a fresh supply of dainties, +and what was still more important, some pictorial dictionaries and +drawings which would enable us to learn their language. As the structure +of it was simple, and the vocabulary not very copious, and as we also +enjoyed the tuition of the young man, who was devoted to our service, +and conducted us in most of our walks abroad, at the end of a fortnight +we could maintain a conversation with tolerable fluency. + +In the meanwhile, and afterwards, we learned a good deal about the +country, and the manners and customs of its inhabitants. Womla, or +Woom-la, which means the "bowl" or hollow-land, is evidently the crater +of an extinct volcano of enormous dimensions, such as are believed to +exist upon the moon. It belongs to an archipelago of similar islands, +which are widely scattered over a vast ocean in this part of Venus, but +is, we were told, far distant from the nearest of them. The climate may +be described as a perpetual spring and summer, with a sky nearly always +serene, and of a beautiful azure blue, veiled with soft and fleecy +clouds. + +Thanks to the lofty walls of the crater, which penetrate the clouds and +condense their moisture, the land is watered with many streams. These +flow into the central lake, which discharges into the surrounding ocean +by a rift or chasm in the mountain side. Moreover, there are frequent +showers, and heavy dews by night, to refresh the surface of the ground. +Thunderstorms occur on the tops of the mountain and in the open sea; +but very seldom within the enchanted girdle of the crater. The air is +remarkably pure, sweet, and exhilarating, owing doubtless to the high +percentage of oxygen it contains, and the absence of foreign matter, +such as microbes, dust, and obnoxious fumes. In fact, we all felt a +distinct improvement in our health and spirits, a kind of mental +intoxication which was really more than a rejuvenescence. Nor was the +heat very trying, even in the middle of the day, because although the +sun was twice as large as on the earth, he did not rise far above the +horizon, and cooling breezes blew from the chilled summit of the cliffs. +The vegetation seems to go on budding, flowering, and fruiting +perpetually, as in the Elysian Fields of Homer, where + + "Joys ever young, unmixed with pain or fear, + Fill the wide circle of the eternal year: + Stern winter smiles on that auspicious clime + The fields are florid with unfading prime; + From the bleak Pole no winds inclement blow, + Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow; + But from the breezy deep the blessd inhale, + The fragrant murmurs of the western gale." + +The mysterious behaviour of the sun was a great puzzle to our +astronomer. I have said that he rose very little above the horizon, or +in other words the lip of the crater, as might be expected from our high +southern latitude; but we soon found that he always rose and sank at the +same place. In the morning he peeped above the cliffs, and in the +evening he dipped again behind them, leaving a twilight or gloaming (I +can scarcely call it dusk), which continued throughout the night. From +his fixity in azimuth, Gazen concluded that Schiaparelli, the famous +Italian observer, was right in supposing that Venus takes as long to +turn about her own axis as she does to go round the sun, and that as a +consequence she always presents the same side to her luminary. All that +we heard from the natives tended to confirm this view. They told us that +far away to the east and west of Womla there was a desert land, covered +with snow and ice, on which the sun never shone. We also gathered that +the sun rises to a greater and lesser height above the cliffs +alternately, thus producing a succession of warmer and cooler seasons; a +fact which agrees with Schiaparelli's observation that the axis of the +planet sways to and from the sun. Gazen was intensely delighted at this +discovery, partly for its own sake, but mainly, I think, because it +would afford him an opportunity of crushing the celebrated Pettifer +Possil, his professional antagonist, who, it seems, is bitterly opposed +to the doctrines of Schiaparelli. But why did the sun rise and set every +fifteen hours or thereabout, and so make what I have called a "day" and +"night"? Why did he not continue in the same spot, except for the slow +change caused by the nutation or nodding of Venus? Gazen was much +perplexed over this anomaly, and sought an explanation of it in the +refraction of the atmosphere above the cliffs producing an apparent but +not a real motion of the orb. + +The territory of Womla may be divided into three zones, namely, a +central plain under cultivation, a belt of undulating hills, kept as a +park or pleasaunce, and a magnificent, nay, a sublime wilderness, next +to the crater wall. + +The natural wealth of the country is very great. Some of its productions +resemble and others are different from those of the earth. We saw gold, +silver, copper, tin, and iron, as well as metals which were quite new to +us. Some of these had a purple, blue, or green colour, and emitted a +most agreeable fragrance. There are granites and porphyries, marbles and +petrifactions of the most exquisite grain or tints. Precious stones like +the diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, emerald, garnet, opal, turquoise, +and others familiar or unfamiliar to us, fairly abound, and can be +picked up on the shores of the lake. I presume that many of them have +been formed on a large scale in chasms of the rock by the volcanic fumes +of the crater. + +What struck us most of all, however, was the prevalence of +phosphorescent minerals which absorbed the sunlight by day, and +glimmered feebly in the dusk. Professor Gazen seems to think that the +presence of snow and clouds, together with these phosphorescent bodies, +may help to account for the mysterious luminosity on the dark side of +Venus. + +The vegetation is wonderfully rich, varied, and luxuriant. As a rule, +the foliage is thick and glossy; but while it is green to blackness in +some of the trees, it is parti-coloured or iridescent in others. Many of +the flowers, too, are iridescent, or change their hues from hour to +hour. The beauty and profusion of the flowers is beyond conception, and +some of the loveliest grow on what I should take for palms, ferns, +canes, and grasses. A distant forest or woodland rivals the splendid +plumage of some tropical bird. We heard of "singing flowers," including +a water-lily which bursts open with a musical note, and of many plants +which are sensitive to heat as well as touch, and if Gazen be correct, +to electricity and magnetism. We saw one in a house which was said to +require a change of scene from time to time else it would languish and +die. + +The borders of the lakes and ponds teemed with corals, delicate +seaweeds, and lovely shells. Innumerable fishes of gay and brilliant +hues darted and burned in the water like broken rainbows. + +Reptiles are not very common, at least, in the cultivated zone; but we +saw a few snakes, tortoises, and lizards, all brightly and harmoniously +marked. One of the snakes was phosphorescent, and one of the lizards +could sit up like a dog, or fly in the air like a swallow. The variety +and beauty of the birds, as well as the charm of their song, exceed all +description. Most of them have iridescent feathers, several are +wingless, and one at least has teeth. The insects are a match for the +birds in point of beauty, if not also in size and musical qualities. +Many of them are luminescent, and omit steady or flashing lights of +every tint all through the night. + +There are few large quadrupeds in the country, and so far as we could +learn none of these are predaceous. We saw an animal resembling a deer +on one hand, and a tapir on the other, as well as a kind of toed horse +or hipparion, and a number of domestic pets all strange to us. + +The people, according to their tradition, came originally from a +temperate land far across the ocean to the south-east, which is now a +dark and frozen desert. They are a remarkably fine race, probably of +mixed descent, for they found Womla inhabited, and their complexions +vary from a dazzling blonde to an olive-green brunette. They are nearly +all very handsome, both in face and figure, and I should say that many +of them more than realise our ideals of beauty. As a rule, the +countenances of the men are open, frank, and noble; those of the women +are sweet, smiling, and serene. Free of care and trouble, or unaffected +by it, mere existence is a pleasure to them, and not a few appear to +live in a kind of rapture, such as I have seen in the eyes of a young +artist on the earth while regarding a beautiful woman or a glorious +landscape. Their attitudes and movements are full of dignity and grace. +In fact, during my walks abroad, I frequently found myself admiring +their natural groups, and fancying myself in ancient Greece, as depicted +by our modern painters. Their style of beauty is not unlike that of the +old Hellenes, but I doubt whether the delicacy and bloom of their skins +has ever been matched on our planet except, perhaps, in a few favoured +persons. + +From some experiments made by Gazen, it would appear that while their +senses of sight and touch are keener, their senses of hearing and also +of heat are rather blunter than ours. + +Partly owing to the genial climate, their love of beauty, and their easy +existence, their dress is of a simple and graceful order. Many of their +light robes and shining veils are woven from silky fibres which grow on +the trees, and tinged with beautiful dyes. Bright, witty, and ingenious, +as well as guileless, chaste, and happy, I can only compare them to +grown-up children--but the children of a god-like race. Thanks to the +purity of their blood, and the gentleness of their dispositions, +together with their favourable circumstances, they live almost exempt +from disease, or pain, or crime, and finally die in peace at the good +old age of a hundred or a hundred and fifty years. + +Their voices are so pleasing, and their language is so melodious that I +enjoyed hearing their talk before I understood a word of it. Moreover, +their delightful manners evince a rare delicacy of sentiment and +appreciation of the beautiful in life. We foreigners must have been +objects of the liveliest curiosity to them, yet they never showed it in +their conduct; they never stared at us, or stopped to enquire about us, +but courteously saluted us wherever we went, and left us to make +ourselves at home. We never saw an ugly or unbecoming gesture, and we +never heard a rude, unmannerly word all the time we stayed in Womla. + +Some of their public buildings are magnificent; but most of their +private houses are pretty one-storied cottages, each more or less +isolated in a big garden, and beyond earshot of the rest. They are +elegant, not to say fanciful constructions of stone and timber, +generally of an oval shape, or at least with rounded outlines; but +sometimes rambling, and varying much in detail. Everyone seems to follow +his particular bent and taste in the fashion of his home. Many of them +have balconies or verandahs, and also terraces on the roof, where the +inmates can sit and enjoy the surrounding view. They are doorless, and +the outer walls are usually open so that one may see inside; but in +stormy weather they are closed by panels of wood, and a translucent +mineral resembling glass. They are divided into rooms by mats and +curtains, or partitions and screens of wood, which are sometimes +decorated with paintings of inimitable beauty. The ceilings are usually +of carved wood, and the floors inlaid with marbles, corals, and the +richer stones. There are no stuffy carpets on the floors, or hangings on +the walls to collect the dust. The light easy furniture is for the most +part made of precious or fragrant woods of divers colours--red, black, +yellow, blue, white, and green. At night the rooms are softly and +agreeably lighted by phosphorescent tablets, or lamps of glow-worms and +fire-flies in crystal vases. + +The dishes and utensils not only serve but adorn the home. Most of the +implements and fittings are made of coloured metals or alloys. Many of +the cups and vessels are beautifully cut from shells and diamonds, +rubies, or other precious stones. Statuary, manuscripts, and musical +instruments, bespeak their taste and genius for the fine arts. + +Their love of Nature is also shown in their gardens and pleasure +grounds, which are stocked with the rarest flowers, fruits, and pet +animals; such as bright fishes, luminous frogs and moths, singing birds, +and so forth, none of which are captives in the strict sense of the +word. + +Members of one family live under the same roof, or at all events within +the same ground. The father is head of the household, and the highest in +authority. The mother is next, and the children follow in the order of +their age. They hold that the proper place for the woman is between the +man and the child, and that her nature, which partakes of both, fits +her for it. On the rare occasions when authority needs to be exercised +it is promptly obeyed. All the members of the family mix freely together +in mutual confidence and love, with reverence, but not fear. They are +very clean and dainty in their habits. To every house, either in an open +court or in the garden, there is a bathing pond of running water, with a +fountain playing in the middle, where they can bathe at any time without +going to the lake. + +They deem it not only gross to eat flesh or fish, but also barbarous, +nay cruel, to enjoy and sustain their own lives through the suffering +and death of other creatures. This feeling, or prejudice as some would +call it, extends even to eggs. They live chiefly on fruits, nuts, edible +flowers, grain, herbs, gums, and roots, which are in great profusion. I +did not see any alcoholic, or at least intoxicating beverages amongst +them. Their drink is water, either pure or else from mineral springs, +and the delectable juices of certain fruits and plants. They eat +together, chatting merrily the while, and afterwards recline on couches +listening to some tale, or song, or piece of music, but taking care not +to fall asleep, as they believe it is injurious. + +They rejoice when a child is born, and cherish it as the most holy +gift. For the first eight or ten years of its life it is left as much as +possible to the teaching of Nature, care being taken to guard it from +serious harm. It is allowed to run wild about the gardens and fields, +developing its bodily powers in play, and gaining a practical experience +of the most elementary facts. After that it goes to school, at first for +a short time, then, as it becomes used to the confinement and study, for +a longer and longer period each day. Their end in education is to +produce noble men and women; that is to say, physical, moral, and +intellectual beauty by assisting the natural growth. They hold it a sin +to falsify or distort the mind, as well as the soul or body of a child. +They seem to be as careful to cultivate the genius and temperament as +the heart and conscience. Their object is to train and form the pupil +according to the intention of Nature without forcing him beyond his +strength, or into an artificial mould. Studious to preserve the harmony +and unity of mind, soul, and body, they never foster one to the +detriment of the others, but seek to develop the whole person. + +It is not so much words as things, not so much facts, dates, and +figures, as principles, ideas, and sentiments, which they endeavour to +teach. The scholar is made familiar with what he is told by observation +and experience whenever it is possible, for that is how Nature teaches. +Precept, they say, is good, and example is better; but an ideal of +perfection is best of all. + +At first more attention is paid to the cultivation of the body than the +mind. Not only are the boys and girls trained in open-air gymnasia, or +contend in games, but they also work in the gardens, and during the +holidays are sent into the wilderness under the guidance of their +elders, especially their elder brothers, to rough it there in primitive +freedom. + +The first lessons of the pupil are very short and simple, but as his +mind ripens they become longer and more difficult. The education of the +soul precedes that of the mind. They wish to make their children good +before they make them clever; and good by the feelings of the heart +rather than the instruction of the head. Every care is taken to refine +and strengthen the sentiments and instincts, the conscience, good sense +and taste, as well as the affections, filial piety, friendship, and the +love of Nature. Spiritual and moral ideals are inculcated by means of +innocent and simple tales or narratives. Children are taught to obey the +authority placed over them, or in their own breast, and to sacrifice all +to their duty. The conduct of the teacher must be irreproachable, +because he is a model to them; but while they look upon him as their +friend and guide, he leaves them free to choose their own companions and +amuse themselves in their own way. + +In the cultivation of the mind they give the first and foremost place to +the imagination. The reason, they say, is mechanical, and cannot rise +above the known; that is to say, the real; whereas the imagination is +creative and attains to the unknown, the ideal. Its highest work is the +creation of beauty. Because it is unruly, and precarious in its action, +however, the imagination requires the most careful guidance, and the +assistance of the reason. Students are taught to idealise and invent, as +well as to analyse and reason, but without disturbing the equilibrium of +the faculties by acquiring a pronounced habit of one or the other. It is +better, they say, to be reasonable than a reasoner; to be imaginative +than a dreamer; and to have discernment or insight than mere knowledge. + +The most important study of all is the art of living, or in other words +the art of leading a simple, noble, and beautiful life. It finishes +their education, and consists in the reduction of their highest precepts +and ideals to practice. The reasons for every lesson are given so far +as they are known, and they are always founded in the nature of things. +A pupil is taught to act in a particular way, not in the hope of a +reward or in the fear of punishment, but because it would be contrary to +the laws of matter and spirit to act otherwise; in short, because it is +right. They hold that life is its own end as well as its own reward. +According as it is good or bad, so it achieves or fails of its purpose, +and is happy or miserable. We are happy by our emotions or feelings, and +through these by our actions. Happiness comes from goodness, but is not +perfect without health, beauty, and fitness: hence the pupils are taught +self-regulation, practical hygiene, and a graceful manner. Indeed, their +passion for beauty is such that they regard nothing as perfect until it +is beautiful. + +As beauty of mind, soul, and body, is their aim, a beautiful person is +held in the highest honour. Prizes are offered for beauty, and statues +are erected to the winners. Many are called after some particular trait; +for example, "Timar of the lovely toes," and a pretty eyelash is a +title to public fame. Beauty they say is twice blessed, since it pleases +the possessor as well as others. + +The sense of existence, apart from what they do or gain, is their chief +happiness. Their "ealo," or the height of felicity, is a passive rather +than an active state. It is (if I am not mistaken) a kind of serene +rapture or tranquil ecstasy of the soul, which is born doubtless from a +perfect harmony between the person and his environment. In it, they say, +the illusion of the world is complete, and life is another name for +music and love. + +As far as I could learn, this condition, though independent of sexual +love, is enhanced by it. On the one hand it is spoiled by too much +thought, and on the other by too much passion. They cherish it as they +cherish all the natural illusions (which are sacred in their eyes), but +being a state of repose it is transient, and only to be enjoyed from +time to time. + +Since an unfit employment is a mistake, and a source of unhappiness, +everyone is free to choose the work that suits his nature. Parents and +teachers only help him to discover himself. One is called to his work by +a love for it, and the pleasure he takes in doing it easily and well. If +his bent is vague or tardy, he is allowed to change, and feel his way to +it by trial. Since the work or vocation is not a means of living, there +is no compulsion in it. Their aim is to do right in carrying out the +true intentions of Nature. + +For the same reason everyone is free to choose the partner of his life. +They are monogamists, and believe that nothing can justify marriage but +love on both sides. The rite is very simple, and consists in the elected +pair sipping from the same dish of sacred water. It is called "drinking +of the cup." + +Most of them die gradually of old age, and they do not seem to share our +fear and horror of death, but to regard it with a sad and pleasing +melancholy. The body is reduced to ashes on a pyre of fragrant wood, and +the songs they sing around it only breathe a tender regret for their +loss, mingled with a joyful hope of meeting again. They neither preserve +the dust as a memento, nor wear any kind of mourning; but they cherish +the memory of the absent in their hearts. + +They believe that labour like virtue is a necessity, and its own reward; +but it is moderate labour of the right sort, which is a blessing and not +a curse. They all seem happy at their work, which is often cheered by +music, songs, or tales. Everyone enjoys his task, and tries to attain +the perfection of skill and grace. Those who excel are honoured, and +sometimes commemorated with statues. + +They seem artists in all, and above all. They hold that every beautiful +thing has a use, and they never make a useful thing without beauty. +Apart from portraits, their pictures and statuary are mostly historical, +or else ideal representations. Many of these are typical of life; for +example, a boy at play, a pair of lovers, a mother weaning her child, +and the parting of friends. The ideal of art is to them not merely a +show to please the eye for a while, but a model to be realised in their +own lives; and I daresay it has helped to make them such a fine people. +They are clever architects and gardeners. Indeed, the whole country may +be described as a vast ornamental garden. In the middle zone, which +borders on the wilderness, their wonderful art of beautifying natural +scenery is at its best. They have a good many simple machines and +implements, but I should not call them a scientific people. Gazen, who +enquired into the matter, was told by Otar, himself an artist, by the +way, that science in their opinion had a tendency to destroy the +illusion of Nature and impair the finer sentiments and spontaneity of +the soul; hence they left the systematic study of it to the few who +possess a decided bias for it. As a rule they are content to admire. + +They have many books of various kinds, either printed or finely written +and illustrated by hand. I should say their favourite reading was +history and travels, or else poetry and fiction; anything having a +human interest, more especially of a pathetic order. Everyone is taught +to read aloud, and if he possess the voice and talent, to recite. Poets +are highly esteemed, and not only read their poems to the people, but +also teach elocution. They have dramatic performances on certain days, +and seem to prefer tragedies or affecting plays, perhaps because these +awaken feelings which their happy lot in general permits to sleep. They +are very fond of music, and can all sing or play on some musical +instrument. Their favourite melodies are mostly in a minor key, and they +dislike noisy music; indeed, noise of any sort. Gesture and the dance +are fine arts, and they can imitate almost any action without words. A +favourite amusement is to gather in the dusk of the evening, crowned +with flowers, or wearing fanciful dresses, and sing or dance together by +the light of the fire-flies. + +The inhabitants of the whole island live as one happy family. +Recognising their kinship by intermarriage, and their isolation in the +world, they never forget that the good or ill of a part is the good or +ill of the whole, and their object is to secure the happiness of one and +all. It is considered right to help another in trouble before thinking +of oneself. + +When Gazen explained the doctrine of "the struggle for existence ending +in the survival of the fittest" to Otar, he replied that it was an +excellent principle for snakes; but he considered it beneath the dignity +and wisdom of men to struggle for a life which could be maintained by +the labour of love, and ought to be devoted to rational or spiritual +enjoyment. + +Thanks to the helpful spirit which animates them, and the bounty of +Nature, nobody is ever in want. As a rule, the garden around each home +provides for the family, and any surplus goes to the public stores, or +rather free tables, where anyone takes what he may require. + +As I have already hinted, personal merit of every kind is honoured +amongst them. + +Dinus, the gentleman who received us on the night of our arrival, is the +chief man or head of the community, and was appointed to the post for +his wisdom, character, and age. He is assisted in the government by a +council of a hundred men, and there are district officers in various +parts of the country. + +They have no laws, or at all events their old laws have become a dead +letter. Custom and public opinion take their place. Crime is practically +unknown amongst them, and when a misdemeanour is committed the culprit +is in general sufficiently punished by his own shame and remorse. +However, they have certain humane penalties, such as fines or +restitution of stolen goods; but they never resort to violence or take +life, and only in extreme cases of depravity and madness do they +infringe on the liberty of an individual. + +Quarrels and sickness of mind or body are almost unknown amongst them. +The care and cure of the person is a portion of the art of life as it is +taught in the schools. + +An account of this remarkable people would not be complete without some +reference to their religion; but owing to their reticence on sacred +subjects, and the shortness of our visit, I was unable to learn much +about it. They believe, however, in a Supreme Being, whom they only name +by epithets such as "The Giver" or "The Divine Artist." They also +believe in the immortality of the soul. One of their proverbs, "Life is +good, and good is life," implies that goodness means life, and badness +death. They hold that every thought, word, and deed, is by the nature of +things its own reward or punishment, here or hereafter. Their ideals of +childlike innocence, and the reign of love, seem to be essentially +Christian. Their solicitude and kindness extends to all that lives and +suffers, and they regard the world around them as a divine work which +they are to reverence and perfect. + +Our visit fell during a great religious festival and holiday, which they +keep once a year, and by the courtesy of Dinus, or his son, we witnessed +many of their sacred concerts, dances, games, and other celebrations. Of +these, however, I shall only describe the principal ceremony, which is +called "Plucking the Flower," and appears to symbolise the passage of +the soul into a higher life. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL. + + +Early on the chief day of the festival Otar came and took us to see the +mystical rite of cutting the "Flower of the Soul." + +The morning was fine, and the clear waters of the lake were bright with +boats filled with joyous parties bound like ourselves for the Holy +Island. + +Landing at a noble quay of red granite, we climbed the steep and shaggy +sides of the mountain by a sacred and winding avenue, bordered with +blooming trees and statuary. Most of the figures were exquisitely carved +in a white wood or stone, having a pearly sheen, and represented the +former priestesses of the Temple, or illustrated the animating spirit of +the cult. + +On gaining the summit we found ourselves at the brim of a spacious +hollow or basin, which in past ages must have been the crater of the +volcanic peak. The grassy slopes of the basin were laid out in flower +gardens and terraces of coloured marbles, shaded with sombre trees, and +ornamented with sculpture. In the bottom lay an oval sheet of water a +mile long or more, and from the midst of it, towards the near end, a +beautiful islet, crowned by a magnificent temple, rose like a mirage to +the view, and seemed to float on its glassy bosom. + +Words of mine cannot give any idea of that sublime architecture, which +resembled no earthly order, though it seemed to partake of both the +Saracenic and the Indian. Fragrant timber, precious stones, and +burnished metals; in fine, the richest materials known to the builders, +had been united with consummate art into one harmonious emblem of their +faith. The first beams of the rising sun blazed on its golden roof and +fretted pinnacles of diamond, and ruby, sapphire, topaz, and emerald; +but the lower part was still in shadow. Nevertheless, we could +distinguish a grand portal in the southern front, which faced the sun, +and a broad flight of marble steps descending from it into the water; +but the massive doors were shut, and not a soul was to be seen about the +temple. + +As the worshippers arrived they seated themselves on the turf amongst +the flowering shrubs, or on the benches along the terraces, and either +spoke in subdued tones, or preserved a religious silence. Otar led us +to a kind of throne or stand facing the temple, and raised above the +other seats, where his father, as chief of the community, sat in state. +Dinus received us with his usual gracious dignity, and gave us chairs on +his right and left hand. + +From this height we enjoyed a splendid panorama of the Craterland, at +least that portion which had already caught the sunshine. It lay beneath +us like a picture, the surface rising in a series of zones from the +central sea, which mirrored the serene azure and plume-like vapours of +the heavens, through the sweet meadows, and the smiling gardens, to the +luxuriant wilderness beyond; and we could plainly see the shadow of the +bounding rampart shrink towards the south as the sun mounted higher and +higher. + +It was a lovely dawn. A rosy mist hung like a veil of gauze over the +southern sky, and from behind a bar of purple cloud, lined with gold, +which rested on the summit of the cliffs, a coronet of auroral beams or +crepuscular rays, blue on a pink ground, shot upwards, heralding the +advent of the sun, and reminding me of the ancient simile of the earth +as a bride awaiting the arrival of her lord. + +At length the first glowing tip of the solar disc peeped over the rim +of the crater, and a deep low murmur, swelling to a shrill cry, ascended +from the passive multitude. + +All the people rose to their feet, and every eye was turned on the south +front of the temple, which was now illuminated to the edge of the water. +As the sunlight crept over the surface it sparkled on the dense foliage +of what seemed a bed of water-lilies flourishing quite close to the +marble stairs. + +Presently a rich and stately barge, moved by crimson oars, and enlivened +with young girls draped in sky-blue, was seen to glide round a corner of +the temple, and come to rest beside the water-lilies. + +A deep silence, as of breathless expectation, fell upon the vast +assembly, and then, without other warning, the great purple doors of the +temple swung open, and revealed a white-robed figure walking at the head +of a glittering procession of maidens decked in jewels and luminous +scarves, which vied with the colours of the rainbow. It was the young +priestess and her train of virgins. + +Simultaneously the immense multitude raised their voices in a sacred +hymn of melting sweetness, very low at first, but gathering volume as +the priestess descended the marble stairs to the waterside. + +Here, on the lowest of the steps, one of her maidens put into her hand +a sacred knife or sickle, which, as Otar informed us had a blade of +gold, and a handle of opal. The woman then retired, and we saw her stand +erect for a moment in the full blaze of the mellow sunlight, with her +golden hair falling about her in a kind of glory, and stretch out her +arms towards the sun in a superb attitude of adoration. Then, with a +slow and swan-like movement, she entered the water, and wading among the +lilies, cut the sacred blossom, and held it aloft in triumph, while the +music swelled to a mighty pan of thanksgiving and praise. + +After that she went on board the barge, which had been waiting for her, +and was rowed around the border of the lake not far from the shore, so +that the onlookers might see the loveliness of the flower, and even +smell its perfume. The barge was not unlike an ancient galley in shape, +but ornately curved like the proa of a South Sea Islander. The rowers +were concealed underneath the deck, but the crimson oars kept time to +the music of their voices, and the spectators joined in the song as the +vessel glided onwards. + +As for the priestess, she lay reclining under a golden canopy on the +poop, with her face half turned towards the people, and holding the +sacred lily in her hand, whilst two of her maidens fanned her with +brilliant plumes, + + "And made their bends adorning." + +Ever since she had come out of the temple I had scarcely taken my eyes +off her, and now that I could see the marvellous beauty of her +countenance, I was absolutely fascinated. Never shall I forget these +moments as long as I live, and yet I cannot give a clear and connected +relation of them. I see only a picture in my mind of a purple couch +under a golden canopy, a fair form, a beautiful head crowned with golden +hair, a glowing arm holding a white flower on its long green stalk. +Suddenly, as if impelled by an instinct, she turns her face full upon me +as the barge comes opposite to her father's throne. I see her great +violet eyes fixed upon mine as though she would read into my very soul. +I do not shrink from that pure search. On the contrary, I feel myself +drawn towards her by an irresistible attraction, and return her gaze. + +She does not look away. She smiles--yes, she smiles upon me, and +inclines her head to see me, like a sunflower following the sun, as she +is floating past. + +From that moment I was an altered man. The vision of that peerless +beauty had worked a miracle in my nature. A strange peace, an +unfathomable joy, I should rather say an ecstacy of bliss, reigned in my +heart. I felt that I had found something for which my soul had craved +without knowing it, and had been seeking unawares--something beyond all +price, which is not merely the best that life, eternity, can offer; but +gives to life, eternity, an inestimable value--I felt that I had found +the counterpart of myself--the celestial mate of my spirit. Henceforth +there was only one woman in the world, in the universe, for me. A +mysterious instinct whispered that we belonged to each other--that this +incomparable creature was mine by an inviolable right, if not on this +side of time at all events hereafter, and for ever. I felt, too, that my +own being had now completed its development, and burst into bloom like a +plant under the vivifying rays of the sun. + +Exulting in my new-found happiness, and overcome with gratitude for it, +I watched the receding boat in a sort of trance until the matter-of-fact +voice of Gazen broke the spell. + +"Prettiest sight I ever saw in my life," said he to Otar. "Quite a +living picture." + +"I am glad you like it," responded Otar evidently gratified. + +"But what is the good of it?" enquired the professor. + +"The good of it?" rejoined the Venusian; "it is beautiful, and gives us +pleasure." + +"Oh, of course; but what is the meaning--the inner meaning of it?" + +"Ah! the meaning of it," said Otar, a new light breaking on him, "I +will explain. You saw the flower which the priestess cut and carried in +her hand--?" + +"A kind of water-lily, is it not?" + +"Yes, it is the Sacred Lily. The plant is rooted in the mire at the +bottom of the pond, and grows up through the water to the surface. The +stem rises in a serpentine curve, and terminates in a flower-bud, which +opens with a sigh of delight when the sun strikes upon it, and fills the +air with its perfume." + +"A sigh, did you say?" + +"Yes, a low sweet sound resembling a sigh. The flower is white--'living +white'--that is to say, white shot with many colours like the opal. We +call it the Sun Lily, or 'Flower of the Soul.'" + +"Why 'Flower of the Soul?'" + +"Because we say it has the infinite and ever-changing beauty of the +soul. It is an emblem of Love, and its manifestations--beauty, genius, +holiness. In particular it signifies the birth or awakening of love in +the human soul. As the plant may be said to exist for the flower, its +chief glory, so the man attains his perfection through love, which +confers a boundless and immortal worth upon his life. As the root takes +from the soil and the flower brings forth the fruit, so hate feeds upon +the ill, and love dies for the good of others. It also represents the +human race, for man, and especially woman, may be regarded as the flower +of this lower world. Moreover, the entire plant, root, stem, and flower, +is symbolical of all creation, and some of our poets have named it the +'Lily of Life.' For as the plant begins in the black earth to end in the +sunny ether, so the world, the universe, begins in chaos and darkness, +to end in light and order; begins in matter and force, to end in life +and spirit--begins in hate and selfishness, to end in love and +self-sacrifice--begins in ugliness, to end in beauty. Thus the flower +and root stand for the upper and lower limits or poles of nature, and +the stalk which joins them for the upward range or path of creation. It +is a beautiful stem, curving in opposite ways like a serpent, or the +side of a wave; in fact, it is the most beautiful curve we know--it runs +like this." + +Here Otar described a flamboyant curve in the air with his finger. + +"If I'm not mistaken it is what our artists call the 'line of beauty,'" +observed Gazen. + +"Oh, indeed!" responded Otar, with pleased surprise. "Well, with us it +is a symbol of the continuous unfolding of things; the graceful progress +of development." + +"So the path of evolution is the 'line of beauty,'" said the professor. + +"Apparently," rejoined Otar, "and as the ends of the curve point +oppositely, we say that a thing has not reached its final stage--that +its development is not complete--until it has turned to its opposite. +Thus man is not a finished being until hate and selfishness have turned +to love and self-sacrifice. The flower of the soul is love, and as the +sun is an emblem of the divine love, when the sacred lily opens and +displays all its beauty in the sunshine, it means to us that the flower +of the soul blooms in the smile of 'The Giver.'" + +"I see," said the professor; "and what is done with the flower?" + +"It is an offering," replied Otar, "and after the Priestess of the +Lily, or Priestess of the Sun, as we call her, has shown it to the +people it will be treasured in the temple, and will never fade." + +"Beautiful woman, the priestess! And so young." + +"She is barely seventeen. The Priestess of the Sun Lily must be in the +flower of her age, and the early dawn of her womanhood. Every year by +the popular voice she is chosen from all the maidens of the country for +her intelligence, beauty, and goodness. For a year before the ceremony +she lives in the temple with her maidens, and never leaves the sacred +island, or has any visitors from the outer world. During this period she +undergoes a preparation and purification for the fulfilment of her holy +office--the culling of the flower. It consists mainly in the study of +our sacred writings, the eating of a certain food, and bathing in the +waters of a holy fountain, which issues from the rock in a sacred grotto +of the island. When the ceremony of cutting the lily is over, and the +holy month has expired, that is to say in ten days from now, she will +leave the temple and return to her family. Another girl will take her +place--the priestess appointed for the coming year--in fact, the maiden +who gave her the sickle." + +I had listened to this conversation with breathless interest, but +without daring to take part in it. + +"Will she ever marry?" enquired Gazen. + +I waited for the answer with a beating heart. + +"Oh, yes," replied Otar, "why not? She will marry if she finds a lover +whom she can love. There are many who admire Alumion." + +"What of yourself?" asked the professor, smiling pointedly. "You seem to +know a good deal about her." + +"I am her brother." + +Nothing more was said, for at this moment the barge was seen coming from +behind the temple, after having made a round of the spectators, and +presently drew up at the marble stairs. Again the doors swung open, and +the maidens reappeared to welcome their mistress with a song of joy. I +saw her ascend the steps bearing the lily in her hand, then turn and +wave an adieu to the multitude, who responded by a parting hymn as the +great purple valves closed together and rapt her from my sight. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ALUMION. + + +Alumion--Alumion--I could think of nothing but Alumion. Her very name +was music in my ears, and her image in my heart was a perpetual banquet +of delight I had never known such felicity before. My inclination for +Miss Carmichael and every other transient affection or interest I may +have felt was altogether of a lower strain--with one exception, a boyish +admiration for a school girl who died a mere child. The ethereal flame +of this new passion seemed to purify all that was earthly, and exalt all +that was celestial in my nature. This beautiful land, so green and +smiling under a sky of serene azure and snowy wreaths, became as the +highest heaven to me, and I wandered about in a dream of ecstacy like +one of the blessed gods inebriated with nectar. + +I avoided my travelling companions. Their worldly conversation jarred on +the mood I was in, and I preferred my own thoughts to their pursuits. +As my sole desire was to hear about Alumion, and if possible to see her +again, I courted the society of Dinus and Otar. I knew, of course, that +in ten days she would return to her family, but I thought I might be +able to visit the temple and perhaps get a glimpse of her. However, I +learned from her father that during the sacred festival the temple was +closed to the outer world. It was not indeed forbidden to land on the +holy island, but it was considered a sacrilege for anyone not having +business there to enter the precincts of the temple, excepting on the +day of the ceremony which had just taken place. While bound to respect +this taboo, I was, nevertheless, drawn by an irresistible attraction to +the island, where I frequently spent hours in sailing about the wooded +shores, or loitering in the sacred avenue, hoping against hope that I +might see her passing by or in the distance. Although I was not so +fortunate, I enjoyed the satisfaction of being nearer to her, and as the +island seemed a perfect solitude, I could indulge my reverie in peace. + +At last I made a discovery. In describing the ceremony of the Flower, +Otar had spoken of a sacred grotto where the priestess went to bathe, +and on questioning him further, I ascertained that it was situated on +the shore of the island in a bay or inlet to the eastward of the quay, +and that she took her customary bath at set of sun. + +That afternoon I made a thorough search and found a cavern in the rock +close to the beach of a secluded cove which I had overlooked until then. +A footpath, winding down the mountain side through the forest led to its +mouth, which was overhung and almost hid by a rich creeper with large +crimson blossoms. It was evidently the spot mentioned by Otar, but +wishing to make sure, and impelled by curiosity in spite of a more +hallowed feeling, I lifted the creeper and was about to peer into the +darkness, when a sudden noise within made me jump back with affright. It +was the most horrible and excruciating shriek I had ever heard in my +life. If anyone by a refinement of cruelty were to compound a torture +for the ears, I do not think he could produce anything half so piercing, +gruesome, and discordant. + +It seemed the cry of an animal--a wild beast--and I began to think I was +mistaken in the place; but the sun was near its setting now, and it was +too late to seek further afield. I therefore returned to my boat and +withdrew under the overarching boughs of some trees where I could see +without being seen. + +I had not long to wait. Between the flowering shrubs I noticed that a +figure--a woman by her undulating grace--was coming down the path. A +thin wrap or veil of changing stuff, with gleams of azure and fiery red, +was flung about her person. Presently she stepped upon the beach into +the mellow gloaming, and stood like a statue, with her eyes bent on the +sinking orb, which threw a trail of splendour across the lake. + +It was the priestess, and apparently alone. A closer view of her person +brought me no disenchantment. Perfect beauty, like the sublime, produces +an impression of the infinite, and I only speak the literal truth when I +say that she appeared infinitely beautiful to me. Her golden hair, +rippling over the delicate ear and gathered into a knot behind, her +large violet eyes and blooming white skin, her Grecian profile and +stately yet flowing form, might have become an Aphrodite of Xeuxis or +Praxiteles; but her serene and gracious countenance beamed with a pure +seraphic light which is wanting to the classical goddess, and must be +sought in the Madonnas of Raphael. Moreover, she had an indescribable +look of girlish innocence, winsome sweetness, and pitiful tenderness, +which belonged to none of these ideals, and marked her as a simple, +loving, perishable child of earth. + +I gazed upon her marvellous beauty with a kind of religious veneration, +at once attracted by her womanly charm and awed by her god-like dignity, +yet with a strange, a divine state of repose and pure rapture in my +heart for which there is no name. + +Would that the happiness, the bliss of looking upon her, of being near +her, might have lasted for ever! + +I knew, however, that she would soon enter the grotto and be lost to me. +Should I speak? In this fraternal community what was there to prevent +it? Something held me back. Otar had said that the priestess was +isolated from the outer world during her year of office; but that was +only a general statement. Mine was a peculiar case. I was a stranger. I +did not belong to their world, and was not supposed to know the ins and +outs of their customs. Besides, why should custom stand between such a +love as mine and its object? Conventional propriety was for the pitiful +earth and its wretched abortive passions. Perhaps I should frighten her? +No, I did not believe it. In this golden land even the birds seemed +fearless. As well think to frighten an angel in Heaven. + +While I was debating the question within myself she glanced into the +foliage where I was hidden. How my heart throbbed! I fancied that she +saw me, and trembled with emotion; but I was mistaken, for she turned +and walked towards the cavern. + +Suddenly I remembered the alarming sound within the cave, and breaking +through the covert, called after her. + +"Take care, take care! There is a wild beast in the grotto. I heard it +cry." + +She looked round and started when she saw me. The surprise, visible on +her face, seemed to melt into recognition. + +"It is kind of you to warn me," she responded with a frank smile, "but I +am not in danger. There is no wild animal inside." + +Her low sweet voice was quite in keeping with her beauty. Every note +rung clear and melodious as a bell. + +"But the awful cry?" I rejoined with a puzzled air. + +"Was that of a particular pet of mine," she answered laughingly. + +"Pardon me," said I smiling for company, "I am a stranger here, as you +can see, and did not know any better." + +"You are one of the travellers from another world, are you not?" + +"Ah! you have heard of our arrival." + +"Oh yes! An event so important was not kept from me. I saw you sitting +beside my father on the day of the Flower, and I knew you again. I am +afraid our country will seem very odd to you. Have you enjoyed your +stay?" + +"So much. I cannot tell you how much." + +"I hope you will remain with us a long time." + +"I should like to stop here for ever." + +She blushed and smiled with pleasure at these words, then, raising her +arms in a noble salute, inclined her head, and entered the cavern. + +I returned to the car in a delirium of happiness. I had seen her again, +I had actually spoken with her. _She knew me!_ Every detail of her look +and accent was indelibly printed on my memory. All next day I wandered +about in a kind of transport, feasting on the recollection of what had +passed between us, and revolving over my future course of action. In two +days the holy time would end, and I should have an opportunity of +meeting her at home; but with the chance of seeing her again at the +grotto, I could not wait. I was allured towards her by the most +delicious fascination. Such a love as mine looked down upon the petty +proprieties which keep lovers apart, yet are sometimes so needful in our +wicked world. In this noble planet life was free and simple, because it +was beautiful and good. I determined to revisit the cove that evening, +and if I should see her again, to declare my secret. + +Had I counted the cost? With such a passion it is not a question of +cost. I was well aware that if she did not reciprocate my affection she +would never marry me. Nor did I wish it otherwise. I would not ask her +to sacrifice herself for my sake. If, as my heart fondly hoped, she +accepted me, I would not allow anything to stand between us for a +moment. I would abandon the expedition if necessary, and remain in +Venus. If, on the other hand, she refused me as my judgment feared, I +would return to the earth as a new man, ennobled by a glorious love, +reverencing myself that I was capable of it, cherishing her image in my +heart as the ideal of womanhood, and grateful for having seen and known +her. Surely a rich reward for all the perils of the journey. + +Sunset found me in the cove, not hidden by the leaves as before, but +sitting in the boat astrand. She came. To-night her veil was of a golden +yellow shading into dark green. A beautiful smile of recognition passed +over her face when she saw me, and we greeted one another in the +graceful fashion of the country. + +I did not speak of the weather or give an excuse for my presence there, +as I might have done to a woman of the world. With Alumion I felt that +all such artificial forms were idle, and that I could reveal my inmost +soul without disguise, in all its naked sincerity. + +"I have brought you some flowers," said I, offering her a nosegay which +I had picked. "Will you accept them?" + +"I thank you," she replied with a beaming smile as she came and took +them from my hand. "They are very beautiful, and I shall keep them for +your sake." + +"For my sake!" + +Inspired by love I continued in a voice trembling with emotion, + +"Alumion--can you not guess what brings me here?" + +A blush rose to her cheek as she bent over the flowers. + +"It is because I love you," said I; "because I have loved you ever since +I saw you on the day you cut the sacred lily; because I love +you--worship you--with all my heart and soul." + +She was silent. + +"If I am wrong, forgive me," I went on in a pleading tone. "Blame the +spell your beauty has cast over me, but do not banish me from your +presence, which is life and light to me." + +"Wrong!" she murmured, lifting her wondrous eyes to mine. "Can it be +wrong to love, or to speak of love? Why should I send you away from me +because you love me? Is not love the glory of the heart, as the sun is +the glory of the world? Rejoice, then, in your love as I do in mine." + +"As you do?" + +"Yes, as I do. I should have spoken sooner, but my heart was full of +happiness. For I also love you. I have loved you from the beginning." + +With a cry of unspeakable joy I sprang from the boat, and would have +flung myself at her feet to kiss her hand or the hem of her garment, but +she drew back with a look of apprehension. + +"Touch me not," she said gravely, "for by the custom of our land I am +holy. Until to-morrow at sunset I am consecrated to The Giver." + +"Pardon my ignorance," I responded rather crestfallen. "Your will shall +be my law. I only wished to manifest my eternal gratitude and devotion +to you." + +"Kneel not to me," she rejoined, "but rather to The Giver, who has so +strangely brought us together. How many ages we might have wandered +from world to world without finding each other again!" + +"You think we have met before then?" I enquired eagerly, for the same +thought had been haunting my own mind. It seemed to me that I had known +Alumion always. + +"Assuredly," she replied, "for you and I are kindred souls who have been +separated in another world, by death or evil; and now that we have met +again, let us be faithful and loving to each other." + +"Nothing shall separate us any more." + +The words had scarcely passed my lips when the same terrible cry which I +had heard once before sounded from the interior of the grotto. + +Alumion called or rather sang out a response to the cry, which I did not +understand, then said to me in her ordinary voice, + +"It is Siloo. I must go now and give him food." + +I was curious to know who or what was Siloo, but did not dare to ask. +She raised her arms gracefully and smiled a sweet farewell. + +"Are you going to leave me like that?" said I. + +"What would you have?" she answered, turning towards the cave. + +"In my country lovers bind themselves by mutual vows." + +"What need of vows? Have we not confessed our loves?" + +"Will you not tell me when I shall see you again? Will you not say when +you will be mine--when you will marry me?" + +A blush mounted to her cheek as she answered with a divine glance, + +"Meet me at sunset to-morrow, and I will be yours." + +As yet I had not mentioned my adventure with Alumion to any of my +companions, but that night I said to Gazen, as we smoked our cigars +together, + +"Wish me joy, old fellow! I am going to be married." + +He seemed quite dumbfounded, and I rather think he fancied that I must +have come to an understanding with Miss Carmichael. + +"Really!" said he with the air of a man plucking up heart after an +unexpected blow. "May I ask who is the lady?" + +"The Priestess of the Lily." + +"The Priestess!" he exclaimed utterly astonished, but at the same time +vastly relieved. "The Priestess! Come, now, you are joking." + +"Never was more serious in my life." + +Then I told him what had happened, how I had met her, and my engagement +to marry her. + +"If you will take my advice," said he dryly, "you'll do nothing of the +kind." + +"Why?" + +"Have you considered the matter?" he replied significantly. + +"Considered the matter! A love like mine does not 'consider the matter' +as though it were a problem in Euclid. With such a woman as Alumion a +lover does not stop to 'consider the matter,' unless he is a fool." + +"A woman--yes; but remember that she is a woman of another planet. She +might not make a suitable wife for you." + +"I love her. I love her as I can never love a woman of our world. She is +a thousand times more beautiful and good than any woman I have ever +known. She is an ideal woman--a perfect woman--an angel in human form." + +"That may be; but what will her family say?" + +"My dear Gazen, don't you know they manage these things better here. +Thank goodness, the 'family' does not interfere with love affairs in +this happy land! We love each other, we have agreed to be married, and +that is quite sufficient. No need to get the 'consent of the parents,' +or make a 'settlement,' or give out the banns, or buy a government +license as though a wife were contraband goods, or hire a string of +four-wheelers, or tip the pew-opener. What has love to do with +pew-openers? Why should the finest thing in life become the prey of such +vulgar parasites? Why should our heavenliest moments be profaned and +spoiled by needless worries--hateful to the name of love? Our wedding +will be very simple. We shall not even want you as groomsman or Miss +Carmichael as bridesmaid. I daresay we shall get along without cake and +speeches, and as for the rice and old boots, upon my word, I don't think +we shall miss them." + +"And if it is a fair question, when will the--the simple ceremony take +place?" + +"To-morrow evening." + +"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the professor, taken by surprise. "I +thought a priestess could not marry." + +"To-morrow at sunset she will be a free woman. Her priesthood will come +to an end." + +"And--pardon me--but what are you going to do with her when you've got +her? Will you bring her home to the car--there is very little room here, +as you know. Do you propose to take her to the earth, where I'm afraid +she will probably die like a tender plant or a bird of paradise in a +cage? Do you think her father would consent to that?" + +"We are not going away just yet. There will be time enough to arrange +about that." + +"Well, we can't stay here much longer. I must get back to my work--and +you know we intended to pay a flying visit to Mercury, and if possible +to get a closer look at the sun." + +"All right. You can go as soon as you like. I shall remain behind. +Carmichael will take you to the earth, and then come back here for me." + +"You talk as if it were merely a question of a drive." + +"I think we have proved that it is not more dangerous to go from one +planet to another than it is to get about town." + +"If an accident _should_ occur. If Carmichael cannot return--" + +"I shall be much happier here than I should be on the earth. Even if I +had never met Alumion I think I should come back and stay on Venus." + +"It is certainly a better world, as far as we have seen, but remember +your own words, 'Man was made for the earth.' Don't you think this +eternal summer--these Elysian Fields--would pall upon you in course of +time? Constant bliss, like everlasting honey, might cloy your earthly +palate, and make you sigh for our poor, old, wicked, miserable world, +that in spite of all its faults and crimes, is yet so interesting, so +variable, so dramatic--so dear." + +"Never. With Alumion even Hades would be an Elysium." + +"Think of your friends at home, and what you owe to them; how they will +miss you." + +"I cannot be of much service to them. They will soon forget me." + +"Perhaps you are mistaken there," said Gazen, assuming a more serious +air. "In any case I for one shall miss you. In fact, to speak plainly, I +shall feel aggrieved--hurt. You and I are old friends, and when you +asked me to join you in this expedition I was moved by friendship as +well as interest. Certainly, I never dreamed that you would desert the +ship. I thought it was understood that we should sink or swim together. +If you leave us I shan't answer for the consequences. I appreciate the +dilemma in which you are placed, but surely friendship has a prior if a +weaker claim than love-passion. Surely you owe some allegiance to +Carmichael and myself." + +"What would you have me do?" + +"Only to carry out the original plan of the voyage. Promise me that you +will stick to the ship. Afterwards you can return to Venus and do as you +please. Stanley, you know, made his greatest journey into Africa between +his engagement and his marriage." + +"Very well, I promise." + +With an agitated mind I repaired to the tryst next evening and waited +for Alumion. How should I break the news to her, and how would she +receive it? + +The cool airs of the water, and the glorious pageant of the sunset +calmed my troubled spirit. All day the serene and beamy azure of the +heavens had been plumed with snowy cloudlets of graceful and capricious +form, which, as the sun sank to the horizon, were tinged with fleeting +glows resembling the iris of a dove's neck, or the hues of a dying +dolphin. The great luminary himself was lost in a golden glamour, and a +single bright star shone palely through a rosy mist, which covered all +the southern sky, like a diamond seen through a bridal veil of gauze. + +That lone star was the earth. + +Strange to say, I felt a kind of yearning towards it, a yearning as of +home-sickness, and it seemed to reproach me for having thought of +forsaking it. I wondered what my friends were doing now within that +blaze; perhaps they were looking at Venus and speculating on what I was +about. How delighted I should be to see them again, and show them my +incomparable wife--but could I ever take her there? + +Whilst I was musing, the low sweet voice of Alumion thrilled me to the +marrow. I turned and saw her. She was dressed to-night in a filmy +vesture of opalescent or pearly white, partly diaphanous, and having a +deep fringe of gold. There was a pink blush on her cheek and a sparkle +of girlish love in her celestial eyes. Never had she seemed more +ravishingly beautiful. + + "Beauty too rare for use, for earth too dear." + +"You were gazing on the star. You did not hear my coming," she said with +a little feminine pout. + +"I was thinking of you, darling." + +She smiled again. + +"Is it not a lovely star?" she said. "We call it the star of Love--the +star of the Blest." + +"It is my home." + +"Your home!" she exclaimed with a look of surprise and wonderment. + +"You have heard that I come from another world." + +"Yes, but I did not know it was a star. And is that beautiful star your +home?" + +"Yes, beloved; and I am sorry to say I must return there soon again." + +"And I will go! You will take me with you to that fair world!" + +I thought of all the crime and folly, the deceit, violence, and +wretchedness lurking behind that pure and peaceful ray. Alas! how could +I tell her the truth and destroy her illusions. She was innocent as a +child, and an instinct warned me to keep the knowledge of evil from her, +while a contrary spirit urged me to speak. + +"You might not find it so fair as it looks from here." + +"I am sure it cannot be an evil world since you come from it. To us it +is a sacred star." + +"If the inhabitants could see it as I do now, perhaps the sight would +make them lead better lives--would shame them into being worthier of +their dwelling-place." + +"Are they not good?" she asked with a look of wonder and sorrowful +compassion. "Then how unhappy they must be." + +"Some are good and some are bad. Everything is mixed in our world--the +strong and the weak--the rich and the poor--the happy and the +miserable." + +"But do the good not help the bad?" + +"Yes, to a certain extent; but life is a struggle there; every man for +himself; and the good very often find it hard to secure a little +happiness for themselves." + +"How can they be happy when they know that others are suffering and in +want, that others are bad? I long to go and help them." + +"Darling, you are an angel, and I adore you; but, believe me, you alone +could do very little. One has already come and taught us how to love and +cherish each other, that the strong should help the weak, the rich give +to the poor, and the happy comfort the wretched. His followers believe +that He came from Heaven, and yet after nineteen hundred years I am +afraid that some of them do not fully understand the plain meaning of +His words, or else find it convenient to ignore them." + +"But many of us will go there. We will bring the sinful and the +suffering over here to Womla and make them happy." + +"I am touched by your simple faith in us, dearest It does you honour, +but I fear it is mistaken. What would you say if the very people you had +saved and befriended were to turn round and take your country from you, +perhaps even destroy you? Such ingratitude is not unknown in our +world." + +"If they are so wicked they have the more need of help." + +"In any case, darling, I cannot take you with me, for the vessel we came +in is too small; but I will come back as soon as possible and stay with +you in Womla. How happy we shall be!" + +"In Womla--no. We should not be quite at rest." + +"Then we shall seek out some desert star where we can live only for each +other." + +"You do not understand me. Neither in Womla nor in a desert star could +we be happy in a selfish love, knowing that others were in pain." + +"Better I had not spoken of my world at all." + +"No, a thousand times no!" cried Alumion with fervour. "For you have +opened up to me a new source of happiness--of blessedness which I have +never known before. Only let us go together to your world and minister +to the unfortunate." + +"Well, darling, we will think of it; but see! the sun has set and you +are free again. I came to marry you, but since I must return so soon to +my own world, perhaps it would be well to postpone the ceremony until I +come back here." + +"Why should we do that?" + +Evidently she had no idea of the dangers of the journey, or how long it +would take. + +"If anything should happen to me. If I should die and never return." + +"Ah! do not speak of that. The Giver will preserve you." + +"But life is uncertain." + +"Beloved, I shall never love another but you; therefore, let us unite +ourselves, as we are already united in heart and soul, henceforth and +forever. Come!" + +With these words she turned and glided towards the sacred grotto. I held +aside the flowering creeper which hung over the entrance like a curtain, +and followed her within. To my great surprise the interior was neither +dark nor dusky, but filled with a soft and luscious light from myriads +of glow-worms and fire-flies of various colours, which glimmered on the +walls like tiny electric lamps, or sparkled in the facets of the gems +and spars depending from the roof. Judging by their shape and tint I +imagine that some of these incrustations are native crystals of the +diamond and ruby, the sapphire, topaz, and emerald. In a deep recess or +alcove on one side a spring of clear water gushed from the rock into a +natural basin of sinter, enamelled inside and out with the precious +opal. Owing perhaps to the minerals through which it had passed the +liquid shed a delicious perfume in the air, and made a bath fit for the +goddess of beauty. + +I had scarcely time to look about me when a strange and wonderful melody +of most entrancing sweetness echoed through the cavern. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion softly, and the music, which I cannot +compare to any earthly strain, ceased in a moment. Presently I was more +than startled to see in the gloomier background of the cavern a great +white serpent glide like a ghost along the floor and come straight +towards us. His milk-white body was speckled all over with jewelled +scales, and shone with a pale blue phosphorescence; his eyes blazed in +his head like twin carbuncles, and in spite of my instinctive dread of +snakes, I could not help admiring his repulsive beauty. Presently he +reared his long neck, and faced us with his forked tongue playing out +and in. I shrank back, for I thought he was about to spring upon me; but +Alumion, laughing gaily at my fears, stepped quickly up to him, and +stroked him with her hand. The serpent laid his head caressingly upon +her shoulder and emitted a low faint note of pleasure. + +Alumion then took a shallow dish or patera, and, filling it from a vase +which she carried with her set it upon the floor for the snake to feed. + +"You don't seem to be afraid of that gruesome reptile," said I +pleasantly. + +"Oh, no," she replied smiling. "Siloo knows me very well." + +"Tell me, was it he who made the music a little while ago?" + +"Yes, and also the noise which alarmed you the first night you wandered +here. The music comes from his head, and the noise is from his tail. +That is why we call him Siloo." + +The word, as nearly as I can translate it, means harmony, order, +measure, proportion, in the Womla tongue. + +"Does he always live in this cave?" + +"Yes, he is a sacred animal with us, and long ago was worshipped and +consulted by our forefathers, and those who preceded them in the +island." + +"Is he very old?" + +"None can tell how old. Some say he is immortal. Others think he is only +the offspring of the snake worshipped by our forefathers. He is guardian +of the sacred fountain whose waters we are about to drink." + +When she had spoken, Alumion tripped to the flowing spring, and, taking +a cup which was standing on the edge of the basin, filled it from the +pellucid stream. + +"Give me your hand," she murmured, holding out her own, and lifting her +celestial eyes, so full of love and tenderness, to mine. It was a dainty +hand, plump, lilywhite, and dimpled, with tapering fingers; and as I +felt her warm and silk-soft touch for the first time, my soul melted +within me, and my whole being thrilled with delight. Her rosy lips +parted with pleasure, and a delicate blush mantled her blooming cheeks +and full white throat. + +I gazed in rapture on her divine countenance, so like a speaking flower, +the image of a beautiful soul on which neither sorrow, care, nor passion +had ever left a trace. + +She raised the cup, and having sipped of the water, handed it to me in +silence. I sought the place where her lips had touched the brim and +drank. Now whether it was phantasy or some foreign ingredient I cannot +tell, but the water seemed to taste like nectar, and to run through all +my veins like wine. + +The glamour of the lights and the perfume of the waters wrought upon my +senses, and, yielding to the intoxication of my love, I caught Alumion +to my arms. + +Suddenly the most appalling noise rent the air, and caused me to spring +back from my bride in terror. It came from the rattlesnake. His grisly +body swayed to and fro, his gaping mouth displayed all its horrid fangs, +and his large eyes burned like two red-hot coals. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion hastily in a tone of command. "Down, +Siloo!" + +The serpent at once obeyed her voice and retired again to his dish. + +"He thought I was going to harm you," I exclaimed, not without a sense +of relief. "Or perhaps he was jealous of me." + +"Remember this is holy ground," responded Alumion. + +"Forgive me," I said, feeling her reproof. "My love--your beauty--must +be my excuse." + +"We must part now," she continued, with a blinding glance and a +ravishing smile. "I have some last offices to perform here. We shall +meet to-morrow at my father's house." + +On my way home the blood coursed through my veins like an immortal ichor +of the gods, full of sweet and inextinguishable fire. Inebriated with +the cup of bliss which I had only tasted, I began to repent me of my +promise to leave Womla. + +"To-morrow Alumion will be mine," I reflected, "but for how long? A few +days at the most. It is too bad!" + +An idea struck me. + +"Gazen," said I that night as soon as I had a convenient opportunity to +speak with him, "I have married Alumion." + +"Married her!" he exclaimed, completely taken aback. + +"Yes, that is to say, I have gone through the formal ceremony of +marriage. I have drunk of the cup." + +"But you promised me you would do nothing of the kind." + +"I said I would go back to the earth with you, and I will keep my word. +But I must say that since I agreed to your wishes in the matter, I think +you owe me some concession, and I want you to leave me in Womla while +you go on to Mercury, and then come back here to pick me up. That will +give me a longer honeymoon." + +"Impossible, my dear fellow--quite impossible," replied the professor. +"Venus will be too far out of our way home. We have no oxygen to waste, +and can't go hunting you in your love affairs all round the solar +system." + +"Very well, then, I shall stay behind." + +"But, my dear fellow--" + +"Say no more about it. I have made up my mind." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE FLYING APE. + + +It was broad day when I awoke, and oppressively warm in the little +cabin. My first thoughts were of Alumion, the consecration of our loves, +and my resolution to abide in Venus. In getting up I felt so light and +buoyant that for a moment I fancied I must be giddy, but on reflection I +ascribed the sensation to the intoxication of passion, and the +exhilarating atmosphere of the planet. I looked out of a window towards +the blessed island of my dreams, and to my blank amazement found that +_it was gone!_ I could neither see anything of the lake, the square, nor +the town, but only a bare and rugged platform of weathered rocks, and +the cloudy sky above it. + +What was the matter? Had Gazen and Carmichael taken it into their heads +to make an excursion, such as we had often planned, in order to observe +something more of the country? Yes, that was it, no doubt. + +Under the circumstances I was far from pleased with them for having +carried me off without asking my leave, knowing as they should have +done, that I would be eager to rejoin Alumion; but experience of travel +had taught me that a man must not expect to have it all his own way, and +should know when to let his companions have theirs, and above all things +to keep his temper. I, therefore, decided to take their behaviour in +good part, more especially as we could always return to the capital as +quickly as we had come from it. + +Apparently there was nobody in the car but myself. Wondering, and +perhaps a trifle uneasy at the dead stillness, I dressed rapidly and +went outside. + +The welkin was wholly overcast with dense, murky vapours, which totally +hid the sun, and the air was excessively hot, moist, and sultry as +before a thunderstorm--an unusual phenomenon in Womla. Black boulders +and crags, speckled with lichens, and carpeted with coarse herbage, shut +out the prospect on every side but one, where the edge of the platform +on which the car was resting ran along the sky. I saw it all now. Gazen +and Carmichael had made a journey to the extreme verge of the country; +to the very summit of the precipice which surrounded the Crater Land. + +Picking my steps over the rough rocks like one who treads on air, I +hastened to the brink of the platform. If the car were on the further +side of the summit I should be able to see the wide ocean, but if, as I +fondly hoped, it were on the hither side, I should enjoy a far-off +glimpse of the city and its holy island, which had become a heaven to +me. How different was the scene which met my view! + +I was looking away over a vast plain towards a distant range of volcanic +mountains. A broad river wound through the midst between isolated +volcanoes, curling with smoke, and thick forests of a sable hue, or +expanded into marshy lakes half lost in brakes of grisly reeds, on the +margin of which living monsters were plashing in the mud, or soaring +into the air on dusky pinions. + +My first shock of surprise passed into a fearful admiration for the +savage and gloomy grandeur of the primeval landscape; but as that +feeling wore away the old irritation against my fellow-travellers came +back. From all I had heard or seen there was no such place as this in +Womla, and as it dawned upon me that they had migrated to some other +island, or perhaps continent in Venus, I forgot my good resolution, and +shouted indignantly, + +"Gazen, Gazen! Hallo there! Hallo!" + +There was no response, and the dead silence that swallowed up my voice +was awful. Had anything happened to my companions, and was I left alone +in this appalling solitude? Was I in my right senses, or was I not? I +shouted again at the very pitch of my voice, and this time an answering +cry came to my relief. On turning in the direction from which it +proceeded, I observed Professor Gazen coming slowly towards me, round a +mass of turretted rocks. + +"What is the meaning of all this?" I demanded petulantly, as he came +near, gingerly stepping from stone to stone. + +He made no reply, but seemed to be meditating what he would say. + +"A nice trick you've played me! Wherever have we got to?" + +"Mercury," replied Gazen coolly. + +"_Mercury!_" I exclaimed, fairly astounded. "Impossible!" + +"Not at all." + +"Oh, come!" said I sarcastically, "that won't do. A joke is a joke; but +I'm not in a merry mood this morning." + +"So I see. A laugh would do you good." + +"Well, where are we?" + +"In Mercury." + +"What nonsense!" I ejaculated. "Last night I went to bed in Venus, and +you want me to believe that I've woke up on Mercury. Tell that to the +marines." + +"Last night you say; but do you know how long you have slept? And have +you forgotten that we are now so near the sun--that the attraction of +the sun on the car has assisted the machines to propel us through the +intermediate space?" + +I had not thought of that. + +"Then it is true." + +"Of course." + +"And why have you come here--what authority--what right--had you to +carry me off in this manner without my consent?" I burst out angrily. +"You knew I had made up my mind to stay in Venus. I took you into my +confidence and told you about my love affair. Why have you betrayed that +confidence, and kidnapped me like a slave or a lunatic?" + +"Hear me, old friend," said Gazen softly. "We have all noticed a decided +change in you of late--ever since the day of the ceremony on the island. +You have been like a different person--absent in your mind--incoherent +in your speech--abrupt in your manner. You have forsaken your old +friends completely, and apparently lost all interest in their doings, +all desire for their company. In short, you have behaved like a man +beside himself, distraught. We could not make it out, and we had many +anxious consultations about the matter. I wondered whether you had had a +sunstroke. Carmichael suggested that the stimulating air of Venus had +affected your brain. Miss Carmichael alone suspected that you were in +love; but I would not believe her. I had been so much in your society +without having seen anything to justify her suspicion, and you yourself +had never breathed a word to lend it colour. Carmichael and I sought to +question you about your health, and the influence of the sun and air +upon you, while Miss Carmichael tried to draw you on the subject of the +ladies. All in vain. We could not solve the mystery, and as your +condition was evidently growing worse and worse, we resolved to leave +the planet. Although it was not in the original programme, we had +sometimes talked of extending our journey to Mercury, so as to visit all +the inferior planets, and give me an opportunity of getting as near the +sun as possible for my observations, and this project was made the +pretext for hastening our departure. + +"We submitted the plan to you, and you know the rest. After you had +given us your word of honour that you would break with the lady and +return home with us for the sake of your friends, after we had made all +our preparations to start, you came back at the eleventh hour, and +declared that you had made up your mind to stay behind. If anything had +been wanted to prove to us that you were hopelessly +infatuated--hypnotised--mad--it would have been that; and as we were +morally bound to fetch you back with us, we took the bull by the horns, +and carried you off in spite of yourself." + +"You had no business to do anything of the kind," I replied hotly. "I am +chiefly responsible for this expedition." + +"True; but you forget that Carmichael is the nominal leader, by your own +agreement, and we are all to some extent under his orders. I, too, was +bound in honour to bring you safe home if I could." + +"Bound in honour to take care of _me_! You treat me like a baby." + +"People don't come away on such an adventure as ours without a tacit if +not a formal understanding to protect each other to the best of their +ability, and besides, I had given my word to your friends that I would +do my best to help you through. When you come to your senses you will +acknowledge that we did right." + +Despite my excusable anger and vexation, the calm and friendly +explanation of the professor was not without its effect on me. It was +true that I had broken my promise to my fellow-travellers; true that +Carmichael was commander of the expedition. I was myself at fault. And +yet what a disappointment! What would Alumion think of me! After all my +vows of eternal fidelity, uttered as they had been in that sacred spot, +I had sneaked away like a thief in the night. + +"I shall go back to Venus," said I, in a determined manner. + +"Tut, tut," said Gazen, with a good-natured smile; "you had better give +up that idea. You are clearly the victim of hypnotic influence--of +suggestion. By-and-by it will lose its hold on you, and you will regain +your freedom of action." + +"Never!" I exclaimed, with all the energy of my soul. "My dear Gazen, +you are quite mistaken in supposing anything of the kind. I was never +saner in my life. Nay, it is only now that I know what it is to be sane; +what life was meant to be. Hypnotic suggestion! Pshaw! I know what I am +doing as well as you do. I am not a fool. I am only seeking my own +happiness--and hers--I tell you that a single moment in her society is +worth a whole lifetime on the earth. What do I say? A lifetime? An +eternity. Heaven itself were nothing to me without her. I would not take +it as a gift. I shall go back. I must go back. I cannot live without +her." + +"Take time to consider at all events," said Gazen, somewhat impressed by +my vehemence. "In the meantime let us join Miss Carmichael. She is +beyond the rocks there sketching the valley." + +We walked in that direction. + +"You may return to the earth," said I; "but on the way you must drop me +at Venus." + +Gazen had no opportunity of answering, for just at that moment we were +startled by a piercing shriek from behind the crags, and rushing, or +rather bounding forward, saw a sight that made our very blood run cold. + +A flying monster, with enormous bat-like wings and hanging legs, was +evidently swooping down on Miss Carmichael, as she stood beside her +easel on the brow of the cliff. + +"Run for your life!" roared Gazen, dashing towards her with frantic +speed. + +Alas! she did not hear him, or else she was fascinated by the +approaching horror, and rooted to the spot. He was still several hundred +yards from her, but owing to the feebleness of gravity on the planet he +was so preternaturally light and nimble that he might have covered the +distance in a minute or so, had he been more accustomed to control his +limbs, and the ground been smoother. As it was he leaped high into the +air, and rebounded from the stones like an india-rubber ball, at the +risk of spraining his ankles or breaking his neck, while brandishing his +arms, and firing his pistol, and hooting with all his force of lung to +frighten away the monster. + +Too late. The huge leathery wings of the dragon overshadowed the +shrinking form of the girl, and the talons of its drooping feet caught +in her dress. She made one desperate, but futile effort to free herself +from its terrible clutch, and, screaming loudly for help, was borne away +over the abyss of the valley as easily as a lamb is carried by an eagle. + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Gazen, stopping with a gesture of despair. + +He was deeply moved, and pale as death; but he did not altogether lose +his head. + +What was to be done? + +"The car--the car!" he exclaimed. "We must follow her in the car. Keep +your eye on the beast while I go for it." + +Carmichael was fast asleep in his cabin, after his long weary vigil +during the passage from Venus, but the car was quickly put in motion, +and I jumped on board just as it cleared the brink of the precipice. + +The dragon, which had the start of us by a mile or more, was apparently +steering for the mountains on the other side of the valley. +Notwithstanding its enormous bulk, and the dead weight hanging from its +claws, it flew with surprising speed, owing to the weakness of gravity +and the vast spread of its wings. + +I shall never forget that singular chase, which is probably unparalleled +in the history of the universe. A prey to anxiety and the most +distressing emotions, we did not properly observe the marvellous, the +Titanic, I had almost said the diabolical aspect of the country beneath +us, and still we could not altogether blind ourselves to it. Colossal +jungles, resembling brakes of moss and canes five hundred or a thousand +feet in height--creeks as black as porter, gliding under their dank and +rotting aisles--mountainous quadrupeds or lizards crashing and tearing +through their branches--one of them at least six hundred feet in length, +with a ridgy back and long spiky tail, dragging on the ground, a baleful +green eye, and a crooked mouth full of horrid fangs, which made it look +the very incarnation of cruelty and brute strength--black lakes and +grisly reeds as high as bamboo--prodigious black serpents troubling the +water, and rearing their long spiry necks above the surface--gigantic +alligators and crocodiles resting motionless in the shallows, with their +snouts high in the air--hideous toads or such-like forbidding reptiles, +many with tusks like the walrus, and some with glorious eyes, crouching +on the banks or waddling in the reeds, and so enormous as to give +variety to the landscape--volcanic craters, with red-hot lava simmering +in their depths, and emitting fumes of sulphur, which might have choked +us had we not closed the scuttles--while over all great dragons and +other bat-like animals were flitting through the dusky atmosphere like +demons in a nightmare. + +Little by little we gained upon our quarry, but being afraid to run him +too close for fear that he might drop his victim, we kept at a safe +distance behind him, yet within rifle range, and near enough to make a +prompt attack when he should settle on the ground. + +At length we reached the other side of the valley, and found to our +intense satisfaction that the monster was making for a rocky ledge on +the shoulder of an extinct volcano, where we could see the yawning mouth +of what appeared an immense cavern. + +"That is probably his den," said Gazen, who was now as collected as I +have ever seen him. Nevertheless all his faculties were on the stretch. +His keen grey eye was everywhere, and his active mind was calculating +every chance. I felt then as I had often felt before that in action as +well as in thought the professor was a man of no common mark. + +The event showed that his surmise was correct, for soon after he had +spoken the dragon uttered a startling cry--a kind of squawk like that of +a drake, but much louder, hoarser, shriller--and alighted on the ground. + +"There is not a moment to lose," said Gazen. "We must attack him before +he enters the cave." + +Certainly the darkness inside the cavern would give the beast a great +advantage, and although we might succeed in killing him, we could +scarcely hope to find Miss Carmichael alive. Was she alive now? I had my +doubts, but I kept them to myself. Since she had been carried away she +had not given the smallest sign of life, not even when the dragon +settled. Perhaps, however, she had merely lost her senses through +fright, and was still in a dead faint. + +We might have fought the creature from the air, but we had decided to +assail him on the solid ground, because we should thus be able to +scatter and take him in the flank, if not in the rear. + +While Carmichael landed his car the astronomer and I kept a sharp watch +on the beast, all ready to fire at the first movement which seemed to +threaten the safety of the young girl, who was lying motionless at the +bottom of a slope or talus which led up to the mouth of the cavern. +Freed from his burden the dragon now stood erect, and a more awful +monster it would be difficult to conceive. He must have been at least +forty feet in stature, yet he gave us an impression of squat and sturdy +strength. + +I have called him a dragon, but he was not at all like the dragons of +our imagination. With his great bullet head and prick ears, his beetling +brows and deep sunken eyes, his ferocious mouth and protruding tusks, +his short thick neck and massive shoulders, his large, gawky, and +misshapen trunk, coated with dingy brown fur, shading into dirty yellow +on the stomach, his stout, bandy legs armed with curving talons, and his +huge leathern wings hanging in loose folds about him, he looked more +like an imp of Satan than a dragon. + +Hitherto he had not appeared to notice his pursuers; but now that he was +freer to observe, the grating of the car upon the rocks caught his +attention. He turned quickly, and stared at the apparition of the +vessel, which must have been a strange object to him; but he did not +seem to take alarm. It was the gaze of a jaguar or a tiger who sees +something curious in the jungle--vigilant and deadly if you like, but +neither scared nor fierce. + +We lost no time in sallying forth, all three of us, armed with magazine +rifle, cutlass, and revolver. Mr. Carmichael in the middle, I on the +lower, and Gazen on the upper side, or that nearest to Miss Carmichael. +The rocks around were slippery with ordure, and the sickening stench of +rotting skeletons made our very gorge rise. Suddenly a loud squeaking in +the direction of the cave arrested us, and before we had recovered from +our surprise, nearly a dozen young dragons, each about the size of a +man, tumbled hastily down the slope, and rushed upon the lifeless form +of Miss Carmichael. + +"Great Scott, there's the whole family," muttered Gazen between his +teeth, at the same time bringing his rifle to the shoulder, and firing +in quick succession. + +The foremost of the crew, which had already flung itself upon the prey, +was seen to spring head over heels into the air, and fall back dead; +another lay writhing in agony upon the ground, and uttering strangely +human shrieks; whilst the others, terrified by the noise, turned and +fled back helter-skelter to the cave. + +The old one, roused to anger by the injury done to his offspring, +snarled ferociously at his enemies and, drawing himself to his full +height, made a furious dash for Gazen. + +Our rifles cracked again and again; the monster started as he felt the +shots, and halted, glaring from one to another of us like a man +irresolute. Purple streams were gushing from his head and sides; he +attempted to fly, and ran towards the brink of the ledge; but ere he +could gain sufficient impetus to launch himself into the air, he +staggered and fell heavily to the ground, with his broken wings beneath +him. + +Gazen, quicker than her father, flew towards Miss Carmichael, and bent +over her. + +"Is she alive?" enquired Carmichael, in breathless and trembling +accents. + +"Yes, thank God," responded Gazen fervently; as he raised her hand to +his lips and kissed it. + +There were tears of joy in his eyes, and I knew then what I had long +suspected, that he loved her. + +Suddenly a loud croak in the distance caused us to look up, and we +beheld another dragon on the wing, coining rapidly towards us from a +pass among the mountains. There was not a moment to be lost, and Gazen, +taking Miss Carmichael in his arms, we all hurried on board the car, +eager to escape from this revolting spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SUNWARD HO! + + +"By the way," said Gazen to me, "I've got a new theory for the rising +and sinking of the sun behind the cliffs at Womla--a theory that will +simply explode Professor Possil, and shake the Royal Astronomical +Society to its foundations." + +The astronomer and I were together in the observatory, where he was +adjusting his telescope to look at the sun. After our misadventure with +the flying ape, we had returned to our former station on the summit of +the mountain, to pick up the drawing materials of Miss Carmichael; but +as Gazen was anxious to get as near the sun as possible, and being +disgusted with the infernal scenery as well as the foetid, malarial +atmosphere of Mercury, we left as soon as we had replenished our cistern +from the pools in the rock. + +"Another theory?" I responded. "Thought you had settled that question." + +"Alas, my friend, theories, like political treatises, are made to be +broken." + +"Well, what do you think of it now?" + +"You remember how we came to the conclusion that Schiaparelli was right, +and that the planet Venus, by rotating about her own axis in the same +time as she takes to revolve around the sun, always keeps the same face +turned to the sun, one hemisphere being in perpetual light and summer, +whilst the other is in perpetual darkness and winter?" + +"Yes." + +"You remember, too, how we explained the growing altitude of the sun in +the heavens which culminated on the great day of the Festival, by +supposing that the axis of the planet swayed to and from the sun so as +to tilt each pole towards the sun, and the other from it, alternately, +thus producing what by courtesy we may call the seasons in Womla?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, judging from the observations I have made, we were probably right +so far; but if you recollect, I accounted for the mysterious daily rise +and set of the sun, if I may use the words, by changes in the density of +the atmosphere bending the solar rays, and making the disk appear to +rise and sink periodically, though in reality it does nothing of the +kind. A similar effect is well-known on the earth. It produces the +'after glow' on the peaks of the Alps when the sun is far below the +horizon; it sometimes makes the sun bob up and down again after sunset, +and it has been known to make the sun show in the Arctic regions three +weeks before the proper time. I had some difficulty in understanding how +the effect could take place so regularly." + +"I think you ascribed it to the interaction of the solar heat and the +evaporation from the surface." + +"Quite so. I assumed that when the sun is low the vapours above the edge +of the crater and elsewhere cool and condense, thus bending the rays and +seeming to lift the sun higher; but after a time the rays heat and +rarefy the vapours, thus lowering the sun again. It seemed a plausible +hypothesis and satisfied me for a time, but still not altogether, and +now I believe I have made a discovery." + +"And it is?" + +"That Venus is a wobbler." + +"A wobbler?" + +"That she wobbles--that she doesn't keep steady--swings from side to +side. You have seen a top, how stiff and erect it is when it is spinning +fast, and how it wobbles when it is spinning slow, just before it +falls. Well, I think something of the kind is going on with Venus. The +earth may be compared to a top that is whirling fast, and Venus to one +that has slowed down. She is less able than the earth to resist the +disturbing attraction of the sun on the inequalities of her figure, and +therefore she wobbles. In addition to the slow swinging of her axis +which produces her 'seasons,' she has a quicker nodding, which gives +rise to day and night in some favoured spots like Womla." + +"After all," said I, "tis a feminine trait. _Souvent femme varie._" + +"Oh, she is constant to her lord the sun," rejoined Gazen. "She never +turns her back upon him, but if I have not discovered a mare's nest, +which is very likely, she becks and bows to him a good deal, and thus +maintains her 'infinite variety.'" + +The cloudy surface of Mercury now lay far beneath us, and the glowing +disc of the sun, which appeared four or five times larger than it does +on the earth, had taken a bluish tinge--a proof that we had reached a +very great altitude. + +"What a magnificent 'sun-spot!'" exclaimed the professor in a tone of +admiration. "Just take a peep at it." + +I placed my eye to the telescope, and saw the glowing surface of the +disc resolved into a marvellous web of shining patches on a dimmer +background, and in the midst a large blotch which reminded me of a +quarry hole as delineated on the plan of a surveyor. + +"Have you been able to throw any fresh light on these mysterious +'spots?'" I enquired. + +"I am more than ever persuaded they are breaks in the photosphere caused +by eruptions of heated matter, chiefly gaseous from the +interior--eruptions such as might give rise to craters like that of +Womla, or those of the moon, were the sun cooler. No doubt that eminent +authority, Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil, regards them as aerial +hurricanes; but the more I see, the more I am constrained to regard +Sylvanus Pettifer Possil as a silly vain asteroid." + +While Gazen was yet speaking we both became sensible of an unwonted +stillness in the car. + +The machinery had ceased to vibrate. + +Our feelings at this discovery were akin to those of passengers in an +ocean steamer when the screw stops--a welcome relief to the monotony of +the voyage, a vague apprehension of danger, and curiosity to learn what +had happened. + +"Is there anything wrong, Carmichael?" asked Gazen through the speaking +tube. + +There was no response. + +"I say, Carmichael, is anything the matter?" he reiterated in a louder +tone. + +Still no answer. + +We were now thoroughly alarmed, and though it was against the rules, we +descended into the machinery room. The cause of Carmichael's silence was +only too apparent. We saw him lying on the floor beside his strange +machine, with his head leaning against the wall. There was a placid +expression on his face, and he appeared to slumber; but we soon found +that he was either in a faint or dead. Without loss of time we tried the +first simple restoratives at hand, but they proved of no avail. + +Gazen went and called Miss Carmichael. + +She had been resting in her cabin after her trying experience with the +dragon, and although most anxious about her father, and far from well +herself, she behaved with calm self-possession. + +"I think the heat has overcome him," she said, after a quick +examination; and truly the cabin was insufferably hot, thanks to the +machinery and the fervid rays of the sun. + +We could not open the scuttles and admit fresh air, for there was little +or none to admit. + +"I shall try oxygen," she said on reflecting a moment. + +Accordingly, while Gazen, in obedience to her directions began to work +Carmichael's arms up and down, after the method of artificial +respiration which had brought me round at the outset of our journey, she +and I administered oxygen gas from one of our steel bottles to his lungs +by means of a makeshift funnel applied to his mouth. In some fifteen or +twenty minutes he began to show signs of returning animation, and soon +afterwards, to our great relief, he opened his eyes. + +At first he looked about him in a bewildered way, and then he seemed to +recollect his whereabouts. After an ineffectual attempt to speak, and +move his limbs, he fixed his eyes with a meaning expression on the +engines. + +We had forgotten their stoppage. Miss Carmichael sprang to investigate +the cause. + +"They are jammed," she said after a short inspection. "The essential +part is jammed with the heat. Whatever is to be done?" + +We stared at each other blankly as the terrible import of her words came +home to us. Unless we could start the machines again, we must inevitably +fall back on Mercury. Perhaps we were falling now! + +We endeavoured to think of a ready and practicable means of cooling the +engines, but without success. The water and oil on board was lukewarm; +none of us knew how to make a freezing mixture even if we had the +materials; our stock of liquid air had long been spent. + +Miss Carmichael tried to make her father understand the difficulty in +hopes that he would suggest a remedy, but all her efforts were in vain. +Carmichael lay with his eyes closed in a kind of lethargy or paralysis. + +"Perhaps, when we are falling through the planet's atmosphere," said I, +"if we open the scuttles and let the cold air blow through the room, it +will cool the engines." + +"I'm afraid there will not be time," replied Gazen, shaking his head; +"we shall fall much faster than we rose. The friction of the air against +the car will generate heat. We shall drop down like a meteoric stone and +be smashed to atoms." + +"We have parachutes," said Miss Carmichael, "do you think we shall be +able to save our lives?" + +"I doubt it," answered Gazen sadly. "They would be torn and whirled +away." + +"So far as I can see there is only one hope for us," said I. "If we +should happen to fall into a deep sea or lake, the car would rise to the +surface again." + +"Yes, that is true," responded Gazen; "the car is hollow and light. It +would float. The water would also cool the machines and we might +escape." + +The bare possibility cheered us with a ray of hope. + +"If we only had time, my father might recover, and I believe he would +save us yet," said Miss Carmichael. + +"I wonder how much time we have," muttered Gazen. + +"We can't tell," said I. "It depends on the height we had reached and +the speed we were going at when the engines stopped. We shall rise like +a ball thrown into the air and then fall back to the ground." + +"I wonder if we are still rising," ejaculated Gazen. "Let us take a look +at the planet." + +"Don't be long," pleaded Miss Carmichael, as we turned to go. +"Meanwhile, I shall try and bring my father round." + +On getting to the observatory, we consulted the atmospheric pressure +gauge and found it out of use, a sign that we had attained an altitude +beyond the atmosphere of Mercury, and were now in empty space. + +We turned to the planet, whose enormous disc, muffled in cloud, was +shining lividly in the weird sky. At one part of the limb a range of +lofty mountain peaks rose above the clouds and chequered them with +shadow. + +Fixing our eyes upon this landmark we watched it with bated breath. Was +it coming nearer, or was it receding from us? That was the momentous +question. + +My feelings might be compared to those of a prisoner at the bar watching +the face of the juryman who is about to deliver the verdict. + +After a time--I know not how long--but it seemed an age--the professor +exclaimed, + +"I believe we are still rising." + +It was my own impression, for the peak I was regarding had grown as I +thought smaller, but I did not feel sure, and preferred to trust the +more experienced eyes of the astronomer. + +"I shall try the telescope," he went on; "we are a long way from the +planet." + +"How far do you think?" + +"Many thousand miles at least." + +"So much the better. We shall get more time." + +"Humph! prolonging the agony, that's all. I begin to wish it was all +over." + +Gazen directed his instrument on the planet, and we resumed our +observations. + +"We are no longer rising," said Gazen after a time. "I suppose we are +near the turning-point." + +As a prisoner scans the countenance of the judge who is about to +pronounce the sentence of life or death, I scanned the cloudy surface +underneath us, to see if I could discover any signs of an ocean that +would break our fall, but the vapours were too thick and compact. + +Every instant I expected to hear the fatal intelligence that our descent +had begun. + +"Strange!" muttered Gazen by-and-by, as if speaking to himself. + +"What is strange?" + +"We are neither rising nor falling now. We don't seem to move." + +"Impossible!" + +"Nevertheless, it's a fact," he exclaimed at the end of some minutes. +"The focus of the telescope is constant. We are evidently standing +still." + +His words sounded like a reprieve to a condemned man on the morning of +his execution, and in the revulsion of my feeling I shouted, + +"Hurrah!" + +"What can it mean?" cried Gazen. + +"Simply this," said I joyfully. "We have reached the 'dead-point,' where +the attraction of Mercury on the car is balanced by the attraction of +the sun. It can't be anything else." + +"Wait a minute," said Gazen, making a rapid calculation. "Yes, yes, +probably you are right. I did not think we had come so far; but I had +forgotten that gravitation on Mercury is only half as strong as it is on +the Earth or Venus. Let us go and tell Miss Carmichael." + +We hurried downstairs to the engine room and found her kneeling beside +her father, who was no better. + +She did not seem much enlivened by the good news. + +"What will that do for us?" she enquired doubtfully. + +"We can remain here as long as we like, suspended between the Sun and +Mercury," replied Gazen. + +"Is it better to linger and die in a living tomb than be dashed to +pieces and have done with it?" + +"But we shall gain time for your father to recover." + +"I am afraid my father will never recover in this place. The heat is +killing him. Unless we can get further away from the sun he will die, +I'm sure he will." + +Her eyes filled with tears. + +"Don't distress yourself, dear Miss Carmichael, please don't," said +Gazen tenderly. "Now that we have time to think, perhaps we shall hit +upon some plan." + +An idea flashed into my head. + +"Look here," said I to Gazen, "you remember our conversation in your +observatory one day on the propelling power of rockets--how a rocket +might be used to drive a car through space?" + +"Yes; but we have no rockets." + +"No, but we have rifles, and rifle bullets fired from the car, though +not so powerful, will have a similar effect." + +"Well?" + +"The car is now at rest in space. A slight impulse will direct it one +way or another. Why should we not send it off in such a way that in +falling towards Mercury it will not strike the planet, but circle round +it; or if it should fall towards the surface, will do so at a great +slant, and allow the atmosphere to cool the engines." + +"Let me see," said Gazen, drawing a diagram in his note-book, and +studying it attentively. "Yes, there is something in that. It's a +forlorn hope at best, but perhaps it's our only hope. If we could only +get into the shadow of the planet we might be saved." + +As delay might prove fatal to Carmichael, and since it was uncertain +whether he could right the engines in their present situation, we +decided to act on the suggestion without loss of time. Gazen and I +calculated the positions of the rifles and the number of shots to be +fired in order to give the required impetus to the car. The engine-room, +being well provided with scuttles, was chosen as the scene of our +operations. A brace of magazine rifles were fixed through two of the +scuttles in such a way that the recoil of the shots would urge the car +in an oblique direction backwards, so as to clear or almost clear the +planet, allowance being made for the forward motion of the latter in its +orbit. Needless to say, the barrel of each rifle was packed round so as +to keep the air in the car from escaping into space. + +At a given signal the rifles were discharged simultaneously by Gazen and +myself. There was little noise, but the car trembled with the shock, and +the prostrate man opened his eyes. + +Had it produced the desired effect? We could not tell without an appeal +to the telescope. + +"I'll be back in a moment," cried Gazen, springing upstairs to the +observatory. + +"Do you feel any better, father?" enquired Miss Carmichael, laying her +cool hand on the invalid's fevered brow. + +He winked, and tried to nod in the affirmative. "Were you asleep, +father? Did the shock rouse you?" + +He winked again. + +"Do you know what we are doing?" Before he could answer the foot of +Gazen sounded on the stair. He had left us with an eager, almost a +confident eye. He came back looking grave in the extreme. + +"We are not falling towards Mercury," he said gloomily. "_We are rushing +to the sun!_" + +I cannot depict our emotion at this awful announcement which changed our +hopes into despair. Probably it affected each of us in a different +manner. I cannot recollect my own feelings well enough to analyse them, +and suppose I must have been astounded for a time. A vision of the car, +plunging through an atmosphere of flame, into the fiery entrails of the +sun, flashed across my excited brain, and then I seemed to lose the +power of thought. + +"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," said I at last, in frivolous +reaction. + +"His will be done!" murmured Miss Carmichael, instinctively drawing +closer to her father, who seemed to realise our jeopardy. + +"We must look the matter in the face," said Gazen, with a sigh. + +"What a death!" I exclaimed, "to sit and watch the vast glowing furnace +that is to swallow us up come nearer and nearer, second after second, +minute after minute, hour after hour." + +"The nearer we approach the sun the faster we shall go," said Gazen. +"For one thing, we shall be dead long before we reach him. The heat will +stifle us. It will be all over in a few hours." + +What a death! To see, to feel ourselves roasting as in an oven. It was +too horrible. + +"Are you certain there is no mistake?" I asked at length. + +"Quite," replied Gazen. "Come and see for yourself." + +We had all but gained the door when Miss Carmichael followed us. + +"Professor," she said, with a tremor in her voice, and a look of +supplication in her eyes, "you will come back soon--you will not leave +us long." + +"No, my darling--I beg your pardon," answered Gazen, obeying the impulse +of his heart. "God knows I would give my life to save you if I could." + +In another instant he had locked her in his arms. + +I left them together, and ascended to the observatory, where Gazen soon +afterwards rejoined me. + +"I'm the happiest man alive," said he, with a beaming countenance. +"Congratulate me. I'm betrothed to Miss Carmichael." + +I took his proffered hand, scarcely knowing whether to laugh or cry. + +"It seems to me that I have found my life in losing it," he continued +with a grim smile. "Saturn! what a courtship is ours--what an +engagement--what a bridal bed! But there, old fellow, I'm afraid I'm +happier than you--alone in spirit, and separated from her you love. +Perhaps I was wrong to carry you away from Venus--it has not turned out +well--but I acted for the best. Forgive me!" + +I wrung his hand in silence. + +"Now let us take a look through the telescope," he went on, wiping his +eyes, and adjusting the instrument. "You will see how soon it gets out +of focus. We are flying from Mercury, my friend, faster and faster." + +It was true. + +"But I don't understand how that should be," said I. "The firing ought +to have had a contrary effect." + +"The rifles are not to blame," answered Gazen. "If we had used them +earlier we might have saved ourselves. But all the time that we were +discussing ways and means, and making our preparations to shoot, we +were gradually drifting towards the sun without knowing it. We +overlooked the fact that the orbit of Mercury is very far from circular, +and that he is now moving further away from the sun every instant. As a +consequence his attractive power over the car is growing weaker every +moment. The car had reached the 'dead-point' where the attractive +powers of the sun and planet over it just balanced each other; but as +that of the planet grew feebler the balance turned, and the car was +drawn with ever accelerating velocity towards the sun." + +"Like enough." + +"I can satisfy you of it by pointing the telescope at a sun-spot," said +Gazen, bringing the instrument to bear upon the sun. "You will then see +how fast we are running to perdition. I say--what would our friends in +London think if they could see us now? Wouldn't old Possil snigger! +Well, I shall get the better of him at last. I shall solve the great +mystery of the 'sun-spots' and the 'willow leaves.' Only he will never +know it. That's a bitter drop in the cup!" + +So saying, he applied his eye to the telescope, his ruling passion +strong in death. For myself, as often as I had admired the glorious +luminary, I could not think of it now without a shudder, and fell a +prey to my own melancholy ruminations. + +So this was the end! After all our care and forethought, after all our +struggles, after all our success, to perish miserably like moths in a +candle, to plunge headlong into that immense conflagration as a vessel +dives into the ocean, and is never heard of more! Not a vestige of us, +not even a charred bone to tell the tale. Alumion--our friends at +home--when they admired the sun would they ever fancy that it was our +grave--ever dream that our ashes were whirling in its flames. The cry of +Othello, in his despair, which I had learned at school, came back to my +mind--"Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in +steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!" + +Regrets, remorse, and bitter reflections overwhelmed me. Why had we not +stayed in Venus? Why had we come to Mercury? Why had we endeavoured to +do so much? What folly had drawn me into this mad venture at all? No, I +could not say that. I could not call it folly which had brought me to +Alumion. I had no regret, but on the contrary an unspeakable joy and +gratitude on that score. But why had we attempted to approach so near +the sun, daring the heat, which had jammed our engines, and disabled +our best intellect; risking the powerful attraction that was hurrying us +to our doom? + +Suddenly a peculiar thrill shook the car. With a bounding heart I +started to my feet and dashed into the engine-room. It was true then. +Yes, it was true. _The engines were at work, and we were saved!_ + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HOME AGAIN. + + +We owed our salvation to Mr. Carmichael. The firing of our magazine +rifles, followed by the news of our perilous situation, had roused him +from his lethargy. Although still unable to speak, he had contrived by +means of his eyes to make his daughter understand that he wished another +dose of oxygen. When she was about to administer it, he called her +attention to the fact that in expanding as it issued from the cylinder, +the gas became very cold. She caught his meaning instantly, and on +applying the gas to the sensitive parts of the machinery had succeeded +in cooling and releasing them. + +It seems that Carmichael, in order to save time, had been working the +engines at an unusually high speed, which, together with the heat of the +sun, had caused them to jam. Their enforced rest had of itself allowed +them to cool somewhat, and by reducing the speed until we reached a +cooler region, they did not stick again. + +Carmichael recovered from his illness, and the journey to the earth was +accomplished without accident. We landed safely on some undiscovered +islands in the Arctic Circle, and after a flying visit to the North Pole +in the vicinity, we bore away for England, keeping as high over the sea +as possible to escape notice. Going southward we passed through all +sorts of weather, thick snow, hurricanes of wind and rain, dry or wet +fogs, and so forth; but it made no difference to us. Crossing +Spitzbergen, the car was frosted over with ice needles, which, however, +were soon thawed by a warmer current of air. Between Iceland and the +coast of Norway we glided through a magnificent aurora borealis that +covered the whole sky with a luminous curtain, and made us fancy we had +floated unawares into the fabulous Niffleheim of the old Scandinavian +gods. Near the Faroe Islands we dashed into a violent thunderstorm, and +were almost deafened by the terrific explosions, or blinded by the +flashes of lightning. Otherwise we could enjoy both of these electrical +displays without fear, as the metallic shell of the car was a good +protective screen. Certainly our flying machine would be an excellent +means of making observations in meteorology, from the sampling of +cirrus cloud to the chasing of a tornado. + +The first sign of man we saw was a ship rolling in a storm off the +Hebrides; but apparently she was not in distress, else we should have +gone to her succour. How easy with such a car to rescue lives and +property from sinking ships, and even patrol the seas in search of them! + +The sun was setting in purple and gold as we approached the English +coast, and although at our elevation we were still in sunshine, the +twilight had begun to gather over the distant land. The first sound we +heard was the moaning of the tide along the shore, and the mournful +sighing of the wind among the trees. Hills, fields, and woods lay +beneath us like a garden in miniature. The lamps and fires of lonely +villages and farmhouses twinkled like glow-worms in the dusk. A railway +train, with its white puff of smoke and lighted carriages, seemed to be +crawling like a fiery caterpillar along the ground; but in a few moments +we had left it far behind. As it grew darker and darker we descended +nearer to the surface. A herd of sheep stood huddled on the grass, and +stared at us; a flock of geese ran cackling into a farmyard; the +watch-dog barked and tugged furiously at his chain; a little boy +screamed with fright. + +"That sounds homely," said the professor to Miss Carmichael and myself, +who were standing with him on the gallery outside the car. "It's the +sweetest music I've heard for many a day. Certainly Venus was a charming +place, but I for one am jolly glad to get home again." + +Yes, I must confess that I too felt a deep and tranquil pleasure in +returning to the familiar scenes and the beloved soil of my infancy. + +"You don't seem to care much for Venus," said Miss Carmichael to Gazen. +"Probably if you had been born there you would have liked it better." + +"That may be. If you would like a place, it is well to be born in it." + +"Perhaps if you are a good boy you will go to Venus when you die." + +"I'm afraid it won't suit my mental constitution. They don't care for +science there, and I don't care for anything else. Mars would fit me +better, I imagine." + +"Venus is my favourite," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, then, it's good enough for me," responded Gazen. + +Their talk set me thinking of Alumion, and my strange fancy that I had +known her in another world. Suddenly it occurred to me that in many of +her ways and looks she bore a singular resemblance to my first love, who +had died in childhood. That was nearly seventeen years ago. +Seventeen--it was just the age of Alumion. Could it be possible that she +and Alumion were one and the same soul? + +"I should like to go back to Venus," said Miss Carmichael. "We can go +there now at any time." + +"Of course we can," replied Gazen; "and to Mars as well. Your father's +invention opens up a bewildering prospect of complications in the +universe. So long as each planet was isolated, and left to manage its +own affairs, the politics of the solar system were comparatively simple; +but what will they be when one globe interferes with another? Think of a +German fleet of ether-ships on the prowl for a cosmical empire, +bombarding Womla, and turning it into a Prussian fortress, or an +emporium for cheap goods." + +"Father was talking of that very matter the other night," said Miss +Carmichael, "and he declared that rather than see any harm come to Womla +he would keep his invention a secret--at all events for a thousand years +longer." + +We had glided rapidly across the Black Country, with its furnaces and +forges blazing in the darkness, and now the dull red glow of the +metropolis was visible on the horizon. Half-an-hour later we descended +in the garden of Carmichael's cottage, and found everything as snug as +when we had left it. + +Leaving my fellow-travellers there, I took the train for London, and was +driven to my club, where I intended to sleep. It was a raw wet evening, +and in spite of a certain joy at being home again, I could not help +feeling that my heart was no longer here, but in another planet. After +the sublime deserts of space, and the delightful paradise of Womla, the +busy streets, the blinding glare of the lamps, the splashing vehicles, +the blatant newspaper men, the swarms of people crossing each other's +paths, and occasionally kicking each other's heels, everyone intent on +his own affairs of business or pleasure, were disenchanting, to say the +least. I seemed to have awakened from a beautiful dream, and fallen into +a dismal nightmare. + +In the smoking-room of the club the first person I saw was my friend the +Viscount, who was sitting just where I had left him on the night we +started for Venus, with his glass of toddy before him, and a cigar +between his lips. + +"Hallo!" he exclaimed on seeing me. "Haven't seen you for some +time--must be nearly two months. Been abroad? You look brown." + +"Yes." + +"Well, suppose we finish our game of chess." + +"With pleasure." + +"You remember the wager--a thousand to a hundred sovereigns that I win." + +He was the better player, and although I had a slight advantage in the +game as it stood, I was by no means certain of winning, especially as I +was tired and sleepy; but ever since my sojourn in Venus, my intellect +had been unusually clear and active. I played as I had never played +before, and in three moves had won the wager. + +"That will pay my travelling expenses," said I, pocketing his cheque. + + * * * * * + +I ought perhaps to mention that Professor Gazen carried out his +intention of reading a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society on his +alleged discovery of a diurnal nutation or "wobbling" of the planet +Venus; but I regret to say that owing to preconceived opinions and +personal prejudices, his ingenious theory met with a reception far below +its merits. By the terms of our agreement he was forbidden to divulge +the secret of our expedition until my own account appeared, but some +telescopic observations he had made since coming home had provided him +with independent proofs. + +"Do you think Professor Possil will be present?" said I to him, as we +dined together before we went to the meeting. + +"Sure to be," replied Gazen. "He never misses an opportunity of +attacking me. 'Tis the nature of the animal. But I flatter myself I +shall get the laugh on him this time." + +The hall was full. The hearty welcome of the Fellows showed their high +appreciation of Professor Gazen, and made me feel quite proud of his +acquaintance. They listened to his discourse on the movements of Venus, +and his new hypothesis, with all the solemnity of a Roman senate +deliberating on the destiny of a nation. When he had finished in a salvo +of applause, the president, a man of grave and dignified demeanour, as +became his office, complimented the author on his communication, which +from the startling novelty of the subject would, he believed, give rise +to an interesting discussion, and after calling on Professor Possil, he +resumed his chair. That illustrious man, whose insignificant appearance +belied his fame, responded to the invitation with a show of reluctance, +from a conspicuous place in the front row of the audience, and +immediately assailed the new hypothesis in his most uncompromising +fashion. + +"Never in his experience of the Society," he said, "and never perhaps in +the history of astronomy, had an alleged discovery of such magnitude and +consequence been promulgated on the strength of such flimsy evidence;" +and after traversing in detail all the arguments of his opponent, he +declared it his firm conviction that the effects which Professor Gazen +had thought fit to advance as a "discovery," were neither more nor less +than an optical illusion, not to say a mental hallucination. + +Judging from the applause which greeted his remarks, the majority of his +hearers were evidently of the same opinion. + +A grim smile settled on my companion's face, and I could see that he +maintained his temper with increasing difficulty, as one speaker after +another delivered his mind in much the same sarcastic style of +criticism. + +At length his turn came to make a reply. + +"Mr. President and gentlemen," said he with an air of smiling +confidence, "at this late hour I do not propose to occupy the meeting +with a refutation of all the various comments of the distinguished +Fellows who have spoken; but as my learned friend, Professor Possil, has +thought fit to charge me with bringing my discovery before the Society +on insufficient grounds, I think it right to say that I possess much +more conclusive evidence, which for the present, circumstances have +prevented me from laying before you." + +"Mr. President," exclaimed the celebrated Possil, starting to his feet, +"I should like to ask whether it is altogether in good faith for a +Fellow of this Society to bring forward what he calls a discovery, and +keep back the most important part of the proof. Might I enquire of the +author of the paper what is the nature of this suppressed evidence?" + +"Simply that I have been there," answered Gazen, forgetting his promise +to me in the excitement of the combat. + +"Where?" demanded the astonished Possil. + +"Venus." + +There was a loud burst of sceptical laughter. + +"I think, sir," said Professor Possil to the Chair, with exasperating +coolness, "I think, sir, that after the astounding revelation of the +learned professor, we shall be perfectly justified in concluding on +sufficient evidence that the professor's head, and not the planet Venus, +has been 'wobbling' of late." + +"What I say is true," cried Gazen, nettled at this rude insinuation. + +Cries of "Order, order," "withdraw," "apologise," resounded on every +side. + +"I cannot apologise for the truth," retorted Gazen hotly. + +"Mr. President," continued the pugnacious and imperturbable Fossil, "I +venture to submit that the preposterous assertions we have just heard +are better adapted to a meeting of the Fellows of Colney Hatch than of +this Society, and I beg to move that our unfortunate friend be called +upon to leave the meeting in charge of some responsible person, who will +conduct him safely to his home, and deliver him into the custody of his +friends." + +"Come on! They're a pack of fools!" cried Gazen to me hoarsely, as, +followed by the jeers of his companions, he arose and left the room. + + * * * * * + +I have only to add that Professor Gazen and Miss Carmichael are about +to be married. For myself, as soon as the ceremony is over I shall +return to Venus and Alumion. + +THE END. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Trip to Venus, by John Munro + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + +***** This file should be named 13716-8.txt or 13716-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/7/1/13716/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Trip to Venus + +Author: John Munro + +Release Date: October 11, 2004 [EBook #13716] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>A TRIP TO VENUS</h1> + +<h2>A NOVEL BY JOHN MUNRO</h2> + +<h4><i>Author of the "The Wire and the Wave," +"The Story of Electricity," etc., etc.</i></h4> +<br /> + +<h4>Published in 1897 by Jarrold & Sons, London</h4> + +<br /> + +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> + +<h4>CHAPTER I.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_I'>A MESSAGE FROM MARS</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER II.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_II'>HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS?</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER III.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_III'>A NEW FORCE</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER IV.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'>THE ELECTRIC ORRERY</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER V.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_V'>LEAVING THE EARTH</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER VI.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_VI'>IN SPACE</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER VII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_VII'>ARRIVING IN VENUS</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER VIII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'>THE CRATER LAND</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER IX.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'>THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER X.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_X'>ALUMION</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER XI.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'>THE FLYING APE</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER XII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'>SUNWARD HO!</a></h4> +<h4>CHAPTER XIII.<br /><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'>HOME AGAIN</a></h4> + + +<br /> + +<div class='blkquot'><p>"The heaven that rolls around cries aloud to you while it displays its +eternal harmony, and yet your eyes are fixed upon the earth alone."</p> + +<p>DANTE.</p></div> + +<br /> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"This truth within thy mind rehearse,<br /></span> +<span> That in a boúndless universe<br /></span> +<span> Is boundless better, boundless worse.<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Think you this mould of hopes and fears<br /></span> +<span> Could find no statelier than his peers<br /></span> +<span> In yonder hundred million spheres?"<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span>TENNYSON.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> + +<h2>A TRIP TO VENUS.</h2> +<br /> + +<a name='CHAPTER_I'></a><h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>A MESSAGE FROM MARS.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>While I was glancing at the <i>Times</i> newspaper in a morning train for +London my eyes fell on the following item:—</p> + +<div class='blkquot'><p>A STRANGE LIGHT ON MARS.—On Monday afternoon, Dr. Krueger, who is + in charge of the central bureau at Kiel, telegraphed to his + correspondents:—</p> + +<p> "<i>Projection lumineuse dans région australe du terminateur de Mars + observée par Javelle 28 courant, 16 heures.—Perrotin.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>In plain English, at 4 a.m., a ray of light had been observed on the +disc of the planet Mars in or near the "terminator"; that is to say, the +zone of twilight separating day from night. The news was doubly +interesting to me, because a singular dream of "Sunrise in the Moon" had +quickened my imagination as to the wonders of the universe beyond our +little globe, and because of a never-to-be-forgotten experience of mine +with an aged astronomer several years ago.</p> + +<p>This extraordinary man, living the life of a recluse in his own +observatory, which was situated in a lonely part of the country, had, or +at any rate, believed that he had, opened up a communication with the +inhabitants of Mars, by means of powerful electric lights, flashing in +the manner of a signal-lantern or heliograph. I had set him down as a +monomaniac; but who knows? perhaps he was not so crazy after all.</p> + +<p>When evening came I turned to the books, and gathered a great deal about +the fiery planet, including the fact that a stout man, a Daniel Lambert, +could jump his own height there with the greatest ease. Very likely; but +I was seeking information on the strange light, and as I could not find +any I resolved to walk over and consult my old friend, Professor Gazen, +the well-known astronomer, who had made his mark by a series of splendid +researches with the spectroscope into the constitution of the sun and +other celestial bodies.</p> + +<p>It was a fine clear night. The sky was cloudless and of a deep dark +blue, which revealed the highest heavens and the silvery lustre of the +Milky Way. The great belt of Orion shone conspicuously in the east, and +Sirius blazed a living gem more to the south. I looked for Mars, and +soon found him farther to the north, a large red star, amongst the white +of the encircling constellations.</p> + +<p>Professor Gazen was quite alone in his observatory when I arrived, and +busily engaged in writing or computing at his desk.</p> + +<p>"I hope I'm not disturbing you," said I, as we shook hands; "I know that +you astronomers must work when the fine night cometh."</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it," he replied cordially; "I'm observing one of the +nebulas just now, but it won't be in sight for a long time yet."</p> + +<p>"What about this mysterious light on Mars. Have you seen anything of +it?"</p> + +<p>Gazen laughed.</p> + +<p>"I have not," said he, "though I did look the other night."</p> + +<p>"You believe that something of the kind has been seen?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly. The Nice Observatory, of which Monsieur Perrotin is +director, has one of the finest telescopes in existence, and Monsieur +Javelle is well-known for his careful work."</p> + +<p>"How do you account for it?"</p> + +<p>"The light is not outside the disc," responded Gazen, "else I should +ascribe it to a small comet. It may be due to an aurora in Mars as a +writer in <i>Nature</i> has suggested, or to a range of snowy Alps, or even +to a bright cloud, reflecting the sunrise. Possibly the Martians have +seen the forest fires in America, and started a rival illumination."</p> + +<p>"What strikes you as the likeliest of these notions?"</p> + +<p>"Mountain peaks catching the sunshine."</p> + +<p>"Might it not be the glare of a city, or a powerful search-light—in +short, a signal?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, no," exclaimed the astronomer, smiling incredulously. "The +idea of signalling has got into people's heads through the outcry raised +about it some time ago, when Mars was in 'opposition' and near the +earth. I suppose you are thinking of the plan for raising and lowering +the lights of London to attract the notice of the Martians?"</p> + +<p>"No; I believe I told you of the singular experience I had some five or +six years ago with an old astronomer, who thought he had established an +optical telegraph to Mars?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I remember now. Ah, that poor old chap was insane. Like the +astronomer in <i>Rasselas</i>, he had brooded so long in solitude over his +visionary idea that he had come to imagine it a reality."</p> + +<p>"Might there not be some truth in his notion? Perhaps he was only a +little before his time."</p> + +<p>Gazen shook his head.</p> + +<p>"You see," he replied, "Mars is a much older planet than ours. In winter +the Arctic snows extend to within forty degrees of the equator, and the +climate must be very cold. If human beings ever existed on it they must +have died out long ago, or sunk to the condition of the Eskimo."</p> + +<p>"May not the climate be softened by conditions of land and sea unknown +to us? May not the science and civilisation of the Martians enable them +to cope with the low temperature?"</p> + +<p>"The atmosphere of Mars is as rare as ours at a height of six miles, and +a warm-blooded creature like man would expire in it."</p> + +<p>"Like man, yes," I answered; "but man was made for this world. We are +too apt to measure things by our own experience. Why should we limit the +potentiality of life by what we know of this planet?"</p> + +<p>"In the next place," went on Gazen, ignoring my remark, "the old +astronomer's plan of signalling by strong lights was quite +impracticable. No artificial light is capable of reaching to Mars. Think +of the immense distance and the two atmospheres to penetrate! The man +was mad, as mad as a March hare! though why a March hare is mad I'm sure +I don't know."</p> + +<p>"I read the other day of an electric light in America which can be seen +150 miles through the lower atmosphere. Such a light, if properly +directed, might be visible on Mars; and, for aught we know, the Martians +may have discovered a still stronger beam."</p> + +<p>"And if they have, the odds against their signalling just when we are +alive to the possibility of it are simply tremendous."</p> + +<p>"I see nothing incredible in the coincidence. Two heads often conceive +the same idea about the same time, and why not two planets, if the hour +be ripe? Surely there is one and the same inspiring Soul in all the +universe. Besides, they may have been signalling for centuries, off and +on, without our knowing it."</p> + +<p>"Then, again," said Gazen, with a pawky twinkle in his eye, "our +electric light may have woke them up."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are signalling now," said I, "while we are wasting +precious time. I wish you would look."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you like; but I don't think you'll see any 'luminous +projections,' human or otherwise."</p> + +<p>"I shall see the face of Mars, anyhow, and that will be a rare +experience. It seems to me that a view of the heavenly bodies through a +fine telescope, as well as a tour round the world, should form a part +of a liberal education. How many run to and fro upon the earth, hunting +for sights at great trouble and expense, but how few even think of that +sublimer scenery of the sky which can be seen without stirring far from +home! A peep at some distant orb has power to raise and purify our +thoughts like a strain of sacred music, or a noble picture, or a passage +from the grander poets. It always does one good."</p> + +<p>Professor Gazen silently turned the great refracting telescope in the +direction of Mars, and peered attentively through its mighty tube for +several minutes.</p> + +<p>"Is there any light?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"None," he replied, shaking his head. "Look for yourself."</p> + +<p>I took his place at the eye-piece, and was almost startled to find the +little coppery star, which I had seen half-an-hour before, apparently +quite near, and transformed into a large globe. It resembled a gibbous +moon, for a considerable part of its disc was illuminated by the sun.</p> + +<p>A dazzling spot marked one of its poles, and the rest of its visible +surface was mottled with ruddy and greenish tints which faded into white +at the rim. Fascinated by the spectacle of that living world, seen at a +glance, and pursuing its appointed course through the illimitable ether, +I forgot my quest, and a religious awe came over me akin to that felt +under the dome of a vast cathedral.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you make of it?"</p> + +<p>The voice recalled me to myself, and I began to scrutinise the dim and +shadowy border of the terminator for the feeblest ray of light, but all +in vain.</p> + +<p>"I can't see any 'luminous projection'; but what a magnificent object in +the telescope!"</p> + +<p>"It is indeed," rejoined the professor, "and though we have not many +opportunities of seeing it, we know it better than the other planets, +and almost as well as the moon. Its features have been carefully mapped +like those of the moon, and christened after celebrated astronomers."</p> + +<p>"Yourself included, I hope."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; I have not that honour. It is true that a man I know, an +enthusiastic amateur in astronomy, dubbed a lot of holes and corners in +the moon after his private friends and acquaintances, myself amongst +them: 'Snook's Crater,' 'Smith's Bottom,' 'Tiddler's Cove,' and so on; +but I regret to say the authorities declined to sanction his +nomenclature."</p> + +<p>"I presume that bright spot on the Southern limb is one of the polar +ice-caps," said I, still keeping my eye on the planet.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the professor, "and they are seen to wax and wane in +winter and summer. The reddish-yellow tracts are doubtless continents of +an ochrey soil; and not, as some think, of a ruddy vegetation. The +greenish-grey patches are probably seas and lakes. The land and water +are better mixed on Mars than on the earth—a fact which tends to +equalise the climate. There is a belt of continents round the equator: +'Copernicus,' 'Galileo,' 'Dawes,' and others, having long winding lakes +and inlets. These are separated by narrow seas from other islands on the +north or south, such as: 'Haze Land, 'Storm Land,' and so forth, which +occupy what we should call the temperate zones, beneath the poles; but I +suspect they are frigid enough. If you look closely you will see some +narrow streaks crossing the continents like fractures. These are the +famous 'Canals' of Schiaparelli, who discovered (and I wish I had his +eyes) that many of them were 'doubled,' that is, had another canal +alongside. Some of these are nearly 2,000 miles long, by fifty miles +broad, and 300 miles apart."</p> + +<p>"That beats the Suez Canal."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid they are not artificial. The doubling is chiefly observed +at the vernal equinox, our month of May, and is perhaps due to spring +floods, or vegetation in valleys of the like trend, as we find in +Siberia. The massing of clouds or mists will account for the peculiar +whiteness at the edge of the limb, and an occasional veiling of the +landscape."</p> + +<p>While he spoke, my attention was suddenly arrested by a vivid point of +light which appeared on the dark side of the terminator, and south of +the equator.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" I exclaimed, involuntarily. "There's a light!"</p> + +<p>"Really!" responded Gazen, in a tone of surprise, not unmingled with +doubt. "Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Quite. There is a distinct light on one of the continents."</p> + +<p>"Let me see it, will you?" he rejoined, hastily; and I yielded up my +place to him.</p> + +<p>"Why, so there is," he declared, after a pause. "I suspect it has been +hidden under a cloud till now."</p> + +<p>We turned and looked at each other in silence.</p> + +<p>"It can't be the light Javelle saw," ejaculated Gazen at length. "That +was on Hellas Land."</p> + +<p>"Should the Martians be signalling they would probably use a system of +lights. I daresay they possess an electric telegraph to work it."</p> + +<p>The professor put his eye to the glass again, and I awaited the result +of his observation with eager interest.</p> + +<p>"It's as steady as possible," said he.</p> + +<p>"The steadiness puzzles me," I replied. "If it would only flash I should +call it a signal."</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily to us," said Gazen, with mock gravity. "You see, it +might be a lighthouse flashing on the Kaiser Sea, or a night message in +the autumn manoeuvres of the Martians, who are, no doubt, very warlike; +or even the advertisement of a new soap."</p> + +<p>"Seriously, what do you think of it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I confess it's a mystery to me," he answered, pondering deeply; and +then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added: "I wonder if it's any +good trying the spectroscope on it?"</p> + +<p>So saying, he attached to the telescope a magnificent spectroscope, +which he employed in his researches on the nebulæ, and renewed his +observation.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the most remarkable thing in all my professional +experience," he exclaimed, resigning his place at the instrument to me.</p> + +<p>"What is?" I demanded, looking into the spectroscope, where I could +distinguish several faint streaks of coloured light on a darker +background.</p> + +<p>"You know that we can tell the nature of a substance that is burning by +splitting up the light which comes from it in the prism of a +spectroscope. Well, these bright lines of different colours are the +spectrum of a luminous gas."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Have you any idea as to the origin of the blaze?"</p> + +<p>"It may be electrical—for instance, an aurora. It may be a volcanic +eruption, or a lake of fire such as the crater of Kilauea. Really, I +can't say. Let me see if I can identify the bright lines of the +spectrum."</p> + +<p>I yielded the spectroscope to him, and scarcely had he looked into it +ere he cried out—</p> + +<p>"By all that's wonderful, the spectrum has changed. Eureka! It's +thallium now. I should know that splendid green line amongst a +thousand."</p> + +<p>"Thallium!" I exclaimed, astonished in my turn.</p> + +<p>"Yes," responded Gazen, hurriedly. "Make a note of the observation, and +also of the time. You will find a book for the purpose lying on the +desk."</p> + +<p>I did as directed, and awaited further orders. The silence was so great +that I could plainly hear the ticking of my watch laid on the desk +before me. At the end of several minutes the professor cried—</p> + +<p>"It has changed again: make another note."</p> + +<p>"What is it now?"</p> + +<p>"Sodium. The yellow bands are unmistakable."</p> + +<p>A deep stillness reigned as before.</p> + +<p>"There she goes again," exclaimed the professor, much excited. "Now I +can see a couple of blue lines. What can that be? I believe it's +indium."</p> + +<p>Another long pause ensued.</p> + +<p>"Now they are gone," ejaculated Gazen once more. "A red and a yellow +line have taken their place. That should be lithium. Hey, presto!—and +all was dark."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"It's all over." With these words he removed the spectroscope from the +telescope, and gazed anxiously at the planet "The light is gone," he +continued, after a minute. "Perhaps another cloud is passing over it. +Well, we must wait. In the meantime let us consider the situation. It +seems to me that we have every reason to be satisfied with our night's +work. What do you think?"</p> + +<p>There was a glow of triumph on his countenance as he came and stood +before me.</p> + +<p>"I believe it's a signal," said I, with an air of conviction.</p> + +<p>"But how?"</p> + +<p>"Why should it change so regularly? I've timed each spectrum, and found +it to last about five minutes before another took its place."</p> + +<p>The professor remained thoughtful and silent.</p> + +<p>"Is it not by the light which comes from them that we have gained all +our knowledge of the constitution of the heavenly bodies?" I continued. +"A ray from the remotest star brings in its heart a secret message to +him who can read it. Now, the Martians would naturally resort to the +same medium of communication as the most obvious, simple, and +practicable. By producing a powerful light they might hope to attract +our attention, and by imbuing it with characteristic spectra, easily +recognised and changed at intervals, they would distinguish the light +from every other, and show us that it must have had an intelligent +origin."</p> + +<p>"What then?"</p> + +<p>"We should know that the Martians had a civilisation at least as high as +our own. To my mind, that would be a great discovery—the greatest since +the world began."</p> + +<p>"But of little use to either party."</p> + +<p>"As for that, a good many of our discoveries, especially in astronomy, +are not of much use. Suppose you find out the chemical composition of +the nebulæ you are studying, will that lower the price of bread? No; but +it will interest and enlighten us. If the Martians can tell us what Mars +is made of, and we can return the compliment as regards the earth, that +will be a service."</p> + +<p>"But the correspondence must then cease, as the editors say."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that."</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow! How on earth are we to understand what the Martians +say, and how on Mars are they to understand what we say? We have no +common code."</p> + +<p>"True; but the chemical bodies have certain well-defined properties, +have they not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Each has a peculiarity marking it from all the rest. For example, +two or more may resemble each other in colour or hardness, but not in +weight."</p> + +<p>"Precisely. Now, by comparing their spectra can we not be led to +distinguish a particular quality, and grasp the idea of it? In short, +can the Martians not impress that idea on us by their +spectro-telegraph?"</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean," said Professor Gazen; "and, now I think of it, +all the spectra we have seen belong to the group called 'metals of the +alkalies and alkaline earths,' which, of course, have distinctive +properties."</p> + +<p>"At first, I should think the Martians would only try to attract our +notice by striking spectra."</p> + +<p>"Lithium is the lightest metal known to us."</p> + +<p>"Well, we might get the idea of 'lightness' from that."</p> + +<p>"Sodium," continued the professor, "sodium is a very soft metal, with so +strong an affinity for oxygen that it burns in water. Manganese, which +belongs to the 'iron group,' is hard enough to scratch glass; and, like +iron, is decidedly magnetic. Copper is red—"</p> + +<p>"The signals for colour we might get from the spectra direct."</p> + +<p>"Mercury or quicksilver is fluid at ordinary temperatures, and that +might lead us to the idea of movement—animation—life itself."</p> + +<p>"Having got certain fundamental ideas," I went on, "by combining these +we might arrive at other distinct conceptions. We might build up an +ideographic or glyphic language of signs—the signs being spectra. The +numerals might be telegraphed by simple occultations of the light. Then +from spectra we might pass by an easy step to equivalent signals of +long and short flashes in various combinations, also made by occulting +the light. With such a code, our correspondence might go on at great +length, and present no difficulty; but, of course, we must be able to +reply."</p> + +<p>"If the Martians are as clever as you are pleased to imagine, we ought +to learn a good deal from them."</p> + +<p>"I hope we may, and I'm sure the world will be all the better for a +little superior enlightenment on some points."</p> + +<p>"Well, we must follow the matter up, at all events," said the professor, +taking another peep through the telescope. "For the present the Martian +philosophers appear to have shut up shop; and, as my nebula has now +risen, I should like to do a little work on it before daybreak. Look +here, if it's a fine night, can you join me to-morrow? We shall then +continue our observations; but, in the meanwhile, you had better say +nothing about them."</p> + +<p>On my way home I looked for the ruddy planet as I had done in the +earlier part of the night, but with very different feelings in my heart. +The ice of distance and isolation separating me from it seemed to have +broken down since then, and instead of a cold and alien star, I saw a +friendly and familiar world—a companion to our own in the eternal +solitude of the universe.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_II'></a><h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS?</h4> +<br /> + +<p>The next evening promised well, and I kept my appointment, but +unfortunately a slight haze gathered in the sky and prevented us from +making further observations. While hoping in vain for it to clear away, +Professor Gazen and I talked over the possibility of journeying to other +worlds. The gist of our argument was afterwards published in a +conversation, entitled "Can we reach the other planets?" which appeared +in <i>The Day after To-morrow</i>. It ran as follows:</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. (<i>the writer</i>). "Do you think we shall ever be able to leave the +earth and travel through space to Mars or Venus, and the other members +of the Solar System?"</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. (<i>Checking an impulse to smile and shaking his head</i>), "Oh, no! +Never."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Yet science is working miracles, or what would have been +accounted miracles in ancient times."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "No doubt, and hence people are apt to suppose that science can do +everything; but after all Nature has set bounds to her achievements."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Still, we don't know what we can and what we cannot do until we +try."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Not always; but in this case I think we know. The celestial bodies +are evidently isolated in space, and the tenants of one cannot pass to +another. We are confined to our own planet."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "A similar objection might have been urged against the plan of +Columbus."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "That was different. Columbus only sailed through unknown seas to a +distant continent. We are free to explore every nook and cranny of the +earth, but how shall we cross the immense void which parts us from +another world, except on the wings of the imagination?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Great discoveries and inventions are born of dreams. There are +minds which can foresee what lies before us, and the march of science +brings it within our reach. All or nearly all our great scientific +victories have been foretold, and they have generally been achieved by +more than one person when the time came. The telescope was a dream for +ages, so was the telephone, steam and electric locomotion, aerial +navigation. Why should we scout the dream of visiting other worlds, +which is at least as old as Lucian? Ere long, and perhaps before the +century is out, we shall be flying through the air to the various +countries of the globe. In succeeding centuries what is to hinder us +from travelling through space to different planets?"</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Quite impossible. Consider the tremendous distance—the lifeless +vacuum—that separates us even from the moon. Two hundred and forty +thousand miles of empty space."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Some ten times round the world. Well, is that tremendous vacuum +absolutely impassable?"</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "To any but Jules Verne and his hero, the illustrious Barbicane, +president of the Gun Club."<a name='FNanchor_1_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_1_1'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> + +<div class='note'><a name='Footnote_1_1'></a><p><a href='#FNanchor_1_1'>[1]</a> <i>The Voyage à la Lune</i>, by Jules Verne.</p></div> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Jules Verne has an original mind, and his ideas, though +extravagant, are not without value. Some of them have been realised, and +it may be worth while to examine his notion of firing a shot from the +earth to the moon. The projectile, if I remember, was an aluminium shell +in the shape of a conical bullet, and contained three men, a dog or two, +and several fowls, together with provisions and instruments. It was air +tight, warmed and illuminated with coal gas, and the oxygen for +breathing was got from chlorate of potash, while the carbonic acid +produced by the lungs and gas-burners was absorbed with caustic potash +to keep the air pure. This bullet-car was fired from a colossal +cast-iron gun founded in the sand. It was aimed at a point in the sky, +the zenith, in fact, where it would strike the moon four days later, +that is, after it had crossed the intervening space. The charge of +gun-cotton was calculated to give the projectile a velocity sufficient +to carry it past the 'dead-point,' where the gravity of the earth upon +it was just balanced by that of the moon, and enable it to fall towards +the moon for the rest of the way. The sudden shock of the discharge on +the car and its occupants was broken by means of spring buffers and +water pressure."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "The last arrangement was altogether inadequate."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "It was certainly a defect in the scheme."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Besides, the initial velocity of the bullet to carry it beyond the +'dead-point,' was, I think, 12,000 yards a second, or something like +seven miles a second."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "His estimate was too high. An initial velocity of 9,000 yards, or +five miles a second, would carry a projectile beyond the sensible +attraction of the earth towards the moon, the planets, or anywhere; in +short, to an infinite distance. Indeed, a slightly lower velocity would +suffice in the case of the moon, owing to her attraction."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "But how are we to give the bullet that velocity? I believe the +highest velocity obtained from a single discharge of cordite, one of our +best explosives, was rather less than 4,000 feet, or only about +three-quarters of a mile per second. With such a velocity, the +projectile would simply rise to a great height and then fall back to the +ground."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Both of these drawbacks can be overcome. We are not limited to a +single discharge. Dr. S. Tolver Preston, the well-known writer on +molecular science, has pointed out that a very high velocity can be got +by the use of a compound gun, or, in other words, a gun which fires +another gun as a projectile.<a name='FNanchor_2_2'></a><a href='#Footnote_2_2'><sup>[2]</sup></a> Imagine a first gun of enormous +dimensions loaded with a smaller gun, which in turn is loaded with the +bullet. The discharge of the first gun shoots the second gun into the +air, with a certain velocity. If, now, the second gun, at the instant it +leaves the muzzle of the first, is fired automatically, say by +utilising the first discharge to press a spring which can react on a +hammer or needle, the bullet will acquire a velocity due to both +discharges, and equivalent to the velocity of the second gun at the time +it was fired plus the velocity produced by the explosion of its own +charge. In this way, by employing a series of guns, fired from each +other in succession, we can graduate the starting shock, and give the +bullet a final velocity sufficient to raise it against gravity, and the +resistance of the atmosphere, which grows less as it advances, and send +it away to the moon or some other distant orb."</p> + +<div class='note'><p><a name='Footnote_2_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_2_2'>[2]</a> <i>Engineering</i>, January 13th, 1893.</p></div> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Your spit-fire mode of progression is well enough in theory, but +it strikes me as just a little complicated and risky. I, for one, +shouldn't care to emulate Elijah and shoot up to Heaven in that style."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "If it be all right in theory, it will be all right in practice. +However, instead of explosives we might employ compressed air to get the +required velocity. In the air-gun or cannon, as you probably know, a +quantity of air, compressed within a chamber of the breech, is allowed +suddenly to expand behind the bullet and eject it from the barrel. Now, +one might manage with a simple gun of this sort, provided it had a very +long barrel, and a series of air chambers at intervals from the breech +to the muzzle. Each of these chambers, beginning at the breech, could be +opened in turn as the bullet passed along the barrel, so that every +escaping jet of gas would give it an additional impulse."</p> + +<p><i>G.</i> (<i>with growing interest</i>). "That sounds neater. You might work the +chambers by electricity."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "We could even have an electric gun. Conceive a bobbin wound with +insulated wire in lieu of thread, and having the usual hole through the +axis of the frame. If a current of electricity be sent through the wire, +the bobbin will become a hollow magnet or 'solenoid,' and a plug of soft +iron placed at one end will be sucked into the hole. In this experiment +we have the germ of a solenoid cannon. The bobbin stands for the +gun-barrel, the plug for the bullet-car, and the magnetism for the +ejecting force. We can arrange the wire and current so as to draw the +plug or car right through the hole or barrel, and if we have a series of +solenoids end to end in one straight line, we can switch the current +through each in succession, and send the projectile with gathering +velocity through the interior of them all. In practice the barrel would +consist of a long straight tube, wide and strong enough to contain the +bullet-car without flexure, and begirt with giant solenoids at +intervals. Each of the solenoids would be excited by a powerful current, +one after the other, so as to urge the projectile with accelerating +speed along the tube, and launch it into the vast."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "That looks still better than the pneumatic gun."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "A magnetic gun would have several advantages. For instance, the +currents can be sent through the solenoids in turn as quickly as we +desire by means of a commutator in a convenient spot, for instance, at +the butt end of the gun, so as to follow up the bullet with ease, and +give it a planetary flight. By a proper adjustment of the solenoids and +currents, this could be done so gradually as to prevent a starting shock +to the occupants of the car. The velocity attained by the car would, of +course, depend on the number and power of the solenoids. If, for +example, each solenoid communicated to the car a velocity of nine yards +per second, a thousand solenoids, each magnetically stronger than +another in going from breech to muzzle, would be required to give a +final velocity of five miles a second. In such a case, the length of the +barrel would be at least 1,000 yards. Economy and safety would determine +the best proportions for the gun, but we are now considering the +feasibility of the project, not its cost. With regard to position and +supports, the gun might be constructed along the slope of a hill or +mound steep enough to give it the angle or elevation due to the aim. As +the barrel would not have to resist an explosive force, it should not be +difficult to make, and the inside could be lubricated to diminish the +friction of the projectile in passing through it. Moreover, it is +conceivable that the car need never touch the sides, for by a proper +adjustment of the magnetism of the solenoids we might suspend it in +mid-air like Mahomet's coffin, and make it glide along the magnetic axis +of the tube."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "It seems a promising idea for an actual gun, or an electric +despatch and parcel post, or even a railway. The bullet, I suppose, +would be of iron."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Probably; but aluminium is magnetic in a lower degree than iron, +and its greater lightness might prove in its favour. We might also +magnetise the car, say by surrounding it with a coil of wire excited +from an accumulator on board. The car, of course, would be hermetically +sealed, but it would have doors and windows which could be opened at +pleasure. In open space it would be warmed and lighted by the sun, and +in the shadow of a planet, if need were, by coal-gas and electricity. +In either case, to temper the extremes of heat or cold, the interior +could be lined with a non-conductor. Liquefied oxygen or air for +breathing, and condensed fare would sustain the inmates; and on the +whole they might enjoy a comfortable passage through the void, taking +scientific observations, and talking over their experiences."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "It would be a novel observatory, quite free from atmospheric +troubles. They might be able to make some astronomical discoveries."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "A novel laboratory as well, for in space beyond the attraction of +the earth there would be no gravity. The travellers would not feel a +sense of weight, but as the change would be gradual they would get +accustomed to it, and suffer no inconvenience."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "They would keep their gravity in losing it."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "The car, meeting with practically no resistance in the ether, +would tend to move in the same direction with the same velocity, and +anything put overboard would neither fall nor rise, but simply float +alongside. When the car came within the sensible attraction of the moon, +its velocity would gradually increase as they approached each other."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Always supposing the aim of the gun to have been exact. You might +hit the moon, with its large disc and comparatively short range, +provided no wandering meteorite diverted the bullet from its course; but +it would be impossible to hit a planet, such as Venus or Mars, a mere +point of light, and thirty or forty million miles away, especially as +both the earth and planet are in rapid motion. A flying rifle-shot from +a lightning express at a distant swallow would have more chance of +success. If you missed the mark, the projectile would wheel round the +planet, and either become its satellite or return towards the earth like +that of Jules Verne in his fascinating romance."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Jules Verne, and other writers on this subject, appear to have +assumed that all the initial effort should come from the cannon. Perhaps +it did not suit his literary purpose to employ any other driving force. +At all events he possessed one in the rockets of Michel Ardan, the +genial Frenchman of the party, which were intended to break the fall of +the projectile on the moon."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "If I recollect, they were actually fired to give the car a fillip +when it reached the dead-point on its way back to the earth."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Even in a vacuum, where an ordinary propeller could not act, the +bullet may become a prime mover, and co-operate with the gun. A rocket +can burn without an atmosphere, and the recoil of the rushing fumes will +impel the car onwards."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Do you think a rocket would have sufficient power to be of any +service?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Ten or twelve large rockets, capable of exerting a united back +pressure of one and a half tons during five or six minutes on a car of +that weight at the earth's surface, would give it in free space a +velocity of two miles a second, which, of course, would not be lost by +friction."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "So that it would not be absolutely necessary to give the +projectile an initial velocity of five miles a second."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "No; and, besides, we are not solely dependent on the rocket. A jet +of gas, at a very high pressure, escaping from an orifice into the +vacuum or ether, would give us a very high propelling force. By +compressing air, oxygen, or coal-gas (useful otherwise) in iron +cylinders with closed vents, which could be opened, we should have a +store of energy serviceable at any time to drive the car. In this way a +pressure or thrust of several tons on the square inch might be applied +to the car as long as we had gas to push it forwards."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Certainly, and by applying the pressure, whether from the rocket +or the gas, to the front and sides, as well as to the rear of the car, +you would be able to regulate the speed, and direct the car wherever you +wanted to go."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Moreover, beyond the range of gravitation, we could steer and +travel by pumping out the respired air, or occasionally projecting a +pebble from the car through a stuffing box in the wall, or else by +firing a shot from a pistol."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "You might even have a battery of machine guns on board, and +decimate the hosts of heaven."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Our bullets would fly straight enough, anyhow, and I suppose they +would hit something in course of time."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "If they struck the earth they would be solemnly registered as +falling stars."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Certainly they would be burnt up in passing through the atmosphere +of a planet and do no harm to its inhabitants."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "Well, now, granting that you could propel the car, and that +although your gun was badly aimed you could steer towards a planet, how +long would the journey take?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "The self-movement of the car would enable us to save time, which +is a matter of the first importance on such a trip. In the plan of Jules +Verne, the bullet derives all its motion from the initial effort, and +consequently slows down as it rises against the earth's attraction, +until it begins again to quicken under the gravitation of the moon. +Hence his voyage to our satellite occupied four days. As we could +maintain the velocity of the car, however, we should accomplish the +distance in thirteen hours at a speed of five miles a second, and more +or less in proportion."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "About as long as the journey from London to Aberdeen by rail. What +about Mars or Venus?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "At the same speed we should cover the 36,000,000 miles to these +planets in 2,000 hours, or 84 days, that is, about three months. With a +speed of ten miles a second, which is not impossible, we could reach +them in six weeks."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "One could scarcely go round the world in the same time. But, +having got to a planet, how are you going to land on it? Are you not +afraid you will be dissipated like a meteorite by the intense heat of +friction with the planet's atmosphere, or else be smashed to atoms by +the shock?"</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "We might steer by the stars to a point on the planet's orbit, +mathematically fixed in advance, and wait there until it comes up. The +atmosphere of the approaching planet would act as a kind of buffer, and +the fall of the car could be further checked by our means of recoil, and +also by a large parachute. We should probably be able to descend quite +slowly to the surface in this way without damage; but in case of peril, +we could have small parachutes in readiness as life-buoys, and leap from +the car when it was nearing the ground."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "I presume you are taking into account the velocity of the planet +in its orbit? That of the earth is 18 miles a second, or a hundred times +faster than a rifle bullet; that of Venus, which is nearer the sun, is a +few miles more; and that of Mars, which is further from the sun, is +rather less."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "For that reason the more distant planets would be preferable to +land on. Uranus, for instance, has an orbital velocity of four miles a +second, and his gravity is about three-fourths that of the earth. +Moreover, his axis lies almost exactly on the plane of the ecliptic, so +that we could choose a waiting place on his orbit where the line of his +axis lay in the direction of his motion, and simply descend on one of +his poles, at which the stationary atmosphere would not whirl the car, +and where we might also profit by an ascending current of air. The +attraction of the sun is so slight at the distance of Uranus, that a +stone flung out of the car would have no perceptible motion, as it +would only fall towards the sun a mere fraction of an inch per second, +or some 355 feet an hour; hence, as Dr. Preston has calculated, one +ounce of matter ejected from the car towards the sun every five minutes, +with a velocity of 880 feet a second, would suffice to keep a car of one +and a half tons at rest on the orbit of the planet. Indeed, the vitiated +air, escaping from the car through a small hole by its own pressure, +would probably serve the purpose. Just before the planet came up, and in +the nick of time we could fire some rockets, and give the car a velocity +of two or three miles a second in the direction of the planet's motion, +so that he would overtake us, with a speed not over great to ensure a +safe descent. Our parachutes would be out, and at the first contact with +the atmosphere, the car would probably be blown away; but it would soon +acquire the velocity of the planet, and gradually sink downwards to the +surface."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. "What puzzles me is how you are to get back to the earth."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "Whoever goes must take the risk; but if, as appears likely, both +Mars and Venus are inhabited by intelligent beings, we should probably +be able to construct another cannon and return the way we came."</p> + +<p><i>G</i>. (<i>smiling</i>). "Well, I confess the project does not look so +impracticable as it did. After all, travelling in a vacuum seems rather +pleasant. One of these days, I suppose, we astronomers will be packed in +bullets and fired into the ether to observe eclipses and comets' tails."</p> + +<p><i>I</i>. "In all that has been said we have confined ourselves to ways and +means already known; but science is young, and we shall probably +discover new sources of energy. It may even be possible to dispense with +the gun, and travel in a locomotive car. Lord Kelvin has shown that if +Lessage's hypothesis of gravitation be correct, a crystal or other body +may be found which is lighter along one axis than another, and thus we +may be able to draw an unlimited supply of power from gravity by simply +changing the position of the crystal; for example, by raising it when +lighter, and letting it fall when heavier. This form of 'perpetual +motion' might be equally obtainable if Dr. Preston's<a name='FNanchor_3_3'></a><a href='#Footnote_3_3'><sup>[3]</sup></a> theory of an +ether as the cause of gravity be true. Indeed, Professor Poynting is now +engaged in searching for such a crystal, which, if discovered, will +upset the second law of thermo-dynamics. I merely mention this to show +that science is on the track of concealed motive powers derived from +the ether, and we cannot now tell what the engines of the future will be +like. For ought we know, the time is coming when there will be a regular +mail service between the earth and Mars or Venus, cheap trips to +Mercury, and exploring expeditions to Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus."</p> + +<div class='note'><p><a name='Footnote_3_3'></a><a href='#FNanchor_3_3'>[3]</a> <i>Philosophical Magazine</i>, February, 1895.</p></div> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_III'></a><h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>A NEW FORCE.</h4> + +<br /> +<div class='blkquot'><p>"SIR,</p> + +<p> "I have read your article on the possibility of travelling to the + other members of the Solar system with much interest. It is a + problem at which I, myself, have been working for a great many + years, and I believe that I have now discovered a means of solving + it in a practical manner. If you would care to see my experiments, + and will do me the honour of coming here, I shall be glad to show + them in confidence any time you may appoint.—Yours truly,</p> + +<p> "NASMYTH CARMICHAEL."</p></div> + +<p>The above letter, marked "Private," was forwarded to me through the +editor of <i>The Day After To-morrow</i>. The writer of it was a total +stranger to me, even by report, and at first I did not know what to make +of it. Was the man a charlatan, or a "crank?" There were no signs of +craziness or humbug in his frank and simple sentences. Had he really +found out a way of crossing the celestial spaces? In these days it is +better not to be too sceptical as to what science will accomplish. It +is, in fact, wise to keep the mind open and suspend the judgment. We are +standing on the threshold of the Arcana, and at any hour the +search-light of our intellect may penetrate the darkness, and reveal to +our wondering gaze the depths of the inner mechanism of Nature.</p> + +<p>I resolved to accept his invitation.</p> + +<p>A few days later I presented myself at the home of my unknown +correspondent. It was a lonely little cottage, in the midst of a wild +flat or waste of common ground on the outskirts of London. I should say +it had once been the dwelling of a woodman engaged in the neighbouring +forest. A tall, thick hedge of holly surrounded the large garden, and +almost concealed it from the curiosity of an occasional wanderer on the +heath.</p> + +<p>Certainly it did not look the sort of place to find a man of science, +and the old misgivings assailed my mind in greater force than ever. Half +regretting that I had come, and feeling in a dubious element, I opened +the wicket, and knocked at the door.</p> + +<p>It was answered by a young woman, in a plain gown of some dark stuff, +with a white collar round the neck. In spite of her dress I could see +that she was not an ordinary cottage girl. Pretty, without being +beautiful, there was a distinction in her voice and manner which bespoke +the gentlewoman. With a pleasant smile, she welcomed me as one who had +been expected, and ushered me into a small sitting-room, poorly +furnished, but with a taste and refinement unusual in a workman's home. +A large piano stood in one of the corners, and a pile of classical music +lay on a chair beside it. The mantelpiece was decorated with cut +flowers, and the walls were hung with portraits and sketches in crayons +and water-colour.</p> + +<p>"My father will be down in a moment," she said, with a slight American +accent. "He is delighted to have the pleasure of meeting you. It is so +kind of you to come."</p> + +<p>Before I had time to respond, Mr. Carmichael entered the parlour. He was +a man of striking and venerable presence. His long white locks, his +bulging brow, pregnant with brain, his bushy eyebrows and deep blue-grey +eyes, his aquiline nose and flowing beard, gave an Olympian cast to his +noble head. Withal, I could not help noticing that his countenance was +lined with care, his black coat seamed and threadbare, his hands rough +and horny, like those of a workman. If he appeared a god, it was a god +in exile or disgrace; a Saturn rather than a Jove.</p> + +<p>"Now to the matter," said he, after a few words of kindly welcome. +"Evidently the question of inter-planetary travel is coming to the +front. In your article you suggest that a locomotive car, that is to +say, a car able to propel itself through what we, in our ignorance, call +empty space, though, in reality, it is chock-full, and very 'thrang' as +the Scotch say, might yet be contrived, and even worked by energy drawn +from the ether direct. When I read that, sir, I sat up and rubbed my +eyes."</p> + +<p>"Your spectacles, father," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's the same thing," went on the old man. "For like many another +prophet, sir, you had prophesied better than you knew."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?" I inquired, with a puzzled air.</p> + +<p>"If you will step with me into the garden I will show you."</p> + +<p>I rose and followed him into a large shed, which was fitted up as a +workshop and laboratory. It contained several large benches, provided +with turning lathes and tools, a quantity of chemicals, and scientific +apparatus.</p> + +<p>"I am going to do a thing that I have never done in my life before," +said Mr. Carmichael, in a sad and doubtful tone; "I have kept this +secret so long that it seems like parting with myself to disclose it, +to disclose even the existence of it. I have fed upon it as a young man +feeds on love. It has been my nourishment, my manna in the wilderness of +this world, my solace under a thousand trials, my inspiration from on +High. I verily believe it has kept my old carcase together. Mind!" he +added, with a penetrating glance of his grey eyes, which gleamed under +their bushy brows like a pool of water in a cavern overhung with +brambles, "promise me that whatever you see and hear will remain a +secret on your part. Never breathe a word of it to a living soul. You +are the only person, except my own daughter, whom I have ever taken into +my confidence."</p> + +<p>I gave him my word of honour.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he continued, lifting a small metal box from one of the +tables, and patting it with his hand. "I have been working at the +subject of aerial navigation for well-nigh thirty years, and this is the +result."</p> + +<p>I looked at the metal case, but could see nothing remarkable about it.</p> + +<p>"It seems a little thing, hardly worth a few pence, and yet how much I +have paid for it!" said the inventor, with a sigh, and a far-away +expression in his eyes. "Many a time it has reminded me of the mouse's +nest that was turned up by the ploughshare.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"'Thy wee bit heap o' strae and stibble<br /></span> +<span> Has cost thee mony a weary nibble.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of course this is only a model."</p> + +<p>"A model of a flying machine?" I inquired, in a tone of surprise.</p> + +<p>"You may call it so," he answered; "but it is a flying machine that does +not fly or soar in the strict sense of the words, for it has neither +wings nor aeroplane. It is, in fact, an aerial locomotive, as you will +see."</p> + +<p>While he spoke, Mr. Carmichael opened the case of the instrument, and +adjusted the mechanism inside. Immediately afterwards, to my +astonishment, the box suddenly left his hands, and flew, or rather +glided, swiftly through the air, and must have dashed itself against the +wall of the laboratory had not its master run and caught it.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!" I exclaimed, forgetting the attitude of caution and reserve +which I had deemed it prudent to adopt.</p> + +<p>The inventor laughed with childish glee, enjoying his triumph, and +stroking the case as though it were a kitten.</p> + +<p>"It would be off again if I would let it. Whoa, there!" said he, again +adjusting the mechanism. "I can make it rise, or sink, or steer, to one +side or the other, just as I please. If you will kindly hold it for a +minute, I will make it go up to the ceiling. Don't be afraid, it won't +bite you."</p> + +<p>I took the uncanny little instrument in my hands, whilst Mr. Carmichael +ascended a ladder to a kind of loft in the shed. It only weighed a few +pounds, and yet I could feel it exerting a strong force to escape.</p> + +<p>"Ready!" cried the inventor, "now let go," and sure enough, the box rose +steadily upwards until it came within his grasp. "I am going to send it +down to you again," he continued, and I expected to see it drop like a +stone to the ground; but, strange to say, it circled gracefully through +the air in a spiral curve, and landed gently at my feet.</p> + +<p>"You see I have entire control over it," said Mr. Carmichael, rejoining +me; "but all you have seen has taken place in air, and you might, +therefore, suppose that I have an air propellor inside, and that air is +necessary to react against it, like water against the screw of a +steamboat, in order to produce the motion. I will now show you that air +is not required, and that my locomotive works quite as well in a +vacuum."</p> + +<p>So saying, he put the model under a large bell-jar, from which he +exhausted the air with a pump; and even then it moved about with as much +alacrity and freedom as it had done in the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>I confess that I was still haunted by a lingering suspicion of the +machine and its inventor; but this experiment went far to destroy it. +Even if the motive power was derived from a coiled spring, or compressed +air, or electricity, in the box, how was it possible to make it act +without the resistance offered by the air? Magnetism was equally out of +the question, since no conceivable arrangement of magnets could have +brought about the movements I had seen. Either I was hypnotised, and +imposed upon, or else this man had discovered what had been unknown to +science. His earnest and straightforward manner was not that of a +mountebank. There had been no attempt to surround his work with mystery, +and cloak his demonstration in unmeaning verbiage. It is true I had +never heard of him in the world of science, but after all an outsider +often makes a great discovery under the nose of the professors.</p> + +<p>"Am I to understand," said I, "that you have found a way of navigating +both the atmosphere and the ether?"</p> + +<p>"As you see," he replied, briefly.</p> + +<p>"What the model has done, you are able to do on a larger scale—in a +practical manner?"</p> + +<p>"Assuredly. It is only a matter of size."</p> + +<p>"And you can maintain the motion?"</p> + +<p>"As long as you like."</p> + +<p>"Marvellous! And how is it done?"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed the inventor, "that is my secret. I am afraid I must not +answer that question at present."</p> + +<p>"Is the plan not patented?"</p> + +<p>"No. The fact is, I have not yet investigated the subject as fully as I +would like. My mind is not quite clear as to the causes of the +phenomena. I have discovered a new field of research, and great +discoveries are still to be made in it. Were I to patent the machine, I +should have to divulge what I know. Indeed, but for the sake of my +daughter, I am not sure that I should ever patent it. Even as it stands, +it will revolutionise not merely our modes of travel, but our +industries. It has been to me a labour of love, not of money; and I +would gladly make it a gift of love to my fellowmen."</p> + +<p>"It is the right spirit," said I; "and I have no doubt that a grateful +world would reward you."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't like to trust it," replied Mr. Carmichael, with a smile and +shrug of the shoulders. "How many inventors has it doomed to pine in +poverty and neglect, or die of a broken heart? How often has it stolen, +aye stolen, the priceless fruits of their genius and labour? Speaking +for myself, I don't complain; I haven't had much to do with it. My +withdrawal from it has been voluntary. I was born in the south of +Scotland, and educated for the medical profession; but I emigrated to +America, and was engaged in one of Colonel Fremont's exploring +expeditions to the Rocky Mountains. After that I was appointed to the +chair of Physical Science in a college of Louisville, Kentucky, where my +daughter was born. One day, when I was experimenting to find out +something else, I fell by accident upon the track of my discovery, and +ever since I have devoted my life to the investigation. It appeared to +me of the very highest importance. As time went on, I grew more and more +absorbed in it. Every hour that I had to give to my official and social +duties seemed thrown away. A man cannot serve two masters, and as I also +found it difficult to carry on my experiments in secrecy, I resigned my +post. I had become a citizen of the United States, but my wife was a +Welshwoman, and had relations in England. So we came to London. When +she died, I settled in this isolated spot, where I could study in peace, +enjoy the fresh air, and easily get the requisite books and apparatus. +Here, with my daughter, I live a very secluded life. She is my sole +companion, my housekeeper, my servant, and my assistant in the +laboratory. She knows as much about my machine, and can work it as well +as I do myself. Indeed, I don't know what I should have done without +her. She has denied herself the ordinary amusements of her age. Her +devotion to me has been beautiful."</p> + +<p>The voice of the old man trembled, and I fancied I could read in his +hollow eyes the untold martyrdom of genius.</p> + +<p>"At last," he continued, "I have brought the matter into a practical +shape, and like many other inventors, for the first time I stand in need +of advice. Happening to see your article in the Magazine, I resolved to +invite you to come and see what I have done in hopes that you might be +able to advise and perhaps help me."</p> + +<p>"I think," said I, after a moment's reflection, "I think the next thing +to be done is to make a large working machine, and try it on a voyage."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," he replied; "and I am prepared to build one that will go to +any part of the earth, or explore the higher regions of the atmosphere, +or go down under the sea, or even make a trip to one of the nearer +planets, Mars or Venus as the case may be. But I am poor; my little +fortune is all but exhausted, and here, at the end of the race, within +sight of the goal, I lack the wherewithal to reach it. Now, sir, if you +can see your way to provide the funds, I will give you a share in the +profits of the invention."</p> + +<p>I pondered his words in silence. Visions of travel through the air in +distant lands, above the rhododendron forests of the Himalayas, or the +green Savannahs of the Orinoco, the coral isles of the Pacific; yea, +further still, through the starlit crypts of space to other spheres were +hovering in my fancy. The singular history of the man, too, had touched +my feelings. Nevertheless, I hesitated to accept his offer there and +then. It was hardly a proposal to decide upon without due consideration.</p> + +<p>"I will think it over and let you know," said I at length. "Have you any +objection to my consulting Professor Gazen, the well-known astronomer? +He is a friend of mine. Perhaps he will be able to assist us."</p> + +<p>"None whatever, so long as he keeps the affair to himself. You can +bring him to see the experiments if you like. All I reserve is that I +shall not be asked to explain the inner action of the machine. That must +remain a secret; but some day I hope to show you even that."</p> + +<p>"Thanks."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV'></a><h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>THE ELECTRIC ORRERY.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"Half-moon Junction! Change here for Venus, Mercury, the Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!"</p> + +<p>So I called in the style of a Clapham railway porter, as I entered the +observatory of Professor Gazen on the following night.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" said he with a smile. "Are you imitating the +officials of the Universal Navigation Company in the distant future?"</p> + +<p>"Not so distant as you may imagine," I responded significantly; and then +I told him all that I had seen and heard of the new flying machine.</p> + +<p>The professor listened with serious attention, but manifested neither +astonishment nor scepticism.</p> + +<p>"What do you think about it?" I asked. "What should I do in the case?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hardly know," he replied doubtfully. "It is rather out of my +line, and after my experience with Mars the other night, I am not +inclined to dogmatise. At all events, I should like to see and try the +machine before giving an opinion."</p> + +<p>"I will arrange for that with the inventor."</p> + +<p>"Possibly I can find out something about him from my American +friends—if he is genuine. What's his name again?"</p> + +<p>"Carmichael—Nasmyth Carmichael."</p> + +<p>"Nasmyth Carmichael," repeated Gazen, musingly. "It seems to me I've +heard the name somewhere. Yes, now I recollect. When I was a student at +Cambridge, I remember reading a textbook on physics by Professor Nasmyth +Carmichael, an American, and a capital book it was—beautifully simple, +clear, and profound like Nature herself. Professors, as a rule, and +especially professors of science, are not the best writers in the world. +Pity they can't teach the economy of energy without wasting that of +their readers. Carmichael's book was not a dead system of mathematics +and figures, but rather a living tale, with illustrations drawn from +every part of the world. I got far more help from it than the prescribed +treatises, and the best of that was a liking for the subject. I believe +I should have been plucked without it."</p> + +<p>"The very man, no doubt."</p> + +<p>"He was remarkably sane when he wrote that book, whatever he is now. As +to his character, that is another question. Given a work of science, to +find the character of the author. Problem."</p> + +<p>"I shall proceed cautiously in the affair. Before I commit myself, I +must be satisfied by inspection and trial that there is neither trickery +nor self-delusion on his part. We can make some trial trips, and gain +experience before we attempt to leave the world."</p> + +<p>"If you take my advice you will keep to the earth altogether."</p> + +<p>"Surely, if we can ascend into the higher regions of the atmosphere, we +can traverse empty space. You would have me stop within sight of the +goal. The end of travel is to reach the other planets."</p> + +<p>"Why not say the fixed stars when you are about it?"</p> + +<p>"That's impossible."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, with a vessel large enough to contain the necessaries +of life, a select party of ladies and gentlemen might start for the +Milky Way, and if all went right, their descendants would arrive there +in the course of a few million years."</p> + +<p>"Rather a long journey, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>"What would you have? A million years quotha! nay, not so much. It +depends on the speed and the direction taken. If they were able to +cover, say, the distance from Liverpool to New York in a tenth of a +second, they would get to Alpha in the constellation Centaur, perhaps +the nearest of the fixed stars, in twenty or thirty years—a mere +bagatelle. But why should we stop there?" went on Gazen. "Why should we +not build large vessels for the navigation of the ether—artificial +planets in fact—and go cruising about in space, from universe to +universe, on a celestial Cook's excursion—"</p> + +<p>"We are doing that now, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but in tow of the Sun. Not at our own sweet will, like gipsies in +a caravan. Independent, free of rent and taxes, these hollow planetoids +would serve for schools, hotels, dwelling-houses—"</p> + +<p>"And lunatic asylums."</p> + +<p>"They would relieve the surplus population of the globe," continued +Gazen, warming to his theme. "It is an idea of the first political +importance—especially to British statesmen. The Empire is only in its +infancy. With a fleet of ethereal gunboats we might colonise the solar +system, and annex the stars. What a stroke of business!"</p> + +<p>"Another illusion gone," I observed "Think of Manchester cotton in the +Pleiades! Of Scotch whiskey in Orion! However, I am afraid your policy +would lead to international complications. The French would set up a +claim for 'Ancient Lights.' The Germans would discover a nebulous +Hinterland under their protection. The Americans would protest in the +name of the Monroe Doctrine. It is necessary to be modest. Let us return +to our muttons."</p> + +<p>"Everybody will be able to pick a world that suits him," pursued Gazen, +still on the trail of his thought. "If he grows tired of one he can look +round for a better. Criminals will be weeded out and sent to Coventry, I +mean transplanted into a worse. When a planet is dying of old age, the +inhabitants will flit to another."</p> + +<p>"Seriously, if Carmichael's machine turns out all right, will you join +me in a trip?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, no. I believe I shall wait and see how you get on first."</p> + +<p>"And where would you advise me to go, Mars or Venus?"</p> + +<p>The professor smiled, but I was quite in earnest.</p> + +<p>"Well," he replied, "Mars is evidently inhabited; but so is Venus, +probably, and of the two I think you will find her the more hospitable +and the nearest. When do you propose to start?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps within six months."</p> + +<p>"We must consider their relative distances from the earth. By the way, +I don't think you have seen my new electrical orrery."</p> + +<p>"An electrical orrery," I exclaimed. "Surely that is something new!"</p> + +<p>"So far as I am aware; but you never know in these days. There is +nothing new under the sun, or even above it."</p> + +<p>So saying, he opened a small door in the side of the observatory, and, +ushering me into a very dark apartment, closed it behind us.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, there is no danger," said he, taking me by the arm, and +guiding me for several paces into the darkness.</p> + +<p>At length we halted, and I looked all around me, but was unable to +perceive a single object.</p> + +<p>"Where are we?" I enquired; "in the realms of Chaos and Old Night?"</p> + +<p>"You are now in the centre of the Universe," replied Gazen; "or, to +speak more correctly, at a point in space overlooking the solar system."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't see it," said I. "Have you got such a thing as a match +about you?"</p> + +<p>"Let there be light!" responded Gazen in a reverent manner, and +instantly a soft, weird radiance was over all. The contrast of that +sudden illumination with the preceding darkness was electrical in more +senses than one, and I could not repress a cry of genuine admiration.</p> + +<p>A kind of twilight still reigned, and after the first moment of +surprise, I perceived that we were standing on a light metal gangway in +the middle of a great hollow cell of a luminous black or dark blue +colour, relieved by innumerable bright points, and resembling the night +sky in miniature.</p> + +<p>"I need hardly say that is a model of the celestial sphere," whispered +Gazen, indicating the starry vault.</p> + +<p>"It is a wonderful imitation," I responded, my awestruck eyes wandering +over the mysterious tracts of the Milky Way and the familiar +constellations of the mimic heavens. "May I ask how it is done—how you +produce that impression of infinite distance?"</p> + +<p>"By means of translucent shells illuminated from behind. The stars, of +course, are electric lamps, and some of them, as you see, have a tinge +of red or blue."</p> + +<p>Most of the light, however, came from a brilliant globe of a bluish +lustre, which appeared to occupy the centre of the crystal sphere, and +was surrounded by a number of smaller and fainter orbs that shone by its +reflected rays.</p> + +<p>"This, again, is a model of the solar system," said Gazen. "The central +luminary is, of course, the sun, and the others are the planets with +their satellites."</p> + +<p>"They seem to float in air."</p> + +<p>"That is because their supports are invisible, or nearly so. Both their +lights and periodic motions are produced by the electric current."</p> + +<p>"Surely they are not moving now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, and with velocities proportionate to those of the real bodies; +but you know that whilst the actual movements of the sun and planets are +so rapid, the dimensions of the system are so vast that if you could +survey the whole from a standpoint in space, as we are supposed to do, +it would appear at rest. Let us look at them a little closer."</p> + +<p>I followed Gazen along the gangway which encircled the orrery, and +allowed us to survey each of the planets closer at hand.</p> + +<p>"This kind of place would make a good theatre for a class in astronomy," +said I, "or for the meetings of the Interplanetary Congress of +Astronomers, in the year 2000. You can turn on the stars and planets +when you please. I wish you would give me a lecture on the subject now. +My knowledge is a little the worse for wear, and a man ought to know +something of the worlds around him—especially if he intends to visit +them."</p> + +<p>"I should only bore you with an old story."</p> + +<p>"Not at all. You cannot be too simple and elementary. Regard me as a +small boy in the stage of</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"'Twinkle, twinkle, little star,<br /></span> +<span> How I wonder what you are!'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Very well, my little man, have you any idea how many stars you can see +on a clear night?"</p> + +<p>"Billions."</p> + +<p>"No, Tommy. You are wrong, my dear boy. Go to the foot of your class. +With the naked eye we can only distinguish three or four thousand, but +with the telescope we are able to count at least fifty millions. They +are thickest in the Milky Way, which, as you can see, runs all round the +heavens, over your head, and under your feet, like an irregular tract of +hazy light, a girdle of stars in short. Of course we cannot tell how +many more there are beyond the range of vision, or what other galaxies +may be scattered in the depths of space. The stars are suns, larger or +smaller than our own, and of various colours—white, blue, yellow, +green, and red. Some are single, but others are held together in pairs +or groups by the force of gravitation. From their immense distance they +appear fixed to us, but in reality they are flying in all directions at +enormous velocities. Alpha, of the constellation Cygnus, for example, is +coming towards us at a speed of 500 million leagues per annum, and some +move a great deal faster. Most of them probably have planets circling +round them in different stages of growth, but these are invisible to us. +Here and there amongst them we find luminous patches or 'nebulæ,' which +prove to be either clusters of stars or stupendous clouds of glowing +gases. Our sun is a solitary blue star on the verge of the Milky Way, 20 +billion miles from Alpha Centauri his next-door neighbour. He is +travelling in a straight line towards the constellation Hercules at the +rate of 20,000 miles an hour, much quicker than a rifle bullet; and, +nevertheless, he will take more than a million years to cover the +distance. Eight large or major planets, with their satellites, and a +flock of minor planets or planetoids, are revolving round him as their +common centre and luminary at various distances, but all in the same +direction. The orbits, or paths, about the sun are ovals or ellipses, +almost circular, of which the sun occupies one focus, and they are so +nearly in one plane, or at one level, that if seen from the sun, they +would appear to wander along a narrow belt of the heavens, called the +zodiac, which extends a few degrees on each side of the Elliptic or +apparent course of the sun against the stars. The planets are all +globes, more or less flat at the poles, like an orange, and each is +turning and swaying on its axis, thus exposing every part to the light +and warmth of the sun. They are divided by the planetoids into an inner +and an outer band. The inner four are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and +Mars; the outer four are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Moreover, +a number of comets and swarms of meteoric stones or meteorites are +circulating round the sun in eccentric paths, which cross those of the +planets. Such is the solar system—a lonely archipelago in the ethereal +ocean—a little family of worlds."</p> + +<p>"Not without its jars, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>"The sun is chief of the clan," continued Gazen, "and keeps it together +by the mysterious tie of gravitation. While flying through space, he +turns round his own axis like a rifle bullet in 25 or 26 days. His +diameter is 860,000 miles, and although he is not much denser than +sea-water, his mass is over 700 times greater than the combined mass of +all his retinue. Gravity on his surface being 28 times stronger than on +the earth, a piece of timber would be as heavy as gold there, and a +stone let fall would drop 460 feet the first second instead of 16 feet +as here. He is built of the same kind of matter as the earth and other +planets, but is hotter than the hottest electric arc or reverberatory +furnace. Apparently his glowing bulk is made up of several concentric +shells like an onion. First there is a kernel or liquid nucleus, +probably as dense as pitch. Above it is the photosphere, the part we +usually see, a jacket of incandescent clouds, or vapours, which in the +telescope is seen to resemble 'willow leaves,' or 'rice grains in a +plate of soup,' and in the spectroscope to reveal the rays of iron, +manganese, or other heavy elements. What we call 'faculæ' (or little +torches), are brighter streaks, not unlike some kinds of coral. The +'Sunspots' are immense gaps or holes in the photosphere, some of them +150,000 miles in diameter, which afford us a peep at the glowing +interior. There are different theories as to their nature, hence they +provide rival astronomers with an excellent opportunity of spotting each +other's reputations. For instance, I look upon them as eruptions, and +Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil (my pet aversion) regards them as +cyclonic storms; consequently we never lose an opportunity of erupting +and storming at each other. Above the photosphere comes a stratum of +cooler vapours and gases, namely, hydrogen and helium, a very light +element recently found on the earth, along with argon, in the rare +mineral cleveite. Tremendous jets of blazing hydrogen are seen to burst +through the clouds of the photosphere, and play about in this higher +region like the flames of a coal fire. These are the famous 'red flames' +or 'prominences,' which are seen during a total eclipse as a ragged +fringe of rosy fire about the black disc of the moon. Some of them rush +through the chromosphere to a height of 80,000 miles in 15 minutes.</p> + +<p>"Higher still is the 'corona,' an aureole of silvery beams visible in a +total eclipse, and resembling the star of a decoration. The streamers +have been traced for hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the solar +disc. It appears to consist of meteoric stones, illuminated by the +sunlight as well as of incandescent vapours of 'coronium,' a very light +element unknown on the earth, and probably, too, of electrical +discharges. The 'zodiacal light,' that silvery glow often seen in the +west after sunset, or in the east before sunrise, may be a prolongation +of it."</p> + +<p>"I daresay these meteorites are swarming about the sun like midges about +a lamp," said I.</p> + +<p>"And just as eager to get burnt up," replied Gazen, with a smile. "Let +us pass now to the planets. The little one next the sun is Mercury, who +can be seen as a rosy-white star soon after sunset or before sunrise. He +is about 36 million miles, more or less, from the sun; travels round his +orbit in 88 days, the length of his year; and spins about his axis in +24 hours, making a day and night. His diameter is 3,000 miles, and his +mass is nearly seven times that of an equal volume of water. The +attraction of gravity on his surface is barely half that on the earth, +and a man would feel very light there. Mercury seems to have a dense +atmosphere, and probably high mountains, if not active volcanoes. The +sunshine is from four to nine times stronger there than on the earth, +and as summer and winter follow each other in six weeks, he is doubtless +rather warm.</p> + +<p>"Venus, the 'Shepherd's Star,' and the brightest object in the heavens +after the moon, can sometimes be seen by day, and casts a distinct +shadow at night. She is about 67 million miles from the sun, revolves +round him in 225 days, and rotates on her axis in 23 to 24 hours, or as +Schiaparelli believes, in 224 days. Her diameter is 7,600 miles, and her +mass nearly five times that of an equal volume of water. Gravity is +rather less there than it is here. Like Mercury, she appears to have a +cloudy atmosphere, and very high mountains. On the whole she resembles +the earth, but is, perhaps, a younger as well as a warmer planet.</p> + +<p>"The green ball, next to Venus, is, I need hardly say, our own dear +little world. Terra, or the earth, is 93 million miles from the sun, +goes round him in 365 days, and turns on her axis in 24 hours less four +minutes. Her diameter is 7,918 miles, and her density is 5.66 times that +of water. She is attended by a single satellite, the moon, which +revolves round her in 27.3 days, at a distance of 238,000 miles. The +moon rotates on her axis in about the same time, and hence we can only +see one side of her. She is 2,160 miles in diameter, but her mass is +only one-eightieth that of the earth. A pound weight on the moon would +scale six pounds on the earth. Having little or no atmosphere or water, +she is apparently a dead world.</p> + +<p>"The red planet beyond the earth is Mars, who appears in the sky as a +ruddy gold or coppery star. He is 141 million miles from the sun, +travels his orbit in 687 days, and wheels round his axis in 24 hours 37 +minutes. His diameter is 4,200 miles, and his mass about one-ninth that +of the earth. A body weighing two pounds on the earth would only make +half a pound on Mars. As you know, his atmosphere is clear and thin, his +surface flat, and subject to floods from the melting of the polar snows. +Mars is evidently a colder and more aged planet than the earth.</p> + +<p>"He is accompanied by two little moons, Phobos (Fear), which is from ten +to forty miles in diameter, and revolves round him in 7 hours 39 +minutes, at a distance of 6,000 miles, a fact unparalleled in astronomy; +and Deimos (Rout), who completes a revolution in 30 hours 18 minutes, at +a distance of 14,500 miles.</p> + +<p>"About 400 planetoids have been discovered up to now, but we are always +catching more of them. Medusa, the nearest, is 198 million miles, and +Thule, the farthest, is 396 million miles from the sun. Vesta, the +brightest and probably the largest, a pale yellow, or, as some say, +bluish white orb, visible with the naked eye, is from 200 to 400 miles +in diameter. It is impossible to say which is the smallest. Probably the +mass of the whole is not greater than one quarter that of the earth.</p> + +<p>"Jupiter, surnamed the 'giant planet,' who almost rivals Venus in her +splendour, is 480 million miles from the sun; travels round his orbit in +12 years less 50 days; and is believed to whirl round his axis in 10 +hours. His diameter is 85,000 miles, and his bulk is not only 1,200 +times that of the earth, but exceeds that of all the other planets put +together. Nevertheless, his mass is only 200 to 300 times that of the +earth, for his density is not much greater than that of water. What we +see is evidently his vaporous atmosphere, which is marked by coloured +spots and bands or belts, probably caused by storms and currents, +especially in the equatorial regions. Jupiter is thought to be self +luminous, at least in parts, and is, perchance, a cooling star, not yet +entirely crusted over.</p> + +<p>"Four or five numbered satellites, about the size of our moon and +upwards, are circulating round him in orbits from 2,000 to 1,000,000 +miles distant in periods ranging from 11 hours to 16 days 18 hours.</p> + +<p>"Saturn, the 'ringed planet,' who appears as a dull red star of the +first magnitude, is the most interesting of all the planets. He is 884 +million miles from the sun; his period of revolution is 29½ years, and +he turns on his axis in 10 hours 14 minutes. His diameter is 75,000 +miles, but his mass is only 94 times that of the earth, for he is +lighter than pinewood. His atmosphere is marked with spots and belts, +and on the whole his condition is like that of Jupiter.</p> + +<p>"Two flat rings or hoops, divided by a dark space, encircle his ball in +the plane of his equator. The inner ring is over 18,000 miles from the +ball, and nearly 17,000 miles broad. The gap between is 1,750 miles +wide, and the outer ring is over 10,000 miles broad. The rings are +banded, bright or dark, and vary in thickness from 40 to 250 miles. They +consist of innumerable small satellites and meteoric stones, travelling +round the ball in rather more than ten hours, and are brightest in +their densest parts. Of course they form a magnificent object in the +night sky of the planet, and it may be that our own zodiacal light is +the last vestige of a similar ring, and not an extension of the solar +corona.</p> + +<p>"Saturn has eight moons outside his rings, the nearest, Mimas, being +115,000, and the farthest, Japetus, 220,400 miles from his ball. With +the exception of Japetus, they revolve round him in the plane of his +rings, and when these are seen edgewise, appear to run along it like +beads on a string.</p> + +<p>"Uranus, the next planet visible, is a pale star of the sixth magnitude, +1,770 million miles from the sun, and completes his round in 84 years. +His axis, differing from those of the foregoing planets, lies almost in +the plane of his orbit, but we cannot speak as to his axial rotation. He +is 31,000 miles in diameter, and somewhat heavier, bulk for bulk, than +water. Four satellites revolve round him, the nearest, Ariel, being +103,500, and the farthest, Oberon, 347,500 miles distant. Unlike the +orbits of the foregoing satellites, which are nearly in the same plane +as the orbits of their primaries, those of the satellites of Uranus are +almost perpendicular to his own. They are travelled in periods of two +and a half to thirteen and a half days.</p> + +<p>"Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, but seen as a pale blue star in +the telescope, is 2,780 million miles from the sun, and makes a +revolution in 165 years. His diameter is about 35,000 miles, and his +density rather less than that of water.</p> + +<p>"Neptune has one satellite, at a distance of 202,000 miles, which, like +those of Uranus, revolves about its primary in an orbit at a +considerable angle to his own in five days twenty-one hours. Both +Neptune and Uranus are probably dying suns.</p> + +<p>"Comets of unknown number travel in long elliptical or parabolic orbits +round the sun at great velocities. They seem to consist partly of +glowing vapours, especially hydrogen, and partly of meteoric stones. +'Shooting stars,' that is to say, stones which fall to the earth, are +known to swarm in their wake, and are believed to be as plentiful in +space as fishes in the sea."</p> + +<p>"The trash or leavings of creation," said I reflectively.</p> + +<p>"And the raw material, for nothing is lost," rejoined Gazen. "Now, in +spite of all its diversity, there is a remarkable symmetry in the solar +system. The planets are all moving round the sun in one direction along +circular paths. As a rule each is nearly as far again from the sun as +the next within it. Thus, if we take Mercury as ¾ inch from the sun, +Venus is about 1¼ inches, the Earth 2¼, Mars 2, the planetoids 5¼, +Jupiter 9¾, Saturn 14, Uranus 36, and Neptune 60 inches. On the same +scale, by the way, Enckes' comet at Aphelion, its farthest distance from +the sun, would be about 12 feet; Donatis almost a mile; and Alpha +Centauri, a near star in the Milky Way, some ten miles.</p> + +<p>"The stately march of the planets in their orbits becomes slower the +farther they are from the sun. The velocity of Mercury in its orbit is +thirty, that of Jupiter is eight, and that of Neptune is only three +miles a second. On the other hand, the inner planets, as a rule, take +some twenty-four hours, and the outer only ten hours to spin round their +axis. The inner planets are small in comparison with the outer. If we +represent the sun by a gourd, 20 inches in diameter, Mercury will seem a +bilberry (⅟₁₆ inch) Venus, a white currant, the Earth a black currant +(¼ inch), Mars a red currant (⅛ inch), the planetoids as fine seed, +Jupiter an orange or peach (2 inches), Saturn a nectarine or greengage +(1 inch), Uranus a red cherry (¾ inch), and Neptune a white cherry +(barely 1 inch in diameter). By putting the sun and planets in a row, +and drawing a contour of the whole, we obtain the figure of a dirk, a +bodkin, or an Indian club, in which the sun stands for the knob +(disproportionately big), the inner planets for the handle, and the +outer for the blade or body. Again, the average density of the inner +planets exceeds that of the outer by nearly five to one, but the mass of +any planet is greater than the combined masses of all which are smaller +than it. The inner planets derive all their light and heat from the sun, +and have few or no satellites; whereas the outer, to all appearance, are +secondary suns, and have their own retinue of worlds. On the similitude +of a clan or house we may regard the inner planets as the immediate +retainers of the chief, and the outer as the chieftains of their own +septs or families."</p> + +<p>"How do you account for the symmetrical arrangement?" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"The origin of the solar system is, you know, a mystery," replied the +astronomer. "According to the nebular hypothesis we may imagine that two +or more dark suns, perhaps encircled with planets, have come into +collision. Burst into atoms by the stupendous shock they would fill the +surrounding region with a vast nebula of incandescent gases in a state +of violent agitation. Its luminous fringes would fly immeasurably beyond +the present orbit of Neptune, and then rush inwards to the centre, only +to be driven outwards again. Surging out and in, the fluid mass would +expand and contract alternately, until in course of ages the fiery +tides would cease to ebb and flow. If the impact had been somewhat +indirect it would rotate slowly on its axis, and under the influence of +gravity and centrifugal force acquire a globular shape which would +gradually flatten to a lenticular disc. As it cooled and shrank in +volume it would whirl the faster round its axis, and grow the denser +towards its heart. By and by, as the centrifugal force overcame gravity, +the nebula would part, and the lighter outskirts would be shed one after +another in concentric rings to mould the planets. The inner rings, being +relatively small and heavy, would probably condense much sooner than the +large, light, outer rings. The planetoids are apparently the rubbish of +a ring which has failed to condense into one body, perhaps through its +uniformity or thinness. The separation of so big a mass as Jupiter might +well attenuate the border."</p> + +<p>"If the planetoids were born of a single small ring, might not several +planets be condensed from a large one?"</p> + +<p>"I see nothing to hinder it. A large ring might split into smaller +rings, or condense in several centres."</p> + +<p>"Because it seems to me that might explain the distinction between the +inner and the outer planets. Perhaps the outer were first thrown off in +one immense ring, and then the inner in a smaller ring. Before +separation the nebula viewed edgewise might resemble your Indian club."</p> + +<p>"A 'dumb-bell nebula,' like those we find in the heavens," observed +Gazen. "Be that as it may, the rings would collect into balls, and some +of these, especially the outer, would cast off rings which would +condense into moons, always excepting the rings of Saturn, which, like +the planetoids, are evidently a failure. The solar system would then +appear as a group of suns, a cluster of stars, in short, a +constellation. Each would be what we call a 'nebulous star,' not unlike +the sun at present; that is to say, it would be surrounded by a glowing +atmosphere of vapours, and perhaps meteoric matter. Under the action of +gravity, centrifugal force, and tidal retardation, their orbits would +become more circular, they would gradually move further apart, rotate +more slowly on their axes, and assume the shapes they have now. In +cooling down, new chemical compounds, and probably elements would be +formed, since the so-called elements are perhaps mere combinations of a +primordial substance which have been produced at various temperatures. +The heavier elements, such as platinum, gold, and iron, would sink +towards the core; and the lighter, such as carbon, silicon, oxygen, +nitrogen, and hydrogen, would rise towards the surface. A crust would +form, and portions of it breaking in or bursting out together with +eruptions and floods of molten lava, would disturb the poise of the +planet, and give rise to inequalities of surface, to continents, and +mountains. When the crust was sufficiently stable, sound, and cool, the +mists and clouds would condense into rivers, lakes, or seas, and the +atmosphere would become clear. In due course life would make its +appearance."</p> + +<p>"Can you account for that mystery?"</p> + +<p>"No. Science is bound in honour, no doubt, to explain all it can without +calling in a special act of creation; but the origin of life and +intelligence seems to go beyond it, so far. Spontaneous generation from +dead matter is ruled out of court at present. We believe that life only +proceeds from life. As for the hypothesis that meteoric stones, the +'moss-grown fragments of another world' may have brought life to the +earth, I hardly know what to think of it."</p> + +<p>"Has life ever been found on a meteoric stone?"</p> + +<p>"Not that I know. Carbon, at all events in the state of graphite and +diamond, has been got from them. They arc generally a kind of slag, +containing nodules or crystals of iron, nickle, and other metals, and +look to me as if they had solidified from a liquid or vapour. Are they +ruins of an earlier cosmos—the crumbs of an exploded world—matter +ejected from the sun—the snow of a nebulous ring—frozen spray from the +fiery surge of a nebula? we cannot tell; but, according to the meteoric +as distinguished from the nebular hypothesis of the solar system, the +sun, planets, and comets, as well as the stars and nebula were all +generated by the clash of meteorites; and not as I have supposed, of +dead globes."</p> + +<p>"Which hypothesis do you believe?"</p> + +<p>"There may be some truth in both," replied Gazen. "The two processes +might even go on together. What if meteorites are simply frozen nebula? +It is certain that the earth is still growing a little from the fall of +meteoric stones, and that part of the sun's heat comes from meteoric +fuel. Most of it, however, arises from the shrinkage of his bulk. Five +or ten million years ago the sun was double the size he is now. Twenty +or thirty million years ago he was rather a nebula than a sun. In five +or ten million more he will probably be as Jupiter is now—a smoking +cinder."</p> + +<p>"And the earth—how long is it since she was crusted over?"</p> + +<p>"Anything from ten to several hundred million years. In that time the +stratified rocks have been deposited under water, the land and sea have +taken their present configurations; the atmosphere has been purified; +plants and animals have spread all over the surface. Man has probably +been from twenty to a hundred thousand years or more on the earth, but +his civilization is a thing of yesterday."</p> + +<p>"How long will the earth continue fit for life?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps five or ten million years. The entire solar system is gradually +losing its internal heat, and must inevitably die of sheer inanition. +The time is coming when the sun will drift through space, a black star +in the midst of dead worlds. Perhaps the system will fall together, +perhaps it will run against a star. In either case there would probably +be a 'new heaven and a new earth.'"</p> + +<p>"Born like a phoenix from the ashes of the old," said I, feeling the +justice of the well-worn simile.</p> + +<p>"I daresay the process goes on to all eternity."</p> + +<p>"Like enough."</p> + +<p>The sublime idea, with its prospect of the infinite, held us for a time +in silence. At length my thoughts reverted to the original question +which had been forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Now, whether should I go to Mars or Venus?" I enquired, fixing my eyes +on these planets and trying to estimate their relative distances from +the earth.</p> + +<p>Gazen made a mental computation, and replied with decision,</p> + +<p>"Venus."</p> + +<p>"All right," I responded. "Venus let it be."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_V'></a><h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>LEAVING THE EARTH.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"Check!"</p> + +<p>I was playing a game of chess with an old acquaintance, Viscount ——, +after dinner, one evening, in the luxurious smoking-room of a +fashionable club in the West End of London.</p> + +<p>Having got his queen into a very tight corner, I sipped a glass of wine, +lit a Turkish cigarette, and leaned back in my chair with an agreeable +sense of triumph.</p> + +<p>My companion, on the other hand, puffed rapidly at his cigar, and took a +long drink of hot whiskey and water, then fixed his attention on the +board, and stroked his beard with an air of the deepest gravity. Had you +only seen his face at that moment you would have supposed that all the +care of a mighty empire weighed upon his shoulders. The countenance of a +grand vizier, engaged in considering an ultimatum of Lord Salisbury, +were frivolous in comparison. There is little doubt that if Lord —— +had applied to the serious business of life as much earnest deliberation +as he gave to the movement of a pawn, he would have made a very +different figure in Society. But having been born without any effort of +his own to all that most men covet—rank, wealth, and title—he showed a +rare spirit of contentment, and did his best to make the world happier +by enjoying himself.</p> + +<p>As he was a very slow player, I began to think of a matter which lay +nearer to my heart than the game, I mean the project of travelling to +Venus. Tests of the new flying machine, by Professor Gazen and myself, +as well as our enquiries into the character of Mr. Carmichael, having +proved quite satisfactory, I had signed an agreement for the +construction of an ethereal ship or car, equally capable of navigating +the atmosphere to distant regions of the globe, and of traversing the +immense reaches of empty space between the earth and the other members +of the solar system.</p> + +<p>As Miss Carmichael had determined to accompany her father, and assist +him in his labours, it was built to carry three persons, with room to +spare for another, and the trial trips, made secretly on foggy nights, +had encouraged us to undertake the longer voyage into space. I am glad +to say that Professor Gazen, having taken part in one of these, had got +the better of his caution, and finally made up his mind to join the +expedition.</p> + +<p>I suspect that he was influenced in his decision by the heroic example +of Miss Carmichael. At all events I know he tried very hard to dissuade +her from going; but all his arguments could not shake her inflexible +resolution, and truly, there was something sublime in the quiet fidelity +of this young woman to her aged father which commanded our admiration.</p> + +<p>At length, all preparations for the voyage were complete, and as we did +not wish to excite any remark, it was arranged that we should start on +the first night that was dark enough to conceal our movements.</p> + +<p>While these thoughts were passing through my head, a footman, in plush, +entered the smoking-room, and presented a telegram on a golden salver. +Anticipating the contents, I tore it open, and read as follows:</p> + +<div class='blkquot'><p>"<i>We leave to-night. Come on at once.</i>—CARMICHAEL."</p></div> + +<p>After writing a reply to the message, I turned to the Viscount, who had +never raised his eyes from the board, and said,</p> + +<p>"You had better give me the game."</p> + +<p>He simply stared at me, and asked,</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, make it a draw."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear no. Let's play it out."</p> + +<p>"I can't. I'm sorry to say I must leave you now. I have just received a +telegram making an urgent appointment. When beauty calls—"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" replied his lordship, with an amiable smile. "In that case we'll +finish it another time. I mean to win this game."</p> + +<p>"It will take you all your time."</p> + +<p>"I'll wager you ten to one—a thousand sovereigns to a hundred that I +win."</p> + +<p>It is not my habit to lay wagers; but I was anxious to be gone.</p> + +<p>"All right," I responded with a laugh, as I went away. "Good-night!"</p> + +<p>On arriving at Mr. Carmichael's cottage I found the rest of the party +waiting for me. No time was lost in proceeding to the garden, where the +car stood ready to mount into the air. All the lights were out, and in +the darkness it might have been mistaken for a tubular boiler of a dumpy +shape. It was built of aluminium steel, able to withstand the impact of +a meteorite, and the interior was lined with caoutchouc, which is a +non-conductor of heat, as well as air-proof. The foot or basement +contained the driving mechanism, and a small cabin for Mr. Carmichael. +The upper shell, or main body, of an oval contour, projected beyond the +basement, and was surmounted by an observatory and conning tower. It was +divided into several compartments, that in the middle being the saloon, +or common chamber. At one end there was a berth for Miss Carmichael, and +at the other one for Professor Gazen and myself, with a snug little +smoking cell adjoining it. Every additional cubic inch was utilised for +the storage of provisions, cooking utensils, arms, books, and scientific +apparatus.</p> + +<p>The vessel was entered by a door in the middle, and a railed gallery or +deck ran round it outside. The interior was lighted by ports, or +scuttles, of stout glass; but electricity was also at our service. Air +constantly evaporating from the liquid state would fill the rooms, and +could escape through vent holes in the walls. This artificial atmosphere +was supplemented by a reserve fund of pure oxygen gas compressed in +steel cylinders, and a quantity of chemicals for purifying the air. It +need hardly be said that we did not burden the ship with unnecessary +articles, and that every piece of furniture was of the lightest and most +useful kind.</p> + +<p>I think we all felt the solemnity of the moment as we stepped into the +black hull which might prove our living coffin. No friends were by to +sadden us with their parting; but the old earth had grown dearer to us +now that we were about to leave it, perhaps for ever. Mr. Carmichael +descended by the trap into the engine room, while we others stood on the +landing beside the open door, mute and expectant.</p> + +<p>Presently, a shudder of the vessel sent a strange thrill to our hearts, +and almost before we knew it, we had left the ground.</p> + +<p>"We're off!" ejaculated Gazen, and although a slight vibration was all +the movement we could feel, we saw the earth sinking away from us. At +first we rose very slowly, because the machine had to contend against +the force of gravity; but as the weight of the car diminished the higher +we ascended, our speed gradually augmented, and we knew that in the long +run it would become prodigious. The night was moonless, and a thick +mantle of clouds obscured the heavens; but the planet Venus was now an +evening star, and after attaining a considerable height, we steered +towards the west. Our course took us over the metropolis, which lay +beneath us like a vast conflagration.</p> + +<p>Far as the eye could see, myriads of lights glimmered like watch fires +through the murk of the dismal streets, growing thicker and thicker as +we approached the heart of the city, and appearing to blend their +lustres. Through the midst of the glittering expanse we could trace the +black tide of the river, crossed by the sparkling lines of the bridges, +and reflecting the red lanterns of the ships and barges. The principal +squares and thoroughfares were picked out, with rows and clusters of gas +and electric lamps, as with studs of gold and silver. The clock on the +Houses of Parliament glowed like the full moon on a harvest night. Now +and again the weird blaze of a furnace, or the shifting beam of an +advertisement, attracted our attention. With indescribable emotion we +hung over the immense panorama, and recognised the familiar streets and +buildings—the Bank and Post Office, St. Paul's Cathedral and Newgate +Prison, the Law Courts and Somerset House, the British Museum, the +National Gallery of Arts, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. We +watched the busy multitudes swarming like ants in the glare of the +pavements from the dreary slums and stalls of Whitechapel to the +newspaper offices of Fleet Street; the shops and theatres of the Strand; +the music halls and restaurants of Piccadilly Circus. A deep and +continuous roar, a sound like that of the ocean ascended from the +toiling millions below.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it awful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a tone of reverence. +"What a city! I seem to understand how an angel feels when he regards +the world in space, or a God when He listens to the prayers of +humanity."</p> + +<p>"For my part," said Gazen, "I feel as though I were standing on my +head."</p> + +<p>By this time we had lost the sense of danger, and gathered confidence in +our mode of travel.</p> + +<p>"I fancy the clouds overhead are the real earth," explained the +astronomer, "and that I'm looking down into the starry heavens, with its +Milky Way. I say, though, isn't it jolly up here—soaring above all +these moiling mannikins below—wasting their precious lives grubbing in +the mire—dead to the glories of the universe—seeking happiness and +finding misery. Ugh!—wish I had a packet of dynamite to drop amongst +them and make them look up. Hallo!"</p> + +<p>The earth had suddenly vanished from our sight.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI'></a><h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>IN SPACE.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>We had entered the clouds.</p> + +<p>For half-an-hour we were muffled in a cold, damp mist, and total +darkness, and had begun to think of going indoors when, all at once, the +car burst into the pure and starlit region of the upper air.</p> + +<p>A cry of joyous admiration escaped from us all.</p> + +<p>The spectacle before us was indeed sublime.</p> + +<p>The sky of a deep dark blue was hung with innumerable stars, which +seemed to float in the limpid ether, and the rolling vapours through +which we had passed were drawn like a sable curtain between us and the +lower world. The stillness was so profound that we could hear the +beating of our own hearts.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a solemn whisper, as if +she were afraid that angels might hear.</p> + +<p>"There is Venus right ahead," cried the astronomer, but in a softer +tone than usual, perhaps out of respect for the sovereign laws of the +universe. "The course is clear now—we are fairly on the open sea—I +mean the open ether. I must get out my telescope."</p> + +<p>"The sky does not look sad here, as it always does on the earth—to me +at least," whispered Miss Carmichael, after Gazen had left us alone. "I +suppose that is because there is so much sadness around us and within us +there."</p> + +<p>"The atmosphere, too, is often very impure," I replied, also in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Up here I enjoy a sense of absolute peace and well-being, if not +happiness," she murmured. "I feel raised above all the miseries of +life—they appear to me so paltry and so vain."</p> + +<p>"As when we reach a higher moral elevation," said I, drifting into a +confidential mood, like passengers on the deck of a ship, under the +mysterious glamour of the night-sky. "Such moments are too rare in life. +Do you remember the lines of Shakespeare:—</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"'Look, how the floor of heaven<br /></span> +<span> Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold:<br /></span> +<span> There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st,<br /></span> +<span> But in his motion like an angel sings,<br /></span> +<span> Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims:<br /></span> +<span> Such harmony is in immortal souls;<br /></span> +<span> But whilst this muddy vesture of decay<br /></span> +<span> Doth grossly close it in—we cannot hear it.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"True," responded Miss Carmichael, "and now I begin to feel like a +disembodied spirit—a 'young-eyed cherubim.' I seem to belong already to +a better planet. Should you not like to dwell here for ever, far away +from the carking cares and troubles of the world?"</p> + +<p>The unwonted sadness of her tone reminded me of her devoted life, and I +turned towards her with new interest and sympathy. She was looking at +the Evening Star, whose bright beam softened the irregularities of her +profile, and made her almost beautiful.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered, and the words "with you" formed themselves in my +heart. I know not what folly I might have spoken had not the +conversation been interrupted by Gazen, who called out in his unromantic +style,</p> + +<p>"I say, Miss Carmichael! Won't you come and take a look at Venus?"</p> + +<p>She rose at once, and I followed her to the observatory.</p> + +<p>The telescope was very powerful for its size, and showed the dusky night +side of the planet against the brilliant crescent of the day like the +"new moon in the arms of the old," or, as Miss Carmichael said, "like an +amethyst in a silver clasp."</p> + +<p>"Really, it is not unlike that," said Gazen, pleased with her feminine +conceit. "If the instrument were stronger you would probably see the +clasp go all round the dusky violet body like a bright ring, and +probably, too, an ashen light within it, such as we see on the dark side +of the moon. By-and-by, as we get nearer, we shall study the markings of +the terminator, and a shallow notch that is just visible on the inner +edge of the southern horn. Can you see it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think I can. What is it?" replied Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Probably a vast crater, or else a range of high mountains intercepting +the sunlight, and making a scallop in the border of the terminator. +However, that is a secret for us to find out. We know very little of the +planet Venus—not even the length of her day. Some think it is eight +months long, others twenty-four hours. We shall see. I have begun to +keep a record of our discoveries, and some day—when I return to town—I +hope to read a paper on the subject before the most potent, grave, and +learned Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society—I rather think I +shall surprise them—I do not say startle—it is impossible to startle +the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society—or even to astonish +them—you might as well hope to tickle the Sphinx—but I fancy it will +stir them up a little, especially my friend Professor Sylvanus Pettifer +Possil. However, I must take care not to give them the slightest hint of +what they are to expect beforehand, otherwise they will declare they +knew all about it already."</p> + +<p>"Has it struck you that up here the stars appear of different colours at +various distances," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," answered Gazen, "and in the pure atmosphere of the desert, or +on the summit of high mountains, we notice a similar effect. The stars +have been compared to the trees of a forest, in different stages of +growth and decay. Some of them are growing in splendour, and others +again are dying out. Arcturus, a red star, for example, is fast cooling +to a cinder. Capella, over there, is a yellow star, like our own sun, +and past his prime. Sirius, that brilliant white or bluish star, which +flashes like a diamond in the south, is one of the fiercest. He is a +double star, his companion being seven and himself thirteen times +massier than the sun; but they are fifty times brighter, and a million +times further off, that is to say, one hundred billion miles away. +These double or twin stars are often very beautiful. The twins are of +all colours, and generally match well with each other—for instance, +purple and orange—green and orange—red and green—blue and pale +green—white and ruby. One of the prettiest lies in the constellation +Cygnus. I will show it to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, looking through the glass. +"The bigger star is a golden or topaz yellow, and the smaller a light +sapphire blue."</p> + +<p>"Some of the star groups and nebulæ are just as pretty," observed Gazen, +turning his telescope to another part of the heavens; "most of the stars +are white, but there is a sprinkling of yellow, blue, and red amongst +them—I mean, of course, to our view, for the absorption of our +atmosphere alters the tint."</p> + +<p>"Does that mean that there is more youth than age, more life than death, +in the universe?" enquired Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," replied the astronomer. "There is apparently no lack of +vigour in the Cosmos—no great sign of decrepitude; but we must remember +that we see the younger and brighter stars better than the others, and +for aught we know there are many dark suns or extinct stars, as well as +planets and their satellites. I should not like to say that the +population of space is going down; but on the whole it may be +stationary. I wish I could show you the cluster in Toucan, a rosy star +in a ring of white ones."</p> + +<p>"Like a brooch of pearls," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Yes—not unlike that," responded Gazen, evidently amused at her +comparison. "But that constellation is in the Southern Hemisphere. +However, here is the 'ring' or 'planetary' nebula in the Lyre."</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful thing!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, with her eye at the +instrument. "It looks to me like a golden hoop, with diamond dust +inside."</p> + +<p>I do not know where Miss Carmichael got her knowledge of jewellery, for +to all appearance she wore none.</p> + +<p>"Or the cup of a flower," she added, raising her head.</p> + +<p>"Poets have called the stars 'fleurs de ciel,'" said Gazen, shifting the +telescope, "and if so, the nebula are the orchids; for they imitate +crabs, birds, dumb-bells, spirals, and so forth. Take a look at this +one, and tell us what you think of it."</p> + +<p>"I see a cloud of silver light in the dark sky," said Miss Carmichael, +after observing it.</p> + +<p>"What does it resemble?"</p> + +<p>"It's rather like a pansy—or—"</p> + +<p>"Anything else?"</p> + +<p>"A human face!"</p> + +<p>"Not far out," rejoined Gazen. "It is called the Devil Nebula!"</p> + +<p>"And what is it?" enquired Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"It is a cluster of stars—a spawn of worlds, if I may use the +expression," answered Gazen.</p> + +<p>"And what are they made of? I know very little of astronomy."</p> + +<p>"The same stuff as the earth—the same stuff as ourselves—hydrogen, +iron, carbon, and other chemical elements. Just as all the books in the +world are composed of the same letters, so all the celestial bodies are +built of the same elements. Everything is everywhere—"</p> + +<p>Gazen was evidently in his own element, and began a long lecture on the +constitution of the universe, which appeared to interest Miss Carmichael +very much. Somehow it jarred upon me, and I retired to the little +smoking-room, where I lit a cigar, and sat down beside the open scuttles +to enjoy a quiet smoke.</p> + +<p>"Why am I displeased with the lucubrations of the professor?" I said to +myself. "Am I jealous of him because he has monopolised the attention of +Miss Carmichael? No, I think not. I confess to a certain interest in +Miss Carmichael. I believe she is a noble girl, intelligent and +affectionate, simple and true; with a touch of poetry in her nature +which I had never suspected. She will make an excellent companion to the +fortunate man who wins her. When I remember the hard life she has led so +far, I confess I cannot help sympathising with her; but surely I am not +in love?"</p> + +<p>I regret to say that my friend the astronomer, with all his good +qualities, was not quite free from the arrogance which leads some men of +science to assume a proprietary right in the objects of their discovery. +To hear him speak you would think he had created the stars, instead of +explaining a secret of their constitution. However, I was used to that +little failing in his manner. It was not that. No, it was chiefly the +matter of his discourse which had been distasteful to me. The sight of +that glorious firmament had filled me with a sentiment of awe and +reverence to which his dry and brutal facts were a kind of desecration. +Why should our sentiment so often shrink from knowledge? Are we afraid +its purity may be contaminated and defiled? Why should science be so +inimical to poetry? Is it because the reality is never equal to our +dreams? There is more in this antipathy than the fear of disillusion +and alloyment. Some of it arises from a difference in the attitude of +the mind.</p> + +<p>To the poet, nature is a living mystery. He does not seek to know what +it is, or how it works. He allows it as a whole to impress itself on his +entire soul, like the reflection in a mirror, and is content with the +illusion, the effect. By its power and beauty it awakens ideas and +sentiments within him. He does not even consider the part which his own +mind plays, and as his fancy is quite free, he tends to personify +inanimate things, as the ancients did the sun and moon.</p> + +<p>To the man of science, on the other hand, nature is a molecular +mechanism. He wishes to understand its construction, and mode of action. +He enquires into its particular parts with his intellect, and tries to +penetrate the illusion in order to lay bare its cause. Heedless of its +power and beauty, he remains uninfluenced by sentiment, and mistrusting +the part played by his own mind, he tends to destroy the habit of +personification.</p> + +<p>Hence that opposition between science and poetry which Coleridge pointed +out. The spirit of poetry is driven away by the spirit of science, just +as Eros fled before the curiosity of Psyche.</p> + +<p>How can I enjoy the perfume of a rose if I am thinking of its cellular +tissue? I grow blind to the beauty of the Venus de Medicis when I +measure its dimensions, or analyse its marble. What do I care for the +drama if I am bent on going behind the scenes and examining the stage +machinery? The telescope has banished Phoebus and Diana from our +literature, and the spectroscope has vulgarised the stars.</p> + +<p>Will science make an end of poetry as Renan and many others have +thought? Surely not? Poetry is quite as natural and as needful to +mankind as science. All men are poetical, as they are scientific, more +or less.</p> + +<p>It might even be argued that poetry is for the general, for the man as a +man; while science is for the particular, for the man as a specialist; +and that poetry is a higher and more essential boon than science, +because it speaks to the heart, not merely to the head, and keeps alive +the celestial as well as the terrestrial portion of our nature.</p> + +<p>Shall we prefer the cause to the effect, and the means to the end, or +exalt the matter above the form, and the letter above the spirit? Does +not the tissue exist for the sweetness of the rose, the marble for the +beauty of the stature, and the mechanism for the illusion of the play? +The "opposition" between science and poetry lies not in the object, but +in our mode of regarding it. The scientific and the poetical spirit are +complementary, as the inside to the outside of a garment, and if they +seem to drive each other away it is because the mind cannot easily +entertain and employ both together; but one is passive when the other is +active.</p> + +<p>Keats drank "confusion to Newton" for destroying the poetry of the +rainbow by showing how the colours were elicited; but after all was +Newton guilty? Why should a true knowledge of the cause destroy the +poetry of an effect? Every effect must be produced somehow. The rainbow +is not less beautiful in itself because I know that it is due to the +refraction of light. The diamond loses none of its lustre although +chemistry has proved it to be carbon; the heavens are still glorious +even if the stars are red-hot balls.</p> + +<p>But stones, carbon, and light are familiar commonplace things, and +fraught with prosaic associations.</p> + +<p>True, and yet natural things are noble in themselves, and only vulgar in +our usage. It is for us to purify and raise our thoughts. Instead of +losing our interest in the universe because it is all of the same stuff, +we should rather wonder at the miracle which has formed so rich a +variety out of a common element.</p> + +<p>But the mystery is gone, and the feelings and fancies which arose from +it.</p> + +<p>In exchange for the mystery we have truth, which excites other emotions +and ideas. Moreover, the mystery is only pushed further back. We cannot +tell what the elements really are; they will never be more than symbols +to us, and all nature at bottom will ever remain a mystery to us: an +organised illusion. Think, too, of the innumerable worlds amongst the +stars, and the eternity of the past and future. Whether we look into the +depths of space beyond the reach of telescope and microscope, or +backward and forward along the vistas of time, we shall find ourselves +surrounded with an impenetrable mystery in which the imagination is free +to rove.</p> + +<p>Science, far from destroying, will foster and develop poetry. It is the +part of the scientific to serve the poetical spirit by providing it with +fresh matter. The poet will take the truth discovered by the man of +science, and purify it from vulgar associations, or stamp it with a +beautiful and ideal form.</p> + +<p>Consider the vast horizons opened to the vision of the poet by the +investigations of science and the doctrine of evolution. At present the +spirit of science is perhaps more active than the spirit of poetry, but +we are passing through an unsettled to a settled period. Tennyson was +the voice of the transition; but the singer of evolution is to come, and +after him the poet of truth.</p> + +<p>If we allowed the scientific to drive away the poetical spirit, we +should have to go in quest of it again, as the forlorn Psyche went in +search of Eros. It is necessary to the proper balance and harmony of our +minds, to the purification of our feelings, and the right enjoyment of +life. Poetry expresses the inmost soul of man, and science can never +take its place. Religion apart, what does the present age of science +need more than poetry? What would benefit a hard-headed, matter-of-fact +man of science like Professor Gazen if not the arts of the sublime and +beautiful—if not a poetical companion—such as Miss Carmichael?</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Thus, after a long rambling meditation, I had come back to my bachelor +friend and the fair American.</p> + +<p>"Yes," thought I, rather uneasily, I must confess, for I could not +disguise from myself the fact that I was taken with her, "Gazen and she +are not an ill-matched pair by any means. They are alike in many +respects, and a contrast in others. They have common ground in their +love and aptitude for science; yet each has something which the other +lacks. She has poetry and sentiment for instance, but he—well, I'm +afraid that if he ever had any it has all evaporated by this time. On +the other hand, she"—but it puzzled me to think of any good quality +that Miss Carmichael did not possess, and I began to consider that she +would be throwing herself away upon him. "They seem to get on well +together, however—monstrously well. I wonder what star he is picking to +pieces now?"</p> + +<p>I listened for the sound of their voices, but not a murmur passed +through the curtain which I had drawn across the entrance to the smoking +cabin. Only a peculiar tremor from the mysterious engines broke the +utter stillness. Was I growing deaf? I snapped my fingers to reassure +myself, and the sound startled me like the crack of a pistol. Evidently +my sense of hearing had become abnormally acute. My mind, too, was +preternaturally clear, and the solitude became so irksome that I rose +from my seat, and looked out of the scuttles to relieve the tension of +my nerves.</p> + +<p>Apparently we had reached a great height in the atmosphere, for the sky +was a dead black, and the stars had ceased to twinkle. By the same +illusion which lifts the horizon of the sea to the level of the +spectator on a hillside, the sable cloud beneath was dished out, and the +car seemed to float in the middle of an immense dark sphere, whose upper +half was strewn with silver. Looking down into the dark gulf below, I +could see a ruddy light streaming through a rift in the clouds. It was +probably a last glimpse of London, or some neighbouring town; but soon +the rolling vapours closed, and shut it out.</p> + +<p>I now realised to the full that I was <i>nowhere</i>, or to speak more +correctly, a wanderer in empty space—that I had left one world behind +me and was travelling to another, like a disembodied spirit crossing the +gloomy Styx. A strange serenity took possession of my soul, and all that +had polluted or degraded it in the lower life seemed to fall away from +it like the shadow of an evil dream.</p> + +<p>In the depths of my heart I no longer felt sorry to quit the earth. It +seemed to me now, a place where the loveliest things never come to +birth, or die the soonest—where life itself hangs on a blind mischance, +where true friendship is afraid to show its face, where pure love is +unrequited or betrayed, and the noblest benefactors of their fellowmen +have been reviled or done to death—a place which we regard as a heaven +when we enter it, and a hell before we leave it. . . . No, I was not +sorry to quit the earth.</p> + +<p>And the beautiful planet, shining there so peacefully in the west, was +it any better? At a like distance the earth would seem still fairer, and +perhaps even now some wretch in Venus is asking himself a similar +question. Is it not probable that just as all the worlds are made of the +same materials, so the mixture of good and evil is much the same in all? +I turned to the stars, where in all ages man has sought an answer to his +riddles. The better land! Where is it? if not among the stars. I am now +in the old heaven above the clouds. Does it lie <i>within</i> the visible +universe, as it lies within the heart when peace and happiness are +there?</p> + +<p>In that pure ether the glory of the firmament was revealed to me as it +had never been on the earth, where it is often veiled with clouds and +mist, or marred by houses and surrounding objects—where the quietude of +the mind is also apt to be disturbed by sordid and perplexing cares. Its +awful sublimity overwhelmed my faculties, and its majesty inspired me +with a kind of dread. In presence of these countless orbs my own +nothingness came home to me, and a voice seemed to whisper in my ear,</p> + +<p>"Hush! What art thou? Be humble and revere."</p> + +<p>After a while, I perceived a pure celestial radiance of a marvellous +whiteness dawning in the east. By slow degrees it spread over the +starlit sky, lightening its blackness to a deep Prussian blue, and +lining the sable clouds on the horizon with silver. At length the round +disc of the sun, whiter than the full moon, and intolerably bright, rose +into view.</p> + +<p>With the intention of rejoining Professor Gazen in the observatory, and +seeing it through his telescope, I flung away my cigar, and stepped +towards the door of the cabin; but ere I had gone two paces, I suddenly +reeled and fell. At first I imagined that an accident had happened to +the car, but soon realised that I myself was at fault. Dizzy and faint, +with a bounding pulse, an aching head, and a panting chest, I raised +myself with great difficulty into a seat, and tried to collect my +thoughts. For the last quarter of an hour I had been aware of a growing +uneasiness, but the spectacle of sunrise had entranced me, and I forgot +it. Suspecting an attack of "mountain sickness" owing to the rarity of +the atmosphere, I attempted to rise and close the scuttles, but found +that I had lost all power in my lower limbs. The pain in my head +increased, the palpitation of my heart grew more violent, my ears rang +like a bell, and I literally gasped for breath. Moreover, I felt a +peculiar dryness in my throat, and a disagreeable taste of blood in my +mouth. What was to be done? I tried again to reach the door, but only to +find that I could not even move my arms, let alone my feet. +Nevertheless, I was singularly free from agitation or alarm, and my mind +was just as clear as it is now. I reflected that as the car was ever +rising into a rarer atmosphere, my only hope of salvation lay in calling +for help, and that as the paralysis was gaining on my whole body, not a +moment was to be lost. I shouted with all my strength; but beyond a sort +of hiss, not a sound escaped my lips. The profound silence of the car +now struck me in a new light. Had Gazen and Miss Carmichael not +committed the same blunder, and suffered a like fate? Perhaps even +Carmichael himself had been equally careless, and the flying machine, +now masterless, was carrying us Heaven knows whither. Strange to say I +entertained these sinister apprehensions without the least emotion. I +had lost all feeling of pain or anxiety, and was perfectly tranquil and +indifferent to anything that might happen. It is possible that with the +paralysis of my powers to help myself, I was also relieved by nature +from the fears of death. I began to think of the sensation which our +mysterious disappearance would make in the newspapers, and of divers +other matters, such as my own boyhood and my friends, when all at once +my eyes grew dim—and I remembered nothing more.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII'></a><h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h4>ARRIVING IN VENUS.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"Try to speak—there's a good fellow—open your eyes."</p> + +<p>I heard the words as in a dream. I recognised the voice of Gazen, but it +seemed to come from the far distance. Opening my eyes I found myself +prostrate on the floor of the smoking room, with the professor and Miss +Carmichael kneeling beside me. There was a look of great anxiety on +their faces.</p> + +<p>"I'm all right," said I feebly. "I'm so glad you are safe."</p> + +<p>It appears that a short time before, Gazen had closed the scuttles of +the observatory and returned with Miss Carmichael to the saloon, then, +after calling to me without receiving any answer, had opened the door of +the smoking-room and seen me lying in a dead faint. Luckily Miss +Carmichael had acquired some knowledge of medicine, partly from her +father, and without loss of time they applied themselves to bring me +round by the method of artificial respiration employed in cases of +drowning or lightning stroke.</p> + +<p>It would be tedious to narrate all the particulars of our journey +through the dark abyss, particularly as nothing very important befell +us, and one day passed like another. Now and then a small meteoric stone +struck the car and glanced off its rounded sides.</p> + +<p>"Old Charon," as Gazen and I had nicknamed Carmichael, after the grim +ferryman of the Styx, seldom forsook his engines, and Miss Carmichael +spent a good deal of her time along with him. Occasionally she chatted +with Gazen and myself in the saloon, or helped us to make scientific +observations; but although neither of us openly confessed it, I think we +both felt that she did not give us quite enough of her company. Her +manner seemed to betray no preference for one or the other.</p> + +<p>Did she, by her feminine instinct, perceive that we were both solicitous +of her company, and was she afraid of exciting jealousy between us? In +any case we were all the more glad to see her when she did join us. No +doubt men in general, and professors in particular, are fond of +communicating knowledge, but a great deal depends on the pupil; and +certainly I was surprised to see how the hard and dry astronomer beamed +with delight as he initiated this young lady into the mysteries of the +apparatus, and what a deal of trouble he took to cram her lovely head +with mathematics.</p> + +<p>We noted the temperature of space as we darted onwards, and discovered +that it contains a trace of gases lost from the atmospheres of the +heavenly bodies. We also found there a sprinkling of minute organisms, +which had probably strayed from some living world. Gazen suggested that +these might sow the seeds of organic life in brand-new planets, ready +for them, but perhaps that was only his scientific joke. The jokes of +science are frequently so well disguised, that many people take them for +earnest.</p> + +<p>Gazen made numerous observations of the celestial bodies, more +especially the sun, which now appeared as a globe of lilac fire in the +centre of a silvery lustre, but I will leave him to publish his results +in his own fashion. We may claim to have seen the South Pole, but, of +course, at a distance too great for scientific purposes. Judging by its +appearance, I should say it was surrounded by a frozen land. The earth, +with its ruddy and green continents, delineated as on a map, or veiled +in belted clouds, was a magnificent object for the telescope as it +wheeled in the blue rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour, with a kind of loving fascination, we watched it +growing "fine by degrees and beautifully less," until at last it waned +into a bright star.</p> + +<p>Venus, on the other hand, waxed more and more brilliant until it +rivalled the moon, and Mercury appeared as a rosy star not far from it.</p> + +<p>We soon got accustomed to the funereal aspect of the sky, and the utter +silence of space. Indeed, I was not so much impressed by the reality as +I had been by the simulacrum in my dream of sunrise in the moon. When I +looked at the weird radiance of the sun, however, I realised as I had +never done before that he was only a star seen comparatively near, and +that the earth was but his insignificant satellite. Moreover, when I +gazed down into the yawning gulf, with its strange constellations so far +<i>beneath</i> us, I felt to the full the awful loneliness of the universe; +and how that all life and soul were confined to mere sunlit specks +thinly scattered here and there in the blackness of eternal night.</p> + +<p>Steering a calculated course by the stars, we reached the orbit of +Venus, and travelled along it in advance of the planet with a velocity +rather less than her own, so as to allow her to overtake us. Some +notion of the eagerness with which we scanned her approach may be +gathered by imagining the moon to fall towards the earth. Slowly and +steadily the illuminated crescent of the planet grew in bulk and +definition, until we could plainly distinguish all the features of her +disc without the aid of glasses. For the most part she was wrapped in +clouds, of a dazzling lustre at the equator, and duskier towards the +poles. Here and there a gap in the vapour revealed the summit of a +mountain range, or the dark surface of a plain or sea.</p> + +<p>I need hardly say that none of us viewed the majestic approach of this +new world, suspended in the ether, and visibly turning round its axis, +without emotion. The boundary of day and night was fairly well marked, +and I pictured to myself the wave of living creatures rising from their +sleep to life and activity on one side, and going to sleep again on the +other, as it crept slowly over the surface. To compare small things with +great, the denizens of a planet reminded me of performers under the +limelight of a darkened theatre:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"All the world's a stage!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We amused ourselves with conjectures as to our probable fate on Venus, +supposing we should arrive there safe and sound.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the authorities will demand our passports," said I. "Perhaps +we shall be tried and condemned to death for invading a friendly +planet."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," said Gazen, "if they were to put +us into their zoological gardens as a rare species of monkey."</p> + +<p>"What a ridiculous idea!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael. "Now <i>I</i> feel sure +they will pay us divine honours. Won't it be nice?"</p> + +<p>"You will make a perfect divinity," rejoined the professor with +consummate gallantry. "For my part I shall feel more at home in a +menagerie."</p> + +<p>Thus far we had not observed any signs of intelligent beings on the +cloudy globe, and it was still doubtful whether we should not discover +it to be a lifeless world.</p> + +<p>Our track did not lie exactly on the orbit of the planet, but +sufficiently beneath it to let her attraction pull the car up towards +her Southern Pole as it passed above us; and by this course of action we +trusted to enjoy a wider field of atmosphere to manoeuvre in, and +probably a safer descent into a cooler climate than we should have +experienced in attempting to land on the equator.</p> + +<p>By an illusion familiar in the case of railway trains, it seemed to us +that the car was stationary, and the planet rushing towards us. On it +came like a great shield of silver and ebony, eclipsing the stars and +growing vaster every moment. Under the driving force of the engines and +the gravity of the planet, our car was falling obliquely towards the +orbit, like a small boat trying to cross the bows of an ironclad, and a +collision seemed inevitable. Being on the sunward side we could see more +and more of the illuminated crescent as it drew near, and were filled +with amazement at the sublime spectacle afforded by the strange contrast +between the purple splendour of the solar disc in the black abyss of +ether and the pure white celestial radiance which was reflected from the +atmosphere of the planet.</p> + +<p>The climax of magnificence was reached when the approaching surface came +so close as to appear concave, and our little ark floated above a +hemisphere of dazzling brightness under a hemisphere of appalling +darkness faintly relieved by the glimmer of stars and the purple glory +of the sun.</p> + +<p>Ere we could express our admiration, however, we were startled by a +magical transformation of the scene. The sky suddenly became blue, the +stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the +broad day was all around us.</p> + +<p>"Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and +wonder.</p> + +<p>"We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with +alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?"</p> + +<p>So saying he opened one of the scuttles, and a whiff of fresh air blew +into the car. Thrusting his nose out, he sniffed cautiously for a while +and then drew several long breaths.</p> + +<p>"It seems all right as regards quality," he remarked, "but there's too +little body in it. We must wait until we get nearer the ground before we +can go outside the car."</p> + +<p>The pressure of the atmosphere as taken by an aneroid barometer +confirmed his observation, but as we were ignorant of its average +density it could not give us any certain indication of our height. Far +beneath us an ideal world of clouds hid the surface from our view. We +seemed to be floating above a range of snowy Alps, their dusky valleys +filled with glaciers, and their sovereign peaks glittering in the sun +like diamonds. As we descended in a long slant, their dazzling summits +rose to meet us, and the infinite play of light and shade became more +and more beautiful. The gliding car threw a distinct shadow which +travelled along the white screen, and equally to our surprise and +delight became fringed with coloured circles resembling rainbows.</p> + +<p>"It is a good omen!" cried Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" responded the professor, shaking his head but smiling +good-humouredly; "that is a mere superstition I'm afraid. It is simply +an optical effect, a variety of the phenomenon called 'anthelia,' like +Ulloa's Circle and the famous 'Spectre of the Brocken.'"</p> + +<p>"Explain it how you will," rejoined Miss Carmichael, "to me it is an +emblem of hope. It cheers my heart."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear it, and I should be very sorry to crush your +hopes," said Gazen pleasantly. "We can sometimes derive moral +encouragement and profit from external phenomena. A rainbow in the midst +of a storm is a cheering sight. I daresay there is a reasonable basis, +too, for certain superstitions. St. Elmo's Fire may, for instance, from +natural causes, be a sign of good weather, only there is nothing +supernatural about it."</p> + +<p>"I am not in the secrets of the supernatural," replied Miss Carmichael, +"but I believe that if we do not look for the supernatural, if we shut +our eyes to it, we are not likely to see it."</p> + +<p>"Science has proved that so many things formerly thought to be +supernatural are quite natural," observed the astronomer a little more +humbly.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the natural and the supernatural are one," said Miss +Carmichael. "Does a thing cease to be supernatural because we know +something about it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it may have another meaning for us. Before the days of science, +great mistakes were made in our interpretations of phenomena. +Superstition is born of ignorance, and we can see the germ of it in the +child who is frightened by a bogie, or the horse that shies at the +moonlight."</p> + +<p>"Its higher parent is a belief in the unseen."</p> + +<p>"In any case it has done an immense amount of harm," said the professor.</p> + +<p>"And probably quite as much good," responded Miss Carmichael. "However, +don't think me a friend of superstition. But in getting rid of it let us +take care that we do not fall into the opposite error. It seems to me +that if science had all its own way it would reduce man and nature to a +little machine working in the corner of a big one; but I think it will +cost us too dear if it make us lose our sense of the divine origin and +spiritual significance of the universe."</p> + +<p>Further argument was cut short by the car suddenly dashing into the +clouds with a noiseless ease that astonished us, for they had appeared +as solid as the rock.</p> + +<p>Lost in the vapours, our car seemed at rest; but although we saw +nothing, we could hear a vague and distant murmur which charmed our ears +after the long silence of space like a strain of music. Whether this was +due to the sounds of the surface collected in the clouds, or to +electrical discharges I cannot say, for we were trying to solve the +mystery by hearkening to it, when it abruptly died away as the car shot +into the clear air beneath the clouds.</p> + +<p>"The sea! the sea!" cried Miss Carmichael, starting up in joyful +excitement to join her father; and sure enough we were flying above a +dark blue hemisphere which could only be the ocean.</p> + +<p>Gazen now made another test of the atmosphere, and, finding it +satisfactory, we opened the door of the car and ventured on the gallery.</p> + +<p>After our confinement the fresh air acted like a charm. It felt so cool +and sweet in the nostrils that every breath was a pleasure. We inhaled +it in long, deep, loving draughts, which imparted vigour to our +exhausted frames, and intoxicated our spirits like laughing gas. I could +hardly restrain a wild impulse to leap from the car into the unruffled +bosom of the sea below, and Gazen, habitually staid, actually shouted +with glee. His voice startled the utter stillness, and was mocked by a +faint echo from the surface of the water. By timing the interval between +a call and its echo we found it nearly ten seconds, which corresponded +to a height of about a mile. A repetition of the test from time to time +showed that the car was now travelling at a fairly constant level. The +wide ocean spread all around us; neither sail nor shore, nor living +creature was visible, and we had begun to ask ourselves whether we had +not found a watery planet, when Gazen suddenly cried out,</p> + +<p>"Land!"</p> + +<p>"Whereaway?" I enquired with breathless interest.</p> + +<p>He pointed a little to the right of our course, and following the +direction of his finger, I saw a dim outline where sea and sky met. It +might have been mistaken for the tip of a cloud, but as we advanced it +rose above the horizon and took a definite shape not unlike a truncated +cone.</p> + +<p>The glasses showed it to be an island apparently of volcanic formation, +and after a brief consultation with Carmichael, we steered towards it. +The emotion of Columbus when he arrived at the Bahamas affords, perhaps, +the nearest parallel to our feelings, but in our case the land in sight +was the outlier of another planet. Watchful curiosity and silent +expectation, the ineffable sorcery of new scenes, the mystery of the +unknown, the romance of adventure, the exultation of triumph, and the +dread of disaster, were inextricably blended in our hearts. It was a +glorious hour, and come what might, we all felt that we had not lived in +vain.</p> + +<p>The island rose out of the sea like a volcanic peak, and was evidently +encircled with a barrier reef, as we could trace a line of snowy surf +breaking on its outer verge, and parting the sapphire blue of the deep +water without from the emerald green shoals within. The coast, sweeping +in beautiful bays, dotted with overgrown islets, and fended by rocky +promontories, was rimmed with beaches of yellow sand. The steep sides of +the mountain, broken with precipices, and shaggy with vegetation, +ascended from a multitude of spurs and buttresses, resembling billows of +verdure, and towered into the clouds.</p> + +<p>I have used the word verdure, but it is really a misnomer, for although +the prevailing tint of the foliage was a dark green, the entire forest +was streaked like a rainbow with innumerable flowers, and the breeze +which blew from it was laden with the most delightful perfume, Evidently +it was all a howling wilderness, for we could not detect the slightest +vestige of human dwellings or cultivation. We did not even observe any +signs of bird or beast. A profound stillness brooded over the solitude, +and was scarcely broken by the drowsy murmur of distant waterfalls.</p> + +<p>A forest, like the sea or desert, has a magical power to stimulate the +fancy and touch the primitive chords of the heart. Even a Scotch +hillside, or a Devonshire moor, can throw their wild spells over the +civilised man of letters, and appeal to savage or poetical instincts +underlying all his culture. So now, where everything seen or unseen, was +new and strange, and the imagination was quite free to rove, the charm +was more intense. We stood and gazed upon the moving panorama like +persons in a trance. The trees and plants grew in zones according to +their different levels above the sea, after the manner of those on the +earth, but we were too high to distinguish the various kinds. +Apparently, however, feathery palms and gigantic grasses prevailed in +the lower, and glossy evergreens, resembling the magnolia and +rhododendron, in the middle grounds. All this part of the forest was so +thickly encumbered with flowering creepers and parasites as to seem one +immense bower, dense enough to exclude the sunlight and make a perpetual +twilight underneath. The higher slopes were clad with pine-trees, having +long thin needles, which hung from their boughs like fringes of green +hair, and bushy shrubs which reminded me of heaths. Above these, +enormous ferns with fronds twenty or thirty feet in length, and thickets +draped in variegated mosses were thriving in the spray of a thousand +slender cataracts which poured from the brink of the precipitous crags +on the summit of the mountain.</p> + +<p>Seen from a distance, the cliffs appeared of a ruddy tint, but on coming +closer we found this was due to myriads of huge lichens of a deep +crimson and orange, and that the natural colours of the rock, vermilion +and blue, lemon, yellow, purple, and olive green, almost vied with those +of the forest lower down the steep.</p> + +<p>We glided over the crest at a point where it was almost free of cloud, +and were astonished to find it carved by the weather into the most +fantastic shapes, rudely imitating the colossal figures of men and +animals, or the towers and turrets of ruined castles. After the novelty +of this goblin architecture had passed, however, its effect was somewhat +dreary. The wind, moaning through the lifeless aisles and crannies of +the dripping rocks, the rolling mist and shuddering pools of water, +induced a sense of loneliness and depression. The revulsion in our +feelings was therefore all the greater when the car suddenly escaped +from this height of desolation, and a magnificent prospect burst upon +our view.</p> + +<p>An immense valley seemed to lie far beneath us, but it was really a +table-land of hills, rocks, and mountains, shaggy with vegetation, and +flung together in riotous confusion like the billows of a raging sea. +The stupendous cliffs behind us dropped sheerly down to the level of the +plateau, some ten or twenty thousand feet below, and swept around it as +a curving wall on either hand until they vanished in the distance. It +was evidently the crater of the extinct volcano.</p> + +<p>Our journey across that blooming wilderness will never fade from my +recollection, but when I attempt to give the reader an idea of it, +impressions crowd so thick and fast upon me as to choke my utterance; I +am equally in danger of soaring into a wild extravagance of generality +and sinking into a mere catalogue of detail. Yet I find it impossible +to hit a mean that can do any justice to it. The extraordinary way in +which the ancient lavas of the interior had been riven, upheaved, and +piled upon each other by the volcanic forces, the bewildering variety +and exuberance of the tropical plants and trees which battened on the +rich and crumbling soil, completely baffles all description. What the +imagination is unable to conceive, and the eye itself is overpowered in +beholding, the pen can never hope to depict. Let the grandest mountain +scenes of your memory be jumbled together as in a dream and overgrown +with the maddest jungles of the Ganges or the Amazon, and the +phantasmagoria would still be nothing to the living reality.</p> + +<p>Most of the highest peaks and ridges, as well as the deepest valleys and +ravines, were covered with the embowering forest; but here and there a +huge boss of granite or porphyry reared its bare scalp out of the +verdure like the head and shoulders of some antediluvian monster. The +gigantic palms and foliage trees, all tufted with air-plants or +strangled with climbers, were literally buried in flowers of every hue, +and the crown of the forest rolled under us like a sea of blossoms. +Every moment one enchanting prospect after another opened to our +wondering eyes. Now it was a waterfall, gleaming like a vein of silver +on the brow of a lofty precipice, and descending into a lakelet bordered +with red, blue, and yellow lilies. Again it was a natural bridge, +spanning a deep chasm or tunnel in the rock, through which a river +boiled and roared in a series of cascades and rapids. Ever and anon we +passed over glades and prairies, carpeted with orchids, and dotted with +clumps of shrubbery, a mass of golden bloom, or tremendous blocks of +basalt hung with crimson creepers. Butterflies with azure wings of a +surprising spread and lustre, alighted on the flowers, and great birds +of resplendent plumage flashed from grove to grove. A sun, twice the +diameter of ours, blazed in the northern sky, but the intensity of his +rays was tempered by a thin veil of cloud. The atmosphere although warm +and moist, was not oppressive like that of a forcing-house, and the +breeze was balmy with delicious perfume.</p> + +<p>As each new marvel came in sight, unstaled by familiar and untarnished +by vulgar associations, fresh from the hand of nature, so to speak, we +were filled as we had never been before with an intoxicating sense of +the divine mystery and miracle of life. For myself I was fairly +dumbfounded with amazement, and my companion, the hard-headed sceptical +astronomer, kept on crying and muttering to himself, "My God! my God!" +as if he had become a drivelling fool.</p> + +<p>We travelled league after league of this paradise run wild (I cannot +tell how many) without noticing any change in the character of the +scenery. At length, however, it grew less savage by degrees, and we +entered on a park-like country which gained in loveliness what it lost +in grandeur. Low hills, clad from base to summit in masses of gorgeous +bloom, and mirrored in sequestered lakes fringed with pied water-lilies; +groves of majestic cedars inviting to repose; rambling shrubberies and +evergreen trees festooned with flowering vines; brooks as clear as +crystal, murmuring over their pebbly beds, now hiding under drooping +boughs, now lost in brakes of tall reeds and foliage plants; grassy +meadows gay with crocusses, hyacinths, and tulips, or such-like flowers; +isolated rocks and boulders mantled with vivid moss and lichens; hot +springs falling over basins and terraces of tinted alabaster; clustering +palms and groups of spiry pine-trees; geysers throwing up columns of +spray tinged with rainbows; all these and a thousand other features of +the landscape which must be nameless passed before our view.</p> + +<p>Again and again we startled some herd of wild quadrupeds or flock of +gaudy birds unknown to science. Legions of large and burnished insects, +veritable living jewels, might be seen everywhere, and flaunting +butterflies hovered about the car. So far we had not observed the least +sign of human occupation, and yet, as Gazen remarked, the appearance of +the country seemed to betray the influence of art. It had not the wild +and wasteful luxuriance of the earlier tract, of a region left entirely +in the hands of Nature, but rather of a paradise which had been dressed +and kept by the gods.</p> + +<p>Owing to the height at which we were travelling, and the undulating +character of the surface, we could not see very far ahead. At length, +however, on emerging from a gap in a range of hills, we came upon a vast +plain or prairie stretching away into the distance, and there in the +blue haze of the horizon we saw, or fancied we saw, the architecture and +gardens of a great city, on the borders of a lake, and above the lake, +suspended in mid-air, a spectral palace, glittering in the sunbeams.</p> + +<p>We raised a shout of joy and triumph at this discovery.</p> + +<p>"Stop a minute, though," said Gazen, and a shade of doubt passed over +his face. "Perhaps it is only a mirage."</p> + +<p>We levelled our glasses at the distant scene, and scanned it with +palpitating hearts. We could discern the general shape, and even the +details of many houses, and the roofs and minarets of the palace, which +was evidently built on the top of an island in the midst of the lake.</p> + +<p>"That is not a phantasm," said I at last; "it is a real city."</p> + +<p>Gazen made no reply, but turned and silently shook me by the hand. The +tears were standing in his eyes.</p> + +<p>A delightful breeze, fragrant with innumerable flowers, mantled the long +grass of the prairie which was threaded by a maze of silver streams, and +diversified with bosky woodlands. Ere long we observed fantastic +cottages and picturesque villas nestling in the coppices, and as may be +imagined we were all on tip-toe with curiosity to catch a sight of their +inhabitants. We were anxious to see whether they looked like human +beings, and how they were disposed towards us.</p> + +<p>For a long time we looked in vain, but at length we saw a figure moving +across the prairie which turned out to be that of—a <i>man</i>. Yes, a man +like ourselves, but well stricken in years, and to judge by his costume +apparently a savage. His back was towards us, and as we floated past the +professor shouted in a tone loud enough for him to hear,</p> + +<p>"Good evening, sir."</p> + +<p>The native started, and lifting his eyes to the car beheld it with +astonishment and awe. He raised his hands in the air, then dropped them +by his side, and sank upon his knees.</p> + +<p>"That's a good sign," said Gazen with a grim smile. "I wonder if he +understands English. Let's try him again," and he cried out, "What's the +name of this place?" but the car was going rapidly, and if there was any +response it was lost upon the wind.</p> + +<p>As we approached the city, the cottages became thicker and thicker. They +were of various sizes, and of a light fanciful design adapted to a warm +climate. Each of them was surrounded by a grove or garden rich in +flowers and fruit. There were grassy trails and roads from one to +another, but we did not see any fields or fences, flocks or herds.</p> + +<p>We also saw more and more of the inhabitants—men, women, and children. +They were evidently a fine race, tall, handsome, and of white +complexion; but the men in general were darker than the women. From +their gay dresses, and the condition of the land, we had set them down +for savages; but on a nearer view, their lack of arms, the beauty of +their homes, and their own graceful demeanour, obliged us to reconsider +our opinion. When they first saw the car they did not fly in terror, or +muster hastily in armed and yelling bands. Many of them ran and cried, +it is true, but only to call their friends, and while some stood with +bowed heads and upraised hands as the car floated by, others, like the +old man, fell upon their knees as though in prayer.</p> + +<p>It was getting late in the day, and the sun was now sloping to the crest +of the mountain wall encircling the crater. Accordingly we held a +consultation with Carmichael as to whether we should land there, or +proceed to the city.</p> + +<p>Carmichael thought we should go on.</p> + +<p>"But," said Gazen, "would it not be safer to try the temper of the +people first, here in the country?"</p> + +<p>"These people are not savages," replied Carmichael. "They are civilised, +or semi-civilised, else how could they have built so fine a city as that +appears. If we should see any signs of hostility amongst them, however, +the car is plated with metal and will protect us—we have arms and can +defend ourselves—and, besides, we can rise again, and slip away from +them."</p> + +<p>We decided to advance, but Gazen and I took the precaution to belt on +our revolvers.</p> + +<p>The huge limb of the sun, red and glowing, sank to rest in a bed of +purple clouds on the summit of the rosy precipice, and filled all the +green plain with a rich amber light. The fantastic towers and trees of +the distant city by the lake shone in his mellow lustre; the solitary +island swam in a flood of gold, and the quaint edifice which crowned it +blazed with insufferable splendour. As the eerie gloaming died in the +west, and thin grey mists began to veil the outlandish scene, we +realised to the full that we were all alone and friendless in an unknown +world, and a deep sentiment of exile took possession of our souls.</p> + +<p>The gloaming fell, and myriads of lights twinkled in the dusk, some +flitting about like fireflies, others stationary, while a hum of many +voices ascended to our ears. The lights showed us that we were gliding +over the city, and the voices told us that our arrival was causing a +great commotion. Presently we floated above a large open space or +square, lit with coloured lanterns, and evidently adorned with trees, +fountains, and statuary. Here a great number of people had assembled, +and as they appeared quite orderly and peaceable, we determined to land. +While the car descended cautiously, Gazen and I kept a sharp watch on +the crowd, with our revolvers in our hands. Instead of anger and +resistance, however, the natives only manifested friendly signs of +welcome. They withdrew to a respectful distance, and, dropping on their +knees, burst into a song or hymn of wonderful sweetness as the car +touched the ground.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a><h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>THE CRATER LAND.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>A man of dignified and venerable mien stepped from the crowd, and +followed by a train of youths and maidens, each bearing a vase or a tray +of fruit and flowers, came towards the car. While yet some ten or twelve +paces distant he stopped, and saluted Gazen and myself by lifting his +hands gracefully in the air, and bowing his head. After we had +acknowledged his greeting with due respect, he addressed us, speaking +fluently, and in a reverent, not to say a humble tone; but his words, +being entirely strange to our ears, we could only shake our heads with a +baffled smile, and reply in English that we did not understand. On this +a look of doubt and wonder passed over his face, and pointing, first to +the car, then to the sky, he seemed to enquire whether we had not +dropped from the clouds. We nodded our assent, and the astronomer, +indicating the Earth, which was now shining in the east as a beautiful +green star, endeavoured to let him know by signs that we had come from +there.</p> + +<p>The countenance of our host seemed to brighten again, and, saluting us +with a profound obeisance, he said a few words to the attendants, who +advanced to the car, and sinking upon their knees proffered us their +charming tribute.</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed Gazen, testifying his delight and manifesting his +gratitude by an elaborate pantomime.</p> + +<p>I am afraid his performance must have appeared slightly ludicrous to the +Venusians, for one or two of the younger girls had some difficulty in +keeping their gravity. On a hint from the Elder the young people retired +to their places, leaving their offerings upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"They don't intend to starve us at all events," muttered Gazen to me, in +an undertone. "The very fragrance of these fruits entices a man to eat +them; but will they agree with our stomachs? Notwithstanding my +scientific curiosity, and my natural appetite, I am quite willing to let +you and Carmichael try them first."</p> + +<p>Having found the value of gestures in our intercourse, the Elder leaned +his head on one hand, and pointed with the other to a large house at +the upper end of the square. His meaning was plain; but as we had +already made up our minds to stay in the car, at all events until we had +looked about us, Gazen signified as much by energetic but indescribable +actions, and further contrived to intimate that we were all thoroughly +tired and worn out with our voyage.</p> + +<p>The Senior politely took the hint, and repeating his courteous salute, +withdrew from our presence, accompanied by his followers.</p> + +<p>"I told you so!" cried Miss Carmichael, when Gazen and I re-entered the +car. "They are treating us like superior beings."</p> + +<p>"It shows their good sense," replied Gazen, and even as he spoke a +strain of heavenly music rose from the assembled multitude, and +gradually died away as they departed to their homes.</p> + +<p>We could not sufficiently admire the beauty and fragrance of the flowers +and fruit, or the exquisite workmanship of the vases they had brought. +What struck us most was the lovely iridescence which they all displayed +in different lights. The vases in particular seemed to be carved out of +living opals, yet each was large enough to contain several pints of +liquor. Miss Carmichael decorated the dinner-table with a selection from +the trays, but although we found the fruits and beverages delicious to +the taste, we prudently partook very sparingly of them.</p> + +<p>After dinner we all went outside to enjoy the cool evening breeze, but +without actually leaving the car. It was hardly dusk, only a kind of +twilight or gloaming, and it did not seem to grow any darker. Yet +innumerable fire-flies, bright as glow-lamps, and of every hue, were +flashing like diamonds against the whispering foliage of the trees.</p> + +<p>With the exception of an occasional group or a solitary who stopped +awhile to look at the car and then passed on, the square was deserted; +but the dwellings around it were lighted up, and being of a very open +construction, we could see into them, and hear the voices of the inmates +feasting and making merry. Needless to say that everything we observed +was interesting to us, for it was all strange; but we were so much +exhausted with excitement that we were fain to go to bed.</p> + +<p>Next day the professor and I, obeying a common impulse of travellers, +got up early and went forth to survey our new quarters. It was a +splendid morning, the whole atmosphere steeped in sunshine, and musical +with the songs of birds. The big sun was peeping over the distant wall +of the crater, but we did not feel his rays uncomfortably hot. A sky of +the loveliest azure was streaked with thin white clouds, drawn across it +like muslin curtains, and a cooling breeze played gently upon the skin. +The dewy air, so spring-like, fresh and sweet, was a positive pleasure +to breathe, and we both felt the intoxication, the rapture of life, as +we had never felt it since our boyhood. The grass underfoot was green as +emerald, and soft as velvet; fountains were flashing in the sunshine, +statues gleaming amongst the flowering trees, and birds of brilliant +plumage glancing everywhere.</p> + +<p>The square opened on the lake, and afforded us a magnificent view of the +island. It was conical in shape, and the peak, no doubt, of an old +volcanic vent. I should say it was at least a thousand feet in height; +the sides were a veritable "hanging garden," wild and luxuriant; and the +summit was crowned by a glittering mass of domes, minarets, and spires. +Numbers of people, old and young, were bathing along the beach, and +swimming, diving, and splashing each other in the water with innocent +glee. Large birds, resembling swans, double the size of ours, and of +pale blue, rose, yellow, and green, as well as white plumage, were +floating in and out, and some of the children were riding on their +backs. Fantastic boats, with carved and painted prows, might be seen +crossing the lake in all directions, some under sail, and others with +rowers, keeping stroke to the rhythm of their songs. The shores of the +lake, sloping quietly to the waterside, were covered more or less +thickly with the houses and gardens of the city, and far in the +distance, perhaps fifty, perhaps a hundred miles away, the view was +bounded by the dim and ruddy precipice of the crater wall.</p> + +<p>Regaling our eyes on the beautiful prospect, and our lungs on the pure +atmosphere, we wandered along the beach, ever and anon pausing to admire +the strange forms and beautiful colouring of the shells and seaweeds, or +to pick up a rare pebble, then shie it away again, little thinking that +it might have been a ruby, sapphire, or topaz, worth a king's ransom on +the earth. At length the way was barred by the mouth of a broad river, +and after a refreshing plunge in the lake, we returned home to +breakfast.</p> + +<p>During our absence Carmichael had been visited by our venerable host of +the evening, whose name was Dinus, and a young man called Otāré, who +turned out to be his son. They had brought a fresh supply of dainties, +and what was still more important, some pictorial dictionaries and +drawings which would enable us to learn their language. As the structure +of it was simple, and the vocabulary not very copious, and as we also +enjoyed the tuition of the young man, who was devoted to our service, +and conducted us in most of our walks abroad, at the end of a fortnight +we could maintain a conversation with tolerable fluency.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, and afterwards, we learned a good deal about the +country, and the manners and customs of its inhabitants. Womla, or +Woom-la, which means the "bowl" or hollow-land, is evidently the crater +of an extinct volcano of enormous dimensions, such as are believed to +exist upon the moon. It belongs to an archipelago of similar islands, +which are widely scattered over a vast ocean in this part of Venus, but +is, we were told, far distant from the nearest of them. The climate may +be described as a perpetual spring and summer, with a sky nearly always +serene, and of a beautiful azure blue, veiled with soft and fleecy +clouds.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the lofty walls of the crater, which penetrate the clouds and +condense their moisture, the land is watered with many streams. These +flow into the central lake, which discharges into the surrounding ocean +by a rift or chasm in the mountain side. Moreover, there are frequent +showers, and heavy dews by night, to refresh the surface of the ground. +Thunderstorms occur on the tops of the mountain and in the open sea; +but very seldom within the enchanted girdle of the crater. The air is +remarkably pure, sweet, and exhilarating, owing doubtless to the high +percentage of oxygen it contains, and the absence of foreign matter, +such as microbes, dust, and obnoxious fumes. In fact, we all felt a +distinct improvement in our health and spirits, a kind of mental +intoxication which was really more than a rejuvenescence. Nor was the +heat very trying, even in the middle of the day, because although the +sun was twice as large as on the earth, he did not rise far above the +horizon, and cooling breezes blew from the chilled summit of the cliffs. +The vegetation seems to go on budding, flowering, and fruiting +perpetually, as in the Elysian Fields of Homer, where</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Joys ever young, unmixed with pain or fear,<br /></span> +<span> Fill the wide circle of the eternal year:<br /></span> +<span> Stern winter smiles on that auspicious clime<br /></span> +<span> The fields are florid with unfading prime;<br /></span> +<span> From the bleak Pole no winds inclement blow,<br /></span> +<span> Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow;<br /></span> +<span> But from the breezy deep the blessèd inhale,<br /></span> +<span> The fragrant murmurs of the western gale."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The mysterious behaviour of the sun was a great puzzle to our +astronomer. I have said that he rose very little above the horizon, or +in other words the lip of the crater, as might be expected from our high +southern latitude; but we soon found that he always rose and sank at the +same place. In the morning he peeped above the cliffs, and in the +evening he dipped again behind them, leaving a twilight or gloaming (I +can scarcely call it dusk), which continued throughout the night. From +his fixity in azimuth, Gazen concluded that Schiaparelli, the famous +Italian observer, was right in supposing that Venus takes as long to +turn about her own axis as she does to go round the sun, and that as a +consequence she always presents the same side to her luminary. All that +we heard from the natives tended to confirm this view. They told us that +far away to the east and west of Womla there was a desert land, covered +with snow and ice, on which the sun never shone. We also gathered that +the sun rises to a greater and lesser height above the cliffs +alternately, thus producing a succession of warmer and cooler seasons; a +fact which agrees with Schiaparelli's observation that the axis of the +planet sways to and from the sun. Gazen was intensely delighted at this +discovery, partly for its own sake, but mainly, I think, because it +would afford him an opportunity of crushing the celebrated Pettifer +Possil, his professional antagonist, who, it seems, is bitterly opposed +to the doctrines of Schiaparelli. But why did the sun rise and set every +fifteen hours or thereabout, and so make what I have called a "day" and +"night"? Why did he not continue in the same spot, except for the slow +change caused by the nutation or nodding of Venus? Gazen was much +perplexed over this anomaly, and sought an explanation of it in the +refraction of the atmosphere above the cliffs producing an apparent but +not a real motion of the orb.</p> + +<p>The territory of Womla may be divided into three zones, namely, a +central plain under cultivation, a belt of undulating hills, kept as a +park or pleasaunce, and a magnificent, nay, a sublime wilderness, next +to the crater wall.</p> + +<p>The natural wealth of the country is very great. Some of its productions +resemble and others are different from those of the earth. We saw gold, +silver, copper, tin, and iron, as well as metals which were quite new to +us. Some of these had a purple, blue, or green colour, and emitted a +most agreeable fragrance. There are granites and porphyries, marbles and +petrifactions of the most exquisite grain or tints. Precious stones like +the diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, emerald, garnet, opal, turquoise, +and others familiar or unfamiliar to us, fairly abound, and can be +picked up on the shores of the lake. I presume that many of them have +been formed on a large scale in chasms of the rock by the volcanic fumes +of the crater.</p> + +<p>What struck us most of all, however, was the prevalence of +phosphorescent minerals which absorbed the sunlight by day, and +glimmered feebly in the dusk. Professor Gazen seems to think that the +presence of snow and clouds, together with these phosphorescent bodies, +may help to account for the mysterious luminosity on the dark side of +Venus.</p> + +<p>The vegetation is wonderfully rich, varied, and luxuriant. As a rule, +the foliage is thick and glossy; but while it is green to blackness in +some of the trees, it is parti-coloured or iridescent in others. Many of +the flowers, too, are iridescent, or change their hues from hour to +hour. The beauty and profusion of the flowers is beyond conception, and +some of the loveliest grow on what I should take for palms, ferns, +canes, and grasses. A distant forest or woodland rivals the splendid +plumage of some tropical bird. We heard of "singing flowers," including +a water-lily which bursts open with a musical note, and of many plants +which are sensitive to heat as well as touch, and if Gazen be correct, +to electricity and magnetism. We saw one in a house which was said to +require a change of scene from time to time else it would languish and +die.</p> + +<p>The borders of the lakes and ponds teemed with corals, delicate +seaweeds, and lovely shells. Innumerable fishes of gay and brilliant +hues darted and burned in the water like broken rainbows.</p> + +<p>Reptiles are not very common, at least, in the cultivated zone; but we +saw a few snakes, tortoises, and lizards, all brightly and harmoniously +marked. One of the snakes was phosphorescent, and one of the lizards +could sit up like a dog, or fly in the air like a swallow. The variety +and beauty of the birds, as well as the charm of their song, exceed all +description. Most of them have iridescent feathers, several are +wingless, and one at least has teeth. The insects are a match for the +birds in point of beauty, if not also in size and musical qualities. +Many of them are luminescent, and omit steady or flashing lights of +every tint all through the night.</p> + +<p>There are few large quadrupeds in the country, and so far as we could +learn none of these are predaceous. We saw an animal resembling a deer +on one hand, and a tapir on the other, as well as a kind of toed horse +or hipparion, and a number of domestic pets all strange to us.</p> + +<p>The people, according to their tradition, came originally from a +temperate land far across the ocean to the south-east, which is now a +dark and frozen desert. They are a remarkably fine race, probably of +mixed descent, for they found Womla inhabited, and their complexions +vary from a dazzling blonde to an olive-green brunette. They are nearly +all very handsome, both in face and figure, and I should say that many +of them more than realise our ideals of beauty. As a rule, the +countenances of the men are open, frank, and noble; those of the women +are sweet, smiling, and serene. Free of care and trouble, or unaffected +by it, mere existence is a pleasure to them, and not a few appear to +live in a kind of rapture, such as I have seen in the eyes of a young +artist on the earth while regarding a beautiful woman or a glorious +landscape. Their attitudes and movements are full of dignity and grace. +In fact, during my walks abroad, I frequently found myself admiring +their natural groups, and fancying myself in ancient Greece, as depicted +by our modern painters. Their style of beauty is not unlike that of the +old Hellenes, but I doubt whether the delicacy and bloom of their skins +has ever been matched on our planet except, perhaps, in a few favoured +persons.</p> + +<p>From some experiments made by Gazen, it would appear that while their +senses of sight and touch are keener, their senses of hearing and also +of heat are rather blunter than ours.</p> + +<p>Partly owing to the genial climate, their love of beauty, and their easy +existence, their dress is of a simple and graceful order. Many of their +light robes and shining veils are woven from silky fibres which grow on +the trees, and tinged with beautiful dyes. Bright, witty, and ingenious, +as well as guileless, chaste, and happy, I can only compare them to +grown-up children—but the children of a god-like race. Thanks to the +purity of their blood, and the gentleness of their dispositions, +together with their favourable circumstances, they live almost exempt +from disease, or pain, or crime, and finally die in peace at the good +old age of a hundred or a hundred and fifty years.</p> + +<p>Their voices are so pleasing, and their language is so melodious that I +enjoyed hearing their talk before I understood a word of it. Moreover, +their delightful manners evince a rare delicacy of sentiment and +appreciation of the beautiful in life. We foreigners must have been +objects of the liveliest curiosity to them, yet they never showed it in +their conduct; they never stared at us, or stopped to enquire about us, +but courteously saluted us wherever we went, and left us to make +ourselves at home. We never saw an ugly or unbecoming gesture, and we +never heard a rude, unmannerly word all the time we stayed in Womla.</p> + +<p>Some of their public buildings are magnificent; but most of their +private houses are pretty one-storied cottages, each more or less +isolated in a big garden, and beyond earshot of the rest. They are +elegant, not to say fanciful constructions of stone and timber, +generally of an oval shape, or at least with rounded outlines; but +sometimes rambling, and varying much in detail. Everyone seems to follow +his particular bent and taste in the fashion of his home. Many of them +have balconies or verandahs, and also terraces on the roof, where the +inmates can sit and enjoy the surrounding view. They are doorless, and +the outer walls are usually open so that one may see inside; but in +stormy weather they are closed by panels of wood, and a translucent +mineral resembling glass. They are divided into rooms by mats and +curtains, or partitions and screens of wood, which are sometimes +decorated with paintings of inimitable beauty. The ceilings are usually +of carved wood, and the floors inlaid with marbles, corals, and the +richer stones. There are no stuffy carpets on the floors, or hangings on +the walls to collect the dust. The light easy furniture is for the most +part made of precious or fragrant woods of divers colours—red, black, +yellow, blue, white, and green. At night the rooms are softly and +agreeably lighted by phosphorescent tablets, or lamps of glow-worms and +fire-flies in crystal vases.</p> + +<p>The dishes and utensils not only serve but adorn the home. Most of the +implements and fittings are made of coloured metals or alloys. Many of +the cups and vessels are beautifully cut from shells and diamonds, +rubies, or other precious stones. Statuary, manuscripts, and musical +instruments, bespeak their taste and genius for the fine arts.</p> + +<p>Their love of Nature is also shown in their gardens and pleasure +grounds, which are stocked with the rarest flowers, fruits, and pet +animals; such as bright fishes, luminous frogs and moths, singing birds, +and so forth, none of which are captives in the strict sense of the +word.</p> + +<p>Members of one family live under the same roof, or at all events within +the same ground. The father is head of the household, and the highest in +authority. The mother is next, and the children follow in the order of +their age. They hold that the proper place for the woman is between the +man and the child, and that her nature, which partakes of both, fits +her for it. On the rare occasions when authority needs to be exercised +it is promptly obeyed. All the members of the family mix freely together +in mutual confidence and love, with reverence, but not fear. They are +very clean and dainty in their habits. To every house, either in an open +court or in the garden, there is a bathing pond of running water, with a +fountain playing in the middle, where they can bathe at any time without +going to the lake.</p> + +<p>They deem it not only gross to eat flesh or fish, but also barbarous, +nay cruel, to enjoy and sustain their own lives through the suffering +and death of other creatures. This feeling, or prejudice as some would +call it, extends even to eggs. They live chiefly on fruits, nuts, edible +flowers, grain, herbs, gums, and roots, which are in great profusion. I +did not see any alcoholic, or at least intoxicating beverages amongst +them. Their drink is water, either pure or else from mineral springs, +and the delectable juices of certain fruits and plants. They eat +together, chatting merrily the while, and afterwards recline on couches +listening to some tale, or song, or piece of music, but taking care not +to fall asleep, as they believe it is injurious.</p> + +<p>They rejoice when a child is born, and cherish it as the most holy +gift. For the first eight or ten years of its life it is left as much as +possible to the teaching of Nature, care being taken to guard it from +serious harm. It is allowed to run wild about the gardens and fields, +developing its bodily powers in play, and gaining a practical experience +of the most elementary facts. After that it goes to school, at first for +a short time, then, as it becomes used to the confinement and study, for +a longer and longer period each day. Their end in education is to +produce noble men and women; that is to say, physical, moral, and +intellectual beauty by assisting the natural growth. They hold it a sin +to falsify or distort the mind, as well as the soul or body of a child. +They seem to be as careful to cultivate the genius and temperament as +the heart and conscience. Their object is to train and form the pupil +according to the intention of Nature without forcing him beyond his +strength, or into an artificial mould. Studious to preserve the harmony +and unity of mind, soul, and body, they never foster one to the +detriment of the others, but seek to develop the whole person.</p> + +<p>It is not so much words as things, not so much facts, dates, and +figures, as principles, ideas, and sentiments, which they endeavour to +teach. The scholar is made familiar with what he is told by observation +and experience whenever it is possible, for that is how Nature teaches. +Precept, they say, is good, and example is better; but an ideal of +perfection is best of all.</p> + +<p>At first more attention is paid to the cultivation of the body than the +mind. Not only are the boys and girls trained in open-air gymnasia, or +contend in games, but they also work in the gardens, and during the +holidays are sent into the wilderness under the guidance of their +elders, especially their elder brothers, to rough it there in primitive +freedom.</p> + +<p>The first lessons of the pupil are very short and simple, but as his +mind ripens they become longer and more difficult. The education of the +soul precedes that of the mind. They wish to make their children good +before they make them clever; and good by the feelings of the heart +rather than the instruction of the head. Every care is taken to refine +and strengthen the sentiments and instincts, the conscience, good sense +and taste, as well as the affections, filial piety, friendship, and the +love of Nature. Spiritual and moral ideals are inculcated by means of +innocent and simple tales or narratives. Children are taught to obey the +authority placed over them, or in their own breast, and to sacrifice all +to their duty. The conduct of the teacher must be irreproachable, +because he is a model to them; but while they look upon him as their +friend and guide, he leaves them free to choose their own companions and +amuse themselves in their own way.</p> + +<p>In the cultivation of the mind they give the first and foremost place to +the imagination. The reason, they say, is mechanical, and cannot rise +above the known; that is to say, the real; whereas the imagination is +creative and attains to the unknown, the ideal. Its highest work is the +creation of beauty. Because it is unruly, and precarious in its action, +however, the imagination requires the most careful guidance, and the +assistance of the reason. Students are taught to idealise and invent, as +well as to analyse and reason, but without disturbing the equilibrium of +the faculties by acquiring a pronounced habit of one or the other. It is +better, they say, to be reasonable than a reasoner; to be imaginative +than a dreamer; and to have discernment or insight than mere knowledge.</p> + +<p>The most important study of all is the art of living, or in other words +the art of leading a simple, noble, and beautiful life. It finishes +their education, and consists in the reduction of their highest precepts +and ideals to practice. The reasons for every lesson are given so far +as they are known, and they are always founded in the nature of things. +A pupil is taught to act in a particular way, not in the hope of a +reward or in the fear of punishment, but because it would be contrary to +the laws of matter and spirit to act otherwise; in short, because it is +right. They hold that life is its own end as well as its own reward. +According as it is good or bad, so it achieves or fails of its purpose, +and is happy or miserable. We are happy by our emotions or feelings, and +through these by our actions. Happiness comes from goodness, but is not +perfect without health, beauty, and fitness: hence the pupils are taught +self-regulation, practical hygiene, and a graceful manner. Indeed, their +passion for beauty is such that they regard nothing as perfect until it +is beautiful.</p> + +<p>As beauty of mind, soul, and body, is their aim, a beautiful person is +held in the highest honour. Prizes are offered for beauty, and statues +are erected to the winners. Many are called after some particular trait; +for example, "Timāré of the lovely toes," and a pretty eyelash is a +title to public fame. Beauty they say is twice blessed, since it pleases +the possessor as well as others.</p> + +<p>The sense of existence, apart from what they do or gain, is their chief +happiness. Their "ealo," or the height of felicity, is a passive rather +than an active state. It is (if I am not mistaken) a kind of serene +rapture or tranquil ecstasy of the soul, which is born doubtless from a +perfect harmony between the person and his environment. In it, they say, +the illusion of the world is complete, and life is another name for +music and love.</p> + +<p>As far as I could learn, this condition, though independent of sexual +love, is enhanced by it. On the one hand it is spoiled by too much +thought, and on the other by too much passion. They cherish it as they +cherish all the natural illusions (which are sacred in their eyes), but +being a state of repose it is transient, and only to be enjoyed from +time to time.</p> + +<p>Since an unfit employment is a mistake, and a source of unhappiness, +everyone is free to choose the work that suits his nature. Parents and +teachers only help him to discover himself. One is called to his work by +a love for it, and the pleasure he takes in doing it easily and well. If +his bent is vague or tardy, he is allowed to change, and feel his way to +it by trial. Since the work or vocation is not a means of living, there +is no compulsion in it. Their aim is to do right in carrying out the +true intentions of Nature.</p> + +<p>For the same reason everyone is free to choose the partner of his life. +They are monogamists, and believe that nothing can justify marriage but +love on both sides. The rite is very simple, and consists in the elected +pair sipping from the same dish of sacred water. It is called "drinking +of the cup."</p> + +<p>Most of them die gradually of old age, and they do not seem to share our +fear and horror of death, but to regard it with a sad and pleasing +melancholy. The body is reduced to ashes on a pyre of fragrant wood, and +the songs they sing around it only breathe a tender regret for their +loss, mingled with a joyful hope of meeting again. They neither preserve +the dust as a memento, nor wear any kind of mourning; but they cherish +the memory of the absent in their hearts.</p> + +<p>They believe that labour like virtue is a necessity, and its own reward; +but it is moderate labour of the right sort, which is a blessing and not +a curse. They all seem happy at their work, which is often cheered by +music, songs, or tales. Everyone enjoys his task, and tries to attain +the perfection of skill and grace. Those who excel are honoured, and +sometimes commemorated with statues.</p> + +<p>They seem artists in all, and above all. They hold that every beautiful +thing has a use, and they never make a useful thing without beauty. +Apart from portraits, their pictures and statuary are mostly historical, +or else ideal representations. Many of these are typical of life; for +example, a boy at play, a pair of lovers, a mother weaning her child, +and the parting of friends. The ideal of art is to them not merely a +show to please the eye for a while, but a model to be realised in their +own lives; and I daresay it has helped to make them such a fine people. +They are clever architects and gardeners. Indeed, the whole country may +be described as a vast ornamental garden. In the middle zone, which +borders on the wilderness, their wonderful art of beautifying natural +scenery is at its best. They have a good many simple machines and +implements, but I should not call them a scientific people. Gazen, who +enquired into the matter, was told by Otāré, himself an artist, by the +way, that science in their opinion had a tendency to destroy the +illusion of Nature and impair the finer sentiments and spontaneity of +the soul; hence they left the systematic study of it to the few who +possess a decided bias for it. As a rule they are content to admire.</p> + +<p>They have many books of various kinds, either printed or finely written +and illustrated by hand. I should say their favourite reading was +history and travels, or else poetry and fiction; anything having a +human interest, more especially of a pathetic order. Everyone is taught +to read aloud, and if he possess the voice and talent, to recite. Poets +are highly esteemed, and not only read their poems to the people, but +also teach elocution. They have dramatic performances on certain days, +and seem to prefer tragedies or affecting plays, perhaps because these +awaken feelings which their happy lot in general permits to sleep. They +are very fond of music, and can all sing or play on some musical +instrument. Their favourite melodies are mostly in a minor key, and they +dislike noisy music; indeed, noise of any sort. Gesture and the dance +are fine arts, and they can imitate almost any action without words. A +favourite amusement is to gather in the dusk of the evening, crowned +with flowers, or wearing fanciful dresses, and sing or dance together by +the light of the fire-flies.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of the whole island live as one happy family. +Recognising their kinship by intermarriage, and their isolation in the +world, they never forget that the good or ill of a part is the good or +ill of the whole, and their object is to secure the happiness of one and +all. It is considered right to help another in trouble before thinking +of oneself.</p> + +<p>When Gazen explained the doctrine of "the struggle for existence ending +in the survival of the fittest" to Otāré, he replied that it was an +excellent principle for snakes; but he considered it beneath the dignity +and wisdom of men to struggle for a life which could be maintained by +the labour of love, and ought to be devoted to rational or spiritual +enjoyment.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the helpful spirit which animates them, and the bounty of +Nature, nobody is ever in want. As a rule, the garden around each home +provides for the family, and any surplus goes to the public stores, or +rather free tables, where anyone takes what he may require.</p> + +<p>As I have already hinted, personal merit of every kind is honoured +amongst them.</p> + +<p>Dinus, the gentleman who received us on the night of our arrival, is the +chief man or head of the community, and was appointed to the post for +his wisdom, character, and age. He is assisted in the government by a +council of a hundred men, and there are district officers in various +parts of the country.</p> + +<p>They have no laws, or at all events their old laws have become a dead +letter. Custom and public opinion take their place. Crime is practically +unknown amongst them, and when a misdemeanour is committed the culprit +is in general sufficiently punished by his own shame and remorse. +However, they have certain humane penalties, such as fines or +restitution of stolen goods; but they never resort to violence or take +life, and only in extreme cases of depravity and madness do they +infringe on the liberty of an individual.</p> + +<p>Quarrels and sickness of mind or body are almost unknown amongst them. +The care and cure of the person is a portion of the art of life as it is +taught in the schools.</p> + +<p>An account of this remarkable people would not be complete without some +reference to their religion; but owing to their reticence on sacred +subjects, and the shortness of our visit, I was unable to learn much +about it. They believe, however, in a Supreme Being, whom they only name +by epithets such as "The Giver" or "The Divine Artist." They also +believe in the immortality of the soul. One of their proverbs, "Life is +good, and good is life," implies that goodness means life, and badness +death. They hold that every thought, word, and deed, is by the nature of +things its own reward or punishment, here or hereafter. Their ideals of +childlike innocence, and the reign of love, seem to be essentially +Christian. Their solicitude and kindness extends to all that lives and +suffers, and they regard the world around them as a divine work which +they are to reverence and perfect.</p> + +<p>Our visit fell during a great religious festival and holiday, which they +keep once a year, and by the courtesy of Dinus, or his son, we witnessed +many of their sacred concerts, dances, games, and other celebrations. Of +these, however, I shall only describe the principal ceremony, which is +called "Plucking the Flower," and appears to symbolise the passage of +the soul into a higher life.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX'></a><h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<h4>THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Early on the chief day of the festival Otāré came and took us to see the +mystical rite of cutting the "Flower of the Soul."</p> + +<p>The morning was fine, and the clear waters of the lake were bright with +boats filled with joyous parties bound like ourselves for the Holy +Island.</p> + +<p>Landing at a noble quay of red granite, we climbed the steep and shaggy +sides of the mountain by a sacred and winding avenue, bordered with +blooming trees and statuary. Most of the figures were exquisitely carved +in a white wood or stone, having a pearly sheen, and represented the +former priestesses of the Temple, or illustrated the animating spirit of +the cult.</p> + +<p>On gaining the summit we found ourselves at the brim of a spacious +hollow or basin, which in past ages must have been the crater of the +volcanic peak. The grassy slopes of the basin were laid out in flower +gardens and terraces of coloured marbles, shaded with sombre trees, and +ornamented with sculpture. In the bottom lay an oval sheet of water a +mile long or more, and from the midst of it, towards the near end, a +beautiful islet, crowned by a magnificent temple, rose like a mirage to +the view, and seemed to float on its glassy bosom.</p> + +<p>Words of mine cannot give any idea of that sublime architecture, which +resembled no earthly order, though it seemed to partake of both the +Saracenic and the Indian. Fragrant timber, precious stones, and +burnished metals; in fine, the richest materials known to the builders, +had been united with consummate art into one harmonious emblem of their +faith. The first beams of the rising sun blazed on its golden roof and +fretted pinnacles of diamond, and ruby, sapphire, topaz, and emerald; +but the lower part was still in shadow. Nevertheless, we could +distinguish a grand portal in the southern front, which faced the sun, +and a broad flight of marble steps descending from it into the water; +but the massive doors were shut, and not a soul was to be seen about the +temple.</p> + +<p>As the worshippers arrived they seated themselves on the turf amongst +the flowering shrubs, or on the benches along the terraces, and either +spoke in subdued tones, or preserved a religious silence. Otāré led us +to a kind of throne or stand facing the temple, and raised above the +other seats, where his father, as chief of the community, sat in state. +Dinus received us with his usual gracious dignity, and gave us chairs on +his right and left hand.</p> + +<p>From this height we enjoyed a splendid panorama of the Craterland, at +least that portion which had already caught the sunshine. It lay beneath +us like a picture, the surface rising in a series of zones from the +central sea, which mirrored the serene azure and plume-like vapours of +the heavens, through the sweet meadows, and the smiling gardens, to the +luxuriant wilderness beyond; and we could plainly see the shadow of the +bounding rampart shrink towards the south as the sun mounted higher and +higher.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely dawn. A rosy mist hung like a veil of gauze over the +southern sky, and from behind a bar of purple cloud, lined with gold, +which rested on the summit of the cliffs, a coronet of auroral beams or +crepuscular rays, blue on a pink ground, shot upwards, heralding the +advent of the sun, and reminding me of the ancient simile of the earth +as a bride awaiting the arrival of her lord.</p> + +<p>At length the first glowing tip of the solar disc peeped over the rim +of the crater, and a deep low murmur, swelling to a shrill cry, ascended +from the passive multitude.</p> + +<p>All the people rose to their feet, and every eye was turned on the south +front of the temple, which was now illuminated to the edge of the water. +As the sunlight crept over the surface it sparkled on the dense foliage +of what seemed a bed of water-lilies flourishing quite close to the +marble stairs.</p> + +<p>Presently a rich and stately barge, moved by crimson oars, and enlivened +with young girls draped in sky-blue, was seen to glide round a corner of +the temple, and come to rest beside the water-lilies.</p> + +<p>A deep silence, as of breathless expectation, fell upon the vast +assembly, and then, without other warning, the great purple doors of the +temple swung open, and revealed a white-robed figure walking at the head +of a glittering procession of maidens decked in jewels and luminous +scarves, which vied with the colours of the rainbow. It was the young +priestess and her train of virgins.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously the immense multitude raised their voices in a sacred +hymn of melting sweetness, very low at first, but gathering volume as +the priestess descended the marble stairs to the waterside.</p> + +<p>Here, on the lowest of the steps, one of her maidens put into her hand +a sacred knife or sickle, which, as Otāré informed us had a blade of +gold, and a handle of opal. The woman then retired, and we saw her stand +erect for a moment in the full blaze of the mellow sunlight, with her +golden hair falling about her in a kind of glory, and stretch out her +arms towards the sun in a superb attitude of adoration. Then, with a +slow and swan-like movement, she entered the water, and wading among the +lilies, cut the sacred blossom, and held it aloft in triumph, while the +music swelled to a mighty pæan of thanksgiving and praise.</p> + +<p>After that she went on board the barge, which had been waiting for her, +and was rowed around the border of the lake not far from the shore, so +that the onlookers might see the loveliness of the flower, and even +smell its perfume. The barge was not unlike an ancient galley in shape, +but ornately curved like the proa of a South Sea Islander. The rowers +were concealed underneath the deck, but the crimson oars kept time to +the music of their voices, and the spectators joined in the song as the +vessel glided onwards.</p> + +<p>As for the priestess, she lay reclining under a golden canopy on the +poop, with her face half turned towards the people, and holding the +sacred lily in her hand, whilst two of her maidens fanned her with +brilliant plumes,</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"And made their bends adorning."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Ever since she had come out of the temple I had scarcely taken my eyes +off her, and now that I could see the marvellous beauty of her +countenance, I was absolutely fascinated. Never shall I forget these +moments as long as I live, and yet I cannot give a clear and connected +relation of them. I see only a picture in my mind of a purple couch +under a golden canopy, a fair form, a beautiful head crowned with golden +hair, a glowing arm holding a white flower on its long green stalk. +Suddenly, as if impelled by an instinct, she turns her face full upon me +as the barge comes opposite to her father's throne. I see her great +violet eyes fixed upon mine as though she would read into my very soul. +I do not shrink from that pure search. On the contrary, I feel myself +drawn towards her by an irresistible attraction, and return her gaze.</p> + +<p>She does not look away. She smiles—yes, she smiles upon me, and +inclines her head to see me, like a sunflower following the sun, as she +is floating past.</p> + +<p>From that moment I was an altered man. The vision of that peerless +beauty had worked a miracle in my nature. A strange peace, an +unfathomable joy, I should rather say an ecstacy of bliss, reigned in my +heart. I felt that I had found something for which my soul had craved +without knowing it, and had been seeking unawares—something beyond all +price, which is not merely the best that life, eternity, can offer; but +gives to life, eternity, an inestimable value—I felt that I had found +the counterpart of myself—the celestial mate of my spirit. Henceforth +there was only one woman in the world, in the universe, for me. A +mysterious instinct whispered that we belonged to each other—that this +incomparable creature was mine by an inviolable right, if not on this +side of time at all events hereafter, and for ever. I felt, too, that my +own being had now completed its development, and burst into bloom like a +plant under the vivifying rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>Exulting in my new-found happiness, and overcome with gratitude for it, +I watched the receding boat in a sort of trance until the matter-of-fact +voice of Gazen broke the spell.</p> + +<p>"Prettiest sight I ever saw in my life," said he to Otāré. "Quite a +living picture."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you like it," responded Otāré evidently gratified.</p> + +<p>"But what is the good of it?" enquired the professor.</p> + +<p>"The good of it?" rejoined the Venusian; "it is beautiful, and gives us +pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course; but what is the meaning—the inner meaning of it?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! the meaning of it," said Otāré, a new light breaking on him, "I +will explain. You saw the flower which the priestess cut and carried in +her hand—?"</p> + +<p>"A kind of water-lily, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is the Sacred Lily. The plant is rooted in the mire at the +bottom of the pond, and grows up through the water to the surface. The +stem rises in a serpentine curve, and terminates in a flower-bud, which +opens with a sigh of delight when the sun strikes upon it, and fills the +air with its perfume."</p> + +<p>"A sigh, did you say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a low sweet sound resembling a sigh. The flower is white—'living +white'—that is to say, white shot with many colours like the opal. We +call it the Sun Lily, or 'Flower of the Soul.'"</p> + +<p>"Why 'Flower of the Soul?'"</p> + +<p>"Because we say it has the infinite and ever-changing beauty of the +soul. It is an emblem of Love, and its manifestations—beauty, genius, +holiness. In particular it signifies the birth or awakening of love in +the human soul. As the plant may be said to exist for the flower, its +chief glory, so the man attains his perfection through love, which +confers a boundless and immortal worth upon his life. As the root takes +from the soil and the flower brings forth the fruit, so hate feeds upon +the ill, and love dies for the good of others. It also represents the +human race, for man, and especially woman, may be regarded as the flower +of this lower world. Moreover, the entire plant, root, stem, and flower, +is symbolical of all creation, and some of our poets have named it the +'Lily of Life.' For as the plant begins in the black earth to end in the +sunny ether, so the world, the universe, begins in chaos and darkness, +to end in light and order; begins in matter and force, to end in life +and spirit—begins in hate and selfishness, to end in love and +self-sacrifice—begins in ugliness, to end in beauty. Thus the flower +and root stand for the upper and lower limits or poles of nature, and +the stalk which joins them for the upward range or path of creation. It +is a beautiful stem, curving in opposite ways like a serpent, or the +side of a wave; in fact, it is the most beautiful curve we know—it runs +like this."</p> + +<p>Here Otāré described a flamboyant curve in the air with his finger.</p> + +<p>"If I'm not mistaken it is what our artists call the 'line of beauty,'" +observed Gazen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed!" responded Otāré, with pleased surprise. "Well, with us it +is a symbol of the continuous unfolding of things; the graceful progress +of development."</p> + +<p>"So the path of evolution is the 'line of beauty,'" said the professor.</p> + +<p>"Apparently," rejoined Otāré, "and as the ends of the curve point +oppositely, we say that a thing has not reached its final stage—that +its development is not complete—until it has turned to its opposite. +Thus man is not a finished being until hate and selfishness have turned +to love and self-sacrifice. The flower of the soul is love, and as the +sun is an emblem of the divine love, when the sacred lily opens and +displays all its beauty in the sunshine, it means to us that the flower +of the soul blooms in the smile of 'The Giver.'"</p> + +<p>"I see," said the professor; "and what is done with the flower?"</p> + +<p>"It is an offering," replied Otāré, "and after the Priestess of the +Lily, or Priestess of the Sun, as we call her, has shown it to the +people it will be treasured in the temple, and will never fade."</p> + +<p>"Beautiful woman, the priestess! And so young."</p> + +<p>"She is barely seventeen. The Priestess of the Sun Lily must be in the +flower of her age, and the early dawn of her womanhood. Every year by +the popular voice she is chosen from all the maidens of the country for +her intelligence, beauty, and goodness. For a year before the ceremony +she lives in the temple with her maidens, and never leaves the sacred +island, or has any visitors from the outer world. During this period she +undergoes a preparation and purification for the fulfilment of her holy +office—the culling of the flower. It consists mainly in the study of +our sacred writings, the eating of a certain food, and bathing in the +waters of a holy fountain, which issues from the rock in a sacred grotto +of the island. When the ceremony of cutting the lily is over, and the +holy month has expired, that is to say in ten days from now, she will +leave the temple and return to her family. Another girl will take her +place—the priestess appointed for the coming year—in fact, the maiden +who gave her the sickle."</p> + +<p>I had listened to this conversation with breathless interest, but +without daring to take part in it.</p> + +<p>"Will she ever marry?" enquired Gazen.</p> + +<p>I waited for the answer with a beating heart.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," replied Otāré, "why not? She will marry if she finds a lover +whom she can love. There are many who admire Alumion."</p> + +<p>"What of yourself?" asked the professor, smiling pointedly. "You seem to +know a good deal about her."</p> + +<p>"I am her brother."</p> + +<p>Nothing more was said, for at this moment the barge was seen coming from +behind the temple, after having made a round of the spectators, and +presently drew up at the marble stairs. Again the doors swung open, and +the maidens reappeared to welcome their mistress with a song of joy. I +saw her ascend the steps bearing the lily in her hand, then turn and +wave an adieu to the multitude, who responded by a parting hymn as the +great purple valves closed together and rapt her from my sight.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_X'></a><h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h4>ALUMION.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Alumion—Alumion—I could think of nothing but Alumion. Her very name +was music in my ears, and her image in my heart was a perpetual banquet +of delight I had never known such felicity before. My inclination for +Miss Carmichael and every other transient affection or interest I may +have felt was altogether of a lower strain—with one exception, a boyish +admiration for a school girl who died a mere child. The ethereal flame +of this new passion seemed to purify all that was earthly, and exalt all +that was celestial in my nature. This beautiful land, so green and +smiling under a sky of serene azure and snowy wreaths, became as the +highest heaven to me, and I wandered about in a dream of ecstacy like +one of the blessed gods inebriated with nectar.</p> + +<p>I avoided my travelling companions. Their worldly conversation jarred on +the mood I was in, and I preferred my own thoughts to their pursuits. +As my sole desire was to hear about Alumion, and if possible to see her +again, I courted the society of Dinus and Otāré. I knew, of course, that +in ten days she would return to her family, but I thought I might be +able to visit the temple and perhaps get a glimpse of her. However, I +learned from her father that during the sacred festival the temple was +closed to the outer world. It was not indeed forbidden to land on the +holy island, but it was considered a sacrilege for anyone not having +business there to enter the precincts of the temple, excepting on the +day of the ceremony which had just taken place. While bound to respect +this taboo, I was, nevertheless, drawn by an irresistible attraction to +the island, where I frequently spent hours in sailing about the wooded +shores, or loitering in the sacred avenue, hoping against hope that I +might see her passing by or in the distance. Although I was not so +fortunate, I enjoyed the satisfaction of being nearer to her, and as the +island seemed a perfect solitude, I could indulge my reverie in peace.</p> + +<p>At last I made a discovery. In describing the ceremony of the Flower, +Otāré had spoken of a sacred grotto where the priestess went to bathe, +and on questioning him further, I ascertained that it was situated on +the shore of the island in a bay or inlet to the eastward of the quay, +and that she took her customary bath at set of sun.</p> + +<p>That afternoon I made a thorough search and found a cavern in the rock +close to the beach of a secluded cove which I had overlooked until then. +A footpath, winding down the mountain side through the forest led to its +mouth, which was overhung and almost hid by a rich creeper with large +crimson blossoms. It was evidently the spot mentioned by Otāré, but +wishing to make sure, and impelled by curiosity in spite of a more +hallowed feeling, I lifted the creeper and was about to peer into the +darkness, when a sudden noise within made me jump back with affright. It +was the most horrible and excruciating shriek I had ever heard in my +life. If anyone by a refinement of cruelty were to compound a torture +for the ears, I do not think he could produce anything half so piercing, +gruesome, and discordant.</p> + +<p>It seemed the cry of an animal—a wild beast—and I began to think I was +mistaken in the place; but the sun was near its setting now, and it was +too late to seek further afield. I therefore returned to my boat and +withdrew under the overarching boughs of some trees where I could see +without being seen.</p> + +<p>I had not long to wait. Between the flowering shrubs I noticed that a +figure—a woman by her undulating grace—was coming down the path. A +thin wrap or veil of changing stuff, with gleams of azure and fiery red, +was flung about her person. Presently she stepped upon the beach into +the mellow gloaming, and stood like a statue, with her eyes bent on the +sinking orb, which threw a trail of splendour across the lake.</p> + +<p>It was the priestess, and apparently alone. A closer view of her person +brought me no disenchantment. Perfect beauty, like the sublime, produces +an impression of the infinite, and I only speak the literal truth when I +say that she appeared infinitely beautiful to me. Her golden hair, +rippling over the delicate ear and gathered into a knot behind, her +large violet eyes and blooming white skin, her Grecian profile and +stately yet flowing form, might have become an Aphrodite of Xeuxis or +Praxiteles; but her serene and gracious countenance beamed with a pure +seraphic light which is wanting to the classical goddess, and must be +sought in the Madonnas of Raphael. Moreover, she had an indescribable +look of girlish innocence, winsome sweetness, and pitiful tenderness, +which belonged to none of these ideals, and marked her as a simple, +loving, perishable child of earth.</p> + +<p>I gazed upon her marvellous beauty with a kind of religious veneration, +at once attracted by her womanly charm and awed by her god-like dignity, +yet with a strange, a divine state of repose and pure rapture in my +heart for which there is no name.</p> + +<p>Would that the happiness, the bliss of looking upon her, of being near +her, might have lasted for ever!</p> + +<p>I knew, however, that she would soon enter the grotto and be lost to me. +Should I speak? In this fraternal community what was there to prevent +it? Something held me back. Otāré had said that the priestess was +isolated from the outer world during her year of office; but that was +only a general statement. Mine was a peculiar case. I was a stranger. I +did not belong to their world, and was not supposed to know the ins and +outs of their customs. Besides, why should custom stand between such a +love as mine and its object? Conventional propriety was for the pitiful +earth and its wretched abortive passions. Perhaps I should frighten her? +No, I did not believe it. In this golden land even the birds seemed +fearless. As well think to frighten an angel in Heaven.</p> + +<p>While I was debating the question within myself she glanced into the +foliage where I was hidden. How my heart throbbed! I fancied that she +saw me, and trembled with emotion; but I was mistaken, for she turned +and walked towards the cavern.</p> + +<p>Suddenly I remembered the alarming sound within the cave, and breaking +through the covert, called after her.</p> + +<p>"Take care, take care! There is a wild beast in the grotto. I heard it +cry."</p> + +<p>She looked round and started when she saw me. The surprise, visible on +her face, seemed to melt into recognition.</p> + +<p>"It is kind of you to warn me," she responded with a frank smile, "but I +am not in danger. There is no wild animal inside."</p> + +<p>Her low sweet voice was quite in keeping with her beauty. Every note +rung clear and melodious as a bell.</p> + +<p>"But the awful cry?" I rejoined with a puzzled air.</p> + +<p>"Was that of a particular pet of mine," she answered laughingly.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said I smiling for company, "I am a stranger here, as you +can see, and did not know any better."</p> + +<p>"You are one of the travellers from another world, are you not?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! you have heard of our arrival."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes! An event so important was not kept from me. I saw you sitting +beside my father on the day of the Flower, and I knew you again. I am +afraid our country will seem very odd to you. Have you enjoyed your +stay?"</p> + +<p>"So much. I cannot tell you how much."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will remain with us a long time."</p> + +<p>"I should like to stop here for ever."</p> + +<p>She blushed and smiled with pleasure at these words, then, raising her +arms in a noble salute, inclined her head, and entered the cavern.</p> + +<p>I returned to the car in a delirium of happiness. I had seen her again, +I had actually spoken with her. <i>She knew me!</i> Every detail of her look +and accent was indelibly printed on my memory. All next day I wandered +about in a kind of transport, feasting on the recollection of what had +passed between us, and revolving over my future course of action. In two +days the holy time would end, and I should have an opportunity of +meeting her at home; but with the chance of seeing her again at the +grotto, I could not wait. I was allured towards her by the most +delicious fascination. Such a love as mine looked down upon the petty +proprieties which keep lovers apart, yet are sometimes so needful in our +wicked world. In this noble planet life was free and simple, because it +was beautiful and good. I determined to revisit the cove that evening, +and if I should see her again, to declare my secret.</p> + +<p>Had I counted the cost? With such a passion it is not a question of +cost. I was well aware that if she did not reciprocate my affection she +would never marry me. Nor did I wish it otherwise. I would not ask her +to sacrifice herself for my sake. If, as my heart fondly hoped, she +accepted me, I would not allow anything to stand between us for a +moment. I would abandon the expedition if necessary, and remain in +Venus. If, on the other hand, she refused me as my judgment feared, I +would return to the earth as a new man, ennobled by a glorious love, +reverencing myself that I was capable of it, cherishing her image in my +heart as the ideal of womanhood, and grateful for having seen and known +her. Surely a rich reward for all the perils of the journey.</p> + +<p>Sunset found me in the cove, not hidden by the leaves as before, but +sitting in the boat astrand. She came. To-night her veil was of a golden +yellow shading into dark green. A beautiful smile of recognition passed +over her face when she saw me, and we greeted one another in the +graceful fashion of the country.</p> + +<p>I did not speak of the weather or give an excuse for my presence there, +as I might have done to a woman of the world. With Alumion I felt that +all such artificial forms were idle, and that I could reveal my inmost +soul without disguise, in all its naked sincerity.</p> + +<p>"I have brought you some flowers," said I, offering her a nosegay which +I had picked. "Will you accept them?"</p> + +<p>"I thank you," she replied with a beaming smile as she came and took +them from my hand. "They are very beautiful, and I shall keep them for +your sake."</p> + +<p>"For my sake!"</p> + +<p>Inspired by love I continued in a voice trembling with emotion,</p> + +<p>"Alumion—can you not guess what brings me here?"</p> + +<p>A blush rose to her cheek as she bent over the flowers.</p> + +<p>"It is because I love you," said I; "because I have loved you ever since +I saw you on the day you cut the sacred lily; because I love +you—worship you—with all my heart and soul."</p> + +<p>She was silent.</p> + +<p>"If I am wrong, forgive me," I went on in a pleading tone. "Blame the +spell your beauty has cast over me, but do not banish me from your +presence, which is life and light to me."</p> + +<p>"Wrong!" she murmured, lifting her wondrous eyes to mine. "Can it be +wrong to love, or to speak of love? Why should I send you away from me +because you love me? Is not love the glory of the heart, as the sun is +the glory of the world? Rejoice, then, in your love as I do in mine."</p> + +<p>"As you do?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, as I do. I should have spoken sooner, but my heart was full of +happiness. For I also love you. I have loved you from the beginning."</p> + +<p>With a cry of unspeakable joy I sprang from the boat, and would have +flung myself at her feet to kiss her hand or the hem of her garment, but +she drew back with a look of apprehension.</p> + +<p>"Touch me not," she said gravely, "for by the custom of our land I am +holy. Until to-morrow at sunset I am consecrated to The Giver."</p> + +<p>"Pardon my ignorance," I responded rather crestfallen. "Your will shall +be my law. I only wished to manifest my eternal gratitude and devotion +to you."</p> + +<p>"Kneel not to me," she rejoined, "but rather to The Giver, who has so +strangely brought us together. How many ages we might have wandered +from world to world without finding each other again!"</p> + +<p>"You think we have met before then?" I enquired eagerly, for the same +thought had been haunting my own mind. It seemed to me that I had known +Alumion always.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly," she replied, "for you and I are kindred souls who have been +separated in another world, by death or evil; and now that we have met +again, let us be faithful and loving to each other."</p> + +<p>"Nothing shall separate us any more."</p> + +<p>The words had scarcely passed my lips when the same terrible cry which I +had heard once before sounded from the interior of the grotto.</p> + +<p>Alumion called or rather sang out a response to the cry, which I did not +understand, then said to me in her ordinary voice,</p> + +<p>"It is Siloo. I must go now and give him food."</p> + +<p>I was curious to know who or what was Siloo, but did not dare to ask. +She raised her arms gracefully and smiled a sweet farewell.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to leave me like that?" said I.</p> + +<p>"What would you have?" she answered, turning towards the cave.</p> + +<p>"In my country lovers bind themselves by mutual vows."</p> + +<p>"What need of vows? Have we not confessed our loves?"</p> + +<p>"Will you not tell me when I shall see you again? Will you not say when +you will be mine—when you will marry me?"</p> + +<p>A blush mounted to her cheek as she answered with a divine glance,</p> + +<p>"Meet me at sunset to-morrow, and I will be yours."</p> + +<p>As yet I had not mentioned my adventure with Alumion to any of my +companions, but that night I said to Gazen, as we smoked our cigars +together,</p> + +<p>"Wish me joy, old fellow! I am going to be married."</p> + +<p>He seemed quite dumbfounded, and I rather think he fancied that I must +have come to an understanding with Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Really!" said he with the air of a man plucking up heart after an +unexpected blow. "May I ask who is the lady?"</p> + +<p>"The Priestess of the Lily."</p> + +<p>"The Priestess!" he exclaimed utterly astonished, but at the same time +vastly relieved. "The Priestess! Come, now, you are joking."</p> + +<p>"Never was more serious in my life."</p> + +<p>Then I told him what had happened, how I had met her, and my engagement +to marry her.</p> + +<p>"If you will take my advice," said he dryly, "you'll do nothing of the +kind."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Have you considered the matter?" he replied significantly.</p> + +<p>"Considered the matter! A love like mine does not 'consider the matter' +as though it were a problem in Euclid. With such a woman as Alumion a +lover does not stop to 'consider the matter,' unless he is a fool."</p> + +<p>"A woman—yes; but remember that she is a woman of another planet. She +might not make a suitable wife for you."</p> + +<p>"I love her. I love her as I can never love a woman of our world. She is +a thousand times more beautiful and good than any woman I have ever +known. She is an ideal woman—a perfect woman—an angel in human form."</p> + +<p>"That may be; but what will her family say?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Gazen, don't you know they manage these things better here. +Thank goodness, the 'family' does not interfere with love affairs in +this happy land! We love each other, we have agreed to be married, and +that is quite sufficient. No need to get the 'consent of the parents,' +or make a 'settlement,' or give out the banns, or buy a government +license as though a wife were contraband goods, or hire a string of +four-wheelers, or tip the pew-opener. What has love to do with +pew-openers? Why should the finest thing in life become the prey of such +vulgar parasites? Why should our heavenliest moments be profaned and +spoiled by needless worries—hateful to the name of love? Our wedding +will be very simple. We shall not even want you as groomsman or Miss +Carmichael as bridesmaid. I daresay we shall get along without cake and +speeches, and as for the rice and old boots, upon my word, I don't think +we shall miss them."</p> + +<p>"And if it is a fair question, when will the—the simple ceremony take +place?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow evening."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the professor, taken by surprise. "I +thought a priestess could not marry."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow at sunset she will be a free woman. Her priesthood will come +to an end."</p> + +<p>"And—pardon me—but what are you going to do with her when you've got +her? Will you bring her home to the car—there is very little room here, +as you know. Do you propose to take her to the earth, where I'm afraid +she will probably die like a tender plant or a bird of paradise in a +cage? Do you think her father would consent to that?"</p> + +<p>"We are not going away just yet. There will be time enough to arrange +about that."</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't stay here much longer. I must get back to my work—and +you know we intended to pay a flying visit to Mercury, and if possible +to get a closer look at the sun."</p> + +<p>"All right. You can go as soon as you like. I shall remain behind. +Carmichael will take you to the earth, and then come back here for me."</p> + +<p>"You talk as if it were merely a question of a drive."</p> + +<p>"I think we have proved that it is not more dangerous to go from one +planet to another than it is to get about town."</p> + +<p>"If an accident <i>should</i> occur. If Carmichael cannot return—"</p> + +<p>"I shall be much happier here than I should be on the earth. Even if I +had never met Alumion I think I should come back and stay on Venus."</p> + +<p>"It is certainly a better world, as far as we have seen, but remember +your own words, 'Man was made for the earth.' Don't you think this +eternal summer—these Elysian Fields—would pall upon you in course of +time? Constant bliss, like everlasting honey, might cloy your earthly +palate, and make you sigh for our poor, old, wicked, miserable world, +that in spite of all its faults and crimes, is yet so interesting, so +variable, so dramatic—so dear."</p> + +<p>"Never. With Alumion even Hades would be an Elysium."</p> + +<p>"Think of your friends at home, and what you owe to them; how they will +miss you."</p> + +<p>"I cannot be of much service to them. They will soon forget me."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are mistaken there," said Gazen, assuming a more serious +air. "In any case I for one shall miss you. In fact, to speak plainly, I +shall feel aggrieved—hurt. You and I are old friends, and when you +asked me to join you in this expedition I was moved by friendship as +well as interest. Certainly, I never dreamed that you would desert the +ship. I thought it was understood that we should sink or swim together. +If you leave us I shan't answer for the consequences. I appreciate the +dilemma in which you are placed, but surely friendship has a prior if a +weaker claim than love-passion. Surely you owe some allegiance to +Carmichael and myself."</p> + +<p>"What would you have me do?"</p> + +<p>"Only to carry out the original plan of the voyage. Promise me that you +will stick to the ship. Afterwards you can return to Venus and do as you +please. Stanley, you know, made his greatest journey into Africa between +his engagement and his marriage."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I promise."</p> + +<p>With an agitated mind I repaired to the tryst next evening and waited +for Alumion. How should I break the news to her, and how would she +receive it?</p> + +<p>The cool airs of the water, and the glorious pageant of the sunset +calmed my troubled spirit. All day the serene and beamy azure of the +heavens had been plumed with snowy cloudlets of graceful and capricious +form, which, as the sun sank to the horizon, were tinged with fleeting +glows resembling the iris of a dove's neck, or the hues of a dying +dolphin. The great luminary himself was lost in a golden glamour, and a +single bright star shone palely through a rosy mist, which covered all +the southern sky, like a diamond seen through a bridal veil of gauze.</p> + +<p>That lone star was the earth.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, I felt a kind of yearning towards it, a yearning as of +home-sickness, and it seemed to reproach me for having thought of +forsaking it. I wondered what my friends were doing now within that +blaze; perhaps they were looking at Venus and speculating on what I was +about. How delighted I should be to see them again, and show them my +incomparable wife—but could I ever take her there?</p> + +<p>Whilst I was musing, the low sweet voice of Alumion thrilled me to the +marrow. I turned and saw her. She was dressed to-night in a filmy +vesture of opalescent or pearly white, partly diaphanous, and having a +deep fringe of gold. There was a pink blush on her cheek and a sparkle +of girlish love in her celestial eyes. Never had she seemed more +ravishingly beautiful.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Beauty too rare for use, for earth too dear."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"You were gazing on the star. You did not hear my coming," she said with +a little feminine pout.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of you, darling."</p> + +<p>She smiled again.</p> + +<p>"Is it not a lovely star?" she said. "We call it the star of Love—the +star of the Blest."</p> + +<p>"It is my home."</p> + +<p>"Your home!" she exclaimed with a look of surprise and wonderment.</p> + +<p>"You have heard that I come from another world."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I did not know it was a star. And is that beautiful star your +home?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, beloved; and I am sorry to say I must return there soon again."</p> + +<p>"And I will go! You will take me with you to that fair world!"</p> + +<p>I thought of all the crime and folly, the deceit, violence, and +wretchedness lurking behind that pure and peaceful ray. Alas! how could +I tell her the truth and destroy her illusions. She was innocent as a +child, and an instinct warned me to keep the knowledge of evil from her, +while a contrary spirit urged me to speak.</p> + +<p>"You might not find it so fair as it looks from here."</p> + +<p>"I am sure it cannot be an evil world since you come from it. To us it +is a sacred star."</p> + +<p>"If the inhabitants could see it as I do now, perhaps the sight would +make them lead better lives—would shame them into being worthier of +their dwelling-place."</p> + +<p>"Are they not good?" she asked with a look of wonder and sorrowful +compassion. "Then how unhappy they must be."</p> + +<p>"Some are good and some are bad. Everything is mixed in our world—the +strong and the weak—the rich and the poor—the happy and the +miserable."</p> + +<p>"But do the good not help the bad?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, to a certain extent; but life is a struggle there; every man for +himself; and the good very often find it hard to secure a little +happiness for themselves."</p> + +<p>"How can they be happy when they know that others are suffering and in +want, that others are bad? I long to go and help them."</p> + +<p>"Darling, you are an angel, and I adore you; but, believe me, you alone +could do very little. One has already come and taught us how to love and +cherish each other, that the strong should help the weak, the rich give +to the poor, and the happy comfort the wretched. His followers believe +that He came from Heaven, and yet after nineteen hundred years I am +afraid that some of them do not fully understand the plain meaning of +His words, or else find it convenient to ignore them."</p> + +<p>"But many of us will go there. We will bring the sinful and the +suffering over here to Womla and make them happy."</p> + +<p>"I am touched by your simple faith in us, dearest It does you honour, +but I fear it is mistaken. What would you say if the very people you had +saved and befriended were to turn round and take your country from you, +perhaps even destroy you? Such ingratitude is not unknown in our +world."</p> + +<p>"If they are so wicked they have the more need of help."</p> + +<p>"In any case, darling, I cannot take you with me, for the vessel we came +in is too small; but I will come back as soon as possible and stay with +you in Womla. How happy we shall be!"</p> + +<p>"In Womla—no. We should not be quite at rest."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall seek out some desert star where we can live only for each +other."</p> + +<p>"You do not understand me. Neither in Womla nor in a desert star could +we be happy in a selfish love, knowing that others were in pain."</p> + +<p>"Better I had not spoken of my world at all."</p> + +<p>"No, a thousand times no!" cried Alumion with fervour. "For you have +opened up to me a new source of happiness—of blessedness which I have +never known before. Only let us go together to your world and minister +to the unfortunate."</p> + +<p>"Well, darling, we will think of it; but see! the sun has set and you +are free again. I came to marry you, but since I must return so soon to +my own world, perhaps it would be well to postpone the ceremony until I +come back here."</p> + +<p>"Why should we do that?"</p> + +<p>Evidently she had no idea of the dangers of the journey, or how long it +would take.</p> + +<p>"If anything should happen to me. If I should die and never return."</p> + +<p>"Ah! do not speak of that. The Giver will preserve you."</p> + +<p>"But life is uncertain."</p> + +<p>"Beloved, I shall never love another but you; therefore, let us unite +ourselves, as we are already united in heart and soul, henceforth and +forever. Come!"</p> + +<p>With these words she turned and glided towards the sacred grotto. I held +aside the flowering creeper which hung over the entrance like a curtain, +and followed her within. To my great surprise the interior was neither +dark nor dusky, but filled with a soft and luscious light from myriads +of glow-worms and fire-flies of various colours, which glimmered on the +walls like tiny electric lamps, or sparkled in the facets of the gems +and spars depending from the roof. Judging by their shape and tint I +imagine that some of these incrustations are native crystals of the +diamond and ruby, the sapphire, topaz, and emerald. In a deep recess or +alcove on one side a spring of clear water gushed from the rock into a +natural basin of sinter, enamelled inside and out with the precious +opal. Owing perhaps to the minerals through which it had passed the +liquid shed a delicious perfume in the air, and made a bath fit for the +goddess of beauty.</p> + +<p>I had scarcely time to look about me when a strange and wonderful melody +of most entrancing sweetness echoed through the cavern.</p> + +<p>"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion softly, and the music, which I cannot +compare to any earthly strain, ceased in a moment. Presently I was more +than startled to see in the gloomier background of the cavern a great +white serpent glide like a ghost along the floor and come straight +towards us. His milk-white body was speckled all over with jewelled +scales, and shone with a pale blue phosphorescence; his eyes blazed in +his head like twin carbuncles, and in spite of my instinctive dread of +snakes, I could not help admiring his repulsive beauty. Presently he +reared his long neck, and faced us with his forked tongue playing out +and in. I shrank back, for I thought he was about to spring upon me; but +Alumion, laughing gaily at my fears, stepped quickly up to him, and +stroked him with her hand. The serpent laid his head caressingly upon +her shoulder and emitted a low faint note of pleasure.</p> + +<p>Alumion then took a shallow dish or patera, and, filling it from a vase +which she carried with her set it upon the floor for the snake to feed.</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to be afraid of that gruesome reptile," said I +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," she replied smiling. "Siloo knows me very well."</p> + +<p>"Tell me, was it he who made the music a little while ago?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and also the noise which alarmed you the first night you wandered +here. The music comes from his head, and the noise is from his tail. +That is why we call him Siloo."</p> + +<p>The word, as nearly as I can translate it, means harmony, order, +measure, proportion, in the Womla tongue.</p> + +<p>"Does he always live in this cave?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is a sacred animal with us, and long ago was worshipped and +consulted by our forefathers, and those who preceded them in the +island."</p> + +<p>"Is he very old?"</p> + +<p>"None can tell how old. Some say he is immortal. Others think he is only +the offspring of the snake worshipped by our forefathers. He is guardian +of the sacred fountain whose waters we are about to drink."</p> + +<p>When she had spoken, Alumion tripped to the flowing spring, and, taking +a cup which was standing on the edge of the basin, filled it from the +pellucid stream.</p> + +<p>"Give me your hand," she murmured, holding out her own, and lifting her +celestial eyes, so full of love and tenderness, to mine. It was a dainty +hand, plump, lilywhite, and dimpled, with tapering fingers; and as I +felt her warm and silk-soft touch for the first time, my soul melted +within me, and my whole being thrilled with delight. Her rosy lips +parted with pleasure, and a delicate blush mantled her blooming cheeks +and full white throat.</p> + +<p>I gazed in rapture on her divine countenance, so like a speaking flower, +the image of a beautiful soul on which neither sorrow, care, nor passion +had ever left a trace.</p> + +<p>She raised the cup, and having sipped of the water, handed it to me in +silence. I sought the place where her lips had touched the brim and +drank. Now whether it was phantasy or some foreign ingredient I cannot +tell, but the water seemed to taste like nectar, and to run through all +my veins like wine.</p> + +<p>The glamour of the lights and the perfume of the waters wrought upon my +senses, and, yielding to the intoxication of my love, I caught Alumion +to my arms.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the most appalling noise rent the air, and caused me to spring +back from my bride in terror. It came from the rattlesnake. His grisly +body swayed to and fro, his gaping mouth displayed all its horrid fangs, +and his large eyes burned like two red-hot coals.</p> + +<p>"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion hastily in a tone of command. "Down, +Siloo!"</p> + +<p>The serpent at once obeyed her voice and retired again to his dish.</p> + +<p>"He thought I was going to harm you," I exclaimed, not without a sense +of relief. "Or perhaps he was jealous of me."</p> + +<p>"Remember this is holy ground," responded Alumion.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," I said, feeling her reproof. "My love—your beauty—must +be my excuse."</p> + +<p>"We must part now," she continued, with a blinding glance and a +ravishing smile. "I have some last offices to perform here. We shall +meet to-morrow at my father's house."</p> + +<p>On my way home the blood coursed through my veins like an immortal ichor +of the gods, full of sweet and inextinguishable fire. Inebriated with +the cup of bliss which I had only tasted, I began to repent me of my +promise to leave Womla.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow Alumion will be mine," I reflected, "but for how long? A few +days at the most. It is too bad!"</p> + +<p>An idea struck me.</p> + +<p>"Gazen," said I that night as soon as I had a convenient opportunity to +speak with him, "I have married Alumion."</p> + +<p>"Married her!" he exclaimed, completely taken aback.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is to say, I have gone through the formal ceremony of +marriage. I have drunk of the cup."</p> + +<p>"But you promised me you would do nothing of the kind."</p> + +<p>"I said I would go back to the earth with you, and I will keep my word. +But I must say that since I agreed to your wishes in the matter, I think +you owe me some concession, and I want you to leave me in Womla while +you go on to Mercury, and then come back here to pick me up. That will +give me a longer honeymoon."</p> + +<p>"Impossible, my dear fellow—quite impossible," replied the professor. +"Venus will be too far out of our way home. We have no oxygen to waste, +and can't go hunting you in your love affairs all round the solar +system."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, I shall stay behind."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear fellow—"</p> + +<p>"Say no more about it. I have made up my mind."</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI'></a><h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<h4>THE FLYING APE.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>It was broad day when I awoke, and oppressively warm in the little +cabin. My first thoughts were of Alumion, the consecration of our loves, +and my resolution to abide in Venus. In getting up I felt so light and +buoyant that for a moment I fancied I must be giddy, but on reflection I +ascribed the sensation to the intoxication of passion, and the +exhilarating atmosphere of the planet. I looked out of a window towards +the blessed island of my dreams, and to my blank amazement found that +<i>it was gone!</i> I could neither see anything of the lake, the square, nor +the town, but only a bare and rugged platform of weathered rocks, and +the cloudy sky above it.</p> + +<p>What was the matter? Had Gazen and Carmichael taken it into their heads +to make an excursion, such as we had often planned, in order to observe +something more of the country? Yes, that was it, no doubt.</p> + +<p>Under the circumstances I was far from pleased with them for having +carried me off without asking my leave, knowing as they should have +done, that I would be eager to rejoin Alumion; but experience of travel +had taught me that a man must not expect to have it all his own way, and +should know when to let his companions have theirs, and above all things +to keep his temper. I, therefore, decided to take their behaviour in +good part, more especially as we could always return to the capital as +quickly as we had come from it.</p> + +<p>Apparently there was nobody in the car but myself. Wondering, and +perhaps a trifle uneasy at the dead stillness, I dressed rapidly and +went outside.</p> + +<p>The welkin was wholly overcast with dense, murky vapours, which totally +hid the sun, and the air was excessively hot, moist, and sultry as +before a thunderstorm—an unusual phenomenon in Womla. Black boulders +and crags, speckled with lichens, and carpeted with coarse herbage, shut +out the prospect on every side but one, where the edge of the platform +on which the car was resting ran along the sky. I saw it all now. Gazen +and Carmichael had made a journey to the extreme verge of the country; +to the very summit of the precipice which surrounded the Crater Land.</p> + +<p>Picking my steps over the rough rocks like one who treads on air, I +hastened to the brink of the platform. If the car were on the further +side of the summit I should be able to see the wide ocean, but if, as I +fondly hoped, it were on the hither side, I should enjoy a far-off +glimpse of the city and its holy island, which had become a heaven to +me. How different was the scene which met my view!</p> + +<p>I was looking away over a vast plain towards a distant range of volcanic +mountains. A broad river wound through the midst between isolated +volcanoes, curling with smoke, and thick forests of a sable hue, or +expanded into marshy lakes half lost in brakes of grisly reeds, on the +margin of which living monsters were plashing in the mud, or soaring +into the air on dusky pinions.</p> + +<p>My first shock of surprise passed into a fearful admiration for the +savage and gloomy grandeur of the primeval landscape; but as that +feeling wore away the old irritation against my fellow-travellers came +back. From all I had heard or seen there was no such place as this in +Womla, and as it dawned upon me that they had migrated to some other +island, or perhaps continent in Venus, I forgot my good resolution, and +shouted indignantly,</p> + +<p>"Gazen, Gazen! Hallo there! Hallo!"</p> + +<p>There was no response, and the dead silence that swallowed up my voice +was awful. Had anything happened to my companions, and was I left alone +in this appalling solitude? Was I in my right senses, or was I not? I +shouted again at the very pitch of my voice, and this time an answering +cry came to my relief. On turning in the direction from which it +proceeded, I observed Professor Gazen coming slowly towards me, round a +mass of turretted rocks.</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of all this?" I demanded petulantly, as he came +near, gingerly stepping from stone to stone.</p> + +<p>He made no reply, but seemed to be meditating what he would say.</p> + +<p>"A nice trick you've played me! Wherever have we got to?"</p> + +<p>"Mercury," replied Gazen coolly.</p> + +<p>"<i>Mercury!</i>" I exclaimed, fairly astounded. "Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Not at all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come!" said I sarcastically, "that won't do. A joke is a joke; but +I'm not in a merry mood this morning."</p> + +<p>"So I see. A laugh would do you good."</p> + +<p>"Well, where are we?"</p> + +<p>"In Mercury."</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" I ejaculated. "Last night I went to bed in Venus, and +you want me to believe that I've woke up on Mercury. Tell that to the +marines."</p> + +<p>"Last night you say; but do you know how long you have slept? And have +you forgotten that we are now so near the sun—that the attraction of +the sun on the car has assisted the machines to propel us through the +intermediate space?"</p> + +<p>I had not thought of that.</p> + +<p>"Then it is true."</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"And why have you come here—what authority—what right—had you to +carry me off in this manner without my consent?" I burst out angrily. +"You knew I had made up my mind to stay in Venus. I took you into my +confidence and told you about my love affair. Why have you betrayed that +confidence, and kidnapped me like a slave or a lunatic?"</p> + +<p>"Hear me, old friend," said Gazen softly. "We have all noticed a decided +change in you of late—ever since the day of the ceremony on the island. +You have been like a different person—absent in your mind—incoherent +in your speech—abrupt in your manner. You have forsaken your old +friends completely, and apparently lost all interest in their doings, +all desire for their company. In short, you have behaved like a man +beside himself, distraught. We could not make it out, and we had many +anxious consultations about the matter. I wondered whether you had had a +sunstroke. Carmichael suggested that the stimulating air of Venus had +affected your brain. Miss Carmichael alone suspected that you were in +love; but I would not believe her. I had been so much in your society +without having seen anything to justify her suspicion, and you yourself +had never breathed a word to lend it colour. Carmichael and I sought to +question you about your health, and the influence of the sun and air +upon you, while Miss Carmichael tried to draw you on the subject of the +ladies. All in vain. We could not solve the mystery, and as your +condition was evidently growing worse and worse, we resolved to leave +the planet. Although it was not in the original programme, we had +sometimes talked of extending our journey to Mercury, so as to visit all +the inferior planets, and give me an opportunity of getting as near the +sun as possible for my observations, and this project was made the +pretext for hastening our departure.</p> + +<p>"We submitted the plan to you, and you know the rest. After you had +given us your word of honour that you would break with the lady and +return home with us for the sake of your friends, after we had made all +our preparations to start, you came back at the eleventh hour, and +declared that you had made up your mind to stay behind. If anything had +been wanted to prove to us that you were hopelessly +infatuated—hypnotised—mad—it would have been that; and as we were +morally bound to fetch you back with us, we took the bull by the horns, +and carried you off in spite of yourself."</p> + +<p>"You had no business to do anything of the kind," I replied hotly. "I am +chiefly responsible for this expedition."</p> + +<p>"True; but you forget that Carmichael is the nominal leader, by your own +agreement, and we are all to some extent under his orders. I, too, was +bound in honour to bring you safe home if I could."</p> + +<p>"Bound in honour to take care of <i>me</i>! You treat me like a baby."</p> + +<p>"People don't come away on such an adventure as ours without a tacit if +not a formal understanding to protect each other to the best of their +ability, and besides, I had given my word to your friends that I would +do my best to help you through. When you come to your senses you will +acknowledge that we did right."</p> + +<p>Despite my excusable anger and vexation, the calm and friendly +explanation of the professor was not without its effect on me. It was +true that I had broken my promise to my fellow-travellers; true that +Carmichael was commander of the expedition. I was myself at fault. And +yet what a disappointment! What would Alumion think of me! After all my +vows of eternal fidelity, uttered as they had been in that sacred spot, +I had sneaked away like a thief in the night.</p> + +<p>"I shall go back to Venus," said I, in a determined manner.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut," said Gazen, with a good-natured smile; "you had better give +up that idea. You are clearly the victim of hypnotic influence—of +suggestion. By-and-by it will lose its hold on you, and you will regain +your freedom of action."</p> + +<p>"Never!" I exclaimed, with all the energy of my soul. "My dear Gazen, +you are quite mistaken in supposing anything of the kind. I was never +saner in my life. Nay, it is only now that I know what it is to be sane; +what life was meant to be. Hypnotic suggestion! Pshaw! I know what I am +doing as well as you do. I am not a fool. I am only seeking my own +happiness—and hers—I tell you that a single moment in her society is +worth a whole lifetime on the earth. What do I say? A lifetime? An +eternity. Heaven itself were nothing to me without her. I would not take +it as a gift. I shall go back. I must go back. I cannot live without +her."</p> + +<p>"Take time to consider at all events," said Gazen, somewhat impressed by +my vehemence. "In the meantime let us join Miss Carmichael. She is +beyond the rocks there sketching the valley."</p> + +<p>We walked in that direction.</p> + +<p>"You may return to the earth," said I; "but on the way you must drop me +at Venus."</p> + +<p>Gazen had no opportunity of answering, for just at that moment we were +startled by a piercing shriek from behind the crags, and rushing, or +rather bounding forward, saw a sight that made our very blood run cold.</p> + +<p>A flying monster, with enormous bat-like wings and hanging legs, was +evidently swooping down on Miss Carmichael, as she stood beside her +easel on the brow of the cliff.</p> + +<p>"Run for your life!" roared Gazen, dashing towards her with frantic +speed.</p> + +<p>Alas! she did not hear him, or else she was fascinated by the +approaching horror, and rooted to the spot. He was still several hundred +yards from her, but owing to the feebleness of gravity on the planet he +was so preternaturally light and nimble that he might have covered the +distance in a minute or so, had he been more accustomed to control his +limbs, and the ground been smoother. As it was he leaped high into the +air, and rebounded from the stones like an india-rubber ball, at the +risk of spraining his ankles or breaking his neck, while brandishing his +arms, and firing his pistol, and hooting with all his force of lung to +frighten away the monster.</p> + +<p>Too late. The huge leathery wings of the dragon overshadowed the +shrinking form of the girl, and the talons of its drooping feet caught +in her dress. She made one desperate, but futile effort to free herself +from its terrible clutch, and, screaming loudly for help, was borne away +over the abyss of the valley as easily as a lamb is carried by an eagle.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Heaven!" cried Gazen, stopping with a gesture of despair.</p> + +<p>He was deeply moved, and pale as death; but he did not altogether lose +his head.</p> + +<p>What was to be done?</p> + +<p>"The car—the car!" he exclaimed. "We must follow her in the car. Keep +your eye on the beast while I go for it."</p> + +<p>Carmichael was fast asleep in his cabin, after his long weary vigil +during the passage from Venus, but the car was quickly put in motion, +and I jumped on board just as it cleared the brink of the precipice.</p> + +<p>The dragon, which had the start of us by a mile or more, was apparently +steering for the mountains on the other side of the valley. +Notwithstanding its enormous bulk, and the dead weight hanging from its +claws, it flew with surprising speed, owing to the weakness of gravity +and the vast spread of its wings.</p> + +<p>I shall never forget that singular chase, which is probably unparalleled +in the history of the universe. A prey to anxiety and the most +distressing emotions, we did not properly observe the marvellous, the +Titanic, I had almost said the diabolical aspect of the country beneath +us, and still we could not altogether blind ourselves to it. Colossal +jungles, resembling brakes of moss and canes five hundred or a thousand +feet in height—creeks as black as porter, gliding under their dank and +rotting aisles—mountainous quadrupeds or lizards crashing and tearing +through their branches—one of them at least six hundred feet in length, +with a ridgy back and long spiky tail, dragging on the ground, a baleful +green eye, and a crooked mouth full of horrid fangs, which made it look +the very incarnation of cruelty and brute strength—black lakes and +grisly reeds as high as bamboo—prodigious black serpents troubling the +water, and rearing their long spiry necks above the surface—gigantic +alligators and crocodiles resting motionless in the shallows, with their +snouts high in the air—hideous toads or such-like forbidding reptiles, +many with tusks like the walrus, and some with glorious eyes, crouching +on the banks or waddling in the reeds, and so enormous as to give +variety to the landscape—volcanic craters, with red-hot lava simmering +in their depths, and emitting fumes of sulphur, which might have choked +us had we not closed the scuttles—while over all great dragons and +other bat-like animals were flitting through the dusky atmosphere like +demons in a nightmare.</p> + +<p>Little by little we gained upon our quarry, but being afraid to run him +too close for fear that he might drop his victim, we kept at a safe +distance behind him, yet within rifle range, and near enough to make a +prompt attack when he should settle on the ground.</p> + +<p>At length we reached the other side of the valley, and found to our +intense satisfaction that the monster was making for a rocky ledge on +the shoulder of an extinct volcano, where we could see the yawning mouth +of what appeared an immense cavern.</p> + +<p>"That is probably his den," said Gazen, who was now as collected as I +have ever seen him. Nevertheless all his faculties were on the stretch. +His keen grey eye was everywhere, and his active mind was calculating +every chance. I felt then as I had often felt before that in action as +well as in thought the professor was a man of no common mark.</p> + +<p>The event showed that his surmise was correct, for soon after he had +spoken the dragon uttered a startling cry—a kind of squawk like that of +a drake, but much louder, hoarser, shriller—and alighted on the ground.</p> + +<p>"There is not a moment to lose," said Gazen. "We must attack him before +he enters the cave."</p> + +<p>Certainly the darkness inside the cavern would give the beast a great +advantage, and although we might succeed in killing him, we could +scarcely hope to find Miss Carmichael alive. Was she alive now? I had my +doubts, but I kept them to myself. Since she had been carried away she +had not given the smallest sign of life, not even when the dragon +settled. Perhaps, however, she had merely lost her senses through +fright, and was still in a dead faint.</p> + +<p>We might have fought the creature from the air, but we had decided to +assail him on the solid ground, because we should thus be able to +scatter and take him in the flank, if not in the rear.</p> + +<p>While Carmichael landed his car the astronomer and I kept a sharp watch +on the beast, all ready to fire at the first movement which seemed to +threaten the safety of the young girl, who was lying motionless at the +bottom of a slope or talus which led up to the mouth of the cavern. +Freed from his burden the dragon now stood erect, and a more awful +monster it would be difficult to conceive. He must have been at least +forty feet in stature, yet he gave us an impression of squat and sturdy +strength.</p> + +<p>I have called him a dragon, but he was not at all like the dragons of +our imagination. With his great bullet head and prick ears, his beetling +brows and deep sunken eyes, his ferocious mouth and protruding tusks, +his short thick neck and massive shoulders, his large, gawky, and +misshapen trunk, coated with dingy brown fur, shading into dirty yellow +on the stomach, his stout, bandy legs armed with curving talons, and his +huge leathern wings hanging in loose folds about him, he looked more +like an imp of Satan than a dragon.</p> + +<p>Hitherto he had not appeared to notice his pursuers; but now that he was +freer to observe, the grating of the car upon the rocks caught his +attention. He turned quickly, and stared at the apparition of the +vessel, which must have been a strange object to him; but he did not +seem to take alarm. It was the gaze of a jaguar or a tiger who sees +something curious in the jungle—vigilant and deadly if you like, but +neither scared nor fierce.</p> + +<p>We lost no time in sallying forth, all three of us, armed with magazine +rifle, cutlass, and revolver. Mr. Carmichael in the middle, I on the +lower, and Gazen on the upper side, or that nearest to Miss Carmichael. +The rocks around were slippery with ordure, and the sickening stench of +rotting skeletons made our very gorge rise. Suddenly a loud squeaking in +the direction of the cave arrested us, and before we had recovered from +our surprise, nearly a dozen young dragons, each about the size of a +man, tumbled hastily down the slope, and rushed upon the lifeless form +of Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott, there's the whole family," muttered Gazen between his +teeth, at the same time bringing his rifle to the shoulder, and firing +in quick succession.</p> + +<p>The foremost of the crew, which had already flung itself upon the prey, +was seen to spring head over heels into the air, and fall back dead; +another lay writhing in agony upon the ground, and uttering strangely +human shrieks; whilst the others, terrified by the noise, turned and +fled back helter-skelter to the cave.</p> + +<p>The old one, roused to anger by the injury done to his offspring, +snarled ferociously at his enemies and, drawing himself to his full +height, made a furious dash for Gazen.</p> + +<p>Our rifles cracked again and again; the monster started as he felt the +shots, and halted, glaring from one to another of us like a man +irresolute. Purple streams were gushing from his head and sides; he +attempted to fly, and ran towards the brink of the ledge; but ere he +could gain sufficient impetus to launch himself into the air, he +staggered and fell heavily to the ground, with his broken wings beneath +him.</p> + +<p>Gazen, quicker than her father, flew towards Miss Carmichael, and bent +over her.</p> + +<p>"Is she alive?" enquired Carmichael, in breathless and trembling +accents.</p> + +<p>"Yes, thank God," responded Gazen fervently; as he raised her hand to +his lips and kissed it.</p> + +<p>There were tears of joy in his eyes, and I knew then what I had long +suspected, that he loved her.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a loud croak in the distance caused us to look up, and we +beheld another dragon on the wing, coining rapidly towards us from a +pass among the mountains. There was not a moment to be lost, and Gazen, +taking Miss Carmichael in his arms, we all hurried on board the car, +eager to escape from this revolting spot.</p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII'></a><h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> + +<h4>SUNWARD HO!</h4> +<br /> + +<p>"By the way," said Gazen to me, "I've got a new theory for the rising +and sinking of the sun behind the cliffs at Womla—a theory that will +simply explode Professor Possil, and shake the Royal Astronomical +Society to its foundations."</p> + +<p>The astronomer and I were together in the observatory, where he was +adjusting his telescope to look at the sun. After our misadventure with +the flying ape, we had returned to our former station on the summit of +the mountain, to pick up the drawing materials of Miss Carmichael; but +as Gazen was anxious to get as near the sun as possible, and being +disgusted with the infernal scenery as well as the foetid, malarial +atmosphere of Mercury, we left as soon as we had replenished our cistern +from the pools in the rock.</p> + +<p>"Another theory?" I responded. "Thought you had settled that question."</p> + +<p>"Alas, my friend, theories, like political treatises, are made to be +broken."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of it now?"</p> + +<p>"You remember how we came to the conclusion that Schiaparelli was right, +and that the planet Venus, by rotating about her own axis in the same +time as she takes to revolve around the sun, always keeps the same face +turned to the sun, one hemisphere being in perpetual light and summer, +whilst the other is in perpetual darkness and winter?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You remember, too, how we explained the growing altitude of the sun in +the heavens which culminated on the great day of the Festival, by +supposing that the axis of the planet swayed to and from the sun so as +to tilt each pole towards the sun, and the other from it, alternately, +thus producing what by courtesy we may call the seasons in Womla?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, judging from the observations I have made, we were probably right +so far; but if you recollect, I accounted for the mysterious daily rise +and set of the sun, if I may use the words, by changes in the density of +the atmosphere bending the solar rays, and making the disk appear to +rise and sink periodically, though in reality it does nothing of the +kind. A similar effect is well-known on the earth. It produces the +'after glow' on the peaks of the Alps when the sun is far below the +horizon; it sometimes makes the sun bob up and down again after sunset, +and it has been known to make the sun show in the Arctic regions three +weeks before the proper time. I had some difficulty in understanding how +the effect could take place so regularly."</p> + +<p>"I think you ascribed it to the interaction of the solar heat and the +evaporation from the surface."</p> + +<p>"Quite so. I assumed that when the sun is low the vapours above the edge +of the crater and elsewhere cool and condense, thus bending the rays and +seeming to lift the sun higher; but after a time the rays heat and +rarefy the vapours, thus lowering the sun again. It seemed a plausible +hypothesis and satisfied me for a time, but still not altogether, and +now I believe I have made a discovery."</p> + +<p>"And it is?"</p> + +<p>"That Venus is a wobbler."</p> + +<p>"A wobbler?"</p> + +<p>"That she wobbles—that she doesn't keep steady—swings from side to +side. You have seen a top, how stiff and erect it is when it is spinning +fast, and how it wobbles when it is spinning slow, just before it +falls. Well, I think something of the kind is going on with Venus. The +earth may be compared to a top that is whirling fast, and Venus to one +that has slowed down. She is less able than the earth to resist the +disturbing attraction of the sun on the inequalities of her figure, and +therefore she wobbles. In addition to the slow swinging of her axis +which produces her 'seasons,' she has a quicker nodding, which gives +rise to day and night in some favoured spots like Womla."</p> + +<p>"After all," said I, "tis a feminine trait. <i>Souvent femme varie.</i>"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she is constant to her lord the sun," rejoined Gazen. "She never +turns her back upon him, but if I have not discovered a mare's nest, +which is very likely, she becks and bows to him a good deal, and thus +maintains her 'infinite variety.'"</p> + +<p>The cloudy surface of Mercury now lay far beneath us, and the glowing +disc of the sun, which appeared four or five times larger than it does +on the earth, had taken a bluish tinge—a proof that we had reached a +very great altitude.</p> + +<p>"What a magnificent 'sun-spot!'" exclaimed the professor in a tone of +admiration. "Just take a peep at it."</p> + +<p>I placed my eye to the telescope, and saw the glowing surface of the +disc resolved into a marvellous web of shining patches on a dimmer +background, and in the midst a large blotch which reminded me of a +quarry hole as delineated on the plan of a surveyor.</p> + +<p>"Have you been able to throw any fresh light on these mysterious +'spots?'" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"I am more than ever persuaded they are breaks in the photosphere caused +by eruptions of heated matter, chiefly gaseous from the +interior—eruptions such as might give rise to craters like that of +Womla, or those of the moon, were the sun cooler. No doubt that eminent +authority, Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil, regards them as aerial +hurricanes; but the more I see, the more I am constrained to regard +Sylvanus Pettifer Possil as a silly vain asteroid."</p> + +<p>While Gazen was yet speaking we both became sensible of an unwonted +stillness in the car.</p> + +<p>The machinery had ceased to vibrate.</p> + +<p>Our feelings at this discovery were akin to those of passengers in an +ocean steamer when the screw stops—a welcome relief to the monotony of +the voyage, a vague apprehension of danger, and curiosity to learn what +had happened.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything wrong, Carmichael?" asked Gazen through the speaking +tube.</p> + +<p>There was no response.</p> + +<p>"I say, Carmichael, is anything the matter?" he reiterated in a louder +tone.</p> + +<p>Still no answer.</p> + +<p>We were now thoroughly alarmed, and though it was against the rules, we +descended into the machinery room. The cause of Carmichael's silence was +only too apparent. We saw him lying on the floor beside his strange +machine, with his head leaning against the wall. There was a placid +expression on his face, and he appeared to slumber; but we soon found +that he was either in a faint or dead. Without loss of time we tried the +first simple restoratives at hand, but they proved of no avail.</p> + +<p>Gazen went and called Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>She had been resting in her cabin after her trying experience with the +dragon, and although most anxious about her father, and far from well +herself, she behaved with calm self-possession.</p> + +<p>"I think the heat has overcome him," she said, after a quick +examination; and truly the cabin was insufferably hot, thanks to the +machinery and the fervid rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>We could not open the scuttles and admit fresh air, for there was little +or none to admit.</p> + +<p>"I shall try oxygen," she said on reflecting a moment.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, while Gazen, in obedience to her directions began to work +Carmichael's arms up and down, after the method of artificial +respiration which had brought me round at the outset of our journey, she +and I administered oxygen gas from one of our steel bottles to his lungs +by means of a makeshift funnel applied to his mouth. In some fifteen or +twenty minutes he began to show signs of returning animation, and soon +afterwards, to our great relief, he opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>At first he looked about him in a bewildered way, and then he seemed to +recollect his whereabouts. After an ineffectual attempt to speak, and +move his limbs, he fixed his eyes with a meaning expression on the +engines.</p> + +<p>We had forgotten their stoppage. Miss Carmichael sprang to investigate +the cause.</p> + +<p>"They are jammed," she said after a short inspection. "The essential +part is jammed with the heat. Whatever is to be done?"</p> + +<p>We stared at each other blankly as the terrible import of her words came +home to us. Unless we could start the machines again, we must inevitably +fall back on Mercury. Perhaps we were falling now!</p> + +<p>We endeavoured to think of a ready and practicable means of cooling the +engines, but without success. The water and oil on board was lukewarm; +none of us knew how to make a freezing mixture even if we had the +materials; our stock of liquid air had long been spent.</p> + +<p>Miss Carmichael tried to make her father understand the difficulty in +hopes that he would suggest a remedy, but all her efforts were in vain. +Carmichael lay with his eyes closed in a kind of lethargy or paralysis.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, when we are falling through the planet's atmosphere," said I, +"if we open the scuttles and let the cold air blow through the room, it +will cool the engines."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid there will not be time," replied Gazen, shaking his head; +"we shall fall much faster than we rose. The friction of the air against +the car will generate heat. We shall drop down like a meteoric stone and +be smashed to atoms."</p> + +<p>"We have parachutes," said Miss Carmichael, "do you think we shall be +able to save our lives?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," answered Gazen sadly. "They would be torn and whirled +away."</p> + +<p>"So far as I can see there is only one hope for us," said I. "If we +should happen to fall into a deep sea or lake, the car would rise to the +surface again."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is true," responded Gazen; "the car is hollow and light. It +would float. The water would also cool the machines and we might +escape."</p> + +<p>The bare possibility cheered us with a ray of hope.</p> + +<p>"If we only had time, my father might recover, and I believe he would +save us yet," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how much time we have," muttered Gazen.</p> + +<p>"We can't tell," said I. "It depends on the height we had reached and +the speed we were going at when the engines stopped. We shall rise like +a ball thrown into the air and then fall back to the ground."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we are still rising," ejaculated Gazen. "Let us take a look +at the planet."</p> + +<p>"Don't be long," pleaded Miss Carmichael, as we turned to go. +"Meanwhile, I shall try and bring my father round."</p> + +<p>On getting to the observatory, we consulted the atmospheric pressure +gauge and found it out of use, a sign that we had attained an altitude +beyond the atmosphere of Mercury, and were now in empty space.</p> + +<p>We turned to the planet, whose enormous disc, muffled in cloud, was +shining lividly in the weird sky. At one part of the limb a range of +lofty mountain peaks rose above the clouds and chequered them with +shadow.</p> + +<p>Fixing our eyes upon this landmark we watched it with bated breath. Was +it coming nearer, or was it receding from us? That was the momentous +question.</p> + +<p>My feelings might be compared to those of a prisoner at the bar watching +the face of the juryman who is about to deliver the verdict.</p> + +<p>After a time—I know not how long—but it seemed an age—the professor +exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"I believe we are still rising."</p> + +<p>It was my own impression, for the peak I was regarding had grown as I +thought smaller, but I did not feel sure, and preferred to trust the +more experienced eyes of the astronomer.</p> + +<p>"I shall try the telescope," he went on; "we are a long way from the +planet."</p> + +<p>"How far do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Many thousand miles at least."</p> + +<p>"So much the better. We shall get more time."</p> + +<p>"Humph! prolonging the agony, that's all. I begin to wish it was all +over."</p> + +<p>Gazen directed his instrument on the planet, and we resumed our +observations.</p> + +<p>"We are no longer rising," said Gazen after a time. "I suppose we are +near the turning-point."</p> + +<p>As a prisoner scans the countenance of the judge who is about to +pronounce the sentence of life or death, I scanned the cloudy surface +underneath us, to see if I could discover any signs of an ocean that +would break our fall, but the vapours were too thick and compact.</p> + +<p>Every instant I expected to hear the fatal intelligence that our descent +had begun.</p> + +<p>"Strange!" muttered Gazen by-and-by, as if speaking to himself.</p> + +<p>"What is strange?"</p> + +<p>"We are neither rising nor falling now. We don't seem to move."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, it's a fact," he exclaimed at the end of some minutes. +"The focus of the telescope is constant. We are evidently standing +still."</p> + +<p>His words sounded like a reprieve to a condemned man on the morning of +his execution, and in the revulsion of my feeling I shouted,</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!"</p> + +<p>"What can it mean?" cried Gazen.</p> + +<p>"Simply this," said I joyfully. "We have reached the 'dead-point,' where +the attraction of Mercury on the car is balanced by the attraction of +the sun. It can't be anything else."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," said Gazen, making a rapid calculation. "Yes, yes, +probably you are right. I did not think we had come so far; but I had +forgotten that gravitation on Mercury is only half as strong as it is on +the Earth or Venus. Let us go and tell Miss Carmichael."</p> + +<p>We hurried downstairs to the engine room and found her kneeling beside +her father, who was no better.</p> + +<p>She did not seem much enlivened by the good news.</p> + +<p>"What will that do for us?" she enquired doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"We can remain here as long as we like, suspended between the Sun and +Mercury," replied Gazen.</p> + +<p>"Is it better to linger and die in a living tomb than be dashed to +pieces and have done with it?"</p> + +<p>"But we shall gain time for your father to recover."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid my father will never recover in this place. The heat is +killing him. Unless we can get further away from the sun he will die, +I'm sure he will."</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"Don't distress yourself, dear Miss Carmichael, please don't," said +Gazen tenderly. "Now that we have time to think, perhaps we shall hit +upon some plan."</p> + +<p>An idea flashed into my head.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said I to Gazen, "you remember our conversation in your +observatory one day on the propelling power of rockets—how a rocket +might be used to drive a car through space?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but we have no rockets."</p> + +<p>"No, but we have rifles, and rifle bullets fired from the car, though +not so powerful, will have a similar effect."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"The car is now at rest in space. A slight impulse will direct it one +way or another. Why should we not send it off in such a way that in +falling towards Mercury it will not strike the planet, but circle round +it; or if it should fall towards the surface, will do so at a great +slant, and allow the atmosphere to cool the engines."</p> + +<p>"Let me see," said Gazen, drawing a diagram in his note-book, and +studying it attentively. "Yes, there is something in that. It's a +forlorn hope at best, but perhaps it's our only hope. If we could only +get into the shadow of the planet we might be saved."</p> + +<p>As delay might prove fatal to Carmichael, and since it was uncertain +whether he could right the engines in their present situation, we +decided to act on the suggestion without loss of time. Gazen and I +calculated the positions of the rifles and the number of shots to be +fired in order to give the required impetus to the car. The engine-room, +being well provided with scuttles, was chosen as the scene of our +operations. A brace of magazine rifles were fixed through two of the +scuttles in such a way that the recoil of the shots would urge the car +in an oblique direction backwards, so as to clear or almost clear the +planet, allowance being made for the forward motion of the latter in its +orbit. Needless to say, the barrel of each rifle was packed round so as +to keep the air in the car from escaping into space.</p> + +<p>At a given signal the rifles were discharged simultaneously by Gazen and +myself. There was little noise, but the car trembled with the shock, and +the prostrate man opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>Had it produced the desired effect? We could not tell without an appeal +to the telescope.</p> + +<p>"I'll be back in a moment," cried Gazen, springing upstairs to the +observatory.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel any better, father?" enquired Miss Carmichael, laying her +cool hand on the invalid's fevered brow.</p> + +<p>He winked, and tried to nod in the affirmative. "Were you asleep, +father? Did the shock rouse you?"</p> + +<p>He winked again.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what we are doing?" Before he could answer the foot of +Gazen sounded on the stair. He had left us with an eager, almost a +confident eye. He came back looking grave in the extreme.</p> + +<p>"We are not falling towards Mercury," he said gloomily. "<i>We are rushing +to the sun!</i>"</p> + +<p>I cannot depict our emotion at this awful announcement which changed our +hopes into despair. Probably it affected each of us in a different +manner. I cannot recollect my own feelings well enough to analyse them, +and suppose I must have been astounded for a time. A vision of the car, +plunging through an atmosphere of flame, into the fiery entrails of the +sun, flashed across my excited brain, and then I seemed to lose the +power of thought.</p> + +<p>"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," said I at last, in frivolous +reaction.</p> + +<p>"His will be done!" murmured Miss Carmichael, instinctively drawing +closer to her father, who seemed to realise our jeopardy.</p> + +<p>"We must look the matter in the face," said Gazen, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>"What a death!" I exclaimed, "to sit and watch the vast glowing furnace +that is to swallow us up come nearer and nearer, second after second, +minute after minute, hour after hour."</p> + +<p>"The nearer we approach the sun the faster we shall go," said Gazen. +"For one thing, we shall be dead long before we reach him. The heat will +stifle us. It will be all over in a few hours."</p> + +<p>What a death! To see, to feel ourselves roasting as in an oven. It was +too horrible.</p> + +<p>"Are you certain there is no mistake?" I asked at length.</p> + +<p>"Quite," replied Gazen. "Come and see for yourself."</p> + +<p>We had all but gained the door when Miss Carmichael followed us.</p> + +<p>"Professor," she said, with a tremor in her voice, and a look of +supplication in her eyes, "you will come back soon—you will not leave +us long."</p> + +<p>"No, my darling—I beg your pardon," answered Gazen, obeying the impulse +of his heart. "God knows I would give my life to save you if I could."</p> + +<p>In another instant he had locked her in his arms.</p> + +<p>I left them together, and ascended to the observatory, where Gazen soon +afterwards rejoined me.</p> + +<p>"I'm the happiest man alive," said he, with a beaming countenance. +"Congratulate me. I'm betrothed to Miss Carmichael."</p> + +<p>I took his proffered hand, scarcely knowing whether to laugh or cry.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that I have found my life in losing it," he continued +with a grim smile. "Saturn! what a courtship is ours—what an +engagement—what a bridal bed! But there, old fellow, I'm afraid I'm +happier than you—alone in spirit, and separated from her you love. +Perhaps I was wrong to carry you away from Venus—it has not turned out +well—but I acted for the best. Forgive me!"</p> + +<p>I wrung his hand in silence.</p> + +<p>"Now let us take a look through the telescope," he went on, wiping his +eyes, and adjusting the instrument. "You will see how soon it gets out +of focus. We are flying from Mercury, my friend, faster and faster."</p> + +<p>It was true.</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand how that should be," said I. "The firing ought +to have had a contrary effect."</p> + +<p>"The rifles are not to blame," answered Gazen. "If we had used them +earlier we might have saved ourselves. But all the time that we were +discussing ways and means, and making our preparations to shoot, we +were gradually drifting towards the sun without knowing it. We +overlooked the fact that the orbit of Mercury is very far from circular, +and that he is now moving further away from the sun every instant. As a +consequence his attractive power over the car is growing weaker every +moment. The car had reached the 'dead-point' where the attractive +powers of the sun and planet over it just balanced each other; but as +that of the planet grew feebler the balance turned, and the car was +drawn with ever accelerating velocity towards the sun."</p> + +<p>"Like enough."</p> + +<p>"I can satisfy you of it by pointing the telescope at a sun-spot," said +Gazen, bringing the instrument to bear upon the sun. "You will then see +how fast we are running to perdition. I say—what would our friends in +London think if they could see us now? Wouldn't old Possil snigger! +Well, I shall get the better of him at last. I shall solve the great +mystery of the 'sun-spots' and the 'willow leaves.' Only he will never +know it. That's a bitter drop in the cup!"</p> + +<p>So saying, he applied his eye to the telescope, his ruling passion +strong in death. For myself, as often as I had admired the glorious +luminary, I could not think of it now without a shudder, and fell a +prey to my own melancholy ruminations.</p> + +<p>So this was the end! After all our care and forethought, after all our +struggles, after all our success, to perish miserably like moths in a +candle, to plunge headlong into that immense conflagration as a vessel +dives into the ocean, and is never heard of more! Not a vestige of us, +not even a charred bone to tell the tale. Alumion—our friends at +home—when they admired the sun would they ever fancy that it was our +grave—ever dream that our ashes were whirling in its flames. The cry of +Othello, in his despair, which I had learned at school, came back to my +mind—"Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in +steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!"</p> + +<p>Regrets, remorse, and bitter reflections overwhelmed me. Why had we not +stayed in Venus? Why had we come to Mercury? Why had we endeavoured to +do so much? What folly had drawn me into this mad venture at all? No, I +could not say that. I could not call it folly which had brought me to +Alumion. I had no regret, but on the contrary an unspeakable joy and +gratitude on that score. But why had we attempted to approach so near +the sun, daring the heat, which had jammed our engines, and disabled +our best intellect; risking the powerful attraction that was hurrying us +to our doom?</p> + +<p>Suddenly a peculiar thrill shook the car. With a bounding heart I +started to my feet and dashed into the engine-room. It was true then. +Yes, it was true. <i>The engines were at work, and we were saved!</i></p> + + + +<br /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII'></a><h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + +<h4>HOME AGAIN.</h4> +<br /> + +<p>We owed our salvation to Mr. Carmichael. The firing of our magazine +rifles, followed by the news of our perilous situation, had roused him +from his lethargy. Although still unable to speak, he had contrived by +means of his eyes to make his daughter understand that he wished another +dose of oxygen. When she was about to administer it, he called her +attention to the fact that in expanding as it issued from the cylinder, +the gas became very cold. She caught his meaning instantly, and on +applying the gas to the sensitive parts of the machinery had succeeded +in cooling and releasing them.</p> + +<p>It seems that Carmichael, in order to save time, had been working the +engines at an unusually high speed, which, together with the heat of the +sun, had caused them to jam. Their enforced rest had of itself allowed +them to cool somewhat, and by reducing the speed until we reached a +cooler region, they did not stick again.</p> + +<p>Carmichael recovered from his illness, and the journey to the earth was +accomplished without accident. We landed safely on some undiscovered +islands in the Arctic Circle, and after a flying visit to the North Pole +in the vicinity, we bore away for England, keeping as high over the sea +as possible to escape notice. Going southward we passed through all +sorts of weather, thick snow, hurricanes of wind and rain, dry or wet +fogs, and so forth; but it made no difference to us. Crossing +Spitzbergen, the car was frosted over with ice needles, which, however, +were soon thawed by a warmer current of air. Between Iceland and the +coast of Norway we glided through a magnificent aurora borealis that +covered the whole sky with a luminous curtain, and made us fancy we had +floated unawares into the fabulous Niffleheim of the old Scandinavian +gods. Near the Faroe Islands we dashed into a violent thunderstorm, and +were almost deafened by the terrific explosions, or blinded by the +flashes of lightning. Otherwise we could enjoy both of these electrical +displays without fear, as the metallic shell of the car was a good +protective screen. Certainly our flying machine would be an excellent +means of making observations in meteorology, from the sampling of +cirrus cloud to the chasing of a tornado.</p> + +<p>The first sign of man we saw was a ship rolling in a storm off the +Hebrides; but apparently she was not in distress, else we should have +gone to her succour. How easy with such a car to rescue lives and +property from sinking ships, and even patrol the seas in search of them!</p> + +<p>The sun was setting in purple and gold as we approached the English +coast, and although at our elevation we were still in sunshine, the +twilight had begun to gather over the distant land. The first sound we +heard was the moaning of the tide along the shore, and the mournful +sighing of the wind among the trees. Hills, fields, and woods lay +beneath us like a garden in miniature. The lamps and fires of lonely +villages and farmhouses twinkled like glow-worms in the dusk. A railway +train, with its white puff of smoke and lighted carriages, seemed to be +crawling like a fiery caterpillar along the ground; but in a few moments +we had left it far behind. As it grew darker and darker we descended +nearer to the surface. A herd of sheep stood huddled on the grass, and +stared at us; a flock of geese ran cackling into a farmyard; the +watch-dog barked and tugged furiously at his chain; a little boy +screamed with fright.</p> + +<p>"That sounds homely," said the professor to Miss Carmichael and myself, +who were standing with him on the gallery outside the car. "It's the +sweetest music I've heard for many a day. Certainly Venus was a charming +place, but I for one am jolly glad to get home again."</p> + +<p>Yes, I must confess that I too felt a deep and tranquil pleasure in +returning to the familiar scenes and the beloved soil of my infancy.</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to care much for Venus," said Miss Carmichael to Gazen. +"Probably if you had been born there you would have liked it better."</p> + +<p>"That may be. If you would like a place, it is well to be born in it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps if you are a good boy you will go to Venus when you die."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it won't suit my mental constitution. They don't care for +science there, and I don't care for anything else. Mars would fit me +better, I imagine."</p> + +<p>"Venus is my favourite," said Miss Carmichael.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, it's good enough for me," responded Gazen.</p> + +<p>Their talk set me thinking of Alumion, and my strange fancy that I had +known her in another world. Suddenly it occurred to me that in many of +her ways and looks she bore a singular resemblance to my first love, who +had died in childhood. That was nearly seventeen years ago. +Seventeen—it was just the age of Alumion. Could it be possible that she +and Alumion were one and the same soul?</p> + +<p>"I should like to go back to Venus," said Miss Carmichael. "We can go +there now at any time."</p> + +<p>"Of course we can," replied Gazen; "and to Mars as well. Your father's +invention opens up a bewildering prospect of complications in the +universe. So long as each planet was isolated, and left to manage its +own affairs, the politics of the solar system were comparatively simple; +but what will they be when one globe interferes with another? Think of a +German fleet of ether-ships on the prowl for a cosmical empire, +bombarding Womla, and turning it into a Prussian fortress, or an +emporium for cheap goods."</p> + +<p>"Father was talking of that very matter the other night," said Miss +Carmichael, "and he declared that rather than see any harm come to Womla +he would keep his invention a secret—at all events for a thousand years +longer."</p> + +<p>We had glided rapidly across the Black Country, with its furnaces and +forges blazing in the darkness, and now the dull red glow of the +metropolis was visible on the horizon. Half-an-hour later we descended +in the garden of Carmichael's cottage, and found everything as snug as +when we had left it.</p> + +<p>Leaving my fellow-travellers there, I took the train for London, and was +driven to my club, where I intended to sleep. It was a raw wet evening, +and in spite of a certain joy at being home again, I could not help +feeling that my heart was no longer here, but in another planet. After +the sublime deserts of space, and the delightful paradise of Womla, the +busy streets, the blinding glare of the lamps, the splashing vehicles, +the blatant newspaper men, the swarms of people crossing each other's +paths, and occasionally kicking each other's heels, everyone intent on +his own affairs of business or pleasure, were disenchanting, to say the +least. I seemed to have awakened from a beautiful dream, and fallen into +a dismal nightmare.</p> + +<p>In the smoking-room of the club the first person I saw was my friend the +Viscount, who was sitting just where I had left him on the night we +started for Venus, with his glass of toddy before him, and a cigar +between his lips.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" he exclaimed on seeing me. "Haven't seen you for some +time—must be nearly two months. Been abroad? You look brown."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, suppose we finish our game of chess."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure."</p> + +<p>"You remember the wager—a thousand to a hundred sovereigns that I win."</p> + +<p>He was the better player, and although I had a slight advantage in the +game as it stood, I was by no means certain of winning, especially as I +was tired and sleepy; but ever since my sojourn in Venus, my intellect +had been unusually clear and active. I played as I had never played +before, and in three moves had won the wager.</p> + +<p>"That will pay my travelling expenses," said I, pocketing his cheque.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I ought perhaps to mention that Professor Gazen carried out his +intention of reading a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society on his +alleged discovery of a diurnal nutation or "wobbling" of the planet +Venus; but I regret to say that owing to preconceived opinions and +personal prejudices, his ingenious theory met with a reception far below +its merits. By the terms of our agreement he was forbidden to divulge +the secret of our expedition until my own account appeared, but some +telescopic observations he had made since coming home had provided him +with independent proofs.</p> + +<p>"Do you think Professor Possil will be present?" said I to him, as we +dined together before we went to the meeting.</p> + +<p>"Sure to be," replied Gazen. "He never misses an opportunity of +attacking me. 'Tis the nature of the animal. But I flatter myself I +shall get the laugh on him this time."</p> + +<p>The hall was full. The hearty welcome of the Fellows showed their high +appreciation of Professor Gazen, and made me feel quite proud of his +acquaintance. They listened to his discourse on the movements of Venus, +and his new hypothesis, with all the solemnity of a Roman senate +deliberating on the destiny of a nation. When he had finished in a salvo +of applause, the president, a man of grave and dignified demeanour, as +became his office, complimented the author on his communication, which +from the startling novelty of the subject would, he believed, give rise +to an interesting discussion, and after calling on Professor Possil, he +resumed his chair. That illustrious man, whose insignificant appearance +belied his fame, responded to the invitation with a show of reluctance, +from a conspicuous place in the front row of the audience, and +immediately assailed the new hypothesis in his most uncompromising +fashion.</p> + +<p>"Never in his experience of the Society," he said, "and never perhaps in +the history of astronomy, had an alleged discovery of such magnitude and +consequence been promulgated on the strength of such flimsy evidence;" +and after traversing in detail all the arguments of his opponent, he +declared it his firm conviction that the effects which Professor Gazen +had thought fit to advance as a "discovery," were neither more nor less +than an optical illusion, not to say a mental hallucination.</p> + +<p>Judging from the applause which greeted his remarks, the majority of his +hearers were evidently of the same opinion.</p> + +<p>A grim smile settled on my companion's face, and I could see that he +maintained his temper with increasing difficulty, as one speaker after +another delivered his mind in much the same sarcastic style of +criticism.</p> + +<p>At length his turn came to make a reply.</p> + +<p>"Mr. President and gentlemen," said he with an air of smiling +confidence, "at this late hour I do not propose to occupy the meeting +with a refutation of all the various comments of the distinguished +Fellows who have spoken; but as my learned friend, Professor Possil, has +thought fit to charge me with bringing my discovery before the Society +on insufficient grounds, I think it right to say that I possess much +more conclusive evidence, which for the present, circumstances have +prevented me from laying before you."</p> + +<p>"Mr. President," exclaimed the celebrated Possil, starting to his feet, +"I should like to ask whether it is altogether in good faith for a +Fellow of this Society to bring forward what he calls a discovery, and +keep back the most important part of the proof. Might I enquire of the +author of the paper what is the nature of this suppressed evidence?"</p> + +<p>"Simply that I have been there," answered Gazen, forgetting his promise +to me in the excitement of the combat.</p> + +<p>"Where?" demanded the astonished Possil.</p> + +<p>"Venus."</p> + +<p>There was a loud burst of sceptical laughter.</p> + +<p>"I think, sir," said Professor Possil to the Chair, with exasperating +coolness, "I think, sir, that after the astounding revelation of the +learned professor, we shall be perfectly justified in concluding on +sufficient evidence that the professor's head, and not the planet Venus, +has been 'wobbling' of late."</p> + +<p>"What I say is true," cried Gazen, nettled at this rude insinuation.</p> + +<p>Cries of "Order, order," "withdraw," "apologise," resounded on every +side.</p> + +<p>"I cannot apologise for the truth," retorted Gazen hotly.</p> + +<p>"Mr. President," continued the pugnacious and imperturbable Fossil, "I +venture to submit that the preposterous assertions we have just heard +are better adapted to a meeting of the Fellows of Colney Hatch than of +this Society, and I beg to move that our unfortunate friend be called +upon to leave the meeting in charge of some responsible person, who will +conduct him safely to his home, and deliver him into the custody of his +friends."</p> + +<p>"Come on! They're a pack of fools!" cried Gazen to me hoarsely, as, +followed by the jeers of his companions, he arose and left the room.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I have only to add that Professor Gazen and Miss Carmichael are about +to be married. For myself, as soon as the ceremony is over I shall +return to Venus and Alumion.</p> + +<br /> + +<h4>THE END.</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Trip to Venus, by John Munro + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + +***** This file should be named 13716-h.htm or 13716-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/7/1/13716/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Trip to Venus + +Author: John Munro + +Release Date: October 11, 2004 [EBook #13716] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + + + + + +A TRIP TO VENUS + + +A NOVEL BY JOHN MUNRO + +Author of the "The Wire and the Wave," +"The Story of Electricity," etc., etc. + + +Published in 1897 by Jarrold & Sons, London + + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER I. A MESSAGE FROM MARS + +CHAPTER II. HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + +CHAPTER III. A NEW FORCE + +CHAPTER IV. THE ELECTRIC ORRERY + +CHAPTER V. LEAVING THE EARTH + +CHAPTER VI. IN SPACE + +CHAPTER VII. ARRIVING IN VENUS + +CHAPTER VIII. THE CRATER LAND + +CHAPTER IX. THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL + +CHAPTER X. ALUMION + +CHAPTER XI. THE FLYING APE + +CHAPTER XII. SUNWARD HO! + +CHAPTER XIII. HOME AGAIN + + + + + + "The heaven that rolls around cries aloud to you while it displays + its eternal harmony, and yet your eyes are fixed upon the earth + alone." + + DANTE. + + + "This truth within thy mind rehearse, + That in a boundless universe + Is boundless better, boundless worse. + + "Think you this mould of hopes and fears + Could find no statelier than his peers + In yonder hundred million spheres?" + + TENNYSON. + + + + +A TRIP TO VENUS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MESSAGE FROM MARS. + + +While I was glancing at the _Times_ newspaper in a morning train for +London my eyes fell on the following item:-- + + A STRANGE LIGHT ON MARS.--On Monday afternoon, Dr. Krueger, who is + in charge of the central bureau at Kiel, telegraphed to his + correspondents:-- + + "_Projection lumineuse dans region australe du terminateur de Mars + observee par Javelle 28 courant, 16 heures.--Perrotin._" + +In plain English, at 4 a.m., a ray of light had been observed on the +disc of the planet Mars in or near the "terminator"; that is to say, the +zone of twilight separating day from night. The news was doubly +interesting to me, because a singular dream of "Sunrise in the Moon" had +quickened my imagination as to the wonders of the universe beyond our +little globe, and because of a never-to-be-forgotten experience of mine +with an aged astronomer several years ago. + +This extraordinary man, living the life of a recluse in his own +observatory, which was situated in a lonely part of the country, had, or +at any rate, believed that he had, opened up a communication with the +inhabitants of Mars, by means of powerful electric lights, flashing in +the manner of a signal-lantern or heliograph. I had set him down as a +monomaniac; but who knows? perhaps he was not so crazy after all. + +When evening came I turned to the books, and gathered a great deal about +the fiery planet, including the fact that a stout man, a Daniel Lambert, +could jump his own height there with the greatest ease. Very likely; but +I was seeking information on the strange light, and as I could not find +any I resolved to walk over and consult my old friend, Professor Gazen, +the well-known astronomer, who had made his mark by a series of splendid +researches with the spectroscope into the constitution of the sun and +other celestial bodies. + +It was a fine clear night. The sky was cloudless and of a deep dark +blue, which revealed the highest heavens and the silvery lustre of the +Milky Way. The great belt of Orion shone conspicuously in the east, and +Sirius blazed a living gem more to the south. I looked for Mars, and +soon found him farther to the north, a large red star, amongst the white +of the encircling constellations. + +Professor Gazen was quite alone in his observatory when I arrived, and +busily engaged in writing or computing at his desk. + +"I hope I'm not disturbing you," said I, as we shook hands; "I know that +you astronomers must work when the fine night cometh." + +"Don't mention it," he replied cordially; "I'm observing one of the +nebulas just now, but it won't be in sight for a long time yet." + +"What about this mysterious light on Mars. Have you seen anything of +it?" + +Gazen laughed. + +"I have not," said he, "though I did look the other night." + +"You believe that something of the kind has been seen?" + +"Oh, certainly. The Nice Observatory, of which Monsieur Perrotin is +director, has one of the finest telescopes in existence, and Monsieur +Javelle is well-known for his careful work." + +"How do you account for it?" + +"The light is not outside the disc," responded Gazen, "else I should +ascribe it to a small comet. It may be due to an aurora in Mars as a +writer in _Nature_ has suggested, or to a range of snowy Alps, or even +to a bright cloud, reflecting the sunrise. Possibly the Martians have +seen the forest fires in America, and started a rival illumination." + +"What strikes you as the likeliest of these notions?" + +"Mountain peaks catching the sunshine." + +"Might it not be the glare of a city, or a powerful search-light--in +short, a signal?" + +"Oh dear, no," exclaimed the astronomer, smiling incredulously. "The +idea of signalling has got into people's heads through the outcry raised +about it some time ago, when Mars was in 'opposition' and near the +earth. I suppose you are thinking of the plan for raising and lowering +the lights of London to attract the notice of the Martians?" + +"No; I believe I told you of the singular experience I had some five or +six years ago with an old astronomer, who thought he had established an +optical telegraph to Mars?" + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. Ah, that poor old chap was insane. Like the +astronomer in _Rasselas_, he had brooded so long in solitude over his +visionary idea that he had come to imagine it a reality." + +"Might there not be some truth in his notion? Perhaps he was only a +little before his time." + +Gazen shook his head. + +"You see," he replied, "Mars is a much older planet than ours. In winter +the Arctic snows extend to within forty degrees of the equator, and the +climate must be very cold. If human beings ever existed on it they must +have died out long ago, or sunk to the condition of the Eskimo." + +"May not the climate be softened by conditions of land and sea unknown +to us? May not the science and civilisation of the Martians enable them +to cope with the low temperature?" + +"The atmosphere of Mars is as rare as ours at a height of six miles, and +a warm-blooded creature like man would expire in it." + +"Like man, yes," I answered; "but man was made for this world. We are +too apt to measure things by our own experience. Why should we limit the +potentiality of life by what we know of this planet?" + +"In the next place," went on Gazen, ignoring my remark, "the old +astronomer's plan of signalling by strong lights was quite +impracticable. No artificial light is capable of reaching to Mars. Think +of the immense distance and the two atmospheres to penetrate! The man +was mad, as mad as a March hare! though why a March hare is mad I'm sure +I don't know." + +"I read the other day of an electric light in America which can be seen +150 miles through the lower atmosphere. Such a light, if properly +directed, might be visible on Mars; and, for aught we know, the Martians +may have discovered a still stronger beam." + +"And if they have, the odds against their signalling just when we are +alive to the possibility of it are simply tremendous." + +"I see nothing incredible in the coincidence. Two heads often conceive +the same idea about the same time, and why not two planets, if the hour +be ripe? Surely there is one and the same inspiring Soul in all the +universe. Besides, they may have been signalling for centuries, off and +on, without our knowing it." + +"Then, again," said Gazen, with a pawky twinkle in his eye, "our +electric light may have woke them up." + +"Perhaps they are signalling now," said I, "while we are wasting +precious time. I wish you would look." + +"Yes, if you like; but I don't think you'll see any 'luminous +projections,' human or otherwise." + +"I shall see the face of Mars, anyhow, and that will be a rare +experience. It seems to me that a view of the heavenly bodies through a +fine telescope, as well as a tour round the world, should form a part +of a liberal education. How many run to and fro upon the earth, hunting +for sights at great trouble and expense, but how few even think of that +sublimer scenery of the sky which can be seen without stirring far from +home! A peep at some distant orb has power to raise and purify our +thoughts like a strain of sacred music, or a noble picture, or a passage +from the grander poets. It always does one good." + +Professor Gazen silently turned the great refracting telescope in the +direction of Mars, and peered attentively through its mighty tube for +several minutes. + +"Is there any light?" I inquired. + +"None," he replied, shaking his head. "Look for yourself." + +I took his place at the eye-piece, and was almost startled to find the +little coppery star, which I had seen half-an-hour before, apparently +quite near, and transformed into a large globe. It resembled a gibbous +moon, for a considerable part of its disc was illuminated by the sun. + +A dazzling spot marked one of its poles, and the rest of its visible +surface was mottled with ruddy and greenish tints which faded into white +at the rim. Fascinated by the spectacle of that living world, seen at a +glance, and pursuing its appointed course through the illimitable ether, +I forgot my quest, and a religious awe came over me akin to that felt +under the dome of a vast cathedral. + +"Well, what do you make of it?" + +The voice recalled me to myself, and I began to scrutinise the dim and +shadowy border of the terminator for the feeblest ray of light, but all +in vain. + +"I can't see any 'luminous projection'; but what a magnificent object in +the telescope!" + +"It is indeed," rejoined the professor, "and though we have not many +opportunities of seeing it, we know it better than the other planets, +and almost as well as the moon. Its features have been carefully mapped +like those of the moon, and christened after celebrated astronomers." + +"Yourself included, I hope." + +"No, sir; I have not that honour. It is true that a man I know, an +enthusiastic amateur in astronomy, dubbed a lot of holes and corners in +the moon after his private friends and acquaintances, myself amongst +them: 'Snook's Crater,' 'Smith's Bottom,' 'Tiddler's Cove,' and so on; +but I regret to say the authorities declined to sanction his +nomenclature." + +"I presume that bright spot on the Southern limb is one of the polar +ice-caps," said I, still keeping my eye on the planet. + +"Yes," replied the professor, "and they are seen to wax and wane in +winter and summer. The reddish-yellow tracts are doubtless continents of +an ochrey soil; and not, as some think, of a ruddy vegetation. The +greenish-grey patches are probably seas and lakes. The land and water +are better mixed on Mars than on the earth--a fact which tends to +equalise the climate. There is a belt of continents round the equator: +'Copernicus,' 'Galileo,' 'Dawes,' and others, having long winding lakes +and inlets. These are separated by narrow seas from other islands on the +north or south, such as: 'Haze Land, 'Storm Land,' and so forth, which +occupy what we should call the temperate zones, beneath the poles; but I +suspect they are frigid enough. If you look closely you will see some +narrow streaks crossing the continents like fractures. These are the +famous 'Canals' of Schiaparelli, who discovered (and I wish I had his +eyes) that many of them were 'doubled,' that is, had another canal +alongside. Some of these are nearly 2,000 miles long, by fifty miles +broad, and 300 miles apart." + +"That beats the Suez Canal." + +"I am afraid they are not artificial. The doubling is chiefly observed +at the vernal equinox, our month of May, and is perhaps due to spring +floods, or vegetation in valleys of the like trend, as we find in +Siberia. The massing of clouds or mists will account for the peculiar +whiteness at the edge of the limb, and an occasional veiling of the +landscape." + +While he spoke, my attention was suddenly arrested by a vivid point of +light which appeared on the dark side of the terminator, and south of +the equator. + +"Hallo!" I exclaimed, involuntarily. "There's a light!" + +"Really!" responded Gazen, in a tone of surprise, not unmingled with +doubt. "Are you sure?" + +"Quite. There is a distinct light on one of the continents." + +"Let me see it, will you?" he rejoined, hastily; and I yielded up my +place to him. + +"Why, so there is," he declared, after a pause. "I suspect it has been +hidden under a cloud till now." + +We turned and looked at each other in silence. + +"It can't be the light Javelle saw," ejaculated Gazen at length. "That +was on Hellas Land." + +"Should the Martians be signalling they would probably use a system of +lights. I daresay they possess an electric telegraph to work it." + +The professor put his eye to the glass again, and I awaited the result +of his observation with eager interest. + +"It's as steady as possible," said he. + +"The steadiness puzzles me," I replied. "If it would only flash I should +call it a signal." + +"Not necessarily to us," said Gazen, with mock gravity. "You see, it +might be a lighthouse flashing on the Kaiser Sea, or a night message in +the autumn manoeuvres of the Martians, who are, no doubt, very warlike; +or even the advertisement of a new soap." + +"Seriously, what do you think of it?" I asked. + +"I confess it's a mystery to me," he answered, pondering deeply; and +then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added: "I wonder if it's any +good trying the spectroscope on it?" + +So saying, he attached to the telescope a magnificent spectroscope, +which he employed in his researches on the nebulae, and renewed his +observation. + +"Well, that's the most remarkable thing in all my professional +experience," he exclaimed, resigning his place at the instrument to me. + +"What is?" I demanded, looking into the spectroscope, where I could +distinguish several faint streaks of coloured light on a darker +background. + +"You know that we can tell the nature of a substance that is burning by +splitting up the light which comes from it in the prism of a +spectroscope. Well, these bright lines of different colours are the +spectrum of a luminous gas." + +"Indeed! Have you any idea as to the origin of the blaze?" + +"It may be electrical--for instance, an aurora. It may be a volcanic +eruption, or a lake of fire such as the crater of Kilauea. Really, I +can't say. Let me see if I can identify the bright lines of the +spectrum." + +I yielded the spectroscope to him, and scarcely had he looked into it +ere he cried out-- + +"By all that's wonderful, the spectrum has changed. Eureka! It's +thallium now. I should know that splendid green line amongst a +thousand." + +"Thallium!" I exclaimed, astonished in my turn. + +"Yes," responded Gazen, hurriedly. "Make a note of the observation, and +also of the time. You will find a book for the purpose lying on the +desk." + +I did as directed, and awaited further orders. The silence was so great +that I could plainly hear the ticking of my watch laid on the desk +before me. At the end of several minutes the professor cried-- + +"It has changed again: make another note." + +"What is it now?" + +"Sodium. The yellow bands are unmistakable." + +A deep stillness reigned as before. + +"There she goes again," exclaimed the professor, much excited. "Now I +can see a couple of blue lines. What can that be? I believe it's +indium." + +Another long pause ensued. + +"Now they are gone," ejaculated Gazen once more. "A red and a yellow +line have taken their place. That should be lithium. Hey, presto!--and +all was dark." + +"What's the matter?" + +"It's all over." With these words he removed the spectroscope from the +telescope, and gazed anxiously at the planet "The light is gone," he +continued, after a minute. "Perhaps another cloud is passing over it. +Well, we must wait. In the meantime let us consider the situation. It +seems to me that we have every reason to be satisfied with our night's +work. What do you think?" + +There was a glow of triumph on his countenance as he came and stood +before me. + +"I believe it's a signal," said I, with an air of conviction. + +"But how?" + +"Why should it change so regularly? I've timed each spectrum, and found +it to last about five minutes before another took its place." + +The professor remained thoughtful and silent. + +"Is it not by the light which comes from them that we have gained all +our knowledge of the constitution of the heavenly bodies?" I continued. +"A ray from the remotest star brings in its heart a secret message to +him who can read it. Now, the Martians would naturally resort to the +same medium of communication as the most obvious, simple, and +practicable. By producing a powerful light they might hope to attract +our attention, and by imbuing it with characteristic spectra, easily +recognised and changed at intervals, they would distinguish the light +from every other, and show us that it must have had an intelligent +origin." + +"What then?" + +"We should know that the Martians had a civilisation at least as high as +our own. To my mind, that would be a great discovery--the greatest since +the world began." + +"But of little use to either party." + +"As for that, a good many of our discoveries, especially in astronomy, +are not of much use. Suppose you find out the chemical composition of +the nebulae you are studying, will that lower the price of bread? No; but +it will interest and enlighten us. If the Martians can tell us what Mars +is made of, and we can return the compliment as regards the earth, that +will be a service." + +"But the correspondence must then cease, as the editors say." + +"I'm not so sure of that." + +"My dear fellow! How on earth are we to understand what the Martians +say, and how on Mars are they to understand what we say? We have no +common code." + +"True; but the chemical bodies have certain well-defined properties, +have they not?" + +"Yes. Each has a peculiarity marking it from all the rest. For example, +two or more may resemble each other in colour or hardness, but not in +weight." + +"Precisely. Now, by comparing their spectra can we not be led to +distinguish a particular quality, and grasp the idea of it? In short, +can the Martians not impress that idea on us by their +spectro-telegraph?" + +"I see what you mean," said Professor Gazen; "and, now I think of it, +all the spectra we have seen belong to the group called 'metals of the +alkalies and alkaline earths,' which, of course, have distinctive +properties." + +"At first, I should think the Martians would only try to attract our +notice by striking spectra." + +"Lithium is the lightest metal known to us." + +"Well, we might get the idea of 'lightness' from that." + +"Sodium," continued the professor, "sodium is a very soft metal, with so +strong an affinity for oxygen that it burns in water. Manganese, which +belongs to the 'iron group,' is hard enough to scratch glass; and, like +iron, is decidedly magnetic. Copper is red--" + +"The signals for colour we might get from the spectra direct." + +"Mercury or quicksilver is fluid at ordinary temperatures, and that +might lead us to the idea of movement--animation--life itself." + +"Having got certain fundamental ideas," I went on, "by combining these +we might arrive at other distinct conceptions. We might build up an +ideographic or glyphic language of signs--the signs being spectra. The +numerals might be telegraphed by simple occultations of the light. Then +from spectra we might pass by an easy step to equivalent signals of +long and short flashes in various combinations, also made by occulting +the light. With such a code, our correspondence might go on at great +length, and present no difficulty; but, of course, we must be able to +reply." + +"If the Martians are as clever as you are pleased to imagine, we ought +to learn a good deal from them." + +"I hope we may, and I'm sure the world will be all the better for a +little superior enlightenment on some points." + +"Well, we must follow the matter up, at all events," said the professor, +taking another peep through the telescope. "For the present the Martian +philosophers appear to have shut up shop; and, as my nebula has now +risen, I should like to do a little work on it before daybreak. Look +here, if it's a fine night, can you join me to-morrow? We shall then +continue our observations; but, in the meanwhile, you had better say +nothing about them." + +On my way home I looked for the ruddy planet as I had done in the +earlier part of the night, but with very different feelings in my heart. +The ice of distance and isolation separating me from it seemed to have +broken down since then, and instead of a cold and alien star, I saw a +friendly and familiar world--a companion to our own in the eternal +solitude of the universe. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW CAN WE GET TO THE OTHER PLANETS? + + +The next evening promised well, and I kept my appointment, but +unfortunately a slight haze gathered in the sky and prevented us from +making further observations. While hoping in vain for it to clear away, +Professor Gazen and I talked over the possibility of journeying to other +worlds. The gist of our argument was afterwards published in a +conversation, entitled "Can we reach the other planets?" which appeared +in _The Day after To-morrow_. It ran as follows: + +_I_. (_the writer_). "Do you think we shall ever be able to leave the +earth and travel through space to Mars or Venus, and the other members +of the Solar System?" + +_G_. (_Checking an impulse to smile and shaking his head_), "Oh, no! +Never." + +_I_. "Yet science is working miracles, or what would have been +accounted miracles in ancient times." + +_G_. "No doubt, and hence people are apt to suppose that science can do +everything; but after all Nature has set bounds to her achievements." + +_I_. "Still, we don't know what we can and what we cannot do until we +try." + +_G_. "Not always; but in this case I think we know. The celestial bodies +are evidently isolated in space, and the tenants of one cannot pass to +another. We are confined to our own planet." + +_I_. "A similar objection might have been urged against the plan of +Columbus." + +_G_. "That was different. Columbus only sailed through unknown seas to a +distant continent. We are free to explore every nook and cranny of the +earth, but how shall we cross the immense void which parts us from +another world, except on the wings of the imagination?" + +_I_. "Great discoveries and inventions are born of dreams. There are +minds which can foresee what lies before us, and the march of science +brings it within our reach. All or nearly all our great scientific +victories have been foretold, and they have generally been achieved by +more than one person when the time came. The telescope was a dream for +ages, so was the telephone, steam and electric locomotion, aerial +navigation. Why should we scout the dream of visiting other worlds, +which is at least as old as Lucian? Ere long, and perhaps before the +century is out, we shall be flying through the air to the various +countries of the globe. In succeeding centuries what is to hinder us +from travelling through space to different planets?" + +_G_. "Quite impossible. Consider the tremendous distance--the lifeless +vacuum--that separates us even from the moon. Two hundred and forty +thousand miles of empty space." + +_I_. "Some ten times round the world. Well, is that tremendous vacuum +absolutely impassable?" + +_G_. "To any but Jules Verne and his hero, the illustrious Barbicane, +president of the Gun Club."[1] + + [Footnote 1: _The Voyage a la Lune_, by Jules Verne.] + +_I_. "Jules Verne has an original mind, and his ideas, though +extravagant, are not without value. Some of them have been realised, and +it may be worth while to examine his notion of firing a shot from the +earth to the moon. The projectile, if I remember, was an aluminium shell +in the shape of a conical bullet, and contained three men, a dog or two, +and several fowls, together with provisions and instruments. It was air +tight, warmed and illuminated with coal gas, and the oxygen for +breathing was got from chlorate of potash, while the carbonic acid +produced by the lungs and gas-burners was absorbed with caustic potash +to keep the air pure. This bullet-car was fired from a colossal +cast-iron gun founded in the sand. It was aimed at a point in the sky, +the zenith, in fact, where it would strike the moon four days later, +that is, after it had crossed the intervening space. The charge of +gun-cotton was calculated to give the projectile a velocity sufficient +to carry it past the 'dead-point,' where the gravity of the earth upon +it was just balanced by that of the moon, and enable it to fall towards +the moon for the rest of the way. The sudden shock of the discharge on +the car and its occupants was broken by means of spring buffers and +water pressure." + +_G_. "The last arrangement was altogether inadequate." + +_I_. "It was certainly a defect in the scheme." + +_G_. "Besides, the initial velocity of the bullet to carry it beyond the +'dead-point,' was, I think, 12,000 yards a second, or something like +seven miles a second." + +_I_. "His estimate was too high. An initial velocity of 9,000 yards, or +five miles a second, would carry a projectile beyond the sensible +attraction of the earth towards the moon, the planets, or anywhere; in +short, to an infinite distance. Indeed, a slightly lower velocity would +suffice in the case of the moon, owing to her attraction." + +_G_. "But how are we to give the bullet that velocity? I believe the +highest velocity obtained from a single discharge of cordite, one of our +best explosives, was rather less than 4,000 feet, or only about +three-quarters of a mile per second. With such a velocity, the +projectile would simply rise to a great height and then fall back to the +ground." + +_I_. "Both of these drawbacks can be overcome. We are not limited to a +single discharge. Dr. S. Tolver Preston, the well-known writer on +molecular science, has pointed out that a very high velocity can be got +by the use of a compound gun, or, in other words, a gun which fires +another gun as a projectile.[2] Imagine a first gun of enormous +dimensions loaded with a smaller gun, which in turn is loaded with the +bullet. The discharge of the first gun shoots the second gun into the +air, with a certain velocity. If, now, the second gun, at the instant it +leaves the muzzle of the first, is fired automatically, say by +utilising the first discharge to press a spring which can react on a +hammer or needle, the bullet will acquire a velocity due to both +discharges, and equivalent to the velocity of the second gun at the time +it was fired plus the velocity produced by the explosion of its own +charge. In this way, by employing a series of guns, fired from each +other in succession, we can graduate the starting shock, and give the +bullet a final velocity sufficient to raise it against gravity, and the +resistance of the atmosphere, which grows less as it advances, and send +it away to the moon or some other distant orb." + + [Footnote 2: _Engineering_, January 13th, 1893.] + +_G_. "Your spit-fire mode of progression is well enough in theory, but +it strikes me as just a little complicated and risky. I, for one, +shouldn't care to emulate Elijah and shoot up to Heaven in that style." + +_I_. "If it be all right in theory, it will be all right in practice. +However, instead of explosives we might employ compressed air to get the +required velocity. In the air-gun or cannon, as you probably know, a +quantity of air, compressed within a chamber of the breech, is allowed +suddenly to expand behind the bullet and eject it from the barrel. Now, +one might manage with a simple gun of this sort, provided it had a very +long barrel, and a series of air chambers at intervals from the breech +to the muzzle. Each of these chambers, beginning at the breech, could be +opened in turn as the bullet passed along the barrel, so that every +escaping jet of gas would give it an additional impulse." + +_G._ (_with growing interest_). "That sounds neater. You might work the +chambers by electricity." + +_I_. "We could even have an electric gun. Conceive a bobbin wound with +insulated wire in lieu of thread, and having the usual hole through the +axis of the frame. If a current of electricity be sent through the wire, +the bobbin will become a hollow magnet or 'solenoid,' and a plug of soft +iron placed at one end will be sucked into the hole. In this experiment +we have the germ of a solenoid cannon. The bobbin stands for the +gun-barrel, the plug for the bullet-car, and the magnetism for the +ejecting force. We can arrange the wire and current so as to draw the +plug or car right through the hole or barrel, and if we have a series of +solenoids end to end in one straight line, we can switch the current +through each in succession, and send the projectile with gathering +velocity through the interior of them all. In practice the barrel would +consist of a long straight tube, wide and strong enough to contain the +bullet-car without flexure, and begirt with giant solenoids at +intervals. Each of the solenoids would be excited by a powerful current, +one after the other, so as to urge the projectile with accelerating +speed along the tube, and launch it into the vast." + +_G_. "That looks still better than the pneumatic gun." + +_I_. "A magnetic gun would have several advantages. For instance, the +currents can be sent through the solenoids in turn as quickly as we +desire by means of a commutator in a convenient spot, for instance, at +the butt end of the gun, so as to follow up the bullet with ease, and +give it a planetary flight. By a proper adjustment of the solenoids and +currents, this could be done so gradually as to prevent a starting shock +to the occupants of the car. The velocity attained by the car would, of +course, depend on the number and power of the solenoids. If, for +example, each solenoid communicated to the car a velocity of nine yards +per second, a thousand solenoids, each magnetically stronger than +another in going from breech to muzzle, would be required to give a +final velocity of five miles a second. In such a case, the length of the +barrel would be at least 1,000 yards. Economy and safety would determine +the best proportions for the gun, but we are now considering the +feasibility of the project, not its cost. With regard to position and +supports, the gun might be constructed along the slope of a hill or +mound steep enough to give it the angle or elevation due to the aim. As +the barrel would not have to resist an explosive force, it should not be +difficult to make, and the inside could be lubricated to diminish the +friction of the projectile in passing through it. Moreover, it is +conceivable that the car need never touch the sides, for by a proper +adjustment of the magnetism of the solenoids we might suspend it in +mid-air like Mahomet's coffin, and make it glide along the magnetic axis +of the tube." + +_G_. "It seems a promising idea for an actual gun, or an electric +despatch and parcel post, or even a railway. The bullet, I suppose, +would be of iron." + +_I_. "Probably; but aluminium is magnetic in a lower degree than iron, +and its greater lightness might prove in its favour. We might also +magnetise the car, say by surrounding it with a coil of wire excited +from an accumulator on board. The car, of course, would be hermetically +sealed, but it would have doors and windows which could be opened at +pleasure. In open space it would be warmed and lighted by the sun, and +in the shadow of a planet, if need were, by coal-gas and electricity. +In either case, to temper the extremes of heat or cold, the interior +could be lined with a non-conductor. Liquefied oxygen or air for +breathing, and condensed fare would sustain the inmates; and on the +whole they might enjoy a comfortable passage through the void, taking +scientific observations, and talking over their experiences." + +_G_. "It would be a novel observatory, quite free from atmospheric +troubles. They might be able to make some astronomical discoveries." + +_I_. "A novel laboratory as well, for in space beyond the attraction of +the earth there would be no gravity. The travellers would not feel a +sense of weight, but as the change would be gradual they would get +accustomed to it, and suffer no inconvenience." + +_G_. "They would keep their gravity in losing it." + +_I_. "The car, meeting with practically no resistance in the ether, +would tend to move in the same direction with the same velocity, and +anything put overboard would neither fall nor rise, but simply float +alongside. When the car came within the sensible attraction of the moon, +its velocity would gradually increase as they approached each other." + +_G_. "Always supposing the aim of the gun to have been exact. You might +hit the moon, with its large disc and comparatively short range, +provided no wandering meteorite diverted the bullet from its course; but +it would be impossible to hit a planet, such as Venus or Mars, a mere +point of light, and thirty or forty million miles away, especially as +both the earth and planet are in rapid motion. A flying rifle-shot from +a lightning express at a distant swallow would have more chance of +success. If you missed the mark, the projectile would wheel round the +planet, and either become its satellite or return towards the earth like +that of Jules Verne in his fascinating romance." + +_I_. "Jules Verne, and other writers on this subject, appear to have +assumed that all the initial effort should come from the cannon. Perhaps +it did not suit his literary purpose to employ any other driving force. +At all events he possessed one in the rockets of Michel Ardan, the +genial Frenchman of the party, which were intended to break the fall of +the projectile on the moon." + +_G_. "If I recollect, they were actually fired to give the car a fillip +when it reached the dead-point on its way back to the earth." + +_I_. "Even in a vacuum, where an ordinary propeller could not act, the +bullet may become a prime mover, and co-operate with the gun. A rocket +can burn without an atmosphere, and the recoil of the rushing fumes will +impel the car onwards." + +_G_. "Do you think a rocket would have sufficient power to be of any +service?" + +_I_. "Ten or twelve large rockets, capable of exerting a united back +pressure of one and a half tons during five or six minutes on a car of +that weight at the earth's surface, would give it in free space a +velocity of two miles a second, which, of course, would not be lost by +friction." + +_G_. "So that it would not be absolutely necessary to give the +projectile an initial velocity of five miles a second." + +_I_. "No; and, besides, we are not solely dependent on the rocket. A jet +of gas, at a very high pressure, escaping from an orifice into the +vacuum or ether, would give us a very high propelling force. By +compressing air, oxygen, or coal-gas (useful otherwise) in iron +cylinders with closed vents, which could be opened, we should have a +store of energy serviceable at any time to drive the car. In this way a +pressure or thrust of several tons on the square inch might be applied +to the car as long as we had gas to push it forwards." + +_G_. "Certainly, and by applying the pressure, whether from the rocket +or the gas, to the front and sides, as well as to the rear of the car, +you would be able to regulate the speed, and direct the car wherever you +wanted to go." + +_I_. "Moreover, beyond the range of gravitation, we could steer and +travel by pumping out the respired air, or occasionally projecting a +pebble from the car through a stuffing box in the wall, or else by +firing a shot from a pistol." + +_G_. "You might even have a battery of machine guns on board, and +decimate the hosts of heaven." + +_I_. "Our bullets would fly straight enough, anyhow, and I suppose they +would hit something in course of time." + +_G_. "If they struck the earth they would be solemnly registered as +falling stars." + +_I_. "Certainly they would be burnt up in passing through the atmosphere +of a planet and do no harm to its inhabitants." + +_G_. "Well, now, granting that you could propel the car, and that +although your gun was badly aimed you could steer towards a planet, how +long would the journey take?" + +_I_. "The self-movement of the car would enable us to save time, which +is a matter of the first importance on such a trip. In the plan of Jules +Verne, the bullet derives all its motion from the initial effort, and +consequently slows down as it rises against the earth's attraction, +until it begins again to quicken under the gravitation of the moon. +Hence his voyage to our satellite occupied four days. As we could +maintain the velocity of the car, however, we should accomplish the +distance in thirteen hours at a speed of five miles a second, and more +or less in proportion." + +_G_. "About as long as the journey from London to Aberdeen by rail. What +about Mars or Venus?" + +_I_. "At the same speed we should cover the 36,000,000 miles to these +planets in 2,000 hours, or 84 days, that is, about three months. With a +speed of ten miles a second, which is not impossible, we could reach +them in six weeks." + +_G_. "One could scarcely go round the world in the same time. But, +having got to a planet, how are you going to land on it? Are you not +afraid you will be dissipated like a meteorite by the intense heat of +friction with the planet's atmosphere, or else be smashed to atoms by +the shock?" + +_I_. "We might steer by the stars to a point on the planet's orbit, +mathematically fixed in advance, and wait there until it comes up. The +atmosphere of the approaching planet would act as a kind of buffer, and +the fall of the car could be further checked by our means of recoil, and +also by a large parachute. We should probably be able to descend quite +slowly to the surface in this way without damage; but in case of peril, +we could have small parachutes in readiness as life-buoys, and leap from +the car when it was nearing the ground." + +_G_. "I presume you are taking into account the velocity of the planet +in its orbit? That of the earth is 18 miles a second, or a hundred times +faster than a rifle bullet; that of Venus, which is nearer the sun, is a +few miles more; and that of Mars, which is further from the sun, is +rather less." + +_I_. "For that reason the more distant planets would be preferable to +land on. Uranus, for instance, has an orbital velocity of four miles a +second, and his gravity is about three-fourths that of the earth. +Moreover, his axis lies almost exactly on the plane of the ecliptic, so +that we could choose a waiting place on his orbit where the line of his +axis lay in the direction of his motion, and simply descend on one of +his poles, at which the stationary atmosphere would not whirl the car, +and where we might also profit by an ascending current of air. The +attraction of the sun is so slight at the distance of Uranus, that a +stone flung out of the car would have no perceptible motion, as it +would only fall towards the sun a mere fraction of an inch per second, +or some 355 feet an hour; hence, as Dr. Preston has calculated, one +ounce of matter ejected from the car towards the sun every five minutes, +with a velocity of 880 feet a second, would suffice to keep a car of one +and a half tons at rest on the orbit of the planet. Indeed, the vitiated +air, escaping from the car through a small hole by its own pressure, +would probably serve the purpose. Just before the planet came up, and in +the nick of time we could fire some rockets, and give the car a velocity +of two or three miles a second in the direction of the planet's motion, +so that he would overtake us, with a speed not over great to ensure a +safe descent. Our parachutes would be out, and at the first contact with +the atmosphere, the car would probably be blown away; but it would soon +acquire the velocity of the planet, and gradually sink downwards to the +surface." + +_G_. "What puzzles me is how you are to get back to the earth." + +_I_. "Whoever goes must take the risk; but if, as appears likely, both +Mars and Venus are inhabited by intelligent beings, we should probably +be able to construct another cannon and return the way we came." + +_G_. (_smiling_). "Well, I confess the project does not look so +impracticable as it did. After all, travelling in a vacuum seems rather +pleasant. One of these days, I suppose, we astronomers will be packed in +bullets and fired into the ether to observe eclipses and comets' tails." + +_I_. "In all that has been said we have confined ourselves to ways and +means already known; but science is young, and we shall probably +discover new sources of energy. It may even be possible to dispense with +the gun, and travel in a locomotive car. Lord Kelvin has shown that if +Lessage's hypothesis of gravitation be correct, a crystal or other body +may be found which is lighter along one axis than another, and thus we +may be able to draw an unlimited supply of power from gravity by simply +changing the position of the crystal; for example, by raising it when +lighter, and letting it fall when heavier. This form of 'perpetual +motion' might be equally obtainable if Dr. Preston's[3] theory of an +ether as the cause of gravity be true. Indeed, Professor Poynting is now +engaged in searching for such a crystal, which, if discovered, will +upset the second law of thermo-dynamics. I merely mention this to show +that science is on the track of concealed motive powers derived from +the ether, and we cannot now tell what the engines of the future will be +like. For ought we know, the time is coming when there will be a regular +mail service between the earth and Mars or Venus, cheap trips to +Mercury, and exploring expeditions to Jupiter, Saturn, or Uranus." + + [Footnote 3: _Philosophical Magazine_, February, 1895.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NEW FORCE. + + + "SIR, + + "I have read your article on the possibility of travelling to the + other members of the Solar system with much interest. It is a + problem at which I, myself, have been working for a great many + years, and I believe that I have now discovered a means of solving + it in a practical manner. If you would care to see my experiments, + and will do me the honour of coming here, I shall be glad to show + them in confidence any time you may appoint.--Yours truly, + + "NASMYTH CARMICHAEL." + +The above letter, marked "Private," was forwarded to me through the +editor of _The Day After To-morrow_. The writer of it was a total +stranger to me, even by report, and at first I did not know what to make +of it. Was the man a charlatan, or a "crank?" There were no signs of +craziness or humbug in his frank and simple sentences. Had he really +found out a way of crossing the celestial spaces? In these days it is +better not to be too sceptical as to what science will accomplish. It +is, in fact, wise to keep the mind open and suspend the judgment. We are +standing on the threshold of the Arcana, and at any hour the +search-light of our intellect may penetrate the darkness, and reveal to +our wondering gaze the depths of the inner mechanism of Nature. + +I resolved to accept his invitation. + +A few days later I presented myself at the home of my unknown +correspondent. It was a lonely little cottage, in the midst of a wild +flat or waste of common ground on the outskirts of London. I should say +it had once been the dwelling of a woodman engaged in the neighbouring +forest. A tall, thick hedge of holly surrounded the large garden, and +almost concealed it from the curiosity of an occasional wanderer on the +heath. + +Certainly it did not look the sort of place to find a man of science, +and the old misgivings assailed my mind in greater force than ever. Half +regretting that I had come, and feeling in a dubious element, I opened +the wicket, and knocked at the door. + +It was answered by a young woman, in a plain gown of some dark stuff, +with a white collar round the neck. In spite of her dress I could see +that she was not an ordinary cottage girl. Pretty, without being +beautiful, there was a distinction in her voice and manner which bespoke +the gentlewoman. With a pleasant smile, she welcomed me as one who had +been expected, and ushered me into a small sitting-room, poorly +furnished, but with a taste and refinement unusual in a workman's home. +A large piano stood in one of the corners, and a pile of classical music +lay on a chair beside it. The mantelpiece was decorated with cut +flowers, and the walls were hung with portraits and sketches in crayons +and water-colour. + +"My father will be down in a moment," she said, with a slight American +accent. "He is delighted to have the pleasure of meeting you. It is so +kind of you to come." + +Before I had time to respond, Mr. Carmichael entered the parlour. He was +a man of striking and venerable presence. His long white locks, his +bulging brow, pregnant with brain, his bushy eyebrows and deep blue-grey +eyes, his aquiline nose and flowing beard, gave an Olympian cast to his +noble head. Withal, I could not help noticing that his countenance was +lined with care, his black coat seamed and threadbare, his hands rough +and horny, like those of a workman. If he appeared a god, it was a god +in exile or disgrace; a Saturn rather than a Jove. + +"Now to the matter," said he, after a few words of kindly welcome. +"Evidently the question of inter-planetary travel is coming to the +front. In your article you suggest that a locomotive car, that is to +say, a car able to propel itself through what we, in our ignorance, call +empty space, though, in reality, it is chock-full, and very 'thrang' as +the Scotch say, might yet be contrived, and even worked by energy drawn +from the ether direct. When I read that, sir, I sat up and rubbed my +eyes." + +"Your spectacles, father," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, it's the same thing," went on the old man. "For like many another +prophet, sir, you had prophesied better than you knew." + +"How do you mean?" I inquired, with a puzzled air. + +"If you will step with me into the garden I will show you." + +I rose and followed him into a large shed, which was fitted up as a +workshop and laboratory. It contained several large benches, provided +with turning lathes and tools, a quantity of chemicals, and scientific +apparatus. + +"I am going to do a thing that I have never done in my life before," +said Mr. Carmichael, in a sad and doubtful tone; "I have kept this +secret so long that it seems like parting with myself to disclose it, +to disclose even the existence of it. I have fed upon it as a young man +feeds on love. It has been my nourishment, my manna in the wilderness of +this world, my solace under a thousand trials, my inspiration from on +High. I verily believe it has kept my old carcase together. Mind!" he +added, with a penetrating glance of his grey eyes, which gleamed under +their bushy brows like a pool of water in a cavern overhung with +brambles, "promise me that whatever you see and hear will remain a +secret on your part. Never breathe a word of it to a living soul. You +are the only person, except my own daughter, whom I have ever taken into +my confidence." + +I gave him my word of honour. + +"Very well," he continued, lifting a small metal box from one of the +tables, and patting it with his hand. "I have been working at the +subject of aerial navigation for well-nigh thirty years, and this is the +result." + +I looked at the metal case, but could see nothing remarkable about it. + +"It seems a little thing, hardly worth a few pence, and yet how much I +have paid for it!" said the inventor, with a sigh, and a far-away +expression in his eyes. "Many a time it has reminded me of the mouse's +nest that was turned up by the ploughshare. + + "'Thy wee bit heap o' strae and stibble + Has cost thee mony a weary nibble.' + +Of course this is only a model." + +"A model of a flying machine?" I inquired, in a tone of surprise. + +"You may call it so," he answered; "but it is a flying machine that does +not fly or soar in the strict sense of the words, for it has neither +wings nor aeroplane. It is, in fact, an aerial locomotive, as you will +see." + +While he spoke, Mr. Carmichael opened the case of the instrument, and +adjusted the mechanism inside. Immediately afterwards, to my +astonishment, the box suddenly left his hands, and flew, or rather +glided, swiftly through the air, and must have dashed itself against the +wall of the laboratory had not its master run and caught it. + +"Wonderful!" I exclaimed, forgetting the attitude of caution and reserve +which I had deemed it prudent to adopt. + +The inventor laughed with childish glee, enjoying his triumph, and +stroking the case as though it were a kitten. + +"It would be off again if I would let it. Whoa, there!" said he, again +adjusting the mechanism. "I can make it rise, or sink, or steer, to one +side or the other, just as I please. If you will kindly hold it for a +minute, I will make it go up to the ceiling. Don't be afraid, it won't +bite you." + +I took the uncanny little instrument in my hands, whilst Mr. Carmichael +ascended a ladder to a kind of loft in the shed. It only weighed a few +pounds, and yet I could feel it exerting a strong force to escape. + +"Ready!" cried the inventor, "now let go," and sure enough, the box rose +steadily upwards until it came within his grasp. "I am going to send it +down to you again," he continued, and I expected to see it drop like a +stone to the ground; but, strange to say, it circled gracefully through +the air in a spiral curve, and landed gently at my feet. + +"You see I have entire control over it," said Mr. Carmichael, rejoining +me; "but all you have seen has taken place in air, and you might, +therefore, suppose that I have an air propellor inside, and that air is +necessary to react against it, like water against the screw of a +steamboat, in order to produce the motion. I will now show you that air +is not required, and that my locomotive works quite as well in a +vacuum." + +So saying, he put the model under a large bell-jar, from which he +exhausted the air with a pump; and even then it moved about with as much +alacrity and freedom as it had done in the atmosphere. + +I confess that I was still haunted by a lingering suspicion of the +machine and its inventor; but this experiment went far to destroy it. +Even if the motive power was derived from a coiled spring, or compressed +air, or electricity, in the box, how was it possible to make it act +without the resistance offered by the air? Magnetism was equally out of +the question, since no conceivable arrangement of magnets could have +brought about the movements I had seen. Either I was hypnotised, and +imposed upon, or else this man had discovered what had been unknown to +science. His earnest and straightforward manner was not that of a +mountebank. There had been no attempt to surround his work with mystery, +and cloak his demonstration in unmeaning verbiage. It is true I had +never heard of him in the world of science, but after all an outsider +often makes a great discovery under the nose of the professors. + +"Am I to understand," said I, "that you have found a way of navigating +both the atmosphere and the ether?" + +"As you see," he replied, briefly. + +"What the model has done, you are able to do on a larger scale--in a +practical manner?" + +"Assuredly. It is only a matter of size." + +"And you can maintain the motion?" + +"As long as you like." + +"Marvellous! And how is it done?" + +"Ah!" exclaimed the inventor, "that is my secret. I am afraid I must not +answer that question at present." + +"Is the plan not patented?" + +"No. The fact is, I have not yet investigated the subject as fully as I +would like. My mind is not quite clear as to the causes of the +phenomena. I have discovered a new field of research, and great +discoveries are still to be made in it. Were I to patent the machine, I +should have to divulge what I know. Indeed, but for the sake of my +daughter, I am not sure that I should ever patent it. Even as it stands, +it will revolutionise not merely our modes of travel, but our +industries. It has been to me a labour of love, not of money; and I +would gladly make it a gift of love to my fellowmen." + +"It is the right spirit," said I; "and I have no doubt that a grateful +world would reward you." + +"I wouldn't like to trust it," replied Mr. Carmichael, with a smile and +shrug of the shoulders. "How many inventors has it doomed to pine in +poverty and neglect, or die of a broken heart? How often has it stolen, +aye stolen, the priceless fruits of their genius and labour? Speaking +for myself, I don't complain; I haven't had much to do with it. My +withdrawal from it has been voluntary. I was born in the south of +Scotland, and educated for the medical profession; but I emigrated to +America, and was engaged in one of Colonel Fremont's exploring +expeditions to the Rocky Mountains. After that I was appointed to the +chair of Physical Science in a college of Louisville, Kentucky, where my +daughter was born. One day, when I was experimenting to find out +something else, I fell by accident upon the track of my discovery, and +ever since I have devoted my life to the investigation. It appeared to +me of the very highest importance. As time went on, I grew more and more +absorbed in it. Every hour that I had to give to my official and social +duties seemed thrown away. A man cannot serve two masters, and as I also +found it difficult to carry on my experiments in secrecy, I resigned my +post. I had become a citizen of the United States, but my wife was a +Welshwoman, and had relations in England. So we came to London. When +she died, I settled in this isolated spot, where I could study in peace, +enjoy the fresh air, and easily get the requisite books and apparatus. +Here, with my daughter, I live a very secluded life. She is my sole +companion, my housekeeper, my servant, and my assistant in the +laboratory. She knows as much about my machine, and can work it as well +as I do myself. Indeed, I don't know what I should have done without +her. She has denied herself the ordinary amusements of her age. Her +devotion to me has been beautiful." + +The voice of the old man trembled, and I fancied I could read in his +hollow eyes the untold martyrdom of genius. + +"At last," he continued, "I have brought the matter into a practical +shape, and like many other inventors, for the first time I stand in need +of advice. Happening to see your article in the Magazine, I resolved to +invite you to come and see what I have done in hopes that you might be +able to advise and perhaps help me." + +"I think," said I, after a moment's reflection, "I think the next thing +to be done is to make a large working machine, and try it on a voyage." + +"Quite so," he replied; "and I am prepared to build one that will go to +any part of the earth, or explore the higher regions of the atmosphere, +or go down under the sea, or even make a trip to one of the nearer +planets, Mars or Venus as the case may be. But I am poor; my little +fortune is all but exhausted, and here, at the end of the race, within +sight of the goal, I lack the wherewithal to reach it. Now, sir, if you +can see your way to provide the funds, I will give you a share in the +profits of the invention." + +I pondered his words in silence. Visions of travel through the air in +distant lands, above the rhododendron forests of the Himalayas, or the +green Savannahs of the Orinoco, the coral isles of the Pacific; yea, +further still, through the starlit crypts of space to other spheres were +hovering in my fancy. The singular history of the man, too, had touched +my feelings. Nevertheless, I hesitated to accept his offer there and +then. It was hardly a proposal to decide upon without due consideration. + +"I will think it over and let you know," said I at length. "Have you any +objection to my consulting Professor Gazen, the well-known astronomer? +He is a friend of mine. Perhaps he will be able to assist us." + +"None whatever, so long as he keeps the affair to himself. You can +bring him to see the experiments if you like. All I reserve is that I +shall not be asked to explain the inner action of the machine. That must +remain a secret; but some day I hope to show you even that." + +"Thanks." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ELECTRIC ORRERY. + + +"Half-moon Junction! Change here for Venus, Mercury, the Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!" + +So I called in the style of a Clapham railway porter, as I entered the +observatory of Professor Gazen on the following night. + +"What is the matter?" said he with a smile. "Are you imitating the +officials of the Universal Navigation Company in the distant future?" + +"Not so distant as you may imagine," I responded significantly; and then +I told him all that I had seen and heard of the new flying machine. + +The professor listened with serious attention, but manifested neither +astonishment nor scepticism. + +"What do you think about it?" I asked. "What should I do in the case?" + +"Well, I hardly know," he replied doubtfully. "It is rather out of my +line, and after my experience with Mars the other night, I am not +inclined to dogmatise. At all events, I should like to see and try the +machine before giving an opinion." + +"I will arrange for that with the inventor." + +"Possibly I can find out something about him from my American +friends--if he is genuine. What's his name again?" + +"Carmichael--Nasmyth Carmichael." + +"Nasmyth Carmichael," repeated Gazen, musingly. "It seems to me I've +heard the name somewhere. Yes, now I recollect. When I was a student at +Cambridge, I remember reading a textbook on physics by Professor Nasmyth +Carmichael, an American, and a capital book it was--beautifully simple, +clear, and profound like Nature herself. Professors, as a rule, and +especially professors of science, are not the best writers in the world. +Pity they can't teach the economy of energy without wasting that of +their readers. Carmichael's book was not a dead system of mathematics +and figures, but rather a living tale, with illustrations drawn from +every part of the world. I got far more help from it than the prescribed +treatises, and the best of that was a liking for the subject. I believe +I should have been plucked without it." + +"The very man, no doubt." + +"He was remarkably sane when he wrote that book, whatever he is now. As +to his character, that is another question. Given a work of science, to +find the character of the author. Problem." + +"I shall proceed cautiously in the affair. Before I commit myself, I +must be satisfied by inspection and trial that there is neither trickery +nor self-delusion on his part. We can make some trial trips, and gain +experience before we attempt to leave the world." + +"If you take my advice you will keep to the earth altogether." + +"Surely, if we can ascend into the higher regions of the atmosphere, we +can traverse empty space. You would have me stop within sight of the +goal. The end of travel is to reach the other planets." + +"Why not say the fixed stars when you are about it?" + +"That's impossible." + +"On the contrary, with a vessel large enough to contain the necessaries +of life, a select party of ladies and gentlemen might start for the +Milky Way, and if all went right, their descendants would arrive there +in the course of a few million years." + +"Rather a long journey, I'm afraid." + +"What would you have? A million years quotha! nay, not so much. It +depends on the speed and the direction taken. If they were able to +cover, say, the distance from Liverpool to New York in a tenth of a +second, they would get to Alpha in the constellation Centaur, perhaps +the nearest of the fixed stars, in twenty or thirty years--a mere +bagatelle. But why should we stop there?" went on Gazen. "Why should we +not build large vessels for the navigation of the ether--artificial +planets in fact--and go cruising about in space, from universe to +universe, on a celestial Cook's excursion--" + +"We are doing that now, I believe." + +"Yes, but in tow of the Sun. Not at our own sweet will, like gipsies in +a caravan. Independent, free of rent and taxes, these hollow planetoids +would serve for schools, hotels, dwelling-houses--" + +"And lunatic asylums." + +"They would relieve the surplus population of the globe," continued +Gazen, warming to his theme. "It is an idea of the first political +importance--especially to British statesmen. The Empire is only in its +infancy. With a fleet of ethereal gunboats we might colonise the solar +system, and annex the stars. What a stroke of business!" + +"Another illusion gone," I observed "Think of Manchester cotton in the +Pleiades! Of Scotch whiskey in Orion! However, I am afraid your policy +would lead to international complications. The French would set up a +claim for 'Ancient Lights.' The Germans would discover a nebulous +Hinterland under their protection. The Americans would protest in the +name of the Monroe Doctrine. It is necessary to be modest. Let us return +to our muttons." + +"Everybody will be able to pick a world that suits him," pursued Gazen, +still on the trail of his thought. "If he grows tired of one he can look +round for a better. Criminals will be weeded out and sent to Coventry, I +mean transplanted into a worse. When a planet is dying of old age, the +inhabitants will flit to another." + +"Seriously, if Carmichael's machine turns out all right, will you join +me in a trip?" + +"Thanks, no. I believe I shall wait and see how you get on first." + +"And where would you advise me to go, Mars or Venus?" + +The professor smiled, but I was quite in earnest. + +"Well," he replied, "Mars is evidently inhabited; but so is Venus, +probably, and of the two I think you will find her the more hospitable +and the nearest. When do you propose to start?" + +"Perhaps within six months." + +"We must consider their relative distances from the earth. By the way, +I don't think you have seen my new electrical orrery." + +"An electrical orrery," I exclaimed. "Surely that is something new!" + +"So far as I am aware; but you never know in these days. There is +nothing new under the sun, or even above it." + +So saying, he opened a small door in the side of the observatory, and, +ushering me into a very dark apartment, closed it behind us. + +"Follow me, there is no danger," said he, taking me by the arm, and +guiding me for several paces into the darkness. + +At length we halted, and I looked all around me, but was unable to +perceive a single object. + +"Where are we?" I enquired; "in the realms of Chaos and Old Night?" + +"You are now in the centre of the Universe," replied Gazen; "or, to +speak more correctly, at a point in space overlooking the solar system." + +"Well, I can't see it," said I. "Have you got such a thing as a match +about you?" + +"Let there be light!" responded Gazen in a reverent manner, and +instantly a soft, weird radiance was over all. The contrast of that +sudden illumination with the preceding darkness was electrical in more +senses than one, and I could not repress a cry of genuine admiration. + +A kind of twilight still reigned, and after the first moment of +surprise, I perceived that we were standing on a light metal gangway in +the middle of a great hollow cell of a luminous black or dark blue +colour, relieved by innumerable bright points, and resembling the night +sky in miniature. + +"I need hardly say that is a model of the celestial sphere," whispered +Gazen, indicating the starry vault. + +"It is a wonderful imitation," I responded, my awestruck eyes wandering +over the mysterious tracts of the Milky Way and the familiar +constellations of the mimic heavens. "May I ask how it is done--how you +produce that impression of infinite distance?" + +"By means of translucent shells illuminated from behind. The stars, of +course, are electric lamps, and some of them, as you see, have a tinge +of red or blue." + +Most of the light, however, came from a brilliant globe of a bluish +lustre, which appeared to occupy the centre of the crystal sphere, and +was surrounded by a number of smaller and fainter orbs that shone by its +reflected rays. + +"This, again, is a model of the solar system," said Gazen. "The central +luminary is, of course, the sun, and the others are the planets with +their satellites." + +"They seem to float in air." + +"That is because their supports are invisible, or nearly so. Both their +lights and periodic motions are produced by the electric current." + +"Surely they are not moving now?" + +"Oh, yes, and with velocities proportionate to those of the real bodies; +but you know that whilst the actual movements of the sun and planets are +so rapid, the dimensions of the system are so vast that if you could +survey the whole from a standpoint in space, as we are supposed to do, +it would appear at rest. Let us look at them a little closer." + +I followed Gazen along the gangway which encircled the orrery, and +allowed us to survey each of the planets closer at hand. + +"This kind of place would make a good theatre for a class in astronomy," +said I, "or for the meetings of the Interplanetary Congress of +Astronomers, in the year 2000. You can turn on the stars and planets +when you please. I wish you would give me a lecture on the subject now. +My knowledge is a little the worse for wear, and a man ought to know +something of the worlds around him--especially if he intends to visit +them." + +"I should only bore you with an old story." + +"Not at all. You cannot be too simple and elementary. Regard me as a +small boy in the stage of + + "'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, + How I wonder what you are!'" + +"Very well, my little man, have you any idea how many stars you can see +on a clear night?" + +"Billions." + +"No, Tommy. You are wrong, my dear boy. Go to the foot of your class. +With the naked eye we can only distinguish three or four thousand, but +with the telescope we are able to count at least fifty millions. They +are thickest in the Milky Way, which, as you can see, runs all round the +heavens, over your head, and under your feet, like an irregular tract of +hazy light, a girdle of stars in short. Of course we cannot tell how +many more there are beyond the range of vision, or what other galaxies +may be scattered in the depths of space. The stars are suns, larger or +smaller than our own, and of various colours--white, blue, yellow, +green, and red. Some are single, but others are held together in pairs +or groups by the force of gravitation. From their immense distance they +appear fixed to us, but in reality they are flying in all directions at +enormous velocities. Alpha, of the constellation Cygnus, for example, is +coming towards us at a speed of 500 million leagues per annum, and some +move a great deal faster. Most of them probably have planets circling +round them in different stages of growth, but these are invisible to us. +Here and there amongst them we find luminous patches or 'nebulae,' which +prove to be either clusters of stars or stupendous clouds of glowing +gases. Our sun is a solitary blue star on the verge of the Milky Way, 20 +billion miles from Alpha Centauri his next-door neighbour. He is +travelling in a straight line towards the constellation Hercules at the +rate of 20,000 miles an hour, much quicker than a rifle bullet; and, +nevertheless, he will take more than a million years to cover the +distance. Eight large or major planets, with their satellites, and a +flock of minor planets or planetoids, are revolving round him as their +common centre and luminary at various distances, but all in the same +direction. The orbits, or paths, about the sun are ovals or ellipses, +almost circular, of which the sun occupies one focus, and they are so +nearly in one plane, or at one level, that if seen from the sun, they +would appear to wander along a narrow belt of the heavens, called the +zodiac, which extends a few degrees on each side of the Elliptic or +apparent course of the sun against the stars. The planets are all +globes, more or less flat at the poles, like an orange, and each is +turning and swaying on its axis, thus exposing every part to the light +and warmth of the sun. They are divided by the planetoids into an inner +and an outer band. The inner four are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and +Mars; the outer four are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Moreover, +a number of comets and swarms of meteoric stones or meteorites are +circulating round the sun in eccentric paths, which cross those of the +planets. Such is the solar system--a lonely archipelago in the ethereal +ocean--a little family of worlds." + +"Not without its jars, I'm afraid." + +"The sun is chief of the clan," continued Gazen, "and keeps it together +by the mysterious tie of gravitation. While flying through space, he +turns round his own axis like a rifle bullet in 25 or 26 days. His +diameter is 860,000 miles, and although he is not much denser than +sea-water, his mass is over 700 times greater than the combined mass of +all his retinue. Gravity on his surface being 28 times stronger than on +the earth, a piece of timber would be as heavy as gold there, and a +stone let fall would drop 460 feet the first second instead of 16 feet +as here. He is built of the same kind of matter as the earth and other +planets, but is hotter than the hottest electric arc or reverberatory +furnace. Apparently his glowing bulk is made up of several concentric +shells like an onion. First there is a kernel or liquid nucleus, +probably as dense as pitch. Above it is the photosphere, the part we +usually see, a jacket of incandescent clouds, or vapours, which in the +telescope is seen to resemble 'willow leaves,' or 'rice grains in a +plate of soup,' and in the spectroscope to reveal the rays of iron, +manganese, or other heavy elements. What we call 'faculae' (or little +torches), are brighter streaks, not unlike some kinds of coral. The +'Sunspots' are immense gaps or holes in the photosphere, some of them +150,000 miles in diameter, which afford us a peep at the glowing +interior. There are different theories as to their nature, hence they +provide rival astronomers with an excellent opportunity of spotting each +other's reputations. For instance, I look upon them as eruptions, and +Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil (my pet aversion) regards them as +cyclonic storms; consequently we never lose an opportunity of erupting +and storming at each other. Above the photosphere comes a stratum of +cooler vapours and gases, namely, hydrogen and helium, a very light +element recently found on the earth, along with argon, in the rare +mineral cleveite. Tremendous jets of blazing hydrogen are seen to burst +through the clouds of the photosphere, and play about in this higher +region like the flames of a coal fire. These are the famous 'red flames' +or 'prominences,' which are seen during a total eclipse as a ragged +fringe of rosy fire about the black disc of the moon. Some of them rush +through the chromosphere to a height of 80,000 miles in 15 minutes. + +"Higher still is the 'corona,' an aureole of silvery beams visible in a +total eclipse, and resembling the star of a decoration. The streamers +have been traced for hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the solar +disc. It appears to consist of meteoric stones, illuminated by the +sunlight as well as of incandescent vapours of 'coronium,' a very light +element unknown on the earth, and probably, too, of electrical +discharges. The 'zodiacal light,' that silvery glow often seen in the +west after sunset, or in the east before sunrise, may be a prolongation +of it." + +"I daresay these meteorites are swarming about the sun like midges about +a lamp," said I. + +"And just as eager to get burnt up," replied Gazen, with a smile. "Let +us pass now to the planets. The little one next the sun is Mercury, who +can be seen as a rosy-white star soon after sunset or before sunrise. He +is about 36 million miles, more or less, from the sun; travels round his +orbit in 88 days, the length of his year; and spins about his axis in +24 hours, making a day and night. His diameter is 3,000 miles, and his +mass is nearly seven times that of an equal volume of water. The +attraction of gravity on his surface is barely half that on the earth, +and a man would feel very light there. Mercury seems to have a dense +atmosphere, and probably high mountains, if not active volcanoes. The +sunshine is from four to nine times stronger there than on the earth, +and as summer and winter follow each other in six weeks, he is doubtless +rather warm. + +"Venus, the 'Shepherd's Star,' and the brightest object in the heavens +after the moon, can sometimes be seen by day, and casts a distinct +shadow at night. She is about 67 million miles from the sun, revolves +round him in 225 days, and rotates on her axis in 23 to 24 hours, or as +Schiaparelli believes, in 224 days. Her diameter is 7,600 miles, and her +mass nearly five times that of an equal volume of water. Gravity is +rather less there than it is here. Like Mercury, she appears to have a +cloudy atmosphere, and very high mountains. On the whole she resembles +the earth, but is, perhaps, a younger as well as a warmer planet. + +"The green ball, next to Venus, is, I need hardly say, our own dear +little world. Terra, or the earth, is 93 million miles from the sun, +goes round him in 365 days, and turns on her axis in 24 hours less four +minutes. Her diameter is 7,918 miles, and her density is 5.66 times that +of water. She is attended by a single satellite, the moon, which +revolves round her in 27.3 days, at a distance of 238,000 miles. The +moon rotates on her axis in about the same time, and hence we can only +see one side of her. She is 2,160 miles in diameter, but her mass is +only one-eightieth that of the earth. A pound weight on the moon would +scale six pounds on the earth. Having little or no atmosphere or water, +she is apparently a dead world. + +"The red planet beyond the earth is Mars, who appears in the sky as a +ruddy gold or coppery star. He is 141 million miles from the sun, +travels his orbit in 687 days, and wheels round his axis in 24 hours 37 +minutes. His diameter is 4,200 miles, and his mass about one-ninth that +of the earth. A body weighing two pounds on the earth would only make +half a pound on Mars. As you know, his atmosphere is clear and thin, his +surface flat, and subject to floods from the melting of the polar snows. +Mars is evidently a colder and more aged planet than the earth. + +"He is accompanied by two little moons, Phobos (Fear), which is from ten +to forty miles in diameter, and revolves round him in 7 hours 39 +minutes, at a distance of 6,000 miles, a fact unparalleled in astronomy; +and Deimos (Rout), who completes a revolution in 30 hours 18 minutes, at +a distance of 14,500 miles. + +"About 400 planetoids have been discovered up to now, but we are always +catching more of them. Medusa, the nearest, is 198 million miles, and +Thule, the farthest, is 396 million miles from the sun. Vesta, the +brightest and probably the largest, a pale yellow, or, as some say, +bluish white orb, visible with the naked eye, is from 200 to 400 miles +in diameter. It is impossible to say which is the smallest. Probably the +mass of the whole is not greater than one quarter that of the earth. + +"Jupiter, surnamed the 'giant planet,' who almost rivals Venus in her +splendour, is 480 million miles from the sun; travels round his orbit in +12 years less 50 days; and is believed to whirl round his axis in 10 +hours. His diameter is 85,000 miles, and his bulk is not only 1,200 +times that of the earth, but exceeds that of all the other planets put +together. Nevertheless, his mass is only 200 to 300 times that of the +earth, for his density is not much greater than that of water. What we +see is evidently his vaporous atmosphere, which is marked by coloured +spots and bands or belts, probably caused by storms and currents, +especially in the equatorial regions. Jupiter is thought to be self +luminous, at least in parts, and is, perchance, a cooling star, not yet +entirely crusted over. + +"Four or five numbered satellites, about the size of our moon and +upwards, are circulating round him in orbits from 2,000 to 1,000,000 +miles distant in periods ranging from 11 hours to 16 days 18 hours. + +"Saturn, the 'ringed planet,' who appears as a dull red star of the +first magnitude, is the most interesting of all the planets. He is 884 +million miles from the sun; his period of revolution is 291/2 years, and +he turns on his axis in 10 hours 14 minutes. His diameter is 75,000 +miles, but his mass is only 94 times that of the earth, for he is +lighter than pinewood. His atmosphere is marked with spots and belts, +and on the whole his condition is like that of Jupiter. + +"Two flat rings or hoops, divided by a dark space, encircle his ball in +the plane of his equator. The inner ring is over 18,000 miles from the +ball, and nearly 17,000 miles broad. The gap between is 1,750 miles +wide, and the outer ring is over 10,000 miles broad. The rings are +banded, bright or dark, and vary in thickness from 40 to 250 miles. They +consist of innumerable small satellites and meteoric stones, travelling +round the ball in rather more than ten hours, and are brightest in +their densest parts. Of course they form a magnificent object in the +night sky of the planet, and it may be that our own zodiacal light is +the last vestige of a similar ring, and not an extension of the solar +corona. + +"Saturn has eight moons outside his rings, the nearest, Mimas, being +115,000, and the farthest, Japetus, 220,400 miles from his ball. With +the exception of Japetus, they revolve round him in the plane of his +rings, and when these are seen edgewise, appear to run along it like +beads on a string. + +"Uranus, the next planet visible, is a pale star of the sixth magnitude, +1,770 million miles from the sun, and completes his round in 84 years. +His axis, differing from those of the foregoing planets, lies almost in +the plane of his orbit, but we cannot speak as to his axial rotation. He +is 31,000 miles in diameter, and somewhat heavier, bulk for bulk, than +water. Four satellites revolve round him, the nearest, Ariel, being +103,500, and the farthest, Oberon, 347,500 miles distant. Unlike the +orbits of the foregoing satellites, which are nearly in the same plane +as the orbits of their primaries, those of the satellites of Uranus are +almost perpendicular to his own. They are travelled in periods of two +and a half to thirteen and a half days. + +"Neptune, invisible to the naked eye, but seen as a pale blue star in +the telescope, is 2,780 million miles from the sun, and makes a +revolution in 165 years. His diameter is about 35,000 miles, and his +density rather less than that of water. + +"Neptune has one satellite, at a distance of 202,000 miles, which, like +those of Uranus, revolves about its primary in an orbit at a +considerable angle to his own in five days twenty-one hours. Both +Neptune and Uranus are probably dying suns. + +"Comets of unknown number travel in long elliptical or parabolic orbits +round the sun at great velocities. They seem to consist partly of +glowing vapours, especially hydrogen, and partly of meteoric stones. +'Shooting stars,' that is to say, stones which fall to the earth, are +known to swarm in their wake, and are believed to be as plentiful in +space as fishes in the sea." + +"The trash or leavings of creation," said I reflectively. + +"And the raw material, for nothing is lost," rejoined Gazen. "Now, in +spite of all its diversity, there is a remarkable symmetry in the solar +system. The planets are all moving round the sun in one direction along +circular paths. As a rule each is nearly as far again from the sun as +the next within it. Thus, if we take Mercury as 3/4 inch from the sun, +Venus is about 11/4 inches, the Earth 21/4, Mars 2, the planetoids 51/4, +Jupiter 93/4, Saturn 14, Uranus 36, and Neptune 60 inches. On the same +scale, by the way, Enckes' comet at Aphelion, its farthest distance from +the sun, would be about 12 feet; Donatis almost a mile; and Alpha +Centauri, a near star in the Milky Way, some ten miles. + +"The stately march of the planets in their orbits becomes slower the +farther they are from the sun. The velocity of Mercury in its orbit is +thirty, that of Jupiter is eight, and that of Neptune is only three +miles a second. On the other hand, the inner planets, as a rule, take +some twenty-four hours, and the outer only ten hours to spin round their +axis. The inner planets are small in comparison with the outer. If we +represent the sun by a gourd, 20 inches in diameter, Mercury will seem a +bilberry ({~FRACTION NUMERATOR ONE~}{~SUBSCRIPT ONE~}{~SUBSCRIPT SIX~} inch) Venus, a white currant, the Earth a black currant +(1/4 inch), Mars a red currant ({~VULGAR FRACTION ONE EIGHTH~} inch), the planetoids as fine seed, +Jupiter an orange or peach (2 inches), Saturn a nectarine or greengage +(1 inch), Uranus a red cherry (3/4 inch), and Neptune a white cherry +(barely 1 inch in diameter). By putting the sun and planets in a row, +and drawing a contour of the whole, we obtain the figure of a dirk, a +bodkin, or an Indian club, in which the sun stands for the knob +(disproportionately big), the inner planets for the handle, and the +outer for the blade or body. Again, the average density of the inner +planets exceeds that of the outer by nearly five to one, but the mass of +any planet is greater than the combined masses of all which are smaller +than it. The inner planets derive all their light and heat from the sun, +and have few or no satellites; whereas the outer, to all appearance, are +secondary suns, and have their own retinue of worlds. On the similitude +of a clan or house we may regard the inner planets as the immediate +retainers of the chief, and the outer as the chieftains of their own +septs or families." + +"How do you account for the symmetrical arrangement?" I enquired. + +"The origin of the solar system is, you know, a mystery," replied the +astronomer. "According to the nebular hypothesis we may imagine that two +or more dark suns, perhaps encircled with planets, have come into +collision. Burst into atoms by the stupendous shock they would fill the +surrounding region with a vast nebula of incandescent gases in a state +of violent agitation. Its luminous fringes would fly immeasurably beyond +the present orbit of Neptune, and then rush inwards to the centre, only +to be driven outwards again. Surging out and in, the fluid mass would +expand and contract alternately, until in course of ages the fiery +tides would cease to ebb and flow. If the impact had been somewhat +indirect it would rotate slowly on its axis, and under the influence of +gravity and centrifugal force acquire a globular shape which would +gradually flatten to a lenticular disc. As it cooled and shrank in +volume it would whirl the faster round its axis, and grow the denser +towards its heart. By and by, as the centrifugal force overcame gravity, +the nebula would part, and the lighter outskirts would be shed one after +another in concentric rings to mould the planets. The inner rings, being +relatively small and heavy, would probably condense much sooner than the +large, light, outer rings. The planetoids are apparently the rubbish of +a ring which has failed to condense into one body, perhaps through its +uniformity or thinness. The separation of so big a mass as Jupiter might +well attenuate the border." + +"If the planetoids were born of a single small ring, might not several +planets be condensed from a large one?" + +"I see nothing to hinder it. A large ring might split into smaller +rings, or condense in several centres." + +"Because it seems to me that might explain the distinction between the +inner and the outer planets. Perhaps the outer were first thrown off in +one immense ring, and then the inner in a smaller ring. Before +separation the nebula viewed edgewise might resemble your Indian club." + +"A 'dumb-bell nebula,' like those we find in the heavens," observed +Gazen. "Be that as it may, the rings would collect into balls, and some +of these, especially the outer, would cast off rings which would +condense into moons, always excepting the rings of Saturn, which, like +the planetoids, are evidently a failure. The solar system would then +appear as a group of suns, a cluster of stars, in short, a +constellation. Each would be what we call a 'nebulous star,' not unlike +the sun at present; that is to say, it would be surrounded by a glowing +atmosphere of vapours, and perhaps meteoric matter. Under the action of +gravity, centrifugal force, and tidal retardation, their orbits would +become more circular, they would gradually move further apart, rotate +more slowly on their axes, and assume the shapes they have now. In +cooling down, new chemical compounds, and probably elements would be +formed, since the so-called elements are perhaps mere combinations of a +primordial substance which have been produced at various temperatures. +The heavier elements, such as platinum, gold, and iron, would sink +towards the core; and the lighter, such as carbon, silicon, oxygen, +nitrogen, and hydrogen, would rise towards the surface. A crust would +form, and portions of it breaking in or bursting out together with +eruptions and floods of molten lava, would disturb the poise of the +planet, and give rise to inequalities of surface, to continents, and +mountains. When the crust was sufficiently stable, sound, and cool, the +mists and clouds would condense into rivers, lakes, or seas, and the +atmosphere would become clear. In due course life would make its +appearance." + +"Can you account for that mystery?" + +"No. Science is bound in honour, no doubt, to explain all it can without +calling in a special act of creation; but the origin of life and +intelligence seems to go beyond it, so far. Spontaneous generation from +dead matter is ruled out of court at present. We believe that life only +proceeds from life. As for the hypothesis that meteoric stones, the +'moss-grown fragments of another world' may have brought life to the +earth, I hardly know what to think of it." + +"Has life ever been found on a meteoric stone?" + +"Not that I know. Carbon, at all events in the state of graphite and +diamond, has been got from them. They arc generally a kind of slag, +containing nodules or crystals of iron, nickle, and other metals, and +look to me as if they had solidified from a liquid or vapour. Are they +ruins of an earlier cosmos--the crumbs of an exploded world--matter +ejected from the sun--the snow of a nebulous ring--frozen spray from the +fiery surge of a nebula? we cannot tell; but, according to the meteoric +as distinguished from the nebular hypothesis of the solar system, the +sun, planets, and comets, as well as the stars and nebula were all +generated by the clash of meteorites; and not as I have supposed, of +dead globes." + +"Which hypothesis do you believe?" + +"There may be some truth in both," replied Gazen. "The two processes +might even go on together. What if meteorites are simply frozen nebula? +It is certain that the earth is still growing a little from the fall of +meteoric stones, and that part of the sun's heat comes from meteoric +fuel. Most of it, however, arises from the shrinkage of his bulk. Five +or ten million years ago the sun was double the size he is now. Twenty +or thirty million years ago he was rather a nebula than a sun. In five +or ten million more he will probably be as Jupiter is now--a smoking +cinder." + +"And the earth--how long is it since she was crusted over?" + +"Anything from ten to several hundred million years. In that time the +stratified rocks have been deposited under water, the land and sea have +taken their present configurations; the atmosphere has been purified; +plants and animals have spread all over the surface. Man has probably +been from twenty to a hundred thousand years or more on the earth, but +his civilization is a thing of yesterday." + +"How long will the earth continue fit for life?" + +"Perhaps five or ten million years. The entire solar system is gradually +losing its internal heat, and must inevitably die of sheer inanition. +The time is coming when the sun will drift through space, a black star +in the midst of dead worlds. Perhaps the system will fall together, +perhaps it will run against a star. In either case there would probably +be a 'new heaven and a new earth.'" + +"Born like a phoenix from the ashes of the old," said I, feeling the +justice of the well-worn simile. + +"I daresay the process goes on to all eternity." + +"Like enough." + +The sublime idea, with its prospect of the infinite, held us for a time +in silence. At length my thoughts reverted to the original question +which had been forgotten. + +"Now, whether should I go to Mars or Venus?" I enquired, fixing my eyes +on these planets and trying to estimate their relative distances from +the earth. + +Gazen made a mental computation, and replied with decision, + +"Venus." + +"All right," I responded. "Venus let it be." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LEAVING THE EARTH. + + +"Check!" + +I was playing a game of chess with an old acquaintance, Viscount ----, +after dinner, one evening, in the luxurious smoking-room of a +fashionable club in the West End of London. + +Having got his queen into a very tight corner, I sipped a glass of wine, +lit a Turkish cigarette, and leaned back in my chair with an agreeable +sense of triumph. + +My companion, on the other hand, puffed rapidly at his cigar, and took a +long drink of hot whiskey and water, then fixed his attention on the +board, and stroked his beard with an air of the deepest gravity. Had you +only seen his face at that moment you would have supposed that all the +care of a mighty empire weighed upon his shoulders. The countenance of a +grand vizier, engaged in considering an ultimatum of Lord Salisbury, +were frivolous in comparison. There is little doubt that if Lord ---- +had applied to the serious business of life as much earnest deliberation +as he gave to the movement of a pawn, he would have made a very +different figure in Society. But having been born without any effort of +his own to all that most men covet--rank, wealth, and title--he showed a +rare spirit of contentment, and did his best to make the world happier +by enjoying himself. + +As he was a very slow player, I began to think of a matter which lay +nearer to my heart than the game, I mean the project of travelling to +Venus. Tests of the new flying machine, by Professor Gazen and myself, +as well as our enquiries into the character of Mr. Carmichael, having +proved quite satisfactory, I had signed an agreement for the +construction of an ethereal ship or car, equally capable of navigating +the atmosphere to distant regions of the globe, and of traversing the +immense reaches of empty space between the earth and the other members +of the solar system. + +As Miss Carmichael had determined to accompany her father, and assist +him in his labours, it was built to carry three persons, with room to +spare for another, and the trial trips, made secretly on foggy nights, +had encouraged us to undertake the longer voyage into space. I am glad +to say that Professor Gazen, having taken part in one of these, had got +the better of his caution, and finally made up his mind to join the +expedition. + +I suspect that he was influenced in his decision by the heroic example +of Miss Carmichael. At all events I know he tried very hard to dissuade +her from going; but all his arguments could not shake her inflexible +resolution, and truly, there was something sublime in the quiet fidelity +of this young woman to her aged father which commanded our admiration. + +At length, all preparations for the voyage were complete, and as we did +not wish to excite any remark, it was arranged that we should start on +the first night that was dark enough to conceal our movements. + +While these thoughts were passing through my head, a footman, in plush, +entered the smoking-room, and presented a telegram on a golden salver. +Anticipating the contents, I tore it open, and read as follows: + + "_We leave to-night. Come on at once._--CARMICHAEL." + +After writing a reply to the message, I turned to the Viscount, who had +never raised his eyes from the board, and said, + +"You had better give me the game." + +He simply stared at me, and asked, + +"Why?" + +"Well, make it a draw." + +"Oh, dear no. Let's play it out." + +"I can't. I'm sorry to say I must leave you now. I have just received a +telegram making an urgent appointment. When beauty calls--" + +"Oh!" replied his lordship, with an amiable smile. "In that case we'll +finish it another time. I mean to win this game." + +"It will take you all your time." + +"I'll wager you ten to one--a thousand sovereigns to a hundred that I +win." + +It is not my habit to lay wagers; but I was anxious to be gone. + +"All right," I responded with a laugh, as I went away. "Good-night!" + +On arriving at Mr. Carmichael's cottage I found the rest of the party +waiting for me. No time was lost in proceeding to the garden, where the +car stood ready to mount into the air. All the lights were out, and in +the darkness it might have been mistaken for a tubular boiler of a dumpy +shape. It was built of aluminium steel, able to withstand the impact of +a meteorite, and the interior was lined with caoutchouc, which is a +non-conductor of heat, as well as air-proof. The foot or basement +contained the driving mechanism, and a small cabin for Mr. Carmichael. +The upper shell, or main body, of an oval contour, projected beyond the +basement, and was surmounted by an observatory and conning tower. It was +divided into several compartments, that in the middle being the saloon, +or common chamber. At one end there was a berth for Miss Carmichael, and +at the other one for Professor Gazen and myself, with a snug little +smoking cell adjoining it. Every additional cubic inch was utilised for +the storage of provisions, cooking utensils, arms, books, and scientific +apparatus. + +The vessel was entered by a door in the middle, and a railed gallery or +deck ran round it outside. The interior was lighted by ports, or +scuttles, of stout glass; but electricity was also at our service. Air +constantly evaporating from the liquid state would fill the rooms, and +could escape through vent holes in the walls. This artificial atmosphere +was supplemented by a reserve fund of pure oxygen gas compressed in +steel cylinders, and a quantity of chemicals for purifying the air. It +need hardly be said that we did not burden the ship with unnecessary +articles, and that every piece of furniture was of the lightest and most +useful kind. + +I think we all felt the solemnity of the moment as we stepped into the +black hull which might prove our living coffin. No friends were by to +sadden us with their parting; but the old earth had grown dearer to us +now that we were about to leave it, perhaps for ever. Mr. Carmichael +descended by the trap into the engine room, while we others stood on the +landing beside the open door, mute and expectant. + +Presently, a shudder of the vessel sent a strange thrill to our hearts, +and almost before we knew it, we had left the ground. + +"We're off!" ejaculated Gazen, and although a slight vibration was all +the movement we could feel, we saw the earth sinking away from us. At +first we rose very slowly, because the machine had to contend against +the force of gravity; but as the weight of the car diminished the higher +we ascended, our speed gradually augmented, and we knew that in the long +run it would become prodigious. The night was moonless, and a thick +mantle of clouds obscured the heavens; but the planet Venus was now an +evening star, and after attaining a considerable height, we steered +towards the west. Our course took us over the metropolis, which lay +beneath us like a vast conflagration. + +Far as the eye could see, myriads of lights glimmered like watch fires +through the murk of the dismal streets, growing thicker and thicker as +we approached the heart of the city, and appearing to blend their +lustres. Through the midst of the glittering expanse we could trace the +black tide of the river, crossed by the sparkling lines of the bridges, +and reflecting the red lanterns of the ships and barges. The principal +squares and thoroughfares were picked out, with rows and clusters of gas +and electric lamps, as with studs of gold and silver. The clock on the +Houses of Parliament glowed like the full moon on a harvest night. Now +and again the weird blaze of a furnace, or the shifting beam of an +advertisement, attracted our attention. With indescribable emotion we +hung over the immense panorama, and recognised the familiar streets and +buildings--the Bank and Post Office, St. Paul's Cathedral and Newgate +Prison, the Law Courts and Somerset House, the British Museum, the +National Gallery of Arts, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. We +watched the busy multitudes swarming like ants in the glare of the +pavements from the dreary slums and stalls of Whitechapel to the +newspaper offices of Fleet Street; the shops and theatres of the Strand; +the music halls and restaurants of Piccadilly Circus. A deep and +continuous roar, a sound like that of the ocean ascended from the +toiling millions below. + +"Isn't it awful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a tone of reverence. +"What a city! I seem to understand how an angel feels when he regards +the world in space, or a God when He listens to the prayers of +humanity." + +"For my part," said Gazen, "I feel as though I were standing on my +head." + +By this time we had lost the sense of danger, and gathered confidence in +our mode of travel. + +"I fancy the clouds overhead are the real earth," explained the +astronomer, "and that I'm looking down into the starry heavens, with its +Milky Way. I say, though, isn't it jolly up here--soaring above all +these moiling mannikins below--wasting their precious lives grubbing in +the mire--dead to the glories of the universe--seeking happiness and +finding misery. Ugh!--wish I had a packet of dynamite to drop amongst +them and make them look up. Hallo!" + +The earth had suddenly vanished from our sight. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN SPACE. + + +We had entered the clouds. + +For half-an-hour we were muffled in a cold, damp mist, and total +darkness, and had begun to think of going indoors when, all at once, the +car burst into the pure and starlit region of the upper air. + +A cry of joyous admiration escaped from us all. + +The spectacle before us was indeed sublime. + +The sky of a deep dark blue was hung with innumerable stars, which +seemed to float in the limpid ether, and the rolling vapours through +which we had passed were drawn like a sable curtain between us and the +lower world. The stillness was so profound that we could hear the +beating of our own hearts. + +"How beautiful!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, in a solemn whisper, as if +she were afraid that angels might hear. + +"There is Venus right ahead," cried the astronomer, but in a softer +tone than usual, perhaps out of respect for the sovereign laws of the +universe. "The course is clear now--we are fairly on the open sea--I +mean the open ether. I must get out my telescope." + +"The sky does not look sad here, as it always does on the earth--to me +at least," whispered Miss Carmichael, after Gazen had left us alone. "I +suppose that is because there is so much sadness around us and within us +there." + +"The atmosphere, too, is often very impure," I replied, also in a +whisper. + +"Up here I enjoy a sense of absolute peace and well-being, if not +happiness," she murmured. "I feel raised above all the miseries of +life--they appear to me so paltry and so vain." + +"As when we reach a higher moral elevation," said I, drifting into a +confidential mood, like passengers on the deck of a ship, under the +mysterious glamour of the night-sky. "Such moments are too rare in life. +Do you remember the lines of Shakespeare:-- + + "'Look, how the floor of heaven + Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: + There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, + But in his motion like an angel sings, + Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: + Such harmony is in immortal souls; + But whilst this muddy vesture of decay + Doth grossly close it in--we cannot hear it.'" + +"True," responded Miss Carmichael, "and now I begin to feel like a +disembodied spirit--a 'young-eyed cherubim.' I seem to belong already to +a better planet. Should you not like to dwell here for ever, far away +from the carking cares and troubles of the world?" + +The unwonted sadness of her tone reminded me of her devoted life, and I +turned towards her with new interest and sympathy. She was looking at +the Evening Star, whose bright beam softened the irregularities of her +profile, and made her almost beautiful. + +"Yes," I answered, and the words "with you" formed themselves in my +heart. I know not what folly I might have spoken had not the +conversation been interrupted by Gazen, who called out in his unromantic +style, + +"I say, Miss Carmichael! Won't you come and take a look at Venus?" + +She rose at once, and I followed her to the observatory. + +The telescope was very powerful for its size, and showed the dusky night +side of the planet against the brilliant crescent of the day like the +"new moon in the arms of the old," or, as Miss Carmichael said, "like an +amethyst in a silver clasp." + +"Really, it is not unlike that," said Gazen, pleased with her feminine +conceit. "If the instrument were stronger you would probably see the +clasp go all round the dusky violet body like a bright ring, and +probably, too, an ashen light within it, such as we see on the dark side +of the moon. By-and-by, as we get nearer, we shall study the markings of +the terminator, and a shallow notch that is just visible on the inner +edge of the southern horn. Can you see it?" + +"Yes, I think I can. What is it?" replied Miss Carmichael. + +"Probably a vast crater, or else a range of high mountains intercepting +the sunlight, and making a scallop in the border of the terminator. +However, that is a secret for us to find out. We know very little of the +planet Venus--not even the length of her day. Some think it is eight +months long, others twenty-four hours. We shall see. I have begun to +keep a record of our discoveries, and some day--when I return to town--I +hope to read a paper on the subject before the most potent, grave, and +learned Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--I rather think I +shall surprise them--I do not say startle--it is impossible to startle +the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society--or even to astonish +them--you might as well hope to tickle the Sphinx--but I fancy it will +stir them up a little, especially my friend Professor Sylvanus Pettifer +Possil. However, I must take care not to give them the slightest hint of +what they are to expect beforehand, otherwise they will declare they +knew all about it already." + +"Has it struck you that up here the stars appear of different colours at +various distances," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Oh, yes," answered Gazen, "and in the pure atmosphere of the desert, or +on the summit of high mountains, we notice a similar effect. The stars +have been compared to the trees of a forest, in different stages of +growth and decay. Some of them are growing in splendour, and others +again are dying out. Arcturus, a red star, for example, is fast cooling +to a cinder. Capella, over there, is a yellow star, like our own sun, +and past his prime. Sirius, that brilliant white or bluish star, which +flashes like a diamond in the south, is one of the fiercest. He is a +double star, his companion being seven and himself thirteen times +massier than the sun; but they are fifty times brighter, and a million +times further off, that is to say, one hundred billion miles away. +These double or twin stars are often very beautiful. The twins are of +all colours, and generally match well with each other--for instance, +purple and orange--green and orange--red and green--blue and pale +green--white and ruby. One of the prettiest lies in the constellation +Cygnus. I will show it to you." + +"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, looking through the glass. +"The bigger star is a golden or topaz yellow, and the smaller a light +sapphire blue." + +"Some of the star groups and nebulae are just as pretty," observed Gazen, +turning his telescope to another part of the heavens; "most of the stars +are white, but there is a sprinkling of yellow, blue, and red amongst +them--I mean, of course, to our view, for the absorption of our +atmosphere alters the tint." + +"Does that mean that there is more youth than age, more life than death, +in the universe?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"Not exactly," replied the astronomer. "There is apparently no lack of +vigour in the Cosmos--no great sign of decrepitude; but we must remember +that we see the younger and brighter stars better than the others, and +for aught we know there are many dark suns or extinct stars, as well as +planets and their satellites. I should not like to say that the +population of space is going down; but on the whole it may be +stationary. I wish I could show you the cluster in Toucan, a rosy star +in a ring of white ones." + +"Like a brooch of pearls," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Yes--not unlike that," responded Gazen, evidently amused at her +comparison. "But that constellation is in the Southern Hemisphere. +However, here is the 'ring' or 'planetary' nebula in the Lyre." + +"What a wonderful thing!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael, with her eye at the +instrument. "It looks to me like a golden hoop, with diamond dust +inside." + +I do not know where Miss Carmichael got her knowledge of jewellery, for +to all appearance she wore none. + +"Or the cup of a flower," she added, raising her head. + +"Poets have called the stars 'fleurs de ciel,'" said Gazen, shifting the +telescope, "and if so, the nebula are the orchids; for they imitate +crabs, birds, dumb-bells, spirals, and so forth. Take a look at this +one, and tell us what you think of it." + +"I see a cloud of silver light in the dark sky," said Miss Carmichael, +after observing it. + +"What does it resemble?" + +"It's rather like a pansy--or--" + +"Anything else?" + +"A human face!" + +"Not far out," rejoined Gazen. "It is called the Devil Nebula!" + +"And what is it?" enquired Miss Carmichael. + +"It is a cluster of stars--a spawn of worlds, if I may use the +expression," answered Gazen. + +"And what are they made of? I know very little of astronomy." + +"The same stuff as the earth--the same stuff as ourselves--hydrogen, +iron, carbon, and other chemical elements. Just as all the books in the +world are composed of the same letters, so all the celestial bodies are +built of the same elements. Everything is everywhere--" + +Gazen was evidently in his own element, and began a long lecture on the +constitution of the universe, which appeared to interest Miss Carmichael +very much. Somehow it jarred upon me, and I retired to the little +smoking-room, where I lit a cigar, and sat down beside the open scuttles +to enjoy a quiet smoke. + +"Why am I displeased with the lucubrations of the professor?" I said to +myself. "Am I jealous of him because he has monopolised the attention of +Miss Carmichael? No, I think not. I confess to a certain interest in +Miss Carmichael. I believe she is a noble girl, intelligent and +affectionate, simple and true; with a touch of poetry in her nature +which I had never suspected. She will make an excellent companion to the +fortunate man who wins her. When I remember the hard life she has led so +far, I confess I cannot help sympathising with her; but surely I am not +in love?" + +I regret to say that my friend the astronomer, with all his good +qualities, was not quite free from the arrogance which leads some men of +science to assume a proprietary right in the objects of their discovery. +To hear him speak you would think he had created the stars, instead of +explaining a secret of their constitution. However, I was used to that +little failing in his manner. It was not that. No, it was chiefly the +matter of his discourse which had been distasteful to me. The sight of +that glorious firmament had filled me with a sentiment of awe and +reverence to which his dry and brutal facts were a kind of desecration. +Why should our sentiment so often shrink from knowledge? Are we afraid +its purity may be contaminated and defiled? Why should science be so +inimical to poetry? Is it because the reality is never equal to our +dreams? There is more in this antipathy than the fear of disillusion +and alloyment. Some of it arises from a difference in the attitude of +the mind. + +To the poet, nature is a living mystery. He does not seek to know what +it is, or how it works. He allows it as a whole to impress itself on his +entire soul, like the reflection in a mirror, and is content with the +illusion, the effect. By its power and beauty it awakens ideas and +sentiments within him. He does not even consider the part which his own +mind plays, and as his fancy is quite free, he tends to personify +inanimate things, as the ancients did the sun and moon. + +To the man of science, on the other hand, nature is a molecular +mechanism. He wishes to understand its construction, and mode of action. +He enquires into its particular parts with his intellect, and tries to +penetrate the illusion in order to lay bare its cause. Heedless of its +power and beauty, he remains uninfluenced by sentiment, and mistrusting +the part played by his own mind, he tends to destroy the habit of +personification. + +Hence that opposition between science and poetry which Coleridge pointed +out. The spirit of poetry is driven away by the spirit of science, just +as Eros fled before the curiosity of Psyche. + +How can I enjoy the perfume of a rose if I am thinking of its cellular +tissue? I grow blind to the beauty of the Venus de Medicis when I +measure its dimensions, or analyse its marble. What do I care for the +drama if I am bent on going behind the scenes and examining the stage +machinery? The telescope has banished Phoebus and Diana from our +literature, and the spectroscope has vulgarised the stars. + +Will science make an end of poetry as Renan and many others have +thought? Surely not? Poetry is quite as natural and as needful to +mankind as science. All men are poetical, as they are scientific, more +or less. + +It might even be argued that poetry is for the general, for the man as a +man; while science is for the particular, for the man as a specialist; +and that poetry is a higher and more essential boon than science, +because it speaks to the heart, not merely to the head, and keeps alive +the celestial as well as the terrestrial portion of our nature. + +Shall we prefer the cause to the effect, and the means to the end, or +exalt the matter above the form, and the letter above the spirit? Does +not the tissue exist for the sweetness of the rose, the marble for the +beauty of the stature, and the mechanism for the illusion of the play? +The "opposition" between science and poetry lies not in the object, but +in our mode of regarding it. The scientific and the poetical spirit are +complementary, as the inside to the outside of a garment, and if they +seem to drive each other away it is because the mind cannot easily +entertain and employ both together; but one is passive when the other is +active. + +Keats drank "confusion to Newton" for destroying the poetry of the +rainbow by showing how the colours were elicited; but after all was +Newton guilty? Why should a true knowledge of the cause destroy the +poetry of an effect? Every effect must be produced somehow. The rainbow +is not less beautiful in itself because I know that it is due to the +refraction of light. The diamond loses none of its lustre although +chemistry has proved it to be carbon; the heavens are still glorious +even if the stars are red-hot balls. + +But stones, carbon, and light are familiar commonplace things, and +fraught with prosaic associations. + +True, and yet natural things are noble in themselves, and only vulgar in +our usage. It is for us to purify and raise our thoughts. Instead of +losing our interest in the universe because it is all of the same stuff, +we should rather wonder at the miracle which has formed so rich a +variety out of a common element. + +But the mystery is gone, and the feelings and fancies which arose from +it. + +In exchange for the mystery we have truth, which excites other emotions +and ideas. Moreover, the mystery is only pushed further back. We cannot +tell what the elements really are; they will never be more than symbols +to us, and all nature at bottom will ever remain a mystery to us: an +organised illusion. Think, too, of the innumerable worlds amongst the +stars, and the eternity of the past and future. Whether we look into the +depths of space beyond the reach of telescope and microscope, or +backward and forward along the vistas of time, we shall find ourselves +surrounded with an impenetrable mystery in which the imagination is free +to rove. + +Science, far from destroying, will foster and develop poetry. It is the +part of the scientific to serve the poetical spirit by providing it with +fresh matter. The poet will take the truth discovered by the man of +science, and purify it from vulgar associations, or stamp it with a +beautiful and ideal form. + +Consider the vast horizons opened to the vision of the poet by the +investigations of science and the doctrine of evolution. At present the +spirit of science is perhaps more active than the spirit of poetry, but +we are passing through an unsettled to a settled period. Tennyson was +the voice of the transition; but the singer of evolution is to come, and +after him the poet of truth. + +If we allowed the scientific to drive away the poetical spirit, we +should have to go in quest of it again, as the forlorn Psyche went in +search of Eros. It is necessary to the proper balance and harmony of our +minds, to the purification of our feelings, and the right enjoyment of +life. Poetry expresses the inmost soul of man, and science can never +take its place. Religion apart, what does the present age of science +need more than poetry? What would benefit a hard-headed, matter-of-fact +man of science like Professor Gazen if not the arts of the sublime and +beautiful--if not a poetical companion--such as Miss Carmichael? + + * * * * * + +Thus, after a long rambling meditation, I had come back to my bachelor +friend and the fair American. + +"Yes," thought I, rather uneasily, I must confess, for I could not +disguise from myself the fact that I was taken with her, "Gazen and she +are not an ill-matched pair by any means. They are alike in many +respects, and a contrast in others. They have common ground in their +love and aptitude for science; yet each has something which the other +lacks. She has poetry and sentiment for instance, but he--well, I'm +afraid that if he ever had any it has all evaporated by this time. On +the other hand, she"--but it puzzled me to think of any good quality +that Miss Carmichael did not possess, and I began to consider that she +would be throwing herself away upon him. "They seem to get on well +together, however--monstrously well. I wonder what star he is picking to +pieces now?" + +I listened for the sound of their voices, but not a murmur passed +through the curtain which I had drawn across the entrance to the smoking +cabin. Only a peculiar tremor from the mysterious engines broke the +utter stillness. Was I growing deaf? I snapped my fingers to reassure +myself, and the sound startled me like the crack of a pistol. Evidently +my sense of hearing had become abnormally acute. My mind, too, was +preternaturally clear, and the solitude became so irksome that I rose +from my seat, and looked out of the scuttles to relieve the tension of +my nerves. + +Apparently we had reached a great height in the atmosphere, for the sky +was a dead black, and the stars had ceased to twinkle. By the same +illusion which lifts the horizon of the sea to the level of the +spectator on a hillside, the sable cloud beneath was dished out, and the +car seemed to float in the middle of an immense dark sphere, whose upper +half was strewn with silver. Looking down into the dark gulf below, I +could see a ruddy light streaming through a rift in the clouds. It was +probably a last glimpse of London, or some neighbouring town; but soon +the rolling vapours closed, and shut it out. + +I now realised to the full that I was _nowhere_, or to speak more +correctly, a wanderer in empty space--that I had left one world behind +me and was travelling to another, like a disembodied spirit crossing the +gloomy Styx. A strange serenity took possession of my soul, and all that +had polluted or degraded it in the lower life seemed to fall away from +it like the shadow of an evil dream. + +In the depths of my heart I no longer felt sorry to quit the earth. It +seemed to me now, a place where the loveliest things never come to +birth, or die the soonest--where life itself hangs on a blind mischance, +where true friendship is afraid to show its face, where pure love is +unrequited or betrayed, and the noblest benefactors of their fellowmen +have been reviled or done to death--a place which we regard as a heaven +when we enter it, and a hell before we leave it. . . . No, I was not +sorry to quit the earth. + +And the beautiful planet, shining there so peacefully in the west, was +it any better? At a like distance the earth would seem still fairer, and +perhaps even now some wretch in Venus is asking himself a similar +question. Is it not probable that just as all the worlds are made of the +same materials, so the mixture of good and evil is much the same in all? +I turned to the stars, where in all ages man has sought an answer to his +riddles. The better land! Where is it? if not among the stars. I am now +in the old heaven above the clouds. Does it lie _within_ the visible +universe, as it lies within the heart when peace and happiness are +there? + +In that pure ether the glory of the firmament was revealed to me as it +had never been on the earth, where it is often veiled with clouds and +mist, or marred by houses and surrounding objects--where the quietude of +the mind is also apt to be disturbed by sordid and perplexing cares. Its +awful sublimity overwhelmed my faculties, and its majesty inspired me +with a kind of dread. In presence of these countless orbs my own +nothingness came home to me, and a voice seemed to whisper in my ear, + +"Hush! What art thou? Be humble and revere." + +After a while, I perceived a pure celestial radiance of a marvellous +whiteness dawning in the east. By slow degrees it spread over the +starlit sky, lightening its blackness to a deep Prussian blue, and +lining the sable clouds on the horizon with silver. At length the round +disc of the sun, whiter than the full moon, and intolerably bright, rose +into view. + +With the intention of rejoining Professor Gazen in the observatory, and +seeing it through his telescope, I flung away my cigar, and stepped +towards the door of the cabin; but ere I had gone two paces, I suddenly +reeled and fell. At first I imagined that an accident had happened to +the car, but soon realised that I myself was at fault. Dizzy and faint, +with a bounding pulse, an aching head, and a panting chest, I raised +myself with great difficulty into a seat, and tried to collect my +thoughts. For the last quarter of an hour I had been aware of a growing +uneasiness, but the spectacle of sunrise had entranced me, and I forgot +it. Suspecting an attack of "mountain sickness" owing to the rarity of +the atmosphere, I attempted to rise and close the scuttles, but found +that I had lost all power in my lower limbs. The pain in my head +increased, the palpitation of my heart grew more violent, my ears rang +like a bell, and I literally gasped for breath. Moreover, I felt a +peculiar dryness in my throat, and a disagreeable taste of blood in my +mouth. What was to be done? I tried again to reach the door, but only to +find that I could not even move my arms, let alone my feet. +Nevertheless, I was singularly free from agitation or alarm, and my mind +was just as clear as it is now. I reflected that as the car was ever +rising into a rarer atmosphere, my only hope of salvation lay in calling +for help, and that as the paralysis was gaining on my whole body, not a +moment was to be lost. I shouted with all my strength; but beyond a sort +of hiss, not a sound escaped my lips. The profound silence of the car +now struck me in a new light. Had Gazen and Miss Carmichael not +committed the same blunder, and suffered a like fate? Perhaps even +Carmichael himself had been equally careless, and the flying machine, +now masterless, was carrying us Heaven knows whither. Strange to say I +entertained these sinister apprehensions without the least emotion. I +had lost all feeling of pain or anxiety, and was perfectly tranquil and +indifferent to anything that might happen. It is possible that with the +paralysis of my powers to help myself, I was also relieved by nature +from the fears of death. I began to think of the sensation which our +mysterious disappearance would make in the newspapers, and of divers +other matters, such as my own boyhood and my friends, when all at once +my eyes grew dim--and I remembered nothing more. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ARRIVING IN VENUS. + + +"Try to speak--there's a good fellow--open your eyes." + +I heard the words as in a dream. I recognised the voice of Gazen, but it +seemed to come from the far distance. Opening my eyes I found myself +prostrate on the floor of the smoking room, with the professor and Miss +Carmichael kneeling beside me. There was a look of great anxiety on +their faces. + +"I'm all right," said I feebly. "I'm so glad you are safe." + +It appears that a short time before, Gazen had closed the scuttles of +the observatory and returned with Miss Carmichael to the saloon, then, +after calling to me without receiving any answer, had opened the door of +the smoking-room and seen me lying in a dead faint. Luckily Miss +Carmichael had acquired some knowledge of medicine, partly from her +father, and without loss of time they applied themselves to bring me +round by the method of artificial respiration employed in cases of +drowning or lightning stroke. + +It would be tedious to narrate all the particulars of our journey +through the dark abyss, particularly as nothing very important befell +us, and one day passed like another. Now and then a small meteoric stone +struck the car and glanced off its rounded sides. + +"Old Charon," as Gazen and I had nicknamed Carmichael, after the grim +ferryman of the Styx, seldom forsook his engines, and Miss Carmichael +spent a good deal of her time along with him. Occasionally she chatted +with Gazen and myself in the saloon, or helped us to make scientific +observations; but although neither of us openly confessed it, I think we +both felt that she did not give us quite enough of her company. Her +manner seemed to betray no preference for one or the other. + +Did she, by her feminine instinct, perceive that we were both solicitous +of her company, and was she afraid of exciting jealousy between us? In +any case we were all the more glad to see her when she did join us. No +doubt men in general, and professors in particular, are fond of +communicating knowledge, but a great deal depends on the pupil; and +certainly I was surprised to see how the hard and dry astronomer beamed +with delight as he initiated this young lady into the mysteries of the +apparatus, and what a deal of trouble he took to cram her lovely head +with mathematics. + +We noted the temperature of space as we darted onwards, and discovered +that it contains a trace of gases lost from the atmospheres of the +heavenly bodies. We also found there a sprinkling of minute organisms, +which had probably strayed from some living world. Gazen suggested that +these might sow the seeds of organic life in brand-new planets, ready +for them, but perhaps that was only his scientific joke. The jokes of +science are frequently so well disguised, that many people take them for +earnest. + +Gazen made numerous observations of the celestial bodies, more +especially the sun, which now appeared as a globe of lilac fire in the +centre of a silvery lustre, but I will leave him to publish his results +in his own fashion. We may claim to have seen the South Pole, but, of +course, at a distance too great for scientific purposes. Judging by its +appearance, I should say it was surrounded by a frozen land. The earth, +with its ruddy and green continents, delineated as on a map, or veiled +in belted clouds, was a magnificent object for the telescope as it +wheeled in the blue rays of the sun. + +Hour after hour, with a kind of loving fascination, we watched it +growing "fine by degrees and beautifully less," until at last it waned +into a bright star. + +Venus, on the other hand, waxed more and more brilliant until it +rivalled the moon, and Mercury appeared as a rosy star not far from it. + +We soon got accustomed to the funereal aspect of the sky, and the utter +silence of space. Indeed, I was not so much impressed by the reality as +I had been by the simulacrum in my dream of sunrise in the moon. When I +looked at the weird radiance of the sun, however, I realised as I had +never done before that he was only a star seen comparatively near, and +that the earth was but his insignificant satellite. Moreover, when I +gazed down into the yawning gulf, with its strange constellations so far +_beneath_ us, I felt to the full the awful loneliness of the universe; +and how that all life and soul were confined to mere sunlit specks +thinly scattered here and there in the blackness of eternal night. + +Steering a calculated course by the stars, we reached the orbit of +Venus, and travelled along it in advance of the planet with a velocity +rather less than her own, so as to allow her to overtake us. Some +notion of the eagerness with which we scanned her approach may be +gathered by imagining the moon to fall towards the earth. Slowly and +steadily the illuminated crescent of the planet grew in bulk and +definition, until we could plainly distinguish all the features of her +disc without the aid of glasses. For the most part she was wrapped in +clouds, of a dazzling lustre at the equator, and duskier towards the +poles. Here and there a gap in the vapour revealed the summit of a +mountain range, or the dark surface of a plain or sea. + +I need hardly say that none of us viewed the majestic approach of this +new world, suspended in the ether, and visibly turning round its axis, +without emotion. The boundary of day and night was fairly well marked, +and I pictured to myself the wave of living creatures rising from their +sleep to life and activity on one side, and going to sleep again on the +other, as it crept slowly over the surface. To compare small things with +great, the denizens of a planet reminded me of performers under the +limelight of a darkened theatre: + + "All the world's a stage!" + +We amused ourselves with conjectures as to our probable fate on Venus, +supposing we should arrive there safe and sound. + +"I suppose the authorities will demand our passports," said I. "Perhaps +we shall be tried and condemned to death for invading a friendly +planet." + +"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," said Gazen, "if they were to put +us into their zoological gardens as a rare species of monkey." + +"What a ridiculous idea!" exclaimed Miss Carmichael. "Now _I_ feel sure +they will pay us divine honours. Won't it be nice?" + +"You will make a perfect divinity," rejoined the professor with +consummate gallantry. "For my part I shall feel more at home in a +menagerie." + +Thus far we had not observed any signs of intelligent beings on the +cloudy globe, and it was still doubtful whether we should not discover +it to be a lifeless world. + +Our track did not lie exactly on the orbit of the planet, but +sufficiently beneath it to let her attraction pull the car up towards +her Southern Pole as it passed above us; and by this course of action we +trusted to enjoy a wider field of atmosphere to manoeuvre in, and +probably a safer descent into a cooler climate than we should have +experienced in attempting to land on the equator. + +By an illusion familiar in the case of railway trains, it seemed to us +that the car was stationary, and the planet rushing towards us. On it +came like a great shield of silver and ebony, eclipsing the stars and +growing vaster every moment. Under the driving force of the engines and +the gravity of the planet, our car was falling obliquely towards the +orbit, like a small boat trying to cross the bows of an ironclad, and a +collision seemed inevitable. Being on the sunward side we could see more +and more of the illuminated crescent as it drew near, and were filled +with amazement at the sublime spectacle afforded by the strange contrast +between the purple splendour of the solar disc in the black abyss of +ether and the pure white celestial radiance which was reflected from the +atmosphere of the planet. + +The climax of magnificence was reached when the approaching surface came +so close as to appear concave, and our little ark floated above a +hemisphere of dazzling brightness under a hemisphere of appalling +darkness faintly relieved by the glimmer of stars and the purple glory +of the sun. + +Ere we could express our admiration, however, we were startled by a +magical transformation of the scene. The sky suddenly became blue, the +stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the +broad day was all around us. + +"Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and +wonder. + +"We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with +alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?" + +So saying he opened one of the scuttles, and a whiff of fresh air blew +into the car. Thrusting his nose out, he sniffed cautiously for a while +and then drew several long breaths. + +"It seems all right as regards quality," he remarked, "but there's too +little body in it. We must wait until we get nearer the ground before we +can go outside the car." + +The pressure of the atmosphere as taken by an aneroid barometer +confirmed his observation, but as we were ignorant of its average +density it could not give us any certain indication of our height. Far +beneath us an ideal world of clouds hid the surface from our view. We +seemed to be floating above a range of snowy Alps, their dusky valleys +filled with glaciers, and their sovereign peaks glittering in the sun +like diamonds. As we descended in a long slant, their dazzling summits +rose to meet us, and the infinite play of light and shade became more +and more beautiful. The gliding car threw a distinct shadow which +travelled along the white screen, and equally to our surprise and +delight became fringed with coloured circles resembling rainbows. + +"It is a good omen!" cried Miss Carmichael. + +"Humph!" responded the professor, shaking his head but smiling +good-humouredly; "that is a mere superstition I'm afraid. It is simply +an optical effect, a variety of the phenomenon called 'anthelia,' like +Ulloa's Circle and the famous 'Spectre of the Brocken.'" + +"Explain it how you will," rejoined Miss Carmichael, "to me it is an +emblem of hope. It cheers my heart." + +"I am very glad to hear it, and I should be very sorry to crush your +hopes," said Gazen pleasantly. "We can sometimes derive moral +encouragement and profit from external phenomena. A rainbow in the midst +of a storm is a cheering sight. I daresay there is a reasonable basis, +too, for certain superstitions. St. Elmo's Fire may, for instance, from +natural causes, be a sign of good weather, only there is nothing +supernatural about it." + +"I am not in the secrets of the supernatural," replied Miss Carmichael, +"but I believe that if we do not look for the supernatural, if we shut +our eyes to it, we are not likely to see it." + +"Science has proved that so many things formerly thought to be +supernatural are quite natural," observed the astronomer a little more +humbly. + +"Perhaps the natural and the supernatural are one," said Miss +Carmichael. "Does a thing cease to be supernatural because we know +something about it?" + +"Well, it may have another meaning for us. Before the days of science, +great mistakes were made in our interpretations of phenomena. +Superstition is born of ignorance, and we can see the germ of it in the +child who is frightened by a bogie, or the horse that shies at the +moonlight." + +"Its higher parent is a belief in the unseen." + +"In any case it has done an immense amount of harm," said the professor. + +"And probably quite as much good," responded Miss Carmichael. "However, +don't think me a friend of superstition. But in getting rid of it let us +take care that we do not fall into the opposite error. It seems to me +that if science had all its own way it would reduce man and nature to a +little machine working in the corner of a big one; but I think it will +cost us too dear if it make us lose our sense of the divine origin and +spiritual significance of the universe." + +Further argument was cut short by the car suddenly dashing into the +clouds with a noiseless ease that astonished us, for they had appeared +as solid as the rock. + +Lost in the vapours, our car seemed at rest; but although we saw +nothing, we could hear a vague and distant murmur which charmed our ears +after the long silence of space like a strain of music. Whether this was +due to the sounds of the surface collected in the clouds, or to +electrical discharges I cannot say, for we were trying to solve the +mystery by hearkening to it, when it abruptly died away as the car shot +into the clear air beneath the clouds. + +"The sea! the sea!" cried Miss Carmichael, starting up in joyful +excitement to join her father; and sure enough we were flying above a +dark blue hemisphere which could only be the ocean. + +Gazen now made another test of the atmosphere, and, finding it +satisfactory, we opened the door of the car and ventured on the gallery. + +After our confinement the fresh air acted like a charm. It felt so cool +and sweet in the nostrils that every breath was a pleasure. We inhaled +it in long, deep, loving draughts, which imparted vigour to our +exhausted frames, and intoxicated our spirits like laughing gas. I could +hardly restrain a wild impulse to leap from the car into the unruffled +bosom of the sea below, and Gazen, habitually staid, actually shouted +with glee. His voice startled the utter stillness, and was mocked by a +faint echo from the surface of the water. By timing the interval between +a call and its echo we found it nearly ten seconds, which corresponded +to a height of about a mile. A repetition of the test from time to time +showed that the car was now travelling at a fairly constant level. The +wide ocean spread all around us; neither sail nor shore, nor living +creature was visible, and we had begun to ask ourselves whether we had +not found a watery planet, when Gazen suddenly cried out, + +"Land!" + +"Whereaway?" I enquired with breathless interest. + +He pointed a little to the right of our course, and following the +direction of his finger, I saw a dim outline where sea and sky met. It +might have been mistaken for the tip of a cloud, but as we advanced it +rose above the horizon and took a definite shape not unlike a truncated +cone. + +The glasses showed it to be an island apparently of volcanic formation, +and after a brief consultation with Carmichael, we steered towards it. +The emotion of Columbus when he arrived at the Bahamas affords, perhaps, +the nearest parallel to our feelings, but in our case the land in sight +was the outlier of another planet. Watchful curiosity and silent +expectation, the ineffable sorcery of new scenes, the mystery of the +unknown, the romance of adventure, the exultation of triumph, and the +dread of disaster, were inextricably blended in our hearts. It was a +glorious hour, and come what might, we all felt that we had not lived in +vain. + +The island rose out of the sea like a volcanic peak, and was evidently +encircled with a barrier reef, as we could trace a line of snowy surf +breaking on its outer verge, and parting the sapphire blue of the deep +water without from the emerald green shoals within. The coast, sweeping +in beautiful bays, dotted with overgrown islets, and fended by rocky +promontories, was rimmed with beaches of yellow sand. The steep sides of +the mountain, broken with precipices, and shaggy with vegetation, +ascended from a multitude of spurs and buttresses, resembling billows of +verdure, and towered into the clouds. + +I have used the word verdure, but it is really a misnomer, for although +the prevailing tint of the foliage was a dark green, the entire forest +was streaked like a rainbow with innumerable flowers, and the breeze +which blew from it was laden with the most delightful perfume, Evidently +it was all a howling wilderness, for we could not detect the slightest +vestige of human dwellings or cultivation. We did not even observe any +signs of bird or beast. A profound stillness brooded over the solitude, +and was scarcely broken by the drowsy murmur of distant waterfalls. + +A forest, like the sea or desert, has a magical power to stimulate the +fancy and touch the primitive chords of the heart. Even a Scotch +hillside, or a Devonshire moor, can throw their wild spells over the +civilised man of letters, and appeal to savage or poetical instincts +underlying all his culture. So now, where everything seen or unseen, was +new and strange, and the imagination was quite free to rove, the charm +was more intense. We stood and gazed upon the moving panorama like +persons in a trance. The trees and plants grew in zones according to +their different levels above the sea, after the manner of those on the +earth, but we were too high to distinguish the various kinds. +Apparently, however, feathery palms and gigantic grasses prevailed in +the lower, and glossy evergreens, resembling the magnolia and +rhododendron, in the middle grounds. All this part of the forest was so +thickly encumbered with flowering creepers and parasites as to seem one +immense bower, dense enough to exclude the sunlight and make a perpetual +twilight underneath. The higher slopes were clad with pine-trees, having +long thin needles, which hung from their boughs like fringes of green +hair, and bushy shrubs which reminded me of heaths. Above these, +enormous ferns with fronds twenty or thirty feet in length, and thickets +draped in variegated mosses were thriving in the spray of a thousand +slender cataracts which poured from the brink of the precipitous crags +on the summit of the mountain. + +Seen from a distance, the cliffs appeared of a ruddy tint, but on coming +closer we found this was due to myriads of huge lichens of a deep +crimson and orange, and that the natural colours of the rock, vermilion +and blue, lemon, yellow, purple, and olive green, almost vied with those +of the forest lower down the steep. + +We glided over the crest at a point where it was almost free of cloud, +and were astonished to find it carved by the weather into the most +fantastic shapes, rudely imitating the colossal figures of men and +animals, or the towers and turrets of ruined castles. After the novelty +of this goblin architecture had passed, however, its effect was somewhat +dreary. The wind, moaning through the lifeless aisles and crannies of +the dripping rocks, the rolling mist and shuddering pools of water, +induced a sense of loneliness and depression. The revulsion in our +feelings was therefore all the greater when the car suddenly escaped +from this height of desolation, and a magnificent prospect burst upon +our view. + +An immense valley seemed to lie far beneath us, but it was really a +table-land of hills, rocks, and mountains, shaggy with vegetation, and +flung together in riotous confusion like the billows of a raging sea. +The stupendous cliffs behind us dropped sheerly down to the level of the +plateau, some ten or twenty thousand feet below, and swept around it as +a curving wall on either hand until they vanished in the distance. It +was evidently the crater of the extinct volcano. + +Our journey across that blooming wilderness will never fade from my +recollection, but when I attempt to give the reader an idea of it, +impressions crowd so thick and fast upon me as to choke my utterance; I +am equally in danger of soaring into a wild extravagance of generality +and sinking into a mere catalogue of detail. Yet I find it impossible +to hit a mean that can do any justice to it. The extraordinary way in +which the ancient lavas of the interior had been riven, upheaved, and +piled upon each other by the volcanic forces, the bewildering variety +and exuberance of the tropical plants and trees which battened on the +rich and crumbling soil, completely baffles all description. What the +imagination is unable to conceive, and the eye itself is overpowered in +beholding, the pen can never hope to depict. Let the grandest mountain +scenes of your memory be jumbled together as in a dream and overgrown +with the maddest jungles of the Ganges or the Amazon, and the +phantasmagoria would still be nothing to the living reality. + +Most of the highest peaks and ridges, as well as the deepest valleys and +ravines, were covered with the embowering forest; but here and there a +huge boss of granite or porphyry reared its bare scalp out of the +verdure like the head and shoulders of some antediluvian monster. The +gigantic palms and foliage trees, all tufted with air-plants or +strangled with climbers, were literally buried in flowers of every hue, +and the crown of the forest rolled under us like a sea of blossoms. +Every moment one enchanting prospect after another opened to our +wondering eyes. Now it was a waterfall, gleaming like a vein of silver +on the brow of a lofty precipice, and descending into a lakelet bordered +with red, blue, and yellow lilies. Again it was a natural bridge, +spanning a deep chasm or tunnel in the rock, through which a river +boiled and roared in a series of cascades and rapids. Ever and anon we +passed over glades and prairies, carpeted with orchids, and dotted with +clumps of shrubbery, a mass of golden bloom, or tremendous blocks of +basalt hung with crimson creepers. Butterflies with azure wings of a +surprising spread and lustre, alighted on the flowers, and great birds +of resplendent plumage flashed from grove to grove. A sun, twice the +diameter of ours, blazed in the northern sky, but the intensity of his +rays was tempered by a thin veil of cloud. The atmosphere although warm +and moist, was not oppressive like that of a forcing-house, and the +breeze was balmy with delicious perfume. + +As each new marvel came in sight, unstaled by familiar and untarnished +by vulgar associations, fresh from the hand of nature, so to speak, we +were filled as we had never been before with an intoxicating sense of +the divine mystery and miracle of life. For myself I was fairly +dumbfounded with amazement, and my companion, the hard-headed sceptical +astronomer, kept on crying and muttering to himself, "My God! my God!" +as if he had become a drivelling fool. + +We travelled league after league of this paradise run wild (I cannot +tell how many) without noticing any change in the character of the +scenery. At length, however, it grew less savage by degrees, and we +entered on a park-like country which gained in loveliness what it lost +in grandeur. Low hills, clad from base to summit in masses of gorgeous +bloom, and mirrored in sequestered lakes fringed with pied water-lilies; +groves of majestic cedars inviting to repose; rambling shrubberies and +evergreen trees festooned with flowering vines; brooks as clear as +crystal, murmuring over their pebbly beds, now hiding under drooping +boughs, now lost in brakes of tall reeds and foliage plants; grassy +meadows gay with crocusses, hyacinths, and tulips, or such-like flowers; +isolated rocks and boulders mantled with vivid moss and lichens; hot +springs falling over basins and terraces of tinted alabaster; clustering +palms and groups of spiry pine-trees; geysers throwing up columns of +spray tinged with rainbows; all these and a thousand other features of +the landscape which must be nameless passed before our view. + +Again and again we startled some herd of wild quadrupeds or flock of +gaudy birds unknown to science. Legions of large and burnished insects, +veritable living jewels, might be seen everywhere, and flaunting +butterflies hovered about the car. So far we had not observed the least +sign of human occupation, and yet, as Gazen remarked, the appearance of +the country seemed to betray the influence of art. It had not the wild +and wasteful luxuriance of the earlier tract, of a region left entirely +in the hands of Nature, but rather of a paradise which had been dressed +and kept by the gods. + +Owing to the height at which we were travelling, and the undulating +character of the surface, we could not see very far ahead. At length, +however, on emerging from a gap in a range of hills, we came upon a vast +plain or prairie stretching away into the distance, and there in the +blue haze of the horizon we saw, or fancied we saw, the architecture and +gardens of a great city, on the borders of a lake, and above the lake, +suspended in mid-air, a spectral palace, glittering in the sunbeams. + +We raised a shout of joy and triumph at this discovery. + +"Stop a minute, though," said Gazen, and a shade of doubt passed over +his face. "Perhaps it is only a mirage." + +We levelled our glasses at the distant scene, and scanned it with +palpitating hearts. We could discern the general shape, and even the +details of many houses, and the roofs and minarets of the palace, which +was evidently built on the top of an island in the midst of the lake. + +"That is not a phantasm," said I at last; "it is a real city." + +Gazen made no reply, but turned and silently shook me by the hand. The +tears were standing in his eyes. + +A delightful breeze, fragrant with innumerable flowers, mantled the long +grass of the prairie which was threaded by a maze of silver streams, and +diversified with bosky woodlands. Ere long we observed fantastic +cottages and picturesque villas nestling in the coppices, and as may be +imagined we were all on tip-toe with curiosity to catch a sight of their +inhabitants. We were anxious to see whether they looked like human +beings, and how they were disposed towards us. + +For a long time we looked in vain, but at length we saw a figure moving +across the prairie which turned out to be that of--a _man_. Yes, a man +like ourselves, but well stricken in years, and to judge by his costume +apparently a savage. His back was towards us, and as we floated past the +professor shouted in a tone loud enough for him to hear, + +"Good evening, sir." + +The native started, and lifting his eyes to the car beheld it with +astonishment and awe. He raised his hands in the air, then dropped them +by his side, and sank upon his knees. + +"That's a good sign," said Gazen with a grim smile. "I wonder if he +understands English. Let's try him again," and he cried out, "What's the +name of this place?" but the car was going rapidly, and if there was any +response it was lost upon the wind. + +As we approached the city, the cottages became thicker and thicker. They +were of various sizes, and of a light fanciful design adapted to a warm +climate. Each of them was surrounded by a grove or garden rich in +flowers and fruit. There were grassy trails and roads from one to +another, but we did not see any fields or fences, flocks or herds. + +We also saw more and more of the inhabitants--men, women, and children. +They were evidently a fine race, tall, handsome, and of white +complexion; but the men in general were darker than the women. From +their gay dresses, and the condition of the land, we had set them down +for savages; but on a nearer view, their lack of arms, the beauty of +their homes, and their own graceful demeanour, obliged us to reconsider +our opinion. When they first saw the car they did not fly in terror, or +muster hastily in armed and yelling bands. Many of them ran and cried, +it is true, but only to call their friends, and while some stood with +bowed heads and upraised hands as the car floated by, others, like the +old man, fell upon their knees as though in prayer. + +It was getting late in the day, and the sun was now sloping to the crest +of the mountain wall encircling the crater. Accordingly we held a +consultation with Carmichael as to whether we should land there, or +proceed to the city. + +Carmichael thought we should go on. + +"But," said Gazen, "would it not be safer to try the temper of the +people first, here in the country?" + +"These people are not savages," replied Carmichael. "They are civilised, +or semi-civilised, else how could they have built so fine a city as that +appears. If we should see any signs of hostility amongst them, however, +the car is plated with metal and will protect us--we have arms and can +defend ourselves--and, besides, we can rise again, and slip away from +them." + +We decided to advance, but Gazen and I took the precaution to belt on +our revolvers. + +The huge limb of the sun, red and glowing, sank to rest in a bed of +purple clouds on the summit of the rosy precipice, and filled all the +green plain with a rich amber light. The fantastic towers and trees of +the distant city by the lake shone in his mellow lustre; the solitary +island swam in a flood of gold, and the quaint edifice which crowned it +blazed with insufferable splendour. As the eerie gloaming died in the +west, and thin grey mists began to veil the outlandish scene, we +realised to the full that we were all alone and friendless in an unknown +world, and a deep sentiment of exile took possession of our souls. + +The gloaming fell, and myriads of lights twinkled in the dusk, some +flitting about like fireflies, others stationary, while a hum of many +voices ascended to our ears. The lights showed us that we were gliding +over the city, and the voices told us that our arrival was causing a +great commotion. Presently we floated above a large open space or +square, lit with coloured lanterns, and evidently adorned with trees, +fountains, and statuary. Here a great number of people had assembled, +and as they appeared quite orderly and peaceable, we determined to land. +While the car descended cautiously, Gazen and I kept a sharp watch on +the crowd, with our revolvers in our hands. Instead of anger and +resistance, however, the natives only manifested friendly signs of +welcome. They withdrew to a respectful distance, and, dropping on their +knees, burst into a song or hymn of wonderful sweetness as the car +touched the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CRATER LAND. + + +A man of dignified and venerable mien stepped from the crowd, and +followed by a train of youths and maidens, each bearing a vase or a tray +of fruit and flowers, came towards the car. While yet some ten or twelve +paces distant he stopped, and saluted Gazen and myself by lifting his +hands gracefully in the air, and bowing his head. After we had +acknowledged his greeting with due respect, he addressed us, speaking +fluently, and in a reverent, not to say a humble tone; but his words, +being entirely strange to our ears, we could only shake our heads with a +baffled smile, and reply in English that we did not understand. On this +a look of doubt and wonder passed over his face, and pointing, first to +the car, then to the sky, he seemed to enquire whether we had not +dropped from the clouds. We nodded our assent, and the astronomer, +indicating the Earth, which was now shining in the east as a beautiful +green star, endeavoured to let him know by signs that we had come from +there. + +The countenance of our host seemed to brighten again, and, saluting us +with a profound obeisance, he said a few words to the attendants, who +advanced to the car, and sinking upon their knees proffered us their +charming tribute. + +"Good!" exclaimed Gazen, testifying his delight and manifesting his +gratitude by an elaborate pantomime. + +I am afraid his performance must have appeared slightly ludicrous to the +Venusians, for one or two of the younger girls had some difficulty in +keeping their gravity. On a hint from the Elder the young people retired +to their places, leaving their offerings upon the ground. + +"They don't intend to starve us at all events," muttered Gazen to me, in +an undertone. "The very fragrance of these fruits entices a man to eat +them; but will they agree with our stomachs? Notwithstanding my +scientific curiosity, and my natural appetite, I am quite willing to let +you and Carmichael try them first." + +Having found the value of gestures in our intercourse, the Elder leaned +his head on one hand, and pointed with the other to a large house at +the upper end of the square. His meaning was plain; but as we had +already made up our minds to stay in the car, at all events until we had +looked about us, Gazen signified as much by energetic but indescribable +actions, and further contrived to intimate that we were all thoroughly +tired and worn out with our voyage. + +The Senior politely took the hint, and repeating his courteous salute, +withdrew from our presence, accompanied by his followers. + +"I told you so!" cried Miss Carmichael, when Gazen and I re-entered the +car. "They are treating us like superior beings." + +"It shows their good sense," replied Gazen, and even as he spoke a +strain of heavenly music rose from the assembled multitude, and +gradually died away as they departed to their homes. + +We could not sufficiently admire the beauty and fragrance of the flowers +and fruit, or the exquisite workmanship of the vases they had brought. +What struck us most was the lovely iridescence which they all displayed +in different lights. The vases in particular seemed to be carved out of +living opals, yet each was large enough to contain several pints of +liquor. Miss Carmichael decorated the dinner-table with a selection from +the trays, but although we found the fruits and beverages delicious to +the taste, we prudently partook very sparingly of them. + +After dinner we all went outside to enjoy the cool evening breeze, but +without actually leaving the car. It was hardly dusk, only a kind of +twilight or gloaming, and it did not seem to grow any darker. Yet +innumerable fire-flies, bright as glow-lamps, and of every hue, were +flashing like diamonds against the whispering foliage of the trees. + +With the exception of an occasional group or a solitary who stopped +awhile to look at the car and then passed on, the square was deserted; +but the dwellings around it were lighted up, and being of a very open +construction, we could see into them, and hear the voices of the inmates +feasting and making merry. Needless to say that everything we observed +was interesting to us, for it was all strange; but we were so much +exhausted with excitement that we were fain to go to bed. + +Next day the professor and I, obeying a common impulse of travellers, +got up early and went forth to survey our new quarters. It was a +splendid morning, the whole atmosphere steeped in sunshine, and musical +with the songs of birds. The big sun was peeping over the distant wall +of the crater, but we did not feel his rays uncomfortably hot. A sky of +the loveliest azure was streaked with thin white clouds, drawn across it +like muslin curtains, and a cooling breeze played gently upon the skin. +The dewy air, so spring-like, fresh and sweet, was a positive pleasure +to breathe, and we both felt the intoxication, the rapture of life, as +we had never felt it since our boyhood. The grass underfoot was green as +emerald, and soft as velvet; fountains were flashing in the sunshine, +statues gleaming amongst the flowering trees, and birds of brilliant +plumage glancing everywhere. + +The square opened on the lake, and afforded us a magnificent view of the +island. It was conical in shape, and the peak, no doubt, of an old +volcanic vent. I should say it was at least a thousand feet in height; +the sides were a veritable "hanging garden," wild and luxuriant; and the +summit was crowned by a glittering mass of domes, minarets, and spires. +Numbers of people, old and young, were bathing along the beach, and +swimming, diving, and splashing each other in the water with innocent +glee. Large birds, resembling swans, double the size of ours, and of +pale blue, rose, yellow, and green, as well as white plumage, were +floating in and out, and some of the children were riding on their +backs. Fantastic boats, with carved and painted prows, might be seen +crossing the lake in all directions, some under sail, and others with +rowers, keeping stroke to the rhythm of their songs. The shores of the +lake, sloping quietly to the waterside, were covered more or less +thickly with the houses and gardens of the city, and far in the +distance, perhaps fifty, perhaps a hundred miles away, the view was +bounded by the dim and ruddy precipice of the crater wall. + +Regaling our eyes on the beautiful prospect, and our lungs on the pure +atmosphere, we wandered along the beach, ever and anon pausing to admire +the strange forms and beautiful colouring of the shells and seaweeds, or +to pick up a rare pebble, then shie it away again, little thinking that +it might have been a ruby, sapphire, or topaz, worth a king's ransom on +the earth. At length the way was barred by the mouth of a broad river, +and after a refreshing plunge in the lake, we returned home to +breakfast. + +During our absence Carmichael had been visited by our venerable host of +the evening, whose name was Dinus, and a young man called Otare, who +turned out to be his son. They had brought a fresh supply of dainties, +and what was still more important, some pictorial dictionaries and +drawings which would enable us to learn their language. As the structure +of it was simple, and the vocabulary not very copious, and as we also +enjoyed the tuition of the young man, who was devoted to our service, +and conducted us in most of our walks abroad, at the end of a fortnight +we could maintain a conversation with tolerable fluency. + +In the meanwhile, and afterwards, we learned a good deal about the +country, and the manners and customs of its inhabitants. Womla, or +Woom-la, which means the "bowl" or hollow-land, is evidently the crater +of an extinct volcano of enormous dimensions, such as are believed to +exist upon the moon. It belongs to an archipelago of similar islands, +which are widely scattered over a vast ocean in this part of Venus, but +is, we were told, far distant from the nearest of them. The climate may +be described as a perpetual spring and summer, with a sky nearly always +serene, and of a beautiful azure blue, veiled with soft and fleecy +clouds. + +Thanks to the lofty walls of the crater, which penetrate the clouds and +condense their moisture, the land is watered with many streams. These +flow into the central lake, which discharges into the surrounding ocean +by a rift or chasm in the mountain side. Moreover, there are frequent +showers, and heavy dews by night, to refresh the surface of the ground. +Thunderstorms occur on the tops of the mountain and in the open sea; +but very seldom within the enchanted girdle of the crater. The air is +remarkably pure, sweet, and exhilarating, owing doubtless to the high +percentage of oxygen it contains, and the absence of foreign matter, +such as microbes, dust, and obnoxious fumes. In fact, we all felt a +distinct improvement in our health and spirits, a kind of mental +intoxication which was really more than a rejuvenescence. Nor was the +heat very trying, even in the middle of the day, because although the +sun was twice as large as on the earth, he did not rise far above the +horizon, and cooling breezes blew from the chilled summit of the cliffs. +The vegetation seems to go on budding, flowering, and fruiting +perpetually, as in the Elysian Fields of Homer, where + + "Joys ever young, unmixed with pain or fear, + Fill the wide circle of the eternal year: + Stern winter smiles on that auspicious clime + The fields are florid with unfading prime; + From the bleak Pole no winds inclement blow, + Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow; + But from the breezy deep the blessed inhale, + The fragrant murmurs of the western gale." + +The mysterious behaviour of the sun was a great puzzle to our +astronomer. I have said that he rose very little above the horizon, or +in other words the lip of the crater, as might be expected from our high +southern latitude; but we soon found that he always rose and sank at the +same place. In the morning he peeped above the cliffs, and in the +evening he dipped again behind them, leaving a twilight or gloaming (I +can scarcely call it dusk), which continued throughout the night. From +his fixity in azimuth, Gazen concluded that Schiaparelli, the famous +Italian observer, was right in supposing that Venus takes as long to +turn about her own axis as she does to go round the sun, and that as a +consequence she always presents the same side to her luminary. All that +we heard from the natives tended to confirm this view. They told us that +far away to the east and west of Womla there was a desert land, covered +with snow and ice, on which the sun never shone. We also gathered that +the sun rises to a greater and lesser height above the cliffs +alternately, thus producing a succession of warmer and cooler seasons; a +fact which agrees with Schiaparelli's observation that the axis of the +planet sways to and from the sun. Gazen was intensely delighted at this +discovery, partly for its own sake, but mainly, I think, because it +would afford him an opportunity of crushing the celebrated Pettifer +Possil, his professional antagonist, who, it seems, is bitterly opposed +to the doctrines of Schiaparelli. But why did the sun rise and set every +fifteen hours or thereabout, and so make what I have called a "day" and +"night"? Why did he not continue in the same spot, except for the slow +change caused by the nutation or nodding of Venus? Gazen was much +perplexed over this anomaly, and sought an explanation of it in the +refraction of the atmosphere above the cliffs producing an apparent but +not a real motion of the orb. + +The territory of Womla may be divided into three zones, namely, a +central plain under cultivation, a belt of undulating hills, kept as a +park or pleasaunce, and a magnificent, nay, a sublime wilderness, next +to the crater wall. + +The natural wealth of the country is very great. Some of its productions +resemble and others are different from those of the earth. We saw gold, +silver, copper, tin, and iron, as well as metals which were quite new to +us. Some of these had a purple, blue, or green colour, and emitted a +most agreeable fragrance. There are granites and porphyries, marbles and +petrifactions of the most exquisite grain or tints. Precious stones like +the diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, emerald, garnet, opal, turquoise, +and others familiar or unfamiliar to us, fairly abound, and can be +picked up on the shores of the lake. I presume that many of them have +been formed on a large scale in chasms of the rock by the volcanic fumes +of the crater. + +What struck us most of all, however, was the prevalence of +phosphorescent minerals which absorbed the sunlight by day, and +glimmered feebly in the dusk. Professor Gazen seems to think that the +presence of snow and clouds, together with these phosphorescent bodies, +may help to account for the mysterious luminosity on the dark side of +Venus. + +The vegetation is wonderfully rich, varied, and luxuriant. As a rule, +the foliage is thick and glossy; but while it is green to blackness in +some of the trees, it is parti-coloured or iridescent in others. Many of +the flowers, too, are iridescent, or change their hues from hour to +hour. The beauty and profusion of the flowers is beyond conception, and +some of the loveliest grow on what I should take for palms, ferns, +canes, and grasses. A distant forest or woodland rivals the splendid +plumage of some tropical bird. We heard of "singing flowers," including +a water-lily which bursts open with a musical note, and of many plants +which are sensitive to heat as well as touch, and if Gazen be correct, +to electricity and magnetism. We saw one in a house which was said to +require a change of scene from time to time else it would languish and +die. + +The borders of the lakes and ponds teemed with corals, delicate +seaweeds, and lovely shells. Innumerable fishes of gay and brilliant +hues darted and burned in the water like broken rainbows. + +Reptiles are not very common, at least, in the cultivated zone; but we +saw a few snakes, tortoises, and lizards, all brightly and harmoniously +marked. One of the snakes was phosphorescent, and one of the lizards +could sit up like a dog, or fly in the air like a swallow. The variety +and beauty of the birds, as well as the charm of their song, exceed all +description. Most of them have iridescent feathers, several are +wingless, and one at least has teeth. The insects are a match for the +birds in point of beauty, if not also in size and musical qualities. +Many of them are luminescent, and omit steady or flashing lights of +every tint all through the night. + +There are few large quadrupeds in the country, and so far as we could +learn none of these are predaceous. We saw an animal resembling a deer +on one hand, and a tapir on the other, as well as a kind of toed horse +or hipparion, and a number of domestic pets all strange to us. + +The people, according to their tradition, came originally from a +temperate land far across the ocean to the south-east, which is now a +dark and frozen desert. They are a remarkably fine race, probably of +mixed descent, for they found Womla inhabited, and their complexions +vary from a dazzling blonde to an olive-green brunette. They are nearly +all very handsome, both in face and figure, and I should say that many +of them more than realise our ideals of beauty. As a rule, the +countenances of the men are open, frank, and noble; those of the women +are sweet, smiling, and serene. Free of care and trouble, or unaffected +by it, mere existence is a pleasure to them, and not a few appear to +live in a kind of rapture, such as I have seen in the eyes of a young +artist on the earth while regarding a beautiful woman or a glorious +landscape. Their attitudes and movements are full of dignity and grace. +In fact, during my walks abroad, I frequently found myself admiring +their natural groups, and fancying myself in ancient Greece, as depicted +by our modern painters. Their style of beauty is not unlike that of the +old Hellenes, but I doubt whether the delicacy and bloom of their skins +has ever been matched on our planet except, perhaps, in a few favoured +persons. + +From some experiments made by Gazen, it would appear that while their +senses of sight and touch are keener, their senses of hearing and also +of heat are rather blunter than ours. + +Partly owing to the genial climate, their love of beauty, and their easy +existence, their dress is of a simple and graceful order. Many of their +light robes and shining veils are woven from silky fibres which grow on +the trees, and tinged with beautiful dyes. Bright, witty, and ingenious, +as well as guileless, chaste, and happy, I can only compare them to +grown-up children--but the children of a god-like race. Thanks to the +purity of their blood, and the gentleness of their dispositions, +together with their favourable circumstances, they live almost exempt +from disease, or pain, or crime, and finally die in peace at the good +old age of a hundred or a hundred and fifty years. + +Their voices are so pleasing, and their language is so melodious that I +enjoyed hearing their talk before I understood a word of it. Moreover, +their delightful manners evince a rare delicacy of sentiment and +appreciation of the beautiful in life. We foreigners must have been +objects of the liveliest curiosity to them, yet they never showed it in +their conduct; they never stared at us, or stopped to enquire about us, +but courteously saluted us wherever we went, and left us to make +ourselves at home. We never saw an ugly or unbecoming gesture, and we +never heard a rude, unmannerly word all the time we stayed in Womla. + +Some of their public buildings are magnificent; but most of their +private houses are pretty one-storied cottages, each more or less +isolated in a big garden, and beyond earshot of the rest. They are +elegant, not to say fanciful constructions of stone and timber, +generally of an oval shape, or at least with rounded outlines; but +sometimes rambling, and varying much in detail. Everyone seems to follow +his particular bent and taste in the fashion of his home. Many of them +have balconies or verandahs, and also terraces on the roof, where the +inmates can sit and enjoy the surrounding view. They are doorless, and +the outer walls are usually open so that one may see inside; but in +stormy weather they are closed by panels of wood, and a translucent +mineral resembling glass. They are divided into rooms by mats and +curtains, or partitions and screens of wood, which are sometimes +decorated with paintings of inimitable beauty. The ceilings are usually +of carved wood, and the floors inlaid with marbles, corals, and the +richer stones. There are no stuffy carpets on the floors, or hangings on +the walls to collect the dust. The light easy furniture is for the most +part made of precious or fragrant woods of divers colours--red, black, +yellow, blue, white, and green. At night the rooms are softly and +agreeably lighted by phosphorescent tablets, or lamps of glow-worms and +fire-flies in crystal vases. + +The dishes and utensils not only serve but adorn the home. Most of the +implements and fittings are made of coloured metals or alloys. Many of +the cups and vessels are beautifully cut from shells and diamonds, +rubies, or other precious stones. Statuary, manuscripts, and musical +instruments, bespeak their taste and genius for the fine arts. + +Their love of Nature is also shown in their gardens and pleasure +grounds, which are stocked with the rarest flowers, fruits, and pet +animals; such as bright fishes, luminous frogs and moths, singing birds, +and so forth, none of which are captives in the strict sense of the +word. + +Members of one family live under the same roof, or at all events within +the same ground. The father is head of the household, and the highest in +authority. The mother is next, and the children follow in the order of +their age. They hold that the proper place for the woman is between the +man and the child, and that her nature, which partakes of both, fits +her for it. On the rare occasions when authority needs to be exercised +it is promptly obeyed. All the members of the family mix freely together +in mutual confidence and love, with reverence, but not fear. They are +very clean and dainty in their habits. To every house, either in an open +court or in the garden, there is a bathing pond of running water, with a +fountain playing in the middle, where they can bathe at any time without +going to the lake. + +They deem it not only gross to eat flesh or fish, but also barbarous, +nay cruel, to enjoy and sustain their own lives through the suffering +and death of other creatures. This feeling, or prejudice as some would +call it, extends even to eggs. They live chiefly on fruits, nuts, edible +flowers, grain, herbs, gums, and roots, which are in great profusion. I +did not see any alcoholic, or at least intoxicating beverages amongst +them. Their drink is water, either pure or else from mineral springs, +and the delectable juices of certain fruits and plants. They eat +together, chatting merrily the while, and afterwards recline on couches +listening to some tale, or song, or piece of music, but taking care not +to fall asleep, as they believe it is injurious. + +They rejoice when a child is born, and cherish it as the most holy +gift. For the first eight or ten years of its life it is left as much as +possible to the teaching of Nature, care being taken to guard it from +serious harm. It is allowed to run wild about the gardens and fields, +developing its bodily powers in play, and gaining a practical experience +of the most elementary facts. After that it goes to school, at first for +a short time, then, as it becomes used to the confinement and study, for +a longer and longer period each day. Their end in education is to +produce noble men and women; that is to say, physical, moral, and +intellectual beauty by assisting the natural growth. They hold it a sin +to falsify or distort the mind, as well as the soul or body of a child. +They seem to be as careful to cultivate the genius and temperament as +the heart and conscience. Their object is to train and form the pupil +according to the intention of Nature without forcing him beyond his +strength, or into an artificial mould. Studious to preserve the harmony +and unity of mind, soul, and body, they never foster one to the +detriment of the others, but seek to develop the whole person. + +It is not so much words as things, not so much facts, dates, and +figures, as principles, ideas, and sentiments, which they endeavour to +teach. The scholar is made familiar with what he is told by observation +and experience whenever it is possible, for that is how Nature teaches. +Precept, they say, is good, and example is better; but an ideal of +perfection is best of all. + +At first more attention is paid to the cultivation of the body than the +mind. Not only are the boys and girls trained in open-air gymnasia, or +contend in games, but they also work in the gardens, and during the +holidays are sent into the wilderness under the guidance of their +elders, especially their elder brothers, to rough it there in primitive +freedom. + +The first lessons of the pupil are very short and simple, but as his +mind ripens they become longer and more difficult. The education of the +soul precedes that of the mind. They wish to make their children good +before they make them clever; and good by the feelings of the heart +rather than the instruction of the head. Every care is taken to refine +and strengthen the sentiments and instincts, the conscience, good sense +and taste, as well as the affections, filial piety, friendship, and the +love of Nature. Spiritual and moral ideals are inculcated by means of +innocent and simple tales or narratives. Children are taught to obey the +authority placed over them, or in their own breast, and to sacrifice all +to their duty. The conduct of the teacher must be irreproachable, +because he is a model to them; but while they look upon him as their +friend and guide, he leaves them free to choose their own companions and +amuse themselves in their own way. + +In the cultivation of the mind they give the first and foremost place to +the imagination. The reason, they say, is mechanical, and cannot rise +above the known; that is to say, the real; whereas the imagination is +creative and attains to the unknown, the ideal. Its highest work is the +creation of beauty. Because it is unruly, and precarious in its action, +however, the imagination requires the most careful guidance, and the +assistance of the reason. Students are taught to idealise and invent, as +well as to analyse and reason, but without disturbing the equilibrium of +the faculties by acquiring a pronounced habit of one or the other. It is +better, they say, to be reasonable than a reasoner; to be imaginative +than a dreamer; and to have discernment or insight than mere knowledge. + +The most important study of all is the art of living, or in other words +the art of leading a simple, noble, and beautiful life. It finishes +their education, and consists in the reduction of their highest precepts +and ideals to practice. The reasons for every lesson are given so far +as they are known, and they are always founded in the nature of things. +A pupil is taught to act in a particular way, not in the hope of a +reward or in the fear of punishment, but because it would be contrary to +the laws of matter and spirit to act otherwise; in short, because it is +right. They hold that life is its own end as well as its own reward. +According as it is good or bad, so it achieves or fails of its purpose, +and is happy or miserable. We are happy by our emotions or feelings, and +through these by our actions. Happiness comes from goodness, but is not +perfect without health, beauty, and fitness: hence the pupils are taught +self-regulation, practical hygiene, and a graceful manner. Indeed, their +passion for beauty is such that they regard nothing as perfect until it +is beautiful. + +As beauty of mind, soul, and body, is their aim, a beautiful person is +held in the highest honour. Prizes are offered for beauty, and statues +are erected to the winners. Many are called after some particular trait; +for example, "Timare of the lovely toes," and a pretty eyelash is a +title to public fame. Beauty they say is twice blessed, since it pleases +the possessor as well as others. + +The sense of existence, apart from what they do or gain, is their chief +happiness. Their "ealo," or the height of felicity, is a passive rather +than an active state. It is (if I am not mistaken) a kind of serene +rapture or tranquil ecstasy of the soul, which is born doubtless from a +perfect harmony between the person and his environment. In it, they say, +the illusion of the world is complete, and life is another name for +music and love. + +As far as I could learn, this condition, though independent of sexual +love, is enhanced by it. On the one hand it is spoiled by too much +thought, and on the other by too much passion. They cherish it as they +cherish all the natural illusions (which are sacred in their eyes), but +being a state of repose it is transient, and only to be enjoyed from +time to time. + +Since an unfit employment is a mistake, and a source of unhappiness, +everyone is free to choose the work that suits his nature. Parents and +teachers only help him to discover himself. One is called to his work by +a love for it, and the pleasure he takes in doing it easily and well. If +his bent is vague or tardy, he is allowed to change, and feel his way to +it by trial. Since the work or vocation is not a means of living, there +is no compulsion in it. Their aim is to do right in carrying out the +true intentions of Nature. + +For the same reason everyone is free to choose the partner of his life. +They are monogamists, and believe that nothing can justify marriage but +love on both sides. The rite is very simple, and consists in the elected +pair sipping from the same dish of sacred water. It is called "drinking +of the cup." + +Most of them die gradually of old age, and they do not seem to share our +fear and horror of death, but to regard it with a sad and pleasing +melancholy. The body is reduced to ashes on a pyre of fragrant wood, and +the songs they sing around it only breathe a tender regret for their +loss, mingled with a joyful hope of meeting again. They neither preserve +the dust as a memento, nor wear any kind of mourning; but they cherish +the memory of the absent in their hearts. + +They believe that labour like virtue is a necessity, and its own reward; +but it is moderate labour of the right sort, which is a blessing and not +a curse. They all seem happy at their work, which is often cheered by +music, songs, or tales. Everyone enjoys his task, and tries to attain +the perfection of skill and grace. Those who excel are honoured, and +sometimes commemorated with statues. + +They seem artists in all, and above all. They hold that every beautiful +thing has a use, and they never make a useful thing without beauty. +Apart from portraits, their pictures and statuary are mostly historical, +or else ideal representations. Many of these are typical of life; for +example, a boy at play, a pair of lovers, a mother weaning her child, +and the parting of friends. The ideal of art is to them not merely a +show to please the eye for a while, but a model to be realised in their +own lives; and I daresay it has helped to make them such a fine people. +They are clever architects and gardeners. Indeed, the whole country may +be described as a vast ornamental garden. In the middle zone, which +borders on the wilderness, their wonderful art of beautifying natural +scenery is at its best. They have a good many simple machines and +implements, but I should not call them a scientific people. Gazen, who +enquired into the matter, was told by Otare, himself an artist, by the +way, that science in their opinion had a tendency to destroy the +illusion of Nature and impair the finer sentiments and spontaneity of +the soul; hence they left the systematic study of it to the few who +possess a decided bias for it. As a rule they are content to admire. + +They have many books of various kinds, either printed or finely written +and illustrated by hand. I should say their favourite reading was +history and travels, or else poetry and fiction; anything having a +human interest, more especially of a pathetic order. Everyone is taught +to read aloud, and if he possess the voice and talent, to recite. Poets +are highly esteemed, and not only read their poems to the people, but +also teach elocution. They have dramatic performances on certain days, +and seem to prefer tragedies or affecting plays, perhaps because these +awaken feelings which their happy lot in general permits to sleep. They +are very fond of music, and can all sing or play on some musical +instrument. Their favourite melodies are mostly in a minor key, and they +dislike noisy music; indeed, noise of any sort. Gesture and the dance +are fine arts, and they can imitate almost any action without words. A +favourite amusement is to gather in the dusk of the evening, crowned +with flowers, or wearing fanciful dresses, and sing or dance together by +the light of the fire-flies. + +The inhabitants of the whole island live as one happy family. +Recognising their kinship by intermarriage, and their isolation in the +world, they never forget that the good or ill of a part is the good or +ill of the whole, and their object is to secure the happiness of one and +all. It is considered right to help another in trouble before thinking +of oneself. + +When Gazen explained the doctrine of "the struggle for existence ending +in the survival of the fittest" to Otare, he replied that it was an +excellent principle for snakes; but he considered it beneath the dignity +and wisdom of men to struggle for a life which could be maintained by +the labour of love, and ought to be devoted to rational or spiritual +enjoyment. + +Thanks to the helpful spirit which animates them, and the bounty of +Nature, nobody is ever in want. As a rule, the garden around each home +provides for the family, and any surplus goes to the public stores, or +rather free tables, where anyone takes what he may require. + +As I have already hinted, personal merit of every kind is honoured +amongst them. + +Dinus, the gentleman who received us on the night of our arrival, is the +chief man or head of the community, and was appointed to the post for +his wisdom, character, and age. He is assisted in the government by a +council of a hundred men, and there are district officers in various +parts of the country. + +They have no laws, or at all events their old laws have become a dead +letter. Custom and public opinion take their place. Crime is practically +unknown amongst them, and when a misdemeanour is committed the culprit +is in general sufficiently punished by his own shame and remorse. +However, they have certain humane penalties, such as fines or +restitution of stolen goods; but they never resort to violence or take +life, and only in extreme cases of depravity and madness do they +infringe on the liberty of an individual. + +Quarrels and sickness of mind or body are almost unknown amongst them. +The care and cure of the person is a portion of the art of life as it is +taught in the schools. + +An account of this remarkable people would not be complete without some +reference to their religion; but owing to their reticence on sacred +subjects, and the shortness of our visit, I was unable to learn much +about it. They believe, however, in a Supreme Being, whom they only name +by epithets such as "The Giver" or "The Divine Artist." They also +believe in the immortality of the soul. One of their proverbs, "Life is +good, and good is life," implies that goodness means life, and badness +death. They hold that every thought, word, and deed, is by the nature of +things its own reward or punishment, here or hereafter. Their ideals of +childlike innocence, and the reign of love, seem to be essentially +Christian. Their solicitude and kindness extends to all that lives and +suffers, and they regard the world around them as a divine work which +they are to reverence and perfect. + +Our visit fell during a great religious festival and holiday, which they +keep once a year, and by the courtesy of Dinus, or his son, we witnessed +many of their sacred concerts, dances, games, and other celebrations. Of +these, however, I shall only describe the principal ceremony, which is +called "Plucking the Flower," and appears to symbolise the passage of +the soul into a higher life. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE FLOWER OF THE SOUL. + + +Early on the chief day of the festival Otare came and took us to see the +mystical rite of cutting the "Flower of the Soul." + +The morning was fine, and the clear waters of the lake were bright with +boats filled with joyous parties bound like ourselves for the Holy +Island. + +Landing at a noble quay of red granite, we climbed the steep and shaggy +sides of the mountain by a sacred and winding avenue, bordered with +blooming trees and statuary. Most of the figures were exquisitely carved +in a white wood or stone, having a pearly sheen, and represented the +former priestesses of the Temple, or illustrated the animating spirit of +the cult. + +On gaining the summit we found ourselves at the brim of a spacious +hollow or basin, which in past ages must have been the crater of the +volcanic peak. The grassy slopes of the basin were laid out in flower +gardens and terraces of coloured marbles, shaded with sombre trees, and +ornamented with sculpture. In the bottom lay an oval sheet of water a +mile long or more, and from the midst of it, towards the near end, a +beautiful islet, crowned by a magnificent temple, rose like a mirage to +the view, and seemed to float on its glassy bosom. + +Words of mine cannot give any idea of that sublime architecture, which +resembled no earthly order, though it seemed to partake of both the +Saracenic and the Indian. Fragrant timber, precious stones, and +burnished metals; in fine, the richest materials known to the builders, +had been united with consummate art into one harmonious emblem of their +faith. The first beams of the rising sun blazed on its golden roof and +fretted pinnacles of diamond, and ruby, sapphire, topaz, and emerald; +but the lower part was still in shadow. Nevertheless, we could +distinguish a grand portal in the southern front, which faced the sun, +and a broad flight of marble steps descending from it into the water; +but the massive doors were shut, and not a soul was to be seen about the +temple. + +As the worshippers arrived they seated themselves on the turf amongst +the flowering shrubs, or on the benches along the terraces, and either +spoke in subdued tones, or preserved a religious silence. Otare led us +to a kind of throne or stand facing the temple, and raised above the +other seats, where his father, as chief of the community, sat in state. +Dinus received us with his usual gracious dignity, and gave us chairs on +his right and left hand. + +From this height we enjoyed a splendid panorama of the Craterland, at +least that portion which had already caught the sunshine. It lay beneath +us like a picture, the surface rising in a series of zones from the +central sea, which mirrored the serene azure and plume-like vapours of +the heavens, through the sweet meadows, and the smiling gardens, to the +luxuriant wilderness beyond; and we could plainly see the shadow of the +bounding rampart shrink towards the south as the sun mounted higher and +higher. + +It was a lovely dawn. A rosy mist hung like a veil of gauze over the +southern sky, and from behind a bar of purple cloud, lined with gold, +which rested on the summit of the cliffs, a coronet of auroral beams or +crepuscular rays, blue on a pink ground, shot upwards, heralding the +advent of the sun, and reminding me of the ancient simile of the earth +as a bride awaiting the arrival of her lord. + +At length the first glowing tip of the solar disc peeped over the rim +of the crater, and a deep low murmur, swelling to a shrill cry, ascended +from the passive multitude. + +All the people rose to their feet, and every eye was turned on the south +front of the temple, which was now illuminated to the edge of the water. +As the sunlight crept over the surface it sparkled on the dense foliage +of what seemed a bed of water-lilies flourishing quite close to the +marble stairs. + +Presently a rich and stately barge, moved by crimson oars, and enlivened +with young girls draped in sky-blue, was seen to glide round a corner of +the temple, and come to rest beside the water-lilies. + +A deep silence, as of breathless expectation, fell upon the vast +assembly, and then, without other warning, the great purple doors of the +temple swung open, and revealed a white-robed figure walking at the head +of a glittering procession of maidens decked in jewels and luminous +scarves, which vied with the colours of the rainbow. It was the young +priestess and her train of virgins. + +Simultaneously the immense multitude raised their voices in a sacred +hymn of melting sweetness, very low at first, but gathering volume as +the priestess descended the marble stairs to the waterside. + +Here, on the lowest of the steps, one of her maidens put into her hand +a sacred knife or sickle, which, as Otare informed us had a blade of +gold, and a handle of opal. The woman then retired, and we saw her stand +erect for a moment in the full blaze of the mellow sunlight, with her +golden hair falling about her in a kind of glory, and stretch out her +arms towards the sun in a superb attitude of adoration. Then, with a +slow and swan-like movement, she entered the water, and wading among the +lilies, cut the sacred blossom, and held it aloft in triumph, while the +music swelled to a mighty paean of thanksgiving and praise. + +After that she went on board the barge, which had been waiting for her, +and was rowed around the border of the lake not far from the shore, so +that the onlookers might see the loveliness of the flower, and even +smell its perfume. The barge was not unlike an ancient galley in shape, +but ornately curved like the proa of a South Sea Islander. The rowers +were concealed underneath the deck, but the crimson oars kept time to +the music of their voices, and the spectators joined in the song as the +vessel glided onwards. + +As for the priestess, she lay reclining under a golden canopy on the +poop, with her face half turned towards the people, and holding the +sacred lily in her hand, whilst two of her maidens fanned her with +brilliant plumes, + + "And made their bends adorning." + +Ever since she had come out of the temple I had scarcely taken my eyes +off her, and now that I could see the marvellous beauty of her +countenance, I was absolutely fascinated. Never shall I forget these +moments as long as I live, and yet I cannot give a clear and connected +relation of them. I see only a picture in my mind of a purple couch +under a golden canopy, a fair form, a beautiful head crowned with golden +hair, a glowing arm holding a white flower on its long green stalk. +Suddenly, as if impelled by an instinct, she turns her face full upon me +as the barge comes opposite to her father's throne. I see her great +violet eyes fixed upon mine as though she would read into my very soul. +I do not shrink from that pure search. On the contrary, I feel myself +drawn towards her by an irresistible attraction, and return her gaze. + +She does not look away. She smiles--yes, she smiles upon me, and +inclines her head to see me, like a sunflower following the sun, as she +is floating past. + +From that moment I was an altered man. The vision of that peerless +beauty had worked a miracle in my nature. A strange peace, an +unfathomable joy, I should rather say an ecstacy of bliss, reigned in my +heart. I felt that I had found something for which my soul had craved +without knowing it, and had been seeking unawares--something beyond all +price, which is not merely the best that life, eternity, can offer; but +gives to life, eternity, an inestimable value--I felt that I had found +the counterpart of myself--the celestial mate of my spirit. Henceforth +there was only one woman in the world, in the universe, for me. A +mysterious instinct whispered that we belonged to each other--that this +incomparable creature was mine by an inviolable right, if not on this +side of time at all events hereafter, and for ever. I felt, too, that my +own being had now completed its development, and burst into bloom like a +plant under the vivifying rays of the sun. + +Exulting in my new-found happiness, and overcome with gratitude for it, +I watched the receding boat in a sort of trance until the matter-of-fact +voice of Gazen broke the spell. + +"Prettiest sight I ever saw in my life," said he to Otare. "Quite a +living picture." + +"I am glad you like it," responded Otare evidently gratified. + +"But what is the good of it?" enquired the professor. + +"The good of it?" rejoined the Venusian; "it is beautiful, and gives us +pleasure." + +"Oh, of course; but what is the meaning--the inner meaning of it?" + +"Ah! the meaning of it," said Otare, a new light breaking on him, "I +will explain. You saw the flower which the priestess cut and carried in +her hand--?" + +"A kind of water-lily, is it not?" + +"Yes, it is the Sacred Lily. The plant is rooted in the mire at the +bottom of the pond, and grows up through the water to the surface. The +stem rises in a serpentine curve, and terminates in a flower-bud, which +opens with a sigh of delight when the sun strikes upon it, and fills the +air with its perfume." + +"A sigh, did you say?" + +"Yes, a low sweet sound resembling a sigh. The flower is white--'living +white'--that is to say, white shot with many colours like the opal. We +call it the Sun Lily, or 'Flower of the Soul.'" + +"Why 'Flower of the Soul?'" + +"Because we say it has the infinite and ever-changing beauty of the +soul. It is an emblem of Love, and its manifestations--beauty, genius, +holiness. In particular it signifies the birth or awakening of love in +the human soul. As the plant may be said to exist for the flower, its +chief glory, so the man attains his perfection through love, which +confers a boundless and immortal worth upon his life. As the root takes +from the soil and the flower brings forth the fruit, so hate feeds upon +the ill, and love dies for the good of others. It also represents the +human race, for man, and especially woman, may be regarded as the flower +of this lower world. Moreover, the entire plant, root, stem, and flower, +is symbolical of all creation, and some of our poets have named it the +'Lily of Life.' For as the plant begins in the black earth to end in the +sunny ether, so the world, the universe, begins in chaos and darkness, +to end in light and order; begins in matter and force, to end in life +and spirit--begins in hate and selfishness, to end in love and +self-sacrifice--begins in ugliness, to end in beauty. Thus the flower +and root stand for the upper and lower limits or poles of nature, and +the stalk which joins them for the upward range or path of creation. It +is a beautiful stem, curving in opposite ways like a serpent, or the +side of a wave; in fact, it is the most beautiful curve we know--it runs +like this." + +Here Otare described a flamboyant curve in the air with his finger. + +"If I'm not mistaken it is what our artists call the 'line of beauty,'" +observed Gazen. + +"Oh, indeed!" responded Otare, with pleased surprise. "Well, with us it +is a symbol of the continuous unfolding of things; the graceful progress +of development." + +"So the path of evolution is the 'line of beauty,'" said the professor. + +"Apparently," rejoined Otare, "and as the ends of the curve point +oppositely, we say that a thing has not reached its final stage--that +its development is not complete--until it has turned to its opposite. +Thus man is not a finished being until hate and selfishness have turned +to love and self-sacrifice. The flower of the soul is love, and as the +sun is an emblem of the divine love, when the sacred lily opens and +displays all its beauty in the sunshine, it means to us that the flower +of the soul blooms in the smile of 'The Giver.'" + +"I see," said the professor; "and what is done with the flower?" + +"It is an offering," replied Otare, "and after the Priestess of the +Lily, or Priestess of the Sun, as we call her, has shown it to the +people it will be treasured in the temple, and will never fade." + +"Beautiful woman, the priestess! And so young." + +"She is barely seventeen. The Priestess of the Sun Lily must be in the +flower of her age, and the early dawn of her womanhood. Every year by +the popular voice she is chosen from all the maidens of the country for +her intelligence, beauty, and goodness. For a year before the ceremony +she lives in the temple with her maidens, and never leaves the sacred +island, or has any visitors from the outer world. During this period she +undergoes a preparation and purification for the fulfilment of her holy +office--the culling of the flower. It consists mainly in the study of +our sacred writings, the eating of a certain food, and bathing in the +waters of a holy fountain, which issues from the rock in a sacred grotto +of the island. When the ceremony of cutting the lily is over, and the +holy month has expired, that is to say in ten days from now, she will +leave the temple and return to her family. Another girl will take her +place--the priestess appointed for the coming year--in fact, the maiden +who gave her the sickle." + +I had listened to this conversation with breathless interest, but +without daring to take part in it. + +"Will she ever marry?" enquired Gazen. + +I waited for the answer with a beating heart. + +"Oh, yes," replied Otare, "why not? She will marry if she finds a lover +whom she can love. There are many who admire Alumion." + +"What of yourself?" asked the professor, smiling pointedly. "You seem to +know a good deal about her." + +"I am her brother." + +Nothing more was said, for at this moment the barge was seen coming from +behind the temple, after having made a round of the spectators, and +presently drew up at the marble stairs. Again the doors swung open, and +the maidens reappeared to welcome their mistress with a song of joy. I +saw her ascend the steps bearing the lily in her hand, then turn and +wave an adieu to the multitude, who responded by a parting hymn as the +great purple valves closed together and rapt her from my sight. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ALUMION. + + +Alumion--Alumion--I could think of nothing but Alumion. Her very name +was music in my ears, and her image in my heart was a perpetual banquet +of delight I had never known such felicity before. My inclination for +Miss Carmichael and every other transient affection or interest I may +have felt was altogether of a lower strain--with one exception, a boyish +admiration for a school girl who died a mere child. The ethereal flame +of this new passion seemed to purify all that was earthly, and exalt all +that was celestial in my nature. This beautiful land, so green and +smiling under a sky of serene azure and snowy wreaths, became as the +highest heaven to me, and I wandered about in a dream of ecstacy like +one of the blessed gods inebriated with nectar. + +I avoided my travelling companions. Their worldly conversation jarred on +the mood I was in, and I preferred my own thoughts to their pursuits. +As my sole desire was to hear about Alumion, and if possible to see her +again, I courted the society of Dinus and Otare. I knew, of course, that +in ten days she would return to her family, but I thought I might be +able to visit the temple and perhaps get a glimpse of her. However, I +learned from her father that during the sacred festival the temple was +closed to the outer world. It was not indeed forbidden to land on the +holy island, but it was considered a sacrilege for anyone not having +business there to enter the precincts of the temple, excepting on the +day of the ceremony which had just taken place. While bound to respect +this taboo, I was, nevertheless, drawn by an irresistible attraction to +the island, where I frequently spent hours in sailing about the wooded +shores, or loitering in the sacred avenue, hoping against hope that I +might see her passing by or in the distance. Although I was not so +fortunate, I enjoyed the satisfaction of being nearer to her, and as the +island seemed a perfect solitude, I could indulge my reverie in peace. + +At last I made a discovery. In describing the ceremony of the Flower, +Otare had spoken of a sacred grotto where the priestess went to bathe, +and on questioning him further, I ascertained that it was situated on +the shore of the island in a bay or inlet to the eastward of the quay, +and that she took her customary bath at set of sun. + +That afternoon I made a thorough search and found a cavern in the rock +close to the beach of a secluded cove which I had overlooked until then. +A footpath, winding down the mountain side through the forest led to its +mouth, which was overhung and almost hid by a rich creeper with large +crimson blossoms. It was evidently the spot mentioned by Otare, but +wishing to make sure, and impelled by curiosity in spite of a more +hallowed feeling, I lifted the creeper and was about to peer into the +darkness, when a sudden noise within made me jump back with affright. It +was the most horrible and excruciating shriek I had ever heard in my +life. If anyone by a refinement of cruelty were to compound a torture +for the ears, I do not think he could produce anything half so piercing, +gruesome, and discordant. + +It seemed the cry of an animal--a wild beast--and I began to think I was +mistaken in the place; but the sun was near its setting now, and it was +too late to seek further afield. I therefore returned to my boat and +withdrew under the overarching boughs of some trees where I could see +without being seen. + +I had not long to wait. Between the flowering shrubs I noticed that a +figure--a woman by her undulating grace--was coming down the path. A +thin wrap or veil of changing stuff, with gleams of azure and fiery red, +was flung about her person. Presently she stepped upon the beach into +the mellow gloaming, and stood like a statue, with her eyes bent on the +sinking orb, which threw a trail of splendour across the lake. + +It was the priestess, and apparently alone. A closer view of her person +brought me no disenchantment. Perfect beauty, like the sublime, produces +an impression of the infinite, and I only speak the literal truth when I +say that she appeared infinitely beautiful to me. Her golden hair, +rippling over the delicate ear and gathered into a knot behind, her +large violet eyes and blooming white skin, her Grecian profile and +stately yet flowing form, might have become an Aphrodite of Xeuxis or +Praxiteles; but her serene and gracious countenance beamed with a pure +seraphic light which is wanting to the classical goddess, and must be +sought in the Madonnas of Raphael. Moreover, she had an indescribable +look of girlish innocence, winsome sweetness, and pitiful tenderness, +which belonged to none of these ideals, and marked her as a simple, +loving, perishable child of earth. + +I gazed upon her marvellous beauty with a kind of religious veneration, +at once attracted by her womanly charm and awed by her god-like dignity, +yet with a strange, a divine state of repose and pure rapture in my +heart for which there is no name. + +Would that the happiness, the bliss of looking upon her, of being near +her, might have lasted for ever! + +I knew, however, that she would soon enter the grotto and be lost to me. +Should I speak? In this fraternal community what was there to prevent +it? Something held me back. Otare had said that the priestess was +isolated from the outer world during her year of office; but that was +only a general statement. Mine was a peculiar case. I was a stranger. I +did not belong to their world, and was not supposed to know the ins and +outs of their customs. Besides, why should custom stand between such a +love as mine and its object? Conventional propriety was for the pitiful +earth and its wretched abortive passions. Perhaps I should frighten her? +No, I did not believe it. In this golden land even the birds seemed +fearless. As well think to frighten an angel in Heaven. + +While I was debating the question within myself she glanced into the +foliage where I was hidden. How my heart throbbed! I fancied that she +saw me, and trembled with emotion; but I was mistaken, for she turned +and walked towards the cavern. + +Suddenly I remembered the alarming sound within the cave, and breaking +through the covert, called after her. + +"Take care, take care! There is a wild beast in the grotto. I heard it +cry." + +She looked round and started when she saw me. The surprise, visible on +her face, seemed to melt into recognition. + +"It is kind of you to warn me," she responded with a frank smile, "but I +am not in danger. There is no wild animal inside." + +Her low sweet voice was quite in keeping with her beauty. Every note +rung clear and melodious as a bell. + +"But the awful cry?" I rejoined with a puzzled air. + +"Was that of a particular pet of mine," she answered laughingly. + +"Pardon me," said I smiling for company, "I am a stranger here, as you +can see, and did not know any better." + +"You are one of the travellers from another world, are you not?" + +"Ah! you have heard of our arrival." + +"Oh yes! An event so important was not kept from me. I saw you sitting +beside my father on the day of the Flower, and I knew you again. I am +afraid our country will seem very odd to you. Have you enjoyed your +stay?" + +"So much. I cannot tell you how much." + +"I hope you will remain with us a long time." + +"I should like to stop here for ever." + +She blushed and smiled with pleasure at these words, then, raising her +arms in a noble salute, inclined her head, and entered the cavern. + +I returned to the car in a delirium of happiness. I had seen her again, +I had actually spoken with her. _She knew me!_ Every detail of her look +and accent was indelibly printed on my memory. All next day I wandered +about in a kind of transport, feasting on the recollection of what had +passed between us, and revolving over my future course of action. In two +days the holy time would end, and I should have an opportunity of +meeting her at home; but with the chance of seeing her again at the +grotto, I could not wait. I was allured towards her by the most +delicious fascination. Such a love as mine looked down upon the petty +proprieties which keep lovers apart, yet are sometimes so needful in our +wicked world. In this noble planet life was free and simple, because it +was beautiful and good. I determined to revisit the cove that evening, +and if I should see her again, to declare my secret. + +Had I counted the cost? With such a passion it is not a question of +cost. I was well aware that if she did not reciprocate my affection she +would never marry me. Nor did I wish it otherwise. I would not ask her +to sacrifice herself for my sake. If, as my heart fondly hoped, she +accepted me, I would not allow anything to stand between us for a +moment. I would abandon the expedition if necessary, and remain in +Venus. If, on the other hand, she refused me as my judgment feared, I +would return to the earth as a new man, ennobled by a glorious love, +reverencing myself that I was capable of it, cherishing her image in my +heart as the ideal of womanhood, and grateful for having seen and known +her. Surely a rich reward for all the perils of the journey. + +Sunset found me in the cove, not hidden by the leaves as before, but +sitting in the boat astrand. She came. To-night her veil was of a golden +yellow shading into dark green. A beautiful smile of recognition passed +over her face when she saw me, and we greeted one another in the +graceful fashion of the country. + +I did not speak of the weather or give an excuse for my presence there, +as I might have done to a woman of the world. With Alumion I felt that +all such artificial forms were idle, and that I could reveal my inmost +soul without disguise, in all its naked sincerity. + +"I have brought you some flowers," said I, offering her a nosegay which +I had picked. "Will you accept them?" + +"I thank you," she replied with a beaming smile as she came and took +them from my hand. "They are very beautiful, and I shall keep them for +your sake." + +"For my sake!" + +Inspired by love I continued in a voice trembling with emotion, + +"Alumion--can you not guess what brings me here?" + +A blush rose to her cheek as she bent over the flowers. + +"It is because I love you," said I; "because I have loved you ever since +I saw you on the day you cut the sacred lily; because I love +you--worship you--with all my heart and soul." + +She was silent. + +"If I am wrong, forgive me," I went on in a pleading tone. "Blame the +spell your beauty has cast over me, but do not banish me from your +presence, which is life and light to me." + +"Wrong!" she murmured, lifting her wondrous eyes to mine. "Can it be +wrong to love, or to speak of love? Why should I send you away from me +because you love me? Is not love the glory of the heart, as the sun is +the glory of the world? Rejoice, then, in your love as I do in mine." + +"As you do?" + +"Yes, as I do. I should have spoken sooner, but my heart was full of +happiness. For I also love you. I have loved you from the beginning." + +With a cry of unspeakable joy I sprang from the boat, and would have +flung myself at her feet to kiss her hand or the hem of her garment, but +she drew back with a look of apprehension. + +"Touch me not," she said gravely, "for by the custom of our land I am +holy. Until to-morrow at sunset I am consecrated to The Giver." + +"Pardon my ignorance," I responded rather crestfallen. "Your will shall +be my law. I only wished to manifest my eternal gratitude and devotion +to you." + +"Kneel not to me," she rejoined, "but rather to The Giver, who has so +strangely brought us together. How many ages we might have wandered +from world to world without finding each other again!" + +"You think we have met before then?" I enquired eagerly, for the same +thought had been haunting my own mind. It seemed to me that I had known +Alumion always. + +"Assuredly," she replied, "for you and I are kindred souls who have been +separated in another world, by death or evil; and now that we have met +again, let us be faithful and loving to each other." + +"Nothing shall separate us any more." + +The words had scarcely passed my lips when the same terrible cry which I +had heard once before sounded from the interior of the grotto. + +Alumion called or rather sang out a response to the cry, which I did not +understand, then said to me in her ordinary voice, + +"It is Siloo. I must go now and give him food." + +I was curious to know who or what was Siloo, but did not dare to ask. +She raised her arms gracefully and smiled a sweet farewell. + +"Are you going to leave me like that?" said I. + +"What would you have?" she answered, turning towards the cave. + +"In my country lovers bind themselves by mutual vows." + +"What need of vows? Have we not confessed our loves?" + +"Will you not tell me when I shall see you again? Will you not say when +you will be mine--when you will marry me?" + +A blush mounted to her cheek as she answered with a divine glance, + +"Meet me at sunset to-morrow, and I will be yours." + +As yet I had not mentioned my adventure with Alumion to any of my +companions, but that night I said to Gazen, as we smoked our cigars +together, + +"Wish me joy, old fellow! I am going to be married." + +He seemed quite dumbfounded, and I rather think he fancied that I must +have come to an understanding with Miss Carmichael. + +"Really!" said he with the air of a man plucking up heart after an +unexpected blow. "May I ask who is the lady?" + +"The Priestess of the Lily." + +"The Priestess!" he exclaimed utterly astonished, but at the same time +vastly relieved. "The Priestess! Come, now, you are joking." + +"Never was more serious in my life." + +Then I told him what had happened, how I had met her, and my engagement +to marry her. + +"If you will take my advice," said he dryly, "you'll do nothing of the +kind." + +"Why?" + +"Have you considered the matter?" he replied significantly. + +"Considered the matter! A love like mine does not 'consider the matter' +as though it were a problem in Euclid. With such a woman as Alumion a +lover does not stop to 'consider the matter,' unless he is a fool." + +"A woman--yes; but remember that she is a woman of another planet. She +might not make a suitable wife for you." + +"I love her. I love her as I can never love a woman of our world. She is +a thousand times more beautiful and good than any woman I have ever +known. She is an ideal woman--a perfect woman--an angel in human form." + +"That may be; but what will her family say?" + +"My dear Gazen, don't you know they manage these things better here. +Thank goodness, the 'family' does not interfere with love affairs in +this happy land! We love each other, we have agreed to be married, and +that is quite sufficient. No need to get the 'consent of the parents,' +or make a 'settlement,' or give out the banns, or buy a government +license as though a wife were contraband goods, or hire a string of +four-wheelers, or tip the pew-opener. What has love to do with +pew-openers? Why should the finest thing in life become the prey of such +vulgar parasites? Why should our heavenliest moments be profaned and +spoiled by needless worries--hateful to the name of love? Our wedding +will be very simple. We shall not even want you as groomsman or Miss +Carmichael as bridesmaid. I daresay we shall get along without cake and +speeches, and as for the rice and old boots, upon my word, I don't think +we shall miss them." + +"And if it is a fair question, when will the--the simple ceremony take +place?" + +"To-morrow evening." + +"To-morrow evening!" exclaimed the professor, taken by surprise. "I +thought a priestess could not marry." + +"To-morrow at sunset she will be a free woman. Her priesthood will come +to an end." + +"And--pardon me--but what are you going to do with her when you've got +her? Will you bring her home to the car--there is very little room here, +as you know. Do you propose to take her to the earth, where I'm afraid +she will probably die like a tender plant or a bird of paradise in a +cage? Do you think her father would consent to that?" + +"We are not going away just yet. There will be time enough to arrange +about that." + +"Well, we can't stay here much longer. I must get back to my work--and +you know we intended to pay a flying visit to Mercury, and if possible +to get a closer look at the sun." + +"All right. You can go as soon as you like. I shall remain behind. +Carmichael will take you to the earth, and then come back here for me." + +"You talk as if it were merely a question of a drive." + +"I think we have proved that it is not more dangerous to go from one +planet to another than it is to get about town." + +"If an accident _should_ occur. If Carmichael cannot return--" + +"I shall be much happier here than I should be on the earth. Even if I +had never met Alumion I think I should come back and stay on Venus." + +"It is certainly a better world, as far as we have seen, but remember +your own words, 'Man was made for the earth.' Don't you think this +eternal summer--these Elysian Fields--would pall upon you in course of +time? Constant bliss, like everlasting honey, might cloy your earthly +palate, and make you sigh for our poor, old, wicked, miserable world, +that in spite of all its faults and crimes, is yet so interesting, so +variable, so dramatic--so dear." + +"Never. With Alumion even Hades would be an Elysium." + +"Think of your friends at home, and what you owe to them; how they will +miss you." + +"I cannot be of much service to them. They will soon forget me." + +"Perhaps you are mistaken there," said Gazen, assuming a more serious +air. "In any case I for one shall miss you. In fact, to speak plainly, I +shall feel aggrieved--hurt. You and I are old friends, and when you +asked me to join you in this expedition I was moved by friendship as +well as interest. Certainly, I never dreamed that you would desert the +ship. I thought it was understood that we should sink or swim together. +If you leave us I shan't answer for the consequences. I appreciate the +dilemma in which you are placed, but surely friendship has a prior if a +weaker claim than love-passion. Surely you owe some allegiance to +Carmichael and myself." + +"What would you have me do?" + +"Only to carry out the original plan of the voyage. Promise me that you +will stick to the ship. Afterwards you can return to Venus and do as you +please. Stanley, you know, made his greatest journey into Africa between +his engagement and his marriage." + +"Very well, I promise." + +With an agitated mind I repaired to the tryst next evening and waited +for Alumion. How should I break the news to her, and how would she +receive it? + +The cool airs of the water, and the glorious pageant of the sunset +calmed my troubled spirit. All day the serene and beamy azure of the +heavens had been plumed with snowy cloudlets of graceful and capricious +form, which, as the sun sank to the horizon, were tinged with fleeting +glows resembling the iris of a dove's neck, or the hues of a dying +dolphin. The great luminary himself was lost in a golden glamour, and a +single bright star shone palely through a rosy mist, which covered all +the southern sky, like a diamond seen through a bridal veil of gauze. + +That lone star was the earth. + +Strange to say, I felt a kind of yearning towards it, a yearning as of +home-sickness, and it seemed to reproach me for having thought of +forsaking it. I wondered what my friends were doing now within that +blaze; perhaps they were looking at Venus and speculating on what I was +about. How delighted I should be to see them again, and show them my +incomparable wife--but could I ever take her there? + +Whilst I was musing, the low sweet voice of Alumion thrilled me to the +marrow. I turned and saw her. She was dressed to-night in a filmy +vesture of opalescent or pearly white, partly diaphanous, and having a +deep fringe of gold. There was a pink blush on her cheek and a sparkle +of girlish love in her celestial eyes. Never had she seemed more +ravishingly beautiful. + + "Beauty too rare for use, for earth too dear." + +"You were gazing on the star. You did not hear my coming," she said with +a little feminine pout. + +"I was thinking of you, darling." + +She smiled again. + +"Is it not a lovely star?" she said. "We call it the star of Love--the +star of the Blest." + +"It is my home." + +"Your home!" she exclaimed with a look of surprise and wonderment. + +"You have heard that I come from another world." + +"Yes, but I did not know it was a star. And is that beautiful star your +home?" + +"Yes, beloved; and I am sorry to say I must return there soon again." + +"And I will go! You will take me with you to that fair world!" + +I thought of all the crime and folly, the deceit, violence, and +wretchedness lurking behind that pure and peaceful ray. Alas! how could +I tell her the truth and destroy her illusions. She was innocent as a +child, and an instinct warned me to keep the knowledge of evil from her, +while a contrary spirit urged me to speak. + +"You might not find it so fair as it looks from here." + +"I am sure it cannot be an evil world since you come from it. To us it +is a sacred star." + +"If the inhabitants could see it as I do now, perhaps the sight would +make them lead better lives--would shame them into being worthier of +their dwelling-place." + +"Are they not good?" she asked with a look of wonder and sorrowful +compassion. "Then how unhappy they must be." + +"Some are good and some are bad. Everything is mixed in our world--the +strong and the weak--the rich and the poor--the happy and the +miserable." + +"But do the good not help the bad?" + +"Yes, to a certain extent; but life is a struggle there; every man for +himself; and the good very often find it hard to secure a little +happiness for themselves." + +"How can they be happy when they know that others are suffering and in +want, that others are bad? I long to go and help them." + +"Darling, you are an angel, and I adore you; but, believe me, you alone +could do very little. One has already come and taught us how to love and +cherish each other, that the strong should help the weak, the rich give +to the poor, and the happy comfort the wretched. His followers believe +that He came from Heaven, and yet after nineteen hundred years I am +afraid that some of them do not fully understand the plain meaning of +His words, or else find it convenient to ignore them." + +"But many of us will go there. We will bring the sinful and the +suffering over here to Womla and make them happy." + +"I am touched by your simple faith in us, dearest It does you honour, +but I fear it is mistaken. What would you say if the very people you had +saved and befriended were to turn round and take your country from you, +perhaps even destroy you? Such ingratitude is not unknown in our +world." + +"If they are so wicked they have the more need of help." + +"In any case, darling, I cannot take you with me, for the vessel we came +in is too small; but I will come back as soon as possible and stay with +you in Womla. How happy we shall be!" + +"In Womla--no. We should not be quite at rest." + +"Then we shall seek out some desert star where we can live only for each +other." + +"You do not understand me. Neither in Womla nor in a desert star could +we be happy in a selfish love, knowing that others were in pain." + +"Better I had not spoken of my world at all." + +"No, a thousand times no!" cried Alumion with fervour. "For you have +opened up to me a new source of happiness--of blessedness which I have +never known before. Only let us go together to your world and minister +to the unfortunate." + +"Well, darling, we will think of it; but see! the sun has set and you +are free again. I came to marry you, but since I must return so soon to +my own world, perhaps it would be well to postpone the ceremony until I +come back here." + +"Why should we do that?" + +Evidently she had no idea of the dangers of the journey, or how long it +would take. + +"If anything should happen to me. If I should die and never return." + +"Ah! do not speak of that. The Giver will preserve you." + +"But life is uncertain." + +"Beloved, I shall never love another but you; therefore, let us unite +ourselves, as we are already united in heart and soul, henceforth and +forever. Come!" + +With these words she turned and glided towards the sacred grotto. I held +aside the flowering creeper which hung over the entrance like a curtain, +and followed her within. To my great surprise the interior was neither +dark nor dusky, but filled with a soft and luscious light from myriads +of glow-worms and fire-flies of various colours, which glimmered on the +walls like tiny electric lamps, or sparkled in the facets of the gems +and spars depending from the roof. Judging by their shape and tint I +imagine that some of these incrustations are native crystals of the +diamond and ruby, the sapphire, topaz, and emerald. In a deep recess or +alcove on one side a spring of clear water gushed from the rock into a +natural basin of sinter, enamelled inside and out with the precious +opal. Owing perhaps to the minerals through which it had passed the +liquid shed a delicious perfume in the air, and made a bath fit for the +goddess of beauty. + +I had scarcely time to look about me when a strange and wonderful melody +of most entrancing sweetness echoed through the cavern. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion softly, and the music, which I cannot +compare to any earthly strain, ceased in a moment. Presently I was more +than startled to see in the gloomier background of the cavern a great +white serpent glide like a ghost along the floor and come straight +towards us. His milk-white body was speckled all over with jewelled +scales, and shone with a pale blue phosphorescence; his eyes blazed in +his head like twin carbuncles, and in spite of my instinctive dread of +snakes, I could not help admiring his repulsive beauty. Presently he +reared his long neck, and faced us with his forked tongue playing out +and in. I shrank back, for I thought he was about to spring upon me; but +Alumion, laughing gaily at my fears, stepped quickly up to him, and +stroked him with her hand. The serpent laid his head caressingly upon +her shoulder and emitted a low faint note of pleasure. + +Alumion then took a shallow dish or patera, and, filling it from a vase +which she carried with her set it upon the floor for the snake to feed. + +"You don't seem to be afraid of that gruesome reptile," said I +pleasantly. + +"Oh, no," she replied smiling. "Siloo knows me very well." + +"Tell me, was it he who made the music a little while ago?" + +"Yes, and also the noise which alarmed you the first night you wandered +here. The music comes from his head, and the noise is from his tail. +That is why we call him Siloo." + +The word, as nearly as I can translate it, means harmony, order, +measure, proportion, in the Womla tongue. + +"Does he always live in this cave?" + +"Yes, he is a sacred animal with us, and long ago was worshipped and +consulted by our forefathers, and those who preceded them in the +island." + +"Is he very old?" + +"None can tell how old. Some say he is immortal. Others think he is only +the offspring of the snake worshipped by our forefathers. He is guardian +of the sacred fountain whose waters we are about to drink." + +When she had spoken, Alumion tripped to the flowing spring, and, taking +a cup which was standing on the edge of the basin, filled it from the +pellucid stream. + +"Give me your hand," she murmured, holding out her own, and lifting her +celestial eyes, so full of love and tenderness, to mine. It was a dainty +hand, plump, lilywhite, and dimpled, with tapering fingers; and as I +felt her warm and silk-soft touch for the first time, my soul melted +within me, and my whole being thrilled with delight. Her rosy lips +parted with pleasure, and a delicate blush mantled her blooming cheeks +and full white throat. + +I gazed in rapture on her divine countenance, so like a speaking flower, +the image of a beautiful soul on which neither sorrow, care, nor passion +had ever left a trace. + +She raised the cup, and having sipped of the water, handed it to me in +silence. I sought the place where her lips had touched the brim and +drank. Now whether it was phantasy or some foreign ingredient I cannot +tell, but the water seemed to taste like nectar, and to run through all +my veins like wine. + +The glamour of the lights and the perfume of the waters wrought upon my +senses, and, yielding to the intoxication of my love, I caught Alumion +to my arms. + +Suddenly the most appalling noise rent the air, and caused me to spring +back from my bride in terror. It came from the rattlesnake. His grisly +body swayed to and fro, his gaping mouth displayed all its horrid fangs, +and his large eyes burned like two red-hot coals. + +"Siloo, Siloo!" cried Alumion hastily in a tone of command. "Down, +Siloo!" + +The serpent at once obeyed her voice and retired again to his dish. + +"He thought I was going to harm you," I exclaimed, not without a sense +of relief. "Or perhaps he was jealous of me." + +"Remember this is holy ground," responded Alumion. + +"Forgive me," I said, feeling her reproof. "My love--your beauty--must +be my excuse." + +"We must part now," she continued, with a blinding glance and a +ravishing smile. "I have some last offices to perform here. We shall +meet to-morrow at my father's house." + +On my way home the blood coursed through my veins like an immortal ichor +of the gods, full of sweet and inextinguishable fire. Inebriated with +the cup of bliss which I had only tasted, I began to repent me of my +promise to leave Womla. + +"To-morrow Alumion will be mine," I reflected, "but for how long? A few +days at the most. It is too bad!" + +An idea struck me. + +"Gazen," said I that night as soon as I had a convenient opportunity to +speak with him, "I have married Alumion." + +"Married her!" he exclaimed, completely taken aback. + +"Yes, that is to say, I have gone through the formal ceremony of +marriage. I have drunk of the cup." + +"But you promised me you would do nothing of the kind." + +"I said I would go back to the earth with you, and I will keep my word. +But I must say that since I agreed to your wishes in the matter, I think +you owe me some concession, and I want you to leave me in Womla while +you go on to Mercury, and then come back here to pick me up. That will +give me a longer honeymoon." + +"Impossible, my dear fellow--quite impossible," replied the professor. +"Venus will be too far out of our way home. We have no oxygen to waste, +and can't go hunting you in your love affairs all round the solar +system." + +"Very well, then, I shall stay behind." + +"But, my dear fellow--" + +"Say no more about it. I have made up my mind." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE FLYING APE. + + +It was broad day when I awoke, and oppressively warm in the little +cabin. My first thoughts were of Alumion, the consecration of our loves, +and my resolution to abide in Venus. In getting up I felt so light and +buoyant that for a moment I fancied I must be giddy, but on reflection I +ascribed the sensation to the intoxication of passion, and the +exhilarating atmosphere of the planet. I looked out of a window towards +the blessed island of my dreams, and to my blank amazement found that +_it was gone!_ I could neither see anything of the lake, the square, nor +the town, but only a bare and rugged platform of weathered rocks, and +the cloudy sky above it. + +What was the matter? Had Gazen and Carmichael taken it into their heads +to make an excursion, such as we had often planned, in order to observe +something more of the country? Yes, that was it, no doubt. + +Under the circumstances I was far from pleased with them for having +carried me off without asking my leave, knowing as they should have +done, that I would be eager to rejoin Alumion; but experience of travel +had taught me that a man must not expect to have it all his own way, and +should know when to let his companions have theirs, and above all things +to keep his temper. I, therefore, decided to take their behaviour in +good part, more especially as we could always return to the capital as +quickly as we had come from it. + +Apparently there was nobody in the car but myself. Wondering, and +perhaps a trifle uneasy at the dead stillness, I dressed rapidly and +went outside. + +The welkin was wholly overcast with dense, murky vapours, which totally +hid the sun, and the air was excessively hot, moist, and sultry as +before a thunderstorm--an unusual phenomenon in Womla. Black boulders +and crags, speckled with lichens, and carpeted with coarse herbage, shut +out the prospect on every side but one, where the edge of the platform +on which the car was resting ran along the sky. I saw it all now. Gazen +and Carmichael had made a journey to the extreme verge of the country; +to the very summit of the precipice which surrounded the Crater Land. + +Picking my steps over the rough rocks like one who treads on air, I +hastened to the brink of the platform. If the car were on the further +side of the summit I should be able to see the wide ocean, but if, as I +fondly hoped, it were on the hither side, I should enjoy a far-off +glimpse of the city and its holy island, which had become a heaven to +me. How different was the scene which met my view! + +I was looking away over a vast plain towards a distant range of volcanic +mountains. A broad river wound through the midst between isolated +volcanoes, curling with smoke, and thick forests of a sable hue, or +expanded into marshy lakes half lost in brakes of grisly reeds, on the +margin of which living monsters were plashing in the mud, or soaring +into the air on dusky pinions. + +My first shock of surprise passed into a fearful admiration for the +savage and gloomy grandeur of the primeval landscape; but as that +feeling wore away the old irritation against my fellow-travellers came +back. From all I had heard or seen there was no such place as this in +Womla, and as it dawned upon me that they had migrated to some other +island, or perhaps continent in Venus, I forgot my good resolution, and +shouted indignantly, + +"Gazen, Gazen! Hallo there! Hallo!" + +There was no response, and the dead silence that swallowed up my voice +was awful. Had anything happened to my companions, and was I left alone +in this appalling solitude? Was I in my right senses, or was I not? I +shouted again at the very pitch of my voice, and this time an answering +cry came to my relief. On turning in the direction from which it +proceeded, I observed Professor Gazen coming slowly towards me, round a +mass of turretted rocks. + +"What is the meaning of all this?" I demanded petulantly, as he came +near, gingerly stepping from stone to stone. + +He made no reply, but seemed to be meditating what he would say. + +"A nice trick you've played me! Wherever have we got to?" + +"Mercury," replied Gazen coolly. + +"_Mercury!_" I exclaimed, fairly astounded. "Impossible!" + +"Not at all." + +"Oh, come!" said I sarcastically, "that won't do. A joke is a joke; but +I'm not in a merry mood this morning." + +"So I see. A laugh would do you good." + +"Well, where are we?" + +"In Mercury." + +"What nonsense!" I ejaculated. "Last night I went to bed in Venus, and +you want me to believe that I've woke up on Mercury. Tell that to the +marines." + +"Last night you say; but do you know how long you have slept? And have +you forgotten that we are now so near the sun--that the attraction of +the sun on the car has assisted the machines to propel us through the +intermediate space?" + +I had not thought of that. + +"Then it is true." + +"Of course." + +"And why have you come here--what authority--what right--had you to +carry me off in this manner without my consent?" I burst out angrily. +"You knew I had made up my mind to stay in Venus. I took you into my +confidence and told you about my love affair. Why have you betrayed that +confidence, and kidnapped me like a slave or a lunatic?" + +"Hear me, old friend," said Gazen softly. "We have all noticed a decided +change in you of late--ever since the day of the ceremony on the island. +You have been like a different person--absent in your mind--incoherent +in your speech--abrupt in your manner. You have forsaken your old +friends completely, and apparently lost all interest in their doings, +all desire for their company. In short, you have behaved like a man +beside himself, distraught. We could not make it out, and we had many +anxious consultations about the matter. I wondered whether you had had a +sunstroke. Carmichael suggested that the stimulating air of Venus had +affected your brain. Miss Carmichael alone suspected that you were in +love; but I would not believe her. I had been so much in your society +without having seen anything to justify her suspicion, and you yourself +had never breathed a word to lend it colour. Carmichael and I sought to +question you about your health, and the influence of the sun and air +upon you, while Miss Carmichael tried to draw you on the subject of the +ladies. All in vain. We could not solve the mystery, and as your +condition was evidently growing worse and worse, we resolved to leave +the planet. Although it was not in the original programme, we had +sometimes talked of extending our journey to Mercury, so as to visit all +the inferior planets, and give me an opportunity of getting as near the +sun as possible for my observations, and this project was made the +pretext for hastening our departure. + +"We submitted the plan to you, and you know the rest. After you had +given us your word of honour that you would break with the lady and +return home with us for the sake of your friends, after we had made all +our preparations to start, you came back at the eleventh hour, and +declared that you had made up your mind to stay behind. If anything had +been wanted to prove to us that you were hopelessly +infatuated--hypnotised--mad--it would have been that; and as we were +morally bound to fetch you back with us, we took the bull by the horns, +and carried you off in spite of yourself." + +"You had no business to do anything of the kind," I replied hotly. "I am +chiefly responsible for this expedition." + +"True; but you forget that Carmichael is the nominal leader, by your own +agreement, and we are all to some extent under his orders. I, too, was +bound in honour to bring you safe home if I could." + +"Bound in honour to take care of _me_! You treat me like a baby." + +"People don't come away on such an adventure as ours without a tacit if +not a formal understanding to protect each other to the best of their +ability, and besides, I had given my word to your friends that I would +do my best to help you through. When you come to your senses you will +acknowledge that we did right." + +Despite my excusable anger and vexation, the calm and friendly +explanation of the professor was not without its effect on me. It was +true that I had broken my promise to my fellow-travellers; true that +Carmichael was commander of the expedition. I was myself at fault. And +yet what a disappointment! What would Alumion think of me! After all my +vows of eternal fidelity, uttered as they had been in that sacred spot, +I had sneaked away like a thief in the night. + +"I shall go back to Venus," said I, in a determined manner. + +"Tut, tut," said Gazen, with a good-natured smile; "you had better give +up that idea. You are clearly the victim of hypnotic influence--of +suggestion. By-and-by it will lose its hold on you, and you will regain +your freedom of action." + +"Never!" I exclaimed, with all the energy of my soul. "My dear Gazen, +you are quite mistaken in supposing anything of the kind. I was never +saner in my life. Nay, it is only now that I know what it is to be sane; +what life was meant to be. Hypnotic suggestion! Pshaw! I know what I am +doing as well as you do. I am not a fool. I am only seeking my own +happiness--and hers--I tell you that a single moment in her society is +worth a whole lifetime on the earth. What do I say? A lifetime? An +eternity. Heaven itself were nothing to me without her. I would not take +it as a gift. I shall go back. I must go back. I cannot live without +her." + +"Take time to consider at all events," said Gazen, somewhat impressed by +my vehemence. "In the meantime let us join Miss Carmichael. She is +beyond the rocks there sketching the valley." + +We walked in that direction. + +"You may return to the earth," said I; "but on the way you must drop me +at Venus." + +Gazen had no opportunity of answering, for just at that moment we were +startled by a piercing shriek from behind the crags, and rushing, or +rather bounding forward, saw a sight that made our very blood run cold. + +A flying monster, with enormous bat-like wings and hanging legs, was +evidently swooping down on Miss Carmichael, as she stood beside her +easel on the brow of the cliff. + +"Run for your life!" roared Gazen, dashing towards her with frantic +speed. + +Alas! she did not hear him, or else she was fascinated by the +approaching horror, and rooted to the spot. He was still several hundred +yards from her, but owing to the feebleness of gravity on the planet he +was so preternaturally light and nimble that he might have covered the +distance in a minute or so, had he been more accustomed to control his +limbs, and the ground been smoother. As it was he leaped high into the +air, and rebounded from the stones like an india-rubber ball, at the +risk of spraining his ankles or breaking his neck, while brandishing his +arms, and firing his pistol, and hooting with all his force of lung to +frighten away the monster. + +Too late. The huge leathery wings of the dragon overshadowed the +shrinking form of the girl, and the talons of its drooping feet caught +in her dress. She made one desperate, but futile effort to free herself +from its terrible clutch, and, screaming loudly for help, was borne away +over the abyss of the valley as easily as a lamb is carried by an eagle. + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Gazen, stopping with a gesture of despair. + +He was deeply moved, and pale as death; but he did not altogether lose +his head. + +What was to be done? + +"The car--the car!" he exclaimed. "We must follow her in the car. Keep +your eye on the beast while I go for it." + +Carmichael was fast asleep in his cabin, after his long weary vigil +during the passage from Venus, but the car was quickly put in motion, +and I jumped on board just as it cleared the brink of the precipice. + +The dragon, which had the start of us by a mile or more, was apparently +steering for the mountains on the other side of the valley. +Notwithstanding its enormous bulk, and the dead weight hanging from its +claws, it flew with surprising speed, owing to the weakness of gravity +and the vast spread of its wings. + +I shall never forget that singular chase, which is probably unparalleled +in the history of the universe. A prey to anxiety and the most +distressing emotions, we did not properly observe the marvellous, the +Titanic, I had almost said the diabolical aspect of the country beneath +us, and still we could not altogether blind ourselves to it. Colossal +jungles, resembling brakes of moss and canes five hundred or a thousand +feet in height--creeks as black as porter, gliding under their dank and +rotting aisles--mountainous quadrupeds or lizards crashing and tearing +through their branches--one of them at least six hundred feet in length, +with a ridgy back and long spiky tail, dragging on the ground, a baleful +green eye, and a crooked mouth full of horrid fangs, which made it look +the very incarnation of cruelty and brute strength--black lakes and +grisly reeds as high as bamboo--prodigious black serpents troubling the +water, and rearing their long spiry necks above the surface--gigantic +alligators and crocodiles resting motionless in the shallows, with their +snouts high in the air--hideous toads or such-like forbidding reptiles, +many with tusks like the walrus, and some with glorious eyes, crouching +on the banks or waddling in the reeds, and so enormous as to give +variety to the landscape--volcanic craters, with red-hot lava simmering +in their depths, and emitting fumes of sulphur, which might have choked +us had we not closed the scuttles--while over all great dragons and +other bat-like animals were flitting through the dusky atmosphere like +demons in a nightmare. + +Little by little we gained upon our quarry, but being afraid to run him +too close for fear that he might drop his victim, we kept at a safe +distance behind him, yet within rifle range, and near enough to make a +prompt attack when he should settle on the ground. + +At length we reached the other side of the valley, and found to our +intense satisfaction that the monster was making for a rocky ledge on +the shoulder of an extinct volcano, where we could see the yawning mouth +of what appeared an immense cavern. + +"That is probably his den," said Gazen, who was now as collected as I +have ever seen him. Nevertheless all his faculties were on the stretch. +His keen grey eye was everywhere, and his active mind was calculating +every chance. I felt then as I had often felt before that in action as +well as in thought the professor was a man of no common mark. + +The event showed that his surmise was correct, for soon after he had +spoken the dragon uttered a startling cry--a kind of squawk like that of +a drake, but much louder, hoarser, shriller--and alighted on the ground. + +"There is not a moment to lose," said Gazen. "We must attack him before +he enters the cave." + +Certainly the darkness inside the cavern would give the beast a great +advantage, and although we might succeed in killing him, we could +scarcely hope to find Miss Carmichael alive. Was she alive now? I had my +doubts, but I kept them to myself. Since she had been carried away she +had not given the smallest sign of life, not even when the dragon +settled. Perhaps, however, she had merely lost her senses through +fright, and was still in a dead faint. + +We might have fought the creature from the air, but we had decided to +assail him on the solid ground, because we should thus be able to +scatter and take him in the flank, if not in the rear. + +While Carmichael landed his car the astronomer and I kept a sharp watch +on the beast, all ready to fire at the first movement which seemed to +threaten the safety of the young girl, who was lying motionless at the +bottom of a slope or talus which led up to the mouth of the cavern. +Freed from his burden the dragon now stood erect, and a more awful +monster it would be difficult to conceive. He must have been at least +forty feet in stature, yet he gave us an impression of squat and sturdy +strength. + +I have called him a dragon, but he was not at all like the dragons of +our imagination. With his great bullet head and prick ears, his beetling +brows and deep sunken eyes, his ferocious mouth and protruding tusks, +his short thick neck and massive shoulders, his large, gawky, and +misshapen trunk, coated with dingy brown fur, shading into dirty yellow +on the stomach, his stout, bandy legs armed with curving talons, and his +huge leathern wings hanging in loose folds about him, he looked more +like an imp of Satan than a dragon. + +Hitherto he had not appeared to notice his pursuers; but now that he was +freer to observe, the grating of the car upon the rocks caught his +attention. He turned quickly, and stared at the apparition of the +vessel, which must have been a strange object to him; but he did not +seem to take alarm. It was the gaze of a jaguar or a tiger who sees +something curious in the jungle--vigilant and deadly if you like, but +neither scared nor fierce. + +We lost no time in sallying forth, all three of us, armed with magazine +rifle, cutlass, and revolver. Mr. Carmichael in the middle, I on the +lower, and Gazen on the upper side, or that nearest to Miss Carmichael. +The rocks around were slippery with ordure, and the sickening stench of +rotting skeletons made our very gorge rise. Suddenly a loud squeaking in +the direction of the cave arrested us, and before we had recovered from +our surprise, nearly a dozen young dragons, each about the size of a +man, tumbled hastily down the slope, and rushed upon the lifeless form +of Miss Carmichael. + +"Great Scott, there's the whole family," muttered Gazen between his +teeth, at the same time bringing his rifle to the shoulder, and firing +in quick succession. + +The foremost of the crew, which had already flung itself upon the prey, +was seen to spring head over heels into the air, and fall back dead; +another lay writhing in agony upon the ground, and uttering strangely +human shrieks; whilst the others, terrified by the noise, turned and +fled back helter-skelter to the cave. + +The old one, roused to anger by the injury done to his offspring, +snarled ferociously at his enemies and, drawing himself to his full +height, made a furious dash for Gazen. + +Our rifles cracked again and again; the monster started as he felt the +shots, and halted, glaring from one to another of us like a man +irresolute. Purple streams were gushing from his head and sides; he +attempted to fly, and ran towards the brink of the ledge; but ere he +could gain sufficient impetus to launch himself into the air, he +staggered and fell heavily to the ground, with his broken wings beneath +him. + +Gazen, quicker than her father, flew towards Miss Carmichael, and bent +over her. + +"Is she alive?" enquired Carmichael, in breathless and trembling +accents. + +"Yes, thank God," responded Gazen fervently; as he raised her hand to +his lips and kissed it. + +There were tears of joy in his eyes, and I knew then what I had long +suspected, that he loved her. + +Suddenly a loud croak in the distance caused us to look up, and we +beheld another dragon on the wing, coining rapidly towards us from a +pass among the mountains. There was not a moment to be lost, and Gazen, +taking Miss Carmichael in his arms, we all hurried on board the car, +eager to escape from this revolting spot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +SUNWARD HO! + + +"By the way," said Gazen to me, "I've got a new theory for the rising +and sinking of the sun behind the cliffs at Womla--a theory that will +simply explode Professor Possil, and shake the Royal Astronomical +Society to its foundations." + +The astronomer and I were together in the observatory, where he was +adjusting his telescope to look at the sun. After our misadventure with +the flying ape, we had returned to our former station on the summit of +the mountain, to pick up the drawing materials of Miss Carmichael; but +as Gazen was anxious to get as near the sun as possible, and being +disgusted with the infernal scenery as well as the foetid, malarial +atmosphere of Mercury, we left as soon as we had replenished our cistern +from the pools in the rock. + +"Another theory?" I responded. "Thought you had settled that question." + +"Alas, my friend, theories, like political treatises, are made to be +broken." + +"Well, what do you think of it now?" + +"You remember how we came to the conclusion that Schiaparelli was right, +and that the planet Venus, by rotating about her own axis in the same +time as she takes to revolve around the sun, always keeps the same face +turned to the sun, one hemisphere being in perpetual light and summer, +whilst the other is in perpetual darkness and winter?" + +"Yes." + +"You remember, too, how we explained the growing altitude of the sun in +the heavens which culminated on the great day of the Festival, by +supposing that the axis of the planet swayed to and from the sun so as +to tilt each pole towards the sun, and the other from it, alternately, +thus producing what by courtesy we may call the seasons in Womla?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, judging from the observations I have made, we were probably right +so far; but if you recollect, I accounted for the mysterious daily rise +and set of the sun, if I may use the words, by changes in the density of +the atmosphere bending the solar rays, and making the disk appear to +rise and sink periodically, though in reality it does nothing of the +kind. A similar effect is well-known on the earth. It produces the +'after glow' on the peaks of the Alps when the sun is far below the +horizon; it sometimes makes the sun bob up and down again after sunset, +and it has been known to make the sun show in the Arctic regions three +weeks before the proper time. I had some difficulty in understanding how +the effect could take place so regularly." + +"I think you ascribed it to the interaction of the solar heat and the +evaporation from the surface." + +"Quite so. I assumed that when the sun is low the vapours above the edge +of the crater and elsewhere cool and condense, thus bending the rays and +seeming to lift the sun higher; but after a time the rays heat and +rarefy the vapours, thus lowering the sun again. It seemed a plausible +hypothesis and satisfied me for a time, but still not altogether, and +now I believe I have made a discovery." + +"And it is?" + +"That Venus is a wobbler." + +"A wobbler?" + +"That she wobbles--that she doesn't keep steady--swings from side to +side. You have seen a top, how stiff and erect it is when it is spinning +fast, and how it wobbles when it is spinning slow, just before it +falls. Well, I think something of the kind is going on with Venus. The +earth may be compared to a top that is whirling fast, and Venus to one +that has slowed down. She is less able than the earth to resist the +disturbing attraction of the sun on the inequalities of her figure, and +therefore she wobbles. In addition to the slow swinging of her axis +which produces her 'seasons,' she has a quicker nodding, which gives +rise to day and night in some favoured spots like Womla." + +"After all," said I, "tis a feminine trait. _Souvent femme varie._" + +"Oh, she is constant to her lord the sun," rejoined Gazen. "She never +turns her back upon him, but if I have not discovered a mare's nest, +which is very likely, she becks and bows to him a good deal, and thus +maintains her 'infinite variety.'" + +The cloudy surface of Mercury now lay far beneath us, and the glowing +disc of the sun, which appeared four or five times larger than it does +on the earth, had taken a bluish tinge--a proof that we had reached a +very great altitude. + +"What a magnificent 'sun-spot!'" exclaimed the professor in a tone of +admiration. "Just take a peep at it." + +I placed my eye to the telescope, and saw the glowing surface of the +disc resolved into a marvellous web of shining patches on a dimmer +background, and in the midst a large blotch which reminded me of a +quarry hole as delineated on the plan of a surveyor. + +"Have you been able to throw any fresh light on these mysterious +'spots?'" I enquired. + +"I am more than ever persuaded they are breaks in the photosphere caused +by eruptions of heated matter, chiefly gaseous from the +interior--eruptions such as might give rise to craters like that of +Womla, or those of the moon, were the sun cooler. No doubt that eminent +authority, Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil, regards them as aerial +hurricanes; but the more I see, the more I am constrained to regard +Sylvanus Pettifer Possil as a silly vain asteroid." + +While Gazen was yet speaking we both became sensible of an unwonted +stillness in the car. + +The machinery had ceased to vibrate. + +Our feelings at this discovery were akin to those of passengers in an +ocean steamer when the screw stops--a welcome relief to the monotony of +the voyage, a vague apprehension of danger, and curiosity to learn what +had happened. + +"Is there anything wrong, Carmichael?" asked Gazen through the speaking +tube. + +There was no response. + +"I say, Carmichael, is anything the matter?" he reiterated in a louder +tone. + +Still no answer. + +We were now thoroughly alarmed, and though it was against the rules, we +descended into the machinery room. The cause of Carmichael's silence was +only too apparent. We saw him lying on the floor beside his strange +machine, with his head leaning against the wall. There was a placid +expression on his face, and he appeared to slumber; but we soon found +that he was either in a faint or dead. Without loss of time we tried the +first simple restoratives at hand, but they proved of no avail. + +Gazen went and called Miss Carmichael. + +She had been resting in her cabin after her trying experience with the +dragon, and although most anxious about her father, and far from well +herself, she behaved with calm self-possession. + +"I think the heat has overcome him," she said, after a quick +examination; and truly the cabin was insufferably hot, thanks to the +machinery and the fervid rays of the sun. + +We could not open the scuttles and admit fresh air, for there was little +or none to admit. + +"I shall try oxygen," she said on reflecting a moment. + +Accordingly, while Gazen, in obedience to her directions began to work +Carmichael's arms up and down, after the method of artificial +respiration which had brought me round at the outset of our journey, she +and I administered oxygen gas from one of our steel bottles to his lungs +by means of a makeshift funnel applied to his mouth. In some fifteen or +twenty minutes he began to show signs of returning animation, and soon +afterwards, to our great relief, he opened his eyes. + +At first he looked about him in a bewildered way, and then he seemed to +recollect his whereabouts. After an ineffectual attempt to speak, and +move his limbs, he fixed his eyes with a meaning expression on the +engines. + +We had forgotten their stoppage. Miss Carmichael sprang to investigate +the cause. + +"They are jammed," she said after a short inspection. "The essential +part is jammed with the heat. Whatever is to be done?" + +We stared at each other blankly as the terrible import of her words came +home to us. Unless we could start the machines again, we must inevitably +fall back on Mercury. Perhaps we were falling now! + +We endeavoured to think of a ready and practicable means of cooling the +engines, but without success. The water and oil on board was lukewarm; +none of us knew how to make a freezing mixture even if we had the +materials; our stock of liquid air had long been spent. + +Miss Carmichael tried to make her father understand the difficulty in +hopes that he would suggest a remedy, but all her efforts were in vain. +Carmichael lay with his eyes closed in a kind of lethargy or paralysis. + +"Perhaps, when we are falling through the planet's atmosphere," said I, +"if we open the scuttles and let the cold air blow through the room, it +will cool the engines." + +"I'm afraid there will not be time," replied Gazen, shaking his head; +"we shall fall much faster than we rose. The friction of the air against +the car will generate heat. We shall drop down like a meteoric stone and +be smashed to atoms." + +"We have parachutes," said Miss Carmichael, "do you think we shall be +able to save our lives?" + +"I doubt it," answered Gazen sadly. "They would be torn and whirled +away." + +"So far as I can see there is only one hope for us," said I. "If we +should happen to fall into a deep sea or lake, the car would rise to the +surface again." + +"Yes, that is true," responded Gazen; "the car is hollow and light. It +would float. The water would also cool the machines and we might +escape." + +The bare possibility cheered us with a ray of hope. + +"If we only had time, my father might recover, and I believe he would +save us yet," said Miss Carmichael. + +"I wonder how much time we have," muttered Gazen. + +"We can't tell," said I. "It depends on the height we had reached and +the speed we were going at when the engines stopped. We shall rise like +a ball thrown into the air and then fall back to the ground." + +"I wonder if we are still rising," ejaculated Gazen. "Let us take a look +at the planet." + +"Don't be long," pleaded Miss Carmichael, as we turned to go. +"Meanwhile, I shall try and bring my father round." + +On getting to the observatory, we consulted the atmospheric pressure +gauge and found it out of use, a sign that we had attained an altitude +beyond the atmosphere of Mercury, and were now in empty space. + +We turned to the planet, whose enormous disc, muffled in cloud, was +shining lividly in the weird sky. At one part of the limb a range of +lofty mountain peaks rose above the clouds and chequered them with +shadow. + +Fixing our eyes upon this landmark we watched it with bated breath. Was +it coming nearer, or was it receding from us? That was the momentous +question. + +My feelings might be compared to those of a prisoner at the bar watching +the face of the juryman who is about to deliver the verdict. + +After a time--I know not how long--but it seemed an age--the professor +exclaimed, + +"I believe we are still rising." + +It was my own impression, for the peak I was regarding had grown as I +thought smaller, but I did not feel sure, and preferred to trust the +more experienced eyes of the astronomer. + +"I shall try the telescope," he went on; "we are a long way from the +planet." + +"How far do you think?" + +"Many thousand miles at least." + +"So much the better. We shall get more time." + +"Humph! prolonging the agony, that's all. I begin to wish it was all +over." + +Gazen directed his instrument on the planet, and we resumed our +observations. + +"We are no longer rising," said Gazen after a time. "I suppose we are +near the turning-point." + +As a prisoner scans the countenance of the judge who is about to +pronounce the sentence of life or death, I scanned the cloudy surface +underneath us, to see if I could discover any signs of an ocean that +would break our fall, but the vapours were too thick and compact. + +Every instant I expected to hear the fatal intelligence that our descent +had begun. + +"Strange!" muttered Gazen by-and-by, as if speaking to himself. + +"What is strange?" + +"We are neither rising nor falling now. We don't seem to move." + +"Impossible!" + +"Nevertheless, it's a fact," he exclaimed at the end of some minutes. +"The focus of the telescope is constant. We are evidently standing +still." + +His words sounded like a reprieve to a condemned man on the morning of +his execution, and in the revulsion of my feeling I shouted, + +"Hurrah!" + +"What can it mean?" cried Gazen. + +"Simply this," said I joyfully. "We have reached the 'dead-point,' where +the attraction of Mercury on the car is balanced by the attraction of +the sun. It can't be anything else." + +"Wait a minute," said Gazen, making a rapid calculation. "Yes, yes, +probably you are right. I did not think we had come so far; but I had +forgotten that gravitation on Mercury is only half as strong as it is on +the Earth or Venus. Let us go and tell Miss Carmichael." + +We hurried downstairs to the engine room and found her kneeling beside +her father, who was no better. + +She did not seem much enlivened by the good news. + +"What will that do for us?" she enquired doubtfully. + +"We can remain here as long as we like, suspended between the Sun and +Mercury," replied Gazen. + +"Is it better to linger and die in a living tomb than be dashed to +pieces and have done with it?" + +"But we shall gain time for your father to recover." + +"I am afraid my father will never recover in this place. The heat is +killing him. Unless we can get further away from the sun he will die, +I'm sure he will." + +Her eyes filled with tears. + +"Don't distress yourself, dear Miss Carmichael, please don't," said +Gazen tenderly. "Now that we have time to think, perhaps we shall hit +upon some plan." + +An idea flashed into my head. + +"Look here," said I to Gazen, "you remember our conversation in your +observatory one day on the propelling power of rockets--how a rocket +might be used to drive a car through space?" + +"Yes; but we have no rockets." + +"No, but we have rifles, and rifle bullets fired from the car, though +not so powerful, will have a similar effect." + +"Well?" + +"The car is now at rest in space. A slight impulse will direct it one +way or another. Why should we not send it off in such a way that in +falling towards Mercury it will not strike the planet, but circle round +it; or if it should fall towards the surface, will do so at a great +slant, and allow the atmosphere to cool the engines." + +"Let me see," said Gazen, drawing a diagram in his note-book, and +studying it attentively. "Yes, there is something in that. It's a +forlorn hope at best, but perhaps it's our only hope. If we could only +get into the shadow of the planet we might be saved." + +As delay might prove fatal to Carmichael, and since it was uncertain +whether he could right the engines in their present situation, we +decided to act on the suggestion without loss of time. Gazen and I +calculated the positions of the rifles and the number of shots to be +fired in order to give the required impetus to the car. The engine-room, +being well provided with scuttles, was chosen as the scene of our +operations. A brace of magazine rifles were fixed through two of the +scuttles in such a way that the recoil of the shots would urge the car +in an oblique direction backwards, so as to clear or almost clear the +planet, allowance being made for the forward motion of the latter in its +orbit. Needless to say, the barrel of each rifle was packed round so as +to keep the air in the car from escaping into space. + +At a given signal the rifles were discharged simultaneously by Gazen and +myself. There was little noise, but the car trembled with the shock, and +the prostrate man opened his eyes. + +Had it produced the desired effect? We could not tell without an appeal +to the telescope. + +"I'll be back in a moment," cried Gazen, springing upstairs to the +observatory. + +"Do you feel any better, father?" enquired Miss Carmichael, laying her +cool hand on the invalid's fevered brow. + +He winked, and tried to nod in the affirmative. "Were you asleep, +father? Did the shock rouse you?" + +He winked again. + +"Do you know what we are doing?" Before he could answer the foot of +Gazen sounded on the stair. He had left us with an eager, almost a +confident eye. He came back looking grave in the extreme. + +"We are not falling towards Mercury," he said gloomily. "_We are rushing +to the sun!_" + +I cannot depict our emotion at this awful announcement which changed our +hopes into despair. Probably it affected each of us in a different +manner. I cannot recollect my own feelings well enough to analyse them, +and suppose I must have been astounded for a time. A vision of the car, +plunging through an atmosphere of flame, into the fiery entrails of the +sun, flashed across my excited brain, and then I seemed to lose the +power of thought. + +"Out of the frying-pan into the fire," said I at last, in frivolous +reaction. + +"His will be done!" murmured Miss Carmichael, instinctively drawing +closer to her father, who seemed to realise our jeopardy. + +"We must look the matter in the face," said Gazen, with a sigh. + +"What a death!" I exclaimed, "to sit and watch the vast glowing furnace +that is to swallow us up come nearer and nearer, second after second, +minute after minute, hour after hour." + +"The nearer we approach the sun the faster we shall go," said Gazen. +"For one thing, we shall be dead long before we reach him. The heat will +stifle us. It will be all over in a few hours." + +What a death! To see, to feel ourselves roasting as in an oven. It was +too horrible. + +"Are you certain there is no mistake?" I asked at length. + +"Quite," replied Gazen. "Come and see for yourself." + +We had all but gained the door when Miss Carmichael followed us. + +"Professor," she said, with a tremor in her voice, and a look of +supplication in her eyes, "you will come back soon--you will not leave +us long." + +"No, my darling--I beg your pardon," answered Gazen, obeying the impulse +of his heart. "God knows I would give my life to save you if I could." + +In another instant he had locked her in his arms. + +I left them together, and ascended to the observatory, where Gazen soon +afterwards rejoined me. + +"I'm the happiest man alive," said he, with a beaming countenance. +"Congratulate me. I'm betrothed to Miss Carmichael." + +I took his proffered hand, scarcely knowing whether to laugh or cry. + +"It seems to me that I have found my life in losing it," he continued +with a grim smile. "Saturn! what a courtship is ours--what an +engagement--what a bridal bed! But there, old fellow, I'm afraid I'm +happier than you--alone in spirit, and separated from her you love. +Perhaps I was wrong to carry you away from Venus--it has not turned out +well--but I acted for the best. Forgive me!" + +I wrung his hand in silence. + +"Now let us take a look through the telescope," he went on, wiping his +eyes, and adjusting the instrument. "You will see how soon it gets out +of focus. We are flying from Mercury, my friend, faster and faster." + +It was true. + +"But I don't understand how that should be," said I. "The firing ought +to have had a contrary effect." + +"The rifles are not to blame," answered Gazen. "If we had used them +earlier we might have saved ourselves. But all the time that we were +discussing ways and means, and making our preparations to shoot, we +were gradually drifting towards the sun without knowing it. We +overlooked the fact that the orbit of Mercury is very far from circular, +and that he is now moving further away from the sun every instant. As a +consequence his attractive power over the car is growing weaker every +moment. The car had reached the 'dead-point' where the attractive +powers of the sun and planet over it just balanced each other; but as +that of the planet grew feebler the balance turned, and the car was +drawn with ever accelerating velocity towards the sun." + +"Like enough." + +"I can satisfy you of it by pointing the telescope at a sun-spot," said +Gazen, bringing the instrument to bear upon the sun. "You will then see +how fast we are running to perdition. I say--what would our friends in +London think if they could see us now? Wouldn't old Possil snigger! +Well, I shall get the better of him at last. I shall solve the great +mystery of the 'sun-spots' and the 'willow leaves.' Only he will never +know it. That's a bitter drop in the cup!" + +So saying, he applied his eye to the telescope, his ruling passion +strong in death. For myself, as often as I had admired the glorious +luminary, I could not think of it now without a shudder, and fell a +prey to my own melancholy ruminations. + +So this was the end! After all our care and forethought, after all our +struggles, after all our success, to perish miserably like moths in a +candle, to plunge headlong into that immense conflagration as a vessel +dives into the ocean, and is never heard of more! Not a vestige of us, +not even a charred bone to tell the tale. Alumion--our friends at +home--when they admired the sun would they ever fancy that it was our +grave--ever dream that our ashes were whirling in its flames. The cry of +Othello, in his despair, which I had learned at school, came back to my +mind--"Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in +steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!" + +Regrets, remorse, and bitter reflections overwhelmed me. Why had we not +stayed in Venus? Why had we come to Mercury? Why had we endeavoured to +do so much? What folly had drawn me into this mad venture at all? No, I +could not say that. I could not call it folly which had brought me to +Alumion. I had no regret, but on the contrary an unspeakable joy and +gratitude on that score. But why had we attempted to approach so near +the sun, daring the heat, which had jammed our engines, and disabled +our best intellect; risking the powerful attraction that was hurrying us +to our doom? + +Suddenly a peculiar thrill shook the car. With a bounding heart I +started to my feet and dashed into the engine-room. It was true then. +Yes, it was true. _The engines were at work, and we were saved!_ + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HOME AGAIN. + + +We owed our salvation to Mr. Carmichael. The firing of our magazine +rifles, followed by the news of our perilous situation, had roused him +from his lethargy. Although still unable to speak, he had contrived by +means of his eyes to make his daughter understand that he wished another +dose of oxygen. When she was about to administer it, he called her +attention to the fact that in expanding as it issued from the cylinder, +the gas became very cold. She caught his meaning instantly, and on +applying the gas to the sensitive parts of the machinery had succeeded +in cooling and releasing them. + +It seems that Carmichael, in order to save time, had been working the +engines at an unusually high speed, which, together with the heat of the +sun, had caused them to jam. Their enforced rest had of itself allowed +them to cool somewhat, and by reducing the speed until we reached a +cooler region, they did not stick again. + +Carmichael recovered from his illness, and the journey to the earth was +accomplished without accident. We landed safely on some undiscovered +islands in the Arctic Circle, and after a flying visit to the North Pole +in the vicinity, we bore away for England, keeping as high over the sea +as possible to escape notice. Going southward we passed through all +sorts of weather, thick snow, hurricanes of wind and rain, dry or wet +fogs, and so forth; but it made no difference to us. Crossing +Spitzbergen, the car was frosted over with ice needles, which, however, +were soon thawed by a warmer current of air. Between Iceland and the +coast of Norway we glided through a magnificent aurora borealis that +covered the whole sky with a luminous curtain, and made us fancy we had +floated unawares into the fabulous Niffleheim of the old Scandinavian +gods. Near the Faroe Islands we dashed into a violent thunderstorm, and +were almost deafened by the terrific explosions, or blinded by the +flashes of lightning. Otherwise we could enjoy both of these electrical +displays without fear, as the metallic shell of the car was a good +protective screen. Certainly our flying machine would be an excellent +means of making observations in meteorology, from the sampling of +cirrus cloud to the chasing of a tornado. + +The first sign of man we saw was a ship rolling in a storm off the +Hebrides; but apparently she was not in distress, else we should have +gone to her succour. How easy with such a car to rescue lives and +property from sinking ships, and even patrol the seas in search of them! + +The sun was setting in purple and gold as we approached the English +coast, and although at our elevation we were still in sunshine, the +twilight had begun to gather over the distant land. The first sound we +heard was the moaning of the tide along the shore, and the mournful +sighing of the wind among the trees. Hills, fields, and woods lay +beneath us like a garden in miniature. The lamps and fires of lonely +villages and farmhouses twinkled like glow-worms in the dusk. A railway +train, with its white puff of smoke and lighted carriages, seemed to be +crawling like a fiery caterpillar along the ground; but in a few moments +we had left it far behind. As it grew darker and darker we descended +nearer to the surface. A herd of sheep stood huddled on the grass, and +stared at us; a flock of geese ran cackling into a farmyard; the +watch-dog barked and tugged furiously at his chain; a little boy +screamed with fright. + +"That sounds homely," said the professor to Miss Carmichael and myself, +who were standing with him on the gallery outside the car. "It's the +sweetest music I've heard for many a day. Certainly Venus was a charming +place, but I for one am jolly glad to get home again." + +Yes, I must confess that I too felt a deep and tranquil pleasure in +returning to the familiar scenes and the beloved soil of my infancy. + +"You don't seem to care much for Venus," said Miss Carmichael to Gazen. +"Probably if you had been born there you would have liked it better." + +"That may be. If you would like a place, it is well to be born in it." + +"Perhaps if you are a good boy you will go to Venus when you die." + +"I'm afraid it won't suit my mental constitution. They don't care for +science there, and I don't care for anything else. Mars would fit me +better, I imagine." + +"Venus is my favourite," said Miss Carmichael. + +"Well, then, it's good enough for me," responded Gazen. + +Their talk set me thinking of Alumion, and my strange fancy that I had +known her in another world. Suddenly it occurred to me that in many of +her ways and looks she bore a singular resemblance to my first love, who +had died in childhood. That was nearly seventeen years ago. +Seventeen--it was just the age of Alumion. Could it be possible that she +and Alumion were one and the same soul? + +"I should like to go back to Venus," said Miss Carmichael. "We can go +there now at any time." + +"Of course we can," replied Gazen; "and to Mars as well. Your father's +invention opens up a bewildering prospect of complications in the +universe. So long as each planet was isolated, and left to manage its +own affairs, the politics of the solar system were comparatively simple; +but what will they be when one globe interferes with another? Think of a +German fleet of ether-ships on the prowl for a cosmical empire, +bombarding Womla, and turning it into a Prussian fortress, or an +emporium for cheap goods." + +"Father was talking of that very matter the other night," said Miss +Carmichael, "and he declared that rather than see any harm come to Womla +he would keep his invention a secret--at all events for a thousand years +longer." + +We had glided rapidly across the Black Country, with its furnaces and +forges blazing in the darkness, and now the dull red glow of the +metropolis was visible on the horizon. Half-an-hour later we descended +in the garden of Carmichael's cottage, and found everything as snug as +when we had left it. + +Leaving my fellow-travellers there, I took the train for London, and was +driven to my club, where I intended to sleep. It was a raw wet evening, +and in spite of a certain joy at being home again, I could not help +feeling that my heart was no longer here, but in another planet. After +the sublime deserts of space, and the delightful paradise of Womla, the +busy streets, the blinding glare of the lamps, the splashing vehicles, +the blatant newspaper men, the swarms of people crossing each other's +paths, and occasionally kicking each other's heels, everyone intent on +his own affairs of business or pleasure, were disenchanting, to say the +least. I seemed to have awakened from a beautiful dream, and fallen into +a dismal nightmare. + +In the smoking-room of the club the first person I saw was my friend the +Viscount, who was sitting just where I had left him on the night we +started for Venus, with his glass of toddy before him, and a cigar +between his lips. + +"Hallo!" he exclaimed on seeing me. "Haven't seen you for some +time--must be nearly two months. Been abroad? You look brown." + +"Yes." + +"Well, suppose we finish our game of chess." + +"With pleasure." + +"You remember the wager--a thousand to a hundred sovereigns that I win." + +He was the better player, and although I had a slight advantage in the +game as it stood, I was by no means certain of winning, especially as I +was tired and sleepy; but ever since my sojourn in Venus, my intellect +had been unusually clear and active. I played as I had never played +before, and in three moves had won the wager. + +"That will pay my travelling expenses," said I, pocketing his cheque. + + * * * * * + +I ought perhaps to mention that Professor Gazen carried out his +intention of reading a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society on his +alleged discovery of a diurnal nutation or "wobbling" of the planet +Venus; but I regret to say that owing to preconceived opinions and +personal prejudices, his ingenious theory met with a reception far below +its merits. By the terms of our agreement he was forbidden to divulge +the secret of our expedition until my own account appeared, but some +telescopic observations he had made since coming home had provided him +with independent proofs. + +"Do you think Professor Possil will be present?" said I to him, as we +dined together before we went to the meeting. + +"Sure to be," replied Gazen. "He never misses an opportunity of +attacking me. 'Tis the nature of the animal. But I flatter myself I +shall get the laugh on him this time." + +The hall was full. The hearty welcome of the Fellows showed their high +appreciation of Professor Gazen, and made me feel quite proud of his +acquaintance. They listened to his discourse on the movements of Venus, +and his new hypothesis, with all the solemnity of a Roman senate +deliberating on the destiny of a nation. When he had finished in a salvo +of applause, the president, a man of grave and dignified demeanour, as +became his office, complimented the author on his communication, which +from the startling novelty of the subject would, he believed, give rise +to an interesting discussion, and after calling on Professor Possil, he +resumed his chair. That illustrious man, whose insignificant appearance +belied his fame, responded to the invitation with a show of reluctance, +from a conspicuous place in the front row of the audience, and +immediately assailed the new hypothesis in his most uncompromising +fashion. + +"Never in his experience of the Society," he said, "and never perhaps in +the history of astronomy, had an alleged discovery of such magnitude and +consequence been promulgated on the strength of such flimsy evidence;" +and after traversing in detail all the arguments of his opponent, he +declared it his firm conviction that the effects which Professor Gazen +had thought fit to advance as a "discovery," were neither more nor less +than an optical illusion, not to say a mental hallucination. + +Judging from the applause which greeted his remarks, the majority of his +hearers were evidently of the same opinion. + +A grim smile settled on my companion's face, and I could see that he +maintained his temper with increasing difficulty, as one speaker after +another delivered his mind in much the same sarcastic style of +criticism. + +At length his turn came to make a reply. + +"Mr. President and gentlemen," said he with an air of smiling +confidence, "at this late hour I do not propose to occupy the meeting +with a refutation of all the various comments of the distinguished +Fellows who have spoken; but as my learned friend, Professor Possil, has +thought fit to charge me with bringing my discovery before the Society +on insufficient grounds, I think it right to say that I possess much +more conclusive evidence, which for the present, circumstances have +prevented me from laying before you." + +"Mr. President," exclaimed the celebrated Possil, starting to his feet, +"I should like to ask whether it is altogether in good faith for a +Fellow of this Society to bring forward what he calls a discovery, and +keep back the most important part of the proof. Might I enquire of the +author of the paper what is the nature of this suppressed evidence?" + +"Simply that I have been there," answered Gazen, forgetting his promise +to me in the excitement of the combat. + +"Where?" demanded the astonished Possil. + +"Venus." + +There was a loud burst of sceptical laughter. + +"I think, sir," said Professor Possil to the Chair, with exasperating +coolness, "I think, sir, that after the astounding revelation of the +learned professor, we shall be perfectly justified in concluding on +sufficient evidence that the professor's head, and not the planet Venus, +has been 'wobbling' of late." + +"What I say is true," cried Gazen, nettled at this rude insinuation. + +Cries of "Order, order," "withdraw," "apologise," resounded on every +side. + +"I cannot apologise for the truth," retorted Gazen hotly. + +"Mr. President," continued the pugnacious and imperturbable Fossil, "I +venture to submit that the preposterous assertions we have just heard +are better adapted to a meeting of the Fellows of Colney Hatch than of +this Society, and I beg to move that our unfortunate friend be called +upon to leave the meeting in charge of some responsible person, who will +conduct him safely to his home, and deliver him into the custody of his +friends." + +"Come on! They're a pack of fools!" cried Gazen to me hoarsely, as, +followed by the jeers of his companions, he arose and left the room. + + * * * * * + +I have only to add that Professor Gazen and Miss Carmichael are about +to be married. For myself, as soon as the ceremony is over I shall +return to Venus and Alumion. + +THE END. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Trip to Venus, by John Munro + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TRIP TO VENUS *** + +***** This file should be named 13716.txt or 13716.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/7/1/13716/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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