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diff --git a/25295-h/25295-h.htm b/25295-h/25295-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43abeea --- /dev/null +++ b/25295-h/25295-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10182 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Pharaoh's Broker, by Ellsworth Douglass + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center; clear: both; word-spacing: .5em;} + h3 {text-align: center; clear: both; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr {width: 65%; margin: 2em auto; clear: both;} + .min {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto;} + table {margin: 1em auto;} + .td0 {text-align: right; padding-right: 1em;} + .td1 {text-align: left; padding-right: 6em; font-variant: small-caps;} + .td2 {text-align: right;} + .td3 {text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em; font-size: large;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 1%; font-size: small; font-style: normal; text-align: right; text-indent: 0em;} + .blockquot {margin: 1.5em 10%;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smcapm {font-variant: small-caps; margin-right: 2.5em;} + .figcenter {margin: 3em auto; width: 63px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + img {border: none;} + a:link {text-decoration:none;} + a:visited {text-decoration:none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .hd1 {font-size: large; text-align: center; line-height: 1.5em; font-weight: bold;} + .hd2 {text-align: center; margin-top: 4em;} + .hd3 {font-size: large; margin-top: 0;} + .p1 {text-indent: 1em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pharaoh's Broker, by Ellsworth Douglass + +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: Pharaoh's Broker + Being the Very Remarkable Experiences in Another World of Isidor Werner + +Author: Ellsworth Douglass + +Release Date: May 2, 2008 [EBook #25295] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHARAOH'S BROKER *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, George Snoga, Stephen Blundell and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>PHARAOH'S BROKER</big></h1> + +<p class="hd1">BEING THE VERY REMARKABLE EXPERIENCES<br /> +IN ANOTHER WORLD OF<br /> +ISIDOR WERNER<br /> +<small>(WRITTEN BY HIMSELF)</small></p> + +<p class="hd2"><b>EDITED, ARRANGED, AND WITH AN INTRODUCTION</b></p> +<h2 class="hd3">BY ELLSWORTH DOUGLASS</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="63" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="hd1"><small>LONDON</small><br /> +C. ARTHUR PEARSON LIMITED<br /> +HENRIETTA STREET W.C.<br /> +<small>1899</small></p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="td2" colspan="3"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1" colspan="2">Introduction: Elusive Truth</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="3">BOOK I. SECRETS OF SPACE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center"><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td class="td2" colspan="2"></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">I.</td><td class="td1">Dr. Hermann Anderwelt</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">II.</td><td class="td1">The Gravity Projectile</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">III.</td><td class="td1">Structure of the Projectile</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">IV.</td><td class="td1">What is on Mars?</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">V.</td><td class="td1">Final Preparations</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">VI.</td><td class="td1">Farewell to Earth</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">VII.</td><td class="td1">The Terrors of Light</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">VIII.</td><td class="td1">The Valley of the Shadow</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">IX.</td><td class="td1">Tricks of Refraction</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">X.</td><td class="td1">The Twilight of Space</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">XI.</td><td class="td1">Telling the Time by Geography</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">XII.</td><td class="td1">Space Fever</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">XIII.</td><td class="td1">The Mystery of a Minus Weight</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td3" colspan="3">BOOK II. OTHER WORLD LIFE<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">I.</td><td class="td1">Why Mars gives a Red Light</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">II.</td><td class="td1">The Terror Birds</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">III.</td><td class="td1">Two of us against the Armies of Mars</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">IV.</td><td class="td1">The Strange Bravery of Miss Blank</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">V.</td><td class="td1">Zaphnath, Ruler of the Kemi</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">VI.</td><td class="td1">The Iron Men from the Blue Star</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">VII.</td><td class="td1">Parallel Planetary Life</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">VIII.</td><td class="td1">A Plagiarist of Dreams</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">IX.</td><td class="td1">Getting into the Corner</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_260">260</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">X.</td><td class="td1">Humanity on Ptah</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_275">275</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">XI.</td><td class="td1">Revolutionist and Eavesdropper</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">XII.</td><td class="td1">The Doctor Disappears</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_292">292</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td0">XIII.</td><td class="td1">The Revelation of Hotep</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + +<h3>Elusive Truth</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was the Chicago <i>Tribune</i> of June 13th, 189-, +which contained this paragraph under the +head-line: "Big Broker Missing!"</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The friends of Isidor Werner, a young man +prominent in Board of Trade circles, are much concerned +about him, as he has not been seen for +several days. He made his last appearance in the +wheat pit as a heavy buyer Tuesday forenoon. +That afternoon he left his office at Room 87 Board +of Trade, and has not been seen since, nor can his +whereabouts be learned. He is six feet two inches +high, of athletic build, with black hair and moustache, +a regular nose, and an unpronounced Jewish +appearance. His age is hardly more than twenty-seven, +but he has often made himself felt as a +market force on the Board of Trade, where he was +well thought of."</p></div> + +<p>But it was the <i>Evening Post</i> of the same date +which prided itself on unearthing the real sensation. +A scare-head across the top of a first page +column read:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="center"><span class="smcap">"A Plunger's Last Plunge!"</span></p> + +<p>"The daring young broker who held the whole +wheat market in his hands a few months ago, +amassing an independent fortune in three days, +but losing most of it gamely on subsequent changes +in the market, has made his last plunge. This +time he has gone into the cold, kind bosom of +Lake Michigan. Isidor Werner evened up his +trades in the wheat market last Tuesday forenoon, +and then applied for his balance-sheet at a +higher clearing house! No trace of him or clue +to his whereabouts was found, until the <i>Evening +Post</i>, on the principle of setting one mystery to +solve another, sent its representative to examine +a strange steel rocket, discovered half-buried in the +sands of Lake Michigan, near Berrien Springs, two +days ago. Our reporter investigated this bullet-shaped +contrivance and found an opening into it, +and within he discovered a scrap of paper on which +were written the words: 'Farewell to Earth for +ever!' Werner's friends, when interviewed by the +<i>Evening Post</i>, all positively identified the handwriting +of this scrap as his chirography. It is +supposed that he took an excursion steamer to +St. Joseph, Michigan, last Tuesday or Wednesday +afternoon, and walking down the shore toward +Berrien Springs, finally threw himself into the +Lake. Neither Israel Werner, with whom the +dead man lived on Indiana Avenue, nor Patrick +Flynn, the chief clerk at his office, can give any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +reason for the suicide, or explain the exact connection +of the infernal machine (if such it be) with +the sad circumstance. But they both positively +identify the handwriting on the scrap of paper. +We have wired our representative to bring the +mysterious machine to Chicago; and those who +think they may be able to throw any light upon +the case, are invited to call at the office of the +<i>Evening Post</i> and examine it."</p></div> + +<p>The <i>Inter Ocean</i> developed a theory that the +suicide was only a pretended one for the purpose +of fraudulently collecting life insurance policies. +It was cited that Isidor Werner had insured his +life for more than $100,000, and this in spite of +the fact that he had no family, parents, brothers +or sisters to provide for; but had taken the policies +in favour of his uncle, Israel Werner, and in case +of his prior death, in favour of a cousin, Ruth +Werner. This theory gained but little currency +among those who knew the man best, and although +the insurance companies prepared to resist payment +of the policies to the bitter end, yet, as +time went on, no one attempted to prove his death, +nor to claim the handsome sum which would result +from it. Moreover, Israel Werner and his daughter +Ruth, the beneficiaries under the policies, persisted +in believing that their relative was yet alive, +though they could give no good reasons for so +believing, nor explain his disappearance.</p> + +<p>In its issue of June 15th the <i>Tribune</i> scouted the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +idea of suicide altogether. It had a better and +more plausible theory of the case. Isidor Werner +had a large sum of money in the Corn Exchange +Bank, drawing interest by the year. In case of +either a premeditated or a pretended suicide he +would most certainly have withdrawn, and made +some disposition of, this money. In fact, he had, +on the day of his disappearance, drawn out five +thousand dollars of it in gold. For this coin the +<i>Tribune</i> believed he had been murdered, and that +they had a clue to the murderer. The vanished +man had several times been seen in the company +of a suspicious German, of intelligent but erratic +appearance. This queer character lived in a hotbed +of socialism on the West Side, and the young +broker was supposed to be in his power. In fact, +it was known for certain that the erratic German +had secured a large sum of money from him, and +that Werner had visited his rooms in the slums of +the West Side more than once. Moreover, the two +had made a secret railway journey together two +days before the disappearance, and on the very day +that Werner was last seen, the German had fled +his lodgings without giving any explanation of his +departure to his few acquaintances. When the +<i>Tribune</i> reporter called at these lodgings, the landlord +still had in his possession a gold eagle, with +which the German had paid his rent, and in the +grate of the deserted room were the charred remains +of burnt papers. One of these was a rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +firm, crisp cinder, and had been a blue-print of a +drawing. As nearly as could be judged, from its +shrivelled state, it appeared to be the plan of some +infernal machine. The name of the fugitive was +Anderwelt, and he called himself a doctor. Further +investigations were being carried on by the <i>Tribune</i>, +which promised to prove beyond a doubt that he +was the murderer of Isidor Werner.</p> + +<p>But the <i>Evening Post</i> still held the palm for sensations, +and I copy verbatim from its columns of +June 15th:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is rare that a newspaper, dealing strictly in +facts, has to record anything so closely bordering on +the supernatural and mysterious as that which we +must now relate. The following facts, however, are +vouched for by the entire editorial department of +the <i>Evening Post</i>, and many of them by several +hundred witnesses. We begin by apologising to +the hundreds who have called at this office and +have been unable to see the Werner infernal +machine. We gave it that name in a thoughtless +jest, but its subsequent actions have more than +justified the title. Our reporter brought it from +Berrien Springs, as directed, and deposited it in the +court of the <i>Evening Post</i> building. As is quite +generally known, this court is a central well in +the building, affording ventilation and light to the +interior offices, from every one of which can be +seen what goes on in it. The well is spanned by a +glass roof above the eighth storey. In this court, at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +eleven o'clock this morning, the entire editorial and +a large part of the business staff of this paper, +repaired, to examine the mysterious rocket-like +thing. A little lid was opened, showing the recess +where the tell-tale scrap of paper, written by +Werner, had been found. Inside there seemed to +be a pair of peculiar battery cells, whose exact +nature was hidden by the outer shell. Outside +there were several thumb-screws, which were +turned both ways without any apparent effect. +While making this examination the machine had +been set up on its lower end, and when it was +again laid down it <i>refused to lie on its side</i>, but +persisted in <i>standing erect of its own accord</i>. This +was the more wonderful because the lower end was +not flat, so that it would afford a good base, but was +pointed. More than a hundred people saw it stand +up on this sharp tip, saw it lift up light weights +which were placed upon it to hold it on its side, and +saw it quickly right itself when it was placed +vertically but wrong end down.</p> + +<p>"Thinking this queer property had been contributed +to it in some way by loosening the thumb-screws, +they were next all set down as tightly as +possible, to see if this tendency to erectness would +be lost. Then, to the astonishment of every one in +the court, and of several hundred people who were +by this time watching from the interior windows, +this infernal machine, without any explosion, burning +of gases, or any apparent force acting upon it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +slowly <i>rose from the ground</i>, and then, travelling +more swiftly, <i>shot through the roof of glass</i> and +vanished from sight! Nor has the most diligent +search enabled us to recover it. Does it possess +the secret of Isidor Werner's death?"</p></div> + +<p>But the Chicago <i>Herald</i> had been working +thoroughly and saying little until its issue of +June 16th, when it claimed the credit of solving +the whole mystery. Its long article lies before me +as I write: There had been no suicide; there had +been no murder; there had been no infernal +machine. Doctor Anderwelt was a learned man, +and the warm personal friend of Isidor Werner. +Both men had shared the same fate; they might +yet be alive, but they were certainly <i>at the bottom +of Lake Michigan together</i>! They were imprisoned +there in a sunken submarine boat, which was the +invention of Doctor Anderwelt, and was built with +funds furnished by the young broker. The +foundryman who had constructed the big torpedo-shaped +contrivance had been interviewed. He +knew both men, and they were on the most +friendly terms. In a moment of confidence Doctor +Anderwelt had told him the machine was for submarine +exploration; had explained the four-winged +rudder, which would make it dive into the water, +rise to the surface, or direct it to right or to left. +Moreover, there were closed living compartments, +around which were chambers containing a supply +of air. He himself had pumped them full of compressed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +air, and it was so arranged that foul air +could be let out when used and new air admitted. +When all had been finished the foundryman had +shipped the new invention, <i>via</i> the Michigan +Southern Railway, to the shore of the Lake near +Whiting, Indiana. Next the <i>Herald</i> had sought +and found the conductor whose train had hauled it +to Whiting. He remembered switching off the +flat-car there, and he was surprised on his return +trip next morning to see the heavy thing already +unloaded and gone.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly, the two men had made an experiment +with the diving boat under the surface of the +water; and its failure to operate as hoped had +resulted in its sinking to the bottom, with the two +men imprisoned in it. On no other hypothesis +could its disappearance, and that of the two men, +be so plausibly accounted for. But as they had +stores of air, and probably of food, there was a +possibility that they were still alive inside the +thing in the bottom of the Lake! Only three +days had elapsed since it had been launched, and +the <i>Herald</i> was willing to head a subscription to +drag the Lake and send divers to search for and +rescue the two unfortunate men!</p> + +<p>All this serves to illustrate the untiring energy +of newspaper investigation, as well as the remarkable +fertility of journalistic imagination; for none +of these clever theories hit at the real truth, or explained +the correct bearing of the astonishing facts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +which the newspapers had so industriously unearthed.</p> + +<p>And if the mystery of the disappearance of +Isidor Werner was uncommonly deep and wonderful, +the explanation and final solution of it is not +less marvellous. After a delay of more than six +years, it has just now come into my hands whole +and perfect. It is in no less satisfactory form than +a complete manuscript written by the very hand of +Isidor Werner! I came strangely into possession +of it, and it relates a story of interest and wonder, +compared with which the mystery of his disappearance +pales into insignificance. But the reader may +judge for himself, for here follows the story exactly +as he wrote it. Upon his manuscript I have bestowed +hardly more than a proof-reader's technical +revision.</p> + +<p class="td0">ELLSWORTH DOUGLASS.</p> + +<p class="p1"><span class="smcap">Boston, U.S.A.,</span><br /> +<i>December 13th, 1898.</i></p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> +<h2>BOOK I</h2> + +<h2>Secrets of Space</h2> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>Dr. Hermann Anderwelt</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I had</span> been busy all day trying to swarm the +bees and secure my honey. The previous day +had been February 29th, a date which doesn't often +happen, and which I had especial reason to remember, +for it had been the most successful of my +business career. I had made a long guess at the +shaky condition of the great house of Slater, +Bawker & Co., who had been heavy buyers of +wheat. I had talked the market down, sold it +down, hammered it down; and, true enough, what +nobody else seemed to expect really happened. The +big firm failed, the price of wheat went to smash in +a panic of my mixing, and, as a result, I saw a +profit of more than two hundred thousand dollars +in the deal. But, in order to secure this snug sum, +I still had to buy back the wheat I had sold at +higher prices, and this I didn't find so easy. The +crowd in the wheat pit had seen my hand, and were +letting me play it alone against them all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the session I hurried to my office to get my +overcoat and hat, having an engagement to lunch +at the Club.</p> + +<p>"If you please, Mr. Werner, there is a queer old +gentleman in your private office who wishes to see +you," said Flynn, my chief clerk.</p> + +<p>"Ask him to call again to-morrow; I am in a +great hurry to-day," I said, slipping on one sleeve +of my overcoat as I started out.</p> + +<p>"But he has been waiting in there since eleven +o'clock, and said he very much wished to see you +when you had plenty of time. He would not allow +me to send on the floor for you during the session."</p> + +<p>"Since eleven o'clock! Did he have his lunch +and a novel sent up? Well, I can hardly run +away from a man who has waited three and a half +hours to see me;" and I entered my private office +with my overcoat on.</p> + +<p>Seated in my deep, leathern arm-chair was an +elderly man, with rather long and bushy iron-grey +hair, and an uneven grey beard. His head inclined +forward, he breathed heavily, and was apparently +fast asleep.</p> + +<p>"You will pardon my awaking you, but I never +do business asleep!" I ventured rather loudly.</p> + +<p>Slowly the steel-blue eyes opened, and, without +any start or discomposure, the old man answered,—</p> + +<p>"And I—my most successful enterprises are +developed in my dreams."</p> + +<p>His features and his accent agreed in pronouncing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +him German. He arose calmly, buttoned the +lowest button of his worn frock-coat, and, instead +of extending his hand to me, he poked it inside +his coat, letting it hang heavily on the single +button. It was a lazy but characteristic attitude. +It tended to make his coat pouch and his shoulders +droop. I remembered having seen it somewhere +before.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Werner, I have a matter of the deepest and +vastest importance to unfold to you," he began, +rather mysteriously, "for which I desire five hours +of your unemployed time——"</p> + +<p>"Five hours!" I interrupted. "You do not +know me! That much is hard to find without +running into the middle of the night, or into the +middle of the day—which is worse for a busy man. +I have just five minutes to spare this afternoon, +which will be quite time enough to tell me who +you are and why you have sought me."</p> + +<p>"You do not know me because you do not expect +to see me on this hemisphere," he continued. "Nor +did I expect to find you a potent force in the commercial +world, only three years after a literary and +linguistic preparation for a scholarly career. Why, +the <i>mädchens</i> of Heidelberg have hardly had time +to forget your tall, athletic figure, or ceased wondering +if you were really a Hebrew——"</p> + +<p>"You seem to be altogether familiar with my +history," I put in with a little heat. "Kindly +enlighten me equally well as to your own."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I gave you the pleasure of an additional year +of residence at the University of Heidelberg not +long ago," he answered.</p> + +<p>"I do not know how that can be, for to my uncle +I owe my entire education there."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps an unappreciated trifle of it you owe +to your instructors and lecturers. Do you forget +that I refused to pass your examinations in physics, +and kept you there a year longer?"</p> + +<p>"You are not Doctor Anderwelt, then?"</p> + +<p>"Hermann Anderwelt, Ph.D., at your service, +sir," he replied somewhat proudly.</p> + +<p>"But when and why did you leave your chair at +Heidelberg?"</p> + +<p>"It is to answer this that I ask the five hours," +he said slowly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come now, doctor, you used to tell me more +in a two-hour lecture than I could remember in a +week," I answered, taking off my overcoat, and +touching an electric button at my desk. My office +boy entered.</p> + +<p>"Teddy, have I had lunch to-day?" This was +my favourite question on a busy day, and Teddy +always answered it seriously.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, you have an engagement to lunch at +the Standard Club," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Telephone to Gus at the Club that I can't come +up to-day. Also send over to the Grand Pacific for +a good lunch for two. Have some beer in it—real +Münchner, and in <i>steins</i>," I directed, and then I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +reclined on a long leather lounge, and motioned to +the doctor to have a chair. He declined, however, +and walked slowly back and forth before me as he +talked, keeping his right hand inside his coat, and +with the left he occasionally ploughed up his heavy +hair, as if to ventilate his brain.</p> + +<p>"A year ago I gave up theoretical physics for +applied physics; I resigned my chair at Heidelberg, +and came to this progressive city. I brought with +me a working model of the greatest invention of +this inventive age. Yet it was then neither perfect +in design nor complete in detail. But now I have +hit on the plan that makes it practicable and certain +of success. I need only a little money to build +it, and the world will open its eyes!"</p> + +<p>"But you must pardon me if instead of opening +mine I shut them," I interrupted, seeing the point +quickly, and losing no time in dodging. "I have +no money to invest in patent rights; but still, you +must stay to lunch with me."</p> + +<p>Just here the doctor seemed to find it necessary +to diverge from the orderly course of his lecture as +he had prepared it, and interject a few impromptu +observations.</p> + +<p>"Events are difficult to forecast, but the capabilities +of a youth are harder to divine. One +educates his son in all the fine arts, and he turns +out a founder of pig iron. One's nephew is apprenticed +to a watchmaker, and in a few years, +behold, he is a great barrister. Your uncle educated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +you thoroughly in the old Hebrew and +Chaldee of the rabbis, and, lo! you are now the +<i>ursa major</i> of the wheat market.</p> + +<p>"Just now you are in the centre of the kaleidoscope +of success. Slater, Bawker & Co. were there +a month ago, but now they are only bits of broken +glass in the bottom of the heap! And you? you +are really a twisted bit of coloured glass like the +rest, but you chance to be thrown to the middle. +The mirrors of public opinion multiply your importance +half a dozen times, and behold you are +reflected into the whole picture. But the kaleidoscope +turns, and the pieces of glass are shifted. +Other broken chips now at the bottom of the heap +will soon be filling the centre!</p> + +<p>"Permit me to change my figure of speech. You +are sweeping back the waves of the sea while the +tide is falling, and the wide-mouthed public looks +on, and whispers about that your broom makes all +the waves obey, and drives them back at will. +Just when you begin to believe it yourself the +tide may turn, and neither brooms nor all the +powers on earth can then sweep it back.</p> + +<p>"Isidor Werner, you believe yourself rich; but +your wealth is like molasses in a sieve. If you do +not dip in your finger and taste the sweet occasionally, +you will have nothing to show for your +pains in the end. I shall ask you for but a taste +of the sweet now, so that I may preserve a little +of it against that day which may come, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +the sieve will be bright and clean and empty +again!"</p> + +<p>There was a knock at the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in!" I shouted. "Nothing but this +lunch can save me from your eloquence. You +have already ruined me in three similes!"</p> + +<p>The waiter arranged a bountiful and tempting +luncheon on a writing table. I commenced on it +at once, but the doctor, though repeatedly urged, +persistently refused. He took a long draught at a +<i>stein</i> of Munich beer, and continued:—</p> + +<p>"My invention proposes to navigate the air and +the ether beyond, as well as the interplanetary +spaces," he said impressively.</p> + +<p>"Flying machine, eh?" I sneered, between bites +of planked whitefish.</p> + +<p>"Indeed no!" he growled, as if he detested this +name. "My invention is not a machine but a +projectile. It is not self-propelling, because if it +depended upon its own propelling apparatus, it could +not in thousands of years navigate the interplanetary +spaces. It is a <i>gravity projectile</i>, and +will travel at a rate of speed almost incalculable. +It does not fly, but its manner of travelling is more +nearly like falling."</p> + +<p>I gave the doctor a quick searching look to see if +I could discover any signs of incipient insanity. I +met a firm, steady gaze; an earnest, convincing +look. Somehow, I felt there was something real +and true and wonderful about to come from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +great scholar before me, and that I must hear it +and hear it all; that I must lend a serious and +thoughtful attention. My eyes were rivetted upon +the doctor's for fully a minute in silence.</p> + +<p>"Go on," I said at last; "I am all attention."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>The Gravity Projectile</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Hermann Anderwelt</span> had probably +suffered many disappointments and waited +long for a hearing. Now he seemed to feel that +his opportunity had come, for he continued with +growing enthusiasm:—</p> + +<p>"Hitherto all attempts at space travelling have +been too timid or puerile. We have experimented +at aerial navigation, as if the brief span of air were +a step in the mighty distance which separates us +from our sister planets. As well might steamboats +have been invented to cross narrow streams, and +never have ventured on the mighty ocean! We +have tried to imitate the bird, the kite, and the +balloon, and our experiments have failed, and always +must, so long as we do not look farther and +think deeper. Every Icarus who attempts to overcome +the force of gravity, which conquers planets, +and propel himself through the air by any sort of +apparatus, will always finish the trip with a wiser +but badly bruised head."</p> + +<p>"Still, it has been freely predicted," I ventured,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +"that this century will not close without the invention +of a successful air-travelling machine."</p> + +<p>"And I alone have hit upon the right plan, +because I have not attempted to <i>struggle against</i> +gravity, but have made use of it only for propelling +my projectile!" exclaimed the doctor +triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"But wait!" I interposed. "Gravity acts only +in one direction, and that is exactly opposite to the +one you propose to travel."</p> + +<p>"That brings me to the very important discovery +I made in physics two years ago, upon which the +whole success of the projectile rests. You will remember +that, according to the text-books, very +little is known about gravity except the laws of its +action. What it is, and how it can be controlled or +modified, have never been known. Electricity was +as much a mystery fifty years ago, but we know all +its attributes. We can make it, store it, control it, +and use it for almost every necessity of life. The +era of electricity is in full bloom, but the era of +gravitational force is just budding."</p> + +<p>"Can it be that we have as much to learn from +gravity as electricity has taught us in the last +half-century?" I exclaimed, as my eyes began to +open.</p> + +<p>"I believe it will teach us far more wonderful +things, because it will take us to unknown worlds, +while electricity has been confined to Earth. Its +realm is the wide universe. It will show us what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +life there is on the planets. It will make us at +home with the stars.</p> + +<p>"What!" he continued in a sort of ecstasy. +"Do you think all great discoveries are over, all +wonderful inventions made? As well might a +trembling child, elated with the success of its first +feeble steps alone, suppose it had exhausted all the +possibilities of life. We are but spelling over the +big letters on the title page of the primary book +of knowledge. There be other pages and grander +chapters further on. There be greater volumes, +and sweeter, more expressive tongues which man +may learn some day.</p> + +<p>"Has a reasoning Divinity created the heavens +and peopled the myriad stars with thinking, capable +beings, who must be perpetually isolated? Or may +they not know each other some time? But shall +we attempt to sail the vast heavens with a paper +kite, or try to fly God's distances with the wings +of fluttering birds? Nay; we must use God's +engine for such a task. Has He tied the planets +to the sun, and knitted the suns and their systems +into one great universe obedient to a single law, +with no possibility that we may use that law for +intercommunication? With what wings do the +planets fly around the sun, and the suns move +through the heavens? With the wings of gravity! +The same force for minute satellite or mighty sun. +It is God's omnipotence applied to matter. Let +us fly with that!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But will you permit me to suggest that we are +soaring before the projectile is built?" I put in.</p> + +<p>"Quite right. Let us come back to Earth, and +return to facts. My studies in physics led me to +believe that all natural forces—gravity, centrifugal +force, and even capillary attraction—are, like electricity +and magnetism, both positive and negative +in their action. If they do not normally alternate +between a positive and negative current, as electricity +does, they can be made to do so. Gravity and +capillary attraction, as we know them, always act +positively; that is, they always <i>attract</i>. On the +other hand, centrifugal force always acts negatively; +that is, it always <i>repels</i>. But each of these forces, +I believe, can temporarily be made to act opposite +to its usual manner. I know this to be the case +with gravity, for I have caused its positive and +negative currents to alternate; that is, I have made +it repel and then attract, and so on, at will, by +changing the polarity of the body which it acts +upon."</p> + +<p>"Now that I remember it," I added, "our original +ideas of magnetism were that it simply attracted. +We knew the lodestone drew the steel, but only on +better acquaintance did we learn of its alternating +currents, attractive and repellant."</p> + +<p>"I have positively demonstrated with my working +model that I can reverse the force of gravity +acting upon the model, and make it sail away into +space. I will show you this whenever you like.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +It is so arranged that the polarizing action ceases +in three minutes, after which the positive current +controls, and the model falls to the Earth again."</p> + +<p>"But have you ever attempted a trip yet?" +I inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. The model was not built to carry me, +but it has demonstrated all the important facts, +and I now need ten thousand dollars to build one +large enough to carry several persons, and to equip +it with everything necessary to make a trip to one +of the planets. With a man inside to control the +currents, it will be far more easily managed than +the experimental model has been."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you had the projectile built, and everything +was ready for a start," I said, "what would +be the method of working it?"</p> + +<p>"I should enter the forward compartment," +began the doctor.</p> + +<p>"But would you make the trial trip yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly would not trust the secret of operating +the currents to any one else," he remarked, with +emphasis. "And will you accompany me in the +rear compartment?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed; unless you will promise to return +in time for the following day's market," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall engage some adventurous fellow +as assistant. First, we must set the rudder, which +is both horizontal and vertical, so that the projectile +can be steered up, down, or to either side. +Having fixed it so as to be directed a little upward,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +I begin with the currents. Suppose the projectile +weighs a ton, I gradually neutralize the positive +current, which we are acquainted with as +gravity. When it is exactly neutralized, the projectile +weighs nothing, and the pressure of the air +is enough to make it rise more rapidly than a +balloon. When I have created a negative current, +the projectile acquires a buoyancy equal to its previous +weight. That is, it will now <i>fall up</i> as rapidly +as it would previously have fallen down. It will +not do to put on the full negative current at once, +for we should acquire a velocity that would simply +burn us up by friction with the atmosphere. However, +the air is soon passed; if in the ether beyond +there is very little friction, or none at all, we shall +go at full speed, which will be the constantly increasing +velocity of a falling body.</p> + +<p>"Somewhere between the Earth and the nearest +planet," he continued, "there is a place where the +attraction of one is just equal to the attraction of +the other; and if a body is stopped in that fatal +spot it will be anchored there for ever, by the +equally matched forces tugging in opposite directions. +There is such a dead line between all the +planets, and our principal danger lies in falling +into one of these, for we should remain there a +twinkling star throughout eternity! We must +trust to our momentum to carry us past this point, +and into space where the gravitational attraction +of the other planet is paramount. Then we must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +promptly change our current from negative to +positive, so that the other planet will attract us +to her. Otherwise, she would repel us back to the +dead line.</p> + +<p>"With a positive current we are now literally +falling into the new planet. We need not land +unless we wish, for as soon as we enter a resisting +atmosphere we can steer a course lacking barely +a quarter of being directly away from the planet, +just as you can sail a boat three quarters against +the wind."</p> + +<p>"But suppose you experiment at making a landing +on this new planet?" I suggested.</p> + +<p>"Very well. Of course, as soon as we enter an +atmosphere, it behoves us to travel slowly to avoid +overheating. We can still safely travel several +hundred miles an hour, however. We continue +falling until rather near the planet; then, turning +the rudder gently down, we can sail around and +around the planet until we choose our landing place. +Gently reversing currents, a mild negative one +soon overcomes our momentum. Tempering our +currents experimentally to the pressure of the air, +we can, if we desire, float like a feather and be +wafted with every breeze. Just a suspicion of a +positive current brings us gently to the surface, +and, when we have cooled, we unscrew the rear +port-hole and crawl out to explore a new world."</p> + +<p>I had mentally made the trip, and was not only +intensely interested, but infinitely pleased. I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +lost for some time with my imagination on the +new sphere, but presently my mind returned to the +practical side of the question, and I inquired,—</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure that ten thousand dollars +will be sufficient to build and fully equip the +projectile?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, quite certain," he answered with decision. +"It will be ample for that and for the expenses of +forming a corporation to own my patents and exploit +the invention. It is easy to see the projectile +will be cheap of construction. No machinery is +necessary; no strong building to withstand enormous +shocks or anything of that kind. The principal +expenditures will be for stores of food and for +scientific and astronomical instruments. Of course, +I wish to show you my working model and my +plans for the practical projectile, and to explain to +you many further details."</p> + +<p>It was growing dark. I arose, turned on the +electric light, and rang my bell. The office boy +entered.</p> + +<p>"Teddy, tell all the boys they may go, except +Flynn. Ask him to wait, please."</p> + +<p>I was quite used to making ten thousand dollar +bargains in a few seconds of time and without the +scratch of a pen. I had risked more money than +that on the fact that Slater looked worried and +Bawker was very cross when at his office, and it had +won immensely. But here, what a prospect, what +a far-reaching, all-encircling prospect it was! No<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +time was to be lost; besides, there was pleasure to +me in driving a good bargain and driving it +quickly.</p> + +<p>"And if I give you the ten thousand dollars, +what do I get in return?" I asked, mentally placing +my part at fifty-five per cent. of the shares at the +lowest, so that I might control the company.</p> + +<p>"You may organize the corporation yourself. +The projectile must bear my name, and I must have +the credit for all discoveries and inventions. Then +you may give me such a part of the shares of the +company as you think right," he replied.</p> + +<p>On hearing this, I mentally advanced my portion +to seventy-five per cent. Then I said,—</p> + +<p>"When the projectile is built and proves successful, +who is to manage the affairs of the company? +Who is to finance it and raise further funds for +exploiting its business?"</p> + +<p>"I have no capacity for business," he declared. +"I have no ambition to be a Pullman or an Edison. +I would rather see myself a Franklin or a Fulton. +You shall manage all the business affairs."</p> + +<p>"Then I will undertake the whole matter, and +give you my cheque for ten thousand dollars to-night, +provided you allow me—ninety-five per cent. +of the company's shares!" I said, simulating a +burst of generosity.</p> + +<p>Doctor Anderwelt ploughed his hair and harrowed +his beard. He knew this was giving too much, but +to have the projectile built, to sail away, to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +all those grand new discoveries, to write books, and +have future generations pronounce his name reverently +along with Kepler and Newton! I did not +believe he would have the courage to say no. +While he meditated, my bell summoned Flynn.</p> + +<p>"Please draw a cheque for ten thousand dollars +to the order of Hermann Anderwelt," I said, watching +the doctor as I spoke. There was indecision in +his face.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I allow you, say, ninety per cent.?" he +said at last.</p> + +<p>I was signing the cheque Flynn had brought me. +"Done!" I cried, handing it over. He scanned it +carefully, and after a long time said,—</p> + +<p>"Mars is nearest to the Earth on the third day +of next August. Fortunately Chicago is a good +place to do things in a hurry. The projectile must +be ready to start early in June, but its construction +and its first trip must be kept a profound secret."</p> + +<p>The doctor must have been hungry since noon. +He began munching a chicken sandwich. The cold +planked whitefish tasted quite as good as smoked +herrings, perhaps, and strawberry short-cake in +March was a luxury which he evidently appreciated.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>Structure of the Projectile</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">A few</span> weeks later I received a letter from Dr. +Anderwelt asking me to call at his rooms on +the West Side that afternoon, as soon as the market +had closed. He desired to exhibit and explain the +drawings of the new projectile and talk over the +preparations for the trip. I had been so engrossed +with every sort of worry that I had thought but +little of the doctor and his grand schemes of late. +But now I was anxious to know what progress he +was making. Sometimes I felt that I had been +foolish to put any money into the thing; but the +doctor's idea of reversing gravity was so simple and +so elemental, that I marvelled it had never occurred +to scientists before.</p> + +<p>After the market I hunted up the street and +number the doctor had given me, and found a little, +dingy boarding-house, lost among machine shops +and implement factories, near the west side of +the river. In a third-floor back room, with one +small window looking out on dark, sooty buildings +and belching chimneys, Dr. Anderwelt was thinking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +out all the incidental problems, and preparing +for all the emergencies that might arise on a trip of +some forty million miles, through unknown space, +to a strange planet whose composition was unguessed.</p> + +<p>The walls of the room were soiled and bare, +except for blue-prints of drawings from which the +projectile was being built in neighbouring foundries. +There were but two plain, hard chairs in +the room. The doctor sat on one with a pillow +doubled up under him for a cushion. He was bending +over a draughting board, which was propped +up on the bed during the day and went under it +at night.</p> + +<p>Three flights of steep stairs had taken my +breath, and I dropped into the other hard chair and +exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"I say, Doctor, why didn't you take an office in +the twelfth heaven of a modern office building over +in town, where they have elevators? I have really +forgotten how to climb stairs. Didn't I furnish +you money enough to do this thing right?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you think this is a good place?" he inquired +in some surprise. "The rent is cheap, and +it is convenient to the work. But speaking of +elevators, we are going to revolutionize all that. +No more hoisting or hydraulic lifts after we apply +our ideas to the lifting of these elevator cages!"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid this idea of negative gravity is apt +to revolutionize everything, and generally upset the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +entire universe," I replied. "I have been wondering +what would happen if you were to apply a +negative current to this Earth of ours and send +it whirling out of its orbit, an ostracised Pariah, +repelled by all the celestial bodies!"</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest danger of any such calamity," +he answered. "The reversal of polarity can only +be accomplished with comparatively small and +insignificant masses. It would be impossible to +impart a negative condition even to the smallest +satellite. Our projectile will weigh but a few thousand +pounds, compared to the millions of tons of the +smallest celestial bodies. The Creator has looked +out for the stability of the universe, never fear for +that! And He has also given us a few hints of +negative currents and repellant gravities in the +form of meteorites and falling stars, which cannot +be so well explained by any other theory. But +what I want to talk to you about is the vital importance +of providing against every possible emergency +before starting on this trip through space. +A trifling oversight in the preparations may mean +death in the end, and things we put no value on +here we might be willing to give a fortune for +on Mars!"</p> + +<p>"Well, let's hear how this thing is built," I said, +rising and facing the larger blue-print. "So that's +the shape of it, is it? Looks like a cigar!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the design resembles that of a torpedo +considerably," replied the doctor, and referring to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +the sectional blue-print he began explaining the +construction.</p> + +<p>"This outer covering is a crust of graphite or +black lead, inside which is a two-inch layer of +asbestos. Both of these resist enormous heats, and +they will prevent our burning by friction with +atmospheres, and protect us against extremes of +cold. Also, when we are ready, they will enable us +to visit planets about whose cooled condition we are +not certain. We might touch safely for a short +time on a molten planet with this covering.</p> + +<p>"Next comes the general outer framework of +steel, just within which, and completely surrounding +the living compartments, are the chambers for the +storage of condensed air for use on the trip. These +chambers are lined inside with another layer of +asbestos. Now, air being a comparatively poor +conductor of heat, and asbestos one of the best +non-conductors we know of, this insures a stable +temperature of the living compartments, regardless +of the condition without, whether of extreme heat +or extreme cold. Afterward comes the inner framework +of steel, and lastly a wainscotting of hard +wood to give the compartments a finish."</p> + +<p>"How large are these living rooms?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"The rear one is four feet high and eight feet +long. The forward one, designed for my own use, +is longer, and must contain a good-size telescope +and all my scientific instruments. The apparatus +with which I produce the currents is built into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +left wall, and it acts on the steel work of the projectile +only. The rear compartment has a sideboard +for preparing meals, which will have to be wholly +of bread, biscuits, and various tinned vegetables and +meats. We shall not attempt any cooking."</p> + +<p>"But are there no windows for looking out?" I +queried.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, there are two of them, made of thick +mica. One is directly in the front end, through +which my telescope will look. The other is in the +port-hole in the rear end. Each window is provided +with an outer shutter of asbestos, which can be +closed in case of great heat or cold. You will +notice the two compartments can be separated by +an air-tight plunger, fitting into the aperture +between them. It will be necessary for both of us +to occupy the same compartment while the air is +being changed in the other. The foul air will be +forced outside by a powerful pump until a partial +vacuum is created. Then a certain measure of condensed +air is emptied in, and expands until the +barometer in that compartment indicates a proper +pressure."</p> + +<p>"The air will be made to order while you wait, +then?" I put in.</p> + +<p>"That is exactly what will be done in a more +literal manner than you may suppose!" exclaimed +the doctor. "This air problem is a most interesting +one, for we must educate ourselves on the trip to +use the sort of atmosphere we expect to find when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +we land. For instance, going to Mars we must use +an atmosphere more and more rarefied each day, +until gradually we become used to the thin air +we expect to find there. Of course, there is an +especially designed barometer and thermometer, +capable of being read in the rear compartment, but +exposed outside near the rudder. The barometer +will give us the pressure of the earthly atmosphere +as it becomes more and more rare with our ascent. +It will show us what pressure there is of the ether, +which may vary considerably, depending on our +nearness to heavenly bodies. It will also immediately +indicate to us when we are entering any new +atmosphere. When we have arrived at Mars, we +shall observe the exact pressure of the Martian air, +and then manufacture one of the same pressure +inside, and try breathing it before we venture out. +The thermometer will give us the temperature of +the ether, will indicate the loss of heat as we leave +the sun, and will show us the Martian temperature +before we venture into it."</p> + +<p>"But you have said the condensed air will be +used to resist the outer heat. This will certainly +make it so hot it will be unfit to breathe," I +interposed.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you forget that the quick expansion of +a gaslike air produces cold. We shall regulate our +temperature in that way. If it is becoming too +warm inside, the new measure of condensed air will +be quickly introduced into the partial vacuum, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +its sudden expansion will produce great cold, and +freeze ice for us if we wish it. On the other hand, +if the compartments are already cold, we shall +allow the condensed air to enter very gradually, and +its slow expansion will produce but little cold. The +question of heating the projectile is the most +difficult one I have found. We cannot have any +fires, for there is no way for the smoke to escape, +and we cannot carry oxygen enough to keep them +burning. I have decided that we must depend on +the heat arising from outer friction and from +absorption of the Sun's rays by our black surface. +When we are in ether where friction is very little, +the velocity will be all the greater, and I believe +we shall always be warm enough. You must +remember, we shall not have the slightest suspicion +of a draught, and we must necessarily take along +the warmest clothing for use on Mars. Even then +we probably cannot safely visit any but his equatorial +districts."</p> + +<p>"This is the rudder, I suppose; but haven't you +put it in wrong end first?" I asked. "It is just +the opposite of a fish's tail. You have the widened +end near the projectile and the narrow end extending."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and with good reason. You will note that +the rudder slides into the rear end of the projectile +so that none of it extends out. This is a variable +steering apparatus, adapted to every sort of atmosphere. +Naturally, a rudder that would steer in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +water, might not steer the same craft in the air. +There is probably a vaster difference between air +and ether than between water and air. It is necessary, +therefore, to have a small rudder with but +little extending surface in thick atmosphere; but +when it becomes thinner the rudder must be pushed +out, so that a greater surface will offer resistance. +When we start, the smallest portion of this rudder +moved but the sixteenth of an inch, up, down, or +to either side, will quickly change our course correspondingly. +When we have reached the ether, the +full surface of the rudder pushed out and exposed +broadside may not have much effect in changing +our course. This is one of the things that we +cannot possibly know till we try. However, if +ether is anything at all but a name, if it is the +thinnest, lightest conceivable gas, and we are +rushing through it at a speed of a thousand +miles a minute, our rudder certainly should have +some effect."</p> + +<p>"But suppose you cannot steer at all in the +ether, what then?" I interposed, hunting all the +trouble possible.</p> + +<p>"Even that will not be so very dreadful, provided +we have taken a true course for Mars while coming +through the Earth's atmosphere. There is no other +planet or star nearer to us than Mars when in +opposition. Therefore there will be nothing to +attract us out of our correct course; and if we can +manage to come anywhere near the true course, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +gravitational attraction of Mars will draw us to +him in a straight line. The Moon might give us +some trouble, and we shall be obliged, either to +avoid her entirely by starting so as to cross her +orbit when she is on the opposite side of the Earth, +or else go directly to the Moon, land there, and +make a new start. But if the ether which surrounds +the Moon (for she has no atmosphere so far +as we know) has no resisting power whatever, we +might have rather a difficult time there. The only +thing we could do would be to land on the side +toward the Earth, then disembark and carry the +projectile on our shoulders around the Moon to the +opposite side, making a new start from there!"</p> + +<p>"What on earth do you mean?" I exclaimed, +interrupting. "Land on a satellite which has no +atmosphere, and carry this projectile, weighing over +a ton, half-way around the globe?"</p> + +<p>"But the point is, it isn't on the Earth, but on +the Moon! Think it over a little, and see how +easily we could do it now. In the first place, we +shall always carry divers' suits and helmets, to use +in going ashore on planets having no atmosphere. +Air will be furnished through tubes from inside +the compartments. In the second place, the projectile +in its natural state will hardly weigh two +hundred pounds on the Moon, since the mass of +that satellite is so much less than the Earth's, and +weight therefore proportionately less. But you +must remember I can make the projectile weigh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +nothing at all, so one of us could run ahead and +tow it, as a child would play with its toy balloon."</p> + +<p>"I perceive you have already made this trip +several times, and are quite familiar with everything. +But in case the Moon's surface is not +suitable for foot passengers, what then? I understand +it to be rough, jagged, mountainous, and +even crossed by immense, yawning, unbridged +fissures."</p> + +<p>"That is most likely true, and for that reason +we must carry a jointed punt-pole, and take turns +standing on the back, landing and punting along +through space just above the surface. Do you remember +how far you can send a slightly shrunk +toy balloon with one light blow? And how it +finally stops with the resistance of the air? Without +any resisting atmosphere, how far and how +easily could it be sent along?"</p> + +<p>"I can quite imagine you, astride the rudder of +this thing, with a punt-pole as long as a ship's +mast and as light as a broom-straw, bumping and +skipping along in the utter darkness on the other +side of the Moon; scaling mountains, bridging +yawning chasms, and skimming over sombre sea-beds!" +I laughed, for it aroused my active sense +of the ridiculous.</p> + +<p>"And the Moon may be well worth the exploration," +exclaimed the always serious doctor. +"Who knows what treasure of gold and silver, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +other metals, rare and precious here, may not be +found there? Why was the Moon ever created +without an atmosphere, and therefore probably +without the possibility of ever being inhabited? +Is it put there only to illume our nights? Remember, +we do the same service for her fourteen +times as well; and if she has inhabitants they may +think the Earth exists only for that purpose. Is +it not more reasonable to suppose that some vast +treasures are there, which the Earth will some day +be in pressing need of? That it is a great warehouse +of earthly necessities, which will be discovered +just as they are being exhausted here? And who +knows but <i>we</i> may be the discoverers ourselves? +If the satellite is uninhabited, it will belong to the +first explorers. Its treasures may be ours! We +shall at least have a monopoly on the only known +method of getting there and bringing them +away."</p> + +<p>"Ah! now you tempt me to go with you," +I said, in a mild excitement. "Now I see myself, +erect on the rudder, a new Count of Monte Cristo, +waving the long punt-pole majestically, and exclaiming, +'<i>The Moon is mine!</i>'"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>What is on Mars?</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"I only</span> wish you <i>would</i> come along with me," +replied the doctor. "I have no idea what +intelligent, educated person I can persuade to accompany +me, unless he is given an interest in the +discoveries. You are the person most interested in +the enterprise, and you should go. If it is money-making +that detains you here, you may rest assured +that we shall find fortunes for both of us somewhere."</p> + +<p>"I am a slave to the excitement of my business," +I answered. "I could not possibly spend two or +three months in a lonely cell, flying through space, +without a ticker or a quotation of the market. +Besides, there are people on the earth I should +not care to leave, unless I was certain of getting +back soon."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure of excitement enough, and +of a continuously novel kind. Besides, of what +interest are the people of this earth, who are all +alike, and whom we have known all our lives,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +compared with the rapture of finding a new and +different race, of investigating another civilization, +and exploring an entire new world?"</p> + +<p>"I shall have to warn my friends about you +and have myself watched, lest you persuade me +and run away with me when the time comes. If +your adventures are half as exciting and varied +as your theories, I should hate to miss them. But +tell me why you have chosen Mars for a first +visit."</p> + +<p>"Because of all the planets he is the one which +most resembles the Earth in all the essential conditions +of life. He is the Earth's little brother, +situated next farther out in the path from the Sun. +He has the same seasons, day and night of the +same length, and zones of about the same extent. +He possesses air, water, and sufficient heat to make +habitation by us quite possible. Moreover, his +gravity problem will not put earthly visitors at +a disadvantage, as it would on the very large +planets, but rather at a distinct advantage over +the Martians."</p> + +<p>"What do you expect to find on Mars?" I +queried.</p> + +<p>"That is a very comprehensive question, and any +answer is the merest guess-work, guided by a few +known facts," replied the doctor. "The principal +controlling fact is the reduced gravitational attraction +of Mars, which will make things weigh about +one-third as much as on the Earth. The air will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +be far less dense than here. In the mineral kingdom +the dense metals will be very rare. I doubt +if platinum will be found at all; gold and silver +very little; iron, lead, and copper will be comparatively +scarce, while aluminium may be the +common and useful metal. Gases should abound, +and doubtless many entirely new to us will be +there. It is not unlikely that many of these will +serve as foods for the animals and intelligent +beings. It is also quite possible that the heavier +gases may run in channels, like rivers, and be alive +with winged fish and chameleons."</p> + +<p>"How about vegetation?" I suggested.</p> + +<p>"The vegetable kingdom will certainly not be +rank and luxurious, because there is not enough +sunlight or heat for that; nor will it be gnarled +and tough, but more likely spongy and cactus-like. +The weak gravity will oppose but a mild resistance +to the activity and climbing propensities of vegetable +sap, however, which is likely to result in very +tall, slender trees. The forces that lie hidden in +an acorn should be able to build a most grandly +towering oak on Mars. Among the animals the +species of upright, two-legged things is apt to +abound. There is no reason for four legs when the +body weighs but little. On the Earth an extremely +strong development of the lower limbs is necessary +for upright things, as is shown in the cases of +kangaroos and men. In order that a cow might +go comfortably on two legs, she would have to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +be furnished with the hind-legs of an elephant; +but not so on Mars. Creeping things would be +very few, and it is possible that fish may fly in +the water with a short pair of wings. What four-legged +animals there are will very likely be large +and monstrous; for an enormous animal could exist +comfortably and move about easily without clumsiness. +For instance, an earthly elephant transferred +to Mars would weigh only one-third as much, and +so there might well be elephants three times as +large as ours, perfectly able to handle themselves +with ease."</p> + +<p>"By the same reasoning then, I suppose the +intelligent beings, or what we call men, will be +great giants twenty-five feet high?" I put in.</p> + +<p>"Some have thought so, but I do not at all +agree with them," replied the doctor. "I stick to +the theory of small men for small planets, and large +men for large planets. There is no possible reason +for a large man on Mars, where muscular development +is uncalled for and useless, and where the +inhabitable space is small. If there are men on +Jupiter, they must of necessity be enormously +strong to hold themselves up and resist gravitation. +If they walk upright (which I think unlikely), +their legs must be very large and as solid +as iron. The Martian legs are likely to be small +and puny, and I believe the upper limbs will be +much more strongly developed. In fact, on Mars +the Creator had His one great opportunity of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +making a <i>flying man</i>, and I do not think He has +overlooked it. With a rather small, tightly-knit +frame, and the upper limbs developed into wings +as long as the body, flying against the weak +Martian gravitation would be perfectly easy, and +a vast advantage over walking."</p> + +<p>"Ah! then perhaps they will fly out to meet +you!" I ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"If they do, they will be stricken with fear to +see that we fly without wings and so much more +rapidly," he answered, and continued: "If a flying +race has been created there, we shall probably find +the atmosphere deeper and relatively (though not +actually) denser than the Earth's. This would serve +to add buoyancy and still further diminish weight, +thus making flying quite natural and simple. I +certainly do not believe that the Martians are subjected +to the tedium of walking. If they do not +fly, they will at least make long, swift, graceful +hops or jumps of some ten or fifteen feet each. +This would require a more hinged development of +the lower limbs, like a bird's. It is also possible +that the lower limbs may have the prehensile +function, and do all the handling and working."</p> + +<p>"But how about intelligence and intellectual +development? That is the main thing, after all," +said I.</p> + +<p>"To answer that takes one into the realm of +pure speculation. There are but few facts to +guide one's guesses. But the trip yonder is worth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +making, if only to learn that. I do not incline to +the opinion that their civilization is vastly older and +more developed than ours. Granting the nebular +theory of the origin of the universe (which is, after +all, only a guess), it is not even then certain that +Mars was thrown off the central sun before the Earth. +It is much smaller, and may have been thrown off +later and travelled farther for this reason. Another +good reason for believing in a less advanced civilization +is the length of the Martian year and consequent +sluggishness of the seasons. He requires +687 of our days to complete his sun revolution, +making his years nearly twice as long as ours. I +believe his whole development is at a correspondingly +slow rate of speed."</p> + +<p>"Which do you think is the most advanced and +enlightened planet, then?" I ventured.</p> + +<p>"That one which finds a way to visit the others +first," he answered, with a touch of pride.</p> + +<p>"But there may be a tinge of personal conceit in +that idea," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"Possibly a mere tinge, but the essence of it +is apparent truth," he declared. "That planet +which has learned the most, made the greatest +discoveries and the most useful inventions, is the +best and fittest teacher of the others, and will be +the sharpest and keenest to gather new information +and formulate new science. It is eminently fit +that representatives of such a planet should visit +the others, and eminently unfit that any primitive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +civilization engaged in base wars and striving for +mere conquest should be allowed that privilege. +An all-wise Creator would not permit a huge, +strong, ignorant race entirely to overrun and extinguish +one weaker but more intelligent. He +might permit a strong, intelligent, masterful race +to rule and direct a weaker and dependent one, +as a schoolmaster rules and guides a child."</p> + +<p>"Then you think we are the wise and masterful +race?"</p> + +<p>"As no other race has yet discovered us; as they +have all left the Space Problem unsolved, and as it +has been uncovered to us, that is my irresistible +conclusion."</p> + +<p>"Still, you will not go with ideas of conquest, +but to teach and to learn?"</p> + +<p>"We shall take with us swords, shields, and fire-arms, +for defence. Unless I mistake the nature of +their metals, our steel will resist any weapon they +can manufacture. But what explosives or what +noxious gases they may have, all strange to us, it is +impossible to conjecture. Therefore, we shall go +with peace in our hands."</p> + +<p>"What progress do you think they have made +in inventions?" I suggested, as the doctor hesitated.</p> + +<p>"If they are winged men, I should say they have +never felt that urgent need of railroads, steam boats, +telegraphs and telephones, which was the mother of +their invention here. Flying or air-travelling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +machines will no more have occurred to them +than a walking machine to us. They will have +thoroughly explored every part of their planet, and +it is possible that their cities will have been built +on high plateaus, or even on mountain peaks. But +they will not have builded greatly, for they will +have been able to use the great architecture of +nature in a way impossible to us."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard the theory advanced by some +humorous scientist not long ago, that the organs of +locomotion and prehension would some day, or on +some planet, be supplanted by machinery, and that +digestive apparatus would give way for artificially +prepared blood?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, that fanciful idea is novel, but irrational. +It makes man only a fraction of a being. +On every planet, no matter what the advancement +of civilization, we shall find <i>complete beings</i>, not +dependent on adventitious machinery for locomotion +or labour, or on artificial or animal blood for nutriment. +Think how helpless such a creature would +be at the loss or rusting of his machinery, and at +the exhaustion of just the right sort of nutritive +fluid. Our digestive apparatus will convert a thousand +different foods into blood. Suppose we could +live only on buffalo meat? We should all have +been dead long ago. We might as well imagine +men as mere fungus brains, swimming in rivers of +blood; or as beings beyond the necessity of personal +thought, and living on brain sandwiches, cut from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +the thinking heads of others. Eating is not only a +necessity, but a pleasure——"</p> + +<p>"That is just what I was thinking," I interposed, +looking at my watch, for it was growing +late.</p> + +<p>"Well, now I have told you how I would have +peopled Mars had the order been sent to me here to +do it," said the doctor, "will you go along with me, +and see how nearly I am right?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not," I replied; "my business ties +forbid. However, I want to see you make the start +and the moment you return!"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>Final Preparations</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">On</span> the tenth day of June, Dr. Anderwelt had +written me as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Please catch the 7.25 train on the Lake Shore +for Whiting this evening. I will take the same +train, and we will walk from Whiting to a deserted +railway siding two miles further on, where the projectile +has been shipped. We will unload it from +the flat car and take it into a grove of scrub oaks on +the shore of Lake Michigan, near by. This will be +enough to demonstrate to you our control of gravity. +The experimental model is there also, and we will +send it off on a trip if you like. Everything will +be ready for the start to Mars to-morrow night."</p></div> + +<p>I dined early and caught the train specified at +Twenty-Second Street. The doctor was looking for +me from the rear platform of a car. It was a local +train, and crept slowly out through the smoky +blackness of South Chicago, illuminated here and +there by the flaming chimneys of her great iron<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +furnaces, to the little city of pungent smells, of +petroleum tanks and oil refineries, in Northern +Indiana. The doctor was explaining the difficulties +he had experienced in getting a companion for the +trip.</p> + +<p>"Men whom I could hire for mere wages are not +intelligent enough to understand the workings of +the projectile, or to comprehend the risks they may +run. Besides, their companionship and assistance +during the trip through space and on a new planet +is worth nothing. On the other hand, I could not +afford to go about explaining the workings of so +important an invention miscellaneously to people +capable of understanding it in an experimental +search for a companion. I might not find one among +twenty, and I would be tossing my secrets to the +winds, and inviting all the daily papers to send +their representatives to report the start. My reputation +as a scientist, on the other side, is too dear to +me to risk a public failure. If the projectile acts, +as I am confident it must, on our return we shall +take out letters patent and form our company to +exploit the business features. But primarily, this +is a test of the projectile and a journey of exploration +and research. Business afterward."</p> + +<p>Naturally on this point we had disagreed. My +motto had always been "Business first!" and I had +desired to have the patents secured immediately. +But the doctor would not consent to the filing of +the required specifications and claims, lest his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +secrets should be learned before success was demonstrated. +As a compromise, the doctor had agreed to +leave the necessary descriptions and data in a sealed +envelope with me, which I was to be at liberty to +open and place on record at any time during the +doctor's absence that I might deem it necessary in +order to protect our rights.</p> + +<p>"Whom have you finally secured to go with you, +then?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you that after we have finished to-night's +work," said the doctor, and then abruptly +changed the subject.</p> + +<p>The walk from Whiting was inspiriting. It was +a beautiful night. There was not a cloud in the +sky and no Moon, which made the stars all the +brighter. Everything was still, save the constant +lapping of the great lake on the sandy shore, but a +short way off.</p> + +<p>"Yonder is the mustard seed planted in the +heavens, which shall grow into a whole new world +for us!" exclaimed the doctor, pointing out a particularly +bright star. "That is Mars rushing on to +opposition. In six weeks he will be nearest to the +Earth; so for that time he will be flying to meet +us. To-morrow is our last day on Earth; to-morrow +night the ether! And in six weeks, diminutive but +mighty man will have known two worlds!"</p> + +<p>"There you go, soaring again!" I cried. "Let +us keep on practical subjects. What have the +foundry people who built this thing, and the railroad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +people who brought it down here, thought +about its probable use? Have they not guessed +something?"</p> + +<p>"You may trust the popular mind not to guess +flying unless it sees wings! They have imagined +this is a new sort of torpedo, sent down here for a +private trial in the lake. In fact, the conductor of +the freight train, who switched the car off here, +asked me in a confidential way if he should get +teams and men and help me to launch her? I have +fostered this idea, and really had the projectile sent +here to carry out that impression."</p> + +<p>A more fitting place for an unobserved start could +not have been selected, however. All this part of +the country is a sandy waste, with a sparse growth +of scrub oaks and but little vegetation. There are +no farms, and the nearest houses are at Whiting. +No one could see our work, except, possibly, the +passengers from occasional trains, which rushed by +without stopping, and were infrequent at this time +of day.</p> + +<p>As we were arriving, I stood off at some distance +to observe the black object on the open car. It was +five feet through, and twenty feet long, not counting +the rudder, which was now entirely drawn into +the rear end.</p> + +<p>"Looks exactly like a cigar," I said. "Sharp +and pointed in front, slightly swelled in the middle, +and cut squarely off behind. Only it is too thick +for its length, of course."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the doctor already had the rear port-hole +open. This was two feet in diameter, and permitted +a rather awkward entrance to the rear compartment. +The interior was crowded with boxes, as yet +unpacked, containing scientific instruments, tinned +foods, biscuits, meat extracts, condensed milk and +coffee, bottled fruits, vegetables, and the like. Over +these the doctor worked his way to the forward +compartment, while I followed him, anxious to +explore the interior.</p> + +<p>"I will unpack all these goods and put them in +their places to-morrow forenoon," explained the +doctor. "Here, in my compartment on the left, I +have my gravity apparatus, battery cells and the +like, and a small table for writing and other work. +On the right is the bunk on which I sleep, and +under it is the big telescope, neatly fitted and swinging +up easily into place before the mica window."</p> + +<p>"Has the compressed air been put in yet?" I +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, that had to be done in the city, where +they have powerful air compressors. I would have +preferred this purer air out here, but it was impossible. +The air we put in only increased the weight +of the projectile eighteen pounds, but it will be +sufficient for two of us for six months. We were +obliged to make the most careful and thorough tests +for leaks in the air-chambers; for if there were +any of these, our life would leak out with the +air."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And such airless satellites as the Moon will +make the most desperate efforts to steal your +atmosphere, too!" I added.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but we will give them only our foul air as +a small stock-in-trade with which they may begin +business. But I see my batteries are commencing +to work nicely. I think I can lift her now. You +go outside and make a hitch with that rope you +saw just forward of the middle of the projectile. +Then, when I have neutralized her weight, you tow +her over beyond that clump of trees you saw near +the shore. That will be out of the view of trains."</p> + +<p>"Must I concentrate my mind or keep my +thoughts fixed on anything?" I asked quizzically.</p> + +<p>"Rubbish! Concentrate it on this. If the projectile +starts up, don't try to hold her with your +little rope. Let go quickly, or you may get uncomfortable +holding on!"</p> + +<p>I went outside, untied the coil of rope and threw +one end over. Meantime the doctor had opened the +forward window, so that he might give directions, +and I said to him,—</p> + +<p>"I can't get the rope under her; she is lying +flat on the car."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment and I will lift her for you," +he replied. The railroad ties rose a little out of +the sand, and there was a slight creaking of the +woodwork of the car as the weight came off. Presently +the forward end of the projectile rose slowly +an inch, two inches!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's enough!" I cried, thrusting the rope +under, and she settled back gently. Having made +my knot, I went out to the other end of the rope, +about thirty feet distant. Forgetting the doctor's +injunction about not hanging on, I wrapped the +rope around my body, worked my feet firmly into +the sand, and finally cried out, "All ready!"</p> + +<p>There was a faint creaking of the car again, +and soon the doctor said, "Pull away!" I threw +all my force into the effort and gave a tremendous +heave, and tumbled over backwards. Had I not +done so, the projectile must have hit me as it glided +rapidly from the car, sinking very slowly to the +sand about fifty feet away. I scrambled to my +feet, went in front again, and easily dragged it +along on the sand to an open place just beyond +the trees. There the doctor allowed it to settle. +It sank into the loose sand about eight inches, +remaining steady in this position.</p> + +<p>"She works beautifully!" I cried. "How I +would like to see her turned loose for a real +flight!"</p> + +<p>"That will come to-morrow night," said the +doctor, crawling out of the port-hole. "But if you +will help me remove these boxes from the experimental +model, you shall see it lost in the sky." +We uncovered and dragged out a small steel thing, +about the same shape as the projectile, but less +than a foot thick and four feet long. It had a +lid opening into its batteries from the top. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +doctor entered his compartment to secure some +chemicals.</p> + +<p>"If you have no further use for this model," +I suggested, "why not create a very strong current +and let it sail off into indefinite space?"</p> + +<p>"Very well; I don't wish to leave it behind +me for some one to discover, and I can't take it +along. We will send it off for a long trip, and +if it falls back it will be into the lake."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment, then! Let's put a good-bye +message in it;" and so saying I took an old envelope +from my pocket and wrote on the back of +it with a pencil in a bold hand: "Farewell to +Earth for ever!" Laughing, I put this inside and +closed the lid.</p> + +<p>Then the doctor turned down a thumb-screw +upon a little wire which connected the poles, and +stepped back quickly. Presently the forward end +began to rise slowly, until it stood upright, but +there it hesitated. The doctor stepped forward +and gave the thumb-screw a hard turn down, and +the model lifted immediately, rising at first gradually, +but soon shooting off with the whizz of a +rocket over the lake. We watched it as long as +we could distinguish its dark outline.</p> + +<p>"It will go a long way," said the doctor. "I +have never seen it make so good a start. It will +lose itself in the lake far from here."</p> + +<p>We fastened up the front window and the port-hole, +and started back to Whiting, where the doctor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +was to remain all night, so as to begin work +early in the morning. Presently, as we walked +along, the doctor said,—</p> + +<p>"Well, Isidor, now you have seen a practical +demonstration of the elementary working of the +projectile. You also have some idea of all there +is to be discovered up yonder in the red planet. +You are the most interested in making and profiting +by those discoveries. I want you to consent +to go along."</p> + +<p>"Haven't you secured a companion, then?" I +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have a friend, a countryman of mine +here, who will go wherever I say. He appreciates +neither the risks nor the opportunities of the trip, +still he will take my word for everything. Yet +if I ask him to go I take the responsibility of his +life as well as my own. He is not a suitable +man, however, and I have really relied on you to +come," he insisted.</p> + +<p>"My dear doctor, I have every faith in you and +in the projectile, and I prophesy a most successful +trip. I should like nothing better than the adventure; +but you must not count on me; I could +not leave my business. There's a fever in my +blood that thirsts for it!"</p> + +<p>"Your business, indeed! You will never really +amount to much till you have left it. It's half +a throw of dice and the other half a struggle of +cut-throats!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is what people say who know nothing +at all about it," I retorted. "It occupies a large +and important place in the world's commerce. +Besides, I could not well leave Ruth and my +uncle."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it time you did something to make her +proud of you, and to be worthy the education +which he gave you? You have a chance now to +be great. Isn't that worth ten chances to be rich? +What would you have thought of Galileo if he +hadn't had time to use the telescope after inventing +it, but had devoted his time and talent to +the maccaroni market? You are one man in ten +million; you have an opportunity Columbus would +have been proud of! Will you neglect it for mere +gold-grubbing? Leave that to the rest of your +race and to this money-mad Chicago. You come +along with me. Let's make this work-a-day world +of ours take time to stop and shake hands with +her heavenly neighbours!"</p> + +<p>"You tempt me to do it, Doctor! Can you wait +two or three days for me?"</p> + +<p>"I can, but Mars won't," he answered laconically. +"Besides, you must not tell any one that +you are going."</p> + +<p>"If there are any two things I love, it's a secret +and a hurry! I will be here to-morrow night," +I exclaimed.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>Farewell to Earth</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> next day I quietly bought in my wheat, +and told Flynn I was thinking of taking a +little vacation. I said I was worn out fighting +the contrary market, and told him to run the office +as if it were his own until I returned. At home +I said nothing about the vacation, for I didn't +care to have my stories agree very perfectly. I +simply packed a few necessities for the trip in a +dress-suit case. My uncle was used to seeing me +carry my evening clothes to the Club in this +manner, and I casually told him I should remain +the night this time.</p> + +<p>I could not leave without kissing cousin Ruth +good-bye, but this excited no suspicion, as it was +a thing I did on every pretext. Then I slipped +out and took back streets till I was several blocks +away from the house. Taking a closed carriage +here, I was driven to the same station and took +the same train for Whiting as on the previous +evening. I found the doctor awaiting me with a +lantern. As we walked down the tracks in the +twilight I said to him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"I never made so quick a preparation, nor attempted +so long a trip. I have left my friends +a lot of guessing! Now, how soon shall we be +off?"</p> + +<p>"Within an hour," he answered. "Mars will +not be directly overhead until midnight, but there +is a little side trip I wish to make first, to test +the projectile before we get too far above the +Earth's surface."</p> + +<p>The sky was densely cloudy, there was no Moon, +and it was already growing very dark. As we +began to have difficulty in finding the way, the +doctor lighted his lantern. Peering up into the +darkness, I said to him,—</p> + +<p>"There is not a star visible. How are you to +find your way in the heavens a night like this?"</p> + +<p>"That is all perfectly easy. We shall soon rise +far above those clouds, and then the stars will +come out. Besides, I shall show you perfect daylight +again before midnight."</p> + +<p>"I don't see just how, but I will take your word +for it, Doctor. I daresay you have thought it all +out, and the whole trip will contain no surprises +for you."</p> + +<p>"I have tried to think it all out and prepare +for everything. But I am certain I have forgotten +something. I have a feeling amounting +to a dreadful presentiment that I have overlooked +something important. I wish you would see if +you can think of anything I have omitted."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The only really important thing I have remembered +is half a dozen boxes of the best cigars," +I replied.</p> + +<p>"Leave them right here in Whiting," he said +with emphasis. "We are carrying only a limited +supply of pure air, and we cannot afford to contaminate +it with tobacco smoke. No, sir, you +can't smoke on this trip."</p> + +<p>"Then I won't go! Imagine not smoking for +two whole months! Do you think I have sworn +off?"</p> + +<p>"No, not yet. But you must. It pollutes the +air, which we must keep clean and fresh as long +as possible."</p> + +<p>"Now, Doctor, you must let me have a good +smoke once a day, just before pumping the air +out of my compartment."</p> + +<p>"No, not even that. It is impossible to pump +all the air out, and what is left mixes back with +what is in my compartment. Once contaminated +with tobacco smoke, we could never get it perfectly +pure again."</p> + +<p>"Well, may I smoke on Mars, then? I will +take them along for that. But, I warn you, I +eat like a farm horse when I can't smoke."</p> + +<p>"I have provided plenty to eat, but I know I +have forgotten something. Mention something +now, mention everything you can think of, so that +I may see if it is provided for."</p> + +<p>"Have you any money?" I asked. "I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +changed some into gold, and have a fairly heavy +bag here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I have some gold and silver money, +besides a lot of beads, trinkets, and gaudy tinsel +things, such as earthly savages have been willing +to barter valuable merchandise for."</p> + +<p>"So you are going on a trading expedition, are +you?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly. I leave all that to your superior +abilities. But we may find these things valuable +to give as presents. Many of them are of tin, and +if they do not happen to have that useful metal +on Mars, they will be of rare value there."</p> + +<p>We had now reached the little grove where the +projectile was hidden. I proceeded to open the rear +port-hole, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Let me look inside, and when I see what you +have, some other necessary thing may suggest +itself."</p> + +<p>"Let me go in first, for I am afraid you will +allow the menagerie to escape," he said, as he +peered in by the light of the lantern. A diminutive +fox terrier barked from the inside, and wagged +his tail faster than a watch ticks, so glad he was +to see us. The bright light also awakened a small +white rabbit that had been asleep in the doctor's +compartment.</p> + +<p>"You are taking these along for companions, +I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, for that and for experiments. We may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +reach places where it will be necessary to determine +whether living, breathing things can exist +before we try it ourselves. Then we shall put one +of these out and observe the effects."</p> + +<p>"You may experiment on the rabbit all you +please, but this little puppy and I are going to be +fast friends, and we shall die together; shan't we, +Two-spot?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you call him Two-spot? There is only +one spot on him, and his name is <i>Himmelshundchen</i>."</p> + +<p>"Rubbish! The idea of such a long, heavy +name for such a little puppy! I shall call him +Two-spot because he is the smallest thing in the +pack. Heavenly-puppy, indeed!"</p> + +<p>The doctor had entered and lighted a small gas +jet, supplied on the Pintsch system from compressed +gas stored in one of the chambers. The rear compartment, +which was to be mine, looked half an +arsenal and half a pantry. On the right side a +cupboard was filled with newly-cooked meats. I +remember how plentiful the store looked at the +time, but, alas! how soon it vanished and we were +reduced to tinned and bottled foods! There was a +cold joint of beef, a quarter of roast mutton, three +boiled hams and four roast chickens.</p> + +<p>On the left, folding up into the concavity of the +wall, like the upper berth of a Pullman sleeping +car, was my bunk. On the walls not thus occupied +the arms were hung. There were two repeating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +rifles, each carrying seventeen cartridges; two large +calibre hammerless revolvers; two long and heavy +swords, designed for cleaving rather than for stabbing; +two chain shirts, to be worn under the +clothing to protect against arrows; and finally two +large shields, made of overlapping steel plates and +almost four feet high. The doctor explained to me +that the idea was to rest the lower edge of these on +the ground and crouch behind them. They were +rather heavy and cumbersome to be carried far, and +were grooved in three sections, so that they slipped +together into an arc one-third of their circumference.</p> + +<p>I examined everything closely and asked a hundred +questions, but the doctor seemed to have provided +for every necessity or contingency.</p> + +<p>"Let us waste no more time," said I. "If we +have forgotten anything, we must get along +without it. All aboard! What is our first +stop?"</p> + +<p>"The planet Mars, only thirty-six million miles +away, if we are successful in meeting him just as +he comes into opposition on the third day of August. +This is the most favourable opposition in which to +meet him for the past quarter of a century. Back +in the year 1877 he was only about thirty-five +million miles away, and it was then that we learned +most that we know of his physical features. But +we shall not have a more favourable time than this +for the next seventeen years."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Still it seems like nonsense to talk about travelling +such an incomprehensible distance, doesn't it?" +I ventured.</p> + +<p>"Not at all!" he replied positively. "If the +Earth travels a million miles per day in her orbit, +without any motion being apparent to her inhabitants, +why should we not travel just as fast and +just as unconsciously? We are driven by the same +force. The same engine of the Creator's which +drives all the universe, drives us. When we have +left the atmosphere we shall rush through the void +of space without knowing whether we are travelling +at a thousand miles per minute or standing +perfectly still. Our senses will have nothing to lay +hold on to form a judgment of our rate of speed. +But if we make an average of only five hundred +miles per minute we shall accomplish the distance +in about fifty days, and arrive soon after +opposition."</p> + +<p>"But have you given up stopping on the Moon?" +I asked. "I had great hopes of making those rich +discoveries there."</p> + +<p>"We must leave all that until our return trip. I +have chosen this starting time in the dark of the +Moon in order to have the satellite on the other +side of the Earth and out of the way. She would +only impede our progress, as we wish to acquire a +tremendous velocity just as soon as we leave the atmosphere. +We must accelerate our speed as long as +gravity will do it for us. When we can no longer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +gain speed, we shall at least continue to maintain +our rapid pace.</p> + +<p>"But if we stopped on the Moon, we should only +have her weak gravity to repel us towards Mars, +and we could make but little speed. On our return, +the stop on the Moon will be a natural and easy +one. We shall be near home and can afford to +loiter."</p> + +<p>While the doctor was saying this, he had been +busy making tests of his apparatus. He now called +me to see his buoyancy gauge, which was a half-spherical +mass of steel weighing just ten pounds. +It was pierced with a hole at right angles to its +plane surface and strung upon a vertical copper +wire. Small leaden weights, weighing from an +ounce to four pounds each, were provided to be +placed upon the plane surface of the steel. The +doctor explained its action to me thus:—</p> + +<p>"The polarizing action of the gravity apparatus +affects only steel and iron, and has no effect upon +lead. Therefore, when the current is conducted +through the copper wire into the soft steel ball, it +will immediately rise up the wire, by the repulsion +of negative gravity. Now, if the leaden weights +are piled upon the steel ball one by one, until it is +just balanced half way up the wire, our buoyancy +is thus measured or weighed. For instance, with +the first two batteries turned in we have a buoyancy +a little exceeding one pound. That means, we +should rise with one-tenth the velocity that we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +should fall. Turning in two more batteries, you +see the buoyancy is three pounds, or our flying +speed will be three-tenths of our falling speed. +With all the batteries acting upon the gauge, you +see it will carry up more than ten pounds of lead, +because the pressure of the air is against weight +and in favour of buoyancy. So long as we are in +atmospheres, then, it is possible to fall up more +rapidly than to fall down; but, on account of friction +and the resultant heat, it is not safe to do so."</p> + +<p>"So we have been doing the hard thing, by +falling all our lives, when flying would really +have been easier!" I put in.</p> + +<p>"We have been overlooking a very simple thing +for a long time, just as our forefathers overlooked +the usefulness of steam, being perfectly well acquainted +with its expansive qualities. But let us +be off. Close your port-hole, and screw it in tightly +and permanently for the trip. Then let down your +bunk and prepare for a night of awkward, cramped +positions. We shall be more uncomfortable to-night +than any other of the trip. You see, when +we start, this thing will stand up on its rear end, +and that end will continue to be the bottom until +we begin to fall into Mars. Then the forward end +will be the bottom. But after the first night our +weight will have so diminished that we can sleep +almost as well standing on our heads as any other +way. Within fifteen hours you will have lost all +idea which end of you should be right side up, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +we will be quite as likely to float in the middle of +the projectile as to rest upon anything."</p> + +<p>My bed was hinged in the middle, and one end +lifted up until it looked like a letter <b>L</b>, with the +shorter part extending across the projectile and the +longer part reaching up the side. I could sit in it +in a half reclining posture. The doctor then +pulled out a fan-like, extending lattice-work of +steel slats, to form a sort of false floor over the port-hole. +This was full of diamond-shaped openings +between the slats, so that the view out of the rear +window was not obstructed. Then he did the same +to form a false floor for his compartment. Finally +he said to me,—</p> + +<p>"Now, if you are all ready, I will stand her on +end;" and by applying the currents to the forward +end only he caused her to rise slowly until she +stood upright. The cupboard in my compartment +and the desk in his end were each hung upon a +central bolt, and they righted themselves as the +projectile stood up, so that nothing in them was +disarranged. I was sitting on the lower hinge of +my bed, clutching tightly and watching everything, +when the doctor called to me to turn the +little wheel which operated a screw and served to +push out the rudder.</p> + +<p>"But the whole weight of the projectile is now +on the rudder," I objected.</p> + +<p>"You will have to make over all your ideas of +weight," he said, with some impatience. "Run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +the rudder out. The gauge shows an ounce of +buoyancy, which is nearly enough to counteract all +the dead weight we have. You can lift the rest +with the rudder-screw."</p> + +<p>And, true enough, it was perfectly easy to whirl +the little wheel around which made the rudder +creep out. There was a steering wheel in the +doctor's compartment and one in my own. He set +it exactly amidships, and told me to prepare for the +ascent. I turned out the gas in my compartment +and crouched nervously over the port-hole window +to watch the panorama of Earth fade away.</p> + +<p>"Here go two batteries!" he cried. I held on +frantically, expecting that we would leap into the +heavens in one grand bound, as I had seen the +model do. But we began to rise very slowly, a foot +and a half the first second, three feet the next, and so +on, as the doctor told me afterwards. It was all so +slow and quiet that I was suddenly possessed with +a fear that after all the projectile was a failure. +Had a balloon started so slowly, it would never have +risen far. This fear held me for only a minute, for +when I looked down again, the landscape below +was beginning to look like a dim map or a picture, +instead of the reality. The doctor was steering to +the northward, directly over the lake. I could see +its great purple, restful surface below me, but more +plainly could I discern the outline where its silvery +edge bathed the white sands of the shore. Following +this outline I could see a web of railroads, like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +ropes bent around the lower end of the lake. The +night was too dark to see it long. The hundreds of +huge oil tanks of Whiting had now disappeared, and +I could see only the flaming tops of the iron furnaces +of South Chicago. Suddenly they went out +in an instant, as if a thick fog had smothered them, +and there was a long minute of pale mist; and then +suddenly a bright blue sky, the twinkling stars +and a veil of grey shutting off all view of the +Earth.</p> + +<p>"We have passed through the clouds," said the +doctor cheerily. "What does the barometer register?"</p> + +<p>I looked, and was astonished to see the mercury +down to fifteen. I asked him if he thought the +barometer might be broken.</p> + +<p>"No, that is quite right," he replied. "That is +half the surface pressure, which shows that we are +two and a half miles high. I have four batteries +in, and we are going at a constantly increasing +speed now."</p> + +<p>I could easily believe it, for the wind howled +around my compartment and whistled over the +rudder aperture in a most dismal way. Whenever +the rudder was changed, there was a new sound to +the moaning. Still, as I looked back at the clouds, +I saw that no wind was moving them. It was not +wind, but only the air whistling as we rushed +through it.</p> + +<p>"Watch the barometer, and let me know the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +exact time when it registers seven and a half +inches," said the doctor. "We shall be five miles +high then, and we started at nine o'clock to a +second."</p> + +<p>I noted the rapidly sinking mercury and opened +my watch. When it was just at seven and a half, +I looked at the watch, and it said half a minute +after nine. Knowing that could not be correct, I +held it to my ear and discovered it was stopped. +I attempted to wind it, but found it almost wound +up.</p> + +<p>"Something wrong with my watch, Doctor. +You will have to look."</p> + +<p>"Half a minute after nine, that can't be +right!" he exclaimed. Then as the truth flashed +upon him he added,—</p> + +<p>"There is the first thing I have overlooked! Our +watch springs are steel, and the magnetic currents +affect them. It is strange I did not think of that, +for I knew a mariner's compass would be of no use +to us in steering on account of the currents. For +that reason I have risen above the clouds so as to +steer by the stars. I am making for the North +Star yonder, now."</p> + +<p>"We will have to get back to the same primitive +methods of measuring time," I put in. "Neither +weight clocks nor spring clocks would have been +of any account. And an hour glass would tell a +different tale just as gravity varied. We will have +to rely on the Moon and stars, and it may be rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +awkward." But I did not then appreciate how +awkward it would be when even the markings of +day and night would be taken away from us.</p> + +<p>"We can count our pulse or go by our stomachs," +said the doctor, who was really disappointed at +having forgotten anything. But he was destined +to get used to that. Presently he inquired,—</p> + +<p>"What is the barometer now? Perhaps we are +high enough for the present."</p> + +<p>"There is scarcely two inches of mercury in the +tube!" I cried out.</p> + +<p>He hesitated for a moment as if calculating, and +then said,—</p> + +<p>"That makes us ten miles high. Work the +rudder gradually very much farther out for this +thinner atmosphere, and we will try falling awhile, +with a long slant to northward."</p> + +<p>And so saying, the doctor detached all the polarizing +batteries, and I could hear the monotonous +howling of the wind die down; and the whistling +ceased altogether as the feeble resistance of the +rarefied air slowly but surely overcame our momentum. +As we began to fall, the doctor turned the +rudder hard down, in order to give us a long sailing +slant. This modified the position of the projectile +so that it lay almost flat again, with a dip of the +forward end downward.</p> + +<p>"Lie down and have a nap while she is in this +comfortable position," he said to me. "When you +waken, I shall have a surprise for you."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>The Terrors of Light</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I was</span> weary from the trials of the day on Earth, +and fell asleep easily. It was the red sunlight +streaming in at the port-hole that awakened me. I +thought I had slept but a very short time, but the +night was evidently over. As soon as the doctor +heard me moving, he cried out to me,—</p> + +<p>"Here is the daylight I promised you. Did you +ever see it at midnight before?"</p> + +<p>"How do you know it is midnight? It looks +more like a red sunset to me," I said, for the sun +was just in the horizon.</p> + +<p>"The sun has just set, and is now rising. It +did not go out of sight, but gradually turned about +and began to mount again. That is how I know +it is midnight."</p> + +<p>"Sunset presses so closely upon sunrise that +night is crowded out altogether. Then this must +be the land of the midnight sun that I have read +about?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are very near the Earth again, and this +is far inside the arctic polar circle, where the sun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +never goes down during summer, but sets for a long +night in the winter. I have kept far to the westward +to avoid the magnetic pole, which might play +havoc with my apparatus."</p> + +<p>"Then your little side-trip is——"</p> + +<p>"To the North Pole, of course!" he cried triumphantly.</p> + +<p>How simple this vexed problem had become, after +all! It had worsted the most daring travellers of all +countries for centuries. Thousands upon thousands +spent in sending expeditions to find the Pole had +only called for other thousands to fit out relief expeditions. +Ship after ship had been crashed, life after +life had been clutched in its icy hand! But now it +had become an after-thought, a side-trip, a little +excursion to be made while waiting for midnight! +And it is often that such a simple solution of the +most baffling difficulties is found at last.</p> + +<p>The doctor had been observing his quadrant, and +was now busy making calculations. He called me +up to his compartment.</p> + +<p>"Longitude, 144 degrees and 45 minutes west; +Latitude, 89 degrees 59 minutes and 30 seconds +north. That is the way it figures out. We were +half a mile from the Pole when I took my observation. +We must have just crossed over it since +then."</p> + +<p>"Go down a little nearer, so we may see what it +looks like!" I said excitedly.</p> + +<p>"I dare not go too close to all that ice, or we may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +freeze the mercury in our thermometer and barometer. +We must keep well in the sunlight, but I +will lower a little."</p> + +<p>What mountains of crusted snow! What crags +and peaks of solid ice! It was impossible to tell +whether it was land or sea underneath. Judging +by the general level it must have been a sea, but +no water was visible in any direction. The great +floes of ice were piled high upon each other. A +million sharp, glittering edges formed ramparts in +every direction to keep off the invader by land. +How impotent and powerless man would be to scale +these jagged walls or climb these towering mountains! +How absolutely impossible to reach by land, +how simple and easy to reach through the air! The +North Pole and Aerial Navigation had been cousin +problems that baffled man for so long, and their +solution had come together.</p> + +<p>"Empty a biscuit tin to contain this record, and +we will toss it out upon this world of ice, so that if +any adventurer ever gets this far north he may find +that we have already been here," said the doctor, +bringing down a freshly-written page for me to +sign. It read as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Aboard Anderwelt's Gravity Projectile, 12.25 +a.m., June 12th, 1892. The undersigned, having +left the vicinity of Chicago at nine o'clock on the +evening of June 11th, took bearings here, showing +that they passed over the North Pole soon after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +midnight. Then they took up their course to the +planet Mars.</p> + +<p class="td2">"(Signed) <span class="smcap">Hermann Anderwelt</span>.<br /> +<span class="smcapm">Isidor Werner."</span></p></div> + +<p>This was duly enclosed in the biscuit tin, which +I bent and crimped a little around the top so that +the cover would stay on tightly. Then I learned +how such things were conveyed outside the projectile. +A cylindrical, hollow plunger fitting tightly +into the rear wall was pulled as far into the projectile +as it would come. A closely fitting lid on the +top of the cylinder was lifted, and the tin deposited +within. The lid was then fitted down again, and +the plunger was pushed out and turned over until +the weight of the lid caused it to fall open and the +contents to drop out. The tin sailed down, struck +a tall crag, bounded off, and fell upon a comparatively +level plateau. The cylinder was then turned +farther over, causing the lid to close, and the plunger +was pulled in again. I remember how crisply cold +was that one cubic foot of air that came back with +the cylinder. My teeth had been chattering ever +since I wakened, and I had been too excited to put +on a heavier coat.</p> + +<p>"What is the thermometer?" asked the doctor. +It was a Fahrenheit instrument we were carrying.</p> + +<p>"Thirty-eight degrees below zero, and still falling!" +I told him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then we must be off at once, and at a good +speed, to warm up. Now say a long good-bye to +Earth, for it may be nothing more than a pale star +to us hereafter."</p> + +<p>The doctor steered to westward as he rose steadily +to a height of about ten miles. Then he fell with a +long slant to the south-west. He was working back +into the darkness of night again. We had lost the +sun long before we started to rise again.</p> + +<p>"We are now well above the Pacific Ocean, +about fifteen hundred miles north-west of San +Francisco," said the doctor, consulting his large +globe.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me you cross continents with remarkable +ease and swiftness. From Chicago to +San Francisco alone is almost three thousand miles," +I ventured.</p> + +<p>"But we have been gone four hours, and if we +had simply stood still above the Earth for four +hours it would have travelled under us about four +thousand miles, so that San Francisco would already +have passed the place where we started."</p> + +<p>"Then one only needs to get off somewhere and +remain still in order to make a trip around the +World!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"You are quite right, and travelling upon the +Earth's surface is the most awkward method, because +it is impossible to take advantage of the +Earth's own rapid motion. Around the World in +eighty days was once considered a remarkable feat,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +but if we were to travel steadily westward we +should make the circuit in very much less than +twenty-four hours. The motion of the Earth upon +its axis is such an immense advantage that if we +were only going from Chicago to London, the trip +could be more easily and quickly made by going to +the westward some twenty-one thousand miles, +rather than going directly eastward less than four +thousand miles. For going eastward we should +have to travel a thousand miles an hour in order +to keep up with the Earth. It is questionable +whether we could make that speed tacking up and +slanting down."</p> + +<p>"Then we shall have to follow the course of +Empire, always westward!" I laughed.</p> + +<p>While we were talking thus, the whizzing and +whistling of the wind, which had been at first very +loud and hissing, had gradually died down. I +looked at the barometer, and reported that there +was scarcely three-eighths of an inch of mercury in +the tube.</p> + +<p>"We are practically above the atmosphere, then," +said the doctor, turning in all the batteries. He +tried the rudder in the ether, and found it turned +her when fully extended and turned rather hard +over.</p> + +<p>"I tried to sleep this morning at Whiting to +prepare for to-night's work," said the doctor presently; +"but I find I am getting uncontrollably +drowsy. Come up, and I will show you the course<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +we most keep, and then I will lie down to get a +little rest."</p> + +<p>I mounted to his compartment and gazed through +the telescope at Mars, looking like a little, red baby-moon, +floating in one side of the blue circle.</p> + +<p>"Keep him always in view, but in the edge of +the field like that," said the doctor. "We must +always steer a little to the right of him—that is, +a little behind him."</p> + +<p>"But he travels around the sun in the same +direction the Earth does," I objected. "I should +think we ought to aim a little ahead of him, or to +the left, to allow for his motion forward in his +orbit."</p> + +<p>"That looks reasonable at first sight, doesn't it?" +said the doctor. "But a little learning is a dangerous +thing. I will explain to you why we must +steer a little behind him after I have had my nap. +I am too sleepy now;" and he finished with a +yawn.</p> + +<p>He soon fell asleep, and I was left alone to think +over the events of the day and the still more strange +happenings of the night. It hurt my eyes to look +long through the telescope, so I closed them and +gave free rein to my thoughts.</p> + +<p>How soon will it be morning? How shall I +know when it <i>is</i> morning? That term "morning" +applies only to the surface of revolving planets. I +had just seen the morning come at midnight, and +then the darkness of night fall again directly after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +morning. After all, what are night and morning? +The one is a passing into the shadow of the Earth, +and the other is simply the emerging into the +light. They depend on a rotation, and we shall +know no more of them until we land on a revolving +planet again. But which shall we have on the +trip, night or daylight? Naturally we would very +soon emerge from the little shadow cast by the +Earth. It had taken us but an hour or two to +travel out of it into the daylight and then back +into the darkness again. Even if we did not leave +it, the Earth would move on and leave us.</p> + +<p>And what then? Nothing but uninterrupted, +untempered, unhindered daylight! Eternal, dazzling, +direct sunlight, unrelieved by any night, unstrained +through any clouds! This deep blue of +the starry night would be succeeded by the hot, +white light of a scorching, gleaming Sun. And +then (the thought chilled my bones as it fell upon +me!), then how would we see Mars? How would +we see any star, or perchance the Moon? Even +the Earth might be drowned in that sea of everlasting, +all-engulfing brilliancy! Nothing in all +the Universe would be visible but the beaming +Sun, and he too blindingly bright to look upon.</p> + +<p>As the truth of all this took hold of me, it filled +me with a growing terror. At any moment we +might emerge from this grateful shadow of the +Earth, and then we would be lost, drowned, engulfed +in a blinding, sight-suffocating light! In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +desperate terror I looked around toward the doctor, +as if for assistance. He was sleeping peacefully. +He had never thought of it! <i>This</i> was the great +thing he had overlooked! Even at starting he had +a dreadful presentiment of it.</p> + +<p>He was a great man, and his discovery a wonderful +one; but here was the trouble with it. He had +solved the question of navigating space, but the +sunlight! the dazzling, burning, terrible sunlight! +how was he to navigate that? It was simply impossible! +We would have to turn back before we +emerged into it. We would have to retrace our +path while we were still in the grateful shadow. +Ah, the blessedness of night after all!</p> + +<p>Then slowly and cautiously, so that I might not +waken him, I crept down to the rear window to see +how far away the Earth was. We were at so great +a distance that I could see the whole outline of it, +as a great dull globe filling all the view behind us. +And as I looked again I started and uttered a cry! +A thin sickle of bright, white light glimmered over +the whole eastern edge of it, like the first glimpse +of the new Moon, but a hundred times larger! It +was the sunlight! It must be creeping around the +eastern edge, and would soon engulf us.</p> + +<p>The doctor had been aroused by my cry. Not +seeing me in his compartment, he had gone at once +to the telescope.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" he said. "You have +lost the course a little." And as I peered out of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +port-hole I saw that narrow sickle of light grow +thinner and thinner, and finally go out. Had I +imagined it all? No, I had seen it.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Doctor, I am so glad you have wakened. +I am frightened, terrified, by the light!"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>The Valley of the Shadow</h3> + +<p class="cap">"<span class="dcap">Light</span>! Where have you seen any light?"</p> + +<p>"I saw the Earth begin to shine like a +New Moon on the eastern edge, but——"</p> + +<p>"Ah, that <i>was</i> a danger signal. I am glad you +awakened me. But you are actually pale and +trembling! There is no danger if you keep the +course. You see, that rim of light has faded and +disappeared since I corrected the course."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you cannot keep in this little Earthly +shadow much longer; and what can we possibly do +when we emerge into the fathomless, trackless +effulgence of eternal sunshine? Let us turn back +before we plunge into it," I pleaded.</p> + +<p>"So that is what terrified you! Well, you have +hit upon one of the greatest difficulties of the trip; +but it is far from insurmountable. We will not +turn back yet, especially as we have started in the +most opportune time. You have mentioned this +'little shadow.' It is eight thousand miles wide +at the surface of the Earth, and gradually, very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +gradually, tapers down to nothing far out in space. +Have you ever calculated how far it reaches?"</p> + +<p>"No," I answered. "But we moved out of it +and back into it at the surface very easily, and +besides, as the Earth moves forward in its orbit, +the shadow will leave us."</p> + +<p>"This little shadow is eight hundred and fifty-six +thousand miles long, and we will never leave +it as long as it lasts!" exclaimed the doctor. "Just +at this time it points like a long arrow out in the +direction of Mars. It is moving gradually as the +Earth moves and hourly correcting its aim. At +opposition time it will point directly and unerringly +at Mars. Therefore it is a way prepared, +surveyed, and marked for us through the all-enveloping +sunlight, which otherwise would be +dreadful enough."</p> + +<p>"But how can we be sure of keeping in it? +It is rapidly narrowing as it reaches farther +out."</p> + +<p>"I see I should have explained that to you before +I went to sleep, and saved you this fright. The +shadow now points behind Mars, as it is many days +yet before it overtakes that planet in opposition. +That is why I told you to steer always a little +behind the planet. But you went a little out of +the course, and immediately something warned us. +That rim of light on the east of the Earth was +notice to us that we were not in the centre of the +shadow, but bearing too far to the left. We must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +keep absolutely in the dark of the Earth, with no +light visible on either side of it. If a thin rim +should appear on one side, we must turn toward +the other until it is all dark again."</p> + +<p>"Grant that this shadow is so enormously long, +yet it is only scarcely one-fortieth of the distance +to Mars," I objected. "After we emerge from it, +what then?"</p> + +<p>"With the aid of my telescope we shall probably +be able to see the Earth as an orb, half or quarter as +large as the Moon usually appears to us, and to +observe its phases until we are several million miles +from it. We must continue to keep the rim of +light, which will then surround it, equal on all +sides."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I am afraid," I interrupted, "that as +soon as we pass out of this shadow the sunlight will +be so bright that we cannot see any planets, not +even the Earth. You know we cannot see the Moon +only a quarter of a million miles away when the +sun shines."</p> + +<p>"In that case we must move the telescope to +your window, put on a darkened lens, and steer so +as to keep the Earth as a spot in the middle of the +Sun. It must appear to us as Venus does to the +Earth when she is making a transit across the face +of the sun. But by our continual shifting we +prevent the Earth from making a transit, and hold +it as a steady spot in the centre of the Sun. This +we can do for many, many million miles, continuing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +until we have reached the vicinity of +Mars.</p> + +<p>"And you must also remember," continued the +doctor, "that the brighter the light the darker will +be the shadow. Now, this projectile is a perfectly +black, non-reflecting object five feet wide. It will +cast a shadow in front of it five hundred feet long. +When we are comparatively near Mars my telescope, +situated in the miniature night cast by the +projectile, will find the planet, and we can then +steer directly for him. If we should chance within +eighty thousand miles of him, he would attract us +to him in a straight line. But we shall not rely +upon chance. Moreover, when we are as near to +him as that, the light and heat of the Sun's rays +will have decreased sixty or seventy per cent. +When Mars is farthest from the Sun, he receives +only one-third as much light as the Earth does. +But he is now almost at his nearest point to the +Sun, and receives half as much light."</p> + +<p>"Well, you certainly have a pretty clear idea of +how to steer the course all the way, Doctor. And I +was hasty enough to think you had overlooked this +entire phase of the subject!" I ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I have thought of it very much. And +we should not enjoy all these advantages if we had +not started just before opposition. At any other +time the Earth's shadow would not point toward +Mars, nor would the transit of the Earth over the +Sun be of any use to us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All this reassures me greatly," I replied; "but +I shall keep a close watch from my rear window for +danger lights on the Earth."</p> + +<p>"It must be time for breakfast," put in the +doctor. "Will you see how tempting a meal you +can prepare?"</p> + +<p>There was one reservoir built inside the compartments, +from which we drew cool water, and +another built next to the outer steel framework, +from which we could draw boiling water. As this +tank was connected with the discharge pipe of the +air-pump, and thus with the exterior, I was disgusted +to find that, although the water boiled +furiously, and was rapidly wasting away in steam, +it did not become hot enough to make good beef +tea. The heat escaped with the steam at a comparatively +low temperature, so that I was compelled +to boil water over my gas jet for the meat extract, +which we drank instead of coffee. I also prepared +some sandwiches of roast beef and cold ham, and +with great relish we began our diet of ready cooked +foods, which was to continue for so long.</p> + +<p>After this meal I felt quite sleepy, for I had enjoyed +but three hours' rest. The doctor saw my +yawns and told me to turn out the gas and have +a long doze, and I was glad enough to do so.</p> + +<p>I must have slept soundly for an hour or two, +and then I remember dozing and rolling lazily in +my bed, as I usually did at home on Sunday mornings. +During my previous nap the bunk had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +seemed hard and cramped, and I had privately +grumbled at the doctor for overlooking personal +comforts; but now I felt that luxurious sensation +of sleeping on soft mattresses and yielding springs, +though of course I had neither. I do not know +how soon I should have thoroughly awakened had +I not lifted my hand to rub my eye, and unwittingly +dealt myself a stinging blow in the face. +This roused me.</p> + +<p>But what was the matter with that arm? It +was as it had once been in a nightmare, when +it felt detached from its place, and moved lightly +and without effort, like a bough in the wind. I +pinched it with my other hand, and it was quite +sensible to the pain. In fact, the other arm was +now acting in the same queer way. I arose in bed +quickly to see what was the matter, and the upper +part of my body bent violently over and struck +against my knees. Then my effort to take an +upright position threw me on my back again. +Evidently my muscles were not working as they +were when I went to bed. They must be over-excited +and over-active. I immediately thought +of my heart as the principal and controlling muscle, +and in my eagerness to feel its beating my hand +dealt me a slap in the chest. These blows, though +rapid, did not seem to hurt as much as they ought, +after the first stinging sensation. I found my +heart was beating regularly enough.</p> + +<p>"Doctor!" I cried out presently, more to test<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +my voice than for anything else. It sounded +perfectly natural, and my vocal chords were not +over-stimulated or abnormal.</p> + +<p>He came half way down from his compartment +soon after hearing me, and rested his elbow against +one side of the aperture between the compartments, +leaning against the other side easily. He had a +scale made of heavy coiled spring in his hand.</p> + +<p>"I wish to calculate our distance from the Earth," +he said. "Do you mind weighing yourself on +these scales?" and he held the spiral down toward +me.</p> + +<p>"You can't support my weight!" I exclaimed, +and springing up from the bed I bumped my head +against the partition between the compartments, +eight feet above my floor. I grasped the lower +ring of the scale he held down and lifted up my +feet. It seemed as if something were still supporting +me from below, for scarcely one-tenth my +weight had fallen upon my hands.</p> + +<p>"You weigh twenty and a half pounds," he +said, and then inquired, "What did you weigh on +Earth?"</p> + +<p>"One hundred and eighty-five pounds," I answered, +just beginning to understand that our +greatly increased distance from the Earth had +much reduced her attraction for us.</p> + +<p>"That is disappointing," he answered, "for we +are only eight thousand miles from home; but +our velocity is still constantly increasing."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I would like to buy things here and sell them +at the surface," I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't make anything by it if you +used the ordinary balance scales," replied the +doctor.</p> + +<p>Try as hard as I would, I could not accustom my +muscles to these new conditions. They were too +gross and clumsy for the fine and delicate efforts +which were now necessary. I was constantly +hitting and slapping myself, though these blows +scarcely hurt, and never resulted in bruises. I +attempted a thorough re-training of my muscles, +which was to all intents an utter failure, for +weight continued diminishing much more rapidly +than my stubborn muscles could appreciate. After +another eight thousand miles, which were quickly +made, we had but one twenty-fifth our usual +weight, which reduced me to seven pounds. And +for most of the trip we weighed practically nothing, +suffering many inconveniences on that account.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>Tricks of Refraction</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> doctor figured out that we should be quite +insensible to any weight when we were +seventy-five thousand miles from the Earth. At +fifty thousand miles I would still weigh a pound, +and when we had finished the first million miles, +the entire projectile, with its two occupants and +all its dead weight, would weigh considerably less +than an ounce. That was a mere start on the +enormous trip ahead of us; but when that distance +was reached, we could no longer count upon terrestrial +gravity for accelerating our speed. We +must travel with our accumulated momentum, +unless by that time the Sun should have taken the +place of the Earth, and with his vaster forces continue +to repel us Marsward.</p> + +<p>As we sat talking the doctor grew weary, and +soon unconsciously dropped asleep. I left him to +enjoy his rest, and, tossing a scrap of ham bone +to Two-spot, I went up to take my place at the +telescope.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mars seemed to be exactly in the right part of +the field. I surveyed the starry stretches ahead +with a feeling a little akin to fear. I was queerly +affected by the vast expanse of loneliness outside, +and by the deathly quiet prevailing both without +and within. There was not the slightest whizzing +or whistling now. We might be hanging perfectly +motionless in space for all I knew. The +batteries made no sound either. I could hear only +the low, regular breathing of the doctor as he slept, +and the slight crunching of Two-spot on his bone. +Presently I thought of looking for the danger +lights, but I looked through the telescope instead, +and saw the little red planet in his proper +place.</p> + +<p>What a vast distance we were from any planet! +If anything were to happen to us, no one on Earth +or in the heavens would ever know of it. I had +never been homesick, but a very little would have +made me Earthsick just then. I did not like the +upper end of the projectile because I could not look +back at the home planet. I wondered if it was all +dark back that way, or if those warning lights +had begun to appear. That idea seemed to haunt +me. I touched the steering wheel just a little +while I kept my eyes on Mars. He moved slightly +in the field at once. Then I turned the wheel +back until he took his former place. It was reassuring +to know how easily the projectile minded +her great rudder, which was now fully extended<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +like an enormous wing. This made me feel that +we were masters of the situation, that all this vast +space was as nothing to us, that any planet in the +heavens must mind us, and that though Earth was +driving us away, she must draw us back if we +willed it. More than that, she would warn us of +all dangers. Perhaps she was sending that warning +now. I had promised to look out for it. I +felt that I must go down. I crept softly past the +doctor and stooped over the port-hole. My eyes +had scarcely found the Earth in the darkness when +I drew back quickly and clapped my hand over +my mouth to prevent a cry escaping me. Then I +looked again more closely. There was no small +illuminated portion of the surface this time, but a +great smear of light just outside the edge of the +Earth. It was of a dull red colour, with rainbow +tints around the edges, and was much the shape +of a great umbrella held just above one quarter of +her surface to westward.</p> + +<p>I gave the steering wheel in my compartment a +sharp turn in the direction which should cause the +light to disappear. Then I crouched and looked +again, but instead of being reduced in size the +light broadened and swelled. It was as if one +edge of the umbrella were left against the Earth's +surface, and then the umbrella was being turned +gradually around until it faced me and formed an +enormous disc, apparently a third as big as the +Earth. Then, as it slowly moved outward, its edge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +seemed to cleave to the Earth's, as two drops of +water do when about to separate. Finally, it +detached itself entirely, and stood as a great +muddy red orb a little to the west of and above +the Earth. It filled me with dismay to see all +this happen after I had turned the rudder in the +direction which should have corrected our course. +In desperation I gave the wheel an additional hard +turn and looked again. At last the great red +patch was shrinking; slowly it diminished, and +finally disappeared. But just as I was breathing +a sigh of relief, I noticed the white sickle of light +on the east side that I had seen before; only it +was increasing most threateningly now. Yes, it +was assuming the same umbrella shape and detaching +itself a little from the eastern edge of the +Earth. There was still a narrow rim of bright +white light on the Earth, and this dimmer umbrella +shape was faintly separated from its edge. Its +outlines were marked by flashes of rainbow colours, +as had been the case on the other side. I sprang +to the wheel and gave it several frantic turns back +the other way. Then I ran up to the telescope +for a hurried view, and Mars was nowhere to be +seen! I hastened back to the wheel and gave it +a vicious additional turn. I was determined to +prevent this umbrella from opening at me! And +true enough it ceased enlarging, and gradually +shrank and settled back upon the surface of the +Earth. Then slowly it faded and disappeared, as it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +had done before when the doctor had corrected the +course. I eased back the wheel and went to look +for Mars again, but he was not in the field. As +I returned I brushed unconsciously against the +doctor in my excitement. He roused himself, sat +up, and watched me peering out of the port-hole. +I was gazing at a new appearance.</p> + +<p>"There it is again!" I cried, for below the +Earth and to westward a pale white disc came into +view all at once, not gradually, as if emerging +from behind the Earth, but springing out complete +and detached.</p> + +<p>"Doctor!" I said, catching him by the arm and +pulling him down to the port-hole, "what is +that?"</p> + +<p>"That? That is the Moon, my boy. Has it +excited you so much?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I have been trying to dodge it. But +you had better look to the wheel," I cried.</p> + +<p>He ran up to the telescope, and I heard him +exclaim, "<i>Donnerwetter!</i>" half under his breath. +But with a few careful turns of the wheel he found +the planet again, and moved him to the right part +of the field. Meanwhile the Full Moon shone on us +with its pale glimmer. But a thin rim of it next +to the Earth gleamed brightly with rich silver +light.</p> + +<p>"I thought you said we had started in the dark +of the Moon. I thought it was behind the Earth," +I interposed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is the New Moon just emerging. It will +probably not be seen on the Earth until to-morrow +night, but as we are at a greater distance we see +it first," replied the doctor.</p> + +<p>"But that is not a New Moon, it is a Full Moon, +which should not be seen for fourteen days yet," +I objected.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, it <i>is</i> a New Moon," he insisted. +"That inner rim of brightness is all the sunlight +she reflects. The paler glimmer is Earth-light, +which she reflects. When she is really a Full +Moon, she will be perfectly dark to us."</p> + +<p>Then I explained to him the first umbrella appearance, +and its gradual swelling and final disappearance.</p> + +<p>"Rainbow colours around the edge and a gradual +changing of the shape, you say? That means +refraction. The Earth's atmosphere has been playing +tricks on you. The umbrella of dull red light +was a refracted view of the Moon before she really +came into sight. Rays of light from the hidden +Moon were bent around to you. Then, as she +gradually moved from behind the Earth, her appearance +was magnified by the convex lens formed +by the atmosphere, bent over that planet. Presently +it diminished and went out altogether, you +say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but that was because I steered away from +her," I replied.</p> + +<p>"No; you could hardly lose her so easily," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +answered. "Did you ever try holding an object +behind a water-bottle or a gold-fish jar? There +is a place near the edge of the jar where a thing +cannot be seen, though the glass and water are +perfectly transparent. The rays of light from the +object are bent around, through the glass and +water, away from the eyes of the observer. It was +like that with the Moon when she disappeared. +She was really drawing out from the Earth all the +time. Finally, when her light passed beyond the +atmosphere altogether, she became suddenly visible +in a different place and shining with another +colour. What we see now is the real Moon in her +true place. The other appearances were all tricks +of refraction."</p> + +<p>"But when I had turned away," I explained, +"there came a thin rim of bright light on the +other side of the Earth, and a gradually appearing +umbrella shape there too."</p> + +<p>"Ah, then you steered far enough out of your +course to see part of the illuminated surface of the +Earth. That was the real danger light. And if +it began to assume the umbrella shape, detached +from the Earth, that was due to atmospheric refraction +of sunlight. This great shadow we are +travelling in has an illuminated core, which we +shall encounter when we have proceeded a little +further. I tell you of it now, so it may not give +you another shock. Have you ever noticed the +small bright spot which illuminates the centre of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +the shadow cast by a glass of water? That is +partly the same as the core of light which exists +in the heart of this shadow. Rays from the sun, +passing on all sides of the Earth, are refracted +through the atmosphere and bent inward. You +must have steered over into some of these rays +just now, and then turned back from them. Somewhat +farther on all these refracted rays will meet +at a common centre, which they will illuminate, +and we shall have an oasis of rainbow-tinged +sunlight in this great desert of shadow. The +sun will then appear to us to be an enormous +circle of dull light entirely surrounding the +Earth."</p> + +<p>"I don't fancy running into that at all," said I. +"Can't we avoid it by steering out?"</p> + +<p>"Avoid it!" exclaimed the doctor. "We must +investigate it, and photograph the peculiar appearance +of the sun. Light seems to have more +terrors for you than anything else just now. You +must get over your rush-and-do tendency; you +must stifle your emotions and impulses, and learn +to think of things in a more calm and scientific +manner."</p> + +<p>"But that is not so easy for me, Doctor. Whenever +I am left alone, a feeling of dread possesses me. +I am used to having many people, bustling noises, +and confused movement all about me. The silence +of Space stifles me, and the loneliness of the ether +oppresses and overcomes me strangely."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I prescribe a change of air for you," answered +the doctor. "You will do better in a rarer atmosphere. +Let us send what we have been breathing +back to Whiting, and make a new one to suit +ourselves."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>The Twilight of Space</h3> + +<p class="cap">"<span class="dcap">Shall</span> I come up into your compartment for +the operation?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No; for this first time we will pump out my +compartment, as I wish to observe from the rear +port-hole the action of the air which we set free."</p> + +<p>The bulkhead, with its bevelled edge, was therefore +fitted into the opening between the compartments, +and I took the first turn at the lever handle +of the air-pump, while the doctor observed from +the window. I had given the handle less than a +dozen vigorous strokes when the doctor suddenly +exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Stop! Wait a moment;" and he began pulling +at the bulkhead, which was already rather tightly +wedged in by the air pressure. "I have left the +rabbit inside," he said, when he found breath to +speak. And poor little bunny's heart was beginning +to beat fast when he was rescued.</p> + +<p>Then we began again. The doctor watched the +escaping air for some time, evidently forgetting +that I was at all interested in it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All quite as I expected," he said at last. "Only +I had forgotten about the snow."</p> + +<p>"Nothing will ever be very new or interesting +to you," I put in; "but pray remember I am here, +and rapidly getting empty of breath and full of +curiosity."</p> + +<p>Then he relieved me at the pump handle, and +this is what I saw from the port-hole: The air +escaping from the discharge pipe of the air-pump +was visible, and looked like dull, grey steam. Immediately +on being set free it swelled and expanded +greatly, and sank away from us slowly. But at +the instant of its expansion the cold thus produced +froze the moisture of the air into a fine fleecy snow, +which lasted but a second as it sank away from us +and melted in the heat, which the thermometer +showed to be close upon ninety-five degrees. This +miniature snowstorm was seen for an instant only +after each down motion of the pump handle.</p> + +<p>"Where is this air going?" I inquired. "The +little clouds of it seem to drop away from us like +lead; but that must be because of our speed."</p> + +<p>"It is falling back to the Earth, to join the outer +layer of rare atmosphere there. If we had a +positive current instead of a negative one, the air +would not leave us, but we should gradually be +surrounded by an atmosphere of our own, which +we should retain until some planet, whose gravitational +attraction is vastly stronger than ours, +stole it from us. When we begin to fall into Mars,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +we shall acquire such an enveloping atmosphere; +and we can draw upon it and re-compress it if our +inner supply should become exhausted."</p> + +<p>"If this air is falling home to earth," said I, "we +could send messages back in that manner."</p> + +<p>"We can drop them back at any time, regardless +of the air," he answered, and then added suddenly, +"but it will make a beautiful experiment to drop +out a bottle now."</p> + +<p>He ceased pumping, and opening a bottle of +asparagus tips, he placed them in a bowl, and prepared +to drop out the bottle. I took my pencil and +wrote this message to go inside,—"Behold, I have +decreed a judgment upon the Earth; for it shall +rain pickle bottles and biscuit tins for the period +of forty days, because of the wickedness of the +world, unless she repent!" And I pictured to +myself the perplexity of the poor devil who +should see this message come straight down from +heaven!</p> + +<p>In order to make his experiment more successful, +the doctor put in half a dozen bullets from one of +the rifles, to make the weight more perceptible. +Then he put the bottle into the discharging +cylinder, and preparing to push it out he stooped +over the port-hole. At a signal from him I gave +the pump handle several quick, successive motions, +and at the same instant he let drop the bottle. At +once he cried out,—</p> + +<p>"Beautiful! and just as I thought."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I didn't see it!" I protested. "What was +it?"</p> + +<p>"The instant the bottle was released the discharged +air was immediately attracted toward it, +and gradually surrounded it entirely. It was like +a little planet with an atmosphere of its own, as +they fell back to the Earth together."</p> + +<p>"But I couldn't see it; I had to pump," I complained. +"We must do it again."</p> + +<p>"We shall soon have our bottled things all +emptied out on plates to dry up and spoil," he +objected. So I emptied a biscuit tin this time, and +delaying for no message, I put it in the discharging +cylinder. Then I bent over the port-hole and gave +the signal for the pumping. As I thrust out the +tin I was astonished to see the lid pop off the first +thing. The quick expansion of the air inside it did +that. This air, as well as the air from the discharge +pipe, seemed to flee from it instead of surrounding +it, as the doctor had said. I continued +watching so long that he finally said,—</p> + +<p>"Hasn't it fallen out of sight yet?"</p> + +<p>"No; it is not falling away swiftly as the air +does. It is following the projectile! It is not +gathering any air about it as you said it would. +It does not quite keep up with us; but considering +our speed, it is doing remarkably well!"</p> + +<p>The doctor was not inclined to believe me until +he had looked for himself. He watched and +pondered for a minute or two. Then his surprise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +ceased, and he spoke in that assured way which +always irritated me.</p> + +<p>"Quite natural, after all," he said. "That biscuit +can is made of thin sheet-iron with a surface +coating of tin. The iron has become magnetized +by induction, and the Earth repels the can just as +it repels us. It will follow us to the dead-line, and +probably on to Mars, unless the sheet-iron loses its +polarization. If we had cast out a thing of solid +iron, it would rush ahead of us, instead of falling a +little behind, as this does, for it would have no dead +weight to carry. But we could not put such a +thing out of the rear end, for no force would make +it fall that way. If we put it out of the forward +port-hole, it would beat us in the race toward +Mars."</p> + +<p>I remarked to the doctor that the air-pump +seemed to be incorrectly built, for its action was +strangely difficult in the reverse manner that it +should have been. The down strokes went by +themselves with a quick snap, but the up strokes +were as if against pressure, and the moment the +handle was released it flew down again. He had +not tested the pump at the surface, as it was of a +well-known make, but it certainly seemed to work +backwards. Moreover, the more nearly we had a +compartment emptied of air, the more difficult the +pumping should become, but here again the reverse +seemed to be the case, for the longer we worked the +easier the up strokes became.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>The temperature of the projectile was still fairly +comfortable, and the doctor allowed the condensed +air to issue very slowly into the partial vacuum in +his compartment until it produced a barometric +pressure of twenty-seven. Then we pulled back +the bulkhead, and when the new atmosphere had +mixed with the old in my compartment, a pressure +of twenty-eight resulted.</p> + +<p>"That is about the way the barometer stands +during tempests at sea," remarked the doctor. I +could not notice much difference from the air we +had previously had. Possibly it was fresher and +slightly more exhilarating.</p> + +<p>The effort at the pump had made us both hungry +again, and I prepared from meat extracts a warm +and rather thick gravy to put over the asparagus +tips. I attempted to pour it, but it was so light +that its sticky consistency prevented it from running. +We had a hundred such examples daily of +the changes which lack of weight caused in the +simplest operations. With sandwiches made of +biscuits and condensed meat, we eked out a +luncheon. This must have been about noon, for +when it was over I remember noticing that we no +longer needed the gas in the compartment, for +there was a gradually increasing mellow light outside.</p> + +<p>"Are we already emerging from the shadow?" +I inquired eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No, not yet," replied the doctor. "But we are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +now entering its illuminated core. I must prepare +to photograph the strange appearance of the Sun +that we shall see presently."</p> + +<p>I hastened to the port-hole, and did not leave +until it was all over. What I then saw was one of +the most beautiful things of the whole trip. The +light outside was not bright, but soft and dreamy, +like the first twilight after a rich day of summer. +The great corona all around the outer edge of the +Earth was the most magnificent appearance I have +ever seen. It was not at all dazzling, but had the +melting shades, first of a sunrise and then of a +gorgeous sunset. We had missed the gradual +appearance of the phenomenon, but we had a good +view of its highest splendour. The colours were +continually but slowly changing, and finally the +darker hues gradually suffused and dyed the pinks +and crimsons.</p> + +<p>The Earth was now about three times the +diameter of a rising Full Moon, and the corona was +about a quarter her width, and looked as if twenty +shell-pink suns were set one against the other and +overlapping all about the edge of the dark orb.</p> + +<p>"How do you know that is not really the extending +edge of the Sun?" I asked the doctor. "Perhaps +we are already far enough away to see it all +about the Earth like that."</p> + +<p>"If that were really the Sun, the light from his +extending edge would illuminate the surface of the +Earth towards us. The planet's outline would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +irregular and partly glowing, but you see it is +quite dull and dark, and the outline is most plainly +visible."</p> + +<p>In rapt attention I watched the delicate shell-pink +change to a deeper hue of orange, and then +our twilight waned a little and turned a sombre +grey. Presently the corona glowed a rich maroon, +gradually dying to a luminous purple, which slowly +deepened and darkened, and finally melted into the +general blackness. And lo! we were in the shadow +again, and the dreamily beautiful panorama was +over.</p> + +<p>"It must have lasted nearly an hour," said the +doctor. "I am sorry we did not notice the beginning, +but it must have commenced with the same +dull shades we saw at the end, and gradually +changed to brighter colours. I secured three negatives +when the glow was most intense."</p> + +<p>"Then we have had a waxing and a waning +twilight coming together in the middle of our +night. And the corona was like a sunrise, followed +immediately by a sunset," I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"And why shouldn't it appear so?" said the +matter-of-fact doctor. "Twilight is the commonest +phenomenon of refraction with which we are +acquainted, and sunrise and sunset are merely a +mixture of refraction and reflection. There is nothing +new about it."</p> + +<p>"Now, Doctor, we must remain friends, but you +shall not continually tarnish my poetry with your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +accursed science! I thank my Creator that He +made me ignorant enough to admire the beauties +of nature. You are continually peeping behind +the scenes, and pointing out the grease paints, the +lime-lights and the sham effects. Let me enjoy the +beauty of the tableau, no matter how it is produced. +I would give all of your pat knowledge for +that feeling of profound awe which rises in the +untutored breast at beholding the magnificent +grandeur of unfamiliar nature."</p> + +<p>"When your ecstasy has quite passed, I shall +appreciate a little cold mutton and biscuits, and +then we must pump out again," he replied.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>Telling the Time by Geography</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">After</span> supper I went up into his compartment, +and having arranged the bulkhead, began the +tedious operation at the pump handle. It was a +matter of pure muscular strength, as the effort had +to be made to lift the handle, which snapped back +sharply when released. I was working vigorously +when I was suddenly struck dumb at seeing the +handle break off just at the point of leverage, so +that it was quite impossible to operate it. The +doctor heard the handle fall, and looked around in +great vexation.</p> + +<p>"That means asphyxiation within twenty-four +hours!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Which is plenty of time to think it over," I +answered.</p> + +<p>After all, why was this pumping necessary? If +a way could be devised to open a valve, all the air +would rush out of my compartment as easily as beer +runs out of a bung-hole. In fact, it did rush out a +little at a time, which is what made the handle go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +down of itself. But any such new valve would +have to be automatically closed, as it would be +manifestly impossible to enter and shut it. I kept +on thinking, and finally began examining the partition +between the compartments. There seemed to +be several long screws that went quite through it.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, did you ever hear of those wise people +who, after every freshet, shipped the surplus water +down the river in boats? Well, it strikes me this +air-pumping is just about as useless labour. Help +me pull in the bulkhead and I will show you +something."</p> + +<p>I went at once to the cylinder we used for discharging +things from the projectile. With a pair +of pliers I chipped off a small piece of the edge of +the closing lid in two places, one near each end. +This made two little irregular holes into the +cylinder about eight inches apart. Then I pushed +it half way out, so that one hole was outside and +the other inside. Of course the air rushed through +the inner hole into the cylinder, and thence through +the outer hole to the exterior.</p> + +<p>"Shut that thing!" cried the doctor, when he +saw what I had done. "Do you wish to suffocate +us? That will let the air out perfectly, but how are +you going to close it to admit the condensed air?"</p> + +<p>"People unskilled in these matters are so hasty!" +I said rather sarcastically. "Wait until I have +finished and you will see."</p> + +<p>I found he had a screw-driver, and I loosened one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +of the long screws and enlarged the half of its hole +toward my compartment. Then I whittled a block +of soft wood, so that it would slide smoothly into +this half of the hole. Driving the screw home +again, I just allowed its tip to enter the end of the +block. Then I fastened a piece of stout twine to +the cylinder and the other end to the block of wood, +which was almost opposite it. Pushing the +cylinder half way out, I made the twine taut, and +hastening into the doctor's compartment, I thrust +in the bulkhead. The air was rapidly escaping. +Waiting long enough for all of it to have leaked +out, I then unscrewed the long screw, which +gradually drew in the block of wood and the twine, +and thus pulled the cylinder into the projectile so +that there was no connection with the exterior. +Then the doctor let in the condensed air to a barometric +pressure of twenty-six, and the whole operation +was over in a few minutes. My compartment +must have been almost a complete vacuum. When +it was over, I cried rather triumphantly to the +doctor,—</p> + +<p>"There, you see, one doesn't need a steam pump +to make the water run over Niagara! At this +distance from the surface, nature abhors a gas and +prefers a vacuum!" He was inclined to be rather +sulky at first, but he really did not like pumping +any better than I did.</p> + +<p>I should say it was about five hours later that we +noticed it was growing gradually lighter outside.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +Mars lost his ruddiness and grew pale in a grey +field. Our view of the Earth was also becoming +more and more misty.</p> + +<p>"We are emerging from the black core of the +shadow into the semi-illuminated penumbra," said +the doctor. Then he altered his course experimentally, +and found a slightly darker path, but it soon +began changing again to grey.</p> + +<p>"There is no use trying to keep in the umbra +any longer. It is growing too narrow. The penumbra +will last quite a long time yet, but it will +gradually get fainter and fainter. We shall not +plunge at once into the dreadful light you fear so +much. Keep your eyes glued to the Earth. I can +scarcely see Mars any longer. The whole field is +getting blank and white."</p> + +<p>The rear vista was also growing a pale white, and +I could distinguish the form of the Earth as a +darker object slightly larger than a full moon when +risen. But it was all growing dimmer and dimmer +as the penumbra faded toward the perfect light.</p> + +<p>"Mars is completely gone now," said the doctor. +"The field of the telescope is one pale curtain of +light. I have steered to the left to go ahead of him +now, as there is no longer any reason for going +behind him."</p> + +<p>I heard him working at the telescope as if loosening +it from its fastenings, but I dared not take my +eyes from the Earth to see what he was doing. +Presently he called out to me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Make room down there. I must bring the +instrument down and observe the Earth now. Be +careful you don't lose sight of her." But the instant +he removed the telescope from its bearings and uncovered +his forward window, I lost all view of the +Earth. The new light now entering by his window, +from behind me, made it impossible to see so far.</p> + +<p>"Too late!" I cried; "I have lost her! We +are alone in limitless space, without even the company +of the planets!"</p> + +<p>But while the doctor was carefully lowering the +telescope, my eyes were still searching, and presently +I perceived a thin crescent of faintly brighter light, +growing gradually wider. It was like a new moon +dimly seen in a clear part of the sky when the +afternoon sun is cloud-hidden. The doctor stopped +to look where I pointed it out to him, and then +changed the wheel a little.</p> + +<p>"That is a thin slice of the illuminated part of +the Earth," he said. "We can no longer see the +dark side which has been visible to us while in the +shadow. Fortunately our new course a little ahead +of Mars will give us a constant view of this thin +crescent."</p> + +<p>We now stood the instrument on end over the +port-hole window, which brought the small end +near the aperture between the compartments. +When the doctor had secured a focus, he called me +to look. The crescent was greatly magnified, but +the outline of the sphere on the other side could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +be seen, nor could anything be distinguished in the +centre. Both the outer and inner edges of the +crescent were ragged and irregular in places, and +there were faint darker spots on its surface. I +called the doctor's attention to the fact that the +ragged appearance was always in the form of extending +teeth on the outer side of the crescent, and +in the form of notches eaten into its inner edge. +He studied all these appearances carefully and +finally said,—</p> + +<p>"This crescent is that part of Earth which is just +coming into morning. It is gradually shifting +from east to west with the Earth's rotation of +course. What we see now, however, is <i>land</i> almost +from pole to pole. There is a small sea just above +the middle, which might be the Mediterranean. +Moreover, it must be mountainous land to cause the +ragged edges and the shadows inside."</p> + +<p>Then he turned away to get his globe, and I took +the place at the instrument. He was slowly turning +the globe and examining it thoughtfully as he +said to himself,—</p> + +<p>"The only continuous land from pole to pole +with one interrupting sea must be over the two +Americas or over Europe and Africa. The American +mountain ranges run from north to south, +while through Europe and Africa they are scarce, +and almost uniformly run from east to west. +Besides, the sand of Sahara would be sure to show +as a large, bright, regular spot. A section from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +longitude 70 to 80 west would include the Green +Mountains and the Alleghanies of North America +and the Andes of South America, and in that case +the darker spot in the centre would be the Caribbean +Sea."</p> + +<p>"Look here!" I cried. "Toward the lower end +the inner outline is growing darker but more +regular, and faint streaks or shadows reach through +the brighter light toward the dark greenish regular +surface which looks like water."</p> + +<p>He observed closely and said,—</p> + +<p>"Those shadows must be cast to westward by +the enormous peaks of the Andes, and the dark +greenish surface they reach toward must be the +Pacific Ocean."</p> + +<p>Then he consulted his globe while I looked. +"The first two to come into view," he said, "would +be the two great peaks in Bolivia, over twenty-one +thousand feet high."</p> + +<p>"There <i>are</i> two of them together," I said, "and +now others are rapidly coming into view. There +are five more scattered unequally, and then, lower +down, three near together."</p> + +<p>"Then there is not the slightest doubt that we +see the Lower Andes," he said. "These last you +mention are scattered just as you say along the +border between Chili and Argentina, and the group +of three are near Valparaiso, the peak of Aconcagua +being the tallest. But watch now for the group +in Ecuador, about midway between the top and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +bottom of the crescent. There are four very large +peaks and numerous smaller ones."</p> + +<p>"The middle all looks bright yet, like land, with +no shadows or greenish spots. But a queer thing is +happening lower down, where the shadows have +ceased lengthening and are now fading. There are +several fine points of light just beyond the outer +edge of the crescent. They are mere bright specks, +but gradually they join with the surface, making a +rough toothed edge."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that phenomenon has been observed upon +the Moon," said he. "That is the sun shining on +the snow-capped peaks first, and then, when the +diminutive outline of the mountain comes into view, +it looks like a tooth."</p> + +<p>"The same is happening all down the coast," I +reported. "Now I see it on the lower group of +three."</p> + +<p>"Give me the instrument," demanded the doctor. +"That can be nothing but the west coast of South +America, and if that be the case, the whole thing +will be repeated for the tall group in Ecuador, +dominated by Chimborazo."</p> + +<p>As I surrendered the telescope to him, the whole +lower part of the crescent was dark, but with +regular edges. Only in the middle, which should +have been about the Equator, and in the upper +part, was there the bright lustre of land reflection. +He watched for fully half an hour before observing +anything remarkable. At last he exclaimed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Now they are beginning! Five streaks near +together and just at the Equator. They are almost +equidistant from each other, and the next to the +lowest one is the longest. Now the top one begins +to fade! Yes, and a point of light has appeared +detached from the outer edge, and now another and +another! They are growing inward toward the +surface. Now they are all connected like five saw +teeth; the bottom one is the shortest, and that next +very high one is old Chimborazo."</p> + +<p>"Then it is morning at Quito and also at +Pittsburg!" I said, tracing up the 80th meridian.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we have been one complete day and +about five hours more travelling the nine hundred +thousand miles that lie between this and Earth," +replied he.</p> + +<p>"That makes us one full meal behind time," I +said; "but we have discovered a way to make +the Andes call us for breakfast. When the Pacific +Ocean has passed from view, Japan and Australia +shall strike noon for us, and we will have supper +and call it night when the Indian Ocean is gone +and darkest Africa has come into view!"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>Space Fever</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">We</span> counted seven successive returns of the +peaks of the Andes, and being by that time +certainly six million miles from the Earth, we could +distinguish them no longer. Then followed what +I remember as a very long and unspeakably monotonous +period, without any adequate method of +marking the time. Our days became a full week +long, for the only way we could guess at the time +was by the quarterings of the Moon. We could +still see her about the size of a marble in the telescope, +and as her crescent began to wane, and +finally her light entirely disappeared, we knew +she was then just between us and the Earth, and +shining upon that planet as a Full Moon. This +was due to occur fifteen days after our departure. +Then we watched her grow from a thin crescent +to a bright quarter, and we knew another week +had elapsed.</p> + +<p>"We shall soon be able to determine one date +with absolute certainty," I said to the doctor, when +we must have been some twenty days out. "I +have been reading up your almanack, and I find<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +there is a total eclipse of the Sun by the Moon on +June 29th."</p> + +<p>"You might as well try to eclipse him with a +straw-hat, as far as we are concerned," he replied. +"The Moon will necessarily be on the further side +of the Earth when that occurs, and the eclipse will +barely reach the Earth. It will fall short of us by +a matter of some thirty million miles!"</p> + +<p>It was soon after this that we gave up observing +the Earth as a planet, put on our darkened lens, and +proceeded to hold her as a spot in the Sun a little +to the left of his centre. The Moon remained a +tiny spot of light outside for a few days; but +finally she entered the Sun also, and was seen as a +faint spot travelling toward the Earth-spot.</p> + +<p>Although the dazzling quality of the light, into +which we had emerged after the second day, was +finally beginning to wane and pale a little, Mars +was still invisible. In fact, no stars or planets were +visible; only the gleaming Sun with the Earth-spot +upon it. Our thermometer was poorly placed in the +glare of the Sun at the rear; but it showed the heat +was decreasing, and from a temperature of thirty-five +degrees, observed at the end of the second day, +it had now fallen to twelve, and was diminishing +regularly about two degrees daily as nearly as we +could reckon.</p> + +<p>Our appetites were steadily failing, and for two +very good reasons: the unsuitable foods and the +impossibility of getting any exercise. There was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +no such thing as getting any healthy actions of +the body. Nothing had any weight, and such a +thing as physical labour was impossible on the face +of it. I attempted to go through regular courses +of gymnastics at frequent intervals; but as my +body and its members weighed nothing, my +muscles found nothing whatever to expend their +force upon. I thought myself worse than Prometheus +bound upon his rock, for he could at least +struggle with the birds of prey and pull upon his +chains! I might as well have been utterly paralyzed, +and I actually began to fear that I should +lose all my strength, and that my muscles would +forget their cunning.</p> + +<p>And our foods could not have been more unsuitable. +The light vegetable diet which this lack of +exercise called for was impossible. We had never +had any fresh vegetables or fruits, and our tinned +and canned supplies of these had been rapidly exhausted. +We had plenty of solid, meaty foods and +beef essences; but our systems did not require +these, and at last absolutely refused to have them. +I lived for days at a time upon beer and biscuits, +and looked longingly at my cigars. I believed I +could have existed comfortably and luxuriously +upon smoke alone. My dreams were filled with +visions of ripe, luscious fruits and fresh, crisp +vegetables. When I awoke, I loathed the only +foods we had.</p> + +<p>I believe I should finally have given up eating,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +had I not hit upon a method of exercise at last. It +was a sort of rowing or pulling machine, which I +rigged up by running a bar through one end of the +doctor's spring scales, and fastening the other end +to the foot of my bed. I pulled vigorously against +this spring for hours at a time, and was delighted +to find that my strength had not left me, and that +I could easily lift as much as these scales had been +made to weigh. I remember the returned appetite +with which I enjoyed potted meat and a tinned +pudding, after the first hour of as vigorous exercise +as our rarefied air would permit.</p> + +<p>The Moon-spot had disappeared and gone to her +eclipse behind the Earth, when an incident occurred +to vary the monotony of our existence a little, and +to suggest to me a diversion that had been hitherto +forbidden. Our supply of water in the outer tank +had long ago boiled away, and I had lighted the gas +to heat water for the doctor's coffee. I had taken +the cup up to him and remained chatting with +him, when presently I smelled something burning +from the compartment below. I descended quickly, +and saw that my light bedclothes, which now +weighed less than a feather, and often floated from +their place, had been drawn into the flame by the +draft of the burning gas. They were floating about +the compartment now, all aflame and threatening +to set fire to everything. We had not a drop of +water to spare; but for once I thought of the right +thing to do without hesitation. I pushed out the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +ventilating cylinder, hurried back to the doctor's +compartment and thrust in the bulkhead. Within +two minutes all the air had escaped from my room, +and the fire had died for lack of oxygen. I waited +a few minutes longer for the smoke to escape, and +then we admitted condensed air, but only to the +remarkably low pressure of eighteen. Within five +minutes the compartment was ready again, and +there was not a trace of smoke or smell of fire to be +perceived.</p> + +<p>"I congratulate you on your quick perception +and prompt action," said the doctor when it was +over.</p> + +<p>"Quick rubbish!" I exclaimed. "I have been a +dundering fool for four weeks by the Moon! I +might just as well have been smoking ever since +I contrived this self-ventilating arrangement. The +compartment becomes a perfectly clean vacuum at +each operation, yet I had to wait for this bed +clothing to catch fire before I could think of so +simple a thing!"</p> + +<p>It was at the meal time just preceding the next +changing of air that I opened the last tin of canned +peas, as a sort of treat for the doctor to offset my +expected revel in fragrant tobacco. I prepared half +the quantity for him, but left my portion in the tin +until I should be hungrier. With the prospects of +a good smoke before me, I had no appetite for food. +I put in the bulkhead to prevent the smoke from +entering his compartment and lighted my Havana.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +Then I took Two-spot on my lap and stretched +myself for a reverie. On Earth, smoking time had +been my period for reflection. And far back on +that distant planet, what were they doing now? +In that one busy corner that had known me, they +had probably wondered at my disappearance for a +day or two; but after the month that had passed +I was certainly forgotten. There were few back +there whom I cared for, and not many had much +reason to remember me. My interests, my desires, +my hopes were all ahead of me on a new planet. +And what was waiting for me on Mars? Discovery, +riches perhaps, and a measure of fame when I returned. +Then I thought of the numberless problems +that the next few weeks must solve for us. +Would there be intelligent inhabitants on Mars? +Would they be in the forms of men or beasts? +Would they be civilized or savage? Would they +speak a language, and how could we learn to communicate +with them? Would they have foods +suitable to us; indeed, would the very air they +breathed be fit to sustain our lives? Should we +find them peaceable, or, if warlike, should we be +able to cope with them?</p> + +<p>These thoughts were interrupted by the doctor, +who called feebly to me to come up. "Don't eat +any of the peas," he said weakly. "There was a +queer taste about them, and they have made me +deathly sick."</p> + +<p>He was very wretched, and grew rapidly worse.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +I immediately saw that it was a severe case of +poisoning, and I did everything I could to relieve +him, but he groaned in agony for several hours. +Finally he fell asleep, but his rest was disturbed +by fits of delirium, in which he raved wildly in +German mixed with English. As he slept I had +time to think the matter over carefully. After all, +it was a thing which required only simple remedies, +and I had administered them. It was only a +question of a little nursing and a careful diet, and +he would be well again.</p> + +<p>But his fever increased and his delirium became +more frequent, and I began to appreciate that the +derangement incident to the poisoning had prepared +the way for a more serious illness. During +his ravings I caught a glimpse of the struggling +and ambitious side of his nature, which he always +so carefully repressed.</p> + +<p>Once I heard him mumble this to himself in +German: "Kepler perceived a little, he saw dimly; +Newton comprehended the easy half; but Anderwelt, +Anderwelt of Heidelberg, grasped the hidden +meaning!"</p> + +<p>In spite of all my attentions (I did not then +understand the nature of Space Fever, of course), +he was growing steadily worse, and I was becoming +desperate. I could not afford to have him ill long. +The currents would probably continue to work +fairly well until it became necessary to reverse +them, and that time was not far off. Unless they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +were reversed exactly at the right moment, we +might fall into the neutral spot and be held there +for ever. Even if I managed to stop the negative +current, and succeeded in falling towards Mars, I +could not regulate the positive current so as to +temper our fall and make a safe landing. It was +equally dangerous to remain fixed in space, or to +fall headlong upon a planet and be smashed, or be +buried miles deep if the projectile did not collapse.</p> + +<p>I had no way of telling how much time passed, +but it seemed to me a very long period, and he +grew steadily worse as we approached the neutral +point. I tried to rouse him from his delirium. I +addressed him jocularly, then commandingly, then +beseechingly. And he answered me always with +reflections from that other side of his nature which +one rarely saw when he was well.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou seen red ants crawling upon a +cherry? Such are the mere circumnavigators of +a globe! What! Hath not the world forgotten +a Columbus? How long, then, will it remember—— Hast +thou no cooler water? This is tepid and +bitter!"</p> + +<p>Ever since the last quarter of the Moon, which +must have been ten days ago, there had not been +the slightest perceptible evidence of movement. The +standards by which we judge motion on the Earth +had failed ever since we left the atmosphere. There +was no rushing or whizzing; we passed nothing; +all the ordinary evidences of speed were absent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +When you lie in the state-room of a smoothly +moving steamer, no forward motion is perceptible. +If you see another ship pass near by, you get a +sudden surprising idea of the speed. If you watch +the receding water, you appear to be going forward +slowly; and if you watch the spray at the bow or +the wake astern, you appreciate the movement more +fully. But if the waves or the tide happen to be +running with the ship, she has apparently almost +stopped, when really her speed has been somewhat +accelerated. If you watch the distant stars, you +can scarcely perceive any motion at all; and if the +clouds should be moving in the same direction as +the ship, her motion appears reversed.</p> + +<p>We had none of these things by which to judge, +and we appeared to be hanging perfectly still in +space, though the doctor had assured me we were +travelling at least five hundred miles a minute. +This was rational, as it agreed with the diminishing +size of the Earth; but it required an effort of faith +on my part to believe that we had been moving +at all.</p> + +<p>But suppose we should gradually lose our speed +and stop in a neutral point, how should I know +it? The Earth now was, and had been for ten +days, a mere spot on the Sun. While Mars had +been visible, he had never increased in size in the +telescope, and he was now invisible. The only +way I could tell would be to wait until after +many days had elapsed, and if Mars did not finally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +come into view, I should know something was +wrong. But it would be too late then; there would +be no winds or tides, no weight or buoyancy, +nothing to move us out of that dreadful calm where +even gravity does not exist. That must be avoided +at every cost! But might we not be very near it +now? Weight had been practically nothing for +a month, within an hour it might be positively +nothing, and——</p> + +<p>The doctor's mutterings interrupted these +thoughts. "The power with which to travel +was so simple and so vast! It all lay hidden in +that elementary law of magnetism, like poles repel +and unlike poles attract. But the road to travel +and the problems by the way, those were the hard +things!"</p> + +<p>He was putting them all in the past tense, as if +he had already solved them! But what was that +law of magnetism he mentioned? Perhaps he +would reveal his secrets to me in his ravings! I +must mark every word he said; for it was clear I +must solve the problem, he would not be well in +time. I must brush the cobwebs from my meagre +science and struggle with his invention.</p> + +<p>"Unlike poles attract," he had said. Then Earth +and matter must normally have unlike poles, and +to make Earth repel matter it would only be +necessary to change the polarization of the matter. +Yes, he had told me it was all accomplished by +polarizing the steel and iron of the projectile!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +When they were made the same pole as the Earth, +then she repelled them. But if the whole thing +were so simple, why had it never been discovered +before? Ah, that is the strong shield behind +which incredulity always takes refuge!</p> + +<p>I ventured near the gravity apparatus and examined +it carefully. There was a small thing +which looked like the switchboard of a telegraph +office. The perforations in it were all in a row, and +the ten holes were now filled with little brass pegs, +which were suspended from above on small spiral +springs. These were evidently the points of communication +of the negative current to the framework +of the projectile. It certainly would do no +harm to pull out one of these pegs, as that would +only slightly diminish the current. At least I +would risk it. My fingers had scarcely closed upon +the brass, when I was given such a violent shock as +to be thrown powerfully across the compartment; +and had my body weighed anything, my bones +would certainly have been broken by the concussion. +My arm and shoulder did not recover +from the stinging and deadening sensation for +some time. I noted the little peg I had pulled +out hanging by its spiral spring just above the +hole it had filled. It would be worth my life to +remove the other nine in the same way.</p> + +<p>Besides, how would I know when the time came +to remove them? My eyes fell upon the two large +leaden balls suspended from short copper chains.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +I had seen these before, but now I thought I +understood them. They would swing whichever +way gravity attracted. They hung down toward +my compartment now, and if we ever passed the +dead line, they would hang forward toward Mars. +But in the neutral point what would they do? +When the gravity of planets neutralized each +other, the steel of the projectile would repel these +balls towards its centre, which would tend to put +them both in the same spot and thus bring them +together. Moreover, they would slightly attract +each other. Yes, it was quite certain that these +had been devised as a Gravity Indicator, and they +would tell me when we were approaching a dead +line, when we were in it, and when it was safely +passed. But all that would do me but little good +unless I could manage the currents.</p> + +<p>I sat thinking this over a long time, when it +suddenly occurred to me that the doctor would +recognise, even in his delirium, the importance of +action when these two balls came together. As +soon as they had approached each other, I must +lift him up and show them to him. The brain +that had made them would know their meaning, +and know how to act even in illness! Perhaps I +was like a drowning man clutching at a straw; +but from the moment I thought of this I believed +firmly that the solution of the whole problem +would come in this manner. My hopes were +ready to hang on the slightest peg. It consoled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +me to remember some instances where men temporarily +insane had been brought to consciousness +by impending danger, or by the sight of what last +weighed upon their mind.</p> + +<p>When I glanced at the balls next, I saw that +their chains lacked an inch of being parallel. +They were already moving slowly inward toward +each other. I noted that the chains, which ran +through the balls and were connected with a small +copper plate on the bottom of each, were just long +enough to allow the bottom edges to touch, if +they were drawn as far toward each other as possible.</p> + +<p>The doctor's fever was at its very worst, but +that did not dampen my hopes. The balls were +gradually drawing nearer together. I wished them +to be quite close before I made the supreme trial +which was to liberate us or leave us prisoners in +space for ever! Presently I loosened the knotted +sheets which held him to his bed, and lifted the +feverish man, as I might have carried a doll, and +brought him in full view of the approaching balls.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, listen now and look," I said firmly +and commandingly.</p> + +<p>"Always stubborn and unbelieving!" he raved. +"I must take it to a new country, to America, +where they invent things themselves, and are +willing to listen, and anxious to try!"</p> + +<p>"Doctor, don't you know me? It is I, Werner, +who helped you. This is a crisis for us! Do you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +see those approaching balls? You know what +they mean! You must save us."</p> + +<p>"Thou'rt too busy, like all the rest! Why, then, +remember that to-morrow will despise those who +are so busy with to-day! Opportunity has knocked +and listened for thee and thou hast bade her +begone!"</p> + +<p>"Listen, Doctor. I am he who heard you and gave +you the pink cheque. I am he who refused three +times to go with you and then came at last. I am +he who was afraid of the light, who dodged the +Moon, and chaffed you about the pump. Do you +not remember it all? Come, you are no longer ill. +There is work to do. Have you forgotten the +leaden balls? See! they are touching each other +now, and we are in the dead-line, the neutral spot, +the one danger of the trip which you acknowledged."</p> + +<p>But it was useless. He remembered nothing, his +eyes were dim and vacant, and the great brain that +had planned all this was overthrown by fever. The +experiment had failed and we were lost!</p> + +<p>I tied him gently back on his bed and turned +in desperation to the apparatus, deciding to risk +my life to pull out those nine pegs with my hands, +one after another.</p> + +<p>My God! they were already out! Every one +of them was hanging by its spiral spring, just +above the hole it had filled. The switchboard +had opened a little and released them. It was all +automatic! The contact of the copper surface of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +the balls had completed a short circuit which cut +the negative current. He had thought of it all, +even to this emergency, and the machine could +take care of itself!</p> + +<p>And in the wave of thankfulness and rejoicing +which swept over me, I sank on my knees and +kissed the forehead of the feverish old man again +and again!</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>The Mystery of a Minus Weight</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was the doctor himself who gave the name +Space Fever (now so generally adopted) to +the peculiar malady from which he suffered in that +long period when weight was very slight or +nothing at all. A little reflection on the physiological +bearings of the conditions we were passing +through, will serve to explain the illness.</p> + +<p>For the period of a month, owing to the impossibility +of effort, there was scarcely any wasting +of our bodily tissues, and very little need for oxydization +of the blood. The limbs, which the heart +really works hardest to serve, did scarcely any +labour and needed very little blood. But the heart +had its stubborn habits the same as the other +muscles. It is a high-pressure engine, and there is +no way of slowing it down materially. It kept up +its vigorous pumping and driving just as if the +great muscles of the limbs had wasted and needed +building up, and just as if it had the task of +forcing the blood through those parts of the body +usually compressed by its weight or strained by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +the effort of carrying it. The result was much +the same as if your heart now should suddenly +begin to beat much too fast, the blood was heated +into a state of fever, which naturally increased +as we lost weight, culminated at the dead-line +and began decreasing as soon as we commenced +having a weight toward Mars. It was only my +fortunate invention of a method of exercise, and my +religious adherence to it, which saved me from a +similar attack.</p> + +<p>But many things happened before the doctor +recovered consciousness. The Moon had re-appeared +on the other side of the Earth-spot, the light about +us had grown less dazzling than sunlight on Earth, +and the temperature had fallen to four degrees. It +was perhaps two days after passing the dead-line +that, as I was gazing carefully out of the forward +window, I saw far to the right of us a large circular +patch of faintly redder light in the general curtain +of white. Its size quite startled me, for it was +rather larger than a full moon, and I had expected +Mars to re-appear as a very bright star before we +could distinguish any disc with the naked eye. +This misapprehension probably arose from the fact +that I had thought the dead-line about half way +between the two planets, which upon reflection I +saw to be impossible, as it must be much nearer +the smaller planet.</p> + +<p>The outline of the planet was not clearly visible +yet, but I could not have missed seeing that red<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +glow long before, had it been more directly in front +of us. Evidently we were steering much ahead of +the planet, which indicated that we were arriving +before opposition. I immediately changed our course +so as to go more nearly toward it, but yet to keep +a little ahead. Then I hastily brought the telescope +back to the forward compartment, which was +now the bottom of the projectile. The lenses +easily pierced the curtain of light that seemed to +be hung in front of the new planet, and I could +distinguish the outline of the greatly magnified +orb very clearly.</p> + +<p>Judging from appearances, it could not be farther +from us than twice the distance of the Moon from +the Earth. I resorted to the scales at once, and +found that weight was beginning slowly to return, +for I weighed a little less than an ounce. From a +rule the doctor had explained to me, I calculated +that this indicated a distance from the planet of +about four hundred thousand miles, if it really was +Mars. But I had some doubts about its really +being that planet; for a clear white, irregular-shaped +spot upon it, which I had noticed as soon as the +telescope was focussed, did not appear to move at all, +as it should have done had it been upon a rotating +planet. Upon closer observation, I detected a dull, +greenish spot, just coming upon the lower edge. +But when I looked again a bright white and +perfectly circular spot had appeared in the same +place and covered it up. But this new white spot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +travelled much more rapidly, and soon uncovered +the greenish spot, which seemed to move in the same +path, but much more slowly. This was something +I could not understand. The white circle was too +bright and regular to be a cloud, yet if they were +both on the surface how could one travel faster +over the same path?</p> + +<p>Very soon the white circle passed entirely across +the greater orb, and then I was surprised to see it +detach itself from the planet and remain for a few +moments as a separate small orb in the sky! Could +this be another freak of refraction? But before I +could determine, the little orb disappeared behind +the greater disc and was gone. The greenish spot, +which I judged to be truly on the surface and +caused by an ocean or great sea, was about three +times as long in crossing the disc. I next turned +my attention to the immovable and irregular white +spot, and discovered that its edges seemed to be +revolving slowly around its centre. Then it occurred +to me that this spot must be located at one +of the poles and be caused by polar ice and snows. +The doctor had expected such on Mars, and I no +longer doubted that this was our objective planet.</p> + +<p>It was like a great holiday for me when the +doctor regained consciousness. Almost as soon as +his fever abated he was well enough to perform his +customary duties. His illness had not made him +appreciably weak, because as yet scarcely any effort +was required to move about. He was quite as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +anxious to hear all my experiences as I was eager +to relate them. I gave him a full account of my +struggle passing the dead-line, of my discovery of +Mars, and the various spots I had noted.</p> + +<p>"From the time it took the greenish spot to cross, +I should judge a Martian day to be about fifty +hours long," I said.</p> + +<p>"Then you <i>must</i> have been very lonely," he +replied. "For a Martian day is just forty-one +minutes longer than an Earthly day, unless a great +number of our scientists have continually made the +same mistake in observing him."</p> + +<p>"When we arrive, we shall be able to determine +the point exactly if our watches commence running +again," I answered. "But I think I know one +reason why I have misjudged the time. Ever since +you have been ill I have slept very little. I have +hardly felt the need of rest since I lost my weight. +I have been growing more and more wakeful, and +I rarely sleep more than an hour at a time. That +seems quite sufficient to refresh me."</p> + +<p>"As we regain our weight we shall feel the need +of sleep again," he said. "But on Mars we may +need but one-third as much as we had on Earth, +unless we exert ourselves proportionately more."</p> + +<p>Then I told him about the circular spot which +had seemed to slip off the upper edge of Mars, and +asked his explanation of it.</p> + +<p>"That must have been Phobos, one of the moons +of Mars," he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One of his moons!" I exclaimed; "I didn't +know he had <i>any</i>."</p> + +<p>"You are an American, and say that!" he +answered in surprise. "It is one of the astronomical +glories of your people that they discovered the +two moons of Mars, during the favourable opposition +of 1877."</p> + +<p>"This is the first case I remember where we have +left it to a foreigner to tell us how great we have +been!" I laughed.</p> + +<p>"These two moons of Mars also furnish a most +interesting example of how fiction may forestall +and pre-figure actual scientific discovery. Dr. +Swift made Gulliver, in his wonderful travels, discover +two moons of Mars, revolving at a speed +which he must have thought ridiculously fast. +Many years afterward the American telescopes +really found two moons, but actually revolving +more rapidly than Dr. Swift had dared to boast! If +your white circle was really Phobos, you have seen +the freak among satellites. She is the smallest, +swiftest moon ever discovered, and travels so much +more swiftly than the revolution of her primary +that she appears to go opposite to everything else in +the Martian sky, rising where the Sun sets and +crossing the heavens from west to east!"</p> + +<p>"What I saw did travel in the same direction as +the rotation of the planet, and much more rapidly," +I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Then it was Phobos without a doubt, and she is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +due to appear again in the west in three hours and +fifty minutes after she sets in the east. We must +watch closely, for I wish to land upon her and make +a flying trip all around Mars with her. Do you +realize what a glorious view we shall have of the +great planet, sailing around him on this satellite in +a period of a little over seven and a half hours, and +at a distance of only about four thousand miles? +There will be no night, for if one side of the little +moon is heavier than the other, the heavier side +will always be turned toward Mars. Therefore, +when the Sun does not shine on Phobos, Mars will +do so, and keep her continually illuminated, except +for the brief period of the regular eclipse during +each revolution. And one-fourth of the entire +heavens, as seen from Phobos, will be filled with the +glowing orb of Mars! The great planet will exhibit +to us at a near range all the configurations +of his surface, his oceans and his clouds. We +will survey and photograph him to our hearts' +content."</p> + +<p>The doctor was justly enthusiastic on this subject, +and I felt that such a landing would, in some +measure, compensate for my disappointment in not +being able to visit the Moon.</p> + +<p>As I watched carefully, the satellite finally came +into view, but very much more distant from Mars +than before. Also, it moved very slowly now, and +seemed to grow larger as it approached the disc. I +pointed it out to the doctor, and remarked that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +was acting quite differently. Just as it entered +upon the orb of Mars, another moon, somewhat +smaller, mounted hurriedly from the under side of +the planet and began hastily ploughing her way +over the ruddy disc.</p> + +<p>"That last one is the one I saw before, that is +my Phobos!" I cried excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Then the other slow one is Deimos, the outer +moon. She appears the larger to us now, because +her greater distance from Mars makes her nearer to +us, but she appears to the Martians as the smaller. +We must observe closely, and we may discover some +new and lesser satellites which Earthly telescopes +have never found."</p> + +<p>"Time enough for that when we land on Mars," +I answered. "If we get in past these two without +being hit, I shall be satisfied. You dare not +venture in front of that Phobos, and I don't see how +you can ever overtake her if you approach from +behind."</p> + +<p>"That reminds me to slacken speed, for we must +be getting very near," he said. "Please weigh +yourself every few minutes and note your increasing +weight. You should weigh seventy-two pounds +on Mars, and eight pounds at the distance of +Phobos."</p> + +<p>He immediately reversed currents, and when I +reported that I weighed almost a pound, it frightened +him, and he turned in the full power of the negative +currents to overcome our momentum. And it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +proved that the repelling power of Mars at the distance +of 15,000 miles, which this indicated, was not +at all strong against the great velocity we had been +daily acquiring. I hung upon the scales every few +minutes, and reported a steadily increasing weight +up to three pounds.</p> + +<p>"That shows a distance of eight thousand miles," +he figured. "Almost exactly in the orbit of Deimos, +but she has safely passed, and will not return for +thirty hours. We must turn the rudder hard over +to the right, and sail around the planet in a circle +until Phobos overtakes us; then, if we approach her +travelling in the same direction at almost the same +rate of speed, her gravitational attraction will pick +us up and draw us safely ashore."</p> + +<p>Mars was already an enormous orb ahead of us, +and many of his features, such as oceans, ice-caps, +and continents, could easily be distinguished; but +we paid little attention to them, being occupied +with making a safe landing on Phobos, and expecting +to make a systematic study of him from there.</p> + +<p>"We must not attempt a landing on the outer +side of the satellite," the doctor reflected, "for we +should have no way of getting around to the inner +side to make our observations. We must go within +her orbit, and then as she comes past allow her +attraction to draw us gently toward her."</p> + +<p>We had quickly overtaken and passed Deimos, +far within her orbit. I was keeping a close watch +for Phobos out of the rear window as we circled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +about Mars at a distance which we calculated, from +my weight on the scales, must be within the path +of the satellite. We were circling in the same +direction that the great planet was rotating, and +yet we passed by things on his surface, which +proved that we were travelling faster than his +rotation. The doctor noticed, with his telescope, a +brilliant snow-capped peak of a great mountain +towering up from a small island. The contrast of +the snow peak, with the darkish green waters all +around it, was the most pronounced thing visible on +the great planet, and he decided this must be the +white spot detached from the polar ice which our +astronomers have frequently observed at about +twenty-five degrees south latitude, and to which +they have given the name Hall's Island.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid we have not appreciated the speed +at which we have been travelling," remarked the +doctor. "Phobos is very slow in overtaking us;" +and he was just beginning to slacken speed still +more, when he suddenly cried out,—</p> + +<p>"Here she is ahead of us now! We have overtaken +her, instead of waiting for her to catch +us!"</p> + +<p>And, true enough, we were gradually approaching +a small brownish mass, feebly illuminated on its +outer half by the sun, and more faintly still on its +inner half by reflected light from Mars.</p> + +<p>And how shall I describe that queer little +toy-world which we were gradually overtaking?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +Imagine, if you can, a little island, less than a third +the size of the Isle of Wight, tossed a few thousand +miles into space, and circling there rapidly to avoid +falling back upon the greater sphere. Imagine that +flying island devoid of soil, of trees or vegetation, +of water or air, of everything but barren, uncrumbled, +homogeneous rock, and you have some +idea of the unadorned desolation of Phobos, into +which we were slowly sailing, or falling. There +was not even the slightest trace of sand or scraps of +rock, such as time must have abraded from even the +hardest surfaces, but the reason for this soon became +apparent.</p> + +<p>The doctor feared steering directly against her as +we approached, lest we should land with a crash. +We had already reached her and were travelling +along her inner side. Although we were very near +her, she seemed to have very little attraction for us. +Then he turned very much closer, but as soon as +the influence of the rudder was released, we seemed +to leave her instead of falling upon her as we expected. +We were still travelling faster than she +was, and had we steered directly against her, we +would have crashed and bumped against her protuberances. +Still there seemed to be no other way +to make a landing. In order to estimate the +amount of such a shock, the doctor calculated, from +the best information he had of her size and a guess +at her density, that she would attract the projectile +and its entire load with a force of only two pounds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +That was not enough to cause any very great shock, +and he decided to take chances at once, before we +had entirely passed her. He turned the rudder +hard over toward the satellite, and we came against +her with scarcely any crash, but with a bumping +and grating that continued until the rudder was +eased back. Then, to our great surprise, we did not +remain on the surface, but rose from it and sailed +inward towards Mars.</p> + +<p>"Something wrong here!" exclaimed the +doctor. "She has no attraction for us."</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you explain this?" I asked. +"You say the whole projectile weighs only two +pounds toward Phobos, when, just a short time +ago, I weighed nearly eight pounds myself on the +scales."</p> + +<p>"True enough!" he cried; "the gravity of Mars +must be dominant." He began figuring rapidly, +and then exclaimed: "We weigh one hundred and +thirty pounds toward Mars, and only two pounds +toward the satellite. Small wonder that we could +not make a landing, with Mars pulling us away +sixty-five times harder than Phobos attracted us! +But this is very strange! I remember no mention +of this in any of the astronomical writings, and it +is as easily calculable on Earth as it is here. Moreover, +this must cause everything that is loose upon +Phobos to fall upon Mars. The great planet is +tugging at everything the satellite has with a +force sixty-five times stronger than her own!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, I am afraid those figures won't do, +Doctor," I put in. "For, if what you say is true, +what prevents the whole satellite from tumbling +into Mars at once?"</p> + +<p>"She would do so were it not for centrifugal +force. The speed with which she whirls around +the planet must just balance the force with which +he attracts her, and thus she is kept in her orbit. +But stones and loose things on this side of her +centre are attracted more strongly by Mars than +they are repelled by the whirling, so they must all +have fallen to the planet. That is why the surface +was perfectly barren. If Phobos always keeps +the same side turned toward Mars, there may be +rocks and soil on the outer side, and we could land +there with a positive current; but we could not +see the great planet, as I had hoped."</p> + +<p>"I have had quite enough of this moon-chasing," +I said; "let us be off for the large game at once!" +and the doctor agreeing, we turned directly toward +Mars.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> +<h2>BOOK II</h2> + +<h2>Other World Life</h2> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>Why Mars gives a Red Light</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Our</span> telescope was now pointed exactly at Mars, +and we were observing every feature as we +approached him. Compared with the illuminated +crescent of the Earth, which we had studied when +we were observing the Andes, our present view +was infinitely vaster and more comprehensive. We +were approaching the illuminated side of a planet, +whereas we had then been rapidly receding from +the dark side of one partly lighted at its edge. In +our new vista there were remarkably few clouds. +There were a few pale mists here and there over +the seas, but no such heavy, black masses as had +frequently obscured the Earth.</p> + +<p>On Mars there were fewer large bodies of water, +and a very much greater proportion of land. In +fact, about the Equator, whither we were steering, +there seemed to be a broad, uninterrupted zone of +land, with occasional bays or inlets cutting into it, +but never crossing it. An open sea of considerable +proportions surrounded the great ice-cap at each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +pole, and it was apparently thus possible to travel +entirely around the globe, either by sea or by land, +as one might choose.</p> + +<p>"Behold again the infinite wisdom of the +Creator!" cried the doctor. "Although Mars is +a much smaller planet than our own, it is fitted +for almost as large a population. The land is +nearly all grouped about the Equator, where it +is warm enough to live comfortably. On the +contrary, on Earth there is no important civilization +under the Equator, and most of the land is +favourably located in the north temperate zone. +On Earth the intervention of great oceans between +the continents kept the population restricted to +Asia and Egypt for centuries, and to the Old +World for a still longer time. But here, this band +of continuous land has made it easy and natural +to explore the whole globe, and its inhabitants +have had ample time and opportunity to distribute +themselves."</p> + +<p>But by far the most wonderful thing that we +had been observing for a long time, and which +became more remarkable as we approached, was +that the entire planet, seas and continents alike, +gave off a reddish light. This tinge of red had +been visible ever since we had left the Earth. +Much further back we had observed that it seemed +to extend a little beyond the outline of Mars, and +we now saw that even the white light from the +snow-caps had a faint tinge of red.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>"For centuries the ruddy light of this planet +has been remarked," said the doctor. "His very +name was given him because of his gory, warlike +appearance. Scientists have attempted to explain +it by supposing that his vegetation is uniformly +red, instead of green like ours. Still others, objecting +that his vegetation could not possibly be rank +or plentiful, or continue the same colour through +all seasons, have supposed that his soil or primæval +rock is of a deep red colour. But neither of these +suppositions explain why his seas should give off +a reddish light mixed with their green, or why the +pure white of polar snows should be tinged with +crimson."</p> + +<p>We must have been still two hundred miles +above the surface when the barometer began to +rise feebly, indicating that we were already entering +the Martian atmosphere; and, as we proceeded, +the reddish glow spread all around us, and was +even dimly visible behind as well as in front. We +were still travelling too rapidly to plunge into the +denser atmosphere or attempt a landing. Besides, +we wished to explore the planet, and find life and +civilization before choosing a landing place. And +as we drew nearer, in a constantly narrowing circle, +that red haze was all about us everywhere.</p> + +<p>"There can be but one explanation of it," said +the doctor at last. "This red is a colour in the +Martian atmosphere. It seems very strange and +almost impossible to us; but we must prepare<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +ourselves for extremely unusual and even apparently +impossible things."</p> + +<p>But this seemed to disturb the doctor greatly, +as also did the fact that we could no longer breathe +with comfort the rare air which we had not found +objectionable far back in space. Our returning +weight made physical effort again necessary, and +we were able to exert ourselves but little without +panting and gasping. The rarest air we had used +had shown a pressure of fourteen, and we were +now compelled to increase this to eighteen in +order to be comfortable.</p> + +<p>"This Martian air is sure to give us trouble," +the doctor said to me after considerable reflection. +"In the first place, its red colour makes me fear it +is not composed of the same gases that our air is. +If it should turn out to be a mixture of oxygen +and nitrogen, like ours, there is the possibility that +this red matter which gives it colour will be +poisonous to us. And even if it is not harmful, I +do not think the air will have a pressure above +ten or eleven, and we seem to need eighteen or +twenty for comfort. I shall be very sorry if we +have to return at once; but our supply of air is +limited, you know."</p> + +<p>"You keep a close watch through your telescope +for those flying men you promised to show me," +I answered. "If they can live in this air, I think +we can manage it somehow. I will not go back +while there is a breath left in me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>But as we drew nearer and nearer to the surface +we did not discover the slightest sign of +habitation. As far as we could see there was a +great desert, barren of all vegetation, and apparently +unwatered since creation. Our telescope did +not detect the existence even of animals or creeping +things.</p> + +<p>"The wisdom of the Creator is probably quite +as profound, but certainly not as apparent just +here as it was somewhat farther back," I ventured.</p> + +<p>"We must search over the whole surface of the +globe until we find smoke rising," said the doctor. +"That is the sure sign of intelligent life on Earth. +There has hardly been a tribe of the lowest savages +there which did not know how to light a fire, and +this knowledge would be far more essential on a +cold planet like this. Wherever we find smoke we +shall find those intellectual creatures, corresponding +to men on our planet."</p> + +<p>Presently, far ahead of us, we discerned a small +black cloud rapidly crossing our path. As we +approached we examined it through the telescope, +and soon saw that it was nothing less than an +enormous flock of swiftly-flying small grey birds. +This was our first acquaintance with what we +afterwards found to be the predominating form of +animal life on the planet. But the swift-winged +cloud bore away from us, as if fleeing from the +desert, and was soon lost to view.</p> + +<p>It was not long after this that we perceived a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +broad stripe of brilliant green extending down into +the dull expanse of the desert. In the middle of +this verdant zone there was a weaving silver +ribbon, which could be nothing else than a great +river, along whose banks we could discern hundreds +of hovering or wading birds, hopping lugubriously, +or spreading their broad wings in a low flight.</p> + +<p>As we now lowered rapidly to examine the soil +more closely, we saw that we were approaching +some great geometrical masses of hewn rock, whose +regularity of design indicated that they were +buildings of some sort. We at once decided to +land and investigate these, even if we had to +take up our search for intelligent life later.</p> + +<p>We remarked that none of these enormous +structures were square, or with right-angled corners, +such as we were used to. They all seemed to be +a combination or multiplication of a single design, +which was nothing more than a massive triangular +wall, with its right angle on the ground and its +acute angle at the top. Sometimes two were built +together, with their perpendicular surfaces joining; +again, four were joined in the same manner, and +one very large one was composed of twelve of +these, radiating from a common centre, which, if +they had quite joined each other, would have +formed a gigantic cone.</p> + +<p>I took another look at the tall, slender birds +down the river, and remarked to the doctor,—</p> + +<p>"These great structures are no birds' nests!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +You can't make me believe winged men would +build with stone. These look more like giants' +playthings than anything else."</p> + +<p>"They appear to me like the gnomons of +enormous sundials," remarked the doctor; "and, +indeed, their uses must certainly be astronomical. +With these one can not only tell the time, but the +ascension and meridian of the sun and stars, and +therefore the months and seasons."</p> + +<p>We lowered and circled about above the largest +one, which had twelve of the triangular walls +built in circular form, with their common perpendicular +line in the centre and their acute angles +at the circumference. On closer observation, the +twelve slanting sides, which radiated from the +common peak, had a tubular appearance, and we +were soon able to look down through almost a +hundred great cylindrical chambers, which ran +from a common opening at the top, slanting at +every different angle down to the surface.</p> + +<p>"These are nothing more than great, immovable +masonry telescopes, for watching the stars in their +courses!" cried the doctor. "Look, there is one +perpendicular cylinder for observing just when a +star or planet comes directly overhead, and these +scores of other cylinders, at different angles, +successively afford a view of a given constellation +as it rises and then declines."</p> + +<p>"Then they have built a separate masonry +telescope, pointing in almost every conceivable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +direction, instead of having one movable telescope +to take any direction," said I.</p> + +<p>The wonderful size and massive construction of +these was very striking, rivalling the pyramids +of Egypt in their ponderous and enduring character. +They were located on a raised plateau, whence the +view in all directions was quite unobstructed. We +came gently to land in the midst of them. To +the rear, whence we had come, I could see the +desolate waste of the desert. From the forward +window we observed that the peaceful river kept a +straight course from the cataract where it plunged +over the plateau, through the green valley, between +level banks, as far as we could see; and +just at the foot of our plateau restfully nestled +a city, whose massive and towering structures +reached almost to our level. With the aid of the +telescope we saw beings moving slowly about. +Their form was upright and unwinged, but more +than this we could not see. The deliberation and +stately dignity of their movements comported +perfectly with the majestic city wherein they +dwelt.</p> + +<p>"At last we have arrived at the boundaries of +Martian civilization," exclaimed the doctor. "We +will rest here and test the atmosphere; and if it +permits us, we will then venture forth to measure +our skill and knowledge against this race of +builders. I hazard a guess that we will excel +them in many things, for they are apparently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +only at the perfection of their Stone Age, while +we finished that long ago, and have since passed +through the Ages of Iron and of Steam, and are now +at the dawn of the Era of Magnetism and Gravitation. +Our minds are more fertile and elastic, for +with this little movable telescope we probably +obtain better results than they have done with +their years of toiling calculation and patient +building."</p> + +<p>"You will be sadly disappointed if they so far +excel us that they eat us up at two mouthfuls," +said I. "As they move about yonder, they impress +me as being full of power."</p> + +<p>"They are as sluggish as elephants," he replied. +"We are certainly more rapid in thought and +action, and it is highly probable that we shall +excel them in physical strength, as we have been +built for three times as heavy muscular tasks as +they."</p> + +<p>"Still, if we cannot make them understand that +we come peaceably as friends, they may attempt to +kill us as the quickest solution of the question. +And they are a whole race against two of us," +said I, just beginning to realize all the difficulties +that were yet ahead of us.</p> + +<p>"Unless they are a very intelligent and magnanimous +race, they will probably attempt to take +us prisoners," he answered. "It is the mark of +an enlightened nation to welcome strangers whose +powers are unknown. A primitive race fears<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +everything it does not understand, and force is +its only argument against a superior intelligence."</p> + +<p>Thereupon I immediately began a thorough overhauling +of all the arms and ammunition, while the +doctor prepared to test the air. There was a tone +of confident exultation in his voice when he spoke +again.</p> + +<p>"This redness of the air will not trouble us a +whit. Look! you can see no tinge of red between +here and that huge wall yonder, nor anywhere +along the ground as far as you can see. It is so +slight a colouring that it is only noticeable in vast +reaches of atmosphere, like the blue colour in our +own air. See here, where a small cloud obscures +the sky there is no ruddy tinge. There is no +more colouring-matter in this than there is indigo +in our own air. The amount of it is so infinitely +small that it will never trouble us. Now, if it +only contains oxygen enough, we are sure of life +in it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if they will leave us alive to breathe it," +I added, counting out seventeen cartridges for each +rifle.</p> + +<p>"The air outside shows a pressure of only eleven, +while we have eighteen inside," he said. "I will +bring in the discharging cylinder full of the outer +air, and by keeping it upside down the lighter air +will remain in it. Then, if a candle flame will +burn steadily in it, the oxygen we need is there."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>Suiting the action to the word, he carefully drew +in the inverted cylinder, and cautiously brought a +lighted candle into it. To our great delight the +flame burned for a moment with a brighter, +stronger light than it did in the air of the compartment.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried the doctor, as happily as if he +had just earned the right to live. "It seems to +have more oxygen than our own air, which will +make up for the lesser density."</p> + +<p>Then he put the lighted candle in the cylinder, +and quickly discharged it outside upon the ground +where we could see it. The flame had almost twice +the brilliancy that it had had inside.</p> + +<p>"Our scientists who have sneered at the possibility +of life on Mars, because of its rare atmosphere, +have overlooked the simplicity of the +problem. They delight in propounding posers for +Omnipotence. If a Creator dilutes oxygen with +three parts of nitrogen on one planet where conditions +make a dense atmosphere, why should He +not dilute oxygen with an equal part of nitrogen +on a planet where the air is rare? Air is not a +chemical compound, but a simple mixture. When +a stronger, more life-giving atmosphere is needed, +let there be less of the diluting gas. The nitrogen +is of no known use, except to weaken the oxygen."</p> + +<p>"Let me out into it, if you say it is all right," +I cried. "I am tired of this bird-cage."</p> + +<p>"Put on the diver's suit and helmet, and I will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +weaken the pressure of the air gradually, to prevent +bleeding at the nose and ears which a sudden +change might cause. When you are used to the +low pressure, you can throw off the helmet and try +the Martian double-oxygenated air."</p> + +<p>I hurriedly donned the queer, baggy suit and +the enormous helmet with the bulging glass eyes, +and then connected the two long rubber tubes +which sprang from the top with the air pipes +which led to the doctor's compartment. He put +in the bulkhead, and I went to the port-hole to +unseal it. As I glanced out the little window, I +thought I saw a light very near the mica. Was +it our candle flame that something had lifted? +The thick glass of the helmet blinded me a little, +and I approached the window and peered out, +coming face to face with a Martian, whose nose +was pressed against the mica! What a rounded, +smooth, and expressionless face! But what large, +deep, luminous eyes!</p> + +<p>I sprang back from the window in surprise, but +not more quickly than he did. Just then the projectile +rolled over slightly with a crunching noise, +and I hear the thud of a heavy muffled blow on +the doctor's end. Suddenly he pulled away the +bulkhead and whispered to me excitedly:—</p> + +<p>"They are all about us outside—dozens of them! +They are examining the projectile and trying to +break it open. If they strike the windows, it will +be too easy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>The projectile tottered a little again. There was +a heaving noise, and one end rose a little from the +ground.</p> + +<p>"They are trying to carry us off, Doctor," I cried. +"You must turn in the currents and fly away from +them."</p> + +<p>The projectile was just then lifted awkwardly, +and wavered a little and pitched, as if it were +being carried by a throng struggling clumsily all +about it. The doctor sprang to his apparatus and +turned in four batteries at once. We shot up +swiftly in a long curve, and from my window I +could see the circle of amazed Martians, standing +dumbly with their hands still held up in front of +them, as they had been when the projectile left +them, while they gazed open-mouthed into the sky +at us.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>The Terror Birds</h3> + +<p class="cap">"<span class="dcap">They</span> must have thought the projectile was +another chunk fallen from Phobos!" I exclaimed; +"and now they can't make out why it +should fly back to the satellite again."</p> + +<p>"The more we mystify them, the more they will +fear us," said the doctor. "I am going to make +a swift downward swoop now, as if we would crash +through the midst of them. Then perhaps they +will let us alone till we are ready for them."</p> + +<p>He had scarcely finished speaking when we shot +down in a long curve, like the swing of a pendulum, +apparently making directly for the group of +Martians. They were not seized by any quick +panic; they were too phlegmatic for that. But +just as the projectile threatened to smash into +them, they seemed to realize the danger, and to +grasp the idea that it was being operated and +directed by some power and mind inside. Then +they turned, scrambling clumsily over each other, +and fled with the awkward precipitation of a +rhinoceros in a hurry. Our pendulum motion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +swung us up a little before we would have struck +them, but they had scattered and were scurrying +to hiding-places behind the walls of the masonry +telescopes. We continued our flight to the edge +of the plateau, whence we could get a better view +of the city and hold a more commanding position.</p> + +<p>"None of these who have seen our aerial evolutions +are likely to trouble us again," remarked the +doctor. "But they will quickly spread the news +to the city, and we must be where we can watch +everything that goes on there, and hurriedly prepare +for the worst they can do to us. We will +seek the principal approach to the plateau and +defend it."</p> + +<p>His ideas had suddenly become altogether warlike. +I liked the excitement of it so far, and +hastened to agree with him. We came to land in +a sheltered part of the main road leading to the +plateau, and prepared to emerge and set up our +telescope where it would sweep the city.</p> + +<p>"Shall we try this air on the dog before you go +out?" inquired the doctor in all seriousness.</p> + +<p>"Try it on the rabbit if you wish, but not on +Two-spot."</p> + +<p>He put Bunny into the discharging cylinder and +pushed him out. The meek little animal seemed +quite delighted at being released. He hopped +about playfully, skipping much higher and farther +at each hop than I had ever seen him do before.</p> + +<p>This reassured me, and I put on the helmet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +again, and opened the port-hole. As the rarer +Martian air swept in, my suit swelled and puffed +to its fullest capacity, by the expansion of the +denser air within it. I was so blown up that I +could scarcely squeeze myself out of the port-hole. +It was like a red misty day outside, though there +were no clouds. The sky was a perfectly cloudless +dull red, and the coppery sun was shining almost +overhead. His orb looked less than two-thirds the +size it did from the Earth, and one could look at +its duller light fixedly without hurting the eyes. +Phobos was also faintly visible, steering his backward +course across the ruddy sky. The thermometer +showed a temperature just above freezing, +but I was perfectly warm within the diver's suit +and its envelope of air. The red haze and utter +lack of breeze added a deceptive appearance of +sultry heat.</p> + +<p>I was gazing back toward the Gnomons, when +suddenly a group of the Martians we had first seen +came around a turn of the road and over a knoll +into full view of us. They were plainly surprised +beyond all measure by my strange appearance. +My puffed and corpulent figure, my bulging face +of glass, my two long rubber tentacles extending +back into my shell, must have made them think +I was a very curious animal! Also they were +probably surprised at seeing any living thing +come out of the mass, which they must have +thought had fallen from their moon, for she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +always shying things at them. And I now had +my first chance to study their appearance closely.</p> + +<p>"Doctor," I said softly, to see if he could hear +me through the connecting tubes. As I had hoped, +they proved to be very good speaking-trumpets, +and I heard his answer noisily.</p> + +<p>"Speak lower; I hear you easily," I said. +"There is a party of them coming down this road +to descend to the city. They have stopped upon +seeing me. They are nothing but men like ourselves. +I see no wings, horns, tails, or other appendages +that we have not. They are just fat, +puffy, sluggish men, very white and pale in colour, +and covered with a peculiar clothing that looks like +feathers. I seem to be a far greater freak to them +than they are to me."</p> + +<p>Had he been a million miles away, I should have +known that it was the doctor answering, from his +unsurprised and matter-of-fact tone. I imagined +I could see the exact expression of his face as he +said,—</p> + +<p>"After all, then, man is the most perfect animal +the Creator could make. From a mechanical standpoint +he needs nothing that he has not, and has +nothing that he does not need. However you +change him, you would make him imperfect. +Physiologically he may be much the same on all +the planets, but there is room for the widest variations +on the intellectual and spiritual side."</p> + +<p>"Do not forget that my patriarchal ancestors<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +record that God made man in His own image, upon +which there could be no improvement," I put in.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but modern scientists would have us believe +that your patriarchs would have written a +different fable if they had understood the theory +of evolution. It appears that man is really a +little lower than the angels, by being material and +ponderable and visible, but the general image may +be the same. Perhaps upon the various planets +it may be that the same lines of differences prevail, +as between the heathen tribes and the civilized +people on earth. There at least we are sure that +physiologically no marked difference exists between +the lowest savage and the wisest sage."</p> + +<p>"Except, perhaps, that the savage may have the +best digestion," I added. "Those look as if they +had but few troubles and plenty to eat. I see no +wrinkles or hard lines. Their forms and features +are gracefully rounded. Their eyes are larger and +stronger, with a liquid depth suited to this soft and +weaker light. None of them wear beards, and +very little hair is visible. I must say they do not +look at all warlike. If we could only make them +understand that we are friendly, I think they +would gladly bid us to a feast of freshly-cooked +meats and good wines, and ask us, chuckling, for +the latest after-dinner stories that are current on +Earth."</p> + +<p>"Make friendly signs to them, and see how they +behave," he suggested.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>I slowly waved my hand to them to approach, +and extended my arm as if to shake hands. While +talking with the doctor I had stood perfectly still, +and they had been warily watching me all the +time. When I moved and stretched out my arm, +they took fright and fled precipitately.</p> + +<p>"I have scared them away, as if they were a lot +of roe deer!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Then let us hasten preparations while they are +gone," he replied. "If you can stand the pressure +I have given you, it will be safe to throw off the +helmet and suit."</p> + +<p>Upon lifting the cover from my head, I caught a +draught of fresh cold air that was unspeakably invigorating. +I drank it in deep breaths, and felt +like skipping about for joy. Kicking off the suit +that trammelled me, I put it and the helmet back +inside and closed the port-hole. Then the doctor +pulled away the bulkhead and breathed the mixed +atmosphere, half-Martian from my compartment +and half-Earthly from his. He suffered no inconvenience +from the sudden half-way step toward a +lower density, and presently he emerged into the +exhilarating air with me.</p> + +<p>"This atmosphere has a stimulation in it like +thin wine, and it gives me an appetite. I feel +strong and virile enough to tip Mars topsy-turvy," +I said. "At least, let me get some cigars to smoke +while we are arming our stronghold."</p> + +<p>When I went in for the guns, I put a handful of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Havanas in my vest pocket, and emerging, I laid +the rifles handy and proceeded to light a weed. I +was watching the bright flame of the match, and +puffing with gusto at the fragrant smoke, when +from another direction a second squad of Martians +came into view very near us. They immediately +halted and gazed at us in open-mouthed wonder, +which soon changed to a look of horror. Remembering +the pipe of peace among the American +Indians, I drew out a cigar, and hastily striking +a match upon my trousers, I held the weed and +flame toward them. Not a man of them stayed to +see any more. Their flight was more precipitate +than the other party's had been.</p> + +<p>"It was your smoke they were afraid of," said +the doctor. "Whenever you puffed, I saw them +looking at each other blankly and dropping back +a little. They have taken you for a fire-eater and +a smoke-breather, and when you drew the flame +from your lungs it was too much for them. But +all this serves our purpose of frightening them. +They will spread strange stories in the city +below!"</p> + +<p>I helped him carry out the telescope, and we +placed it in a commanding position. Then we +propped up the broad shields, so that each of us +could crouch behind one, and I laid a broadsword +and rifle handy to each. Then we put on the +linked-wire shirts under our coats, buckled the +revolvers about us, and, as it was rather cold, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +each put on a thick pair of gloves and a heavy topcoat.</p> + +<p>The doctor, who was carefully watching things +down in the city through the telescope, cried out +to me presently,—</p> + +<p>"There is wild commotion and great excitement +down yonder by the great palace. The news has +reached them! They are preparing to come in +force to take us!"</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew what their sign of peace is, we +might save a conflict," said I. "Perhaps our fire-arms +won't harm them."</p> + +<p>"More likely they will blow them all to pieces," +answered the doctor. "But we must not fire +unless it becomes absolutely necessary to defend +ourselves, for if we kill any of them, they will +then have cause to deal with us as dreadfully as +they can. We cannot hope to overcome them all. +It will be enough to demonstrate our supremacy, +so that they will allow us to live among them. +Therefore, let us simply defend ourselves and do +nothing offensive, thus showing that we are peaceably +disposed."</p> + +<p>"You cry peace, but look at the great army they +are sending against us!" I exclaimed. "There are +four companies of foot soldiers marching through +the streets, and each man is armed with a very +long cross-bow and wears a brightly-coloured bird-wing +on his forehead. The streets are filling with +people to see them pass. Now three more companies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +wheel out of the palace, but they have no +cross-bows. They are whirling something around +their heads."</p> + +<p>The doctor anxiously awaited his turn at the +telescope, and as he looked he clutched his pistol +though they were still several miles away.</p> + +<p>"Those are slings they are whirling about their +heads," he said. "And the commander of each +company rides an ambling donkey, and wears a +heavy plaited beard and long braided hair, without +head covering."</p> + +<p>"But look further back, coming out of the palace +now!" I cried. "What are those strange, stately +animals far behind the soldiers? I can see them +with the naked eye."</p> + +<p>"<i>Donnerwetter!</i> what towering birds!" he muttered +under his breath. "Like ostriches in form, +but as tall and graceful as a giraffe! There is a +man riding astride the neck of each of them, yet he +could scarcely reach half-way to their heads!"</p> + +<p>"Are those monstrous things birds?" I demanded. +"Let me look. What long and bony +legs they have! They would stride over us without +touching our heads; but how they could +kick!"</p> + +<p>"And how they could run!" put in the doctor. +"See, they stride easily over seven or eight feet +with a single step. They must be messenger birds, +for there are only four of them, and their riders are +not armed."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They may have hundreds more of them in +reserve, and they could fight far more viciously +than the men. See what a wicked beak and what +a long muscular neck they have. They could +crush a skull in a twinkling with one swift swoop +of that head! I will fight the men, but I will take +no chances with those birds!"</p> + +<p>Although these strange, small-winged creatures +had started long after the soldiers, they had +quickly passed them, and were now beginning to +mount toward our plateau. They were making +swift detours at intervals, as if to reconnoitre. +We were hidden behind our rocks and shields, and +the riders could not see us, and they had evidently +not yet seen the brass barrel of our telescope. It +would be folly for them to attempt to come up the +road we were guarding, for we could easily heave +boulders over and crush them. I had already put +my shoulder to an immense rock near the brink, to +see if it was as heavy as it looked. I found it +porous and crumbly, and no heavier than so much +chalk. Up the roadway the great birds climbed +with wonderful ease. Their riders were evidently +looking for us without any idea where we were.</p> + +<p>"I won't see those elephantine bipeds come any +nearer to me!" I exclaimed, and rushing to the +boulder, which was certainly four feet in diameter, +I toppled it over the brink, and expected to see it +carry everything down before it. It rolled slowly +down the steep bank, with hardly a third the force<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +and speed of the same mass on Earth. This discouraged +me, but I watched for it to reach the +foremost bird. He was surprised by it, but made +one step sideways, and, lifting his great right leg, +the stone rolled under him without any damage. +He gave a queer, guttural croak, accompanied by +a most violent motion of the head and neck. The +other birds, thus warned, dodged quickly sidewise, +and avoided the slowly rolling boulder; but all +three of the riders were thrown by the swift lateral +movement of the birds. The astonished men +picked themselves up slowly from the bushes and +approached their birds. But they could scarcely +reach with their hands the lower part of the neck +where they had sat.</p> + +<p>"Unless they are good jumpers, they cannot +mount again without a ladder!" said the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Jumping is easier than standing still here," I +interrupted. "I can jump ten feet high with no +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but these Martian boobies haven't your +muscles. <i>Aber Blitzen!</i> did you see that fellow +mount his bird again?"</p> + +<p>I had seen it, and I do not remember anything +more wonderful than this operation, which was +repeated for each rider. The man went in front +of his bird, turned his back, and stooped forward. +The bird then curved his long neck to the ground, +and put his head and neck between the legs of the +rider, who clutched tightly with his arms and legs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +With a swift, graceful swing, the bird lifted its +head on high, carrying the rider as if he were +nothing. When the great neck was again erect, +the man slid carefully down it to his place, much +as one might slip down a telegraph pole. Then +two of the birds turned back to the city as swiftly +as they could go, and the other two took separate +side trails and soon disappeared.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>The Armies of Mars</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">As</span> the two returning birds passed the marching +soldiers, their riders evidently delivered some +message to the captains, for the soldiers suddenly +broke forward in a run, using their long cross-bows +with great dexterity as jumping staves. Placing +the outer end upon the ground ahead of them as +they ran, they leaped and hung upon the cross-piece +with their hands. The springy resistance of +this tough wood imparted to them a forward +motion with its rebound, and they scaled great +distances at each jump. The whole company did +it in concert, and they made almost as great speed +as if they had been riding bicycles. The slingers +were consequently left far in the rear.</p> + +<p>Less than half way up the incline the archers +stopped, arranged their bow-thongs, and selected +feathered arrows from a pouch slung over their +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"They can never hit us from that distance!" +I exclaimed; "a rifle would not carry so far."</p> + +<p>"You forget the weak gravity which will bend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +their course down very little, and the thin air +which will barely resist their flight; this is a +model planet for archery," he answered. "Quick! +drop behind your shield! They have fired the +first volley!"</p> + +<p>A torrent of the shafts fell all about us, and +many pelted against our shields. Those which +struck the soft earth of the bank sank into it and +stuck there, but those which struck our steel were +shivered and broken.</p> + +<p>"Sit still and let them shoot away their arrows," +I whispered. "This will soon be over."</p> + +<p>The next volley came with a little more force, +as if they had marched further up the hill. One +or two arrows fell very near me, and I reached for +them to examine their construction. They were +made of the hollow, filmy stock of a rather tough +reed, and were pointed with a chipped stone tip, +which was brittle, but not harder than porous +chalk.</p> + +<p>"That stuff wouldn't pierce my two coats, to +say nothing of the linked steel shirt," I sneered. +"I will show them what fools they are!" and I +walked boldly out to the brink and faced them. +They let fly a quick volley with a concerted shout. +As I saw the arrows start, I turned my back and +bent down my head quickly. Perhaps a dozen of +the slim reeds pelted me, and then I stooped over +and gathered up as many as I could find, and broke +them all in my hands before their eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>This sent a hum of excited jabbering through +their ranks, and they fired no more. I stood +watching them, and presently I grasped my two +hands together and shook hands with myself, to +try to convey to them the idea that we were +friendly; but it must have carried no meaning to +them. By this time the slingers had come up, and +I retired behind my shield to await their action. +The archers seemed very glad of their arrival, and +yielded the foremost place to them. I noted their +operations carefully, and saw them place something, +which did not look like a round stone, in the +pocket of their slings, and then they whirled it +long and cautiously. Suddenly they discharged +it with a swift movement of their bodies backward, +which landed them on one knee.</p> + +<p>"Wide of the mark!" I cried, as the missiles +sailed off far to the right of us. But just before +landing they bent a sharp, surprising curve, and +lacked but little of hitting us behind the shields! +The things they had thrown were the thin, concave +shells of a large nut, and the trick of discharging +them gave them their peculiar flight.</p> + +<p>"I don't like this throwing around the corner!" +exclaimed the doctor. "With a little truer aim +they will be able to hit us behind anything."</p> + +<p>"Hurry, bring your shield over behind mine, +and face it the other way," said I; "then we +will crouch between the two in safety."</p> + +<p>He did this just in time, for some of the next<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +volley actually curved around and hit his shield, +but none struck mine in front. However, the +shells which fell near us were of light weight, and +would not have bruised us much with heavy clothing +on. Presently their pelting ceased, and we +concluded that they were planning something new. +We decided to let them know that we were not +hurt, so we emerged; and I tried throwing the +shells back with my hand, but I could not control +their erratic course. When they saw this they +jeered at me, and I itched to treat them to just one +pistol shot, only to show them what child's play +their fighting was! Presently we saw what they +were waiting for. Far down the road the two +great birds were returning harnessed together, and +dragging behind them an enormous catapult. Tied +across their backs were two stout darts, seemingly +twelve feet long and three inches square. Each +of them had a wicked-looking barbed tip.</p> + +<p>There was a pleased and confident jabber among +the slingers and archers below as the birds arrived. +The catapult was turned about toward us, and +lashed tightly to stakes driven in front and behind. +Then the birds were hitched to the cord of the +immense bow, and they pulled it far back, until +the men made it fast in a notch. The cross-piece +had now become almost a half-circle, quite ten +feet in diameter. The captain of a company of +archers acted as gunner, and carefully adjusted the +catapult, aiming it evidently at our shield. Upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +seeing this we placed the two shields together, and +leaned them both inward toward us, so as to make +their angle with the upward course of the dart +more obtuse, and thus cause a glancing blow instead +of a solid impact. Crouching under the steel +shelters, we awaited the dart.</p> + +<p>Whiz-z-z it whistled up through the thin air! +Bimm-m! it struck the top of our outer shield, +and glanced off as we had hoped. The outer steel +rattled and banged against the inner, and both +shields pressed hard over against us, but not the +slightest damage was done.</p> + +<p>We went out to watch them load the second +dart. They evidently saw the impotence of the +glancing blow, and were noisily discussing it. A +captain of the slingers was arguing hotly with +the gunner, who was finally persuaded to take his +aim a little lower. Then a hum of approval went +through the throng.</p> + +<p>"They do think a little, but they are not secretive!" +I sneered, flopping our inner shield over +flat on the ground. "Come, sit on this, Doctor, +and we will lean the outer shield over us, and +snuggle in between them as cosy as two oysters! +Let them fondly imagine they can shoot us through +this pasty soil, and keep their own counsel better +after this!"</p> + +<p>It was not a bad guess on my part; for the second +dart struck the edge of the cliff, bored through the +loose soil, and thumped our lower shield with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +dull thud that lifted us from the ground. But the +point and edges of the dart were blunted, and +crumbled with the blow, and I could find no dent +in the shield.</p> + +<p>"See, the birds are returning to the city in haste +for more darts!" said the doctor. But I was interested +in examining the first dart, which had +fallen a few hundred feet behind us. Its shaft was +of roughly-hewn, spongy wood, and it weighed far +less than half the mass of soft pine would on Earth. +Its tip was not metal, but chipped stone—crumbly, +like the arrow-heads. Either they did not know +the metals, or they were too rare to be used in their +arts. And it was to be supposed that they would +use the hardest stone they had for arrow-heads +and dart-tips.</p> + +<p>I carried the shaft easily upon my shoulder +forward to the edge of the cliff. This surprised +even the doctor a little, for four Martians had been +necessary to put it in place upon the catapult. It +must have astonished them still more, for they were +staring at me so blankly that I was tempted to +toss the dart down their gaping throats!</p> + +<p>"Give them just one dose of their own medicine!" +suggested the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I had better teach them to keep their +dangerous weapons at home," I said; and, balancing +the dart easily above my head, I aimed it carefully +at a dense group around the catapult. I +threw my whole force into the thrust, and sent the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +shaft whizzing down at them. Then I staggered +back, quite exhausted by the effort and gasping +for breath.</p> + +<p>"Good God! You have impaled two of them +upon the dart!" cried the doctor, "and it is causing +a panic in the whole army!"</p> + +<p>And when I sprang up to look, I saw two writhing +Martians, much shrunken in size and dying +upon the dart. The terror-stricken archers and +slingers were scattering and scurrying in every +direction, regardless of the shouted orders of their +captains. The foremost of the impaled men wore +a beard, and was no other than the gunner of the +catapult.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for the poor devils!" I exclaimed. +"I had no idea they were so soft and tender. They +have shrunk like a pricked balloon!"</p> + +<p>"They thought they could prick us like that, +and let the life ooze out," said the doctor. "There +is no danger that they will shoot any more at us. +The whole army is afraid that you will throw +down the other dart."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, other companies of archers and +slingers were seen leaving the palace, and the birds +were already returning with two more darts. And +the soldiers below were gaining courage and +responding to the rallying cries of the captains, +who were halloing and pointing toward the edge +of the cliff, down in the direction of the cataract. +I looked quickly that way, and instantly shouted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"To the rifles, quick, doctor! The other two +birds have ascended the cliff, and are racing +toward us along its edge. Take careful aim at +the head of that front one. Afterward, let drive +two random bullets into his body!"</p> + +<p>Urged on by their riders, who with their hands +swayed the long necks of the birds in unison with +their rhythmical stride, these two-legged giraffes, +with the wild look and sharp beak of an eagle, +swept menacingly toward us.</p> + +<p>"Ready now!" I cried, as the foremost came +within fifty feet of us. "Fire!"</p> + +<p>Two sharp reports almost simultaneous, with a +less thunderous explosion than on Earth, but singing +in a higher key and flaming vastly more, +startled and terrified the Martians. Then crack! +crack! bang! bang! four other shots in swift +succession, followed by the terrific croaking of the +wounded Terror-bird, which fell ponderously forward, +kicking violently and beating the ground +wildly with its head.</p> + +<p>Seizing my broadsword in a flash, I dealt it such +a blow upon the neck as quite to sever the head +from the body. There was a gush of red blood; +and those who have seen the antics of a decapitated +chicken, may correspondingly multiply the corpse +and imagine the confusion that now ensued.</p> + +<p>"Stand ready for the second bird!" I shouted to +the doctor; but on looking, I saw that the other +animal refused to be urged forward, after seeing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +the fate of his companion. His rider was half-hearted +in his efforts, and was watching the forward +rider, who had been severely thrown with the +bird's fall, and badly bruised by the kicking and +threshing. He seemed to realize that he was in +our power, and was thoroughly desperate. With +a wailing cry he rushed at me with open arms, as +if to embrace death, for I still held the sword. +Dropping the weapon, I grappled with him, catching +him about the wrists, which shrank under my +grasp. He seemed to have scarcely the strength +of a child; and everywhere I touched him, his flesh +yielded like the flabby muscles of a fat baby. I +bent him over backwards, then swung him around +and caught him by the shoulders, and whirled him +around my head. Finally, I tossed him over the +edge of the cliff, where he landed among some +bushes, and scrambled down as fast as he could, +glad to have saved his life. The other rider had +turned his bird back toward the cataract with all +possible despatch.</p> + +<p>"The whole army below us is now thoroughly +demoralized!" said the jubilant doctor. "Many +of them fled dismayed on hearing the firing, and +others screamed and ran away when they saw you +decapitate the bird. But your wrestling with the +rider, and flinging him about like an infant, was +an object lesson none of them could stay to see +repeated. I saw one trembling fool slink back to +cut the thong of the catapult, so that we could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +use it on them. They have wholly abandoned the +attack!"</p> + +<p>"If this is the worst they can do, I will undertake +to make myself king, and you prime minister +here, within twenty-four hours!" I ejaculated, +decidedly pleased with the idea. "And I will +maintain supremacy with a standing army of a +thousand Terror-birds!"</p> + +<p>"The consciousness of superior strength always +brings that desire for conquest," answered the +doctor. "We must not allow it to master us, but +we must push our advantage. Look! the panic of +the first ones reaching the city is spreading to the +new companies marching out. They are trampled +over by the fleeing host, they turn and mingle +with the frightened mob in one struggling, terror-stricken +mass! Come, let us be into the projectile +and after them. With a few booming shots above +their heads, we will make them think their +Thunder-gods have come!"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>The Strange Bravery of Miss Blank</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Telescope</span>, rifles, and shields were tumbled +into the projectile pell-mell, and without +stopping to close the port-hole, we steered towards +the city as we mounted rapidly. When +the soldiers, weary of running, saw us start, they +were stricken with a new fear, and made all possible +haste for shelter. When they perceived that +we were rising into the red haze, they took a little +courage, but still hastened.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they think we are mounting to the +sky for more thunder and lightning," I suggested. +"Little do they know the destruction we could do +them with the handful of ammunition we have, if +we really meant war as much as they at first desired +it and now fear it!"</p> + +<p>By this time we were almost above the thickest +crowd of the fleeing army, while the most energetic +runners and the Terror-bird that had turned +back had reached the heart of the city; and we +could see the alarm spreading like wild-fire to all +its inhabitants. I was busy loading the rifles with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +the cartridges which the doctor had robbed of their +bullets for the pickle-bottle experiment soon after +our start.</p> + +<p>"We will execute a little <i>coup</i>, to show them +the difficulties of retreat when the enemy is armed +with gravity projectiles," said the doctor. "Do +you see that great gate of the city they are all +making for? We will drop down there, just in +front of them, and prevent their entrance. It will +be better to keep the whole army outside the walls, +if possible, for its absence and disorganization will +make the rulers all the more tractable when we +are ready to drop down into their city and make +peace with them on our own terms."</p> + +<p>"I must say you are a good general, Doctor!" +I exclaimed. "You plan the campaign, and I will +do the fighting."</p> + +<p>The blank dismay of the soldiers when they saw +us descending again, and their abject desperation +when they perceived that we should land in front +of them and cut off their entrance to the city, was +pitiful to see.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, do you remember the grand display +and the proud strength with which these soldiers +marched forth? Look at the difference now!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, war! war!" he exclaimed. "The glory +of its beginning! The terror of its prosecution! +The misery of its end! Would that it could +always be carried on by terrorizing the mind instead +of by slaying the body!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we were about to come to land in front of +the straggling multitude of soldiers, I fired a dozen +blank cartridges as rapidly as I could work the +rifle. This was at very near range, and although +the explosions sounded weak to me, the excessive +flaming of the powder added a new terror. The +disorganized army stopped in dread; the stragglers +pushing up from behind, and the frightened turning +of those in front, crushed the multitude together +and increased the confusion. Throngs of +people, whose curiosity was still stronger than their +fear, were coming out from the city. As they saw +us float down and land, and then heard the firing, +they turned and rushed within the gates again, +ready to believe far worse stories than they had +yet heard.</p> + +<p>"We must scatter this rabble army and put it +wholly to rout," insisted the doctor. "I will swing +amongst them and over their heads, while you +burn powder for them. If they won't scatter, use +your revolver and wound one or two of them."</p> + +<p>"No, I will not harm another man," I answered. +"They are too weak and defenceless a foe, and are +no match for us. Hereafter I will fight only with +the birds."</p> + +<p>We rose and sailed slantingly toward them, but +they had already started to disperse. Those who +had jumping-staves disentangled themselves from +the crowd and scattered into the bushy wastes. I +continued firing until my blank cartridges were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +gone, and then we landed just outside the entrance +and emerged from the projectile to examine the +gates and see if we could close and fasten them.</p> + +<p>Within the wall those who had gained entrance +during our last movements were rapidly retreating +toward the centre of the city, warning all whom +they passed. One single stately figure showed no +fear, and paid no heed to the exclamations of the +runners. The ampler dress and flowing flaxen +hair indicated that it was a woman, and to our +surprise, though she was well clothed, she seemed +to be demanding alms of every one as she approached +us. No one gave her anything, and +occasionally a runner seized her arm and tried to +persuade her to return. But she caught none of +their excitement, and composedly pursued her +course.</p> + +<p>"Egad! This beautiful girl is braver than the +whole Martian army!" I exclaimed in amazement, +as she calmly approached where I was standing by +the gate and extended her fair, plump hand. If +she was asking alms, I had nothing to give her; +but here, at least, was one pacific, composed, and +reasonable person. Perhaps it was the queen, or +a diplomatic envoy of the ruler!</p> + +<p>"Now is the time to demonstrate our friendliness," +I exclaimed, and reaching forth my hand I +grasped hers in a warm clasp of welcome.</p> + +<p>She looked up at me blankly. Her beautiful +face carried no expression of satisfaction or surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +Her transparent complexion was neither +paled by fear nor flushed by pleasure. Her great +dreamy eyes, of a deep liquid blue, wandered unfixedly +in their languid gaze. Still holding her +soft hand, which was far warmer than my own, +I opened her fingers with my other hand and +pointed at her pink extended palm as if to inquire +what she wished. I watched her closely, but she +made no sign, said nothing, looked nothing.</p> + +<p>"Since I do not know you, I can think of no +more fitting name to call you by than Miss +Blank," I said, more to express my thought in +articulate sounds than anything else, for I had no +idea she would understand me. From her expression +I could not judge whether she had even heard +me, to say nothing of comprehending. She was +looking beyond me, through the gate, as if searching +others from whom she might ask alms. Seeing +none, she wheeled slowly about to return. +Unwillingly I released her hand, and stood unspeakably +puzzled by the whole matter. She was +commanding in appearance, being taller than I +by a few inches, not slim, but well proportioned. +She had the stately serenity of a dreaming queen, +but the blank, unresponsive soul of one who dwelt +within herself; and though she saw, she did not +realize the existence or meaning of anything +outside.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, will all your learning solve this riddle +for me!" I exclaimed. "Can all the Martian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +women be like this? She is beautiful of body and +strangely warm and winning to the touch, but as +cold of heart as the drifting snow that suffocates +a poor lost lamb. She has had a strange influence +over me; a puzzling, baffling attraction. A suggestion +of something delicate and subtlely charming, +which, when one seeks to seize and to define, +retires icily behind the drawn curtain of her soul."</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't play the lost lamb to her +snowdrift!" he sneered, in a way that I resented. +"One would think she had hypnotized you on the +spot! And she must be in a trance herself, for +she had not sense enough to fear us."</p> + +<p>"Those who have the most sense fear us the +least!" I retorted.</p> + +<p>"But fear is our sharp weapon now," he +answered; "and some of the stragglers, looking +back, saw you stand there holding her hand in a +manner far from warlike. They will report this +to the rulers unless we forestall them. Come, +fasten the gates tightly upon the inside to keep +the soldiers out, and I will sail over the wall to +pick you up."</p> + +<p>"Doctor, we make our peace at once, and fight +no more with the brothers of this girl," I said with +decision.</p> + +<p>The massive gates were of hewn stone, turning +in sockets at their outer corners above and below. +They swung as easily as if hung upon hinges, and +when closed a slab of stone came down to bar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +them. I made them fast, and then called out to +the doctor,—</p> + +<p>"Don't come for me. I have found a jumping-staff, +and I think I can leap to the top of the +wall."</p> + +<p>It was a sheer fifteen feet of solid masonry, but +my chief delight since landing on Martian soil +was the inordinate springiness of my leg muscles +against the feeble gravity. I ran and sprang +lustily with the aid of the cross-bow, and I remember +the doctor's surprised look when he saw +me clear the entire wall without touching the top +and land safely with a very mild jolt on his side.</p> + +<p>A short oblique ascent of the projectile brought +us over the city, and revealed to us the condition +of desperate panic into which the wild reports of +the soldiers and the bird-rider had thrown the +frantic populace. The soldiers still within the +walls could not restrain the people, or did not try. +If there was any government, it lacked a head or +could not command attention. The stubborn instinct +of self-preservation was king. Distracted +throngs surged out at one gate, to separate and +waver and hesitate, and finally to fight for a speedy +entrance at another. On one side soldiers were +apparently ordering people down from the wall, +while on another the excited populace was hauling +sentinel soldiers from the same elevation, lest our +attention should be attracted. Within, strong men +were weeping and wailing; without, nervous men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +were haranguing the vacillating multitude; but +more were stolidly pushing with the rabble or +being hustled by it.</p> + +<p>Only one sign of order and forethought was +apparent. Evidently for better safety and for an +easier defence, the women and children had been +taken to a central park or pleasure ground, and +left there with a small guard of soldiers. The men +to whom they belonged had apparently all gone +elsewhere.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, we must put an end to this fear and +frenzy at the earliest possible moment. If we are +not destroying those people, we are exciting them +to destroy each other, which is equally blameworthy. +We must go down at once, but we had +best avoid the frantic men. The women seem far +more reposeful. Let us drop quietly into that open +field in the park, and I will make friendly signs +to the women, pat the children on the head, and +give them all to understand that we mean no +harm."</p> + +<p>He evidently saw that we had quite overdone +the scare, and was as much impressed by the +terrible picture below as I was. We turned down +without delay, and landed quietly behind a clump +of trees. I took a tin of sweet biscuits under my +arm, and the doctor following me, with a generous +handful of his trinkets and tinsel toys, we left the +projectile, and rounding the grove of dwarfed trees +we approached the romping children first. I patted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +their flaxen curls, lightly pinched their cheeks, and +handed each of them a sweet biscuit. Then, while +the doctor distributed strange toys amongst them, +I put on my most courtly ways and addressed +myself to the women. Their first impulses of fear +had been somewhat allayed by our attentions to +the children, and I bowed profusely and made bold +to kiss the hands of a few of the youngest of them. +Each of these looked to see if I had left anything +visible or harmful on her hand, from which I +judged the custom was wholly strange to them. +The others looked on askance and whispered excitedly +among themselves.</p> + +<p>One of the soldiers who had seen us approach, +but offered no resistance, had now started to run, +as fast as his jumping-staff would carry him, toward +the palace. I knew at once that this meant +some new development, and I hoped it meant a +report of our friendly actions and a truce all +around. But the doctor reminded me that we must +be prepared for surprises and treachery. Therefore +we re-entered the projectile, and out of the sight +of all the Martians I re-loaded the rifles, and then +we waited a long time.</p> + +<p>Our patience was finally rewarded, for we saw +the soldier returning, slowly leading a woman. In +her left arm, which the soldier held, she carried +something white which wriggled occasionally. All +this we considered so favourable a development +that we went out again, bowing to the women<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +about us, petting the children, and looking as +peaceable and amiable as the politest of Earth's +people. But it may have passed for imbecility, or +worse, on Mars.</p> + +<p>When I looked toward the soldier again, my +heart began a queer thumping, for he was leading +no other than the woman who had met us at the +gate, and she was carrying our white rabbit, which +we had released early that morning a long way +from this spot.</p> + +<p>"By all that is wonderful!" I exclaimed to the +doctor, "if we have not fallen upon a country +which is ruled by yon dumb queen, and she brings +to us as a peace offering the only thing that we +have lost!"</p> + +<p>"Since when have potentates learned to beg, +and forgotten to command and to exact?" he +answered with half a sneer. "See, she still extends +her hand to every one she passes."</p> + +<p>And as the soldier, trained to revere a beard, +led the woman directly up to the doctor, she +stretched forth her pretty palm again; but if he +had presumed to take it I could have struck him! +To my cordial grasp I added a kiss this time, and +then I raised my eyes slowly to her face, fearing +to see that blank look again. There <i>was</i> no +look in her eyes; they did not look, they only +wandered!</p> + +<p>The soldier, who still held her other arm, waved +his cross-bow toward the palace meaningly, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +hush fell upon the murmuring crowd. I ignored +him and spoke to her,—</p> + +<p>"If thou art the queen, command me but by a +look or sign, and I obey. And if thou art not the +queen, then they should make thee one. Dost +thou wish us to follow thee to yon palace?" said +I; but the only mind that understood scoffed at +my rapturous declamation.</p> + +<p>The woman merely drew her hand from my +warm clasp and stretched it out to the people, who +crowded about and paid her no attention. Then +the soldier, as if suddenly remembering, took the +rabbit from her arm and handed it to me. She +looked about at this, as if missing the snuggling +animal, and I stared hard at the meddling soldier to +reprove him for interfering with his queen, and +gently restored the rabbit to her arm.</p> + +<p>"The soldier wishes us to go to the palace," put +in the doctor. "But we must not go unarmed. He +may be leading us into an ambush. Let us take +all of our arms and follow him."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, we buckled on the swords, and took +the rifles on our shoulders. As we dragged out the +heavy shields, the soldier pointed to a group of +donkeys laden with bags of something like grain. +I waved assent, and the muleteer unburdened one +of them and loaded the shields upon him.</p> + +<p>"Why not take the telescope?" I suggested; "it +is big and bright, and perhaps they may fear it +too. Or we may wish to show its wondrous use."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +As I drew it out the crowd started back, but the +soldier and the muleteer gingerly loaded it upon +another donkey. Then the soldier took the woman's +arm again, and pushed her extended palm around +toward me, as if I would be unwilling to go unless +I had it. My right hand held my rifle, but I was +secretly glad that my left was free to clasp the +woman's hand. The doctor walked behind to watch +the muleteer, and thus we marched to the palace.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>Zaphnath, Ruler of the Kemi</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Two</span> hieroglyph-bearing columns of red sandstone, +strong and broad enough to have +supported a Tower of Babel, formed the portals of +the outer gate of the palace. A pair of Terror-birds, +whose plumage was a pearly grey, stood sleepily on +guard. Our soldier, who could scarcely have reached +to the backs of the birds, lifted up his cross-bow and +tapped upon their long necks. Acting perfectly in +concert, the animals each engaged with its beak a +wooden ring suspended high in front of them, and +then, bending down their necks, the hempen ropes, +to which the rings were fastened, hauled up a ponderous +portcullis, made of slabs of stone, and thus +afforded us an entrance.</p> + +<p>As this stone gate rumbled slowly down again, +we saw that we were shut into a vast courtyard, +surrounded by a colonnade, whence cavernous +passages led circuitously to the various compartments +of the palace. Within the courtyard were +drawn up in expectant readiness four companies of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +archers and three of slingers, in all, perhaps, seven +hundred men, who gaped and stared at us.</p> + +<p>The doctor touched my elbow, and whispered: +"We should have landed in here with the projectile, +which would have given us a means of +ready escape."</p> + +<p>"Remember the saying of General Grant," I +answered. "'When you are frightened, don't +forget that the enemy may be far more so.' These +soldiers have heard enough to make them believe +us capable of anything. They would tear down +the very walls, if we were to open fire on them. +Besides, I could leap that courtyard wall and drag +you with me."</p> + +<p>Unsheathing our swords, as an object lesson to +the soldiers, we followed our guide to the blind end +of a long passage, which apparently gave entrance +only to a small stone chamber. Following the +soldier and muleteer, who were now carrying our +shields and telescope, we crowded into this and +waited. Presently the entire chamber, operated in +some unseen manner, turned slowly half way round, +so that its door now gave entrance directly to a +vast but gloomy and tomb-like audience chamber, +where we were evidently expected.</p> + +<p>Upon a massive throne of richly-chiselled stone a +youth of scarcely more than five-and-twenty years +(if judged by earthly standards) sat gorgeously +arrayed in vestments of richly coloured feathers, +woven skilfully into the meshes of coarse cloth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +Longer plumes of changeable colours radiated from +a wide collar which he wore, covering his breast +and back, and extending over his shoulders. The +peach-blow of his fair cheeks was partly hidden by +a heavy false beard, plaited into stubby braids, +which hung to an even line a little below the chin. +His own soft, flaxen hair peeped meekly out from +under a wig of tightly curled grey strands, cropped +all round to a level with the beard. His feet and +arms were bare, except for thin ribbons of downy, +purple feathers, which circled the wrists and ankles. +No crown was on his head, but among the stringy +wig-curls the sinuous body of an asp bent in and +out, and the curved neck and threatening head +surmounted his clear brow.</p> + +<p>To his right, round an oval table of highly +polished stone, sat twelve wrinkled men, not one of +whom but had seen three times his years. They +wore their own white beards, unplaited, and their +feather clothing was less elaborate and of simple +grey, like the plumage of the Terror-bird.</p> + +<p>Our soldier placed his right hand upon his cheek, +and inclined his head slightly forward and to the +right, as a salutation to the ruler, and, leaving +the woman standing by me, he and the muleteer +retired. She seemed neither surprised at, nor accustomed +to, these surroundings. She made no salutation +or obeisance to the ruler or to the old men, and +they made none to her. Withdrawing her hand +from mine, she stretched it toward them, as she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +toward the commonest man outside. They paid her +no attention, but the oldest of the men signalled to +an attendant, who led her back and placed her hand +in mine again. That soldiers and counsellors alike +should consider this necessary or fitting seemed +strange to me. The doctor jokingly suggested that +they wished to keep me permanently hypnotized, +lest I should become dangerous again.</p> + +<p>Having laid off our rifles, swords, and outer coats, +I lifted my cap and made a low bow to the youth +and to the old men, but the doctor tried the salute +of the right hand upon the cheek, as he had seen +the soldier do. In answer the youth simply looked +toward the twelve, waving his hand towards us +in a way which seemed to say to them, "Gentlemen, +behold the enigma!" Then, beginning with +the eldest, the twelve jabbered at us in turn, apparently +in different tongues, some sibilant, some +guttural, and others with the musical cadence of +frequent vowel sounds. Needless to say, each was +equally incomprehensible to us, and we did not +think it worth while to try German or English +upon them. When they had finished, they looked +much vexed, and slowly wagged their beards. +Then the youth spoke something to them with +a confident gesture toward himself. He arose, +and began addressing us. I suddenly stopped +short in the middle of a sentence I was whispering +to the doctor. It seemed as if the youth had ceased +making mere sounds, and had begun to speak a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +coherent language, a tongue which has lived ages +while others have languished into forgetfulness; a +language whose words I understood, but yet the +words carried little clear meaning to me.</p> + +<p>"Listen, Doctor! The boy is speaking Hebrew! +Ancient and archaic in form, but yet Hebrew which +I understand!" And this is what he had said:</p> + +<p>"Oh ye, who speak among yourselves, but understand +only those who speak not at all, I, Zaphnath, +revealer of God's hidden things, will address ye in +my native tongue, which none but me in all the +land of Kem hath any knowledge of."</p> + +<p>"There be two of us in Kem, O Zaphnath, who +understand that tongue. Speak on!" I cried.</p> + +<p>But the boy stripped off his wig and beard, and, +leaving the throne, hastened toward me and laid +his soft right cheek against my own with gentle +pressure.</p> + +<p>"Comest thou, then, from the land of my father, +a stranger wandering into Kem, even as I came?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"Nay, gentle youth, we came a vastly farther +way, from another world, so distant that thou seest +it from here only as a twinkling star in the night. +But if, indeed, thou camest a wandering stranger +into Kem, art thou then the king?" He had +resumed his wig and beard, and his proud seat +upon the throne, and after he had translated my +words for the twelve old men, he answered me,—</p> + +<p>"I am Zaphnath, ruler over all the land of Kem,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +without whom the Pharaoh doeth not, nor sayeth +anything. These are his twelve wise men, who do +not believe what thou hast said, for there is no other +world large enough for the abode of two men, except +the Day-Giver, whence they think ye have come. +The Pharaoh may believe them, but I will believe +what ye tell me. He hath given me full power to +treat with you, and hath taken refuge with all his +women in his tomb, and will not come forth until +ye be appeased. Tell me in truth, then, are ye men, +or gods? Ye look not half so warlike as all the +soldiers have described you."</p> + +<p>I translated this to the doctor, but replied without +waiting to consult with him,—</p> + +<p>"We know but one God, who hath made all the +stars, and all who dwell upon them. We are men +to whom it hath been given to travel the infinite +distances which reach from one of His stars to +another, and we are come to this one, not to make +war but to find peace. We would have sought thee +peacefully as friends, had not thine armies made +war upon us on the plateau yonder. But our means +of warfare proved far more terrible and dreadful +here than on our proper star. Thus have we unwittingly +slain two of thy soldiers and frightened all +the army. We have with us the means to kill +them all, but we seek a peaceable life here for a +brief time, that we may learn your ways and test +your wisdom, when we shall be gone again."</p> + +<p>"The Pharaoh could have better spared a thousand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +men than the bird which thy lightning hath +killed. For are not his slaves as the plenteous grain +of a rich harvest, while his birds are but as the +fingers of his hands. If ye came but to learn, 'tis +well ye know these wise men, though, since I came +to Kem, their profession hath fallen somewhat into +disrepute. I doubt not but they could learn far +more from thee than thou from them, but they will +not do it. Whatever they do not know is not true +in Kem, but what they know continues true long +after common men know better. Now, wilt thou +explain to me the mysteries the soldiers have +reported to us? But first tell us which of all the +stars it is thou comest from."</p> + +<p>"Know then, O Zaphnath, that we call our star +the Earth, and in her wanderings she hath now +approached so near to the great Orb of Day that her +rays are paled by his brighter light; she sets with +him, and shines no more by night. But yet a few +days now, and she shall triumph even over him, +and, entering on his glowing disc, she shall be seen +at mid-day, obscuring his light and travelling as a +spot across his glory."</p> + +<p>The old men wagged their beards as the boy +translated, but he sprang to his feet with no little +excitement, and exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Meanest thou that blue star with its attendant +speck of white, which but a little while ago shone +with great brightness as a Twilight Star?"</p> + +<p>"That is the Earth, O Zaphnath, the world from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +whence we came," I exclaimed; and the youth again +threw off his wig and beard, and rushing toward +me, pressed first his right cheek and then his left +cheek against mine, and then against the doctor's.</p> + +<p>"Then ye are most welcome to the land of Kem, +and we shall be friends for ever. For ye should +know that my mother was barren all the years of +her life until this same Blue Star came to shine +wondrously, even in the presence of the Day-Giver, +before his setting. It was then, under the beneficent +influence of this star, that she gave birth to +me. And when the star paled and wandered again +I tarried not in the land of my father, but came +strangely hither, to be ruler in a great land which +my people had never known."</p> + +<p>When he had resumed his seat again, I said, "All +that I have told thee shalt thou see come to pass, +and through this Larger Eye, which we have made +to pierce the deep of space, thou shalt see more +clearly that the Blue Star is indeed a great orb, +where many men may dwell, and after she hath +passed the Day-Giver, she will appear as a bright +morning star again to announce his coming."</p> + +<p>"Why now, if this be true, then every one of +these old men must die. For Pharaoh's laws provide +that whatsoever wise man faileth to predict +such an appearance, or predicteth one which doth +not occur, must lose his life. These grey-beards, +always jealous of me, have said that the Blue Star, +which beareth my destiny, hath disappeared, never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +to be seen again. Now, when they are slain, +Pharaoh shall appoint you to sit in their places. +Ye shall reign jointly with Zaphnath if it pleaseth +you, and ye may choose what seemeth good to +you of everything that is in the land of Kem and +in all the countries which pay tribute unto Pharaoh. +And he will give you as wives all the women ye +saw in Long Breath Park, and an equal part of +all the slaves and women taken in war will he +give you also. For hath he not bidden me treat +generously with you, even to his tributary countries +and half his women?"</p> + +<p>"We come from a star, O Zaphnath, where men +desire many things and are never satisfied. But +of all the things thou offerest us, we wish not one. +We make no peace unless these old men be left +alive. We do not know this country or its people, +wherefore we are most unfit to rule them. We +wish no slaves, but will pay a hire to one or two +good men, who may do our daily tasks. And as +for women, we never choose but one, and then +only when we know her well and find her equally +willing."</p> + +<p>"Then are ye come from a most strange star +indeed! But I must tell thee that the laws of the +Kemi forbid even to the Pharaoh, who hath the +first claim upon all women, to take to wife a +woman such as her whose hand thou clingest to +so warmly. What findest thou in her whose dumb +tongue could never tell thy praises, and if 'twere<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +loosened, her mind would still be dumb and +silent?"</p> + +<p>"Who is this woman, then, whom thou sentest +out to meet us? She alone hath had no fear, and +hath greeted us in a friendly and a welcome +manner. Had it not been for her, we might still +have been loosening our thunder among your soldiers, +or flashing this lightning in thy face!" I said, +half drawing my long sword as I spoke.</p> + +<p>"She is Thenocris, a poor, unfortunate maiden, +dumb of tongue and mind," he answered. "In +my country we would call her mute and senseless, +but here among the Kemi they revere such ill-starred +creatures, thinking that because they act +strangely, and look not upon the world as others +do, their souls must be turned within to the contemplation +of hidden and spiritual things. They +think such creatures know the secrets of the gods, +and that the gods have made them mute, or speaking +only silly things, lest those secrets be revealed. +The people, therefore, give them alms, and suppose +that they are effectual in intercessions with the +gods. This girl went out at noon, as was her +custom, to stand by the gate and ask alms. A +soldier saw thee seize her hand and hold it strangely +long, and he reported this to us. Whereupon these +wise men with one accord decided that ye must +have come for women, and we set about preparing +a peace-offering of two thousand maidens for you +in the Park. Afterwards there came another soldier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +later to say that ye had landed in the Park, +pleased with our offering of the women. Then rose +yon grey-beard and argued most wisely thus: That +ye, being such strange creatures, had understood +best what we understand the least; that thou +hadst learned the hidden thought of this dumb +woman by long holding of her hand; that, as ye +had been friendly to her, she might be able to +lead you unto us; and lastly, that it would be no +breach of our laws if thou tookest this woman to +thine own land and madest her thy wife; that if +we could thus save our city, and the lives of the +people, it would be wisdom to give her to thee, +together with all the women in the Park. Then +another grey-beard, wishing to share the credit for +a wise idea, arose and insisted that it would be ill +in us to keep the strange white animal, which one +of the men found upon the plateau. We knew +that ye must have brought this, for in all our land +we have no four-footed thing smaller than the +useful burden-carrying asses ye have seen. Wherefore, +the wisdom of the grey-beards being now complete, +we sent the dumb girl and the white animal +out with the soldier, and they have brought you +hither."</p> + +<p>"So you have been falling in love with a queen +of your own making, who is no more than a dumb +idiot!" chuckled the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Silence!" I shouted hotly, for I was unspeakably +sorry for the poor girl. "There are softer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +kinder words than those by which to call a poor +blank soul that's born awry. The Kemi are quite +right, for this girl, having no sense, has yet been +wiser to-day than both of us and all these wise +men." Then turning, I addressed the ruler in +Hebrew:</p> + +<p>"Thou shouldst know that in our land the seizing +of the right hand is a salutation of friendship and +welcome, much the same as the pressure of the +cheek is here. We had vainly tried to signal to +your soldiers that we were friendly, and when this +woman stretched out her pretty hand I was pleased +to seize it warmly. Call thou a soldier now and +send her safely home. Let the white rabbit belong +henceforth to her. She hath unwittingly been +God's messenger in bringing us together. Mayhap +she hath saved the lives of many of the people. +Wherefore let them remember her, and henceforth +treat her kindly. And as for those other women +in the Park, bid them all return to their homes, +and let it generally be known that there will be +peace, and no further war. The terms of truce we +will arrange with thee and with the Pharaoh somewhat +later. We wish no gifts or offerings of peace. +No more do we desire than that the Pharaoh shall +entertain us for a season until we learn your ways, +and then permit us to live quietly in this, your +city, obedient to your laws, and pursuing such +careers as our abilities may fit us for."</p> + +<p>"All this that ye desire, and more, most gladly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +shall be done, and a grand festival shall be appointed +for this night to celebrate the peace. The +Pharaoh will entertain you and his royal friends +with feasting and with dancing, and the terms of +the compact between us shall then be ratified."</p> + +<p>At this point a grey-beard interrupted the young +ruler, and a spirited conversation took place between +them, after which the youth asked,—</p> + +<p>"Tell me now, are there not many more such +men as ye upon the Blue Star, who may come to +wage a further war with us?"</p> + +<p>"Have no fear for that," I answered. "The +vessel in which we came is the sole means of +bridging that vast space, and no more can come, +unless indeed we bring them. But all of them shall +keep the covenant we make with thee."</p> + +<p>Then Zaphnath held a long consultation with the +wise men, which ended by the summoning of three +soldiers—one to take the woman home, another to +carry the news of peace to the Park and to the +people, and the third, as I supposed, to convey a +message to the Pharaoh; but before the last was +despatched, Zaphnath said to me,—</p> + +<p>"Our messengers reported a third curious person +with you, having a much larger body and long +moving horns. What have ye done with him? Is +he left in charge of your travelling house?"</p> + +<p>Then I explained this circumstance to them, as +well as the incident of my smoking, which I +promised to repeat at the banquet in the evening.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +After hearing this they dispatched the third messenger.</p> + +<p>"We have heard, not only that ye breathed +smoke and carried flames in your limbs, but that +your flesh was of iron, invulnerable to arrows; that +ye were stronger than birds, and carried the thunder +and lightnings of the gods with which to kill; +and that ye were able to walk through the air as +well as on the ground."</p> + +<p>"'Tis true we are stronger than any birds upon +our proper star, and that we kill with a thunder +and a lightning. Our flesh is tougher and more +solid than thine, yet 'tis not of iron. But tell me, +what knowest thou of iron?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis a rare, precious metal which we coin for +money, but I see thou carriest much of it. Thy +thunderers are made of it."</p> + +<p>"And hast thou no metal, bright and yellow, +such as this?" I asked, exhibiting my gold watch.</p> + +<p>"In truth, the Pharaoh alone is able to possess +such riches, and in all the land of Kem there is +no such huge lump of it as that!" he exclaimed in +wonder, while the sleepy wise men opened their +big eyes.</p> + +<p>"We have within our belts many coins of this, +which we may barter with the Pharaoh for things +more plenteous here."</p> + +<p>"Are ye travelling traders then, or what were +your occupations on the Blue Star? Were ye +warriors, rulers, wise men, or owners of the soil?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My good friend here hath been a wise man, as +thou must know from his grey beard," I answered, +smiling at the doctor. "He hath been a teacher +of knowledge to the people, and it was his superior +wisdom which contrived the house in which we +travelled hither."</p> + +<p>"But hath it not been a folly to teach wisdom +to the people? When they have learned, the +wise man turneth fool! Wisdom groweth ripe by +being bottled, but whoso poureth it out for every +thirsty drinker wasteth good wine upon gross +beasts!"</p> + +<p>"In its youth our star held to these opinions, but +now it teacheth wisdom to every child, and in this +manner we have made progress into many things +not even dreamed of here. As for my own profession, +I have been a dealer in wheat, the bread-grain +of our star. Hast thou here such a small +grain growing at the bearded end of a tall straw?"</p> + +<p>"In truth, the land of Kem raiseth so large a +store of such a grain as to feed all the surrounding +countries! Our greatest traffic is in this wheat. +Hast thou not seen the green fields of it lining the +banks of the Nasr-Nil, until the sight tires following +it? This season there cometh such a crop +as Kem hath never seen before, and for six years +we have been blest with its plenty——"</p> + +<p>Here he was interrupted by the hurried return +of the third messenger, who addressed him in excited +tones. As the Kemi use no gestures, and but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +little facial expression in their conversation, I could +not guess the import of his message. Therefore +when it was translated by the youth it was all the +more surprising.</p> + +<p>"The soldier saith that a certain curious man +of Kem, anxious to explore thy travelling house, +ventured within it, when presently it rose and +sailed away with him far out of the city, and was +lost from sight in the red distance!"</p> + +<p>This was an unforeseen, stupefying development. +I left the doctor to guard our things, and rushing +out I leaped the courtyard wall and ran with all +haste to the Park. The projectile was gone! No +sign or trace of it was anywhere to be seen. Willingly +or not, we were henceforth chained to Mars!</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>The Iron Men from the Blue Star</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Returning</span> from Long Breath, I could not +but notice the entire subsidence of the +terror, which had previously been so marked, and +the general signs of rejoicing which were now +taking its place. It was easy to see that I was +an object of absorbing interest and busy comment. +No one pointed the finger at me, for that rude +gesture was as unknown as it was unnecessary. +The mere turning of a great pair of eyes quickly +in my direction was an indication, significant +enough, that I was being denoted.</p> + +<p>I now understood the more composed behaviour +of the women. They were accustomed to the idea +of being taken in war, and never suffered slaughter +or hardship thereby, but merely a change of +masters. As they now left the Park they eyed +me curiously, as if wondering from what sort of +new master they had escaped. I imagined I could +detect some signs of disappointment among them, +at being cheated out of a trip to a new star or +being dismissed from the service of a god. Occasionally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +one of them would incline her head +gently to the right to meet her rising hand, in a +dignified salutation. I approached one of the +fairest of these and extended my hand. She +seemed rather surprised, but calmly placed an iron +coin in my palm! Evidently I must make haste +to learn the Kemish salutation, or I would pass +for a common beggar! My hand certainly did +look hard and brown, compared with her perfectly +white and transparent skin, through which the +blood suffused the beautiful pink flush of life. But +even if a hotter sun had scorched and tanned my +hand, it did not look as dark and tough as the +coin, although the soldiers had spread the report +that our flesh was of iron.</p> + +<p>The chief business activity in the city seemed +to be the transporting from the surrounding +country of an endless number of fibrous bags +filled with the bread-grain. I saw some of these +bags open in the shops, and the grain was shaped +like wheat, but as large and less solid than a +coffee berry. Trains of asses bearing these bags +were seen in every street and entering by every +gate. Each train of fifteen or twenty asses was +driven by a sandalled Martian, wearing the spread +bird-wing which seemed to denote the Pharaoh's +service. The animals had the lazy, sluggish, +plodding habits which I expected, and in these +respects their driver differed very little from them. +He gave an occasional long hiss, followed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +a jerky grunt, which sounded like "sh-h-h-h, +kuhnk!" and was evidently intended to hurry the +animals, but it served them quite as well as a +lullaby. These drivers, who doubtless had just +been hearing stories of me, were a little surprised +at coming upon me so soon, but looked me over +deliberately, as if calculating how much iron +money I would make, if there were no waste in +the coinage!</p> + +<p>But I hastened back to the doctor at the Palace, +being obliged to leap the courtyard wall again, for +I was not acquainted with the signal to command +the Terror-birds. He expected no other report of +the projectile than the one I brought.</p> + +<p>"The only hope is that the meddling Martian +may have turned in but one battery," he said. +"In time this will exhaust itself, and the projectile +will tumble back upon Mars. If it should +strike in the water, it may not be shattered, but +of course it might be submerged. The chances +that we will ever see it again are extremely remote. +If it should be discovered anywhere on +the planet, it would probably be coined up into +money, and the fortune of the Pharaoh would +hardly buy us iron enough to make another. +Well, the unexpected always happens. It was a +fatal mistake ever to have left it."</p> + +<p>"If it is gone for good," I answered, "let us +hope that this planet may suit us better than the +Earth, anyhow. We are certain of an easy existence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +here at least. One shield will coin into money +enough to supply our wants a long time. If we +had not been so dreadfully secretive on Earth, perhaps +some one, infringing our ideas, might have built +another projectile and sent a relief expedition!"</p> + +<p>Preparations for the banquet were rapidly being +made about the Palace by men servants. We saw +no female servants, and we learned afterward that +they did no menial work, except the serving of +the meals, which was rather an artistic duty.</p> + +<p>We were conducted to two large ante-chambers, +adjoining the banquet room, where we deposited +our armament and proceeded to make ourselves at +home as well as we could. The rooms were gloomy +and poorly lighted, but a great number of servants +were busy waiting upon us, and one presently +brought in four portable gas-burners, placing them +in a circle about my head as I reclined on a large +pillow of soft down, laid on the floor. These +burners thus furnished both heat and light, and +nearly all the rooms were thus lighted and heated +throughout the day. They had windows and a +very thick, coarse, translucent but not transparent +glass in them. But as the sunlight was never +strong, rooms were rarely ever light enough for +comfort without the flames of gas.</p> + +<p>This was my first acquaintance with Martian +gases, which I soon found to be very numerous +and various in use. On the other hand, very few +liquids existed. The atmospheric pressure was so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +low that what might have existed normally as +liquids on Earth, took the form of heavy gases +here. In every case they were heavier than the +air, so that they remained in vessels just as a +liquid would have done. The four lamps were +made of reeds and shaped like the letter <b>U</b>. The +right-hand side of the <b>U</b> was a large vertical reed, +connecting neatly at the bottom with a very much +smaller reed forming the other prong and terminating +at the top in a tip of baked earth, turned +downward, so that it would discharge the gas away +from the lamp. A light stone weight was fitted +to slide neatly down the large vertical tube in +which the gas was stored, and thus force the gas +up to the burner in the smaller tube. If a brighter +light was desired, a heavier weight was put on, +and to extinguish the light it was only necessary +to lift the weight, which cut off the supply from +the burner.</p> + +<p>While lying on the downy floor-cushion, I was +strangely annoyed by the faint and distant howling +of a dog. It seemed to come from the banquet +room adjoining mine, or from the doctor's room on +the other side. I called in the doctor, who said he +heard nothing and had seen no dogs on Mars. He +tried to make me believe it was a fancy of mine. +But presently when a servant entered, he seemed +to hear it instantly, for he turned quickly about +and left, but it was fully half an hour later before +the plaintive howling ceased.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>"These Kemish people have better ears than we +have," I remarked to the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, both their ears and eyes are much better +suited to the conditions of fainter light, and higher, +thinner sounds. There may be music at the +banquet to-night which we cannot hear at all in +some of its notes."</p> + +<p>"If there are no foods whose delicate flavours +we fail to taste, I shall be able to get along quite +well. I am extremely hungry, and quite ready for +a change of fare." We had only eaten a hasty +lunch when we had re-entered the projectile at +Long Breath to await the return of the soldier.</p> + +<p>Zaphnath himself came to conduct us to the +banquet room, and we were much surprised at its +dark and gloomy character. The entire vast enclosure +had but twenty-one flickering fire-brands, +suspended overhead and in front of us, to furnish +light. There were no tables or chairs, no flowers +or decorations, no sign of anything to eat. Other +guests were moving about through the semi-darkness +to their places, seemingly without inconvenience. +I was whispering to the doctor that I would +need eyes of much greater candle power to enjoy +the function, when we arrived at our places. A +double row of comfortable cushions ran along the +edge of our floor, where it seemed to sink to a +lower terrace, whence we could hear the indistinct +hum of women's voices. Zaphnath took his seat +on a raised cushion in the middle of the row, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +motioned me to the cushion on his right and the +doctor to his left. Eighteen other guests now +reclined upon their cushions to left and right, so +that we were all arranged in a direct line, facing +the lower terrace whence came the feminine buzz. +Directly opposite each of us was an empty cushion, +but no table.</p> + +<p>I was wondering at it all when the fire-brand +farthest from me suddenly exploded a great flaming +ball of fire, and we all sprang to our feet. From +the terrace below came a grand burst of reed music, +a swelling chorus of women's voices, and then each +fire-brand in quick succession exploded a burst of +flame, which floated down toward the dancing +women, but expired above their heads. I soon +saw that these white fire-balls, which continued +in quick succession throughout the banquet, and +afforded us a glorious if a somewhat appalling +light, were caused by the successive discharges of +small volumes of heavy gas from twenty-one reed-tanks +in the comb of the roof, one above each of +the fire-brands. When the discharged gas had +floated down to the fire-brand beneath it, there +was a quick, bright explosion, and the flame sank +menacingly toward the women below.</p> + +<p>The burst of music, the chorus of huzzahs, and +the flashing forth of light, proved to be a welcome +to the Pharaoh, who was standing proudly on his +great throne opposite us, across the terrace and +somewhat higher, whence he could look down upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +the dancers and singers. He wore a crown of thin +iron, surmounted by a golden asp. His elaborately +curled wig did not conceal his ears, from which +large golden pendants hung almost to his shoulders. +His own beard was waxed and curled, and trimmed +to the shape of a beaver's tail. His dress is best +described by calling it a feather velvet, edged with +flaring wing and tail plumes of iridescent colours. +In this feather cloth there was none of the rough, +gaudy show of the savage, but a discriminating, +tasteful blending of colours and harmony of design, +imitated from the beauty of the bird itself.</p> + +<p>Grouped about him on the approaches to his +throne were one-and-twenty of his favourite +women, beautifully dressed in feather textures, with +the curved neck and head of a bird surmounting +their brows. But their costume was scant and +simple compared with that of the dancing girls +below us. They wore a wonderful head-dress, +composed of the entire body of a small peacock. +The head and neck were arched over the forehead, +the back fitted tightly, like a hat over their head, +the drooping wings covered their ears, while the +fully spread tail arched above their head in its +wonderful opalescence. Much of the snowy whiteness +of their backs and breasts was bare, and a +downy feather ribbon circled the necks, wrists, and +ankles. A two-headed iron serpent with golden +eyes clasped the upper arm and gartered the knee, +but no jewels of any kind were to be seen. All<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +the dancers carried long decorated reeds, which +they flourished wondrously, and with which occasionally +they executed the most surprising leaps. +While there was a stateliness about their movements, +there were also the most startling acrobatic +surprises, made possible by the feeble gravity.</p> + +<p>The singing women, or what might be called +the chorus, were in twelve sets, each group clad +in a different colour or design of feather-silk. +Their head-dress, while composed of the entire +body of a bird of plumage, lacked the flamboyant +tail of the peacock. The music was weird and +whimsical, as there were neither stringed nor brass +instruments. It was made wholly by women playing +upon a vast variety of drums and reeds. There +were all sizes of whistling reeds or flutes; several +of these of different lengths were grouped into +one instrument like the pipes of Pan; a series of +long hollow reeds, when rapidly struck, gave forth +a marvellous cadence; while groups of small drums, +of different size and tensity, gave curious tones. +The whole effect was weirdly eloquent, rather than +racy or exciting.</p> + +<p>When the burst of welcome was ended, Zaphnath +stretched forth his hand and exclaimed, first to us +in Hebrew, and then in Kemish,—</p> + +<p>"O Pharaoh, whose power and wisdom from all +the Pharaohs have descended, behold, I bring unto +thee these two iron men from the Blue Star, who, +though excelling in the arts of war, are yet pleased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +to come out of the ruddy heavens to practise peace +amongst us!"</p> + +<p>And thus did Zaphnath translate the Pharaoh's +response to us:—</p> + +<p>"Unto Ptah, the Centre of Things, to whom the +myriad stars of the heavens are but ministering +slaves, I, Pharaoh of Kem, do give you welcome. +Whatever pleaseth you in the largeness of this +rich land, or in the matchless beauty of our women, +shall be unto you as if ye had owned it always."</p> + +<p>Whereupon the other guests turned toward us +with the right hand upon the cheek, and we +awkwardly attempted the same salutation. Then +a group of the singing women, twenty-one in +number, tripping to the weird music, came up the +steps which led to our floor, carrying covered +dishes. At the top they turned and saluted the +Pharaoh, and then took their places, one upon each +of the cushions opposite us. Before uncovering +the dishes they took me a little by surprise, by +bending forward and pressing their warm, pink +cheek against the right cheek of the guest they +were about to serve. My maiden unconsciously +shivered a little, for my cheek must have felt cold, +even though my surprised blushes did their best to +warm it. Her dish, when opened, contained nothing +but flowers, waxy white, but emitting a delicately +sweet perfume. She held them toward my face, +and presently breathed gently across them, as if to +waft their perfume to me. Then scattering them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +about my cushion, she pressed her left cheek to +mine, arose and tripped down the steps again. +There was a modest self-possession about her which +enchanted me, and I hoped she would soon return +bringing something more substantial.</p> + +<p>But another group of maidens, differently +clothed, had already begun to mount towards us +with earthen goblets and reed-pitchers, which +looked as if they might contain wine. Dropping +on her knees on the cushion before me, this maiden +saluted me as the other had done. Then sitting +gracefully before me, she tipped her reed pitcher +toward the goblet, and poured out apparently +nothing! But, watching the others, I saw them +carry the goblet to their lips and draw a deep +breath from it, while tipping it as one might a +glass of wine. I did the same, and inhaled a deep +draught of stimulating, wine-flavoured gas, which, +when I exhaled it through the nostrils, proved to +be deliciously perfumed.</p> + +<p>"I have heard of some poets who could dine +upon the fragrance of flowers and sup the sweetness +of a woman's kiss, but I am hungry for grosser +things," I whispered to the doctor.</p> + +<p>"There are ten other groups of these serving +maidens to come up to us," he replied. "They will +certainly bring us something more tangible before +it is over. Meantime, while we are in Kem, let us +imitate the Kemish;" and I must say he was succeeding +remarkably well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next maiden who tripped up toward me +was wonderfully beautiful and most becomingly +dressed. I was a little disappointed that, upon +taking her place on the cushion in front of me, she +omitted the salutation the others had given. +However, she carried a small flask in her right +hand, which she placed near my mouth. Then +opening the top of it slightly, it jetted forth a +deliciously perfumed fine spray, which moistened +my lips. Waiting just a moment for me to enjoy +the perfume, she then pressed her pretty cheeks +in turn against my lips, until they were soft and +dry. This was the nearest approach to a kiss +which I saw among these people, and I learned +it was given always just before eating solid food. +The plate she carried to me contained small morsels +of fish, served upon neat little wheaten cakes. +There was no knife, fork, chopstick, or anything +of that kind, but each little cake was lifted with +its morsel of fish, and they were together just a +delicate mouthful. This maiden quite took my +fancy, and I watched her evolutions and listened +for her voice in the chorus during the rest of the +banquet, for she had no more serving to do.</p> + +<p>After this course Zaphnath arose, and waving to +the music and singing to cease, he thus addressed +the Pharaoh:—</p> + +<p>"It doth appear, O Pharaoh, that these visitors +of ours come from a strange, small world, where, +though much is done, but little is enjoyed. At thy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +bidding I have offered unto them all the luxuries +of Kem, such as our people strive all their lives +for, and dying still desire; but they wish no gifts +or presents. Like slaves they only wish to work, +but at some noble, fitting occupation. This +younger man, whose wondrous learning hath +taught him to speak even the tongues of other +worlds, hath been a great handler of grain upon +his proper star, and for him the fitting occupation +is not far to seek. Thou knowest how the gathering +of thy bounteous harvests hath distracted my +own attention from weightier matters; wherefore, +O Pharaoh, I do entreat thee to put into his charge +the labour of gathering, storing, and distributing +all thy harvests; and as a fitting compensation, let +him have one measure of grain for every twenty +that he shall gather for thee."</p> + +<p>Nothing could have suited my wishes and +abilities better, and my pay on Earth had been +only one measure in five hundred. The Pharaoh's +reply was thus translated to us,—</p> + +<p>"The gods put into thy mouth, O Zaphnath, +only the ripeness of their wisdom, and Pharaoh +granteth thy requests ere they are uttered. But +what desireth the wise man?"</p> + +<p>To this I made answer for the doctor,—</p> + +<p>"When thou knowest his wondrous wisdom +touching many things, O Pharaoh, thou mayest +think fit to give him a place among thy wise men, +where they may learn from him and he from them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +Will it please thee to send a slave for the Larger +Eye and have it placed by yonder window, and +he will presently show unto thee many of the +wonders of the starry heavens that are hidden +beyond the reach of man's unaided vision."</p> + +<p>While two slaves were despatched in charge of +a soldier to bring the telescope, we were served +with a highly-sparkling, gas-charged wine, which +further whetted my appetite. Then came another +maiden with a small roast bird, neatly and delicately +carved, and each tempting piece was laid +upon a small lozenge of bread. I never ate anything +with more relish.</p> + +<p>There was an excited buzz among the women, +and the Pharaoh himself was visibly affected at +the sight of the telescope, whose burnished brass +was evidently mistaken for gold. The doctor +mounted it upon the backs of slaves near a high +window, whence there was a good view of the +heavens, and signalled to me to explain its use.</p> + +<p>"O Zaphnath, wilt thou make known unto the +Pharaoh, and these, his guests, that the wondrous +value of this instrument lieth not in its bright and +glistening appearance, but in the farther reach +and truer vision of the heavenly bodies which it +affordeth us. With this we ascertain all and far +more than yon monstrous Gnomons tell thee; we +learn the periods of the day, the seasons of the +year, and vastly more than our common tongue +hath words to tell thee of. Tell me, what callest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +thou yon risen orb, which hasteneth a rapid backward +journey through the heavens?" I asked, +indicating the full disc of Phobos.</p> + +<p>"That is the Perverse Daughter, sole disobedient +Child of Night, whose stubborn, contrary ways are +justly punished by her mother. For she must +draw a veil across her brilliant face for a brief +period during every hasty trip she makes."</p> + +<p>"Behold her, then, just entering upon her punishment!" +I exclaimed, for the regular eclipse was +just beginning. "Look! and tell us all thou +seest."</p> + +<p>"I see a glorious orb, far larger than the Day-Giver +and very near to Ptah! But it is the Perverse +Daughter, grown larger and come nearer, +for she alone knoweth how to draw the veil of +night across her face like that. Now she hath +fully hidden! It is most wonderful, O Pharaoh!"</p> + +<p>"Be not deceived by mere appearance, O Zaphnath," +replied the Pharaoh. "All that thou seest +may be contained within the thing thou gazest +into. 'Tis true, the Perverse Daughter hath drawn +her veil, but be thou sure thou seest what is beyond +and not merely what is within."</p> + +<p>As soon as this was translated to us, the doctor +focussed the telescope upon the Gnomons, which +were just visible over the edge of the plateau, and +I said,—</p> + +<p>"Look now again, and behold all the familiar +features of the landscape, the plateau yonder and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +the ponderous Gnomons, which could never be contained +within this little enclosure."</p> + +<p>"'Tis all most true, O Pharaoh, and with this +little instrument thy reign may be more glorious, +and come to greater wisdom, than any of that long +line of Pharaohs, whose toiling slaves have built +the towering Gnomons. Let this grey-beard be +made chief of all thy wise men; let the others +teach him our language and make him acquainted +with all our monuments and records; also command +them to record most faithfully all the wonders +which he is able to reveal. Mayhap he may be +able to write thy name among the stars of night, +to shine for ever, instead of upon the crumbling +stone which telleth of thy ancestors!"</p> + +<p>"O men of Kem," replied the Pharaoh, addressing +the other guests, "hear ye the wisdom of Zaphnath, +which cometh with the swift wings of birds, +while thy halting counsel stumbleth slowly upon +the lazy legs of asses! What Zaphnath asketh +hath already been decreed touching these two men +from the Blue Star, provided only that they live +peaceably among us obedient to our laws."</p> + +<p>We assured him of our obedience and our best +efforts to discharge our new duties, whereupon the +feast continued. Courses of small birds' eggs and +of fruits and confections were each served by a +separate group of maidens. When the feast was +finally completed, I turned to Zaphnath with my +cigars and said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"In our travelling house I brought with me +many such things as these and others of a smaller, +milder form, which might delight the women; but +now that the house is gone, I have but three, one +of which wilt thou send to the Pharaoh, one keep +for thyself, and the other I will smoke to show you +the manner of it. There is naught to fear about +them; your taste for heavy vapours will have +prepared you to enjoy the warmth and fragrance of +this peculiar weed."</p> + +<p>A servant came to carry the one to the Pharaoh, +and I struck a match upon the stone floor and held +the cigar designed for Zaphnath in the flame. +Then I touched the flame to my own, and puffing +gently, I asked Zaphnath to do the same. When I +saw that his custom of inhaling gases led him to +breathe in the smoke, I puffed very slowly and +gently, until he should become accustomed to it. +When Pharaoh saw that it did no harm to Zaphnath, +he lighted his own and inhaled the smoke in +long draughts with evident gusto.</p> + +<p>"How sayest thou, O Zaphnath," he said at last. +"Is not this warm vapour most stimulating? It is +a treat worth all the rest of the banquet. Continual +feasting hath made the luxuries of Kem to +pall upon me, but this hath novelty and comfort in +it. If, indeed, there were many of these in thy +travelling house, my slaves shall search all the +width and breadth of Ptah, until it be found."</p> + +<p>The music now burst forth again in new volume,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +and the singing girls went through a new evolution, +which broke up their groups and formed +twelve new ones, containing one girl from each of +the previous sets. Then the entire number began +ascending the steps together, and I noted that +those approaching me were the twelve maidens +who had served me during the banquet. They +came and circled around me, and presently stopped +with their hands upon their cheeks in salute. The +other groups did the same to the guests they had +served, and each guest selected a maiden by +saluting her upon the cheek, whereupon she left +her circle and took her position upon the cushion +opposite him. Zaphnath, seeing that we did not +understand this ceremony, explained it to me.</p> + +<p>"It is an ancient custom with the Pharaoh to +present each of his guests with a living reminder +of the occasion and his hospitality. Wherefore he +desireth thee to choose which of the twelve serving +maidens hath pleased thee best, and he will give +her to thee, to be always thy maidservant."</p> + +<p>I translated this to the doctor, and watched him +curiously, with an inquiring twinkle in my eye.</p> + +<p>"Let us accept them, and bestow their liberty +upon them," he said.</p> + +<p>I immediately chose the third maiden, who had +pressed her pink cheeks to my lips, and when she +came to sit opposite to me upon the cushion, I +spoke to her through Zaphnath,—</p> + +<p>"Thy ways have pleased me, but upon my star<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +we do not think it proper to own any slaves. +When we know well-favoured and graceful women, +such as thou art, we prefer to be their slaves, rather +than they ours. If I could take thee with me to +the Earth, the laws there would set thee free to do +whatever pleased thee best. Wishest thou that I +make thee free here?"</p> + +<p>She was evidently surprised when Zaphnath put +this question to her. She replied in a sincere and +pleading tone, but her words astonished me,—</p> + +<p>"Whatever the dark Man of Ice wisheth, I will +do. I know not why he hath asked what I desire. +He speaketh of freedom, but I beseech him not to +send me back to that! I was born an unhappy +and masterless maiden, and many years I struggled +and laboured for a miserable existence. I drove +asses, gleaned in the fields, and did the menial +work of men. But I felt I was fit for better, +nobler things. At last, I heard that the armies of +the Pharaoh were coming to my land, and I took +heed of my appearance, put on my neatest feather +clothing, and went to throw myself before the +soldiers. They were pleased with me, and brought +me to this city, where fortune favoured me, and +Pharaoh, looking over all the women whom the +soldiers brought from the wars, chose me, with +many others, to join his household. And here in +the Palace for a few years I have been happy and +well cared for. I pray thee do not turn me out +again; do not degrade me to the labour and misery<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +of freedom. Even the beasts have masters! They +are housed, and fed, and cared for; why should I +then be cast out and left to drudge or beg?"</p> + +<p>"Doth she mean this?" I exclaimed. "What +then is the chief aim of women in Kem? What is +the highest state to which they may aspire?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis a strange, simple question!" he answered. +"There is no greater blessing for a woman than +to belong to the household of the Pharaoh. Here +they are delighted with constant music and dancing; +their beauty is cultivated and heightened by +rich and tasteful clothing; and their charms and +graces may win for them a selection as one of the +one-and-twenty favourites of the Pharaoh. What +they fear most is being chosen and carried away by +guests whose palaces and ways of life are less +luxurious than the Pharaoh's."</p> + +<p>"Why then, as we have no palaces and wish no +slaves, it were best to return these maidens to the +Pharaoh if they will be happier and better cared +for here than anywhere else in all the land of +Kem," I said to Zaphnath.</p> + +<p>"This age is not ripe for the grand idea of freedom +which dominates our own," remarked the +doctor, as we returned the grateful maidens to +the constant delights of an ornate and sensuous +slavery.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>Parallel Planetary Life</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I was</span> sleeping soundly on my deliciously soft +heap of downy pillows, when in the early +morning I was awakened by a pounding on the +door of the ante-chamber. As one always wakens +from a sound sleep with his most familiar language +upon his tongue, I cried out in English, "Who's +there?" The doctor answered, wishing to be let +in. I fumbled about in the darkness sleepily, and +opened the door, and he lighted two of my gas-lamps +with the one he carried. He looked rather +tired and worn.</p> + +<p>"I am possessed by a tyrant idea, which will not +let me sleep," he said. "I must get rid of it before +morning. Come, get your senses about you, and +listen to me," he commanded, as I yawned and +rubbed my fists into my eyes, blinded by the +sudden strong light.</p> + +<p>"If you think I can sleep with it any better +than you can, out with it," I answered.</p> + +<p>"How does it happen that a young Hebrew is +ruler over all these people?" he demanded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you lie awake thinking up conundrums?" +I ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"On Earth, what notable Jews have been rulers +over a great people not of their own race?" he +continued.</p> + +<p>"Disraeli in England, Joseph in Egypt, and—well, +that is all I can think of just now."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that is enough. Egypt was the +greatest grain-raising country in Joseph's time, +wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course," I answered. "And Joseph's +rule began with seven years of most wonderful +crops."</p> + +<p>"Zaphnath told us this morning that the seventh +great crop, and the most plenteous of all, is now +growing," he interrupted.</p> + +<p>"What has that to do with Joseph? We are +not on Earth, but on Mars. Have you been dreaming? +Zaphnath is—— But, by the way, Joseph's +Egyptian name was Zaphnath-paaneah, meaning a +revealer of secrets! When I heard that name +this morning, I thought it was strangely familiar. +Pharaoh called him that when he appointed +him ruler, because he had interpreted his +dream," I said, just realizing the very peculiar +coincidence.</p> + +<p>"You are as good as a Bible!" cried the doctor. +"Perhaps you can also remember by which of +Jacob's wives Joseph was born?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I can. He was the first son of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +Rachel, the wife whom Jacob really loved, and +worked fourteen years to secure."</p> + +<p>"But how could he have ten older brothers, if he +was Rachel's first son?" he demanded, a little +perplexed.</p> + +<p>"They were all the sons of her sister Leah and +her handmaidens. Rachel was barren all her life +until Joseph was born," I explained.</p> + +<p>"And Zaphnath said this morning that his +mother was barren all the years of her life that +the Blue Star wandered. He also called himself +revealer of God's hidden things."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and it struck me as peculiar at the time +that he said of '<i>God's</i>' not of '<i>the gods'</i>,'" I reflected. +"Evidently he thinks there is but one God. The +whole matter is altogether peculiar."</p> + +<p>"Here are the facts," replied the doctor. "Listen +to them attentively. We have dropped down into +a civilization here upon Mars which coincides in +every important particular with that of the +Ancient Egyptians on Earth. They are great +builders, erecters of monuments, raisers of grain, +polygamists, and they now have a young Hebrew +ruler, corresponding in every important respect +with Joseph. We chance to have arrived during +the seventh year of plenty of Joseph's rule. Grain +abounds; the soil brings it forth 'by handfuls.' It +is, 'as the sand of the sea, very much,' and the +Pharaoh, probably at the suggestion of his young +ruler, is storing it up——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By all the Patriarchs!" I interrupted. "They +are running a wheat corner, and I didn't know it! +Go on, go on!"</p> + +<p>"These are all very singular coincidences with +a history which was enacted many thousands of +years ago on Earth. Now, how can you explain +their strange recurrence here?" he queried.</p> + +<p>"How should I know? I haven't been lying +awake! How do you explain them?" I asked, full +of interest.</p> + +<p>"I have tossed on my pillows in there for three +hours evolving a theory for it. If it is correct, our +opportunities here in Kem are simply enormous. +Now listen, and don't interrupt me. The Creator +has given all the habitable planets the same great +problem of life to work out. Every one of His +worlds in its time passes through the same general +history. This runs parallel on all of them, but at +a different speed on each. The swift ones, nearest +to the sun, have hurried through it, and may be +close upon the end. But this is a slow planet, +whose year is almost twice as long as the Earth's, +and more than three times that of Venus. The +seasons pass sluggishly here, and history ripens +slowly. This world has only reached that early +chapter in the story equivalent to Ancient Egypt +on Earth. We have forged far ahead of that, and +on Venus they have worked out far more of the +story than we know anything about. If Mercury +is habitable yet, his people may have reached<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +almost the end, but it is most probable that life +has not started there; when it does begin, it will be +worked out four times as rapidly as it has on +Earth."</p> + +<p>"Then a seven years' famine will begin here +next year, and I am in charge of the world's entire +wheat supply!" I gasped, almost overwhelmed by +the speculative possibilities which this unfolded.</p> + +<p>"It is not likely that there will be more than a +general similarity of the history. But Zaphnath +has told us that this is the seventh year of plenty. +If the famine begins soon, it will be fair to suppose +it will for about seven crops. In its later developments +the entire history may change when the +crucial period comes, and have a very different outcome. +But we are now almost at the beginnings +of civilized history. Joseph, the first Jew in +Egypt, is a ruler here, and your entire race must +follow him hither, and pass through a miserable +captivity. Even if you remained here all your +life, you would not last that long; but upon the +later doings of your people and their treatment of +the Martian Messiah, when He comes, depend the +future conditions of this planet. Will it be +different then from the Earthly story? It is an +extremely interesting theory to follow to the end, +but that would take thousands of years, and we +are concerned with the present."</p> + +<p>"Doctor, if this theory be true, then we are +nothing short of prophets here!" I exclaimed, still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +struggling with the wonderful bearings of the idea +on our personal welfare.</p> + +<p>"In a general way we are prophets, but Zaphnath +has forestalled us on immediate matters. Let +us keep our own counsel as to any foreknowledge. +If we disclose it, we may suddenly lose our opportunities, +and, besides, we shall be powerless to +change history here in any important respect."</p> + +<p>"I might prevent Zaphnath from bringing all +Israel down into Egypt, and thus save them from +that captivity," I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Then you would forestall a Moses, and prevent +the miraculous deliverance of your people, and all +the paternal care which God bestowed upon them +during that time. You will never be able to do +this. Zaphnath is in the way. He is headstrong +and wilful. He is an active thinker and a hard +worker among a race of idlers, who live only to +enjoy the fulness of a rich land. He knows the +greater activity and industry of his own people, +and he will wish to make them masters of this +goodly land. I will warrant that his head is full +of plans at this very moment for bringing his old +father and all his race down here to give them +important places. See how readily he gave the +keystone of the whole situation to you. It will +pay you better to keep on good terms with him. +Instead of trying to change the situation, let us +make the best of it as we find it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I must say the present situation is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +attractive enough to me," I said, and then inquired, +"How many gold coins have you, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"I have only a hundred half eagles and a little +silver coin," he replied; "and I wish to be very +sure of the correctness of my theory before I +undertake any speculations with that."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! What is money for, but to double, +and then to double the result again!" I exclaimed. +"You work out this great theory, and then fail to +grasp its commercial importance to us. You and I +will embark in the grain business, with our entire +stock of gold, the first thing in the morning. We +have iron enough to live on."</p> + +<p>"I didn't come here to go into business," he +answered. "I have a grand scientific career to +pursue, and last night's appointment puts me in +just the position to carry it out."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead with it then, but invest your gold +coins in my enterprise. I will manage it all," I +said, reaching for my belt under my pillow. "I +have here three hundred eagles and one hundred +double eagles,—five thousand dollars in all. I +scarcely need your five hundred dollars, but I don't +wish to see you left out, and buying bread of me at +a dollar a loaf in a short time. Gold must have an +enormous value here, considering the small amount +of it used as ornaments in the Pharaoh's household, +and the general currency of iron money. Three of +these double eagles would make a pair of ear pendants +equal to his. I wonder how he would like to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +have pure gold bracelets on all his women instead +of those rough iron things? And wheat must be +cheaper than dirt after seven enormous crops. I +will buy all the grain he has to sell before to-morrow +night! Even if your theory is all wrong, +we can't lose much."</p> + +<p>"That is all very well, but we may as well be +sure," he replied cautiously. "You can find out +much by a few discreet questions to Zaphnath in +the morning."</p> + +<p>"The trouble about the whole matter is, that I +will be obliged to do business through him altogether +until we learn this language. Come, you +must contribute your share. I have furnished the +Hebrew, you must learn the Kemish at once +through those wise men. But I can't wait for +that. I will make Zaphnath teach me the +necessary shop words and stock phrases for carrying +on the grain business to-morrow. I can't perform +my new duties unless he does that."</p> + +<p>However, the doctor did not respond wholly to +my new enthusiasm. He was sleepy, and retired +yawning to his own room to get the rest which had +evaded him. But I lay and tossed on the pillows, +revolving a hundred plans, and feeling anything +but sleepy. Presently I thought of a scheme, +which would demonstrate whether there was anything +in the doctor's theory. I knew it would just +suit him, and I sprang up and knocked gently on +his door, saying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"I have it, Doctor. Here is the very idea!" +There was no answer, so I knocked louder and +listened. I heard him breathing heavily in deep +slumber. After all, the morrow would do for +ideas; just then he needed sleep.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>A Plagiarist of Dreams</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Being</span> unable to sleep, I arose early to get the +refreshment of a morning walk. I passed +quietly through the next room, where the doctor +was still sleeping soundly, out into the courtyard. +I was scarcely outside when I heard a familiar, +excited barking, and Two-spot ran across the open +space toward me as fast as his four short legs and +his very active tail would carry him. His frantic +jumping up toward me was extremely comical, for +he sprang with more than twice the swiftness I +was accustomed to seeing, almost to a level with +my face, but he fell very slowly to the ground with +only one third the speed that he would have fallen +on Earth. He could jump, with almost the agility +of a flea, and yet he fell back deliberately like a +gas ball. He was evidently enjoying his muscles +as much as I had mine. When he made a particularly +high jump, I caught him in my hands and +patted him fondly.</p> + +<p>"So you didn't fly away with the projectile? Or, +did you go with it, and is it safely back again, somewhere?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +How I wish you could speak my language +and tell me all you know! These different tongues +are a great bother, aren't they, Two-spot?"</p> + +<p>He answered me volubly, but apart from the fact +that he quite agreed with me, I could not understand +his message. Had I been able to, it might +have made a very great difference to me.</p> + +<p>There was a beautiful, filmy snow on the ground, +which had fallen during the night. It was scarcely +more than a heavy hoar frost, and as the sun +sprang up without any warning twilight, the snow +melted and left the surface damp and fresh. As I +afterwards learned, this thin snow fell almost every +night of the year, except for the warmest month +of summer when the grain ripened. There were +hardly ever any violent storms or quick showers. +The thin air made heavy clouds or severe atmospheric +movements impossible. But the coolness of +night, after a day of feeble but direct and tropical +sunshine, precipitated the moisture in the form of +those delightful feathers of darkness. I also learned +that the months were distinguished by the time of +night when this snow fell; for it was precipitated +directly after sunset in the winter, but gradually +later into the night as summer advanced, and +finally just before daybreak. The month in which +none fell at all was midsummer, of course. It had +scarcely finished falling this morning when I came +out into it.</p> + +<p>I sprang to the top of the wall, and was watching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +the quick rising of the Sun, and enjoying the sensation +of looking fixedly at his orb without being +dazzled, when I noticed that there was a dark +notch in the lower left-hand part of his disc! Soon +after I distinguished, somewhat farther in, a faint +and smaller dark spot. This must be the beginning +of the double transit of the Earth and the Moon! I +experienced a sensation of joy in finding the home +planet again. I confess it had given me a curious +shock not to be able to see it in the heavens. It +was more comfortable to have it back in the sky +again, and at last I knew just where we were in +the calendar. On Earth it was the third day of +August, 1892. The summer there was at its height, +and all my friends were as busy and as deeply +immersed in their own affairs as if their little spot +had no idea of coquetting with the Sun. Possibly a +dozen pairs of studious eyes out of the teeming +hundreds of millions on Earth were turned Marsward. +This led me to wonder what all-absorbing +topics of sport, politics, or war may fill the minds of +the possible million people on Venus, when the +Earth is so much excited over one of the infrequent +and picturesque transits of that planet across the +Sun.</p> + +<p>But the doctor and Zaphnath must know of +this! I hastened into the ante-chamber and called +out,—</p> + +<p>"Come, get up! I have already discovered two +very significant things this morning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What are they?" he asked wearily between +yawns.</p> + +<p>"Two-spot and the Earth!" I exclaimed. "The +former crossed my path in the courtyard, and the +latter is just now crossing the Sun. Where is the +telescope? quick!"</p> + +<p>The doctor was not long in propping it up by the +east window, and I went to look for a servant. By +repeating the word "Zaphnath" several times, I +made him understand that we wished the attendance +of the young ruler, and he started for him.</p> + +<p>By this time the notch was almost a complete +circle of dark shadow within the lower edge of the +Sun. The smaller spot, one-fourth the diameter, +was forging ahead like a herald to clear the way. +Zaphnath soon arrived, for he lived in another part +of the Palace. He quietly pressed his cheek to +mine, but in my excitement I had seized his hand, +and with a pressure which must have hurt his +shrinking flesh, I exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"This is the day of thy greatness, O Zaphnath, +for, behold, the Blue Star is already upon the face of +the Day-Giver!" I led him hastily to the telescope, +and explained to him that the smaller forward spot +was caused by a moon like Phobos, and that the +Earth was really a round ball, like the Sun. He +looked intently for a long time, and then turning +about to me he said,—</p> + +<p>"It is well ye left just when ye did, for the fire +of the Day-Giver hath by this time burned every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +living thing upon your star! See how she hastens +through his hot flames."</p> + +<p>I attempted to explain that the Earth was more +than twice as far from the Sun as she was from us; +but he believed the evidence of his eyes, and I had +to give it up in despair.</p> + +<p>"I pray thee, bring this Larger Eye to the +Council Chamber. I must summon all the wise +men at once to behold this wonder. How long will +it continue?"</p> + +<p>The doctor told me it might last almost two +hours; but I found it impossible to convey any idea +of this period of time to Zaphnath, until I told him +that it would continue half the time of the crossing +of Phobos, who had just risen dimly in the west.</p> + +<p>We made a quick breakfast on fruit like grapes +and a wheaten gruel, and hastened to the chamber +where we had been received the day before. Zaphnath +was already there, and so were eleven of the +grey-beards. We did not wait for the twelfth, but +Zaphnath led the doctor to the place at the centre +of their oval table, which thus filled all the seats. +Then the young ruler ascended his throne and thus +addressed them:—</p> + +<p>"While ye have tossed and tumbled in an idle +slumber, two things of grave importance have +happened touching you. The Pharaoh, acting +upon my urgent advices, hath appointed this grey-beard +from the Blue Star to be your chief; and now +the Blue Star herself hath re-appeared upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +very face of the Day-Giver, even as these, her +people, told us yesterday that she must do."</p> + +<p>Just at this point the belated wise man came +straggling in, a slow surprise growing upon him +when he saw that his seat was taken. Zaphnath +then turned, addressing him,—</p> + +<p>"Thou hast not heard, O lazy idler in the lap of +morning, what I have just spoken to thy brothers? +Then go thou to yonder Larger Eye and speak +truthfully to these grey-beards all that thou +seest."</p> + +<p>I adjusted the instrument, and placed him in the +proper position to see. He looked long and carefully, +then left the instrument and looked with the +unaided eye. Coming back he gazed again, and +finally spoke very slowly, as if resigning his life +with the words:—</p> + +<p>"I am old, and my sight deceiveth me, O my +brothers, for when I gaze into this mysterious +instrument the Day-Giver suddenly groweth very +large, and hath two blots of shadow upon the upper +half of his brightness. But when I look with my +proper eyes, he keeps his size, and there are still +spots upon him, but they are upon his lower side."</p> + +<p>I explained to Zaphnath that the telescope made +things look wrong side up, just as it made them +look larger, and I focussed it upon the Gnomons to +convince the wise man of this. Then the youth +spoke to him again:—</p> + +<p>"The Pharaoh hath appointed this grey-beard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +from the Blue Star to be chief of all the wise men, +and as there can be but twelve, thou art no longer +one. Unto thee, however, is given the duty of +teaching our language to the chief. See that thou +doest it well, for the lives of all of you, having now +been forfeited by the law, are in his hands. But so +long as his wisdom spares you, ye shall live."</p> + +<p>As there was now a lull, I saw an opportunity for +my plan which I had not yet found time to explain +to the doctor. I translated to him as I proceeded, +however,—</p> + +<p>"Tell me, O Zaphnath, is it the custom here to +relate dreams to the wise men for interpretation? I +had last night a most peculiar one, and I will give +this golden coin to whomsoever is able to explain +its meaning." All the great eyes opened wide and +round at beholding the eagle I held up to view. +So large a piece of gold must have been uncommon. +The youth replied,—</p> + +<p>"It is, in truth, an obsolete formality to submit +dreams to the wise men, for they have interpreted +none since I came into Kem. But let us hear it; if +they cannot make it known, mayhap I can do so."</p> + +<p>"I dreamed that I stood by the great river which +runneth just without thy city walls, and I saw +coming up out of the water, as if they had been +fishes, seven familiar beasts, such as I have not seen +since I came to Kem. Knowest thou here such +large, useful animals, each having a long tail and +four legs, and whose peaceful habit is to eat the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +grass of the fields, which, having digested, the +female yieldeth back in a white fluid very fit to +drink?"</p> + +<p>"It is kine thou meanest," answered Zaphnath. +"In truth there are but few within the city, but +they are well known, for in the land of my father +my people do naught but to breed and raise them +and send them hither for ploughing in the fields. +At the season of planting thou shalt see many of +them."</p> + +<p>"I saw seven kine, most sleek and plump of +flesh, feeding in a green meadow by the river; +but suddenly there came up out of the water in +the same manner two lean and shrunken kine, +whose withered bones rattled against their dry +skins, they were so poor and hungry. And they +stayed not to eat the grass of the meadow, but +fell upon and devoured their fatter sisters——"</p> + +<p>"Saidst thou two?" interrupted Zaphnath.</p> + +<p>"Two of the lean and shrunken, but they ate +the fat-fleshed, which were seven," I answered, +watching Zaphnath and the wise men closely, for +he was translating to them phrase by phrase as +I spoke. He faltered when I described the eating +up of the fat cattle; there were wondering and +inquiring looks among the wise men and a constant +chattering in Kemish. I waited patiently +for some time, then waving my coin I demanded,—</p> + +<p>"Can none of the grey-beards declare the meaning +to me?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> + +<p>There were more consultations among themselves +and with Zaphnath, and presently he said,—</p> + +<p>"Before the wise men can declare thy dream, +they demand to know whether the lean kine +only slaughtered the sleek ones, or if they ate +them wholly up? And were they filled and satisfied +when they had eaten their fatter sisters?"</p> + +<p>"In truth, I forgot to say that they devoured +the fat kine wholly and completely, yet it could +not be known that they had eaten anything, they +were still so lean and ill-favoured."</p> + +<p>This caused even a greater chattering than before, +and the youth finally asked,—</p> + +<p>"Didst thou dream aught more, or is this all?"</p> + +<p>"Truly I had another dream, but it was different. +I thought that all the wheat in the field +grew upon one stalk in seven great kernels; then +a shrivelled and withered stalk began to spring +up; when suddenly a rapping on my door awakened +me, and I dreamed no more."</p> + +<p>The effect which this produced was most curious. +Blank surprise, hidden cunning, anxious debating +and uneasy hesitation, succeeded each other among +the wise men. I watched it with great interest, +and perceived the doctor's satisfaction, but I again +demanded the interpretation.</p> + +<p>"Know, then, O dreamer," answered Zaphnath, +"that we understand not only the import of all +that thou hast dreamed, but even what thou +wouldst have dreamed hadst thou not been wakened!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +But, in spite of thy handsome offer, it +doth not appear fit or proper to us that the interpretation +of it should be made known to thee. +Tell me, however, hast thou had conversation +with any other person in Kem, save with me and +with the wise men?"</p> + +<p>"Thou knowest well, O Zaphnath, that I speak +not the Kemish tongue, and can understand or +communicate only through thy interpretation. I +have spoken with no one on all of Ptah except +through thee, and if thou wilt not declare my +dream I care not, for while ye have been debating +among yourselves I have learned its meaning!"</p> + +<p>"Thou understandest it already!" he exclaimed. +"Pray tell us, then, how thou hast learned it."</p> + +<p>"The chief wise man hath declared it to me in +my own tongue!" I exclaimed, with a meaning +look toward the doctor, who had been speaking +to me to urge caution. "He saith that the seven +sleek kine are the Kemish people, and the two +lean and ill-favoured are we two from the Earth—for +are not thy people larger and plumper than +we!—and the seven denoteth their much greater +number. But the dream meaneth that we two, +poor and hungry, might eat up all your people +and become their masters."</p> + +<p>There was still more delighted jabbering and +excited comment. Then Zaphnath arose, and turning +graciously to the doctor said to him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Thy marvellous interpretation, O chief grey-beard, +is most correct and wise, and it hath +wholly eaten ours up! We quite agree with thy +superior wisdom, for thou only hast read the +dream aright!"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>Getting into the Corner</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> doctor's new official position carried with +it the use of a spacious, rambling dwelling, +situated just inside the gate where we had met +Miss Blank. It was thus conveniently located for +the doctor's duties at the observatories on the +plateau. Another house would have been assigned +to me, but I preferred to live with the doctor, and +I desired to keep my eye on those enormous stone +structures which our telescope had quickly relegated +to scientific uselessness.</p> + +<p>We had established ourselves comfortably in +this house, surrounded ourselves with a modest +retinue of servants, and were rapidly becoming +acquainted with Kemish life and manners. The +doctor learned the language laboriously from the +deposed wise man, who had no means of communicating +with him except in the tongue he was +teaching. Thus it happened that the doctor could +teach me in a few hours in the evening what it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +had taken him all day to learn. Naturally I +picked up the most common phrases used in receiving +and handling the grain, by hearing them +frequently; but I soon learned that I must pronounce +them with exactly the same intonation and +emphasis, or they were not understood. Knowing +but one language themselves, they had no facility +in recognising mispronounced words, or in guessing +at the meaning of incomplete phrases on which +I stumbled.</p> + +<p>The most difficult thing I encountered was their +method of telling the time. During the day it +was reckoned rationally enough by the passage of +the Sun, which was never obscured by clouds and +could always be seen. Every house had a small +hole in the roof, at a fixed distance from the floor, +and the daily track and varying shape of the +spot of sunshine thus admitted gave names to the +periods of the day. There seemed to be a settled +superstition that no house was fortunate unless +this spot of sunshine entered by the door in the +morning. For this reason the principal door in +nearly every house was built in the west, so that +the rising Sun would cast its spot first on the +porch outside and then gradually creep in through +the door, across the floor, and up the opposite +wall late in the afternoon. Of course there were +daylight periods in the early morning and late +afternoon when the Sun was too low to cast a +spot, and these were known by terms which are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +best translated "before the clock" and "after the +clock."</p> + +<p>No one dared to make a social call while the +Sun was still outside the door, but friends were +best welcome when the Sun was just entering it. +Moreover, whoever slept until the Sun had entered +the door was looked upon as an irredeemable sluggard. +The track of the spot from the door-sill to +the wall opposite was measured by linear distance +from the centre or noon-position of the spot. As +in different houses the apertures through which +the clock-light was admitted were always the +same distance from the floor, such expressions as +"two feet before noon," or "a foot and a quarter +after noon" (which I translate from the Kemish) +always had a definite and exact meaning. The +nearer the spot drew to noon the more exactly +circular it became and the more slowly it moved. +Therefore, very fine measurements were needed in +the middle of the day, and an inch near noon +represented nearly as much time as a foot in the +morning or evening.</p> + +<p>But the daylight methods were simplicity itself +compared with the night methods, which were +calculated on an entirely different system, based +on the combined movements of the two moons, +neither of which agreed or coincided with the +movement of the Sun in any close degree. I urged +upon the doctor, as one of his earliest duties, the +necessity of reforming their calendar and establishing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +a uniform method of denoting the time, to +extend throughout the day and night. But on +this point he failed to agree with me.</p> + +<p>"What are our seconds, minutes, hours, and +weeks after all?" he queried. "They are only +arbitrary and meaningless divisions of time, which +we have found necessary because we have a very +meagre heavenly clockwork; but here they have +a very elaborate one. Our day is a rational period +based on the Sun's revolution. Here they have +seen fit to give up the Sun-day to simplify matters +and stick to a Moon-day. Their two contrary +moons furnish a rational, if rather intricate, method +of telling the time at night. They are best understood +by imagining them to represent the two +hands of a clock. The smaller moon is what may +be called a 'week hand,' completing its revolution +in five and a half Sun-days; which they have for +convenience divided into six Moon-days of twenty-two +hours each. The larger moon makes two complete +revolutions in a day, just as the hour hand +of a clock does; and it really makes but little +difference that it travels around the dial in an +opposite direction to that of the 'week hand,' or +that they both gain two hours a day on the Sun. +These are mere details, that one gets used to in +the end."</p> + +<p>"Doctor, you argue like the old farmer I used +to know, who stuck to the clock handed down by +his grandfather, and maintained that no new-fangled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +arrangement kept as good time. It was +true that the striking apparatus had long ago +failed to agree with the hands; and the hands +themselves, owing to the accumulated inaccuracies +of years, no longer denoted the real time; nevertheless, +whenever it struck seven he could always +be sure that the hands were pointing to a quarter-past +twelve, and it was then just twenty-two +minutes to three. This was something he could +depend upon with a certainty which quite compensated +for the annoyance of incessant calculations +and mental corrections."</p> + +<p>"Pray leave joking aside and consider the +wonderful nightly clockwork here, which makes +automatic time-keepers unnecessary. This accommodating +inner moon, within the brief space of five +hours, goes through the phases of a thin crescent, +first quarter, and just as it approaches fulness it +submits to a total eclipse, followed by a waning +quarter, then the reverse crescent of an old moon, +and finally it sets where the Sun must soon rise. +It is a wonderful heavenly clock, which is never +obscured by clouds, and turns its face toward every +one alike."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but one must remember that this hurrying +moon gains two hours a day on the Sun, and +therefore goes through her performance that much +earlier each night. Besides, she is capable of rising +twice in the same night occasionally."</p> + +<p>"Those are mere details that one learns to allow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +for. Moreover, consider the convenience of being +able to tell the day of the week by the smaller +moon. If it is just risen, we know we are on the +eve of the first day of the week; if it is high or +eclipsed, it must be the second day; and if it is +sinking in the west, it is the third day——"</p> + +<p>"But for the last half of the week it is not seen +at all, and one is free to guess which day it is," +I interrupted. "Then no two days of the week +begin at the same hour. The first day begins +with sunrise, the second two hours before sunrise, +the third four hours before, and the fourth at midnight, +and so on—two hours earlier each day till +the week ends, when they throw in a whole night +for good measure and begin the next week at sunrise +again!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that arrangement is made necessary because +their Moon-day will not agree with their +Sun-day in any other manner. But it is rather +remarkable that the two moons agree with each +other so well, the larger one making twelve revolutions +while the smaller makes one, so that at the +end of every week they both rise together, but on +opposite sides of the horizon, which is the signal +for that night to be disregarded in the count. +The next week begins on the following morning, +the first rising of the larger moon being disregarded, +and her second rising being the one +reckoned from."</p> + +<p>We were discussing this during our noon-day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +meal, and, when we had finished, I walked with +the doctor out to the plateau, where I was supervising +some important work on the Gnomons; +for I had not been ten days in Kem until I +attempted to buy, with my gold coins, a large +amount of wheat from the Pharaoh. Through the +interference and objection of Zaphnath, however, +I failed utterly in getting any. But the gold had +its effect just the same, and later the Pharaoh +showed an evident willingness to part with anything +in his possession in order to get a liberal +number of the smaller coins. But I put a very +high value upon the gold, comparing closely with +the worth of diamonds upon Earth, and refused +to part with any, until one day the wisdom +of buying the Gnomons occurred to me. I considered +the project carefully, and finally made him +an offer of a hundred half-eagles for them. Many +of the small ones had been built to watch the +course of the birth-stars of his various ancestors, +and these were now in a sense monuments to his +dynasty. He reserved these and a small one, built +to observe his own star of nativity, and finally sold +me all the large important ones, upon the doctor's +representation that they were no longer needed +for astronomical purposes. He specified only that +they must not be torn down, but that I might use +them as I should see fit.</p> + +<p>As I have said before, the Gnomons contained +numerous large, long chambers, and it only became<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +necessary to put a permanent bottom in these to +convert them into enormous warehouses. All the +storage places inside the city were rapidly filling +with grain, which poured in at every gate on tens +of thousands of mules. The plenteous crop, already +ripening, would have to be housed somewhere, and +even if I did not succeed in buying a large store +of grain for myself, I knew how to make a storehouse +eat up a large portion of the value of the +grain it housed. I had seen wheat, stored year after +year, finally become the property of the elevator +owner, by virtue of his charges.</p> + +<p>I was not only putting a bottom to the storage +chambers, but converting the inclined slopes of the +largest Gnomons into a passable mule-trail, by +roughening and corrugating the surface to give +the patient animals a surer foot-hold, so they might +climb to the top to discharge their cargoes. This +was a simple form of elevator, and I laughed to +think what some of my former acquaintances +would think of it! One of the smaller Gnomons +had already been completed to receive my share +of the grain which I earned in the Pharaoh's service, +and to this I was adding such meagre purchases +as I could make from the small farmers. +These, however, were not numerous, for the land +was mostly in the hands of the Pharaoh and of +a few large owners, more or less bound to him. I +was therefore not a little surprised now upon +approaching to see a long line of mules picking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +their way up the inclined side of the finished +Gnomon, and as they reached the top their drivers +emptied the pair of sacks they bore into my storehouse. +Including the drove of unladen animals +at the bottom of the Gnomon, there must have +been a hundred in all, and I was awaited by the +chief driver, who rode one sleek mule covered with +a soft blanket of feather texture, and had another +similarly saddled by his side. After a slow salute +of each hand upon his cheek, he said to me,—</p> + +<p>"My master, the glorious Hotep, sendeth to the +keeper of the Pharaoh's grain a present of two +hundred bags of wheat, and wisheth to know if +it be true that thou desirest to buy a large store +of grain with gold? For hath not Hotep the +gathered harvests of two full years in his bins, +and upon his fertile lands the largest crop in all +Kem (save only that of the Pharaoh) is nodding +and awaiting the warm, ripening breath of the +Snowless Month! Yet Hotep hath no use for +iron money, for he is weighted and fettered with +it already; but if thou desirest to bargain with +him for as much yellow gold as thou hast bartered +to the Pharaoh, he will be most pleased to treat +with thee, and sendeth me with this ambling mule +to fetch thee. Will it please thee to come with +me now to his palace within the city?"</p> + +<p>"What do you think, Doctor? This Hotep must +be almost a rival to the Pharaoh, if he has stored so +much grain and owns so many ripening fields. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +must have seen the new gold ornaments upon the +Pharaoh's women, which have rendered him envious. +If, indeed, he has such a vast quantity of grain +to sell, I will deck him out with gold, such as will +turn the Pharaoh green with envy! I shall lose +no time in seeing him;" and so saying I mounted +the mule, and assured the chief driver I would +express my thanks in person to the great Hotep.</p> + +<p>He conducted me to the opposite side of the +city, and, as we crossed a height near its centre, +he pointed out to me the long fields of his master +lining the left bank of the river. There were +miles of waving grain just beginning to turn +from a luxuriant green to the lighter yellow +tints of harvest. Presently we approached a large +palace, which I had often before seen from afar +against the distant wall of the city, but had +never known. Upon entering, I observed every +sign of the same idle luxury which marked the +Pharaoh's dwelling, but none of that regal disdain +or imperial haughtiness which separated +every one but his favourite women from the +immediate presence of the monarch.</p> + +<p>I was graciously received in a large, lighted +chamber, where Hotep reclined lazily upon a +billowy heap of downy cushions, surrounded by +many women. He only arose from his elbow to +a sitting posture when I saluted him. Without +saying a word to him, I approached, and, loosening +my belt from about my waist, I unbuckled its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +mouth and poured out upon a large cushion by his +side my three hundred shining golden eagles. The +effect was electrical, for they were twice the size +and three times as many as the coins I had given +the Pharaoh. It must have seemed impossible to +him that I could possess larger coins, and more of +them, than he had seen upon the monarch's +favourites. He was simply delighted with the +mere view, and his women crowded around or ran +out in haste to bring in their absent sisters to +behold a marvel of riches such as Kem had never +seen. But though they wondered and gloated +over the sight, none of them touched a coin until +I spoke.</p> + +<p>"I pray thee, most gracious Hotep, examine all +these coins, and pass them among thy women to +see if they be pleased with them. Observe their +regularity of form and beauty of design, and test +the music they give forth when cast upon thy +floor of stone. Mayhap, thou wouldst rather own +all these than to be cumbered with so much +grain."</p> + +<p>Thereupon Hotep seized a heaping handful, +which he poured jingling from one palm to the +other, and all the women delved their pretty +fingers into the shining heap and passed the coins +to their admiring sisters, until not one was left +upon the cushion.</p> + +<p>"Thy Chief of Harvests hath made known to +me, O Hotep, that thou still hast the full crops<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +of two years. Wilt thou tell me how many bags +of grain grow upon thy fields at a single crop?"</p> + +<p>"Are not the number of my mules a thousand +and one, and bear they not two bags each? To +gather a single harvest, each faithful animal must +make five trips each day for the period of an +hundred days."</p> + +<p>I had often estimated an average mule-load at +five bushels, upon which basis each crop would +aggregate two and a half million bushels. This +seemed impossible for a single farmer, but his fields +wearied the sight to follow down the left bank of +the Nasr-Nil.</p> + +<p>"If thou wilt leave all this gold with me, I +will deliver by my mules to thy storehouses upon +the plateau all the grain of my past two crops +with which my whole palace here is cumbered."</p> + +<p>"I fear thou holdest thy grain too dearly, and +that thou knowest not the value of this gold. +What is more plenteous in Kem than wheat? +There be more bags of it than the stars in heaven. +But this gold I bring is more than all the store +of it upon Ptah before I came. Pray give it back +again," I said, gathering up the few pieces which +had been returned to the cushion, and glancing +about among the women as if searching for the +rest. They returned them slowly, but Hotep still +held his handful. After a brief pause, I continued,—</p> + +<p>"Hast thou not a fair crop growing which thou<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +mightest also give me, so that no other than Hotep +shall receive any of these coins?"</p> + +<p>"In truth, I have never ridden as far as my +waving fields stretch down the Nasr-Nil; but one +cannot sell what hath not fully ripened, for who +knoweth what it may turn out to be?"</p> + +<p>"Then I must beg thee to return my coins," I +answered slowly; but, unbuckling the other end +of my belt, I poured out upon another cushion the +hundred magnificent double eagles which I was +holding in reserve. Then, taking a particularly +bright one of these, I continued,—</p> + +<p>"But as thou hast been generous and thoughtful +enough to send me a present, O Hotep, I desire +to return one to thee, such as no man in Kem ever +possessed before. Will it please thee to accept +this disc of gold as large as the lesser moon that +creeps across the sky? And with it go my wishes +that Hotep's crops may always be great and +plentiful."</p> + +<p>Slowly and unwillingly the women returned the +eagles to the cushion, while they stared in wonder +at the heap of larger coins. Hotep filtered the +handful through his fingers to the cushion, and +accepted the double eagle with gladness. With +his eyes fixed on the second heap he seemed to be +thinking deeply and making calculations.</p> + +<p>"The people are wont to call thee Iron Man, +but I believe thou art golden!" he ruminated, and +then suddenly, "For these heaps of riches, large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +and small, what desirest thou of all my possessions? +Wilt thou have all my grain and half my land? +Shall I give to thee all my fields which cannot +be seen from the palace here?"</p> + +<p>"Why should I wish thy land when I have no +cattle to till it, nor mules to gather the harvest? +In lieu of the land, give me only a share of what +it should produce for a few years. Now give heed +to the bargain I will make with thee. If thou +wilt deliver to my storehouses, upon the plateau, +all the gathered grain of thy past two crops, and +all the grain thou shalt gather from this growing +crop (save only what thou needest for seed), and +half of each of the crops of the three succeeding +years,—provided, however, that you assure me each +year as much as thy thousand mules can carry in +an hundred journeys;—then thou mayest keep all +this store of gold, which is, indeed, all that both +of us from the Blue Star possess."</p> + +<p>He seemed to be revolving these terms slowly +in his mind to be sure of them, and then called +out to his servants,—</p> + +<p>"Bring in spiced wine, and bid my Chief +of Harvests enter! He shall be witness that +Hotep agrees to this compact, and, should I die +before it is fulfilled, he shall see that it is carried +out to the last year. But wilt thou leave all this +gold with me now, or must I wait until the +harvests are delivered?"</p> + +<p>"What Hotep promiseth me I believe, as certainly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +as if it were done already. I will leave +the gold with thee, knowing thou wilt perform +the contract in every item; but if thou failest in +any year, thou shalt return to me one small gold-piece +for each trip that thy thousand mules fall +short of an hundred."</p> + +<p>He agreed, and arose and recited the terms of +the compact to his Chief of Harvests, charging +him to carry it out, and to cause to be engraved +a small stone cylinder as a permanent record of +its provisions, as it was their custom to do in +such cases. Then filling three goblets with rich +spiced wine, he exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"For thy sake, O most generous youth, may +the Nasr-Nil fondly nurse every harvest, and may +the gentle Snowless Month ripen them in such +abundance as they have never shown before! And +may Hotep's mules grow old and weary bearing +the plenty to thy storehouses!"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>Humanity on Ptah</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> magnificent abundance of the seventh +great harvest, which ripened late in the +year of our arrival, attracted a multitude of both +men and animals from all the out-lying countries +into Kem to assist in gathering it, and many of +them remained to spend their gains in the luxuries +of the great city. It was an unparalleled period of +prosperity and plenty; and though the rich wasted +everything with a careless hand, the poor were +better provided for than they had ever been.</p> + +<p>Like an endless caravan Hotep's mules trailed +across the city day by day, and emptied their +cargoes into the bottomless pits of the Gnomons. +And Hotep's thousand cattle tramped his threshing-floors +during the long winter, and until the later +nightly snows signalled the coming of a tardy +spring; and yet the patient mules streamed +through the city, and wore deeper paths into the +sides of the Gnomons, until one by one the great +chambers were filled and sealed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span></p> + +<p>Late in the spring the toiling cattle left the +threshing-floors, and traversed the fields in long +procession, two and two, lashed together by a bar +across the horns instead of a yoke, and dragging +heavy stone ploughs slowly after them to prepare +the soil for a new planting. But while the whole +left bank of the Nasr-Nil swarmed with Hotep's +patient teams and their busy drivers, the right +bank was deserted, idle, and lifeless. Every one +wondered why the Pharaoh's planting was being +delayed; no one knew why the Pharaoh's men and +cattle were idle; and the old men shook their heads +and muttered that the river would overflow its +banks long before the Pharaoh's seed was in. +After a while Zaphnath sent for me, and when I +came before him he said,—</p> + +<p>"The Pharaoh is sick with the plenty of the +land, weary of the sight of grain-laden mules and +ploughing cattle, and so cumbered about with +mountains of wheat that he desireth not to plant +his fields. Thou art not one to see his lands lie +idle. If thou hast aught with which to tempt him, +I can persuade him to let unto thee all his land and +to hire unto thee all his men and mules and cattle. +For hath he not acquired all his riches in seven +years' harvests? and in another seven thou mayest +be as rich as he."</p> + +<p>"Mayhap, O Zaphnath, the coming seven years +may not be as plenteous as the last seven have +been; but, in any case, I have no more gold with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +which to tempt the Pharaoh, having parted with +all of it in a bad bargain with Hotep, whom thou +knowest, for half of his coming crops."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he bade me remain, and sent for +Hotep, and said to him,—</p> + +<p>"Behold, have not the harvests of seven years +made Pharaoh the richest man upon Ptah, so that +he covets no more grain, but only things of rare +beauty? And are not thy harvests reduced by +half through thy compact with him from the Blue +Star? Now, if thou likest to tempt the Pharaoh +with an hundred of thy golden coins, and one-and-twenty +of the moon-sized discs of gold such as thou +wearest there, thou mayest hire his land for the +next seven years, and all his men and animals for +a like time, if thou wilt feed and nourish them; +and then shall not both banks of the great river +bring forth riches, and be burdened with the plenteous +harvests of Hotep?"</p> + +<p>"Is the Pharaoh indeed weary of rich harvests, +or doth he rather itch for my gold? Yet, had I +the seed to plant all his fields, I might consider the +undertaking thou shewest me."</p> + +<p>"Let not that delay thee," answered Zaphnath, +"for I am sure he will gladly lend to such a man +as Hotep the seed thou needest until thy next harvest +be gathered."</p> + +<p>So the matter was thus finally concluded, and I +was a witness to the compact.</p> + +<p>Then Hotep's Chief of Harvests worked early and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +late to finish planting before the Month of Midnight +Snows, when the Nasr-Nil usually overflows +its banks and waters the harvest. But, as if to +oblige a man so industrious in preparing the way +for it, the great river did not rise at its customary +time, and Hotep was able to finish his seeding on +both banks.</p> + +<p>The black loam along the shores parched and +crumbled, and borrowed the look of the great +desert; the feathers of darkness fell later and +later, until they began to appear with the dawn, +and yet the river failed to rise; the priests went +through their perfunctory rites to placate the god +of the Overflow, and made their impotent sacrifices +to tempt him to bless the harvest; but Hotep saw +the Snowless Month, which should have ripened +his grain, dawn upon fields that were dried to seas +of drifting dust and void of all vegetation. His +army of men, augmented by the Pharaoh's thousands, +and his ten thousand cattle and mules, all +ate and waited and waited and ate, and yet there +was no work for them. The following spring there +was no need to plough the fields, and no seed to +plant them.</p> + +<p>When Zaphnath learned that Hotep must deliver +a hundred thousand mule-cargoes of wheat to me, +or forfeit a hundred gold pieces, he sent for him, +and sold to him for the hundred pieces enough of +the Pharaoh's grain already on the plateau to pay +me, and lent him the seed to plant all the land<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +again. But aside from this, the Pharaoh sold not +a bag of wheat, and during the first year all the +small stores of grain throughout Kem were consumed, +and the price rose to three times its former +value. Therefore, Hotep consoled himself with the +thought that he could make more out of one crop +after a failure than he could have made out of two +crops without it, and he happily sowed his fields +anew.</p> + +<p>Before the river was due to rise the second time, +the poor began to suffer from the famine. There +was no employment for the thousands who had +been attracted to Kem to gather the previous large +harvests. Only those fortunate enough to be +slaves enjoyed an assured living, and this entire +class was now dependent upon Hotep, for Pharaoh +supported only his women and his personal servants. +Many people desired to deliver themselves +into slavery, but Pharaoh would not accept any, +and Hotep already had more than he could feed. +During the Month of Midnight Snows the entire +population of the city watched the river with +apprehension, noting its slightest fluctuation. But +day after day the people saw no change, and idleness +fostered grumbling and discontent among +them. Zaphnath and the Pharaoh were privately +criticised because they did not attend or contribute +to the sacrifices made to the god of Overflow; +because they hoarded so much grain, and did +nothing to alleviate the distress of the people.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +And there were many who attributed the unusual +action of the river to the presence upon Ptah of +two strangers from the Blue Star.</p> + +<p>When two fruitless months had passed without +any rising of the waters, Hotep lost courage, and +was obliged to proclaim that all his men and beasts +must exist upon half-rations. It was then that +public suffering became general. About this time +I consulted with the doctor whether to press Hotep +for the second delivery of a hundred thousand +cargoes of wheat.</p> + +<p>"Certainly; demand it from him," he answered, +greatly to my surprise, "especially so long as it +amounts to squeezing the wheat out of the +Pharaoh. It is certain he will furnish the wheat +in exchange for Hotep's gold, and a few coins are +really nothing to him or to you either. As long as +the Pharaoh covets them, make him pay well for +them."</p> + +<p>"But I expected you would advise leniency, as +you have never sympathized with my wheat +speculation in the least," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I do not share your idle dream of riches, but +nevertheless I want to get as much wheat into our +hands as possible, especially if it comes from the +Pharaoh. You do not seem to appreciate the real +reason, but blindly chase after the bauble of fortune. +It was the same when I first saw you in +Chicago, and now you are just as impulsive and +thoughtless. I have no doubt but you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +already computed a hundred times how rich you +are in Earthly terms and figures."</p> + +<p>"The time for a big value has not quite come +yet, but I confess I have estimated that it will run +into many millions of dollars."</p> + +<p>"Rubbish! What is the use of such childish +nonsense? Even if we had our projectile to return +with, you could never take any of your riches back +to Earth with you!"</p> + +<p>"And why not?" I demanded in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What is your fortune? It now exists in grain +at an inflated famine value. You couldn't transport +the grain back to Earth, and if you could, it +would shrink in value and fail to pay the freight. +What can you exchange it for here? For lands, +for women, for slaves, none of which have any +commercial value on Earth."</p> + +<p>"But I can sell it for money!" I put in.</p> + +<p>"Yes, for iron money worth a few dollars a ton +on Earth! Why, not even your entire fortune will +buy enough iron to build a new projectile to enable +us to return. You parted with the only valuable +and portable form of property when you exchanged +your gold. Now that is rapidly going into the +Pharaoh's hands, to remain there, and you can +never return to Earth as rich as you left it, though +you be worth all the money and property in the +land of Kem!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it does look a little as if I had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +scheming for riches here, without knowing just +why I want them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have formed that habit on Earth. +Only they carry it further there—swindle their +brothers, deceive their parents, oppress the weak, +extort from the poor; work, toil, plot, cheat, rob, +yes, even <i>kill!</i> in order to lay up a store of something +they can never take away with them, and +which renders them unhappy oftener than happy +while they remain to guard it."</p> + +<p>"I have heard that sort of talk often before, +Doctor, but I never saw the truth of it quite so +plainly as now. I have outwitted and squeezed +Hotep, the man on whom the whole city now +depends for existence."</p> + +<p>"They think they depend upon him, but you +know as well as I do that he will be powerless; +that he must see them starve by thousands, and +part with the last bit of his cherished riches to save +his own life. No, Isidor, your business sagacity +has not been in vain, for this entire people depend +not on Hotep, but on <i>you</i>! You alone have the +food to preserve many of them alive through a +famine and a pestilence whose horrors are just +beginning. Pharaoh and Zaphnath will squeeze +and pinch them, and see them die, and turn it all +to their own profit; but let us constitute ourselves +a relief committee, you and I. Let us set these +Kemish rulers an example of humanity, as we +know it on Earth."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>Revolutionist and Eavesdropper</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">In</span> Kem, where agriculture was almost the only +occupation, and where the ox was helpful +both in planting and threshing the grain, it was +quite natural that he should be revered, or at least +respected as a partner in the toil, and that a strong +prejudice should prevail against his being slaughtered +for food. In fact, it was not the practice of +the Kemish to eat any large animals, but they +confined themselves to fish and small fowl for +meats. Nevertheless, I urged upon Hotep the +necessity of killing some of his cattle to provide +food for his miserable and poorly-fed labourers. +But he stubbornly refused to do so, saying his +men would rather eat the flesh of mules than +of cattle.</p> + +<p>Without being pressed for it, he paid me the +second hundred thousand cargoes of wheat, which +he bought from the Pharaoh with gold, as he had +done before. But I divided this entire quantity of +grain among Hotep's labourers, which eked out +their half-rations for almost a year. I stipulated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +that none of this grain should be used for seed, for +I firmly believed it would be wasted. But Pharaoh +again lent the seed for planting a third crop, +insisting that the discouraged Hotep should put +it in the ground, and reminding him that the only +way he could get grain to pay his heavy debts was +to raise a crop.</p> + +<p>Thenocris had not been long in learning the +location of our house near her favourite gate, and +it was her habit to call on us every day at the +time of the noon-day meal. She always carried +and caressed her white rabbit, and they came to us +like two dumb animals to be fed. Her tall, stately +figure, traversing the city on her daily journey to +our house, soon became a familiar sight; and when +the people began to be oppressed by hunger, they +gradually overcame their early fear of us, and +followed her to our door for food. We had never +turned any away, for beggary was rare enough in +Kem, and no sane person ever resorted to it except +in the sorest extremes of need.</p> + +<p>Zaphnath doubtless looked with an evil eye +upon the crowds that daily thronged our door to +secure food. The Pharaoh rarely left his palace, +and bothered little about affairs outside, and +Zaphnath must have been at the bottom of an +edict which was shortly issued. Nothing that I +remember in Kem better illustrated the absolute +power of the Pharaoh and the unrestrained enforcement +of his merest whim. The edict referred to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +the scarcity of bread and the multitude of +foreigners who were flocking to the city to secure +it, and provided (ostensibly for the good of the +Kemish people) that no man in the city of Kem +should give bread or any sort of food to any but +the members of his own household. Moreover, no +man should sell grain or bread at a less price than +that established by the Pharaoh for the sale of +his own.</p> + +<p>The doctor and I realized that this was aimed at +no one but us. They were jealous of our charity, +and wished to turn everybody's need to their own +profit. We scoffed at the tyranny of such an edict, +but it was the arbitrary sort of law to which the +Kemish were accustomed. Yet if we gave up our +undertaking, and the unfortunate multitude went +unfed for a few days, bread riots were certain to +break out, and they might result in the death or +overthrow of the short-sighted Pharaoh, and the +seizure of his grain. Even this would not settle +the question, for the victors might enforce a worse +monopoly of it, if that were possible.</p> + +<p>"We must continue to feed them all outside the +city,—at the Gnomons, for instance," I suggested.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we must feed them there in a large +chamber, and eat with them, so that they may be +considered members of our household," added the +doctor.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that the paths which Hotep's +mules had worn so deeply were now thronged by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +a great multitude of the city's poor in their daily +pilgrimage to the Gnomons. In an enormous +chamber which we fitted up for that purpose, we +served to each comer one generous meal, and there +were so many who came that this meal was going +on almost all day long. The Pharaoh fed no one +but his favourites and his soldiers, and of these last +he discharged a large number, reducing his army to +a hungry, ill-fed thousand men. Those who were +discharged came to eat with us, and many of those +retained would gladly have done so, had we not +excluded every one in the Pharaoh's service.</p> + +<p>Meantime the Nasr-Nil ran lower in her banks +than ever before, and gave no signs of rising; the +nightly snows were brief and evanescent, and the +rains, which had never been copious on Ptah, now +ceased entirely. Every green thing gradually +vanished from Kem, and Hotep's third crop rotted +or lay sodden in the ground as the others had done. +He knew that I had been offered the opportunity +to plant the Pharaoh's fields, and that I had not +only refused, but had hoarded grain. This may +have led him to conclude that I knew some reason +for the famine, and I was not surprised when he +sought me one day at the Gnomons. He begged a +strictly private interview with me, and I conducted +him to a small room I had constructed by running +two thin walls of porous stone from one Gnomon to +another, and covering the enclosure with a flat +roof.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dost thou know that thou hast linked together +with thy slender walls the monuments of two +antagonistic dynasties?" he began. "This structure +to the left was built by the fifth ancestor of +the present Pharaoh, in truth the first ruler of his +dynasty. The structure to the right, however, +is vastly older, and was built by the tenth Pharaoh +of the dynasty, from which I am directly descended. +My ancestors were vanquished by dint of wars, and +their powers usurped by the ancestors of this same +selfish Pharaoh, who hath not so good a right to +rule as I."</p> + +<p>I think I was born without a vestige of revolutionary +spirit, for I have always felt a respect for +the institutions that are, and an allegiance to the +powers that rule. I remember the distinct shock +which this utterance of Hotep's gave me. I said +nothing, but he answered the surprised look on my +face.</p> + +<p>"Thou knowest well that the entire labouring +population of Kem is fed by me in my fields on +one side of the city; while all the poor and unfortunate +are fed by you here on the other side. +What man of Kem thinks of the grand palace of +the Pharaoh in the midst of the city, but to curse +it? What subject who knows how the Pharaoh +and his favourites gorge themselves in luxurious +plenty, while he nurses his hunger, but would a +thousand times rather pay allegiance to those who +save him from absolute starvation? And Zaphnath,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +in his nightly wanderings and his daily errands of +espionage, thinkest thou he overhears a public +grumbler who fails to curse him and his Pharaoh, +and to extol the men from the Blue Star, and the +unfortunate farmer, who, until now, has been able +to give the people work and sustenance?"</p> + +<p>"Doth Zaphnath spend his time in watching +and spying, then?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Aye, that he doth! I crossed his path even +now, coming through the city, and he set at following +me, but by quick turns I eluded him. He it is +who by his loans and compacts hath snared and +tricked me until now I am utterly ruined, unless +I can claim my rightful turn at ruling. Alone I +cannot do it; with thy help I can."</p> + +<p>"How, then, could I be of assistance to you?" I +exclaimed in some astonishment, without stopping +to think of the justice of his claims.</p> + +<p>"From what I have heard of the thunder thou +commandest, and the lightning thou art able to +carry, it doth appear that thou couldst overcome +the Pharaoh and his thousand half-starved men, +who secretly itch to change masters. Thou hast +the means to do it; I have the right to do it; and +the people would unanimously applaud the doing +of it. Let us strike together, then; let us seize the +Pharaoh's grain and apportion it among our supporters +and the needy, and when I am established +as Pharaoh, thou shalt be my ruler in the place of +Zaphnath."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thou temptest me but little, O Hotep. Once +before I was offered a rulership in Kem which I +refused. Besides, am I not bound by an agreement +to loyalty and obedience to this Pharaoh?"</p> + +<p>"Aye! Even as I am bound to come to a sure +ruin; and as every man in Kem is bound to sit +meekly by and starve. But is a ruler no way +bound? May he claim the life of his subjects for +his profit? How long will they suffer such treatment? +And if we are restrained by loyalty, how +long will it be till some one else strikes the blow +we stick at——?"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a vigorous knocking at +the door, as of one who commands rather than +entreats an opening. Who could it be? I turned +to see, but Hotep caught me by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Before thou openest, tell me if thou wilt join +me in this undertaking for the sake of a suffering +people?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, Hotep; it is wrong, and I will not do it. +I am bound to this Pharaoh, bad as he is, and to +thy dynasty I owe nothing." The rapping began +again and more loudly now, but Hotep still restrained +me.</p> + +<p>"For half of all my fields wilt thou furnish me +the grain to pay the Pharaoh, and thus avert my +ruin?"</p> + +<p>"And if I would, how wouldst thou feed the men +and mules and cattle through another year of +famine, and another, and another?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thou thinkest the crops will fail yet three +more years!" he exclaimed, half stupefied by +the thought.</p> + +<p>"Aye, four! I know it for most certain," I +answered, and the insistent knocking was vigorously +renewed.</p> + +<p>"Then I am too deep in the mire for thee or +any one to pull me out. Open to this importunate +knocker."</p> + +<p>I threw open the door, and there stood the keen-eyed, +angry-visaged Zaphnath! How long had he +been listening outside there? How much had he +stealthily overheard before he began knocking? +All the Kemish had need to speak doubly loud to +us from Earth, for our ears were not made for thin +air and its weak sounds. Moreover, Hotep had +spoken throughout with a fervent declamation. +But what I said in my ordinary tones was always +easily understood by Hotep's keen ears. Therefore +it seemed quite certain that Zaphnath had heard +through the thin wall all that Hotep had said, and +probably none of what I said. So much the worse. +He had doubtless supplied my speeches to suit himself, +and made them fit into Hotep's plotting. At +any rate there was hot anger in his face when he +spoke to me,—</p> + +<p>"Thou servest the Pharaoh well, by contriving +how to cross his wishes at every point! It were +well thy office were withdrawn; I have brothers +about me now who could better fill it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Whenever it pleaseth the Pharaoh or his all-potent +ruler to abrogate his compact with me, I am +quite ready to begin where we left off when it was +made," I retorted. I did not think till afterwards +that this might serve wrongly to indicate to him +the tenor of my answers to Hotep's scheming. His +eyes flashed angrily at this, yet he made no reply, +but spoke to Hotep instead.</p> + +<p>"Before the end of the clock this day, the +Pharaoh requireth of thee full settlement of all +thou owest him. Attempt nothing but a just and +full repayment, O most precious Hotep, for thy +every act is watched and known to us!"</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>The Doctor Disappears</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Hotep</span> saw that he was ruined, and he went +to fall down before Pharaoh and beg for +mercy. The monarch, not having the courage of +his own hard-heartedness, answered him,—</p> + +<p>"I desire not to deal harshly with thee, O Hotep; +for thou hast struggled desperately against an +unwilling soil and unpropitious seasons. But thou +knowest all my affairs are in the hands of Zaphnath, +without whom I do nothing. Therefore go +thou before him and do even as he telleth thee."</p> + +<p>And Hotep, having made an invoice of all his +money, and slaves, and mules, and cattle, took it +before Zaphnath, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Behold, O most merciful ruler of Kem, I have +threescore-and-ten of the great golden discs, and +seven hundredweight of the coins of Kem wherewith +to repay the Pharaoh for the seed which the +seasons have stolen from me. But I have neither +food for all the men, and mules, and cattle which +are the Pharaoh's, nor yet for mine own; wherefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +I beg of thee to take back his slaves and animals, +and release me from feeding them; and I will forfeit +unto the Pharaoh all my working slaves, which +are thirty score, and all my mules, which are a +thousand and one, and all my cattle, which are an +hundred score, and they shall be his for ever."</p> + +<p>"Methinks thou borrowest with a large hand and +repayest like a very miser," answered Zaphnath. +"All the money thou namest will not buy a thousand +cargoes of grain, for behold, is not wheat worth +iron money, weight for weight? And to reimburse +the Pharaoh for feeding all his men and animals +through the famine, which may continue, it is a +rare kindness in thee to desire to give him also +all of thine to be fed and nourished! What wilt +thou do with all thy land when thou hast no men +or beasts to till it? And how wilt thou maintain +thy proud palace, with three hundred women, when +thou hast no revenues left?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis true, O Zaphnath; and if the Pharaoh +covet them, take them all—the palace, the women, +the rich clothing and rare jewels, and even the +endless fields which have cursed me! For the days +of Hotep's riches are ended. Let him be acquit, +and go from thee in peace!"</p> + +<p>"Even with them all, thou knowest he is but +poorly paid; yet it is I who have prevailed upon +him not to be harsh with thee. But if the famine +continue, what thinkest thou of doing to gain +a living?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By my beard! Doth the Pharaoh wish to make +a slave of me also?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, Hotep; not a common slave. But hast +thou a mind to starve? I have besought him to +give thee an honourable and luxuriant service, +befitting thy tastes and habits. He will make +thee chamberlain of his palace."</p> + +<p>"Is there no other thing thou canst think of +or invent, O most merciful Zaphnath? Lands, +slaves, animals, money, women, jewels, palace, and +even my life and body for the gracious Pharaoh's +service! Is that all? If so, I beg thee declare +the bargain made and all my undertakings fully +acquit."</p> + +<p>Hotep came to me the following day, with his +beard shaven and the Pharaoh's bird-wing on his +brow. He wore the dress of the Pharaoh's chamberlain, +and he told me how it had all happened. +He also told me that the Pharaoh had now thrown +wide open the doors of slavery, and offered to feed +all who surrendered themselves to his service for +life. And Zaphnath never ceased to itch for all +the lands, and cattle, and slaves of every one in +Kem and her tributary countries, either in exchange +for the bare needs of life, or as pledges +for seed which he knew would only rot and ruin +the borrower.</p> + +<p>I went about my affairs on the plateau that day, +wondering how long I should continue there, or +whether my threat had been effective in silencing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +the enmity of the rulers. When I returned that +evening, I did not find the doctor at the house. +My servant said that a messenger from the chamberlain +had summoned him on important business, +soon after the noon-day meal. I waited a little +longer, and then I began to fear that the chamberlain +had been used to decoy the doctor into some +trap. If he was staying away of his own account, +why did he not send me some word? Messengers +were plenty. At last I sent the servant to the +palace to inquire and search for him. After a long +stay he returned, saying the doctor was nowhere +to be found. No one had seen or heard of him +there that day.</p> + +<p>"And the chamberlain?" I demanded.</p> + +<p>"He was not to be found in his rooms, and no +one had seen him since noon-day."</p> + +<p>"Didst thou make inquiry for the messenger +who summoned the doctor?" I asked.</p> + +<p>He had not thought of it; so I started to the +palace myself. I had gone but a few steps when +it occurred to me to act with a little more caution, +and be prepared for some plot against myself. I +turned back to the house, and had the servant +remove the heap of pillows where I slept. Underneath +was a loosened stone of the floor, and below +it we kept the rifles, revolvers, and ammunition +hidden. I carefully loaded all of them, and put all +the remaining cartridges into our two old belts. +I thought of strapping one of these about me, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +reflected that this would have a hostile and treasonable +appearance, so I contented myself with concealing +one revolver in my coat, and then I carefully +covered up all the rest, and had the servant pile the +pillows over the stone slab again.</p> + +<p>Then I went out and walked to the palace. +Leaping the wall, I questioned every one I saw +about the doctor, the chamberlain, and his messenger. +No one had seen anything of them. The +messenger was absent from his lodging, as well as +the chamberlain. Either they were all gone somewhere +secretly together, or they had all suffered +a common mysterious fate. Unable to do anything +more, I returned home full of apprehension.</p> + +<p>I slept fitfully a few hours, and then I had a +most realistic dream, which began among my old +surroundings on Earth: the wheat pit, the closing +of a turbulent session, the drive through the parks +till I came suddenly in sight of the great spherical +cactus design of the World in Washington Park. +As I approached this, it seemed to leave its pedestal +and move freely through space toward me. I +seized one of its meridians, and, clinging tightly, +was carried off over the park, over the lake, over +seas of ice, through an ocean of sparkling light, +faster and farther every moment, until presently my +little globe refused to hold me longer, and repelled +me through a long, giddy, awful fall which filled +me with terror. But I landed in the dark chamber +of a Gnomon, waist-deep in loose wheat. It seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +gradually to grow deeper about me, rose to my +shoulders, to my chin; and as I looked up I saw +Slater pouring in wheat in a steady stream. He +meant to smother and choke me with it. Ah, if +I only had a thousand, aye, ten thousand mouths to +eat it, he could never do it. I could keep even with +him. But it gradually rose past my mouth, past +my nose; it covered my head and was smothering +me. What an awful thing was too much food, after +all! And then I wakened to find my head covered +with pillows until I was half-choked for breath.</p> + +<p>It was all so vivid I could not rid my mind of +it. It seemed really to have happened but a moment +ago. My mind was palpitating afresh with +those Earthly scenes which had for years been +fading out of it. What could it all mean? Then +I thought of the doctor. Perhaps they were smothering +him in one of the Gnomons. It seemed hardly +probable, but the idea took a strange hold on me. +The chambers were all full and sealed, but one; it +had been opened, and wheat was daily being used +out of it; none was at hand to be poured in. It +was foolish to do so, but I could not rest until I had +gone to the Gnomons to see. Of course I would find +nothing there, but I should not be content till I +had tried. At least, the night air and the gently +falling feathers of darkness would restore my calmness +again.</p> + +<p>I had the precaution to take my revolver again, +and after a very short walk I stood face to face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +with the great stone gate, barred and locked to +confine all others within the city. The fact that it +was fastened on the inside proved that the doctor's +captors were not outside, or, at least, did not expect +to return till after daylight. With a brisk jump +I cleared the wall easily, and walked rapidly to the +plateau. There was no sign of life there. I +mounted the only unsealed Gnomon and shouted +down into its cavernous depths. Of course there +was no answer. I was now so wide awake it seemed +to me quite silly to follow the promptings of a +dream, so I began to return in a leisurely walk.</p> + +<p>The night scene all about me, how different it +was from those to which I had been accustomed on +Earth! Out of a pink sky flakes of frozen dew +were gently falling, starching the arid, verdureless +soil with a glistening coat of evanescent white. +Along the river bank, tall, slender, lightly-rooted +trees reached far up into the breathless air, but +there was never the movement of a bough or the +rustle of a leaf, except from the flutter of birds. +Jungles of spindling reeds also towered from waste +marshes, in testimony to the easy struggle which +vegetable sap had been able to accomplish over a +weak gravity. Everything was eloquent with the +reminder that I was on a different world; but yet, +when I looked up at the starry heavens, they were +the same. All the familiar constellations, changing +their positions through the night with the same +stately dignity, were there. The Pleiades, Orion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +the Great Bear, with his nose constantly pointed at +the Pole Star, made me feel that, at least in the +heavens, I was at home! Only the colour of the +night, the two little moons, and the planets looked +different. Great Jupiter, king of the Martian night, +whose brilliancy, if not his size, outrivalled the +pale moons; Saturn, with his tilted ring, was +visible to the naked eye; and yon pearly blue star, +just rising to announce the morning, was Earth. +Earth, which I had so unwillingly left, would I ever +see her again as anything but a Sun-attending +star? Would I ever walk her familiar paths, and +know my brother creatures there again?</p> + +<p>With this thought came over me an unspeakable +sense of loneliness, a depressing home-sickness, an +aching yearning for that life, tempestuous as it had +been. And how I despised the monotony and +lowness of the Martian life; how I loathed the +spreading misery of the famine, and the vile and +dreadful pestilences which it was begetting! How +could I ever endure the four more slow years of it +which I confidently expected to ensue? What +would I not give to leave it all and return!</p> + +<p>I had retraced my steps, leapt the wall again, +and as I approached our house was surprised to +see, in the dim light of the coming morning, a +figure standing guard at the doorway. He was a +soldier, and on closer approach I saw that he wore +a beard, which showed him to be a captain. But +what surprised me far more was that he held awkwardly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +in his arms one of our loaded rifles. Here +was certain treachery. Since he stood guard, he +doubtless had soldiers within; and if they had +found one firearm they must have found the others +also. But how had they succeeded in finding +them? A mere search never would have revealed +their secret place. Some one who knew of their +location must have disclosed it. Could it have been +the doctor? Had they brought him back, and +forced him to produce the arms?</p> + +<p>In that case, now was my chance to liberate him. +Fortunately they did not know how to use the +arms they had captured, and I had one revolver +with five good loads in it. With five telling shots +I ought to be able to create panic enough to enable +the doctor to get possession of another gun and +help me rout them.</p> + +<p>All this flashed through my mind in a twinkling, +and just as I drew out my revolver the captain +caught sight of me. He quickly shifted the rifle +in his hands and tugged at the hammer. He knew +nothing of the necessity of taking aim, or of the +use of the trigger. It would only be by the merest +chance if he hit me. I had half drawn the trigger, +and was just correcting my aim, when a long flash +of flame from the rifle startled me, and unconsciously +I fired wild. By lifting the hammer of +the rifle and letting it snap back, the captain had +exploded one cartridge at random. But my careful +aiming had now taught him a trick; I saw him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +attempting the same arm's-length aim with the +rifle. He did it awkwardly enough, and pulled up +the hammer with the other hand. It fell with a +snap on the discharged cartridge. He could be +relied on never to learn the trick of ejecting them +and reloading with the sixteen that lay ready up +the length of the barrel. Therefore, instead of +firing again, I rushed at him to capture the rifle. +But he was too quick for me, for thrusting it inside +the house with a quick command, the other was +handed out to him. I was now at such extremely +close range that his awkward aim covered me; but +I was quicker on the trigger than he was on the +hammer, and with a cry the first Martian to suffer +by gunpowder fell to the ground. I sprang for his +rifle just as some one from inside snatched it away +and pointed it at me again. Whoever had it, stood +half behind the door and out of range. But I aimed +at his fingers on the rifle barrel, and by a lucky +chance I hit them, for the rifle dropped and the +body staggered into full view. Another quick shot +sent this fellow to the ground, but as I reached for +his rifle, it was snatched away again.</p> + +<p>Now I saw the absolute necessity of possessing +myself of another firearm, for I had but one load +left in the revolver. I felt little fear of their awkward +aim, therefore I made bold to rush inside on +the chance of seizing the first gun I could lay my +hands on. At the same time I would be able to +see the position of the doctor. He must be gagged,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +for he had made no answer to my frequent cries +to him in English. Once inside, I saw that the +room was full of soldiers—twenty at least. They +had a prisoner, true enough, but not the doctor. It +was my servant, whom they had forced to disclose +the location of the arms.</p> + +<p>The soldiers quickly blocked the door and began +closing in on me. One seized me by each arm, but +with a quick shake I threw them off. Then a third +fellow clutched my left arm so tightly I could not +loosen him. Had I taken my eyes or my revolver +off the crowd in front, they would have been upon +me in a body; yet with my left arm I was able +slowly to turn the clinging soldier around in front +of me and to bring him gradually within close +range of my revolver. When he saw its gleaming +muzzle, he broke from me and fled to the others.</p> + +<p>Little did they know that I could not afford to +sacrifice my remaining load to kill a single man. +I must use it to capture the other revolver, for +rifles were of no use at such short range. I manœuvred +cautiously to keep most of the soldiers in +front of me, and stealthily backed toward the door, +where a soldier stood guard with the other weapon. +I was reckoning on the cowardice of most of those +in front of me, but I had failed to count on the men +I had shot. As I now backed quickly towards the +door, I suddenly felt the arms of the fallen man +about my legs, and I stumbled backwards over him. +In a twinkling the whole crowd was upon me, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +revolver was seized, my arms were pinned to the +ground, and the dying soldier clutched my legs in +his last frenzy. I expected no better than to be +shot immediately by a rifle held against my head, +but their orders were evidently different. My arms +were securely bound with rough fibrous thongs, +and then they marched me to the palace just as +the sun was rising.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>The Revelation of Hotep</h3> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I was</span> not a little surprised to see that they +carried me to the same ante-room in the palace +which I had occupied on coming to Kem. But it +was now quite stripped of all furnishings, and over +each door were hung large, closely-spun fabrics, +which completely covered and concealed them from +sight. There were but two little windows high +above my head, and had I been free to leap up to +them, they were too small to afford me an exit. +Driven into a stone slab of the floor were two large +bent-wood staples. Between these they placed +several cushions, upon which they laid me.</p> + +<p>"May it please the strong man to rest here quietly, +aye! and to slumber if he feel the need, until my +master, the worshipful Zaphnath, be risen?" +sneered the leader in polite irony, as the soldiers, +having unbound my arms, proceeded to tie each +hand securely to one of the wooden rings. Then +with jeers they left me, pointing the fire-arms and +swords at me as they went. I heard them bar the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +doors on the outside and try them with a severe +shake; then their footsteps receded and all was +still.</p> + +<p>As I lay on my back looking up at the vaulted +stone roof, I had my first leisure to reflect on the +desperate condition into which we had at last +fallen. The arms, which had meant our supremacy, +were in the hands of our enemies; Hotep, our only +friend in the palace, had mysteriously disappeared; +the doctor was taken, perhaps killed by this time; +and I could hardly outlast the day, for Zaphnath +would reserve but one fate for a conspirator who +sought his place. How soon would he come, and +how would he dispose of me? I remembered having +seen the punishment for treason of a noble personage, +with whom I had once eaten at the Pharaoh's +table. He was confined at the bottom of a tight +stone pit, and a heavy, poisonous gas was slowly +poured into it. He could see it slowly fill the pit, +and as it gradually rose toward his nostrils, he +could feel his death gradually measured out to him +by inches. When he had breathed it in a little, his +face swelled a livid purple, he choked and strangled, +staggered and fell beneath the murky surface to die +out of sight. The terror of such a slowly creeping +danger! the horror of such a repulsive death! I +remember saying at the time that in his place I +would have snatched a quick respite from the +lingering agonies by strangling myself, or tearing +my wrist open with my teeth. Now, as I thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +of it, I suddenly remembered my dream of being +similarly smothered in the Gnomons by slowly inpouring +grain. A superstitious mind would have +feared that dream foretold my fate, but I was +rational enough to perceive that it must have been +suggested to me by a vagrant memory of the poisoning +I had seen.</p> + +<p>As I lay thinking thus, I shifted my position a +little on the pillows for better comfort, and my eyes +wandered slowly from the vaulted roof to the daylight +at the two little high windows. I started in +terror at what I saw, but blinked my eyes to make +sure I was awake, and then looked more intently. +There was no dreaming this time! I saw clearly, +and at both windows, a curling, purple stream of +dense, noxious gas pouring down into the room! It +was much heavier than the air, and trickled slowly +down like the ghost of murky waters gradually +filling up a great well. Then I turned to look at +the floor, the stones were no longer visible, but a +coat of muddy purple covered them to a depth of +several inches, and the noisome gas already reached +almost to the tops of my cushions! All this had +trickled in within ten minutes, and twice as much +more would rise and cover me completely. Then +an awful but silent death would creep into my +lungs, and my only friends, the common people of +Kem, would never know how I had perished.</p> + +<p>Did I try to strangle myself or tear open my +wrist? I could not get hand and mouth near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +enough together for either of these expedients, had +the stubborn instinct of self-preservation left them +any place in my mind. I kicked away the cushions, +which gave me a little more room to work my +knees under me. Then by straining on my thongs +I was able to lift my head and shoulders upright, +and save my nostrils from the noxious stuff for +many minutes longer. All the years of my life +on Ptah I had been vain of my superior physical +strength. Would it serve me now to break the +thongs that bound me? I tugged, and pulled, and +struggled until I cut the flesh, but they only drew +tighter; yet at each effort I gained a little more +length of thong.</p> + +<p>The purple surface, on which death floated, crept +up toward me. The room was gas-tight; the doors +were so covered that they could not leak, and had I +succeeded in breaking loose I could not have shaken +their bars. To save myself, I must make a breach +in the floor; I must pull up a slab and let the +gaseous poison run out below. That was my only +chance. I worked my knees back as nearly as +possible to the edge of the slab into which the +wooden staples were fastened, and threw all my +weight and strength into the effort. The stone did +not move. Yet I got more thong-room, and +succeeded in doubling my feet under me to give +more force to the next heave. I felt sure I could +have lifted the weight of the stone if it were free, +but struggle as I would, I could not loosen it from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +its wedged position. The purple poison had risen +to my waist by this time, and in my violent efforts +I had stirred it into billowing waves which occasionally +surged almost to my nostrils. I had +breathed a little which made me faint and giddy. +I feared lest I should stagger and fall into it. +Once my head below the surface, and I was most +surely and horribly drowned!</p> + +<p>I stood resting a second, anxiously thinking, +planning in desperation and keeping my eyes +always fixed on the rising purple. Suddenly, +though I had given no tug, I heard the stone under +me crunch at its edges, and felt it begin to rise a +little at one side! What could have loosened it, +when all my efforts had failed? No matter! if I +could pull it away now and make a breach, I would +at least gain a long respite. I tugged again and +found it easy to pull the loosened stone up on one +edge, till it tottered and fell over against me. +Feverishly I watched the poison about me; it rose +no longer; slowly it began to sink away. Thank +God for so much!</p> + +<p>Then suddenly I heard voices calling me. They +seemed to come from below. Yes! It was Hotep +in Kemish,—and the doctor in English! Were +they confined in the cavern below, then? And had +the gas been reserved for them, when it had finished +its dread work with me? Horrible thought! If +so, in saving myself I was only sending the sure +poison to them. Where were they? I could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +see down through the murky stuff; but I must +warn them.</p> + +<p>"Halloo! The gas is poisonous! Leap through, +save yourselves! Climb out, or it will kill you!"</p> + +<p>"Bear up!" I heard the doctor's voice begin, +"one minute more and we——" Then there was a +violent coughing, a door slammed, and the voice +was barely heard—afar off—as through a wall. +Had they escaped, then, to another room? I had no +further time to puzzle what it meant, for another +slab of my floor rose, wavered and fell over with a +crash, and up through the purplish gas I could see +a great round black thing rising, stretching high +up into the room until its top almost touched the +roof.</p> + +<p>My God! <i>It was the projectile!</i></p> + +<p>When the breach in the floor was cleared, all the +gas rushed down into the lower chamber. The projectile +eased over on its side, and out of the rear +port-hole came Hotep with a revolver and a sword. +He soon had me cut loose, and then he told me how +it all had happened.</p> + +<p>He had been chamberlain but a single day when +he discovered the existence of a secret subterranean +chamber under the ante-room of the banquet hall. +His curiosity led him to explore this, and in its +darkest recess, unseen at first entrance, he found +our projectile. It had been there ever since the +day of its disappearance. During our interview +before Zaphnath and the wise men, they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +learned from us that others could not come from +Earth without the projectile, and that we had left +no third person in charge of it. It must have been +with an order to make away with the projectile, and +to secrete it in this chamber, that the third messenger +had been dispatched that day. Also on my first +evening in this very ante-room, I had heard Two-spot +barking in the chamber below, and the servant, +on hearing him too, had him hastily released, lest +he should betray the hiding-place.</p> + +<p>As soon as Hotep had found the projectile, he had +sent for us, but it was the doctor alone who joined +him. They two had been busy all that day and +night repairing the projectile and storing it anew. +In this manner the doctor had escaped the soldiers +who came at daybreak to capture us both. Beyond +the projectile, Hotep had discovered a secret passage +leading outside the palace walls, which they could +use on their errands of repairs without being +observed.</p> + +<p>All night they worked without disturbance, but +early in the morning something happened to alarm +them. They heard footsteps outside and a noise at +the door which led to the palace. It probably +meant death to be discovered there, but they extinguished +their lights, entered the projectile, and +closed the port-holes and lay there quite still. The +door was opened, and soldiers bearing lights entered. +But they made no search; they carried with them +our swords, fire-arms, and the two belts of cartridges,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +which they deposited here, it being the natural +place for their safe keeping. When they were gone, +the doctor emerged and examined the revolvers and +rifles, and finding that five cartridges had been discharged, +he knew there had been a struggle with +me in which I had been worsted. This caused them +to hasten their efforts and make an escape with +the projectile as soon as possible. All the supplies +necessary to the batteries had been found intact in +their places, and the compressing of air with the +repaired pump and the further storing of food could +be postponed till they were more free to do it.</p> + +<p>At last the projectile lifted and worked; slowly +it loosened the stones of my floor above them; but +when one stone was pushed aside they noticed that +the daylight did not come through the breach as it +ought. They had heard my cries, and as the gas +came down on them, the doctor had slammed the +front port-hole, which was never wide open, and +had thus saved himself. Hotep was safely shut +into the other compartment with the fire-arms and +ammunition.</p> + +<p>The doctor now came down to the rear port-hole +to speak to me.</p> + +<p>"My plan is to escape now to the Gnomons, +where we will leave Hotep in possession with most +of our fire-arms. You can give him some instructions +how to use them, so that he may defend himself. +There we can finish our stores of air and +food." To this I assented, and said to Hotep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"The Gnomons I give to thee, and all the land +round about them, as a reward for thy most valuable +assistance. Also I put into thy charge all my +stores of wheat, to be distributed among the needy. +Thou must husband them to last yet four years +more, and for thine own thou mayest keep one +measure in twenty. Take thou also a sword, a +rifle, a revolver, and a belt of cartridges. Mayhap, +to thy right to rule they may add the power to be +a Pharaoh!"</p> + +<p>I was interrupted by a noise below, as of some +one opening the door of the secret chamber. All +the deadly gas lurked in that room now, and it was +certain death to whoever opened and entered! Yet +if an alarm had been raised it was there they +would immediately go for the fire-arms. I listened +and heard faintly a voice of command, like that of +Zaphnath, saying, "Haste, get me the thunderers!" +Then, as the door below creaked open, I heard it +louder: "The thunderers!" Next I heard many +men in violent fits of coughing; I heard some groan +and fall; but who or how many died by the purplish +poison intended for me, I never knew.</p> + +<p>It was but a moment later that hurried footsteps +in the banquet-hall were heard approaching the +veiled doorway. I took the revolver from Hotep, +and motioned him inside the projectile. How +cautiously they opened the door I could not see, for +it was behind the great curtain. Presently, however, +the captain who had bound me and bade me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +wait, drew aside the curtain, and the Pharaoh stood +in the door, and behind him were a crowd of soldiers +armed with cross-bows. In all the number I did +not see the face of Zaphnath. They beheld me +alone, and had no reason to suspect the presence of +the others inside the projectile.</p> + +<p>"Guard both the doors!" the captain commanded, +and a detachment of soldiers barred the other door, +as if thus to prevent me from escaping with the +projectile; for of course they had not seen it rise +through the floor.</p> + +<p>"Seize and bind yon traitor!" cried the Pharaoh; +"and he who hesitates shall be flayed!"</p> + +<p>"And he who attempts it, shall die ere his first +step be taken!" I replied, levelling the revolver. +The captain started for me and I shot him down.</p> + +<p>"If a man of you moves till I have entered this +thing, I will kill the Pharaoh, as I have killed this +dog! Ye serve him best who stand still as ye +are!" So saying, I covered the trembling monarch +with the revolver, and with my other hand I opened +the rear port-hole; then stooping, I sprang inside +with a quick motion. When the Pharaoh had +recovered from his fright, I heard him cry out,—</p> + +<p>"Cast that black thing, and the traitor inside it, +into yon poisonous hole again!"</p> + +<p>The soldiers did not fear to act this time, and the +whole company seized the projectile and carried it +toward the breach in the floor. As they lifted it on +end to thrust into the hole, I called out to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +doctor, who turned in two batteries, and gently we +lifted out of their dumb hands and rose steadily till +we touched the roof. There the vaulted stonework +stopped us, and an exultant shout went up from +below. Suddenly a score of arrows twanged against +my window, but the doctor turned in two more +batteries and then gradually we lifted the key of +the great stone arch, broke through the roof, and +the whole universe was an open sea before us!</p> + +<p>Crouching by me at the port-hole, Hotep watched +the roof collapse and tumble in. "For thy sake," +I said to him, "I hope a falling stone may have +crushed him!"</p> + +<hr class="min" /> + +<p>Thus ended our other-world life. In a time of +activity it would never have occurred to me to write +down these events. It was to relieve the uneventful +quiet of our trip back to Earth that I undertook +to set down all our Martian experiences in their +proper order. No doubt it was the changeless +monotony of that return journey which made the +record appear to me novel, unusual, and at times +exciting. But now, six little months again on Earth +have made the more than three Martian years +(equalling six years of Earth) seem slow, tame, and +profitless. If they were pregnant with adventure, +they lacked the real experiences of life which have +been crowded into the half-year since our return.</p> + +<p>The very day I reached my old home I found +another wheat corner more wide-spread, if less<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +complete and impregnable, and I set to work to +break it down. Thus the maelström of modern +commercial life dragged me into its dizzy whirl +before I slept the first night on Earth, and I am +already surfeited with it. I seem to take the +Earthly life in too large and rapid doses. Into the +half-year she has put a flattering success and a dismaying +failure. She has given me a month of her +sweetest experiences and another of her bitterest +disappointments. As if she knew I would not +remain long at her feast, she has served to me in +quick succession a measure of renown, a taste of +fortune, the rapture of wooing, the bliss of marriage, +and the rare delight of loving a soul created to love +me. Then one little drop from the cup of Death +embittered the whole feast and turned me against +it all.</p> + +<p>In the rush and turmoil of it all I should never +have thought of my crudely written narrative +again had not my cousin Ruth, who never tired of +the story, fished it out and sent it to a literary +friend in Boston. It was probably the instant +success in the scientific world of Dr. Anderwelt's +scholarly books on <i>Mars and His Life</i>, and the new +direction given to modern thought by his <i>Theory of +Parallel Planetary Life</i>, which led my literary +sponsor to think the world would be interested in a +plain, unscientific narrative of our trip Marsward +and our doings there. In agreeing to look it over +and cause it to be a "good delivery" in the literary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +world, he exacted a promise from me to make my +recent Earthly experiences and our adventures on +Venus join in producing another story. For before +the eyes of the first reader have reached these words, +Dr. Anderwelt and I will have departed sunwards, on +the visit to our brilliant sister planet, where, according +to his theory, life will have run through some +31,000 years more than Earth toward the perfect +existence. By the first return of the projectile I +have promised to send back a thorough account of +the evolution of life and the advancement of civilization +on Venus, so far as Earthly eyes and wits can +see and know it.</p> + +<p class="hd2"><b><small>Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London.</small></b></p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b><br /> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. +Obsolete spellings have been retained.</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Pharaoh's Broker, by Ellsworth Douglass + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHARAOH'S BROKER *** + +***** This file should be named 25295-h.htm or 25295-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/2/9/25295/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, George Snoga, Stephen Blundell and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +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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