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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-02-05 08:48:18 -0800 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-02-05 08:48:18 -0800 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/77867-0.txt b/77867-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..71f7ca7 --- /dev/null +++ b/77867-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10451 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77867 *** + + + + + THROUGH THE SUN + IN AN AIRSHIP + + + “_This I hold + A secret worth its weight in gold + To those who write as I write now; + Not to mind where they go, or how— + Through ditch, through bog, o’er bridge and stile; + Make it but worth the reader’s while, + And keep a passage fair and plain, + Always to bring him back again._” + +Churchill.+ + + + + + THROUGH THE SUN + IN AN AIRSHIP + + + BY + + JOHN MASTIN, F.S.A. +Scot.+ + F.L.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., F.R.M.S., R.B.A. + + AUTHOR OF + + “PARASITES OF INSECTS,” “THE TRUE ANALYSIS OF MILK,” + “PLATE-CULTURE AND STAINING OF AMŒBÆ,” “THE + STOLEN PLANET,” “THE IMMORTAL LIGHT,” + ETC. ETC. + + + [Illustration: colophon] + + + LONDON + CHARLES GRIFFIN & COMPANY, LTD. + EXETER STREET, STRAND + [_All rights reserved_] + + + Printed by +Ballantyne & Co. Limited+ + Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London + + + TO + + PROFESSOR SIR HUBERT VON HERKOMER + C.V.O., R.A., D.C.L., ETC. + + AS A SLIGHT MARK OF GRATITUDE FOR + MANY PAST KINDNESSES THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY + DEDICATED + BY HIS FORMER PUPIL + THE AUTHOR + + +Totley Brook+ + near +Sheffield+, _June 1909_ + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAP. PAGE + + I. +The Story of the “Regina”+ 1 + + II. +The “Regina” gives up Her Secret+ 28 + + III. +Vox Populi+ 41 + + IV. +Muscæ Vomitoriæ+ 65 + + V. +An Innocent Offender+ 85 + + VI. +The Doomed Planet+ 108 + + VII. +The Story of a Star+ 125 + + VIII. +A Jovian Bug+ 140 + + IX. +Testing the Web+ 149 + + X. +The Conspiracy+ 161 + + XI. +“The Impregnable Rock”+ 182 + + XII. +Through Fire and Flame and Mystery+ 198 + + XIII. +“Vaults of Purple”+ 213 + + XIV. +Between Two Worlds+ 234 + + XV. +Joci Causâ+ 253 + + XVI. +“A Race of Laughing Philosophers”+ 280 + + XVII. +Small Profit and Quick Return+ 306 + + + + + CHAPTER I + + THE STORY OF THE _REGINA_ + + + “... ’Tis a ditty + Not of these days; but long ago ’twas told.” + (+Keats.+) + +“What’s that for, Gilbert?” asked Ross Ainley, in surprise, as his +chum, Gilbert Eastern, flung an egg into the stream which gurgled past +them. + +“It’s rotten, old chap, rotten as a man’s word of honour,” replied +Gilbert. “Thank goodness it’s the last of the batch, and I get no more +from Flatters. He assured me he had manufactured every one and all had +stood Government tests, therefore he could guarantee them. I don’t want +to spoil our little picnic here at the North Pole or I’d go back and +make the fellow eat the thing; see, even that fish discards it!” as a +fish rose to the surface, nosed the egg a little, and then darted off. +“No wonder!” he commented, and then without further remark he reached +for another egg and, cutting off the top of the capsule, at once became +absorbed in extracting the contents—a peculiar pink-coloured paste, +which he spread on a cake of brown meal and commenced to eat in silent +enjoyment. His friend Ross, who had just finished his meal, leaned over +the mossy bank and half filled a drinking vessel with water from the +stream; after sterilising it he rummaged in the basket, and bringing +out a small box extracted a pellet, which he placed in the vessel and +crumbled with his already sterilised fingers. Instantly the water +became turbid, and, a second later, opaque-white as the powder entered +into solution, and he drank off what appeared to be fresh milk. Having +satisfied his thirst, he sprayed some antiseptic liquid on his hands +and the glass, threw his pulp serviette away, and leaving the other +things till his friend had finished also, lay down on his back full +length, with his elbows up and hands clasped under his head, gazing in +silence into the blue sky overhead between their two airships which +were riding at anchor, their vanes gently moving in the wind just +sufficiently to maintain them at an altitude of about twenty feet. They +were in a small clearing in the heart of a magnificent forest which +extended for miles in all directions and was, perhaps, the finest and +most picturesque portion of all that beautiful district of the North +Pole which was appropriately called ‘The Garden of the Earth.’ After +passing through miles of moss and peat and bog, the river Pole entered +this forest some ten or twelve miles distant as a gurgling brook, +tumbling and twisting and twining amongst the boulders in its bed; but +other streams, longing for closer companionship, drew nearer and nearer +till they joined it, and together they all came flowing down in noisy +happiness, whilst the rushes which were swept by the lively water, now +a river, bent their nodding heads lower and lower till they kissed the +sparkling wavelets and reared themselves again in their joy at having +stolen such sweetness. Thus the river Pole swept onwards, an ever +widening and deepening stream, spreading its fragrant influence around +till the trees, shrubs and underwood became almost intoxicated with the +luxuriance of their growth, and expanded their limbs in the ecstasy of +being alive. And in the twilight of the green woods occasional lovers +would be found, walking in its cool recesses and talking of the future, +or perhaps merely walking together oblivious of all save that they were +in love—love too deep for words, too strong and holy for expression in +anything but silent thanks to heaven for the love which _is_ heaven; +such are passed, they unnoticing and being unnoticed, + + “For in love’s domain + Silence must reign; + Or it brings the heart + Smart + And pain” + +and here and there the trees grew more widely apart and clearings were +formed by nature almost specially for picnics and _alfresco_ meals, +for the grass was thicker than any carpet and softer, having a deep +bed of peat, whilst the murmuring stream and the faint hum of insects, +and that delightful and peculiar sound of thousands of branches being +gently swayed by the wind, lent a delightful accompaniment to the +pleasantry and laughter inseparable from young and healthy hearts +which, like the air and sky, are clear and sunny. + +To one of these clearings had Ross and Gilbert come for a little +relaxation, because they knew that nature is always ready and able +to give health and vigour to all who seek her, and they made a point +of spending at least one half-day in each week in some spot on the +beautiful earth where they could talk and revel in nature unalloyed, +and after Ross had been looking for a few minutes into the throbbing +ether, where the blue was flecked with streamers of ‘mares’ tails’ +which floated in one of the higher strata, he suddenly rolled over to +face his friend and said, seriously,— + +“Has it ever struck you, Gilbert, what a wonderful age this is?” + +“The age is all right, Ross, so far as I can see,” answered Gilbert, +indifferently. + +“I don’t think so,” replied Ross, argumentatively. “It seems to me too +matter-of-fact.” + +“What else would you have it? all fancy?” asked Gilbert, still +indifferent, being hungry and absorbed in his meal. + +“No, of course not,” replied Ross, musingly, “but it seems to me that +if a little of the past could be worked into the present it would +leaven things a bit.” Here he paused, and as Gilbert did not offer any +remark, he continued,— + +“Take that egg, for instance. Natural eggs are never eaten now, any +more than swans and peacocks, yet I don’t see why they shouldn’t be, +though at the bare suggestion of eating a real egg every one would +recoil with horror; but why should they be kept for broods only? They +are wholesome enough, or they used to be, anyway, and if they were +taken from the fowls and other egg-laying creatures, more eggs would be +laid and there would be plenty for all.” + +“Probably,” said prosaic Gilbert, “but the real eggs had to be boiled, +and cooked in other ways, and beaten, and goodness knows what, and all +that sort of thing must have been a shocking waste of time. Besides, +the shells are brittle, and if you should by chance sit on a basketful +of them, they would, of course, explode and break and make a nasty +mess, to say nothing of the perfume of a bad one. There is not one of +those objections in a modern egg, and they are wholesome, nutritious, +of fine flavour, will keep for years in these capsules, and if you +jump on one you will merely alter its shape and flatten it; no cooking +is necessary, they are pure and sterilised, and exert an antiseptic +action on the stomach, counteracting any tendency to undue acidity, +ulceration, cancer, and lots of other things—ergo, I say they are +better than the natural article, and not one in a million is faulty, +except by deliberate fraud.” And Gilbert, after this tirade, continued +his meal with renewed vigour, as if to make up for lost time. + +“But in this age it is supposed that there is no fraud,” observed Ross. + +“Just so,” replied Gilbert, with a kind of ‘I’m busy’ air; “but +ever since man was created some dispositions are and always will be +treacherous.” + +“Probably,” assented Ross, plucking a blade of grass and breaking it +into short lengths, “but everything in this world is so cut and dried, +so trite, that I am weary of it.” + +“Poor fellow!” said Gilbert, banteringly; “you need your diet changing; +you’re secreting too much bile and it’s giving you the blues. Just +talk and let off as much as you can whilst I finish my dinner; I +was bothering with my anchor while you were feeding; the blessed +thing wouldn’t suck. Now, fire away, and talk yourself into a better +humour—I’ll not interrupt.” + +“My humour is all right,” answered Ross, laughing, “but as I lay here +on this beautiful turf and saw our ships riding at anchor, as much +under control as if on the sea, I could not help thinking of all the +past.” + +“Think away, old man, only think aloud,” said Gilbert, as his friend +paused. + +“You think I’m not serious, but I am, really and truly!” said Ross. +“I was thinking of the changes this district of the North Pole has +undergone. Hundreds and hundreds of years ago it was as it is now—a +beautiful, warm climate; then came a time when things changed and all +turned to ice, and the trees were covered with snow, all approach +being cut off by an impassable barrier of ice, although even then +many explorers believed that at the Pole it was not all frozen; and +in 1878 or 1879, when the explorer Nordenskiold was locked in the ice +in Northern Siberia, and this ice extended as far as he could see, +he proved that here at the North Pole no ice existed; and another +explorer, Admiral Wrangell, I believe, when he was journeying north +from Siberia, found the ice getting thinner and thinner as he advanced +and the climate becoming warmer until he actually got to unbroken +and unfrozen sea and a temperate climate. This was confirmed later +by such authorities as Anjou Hedenström and others. And still later, +between 1905 and 1910, mammoths, stacks of peat, _living_ but frozen +trees, were found by explorers; then a few years later, the conquest +of the air began to be felt as a practical possibility, and science +generally made enormous strides—the time from 1900, or say from 1850 to +1950, was a century of the greatest scientific triumphs of all time, +and electricity became so much used that the climate of the world +altered and the terrible barriers of ice at the poles became no longer +impassable. Then followed, in actual reality, the conquest of the air, +which caused a complete revolution in mechanical progress. After this +came a period of intense scientific research, and about a hundred years +ago was made the great ‘discovery’—which had been expected centuries +before—that _life originated_ at the North Pole (from whence its germs +were wafted all over the world by air and water), and the South Pole +saw its passage to higher and more noble existences. + +“About the opening of the twentieth century morality in business had +sunk to a very low ebb; every one was possessed by a craze for making +money—in what manner was quite a secondary consideration—consequently +the richest people were almost invariably the most unscrupulous. At +last the working classes revolted and by sheer force of numbers sent +a majority of working men to Parliament, and by such means obtained +Old Age Pensions. Still they groaned under the dishonest and callous +actions of the moneyed people and employers, and in course of time +they rose up in revolution and swept the country clean. From that time +everything has improved, and though we have in some minor matters, +such as modes of expression and what not, reverted to the style of our +forefathers of about the twentieth century, science has progressed by +leaps and bounds, until now we have got almost to the other extreme, +and everything is science:—we eat, drink, live, move and have our very +being on scientific lines, till one gets tired and weary almost to +death at the mere word.” + +“You’ll certainly have to change your diet, old fellow!” put in +Gilbert, laughing, “but go on!” + +“I am really serious,” continued Ross, smiling at the sarcasm. “I don’t +believe this world was ever intended for man, and it’s my opinion that +we came here by accident from some other planet.” + +“Really!” + +“Yes. Just think! where intellectual man is not, vegetation grows to +magnificent luxuriance; so do wild animals, insects, birds and flowers; +all these are made and suited to the world by nature, but directly the +so-called ‘lord of creation’ comes, one of two things must happen—he +must either open out nature and bring it into line with his life and +habits, or he must gradually acclimatise himself to his surroundings by +various doses of malaria, swamp fever, orchid-poisoning and the like, +and by the time he has become immune from these evils and can live, he +is not so healthy or so useful as were the scarecrows of ancient fame. +And wherever numbers live together, so many hygienic matters have to +be considered that healthy living in numbers is, and always will be, +a most serious problem. No, man is about the only animal on the earth +that upsets nature, or is upset by nature. + +“Wherever he lives the country suffers, and the rare and beautiful +birds and creatures fly from him as from a pestilence. Take the present +era, for example. Where are all the beautiful birds and beasts our +forefathers wrote about, and all the insects that used to keep the air +sweet and fresh? Man has frightened them away. He kills every insect in +the ground by electricity, and then finds that worms, moles, and other +such creatures aërate the ground and make it healthy, and he gets the +land to stink with rottenness ere he decides to see it, when he could +have seen it before with half an eye had he not been blind; then he +goes to the other extreme and, finding that worms are healthy and good +for the land, he kills every blessed bird lest a single worm should be +destroyed. By that time he gets a little overdone in worms and wants +his birds back. Then the constant use of his electrical appliances +and forces so upset the atmosphere that the moving life in it has +to go higher into purer air, and the airships passing and repassing +at enormous speeds drive the birds still further away and higher, +gradually altering their habits, so that now it is a very rare thing to +see them flying, or even coming down to rest. They do rest, of course, +but only in the forests where people seldom enter, for every one has a +ship of some sort and is always in the air, as if this glorious grass, +this beautiful water, and these shady, magnificent trees were not good +enough for man to enjoy, but he must needs go tearing round the whole +world on every half-holiday. I call it a sin!” + +“What an excellent mood you’re in this afternoon!” remarked Gilbert, +as he made a pellet of his napkin and threw it at a darting fish. “I +have finished my meal, and have enjoyed it so much that I am inclined +to look on the world as it is now as being very beautiful, and on the +science of to-day as being the most useful in the world’s history. +It is true the climate of the whole earth has changed, and with it +manners and customs, perforce; but now, every man works at the trade +for which he is best fitted, physically and mentally, and receives +guaranteed Government wages on fixed scale for the work he does. If by +learning and application he can do more intellectual work, he receives +the higher pay, and every one can have his fair trial and none are +oppressed. All shops are under the control of the Government, and no +one can undersell, or buy to better advantage than his neighbour, nor +can there be undue competition, and if any licensed manufacturer +supplies an inferior article, like my first egg, he must return its +equivalent on proof, and he is a loser. + +“If, in times past, a man robbed his employer of twenty shillings he +was imprisoned for five years with hard labour, whereas if the theft +was of twenty thousand pounds he was merely cautioned not to do it +again, or at the most imprisoned for a few months without labour, and +the quiet, restful time of serving the sentence invariably set him +up in health at the country’s expense; but nowadays, a man stays in +prison and must earn his keep and expenses, and in addition, enough +to pay back every farthing to the person robbed, who receives an +instalment every month until the loss is made good, or until the +prisoner dies. Thus, not only are the prisons self-supporting and a +profit to the State, but the ‘punishment fits the crime,’ and under the +present business methods anything beyond petty frauds is altogether +impossible. Then there are no poor, no really destitute; and there is +no institution in the world that is not self-supporting, whilst the +excellent system of our finances makes wealth, if not an impossibility, +of little value—for wealth formerly meant power and oppression, +but now the comparatively so-called poor are not poor enough to be +oppressed, consequently the rich have none to oppress, and in most +cases people spend their surplus wealth in scientific research, in +inventing and discovering that which will make life brighter, easier, +and happier to their fellow-men by lifting higher those who chance +to be less fortunate than they themselves. For what use is wealth +to a right-minded man when every man must work and earn enough to +keep himself comfortably, and he knows that when he gets past work +he will receive a pension according to his deserts. Nor can he marry +till he receives a certain salary, and even then his family must not +exceed the calls on his income for their maintenance, clothing and +education, suitable to their station. If he errs in this respect, or +is unfaithful, or betrays anyone, no further offence is made possible +to him. Why! formerly, in the twentieth century, so far as some of the +working men of that period were concerned, one who earned what would +have kept half a dozen families in comfort would drink and gamble +his earnings away, have an unconscionable number of children, and if +he were but half a day out of work he was destitute. With a blissful +selfishness, he would neglect work to go drinking and gaming, to the +utter disregard of the needs of his wife and family, knowing his +neighbours would not let them starve; nor did they. If he were sent +to prison he did not care, for the burden of the maintenance of his +numerous family had to be borne by others who by self-denial had saved +and yet who, for humanitarian reasons, had to deny themselves still +more to help the idler. All that is now an utter impossibility, and yet +you long for the old times, Ross! I don’t. I like, too, to know what +I’m eating, to have everything made under rigid antiseptic conditions, +to have everything condensed and excluded from air, and to know that +what I am swallowing is good and wholesome, anyway.” + +“That’s all very well,” replied Ross, flinging fir-needles into the +stream, “but it’s very much overdone. Compression is all very well, +too, but when you come to certain foods and salts which, to begin with, +are indigestible and often quite insoluble in the stomach, and you +compress them to so small a compass that they are as hard as steel, +where are you? One swallows a good dinner, as one thinks, yet most of +it has gone; no stomach, not even that of an ostrich, could digest it. +One tries to realise what a delicious dinner it was, yet no stretch +of imagination can overlook the fact that one gets desperately hungry +quicker than one should. Now, notwithstanding all the science displayed +on my recent meal, I am sure I could eat, enjoy, _and_ digest, a thick, +juicy steak from that salmon there which is just turning a somersault. +Oh yes, hold up your hand in disgust! I’m not going to fly in the face +of custom, because I’m quite aware that the salmon’s great and much +revered ancestor might at some time have swallowed a fly or a worm that +had on it a parasite or some injurious microbe, and therefore, because +of this awful occurrence to its great grandparent thrice removed, it +cannot be eaten without being first dried, sterilised, compressed, and +enclosed in a little antiseptic capsule in which it is guaranteed to +remain, if need be, fresh and pure till the crack of doom, when it may +joyfully rise and meet its family as a pure and wholesome fish. I am +tired of it all! and as I said before I think science, hygiene, and +all the other aids to existence are so much overdone that there will +soon be a reaction, or my name’s not Ross Ainley,” and disgusted Ross +rolled back again and lay looking up at his ship, a beautiful aluminium +vessel, dipping and curtseying to the rippling breeze as if she were +breasting an incoming tide. + +Gilbert laughed and exclaimed, “You’re like old Alexander of ancient +fame—paying the penalty of an inordinate desire for conquest. You are +on the top rung of the ladder and because there is no higher rung to +step upon you are disgusted with everything. But who’s that coming?” he +suddenly broke off to exclaim, at the same time pointing to a sparkle +on the horizon caused by the sun’s glinting on an approaching airship. + +Instantly the blues and banter vanished, and they watched with interest +the new-comer fly over their heads at great speed, then seeing their +vessels below, immediately pull up, and a man looked over the side and +shouted, “Hallo! Ainley; how are you?” + +“Splendid, Oakland. Come down and have a chat; I’ve not seen you for +many a month!” answered Ross. + +“All serene!” was the reply as the ship was brought round and lowered +between the two others, an anchor let down which sucked on the turf, +and a pleasant-looking young man was soon standing beside them, to be +cordially greeted by Ross, who introduced him to Gilbert as Dennis +Oakland of electrical fame, and turning to Dennis, continued, “and this +is Gilbert Eastern, the eminent physicist; you know him by repute, and +I am much pleased to make such great men acquainted with each other.” + +“And here’s Ross Ainley, the greatest electrician of the day—barring +yourself, of course—the world’s expert!” mimicked Gilbert. + +“Oh, I’ve known him some time,” responded Dennis, laughing; “let me +grasp arms with you,” he continued, in high pleasure, and they each +laid a hand on that particular portion of the other’s sleeve which is +specially reserved for cordial greetings, and which is situated on the +upper arm over the biceps; every one being required by law to keep +this part highly antiseptic. This very friendly greeting over, Dennis +resumed,— + +“What a lucky dog I am to run across you here in this way. I never +miss an opportunity of making friends and having a chat with every one +I meet, but I never dreamed of such luck as this when I saw your two +ships chumming together like a couple of love birds!” and Dennis went +gleefully on till they all felt as if they had known one another for +years. + +They passed from ship to ship, their respective owners explaining the +chief features and special appliances that each possessed, and thus +several hours wore away. Twilight came long ere they had finished and +Bona shone with a fitful light owing to the clouds which had been +slowly gathering, but as she rose in the heavens the sky became clearer +and the country was flooded with her brilliant beams, the three ships, +now almost motionless, casting dark shadows on the ground. + +“I see it is Bona’s night out,” said Dennis, looking up at the large +and brilliant disc on which with the naked eye could be discerned +continents and seas, the latter showing like white enamel. + +“I prefer it to old Luna myself,” said Gilbert, “although many folk +swear by Luna yet. It must have been a tremendous shock to bring Bona +where she is.” + +“Yes,” agreed Ross. “Eastern and I, Oakland, were comparing the past +with the present when you joined us, and he maintains that the present +times are unequalled, but I consider that we have arrived at such a +stage of ultra science that there must be a reaction.” + +“I agree with you,” replied Dennis. “It is always so. There never has +been a perfect equilibrium in the affairs of nations and never will be. +We peg away at one scale, filling it till it goes down with a bump, and +then it dawns on our woolly brains that we have overdone it, so we let +that scale severely alone and work away at the other till that goes +down with a bump too. Then we empty both and begin again, to repeat the +blunder.” + +All three laughed and Ross remarked: “That is almost precisely what +I’ve been telling Eastern, but he does not see it.” + +“No! I don’t,” said downright Gilbert. “I don’t see that we have drawn +near to the time of a reaction by any means, considering that there are +many things which have been commonly known at different periods and +yet with all our ultra science are now a sealed letter. So science is +evidently not at its zenith yet.” + +“In the natural course of events things do die out as the use for them +declines, or the phases of life alter, or those with secrets fail +to commit them to writing, or they are lost, but there is nothing +abnormal in that,” answered Ross, lightly. + +“But don’t you think that if science is as much advanced as you say, +these secrets would not be lost? Don’t you consider it want of brain, +rather?” objected Gilbert. + +“No, not by any means,” said Dennis, “I think it is mere chance.” + +“I differ with you both,” argued Gilbert, unconvinced. “I think these +things come in cycles. Take stained glass for instance—not the fired +and coloured glass of to-day, but the real old-fashioned stained glass +that admits the passage of sunlight, the sunbeams remaining untinted +by the glass they pass through, and which gives strange reflections +in a mirror. This was discovered in the seventh century and made in +several countries, proving that the secret was not entirely limited, +yet the art was lost for many centuries, rediscovered in the fourteenth +century and again practised in several countries, and soon afterwards +again lost, to remain so till the twenty-first century, when it was +again in vogue in various places for a short time, soon to be again +lost, and, as you know, thousands of pounds are now being spent daily +in experiments in the hope of the secret being rediscovered, yet it is +as elusive and far off as if it had never been. Now if this is, as you +say, the most scientific age of the world’s history, why the failure? +To my mind, the answer is that the cycle has not yet returned and +when it does, the secret will come out itself, whether it is in the +manufacture, the firing, the glass, or the colours used. Surely you +cannot call such a singular occurrence a mere coincidence!” + +“I grant there are unargumentable facts,” replied Ross, “but I am +rather inclined to believe that if the experts in that line were +intensely serious, they would solve the problem, for I think what has +been done can be done again by earnest application.” + +“It’s all very well for you to talk like that,” said Gilbert, with +energy, “you’ve always been lucky in succeeding with everything to +which you set your hand, but I myself firmly believe that no amount of +luck will enable things to be done till their time comes round, and you +have taken up the phases of science which were ready to be solved.” + +“What about yourself then,” asked Dennis, smiling. “Have you also hit +upon the phases that were ready and waiting?” + +“In a great measure, yes,” responded Gilbert. “I have found—as you have +found, too—that there are times when no amount of work does any good; +it is entirely unproductive; and then nature suggests to all minds a +certain course. If the mind is sufficiently receptive, these ideas are +followed and what lay hidden for ages before, perhaps, is now revealed +and may appear wonderful; but I see in it merely the working of an +unchangeable law, a cycle of sympathy of the mental faculties with +material and natural forces.” + +“Then I wish some cycle of mental sympathy would come my way,” +exclaimed Dennis, “for I have the hardest nut in the world, and cannot +crack it, so I suppose it must wait till the cycle of fate brings the +sympathetic mind to solve the mystery,” and Dennis laughed banteringly. +“But there is no such luck, so I expect the nut must stay intact till +doomsday.” + +“Oh! what mystery is that?” asked the others, at once interested. + +“My vessel, the _Regina_,” replied Dennis, nonchalantly. + +“What!” ejaculated Ross, spinning round and grasping him on his +greeting-band. “Great Bona! and are you the very Dennis Oakland, the +present owner of that ship?” + +“I am, worse luck!” was the rueful answer. + +“Why didn’t you say so before?” inquired Ross, surprised. “I had no +idea that the Dennis Oakland who tied with me in the electrical exam +last year was one and the same person as the owner of the famous +_Regina_. I thought you lived in London.” + +“No, only for the time of the exam.” + +“Had you mentioned Derwent I should have recognised the connection.” + +“We are more pleased than ever to meet you,” broke in Gilbert, and once +more the three grasped arms, and from that moment their lives became +full of excitement beyond their wildest dreams, and Ross’s blues were +gone never to return. + +“Let us hear all about it,” said Gilbert, hastily fetching a damp-proof +rug, which he spread over the ground for all to sit upon. + +“There is very little to tell, if anything, that is not known by every +one, for the history of the ‘Stolen Planet,’ written by an ancestor of +mine, Jervis Meredith, to whom the ship eventually belonged, explains +everything. For many generations the blessed Queen has reigned over our +family and cost us no end of money. In the natural course of events +she has been bequeathed to me, the sole surviving descendant of the +first Jervis Meredith, and I have spent some thousands on her till I +gave it up; I am tired of spending and working to no purpose, for she +became a real nightmare to me, till I got my back up, and I don’t spend +another farthing. She may go to Jupiter, or Sirius, or to any other +spot in creation for all I care!” and Dennis puffed vigorously at his +sterilised cigar. + +Instantly his two companions were alert. All thought and desire to +return had vanished, although time was getting on and the stars were +beginning to dot the sky. The river Pole, now in the full light of +the risen moon, Bona, lay before them dazzlingly white, its placid +surface unbroken by so much as a ripple, except when a leaping fish set +in motion a series of circles which spread their dark rings to each +bank. Behind and around in the clearing lay the wood, now black with +shadows, and as they looked before them beyond their vessels, on which +silver lights were chasing ebony shadows, as their gentle movement made +the moonbeams ripple along their surfaces, several belated travellers +slowed up at sight of three standing ships, to ask if they were +stranded and needed help, but to each the trio telepathed a message +that all was well—and soon they were quite alone. + +“You should get Ainley, here, to help you,” suggested Gilbert; and +before Dennis could reply, Ross broke in—“I have often thought of +writing to ask if I could see it, Oakland, and had I known you were the +owner I should not have hesitated. If you would permit me I’d take it +as a great favour; I have heard and read so much about the ship that +I’m curious in the extreme.” + +“By all means, old fellow,” replied Dennis, heartily, “by all means. +Although I can promise you this, that you’ll know very little more +about it after than you do now; all that is to be known is common +property.” + +“I only know what the historians wrote about—the wonderful discovery of +gravity-control—and what the newspapers tell us,” said Ross, “let us +hear all about it from you yourself, will you? and then we shall know +everything.” + +“What! to-night?” queried Dennis. “It would take a long time and it is +getting very late.” + +“Never mind!” said Ross and Gilbert together. “We can get back to +England in an hour, less if we use top speed, and the sky will be free +now. But, perhaps you wish to return?” + +“I? No, any time will do for me,” replied Dennis; so the three settled +themselves into comfortable positions and Dennis commenced the story of +the greatest wonder of the world: + +“Before the great crisis of the world’s history, for many generations +there had been so excessive a use of electricity, that the climates +had become seriously disturbed and the whole earth and air so unduly +charged, that there had followed a succession of terrible earthquakes +of so violent a nature as to shake the earth to its very centre. +Then a wonderful thing happened which at first threatened the whole +of creation on this earth—from some cause or other, even yet not +understood, the earth’s gravity became slightly increased. All the +scientists raved at the calamity, as they called it, saying that the +rains would damage the fruit and vegetation, that the sap in trees and +plants would not be able to rise, that muscular exertion would not be +possible, and that all mankind would become too heavy and weary to +live, while the air would become unbreathable. Very soon, however, they +found all as usual, for all being in the same proportion, everything +in nature, animate and inanimate, was just as perfectly adjusted as +before, and many scientists asserted that no increased gravity had +taken place—for as the increase was exactly proportionate throughout, a +pound still weighed a pound, of course. For long the debate continued, +serving no purpose, for even if walking had not been possible it would +have mattered little, for the time was approaching when, all forms of +work coming under government control and wages being paid according to +the work done, almost every one could buy a motor-vessel of some sort +for land or aërial traction, and walking became less and less indulged +in—and probably in a few generations from now humans will find their +legs transformed into wings. + +“But to return to actual facts. The strangest change of all, which +drove people to a perfect frenzy and caused not a few to become insane, +was the gradual approach of a second moon; no one knows how, or why; +probably it had been wandering in space and would not have been +influenced at all by earth, but for the increased gravity. Be the cause +what it may, there it was, revolving in the solar system round the +earth half a circle behind Luna, thus lighting up earth when Luna was +hidden, as she is now, and consequently, every night is more or less +moonlight. + +“People recalled the records of the wondrous approach of the planet +stolen by the great airship _Regina_, now owned by me, and many thought +the ship had made a secret journey and brought back a second planet, or +perhaps the same as before, but no—the ‘seventh moon of Jupiter’ which +she had created was still attending that planet, and so the new world +must really be a new moon.” + +“Had the vessel attracted it, do you think?” inquired Gilbert. + +“No one knows,” continued Dennis; “that is a point on which there is +much controversy even to-day, as you know. Anyway, the thing was a +real miracle, for all predicted and feared universal disaster, and +prayers were offered in all places of worship, and a miracle _was_ +performed, either in answer to the prayers or in the setting up of +some unknown laws in defiance of all existing known laws, for in +direct contradiction to every expectation, no disaster of any kind +occurred—nothing but good; and as time wore on and the planet’s +influence became felt in the steadying of the tides, and in scores of +other unexpected ways, it was proved to be a heaven-sent blessing and +therefore was named ‘Bona.’ + +“Then followed another phase of great interest in the _Regina_, for +scientists longed to possess the means of visiting Bona and of finding +out all about her, for the most powerful telescopes revealed little +beyond the facts that there were mountains, seas, deserts, and +peculiar vegetable growth, all of which can be seen faintly with the +naked eye, and the spectrum analysis shows many metals, some familiar +and some strange to us, together with an atmosphere similar to ours, +but drier. It is, as you know, considered that Bona is peopled, but +so far no people have been seen or recognised by us as people, for +we, of course, look for beings such as ourselves. The _Regina_ would +have solved all these difficulties, but she was still quiescent, still +the enigma of science, as she has been since she was built and as she +always will be, I fear. And this brings me to the vessel herself and +how she came to be mine. + +“Apart from fiction, only one vessel in the history of the world has +ever actually sailed into the limitless space outside the earth’s +atmosphere, and that one is the stately _Regina_, which has been +unapproachable since the death of the last-surviving inventor, Jervis +Meredith, and the secret of her power to overcome gravity died with +him. It is not necessary for me to tell you the details of this, as you +know them, so I will pass on to later things, for I have already gone +over well-known ground at too great a length, and time is flying.” + +“Never mind that, Oakland,” exclaimed Ross, deeply interested, +“proceed”; and Gilbert followed—“It is all so different, somehow, +coming from you; there is a personal note in it which is far better +than history, so tell us all you know, as though we were ignorant of +the whole matter.” + +“Yes, do!” begged Ross, and Dennis took up his story. + +“Since the time when the _Regina_ made her first serious voyage to the +dog-star Sirius, and brought back the planetoid to the consternation +of the whole earth, and then, shooting the planet back into space, +sent it within the orbit of Jupiter, she had made many voyages; but +you will recall that the secret of the power to overcome gravity and +successfully to manipulate the vessel was committed to writing and +placed in the _Regina’s_ safe previously to that first long voyage +recorded by my ancestor, ages ago. This document was never disturbed, +as the details were firmly fixed in the minds of the two inventors, +Fraser Burnley and Jervis Meredith, who never divulged the secrets. + +“These two friends willed their whole interest in the vessel to +the survivor of them absolutely, and it is a matter of history how +Meredith, my ancestor, became the sole owner. Another long voyage had +been arranged—the seventh or eighth since that to Sirius—and both +went to the shed where the magnificent silver-like Queen was housed, +in order to enter for the voyage. Behind them followed the crew and +a number of other people, for the public had been admitted. Fraser +Burnley opened the door, and at the moving of a switch the great +roof slid aside. Evidently forgetting the current was still on, he +impulsively jumped on the ladder and that instant he was annihilated, +even before the cry of warning could form itself on Meredith’s lips. + +“Every one round the great doorway saw him, in the twinkling of an +eyelid, de-atomise into vapour and vanish. Not a trace of him was left; +he was completely volatilised. + +“Of course the journey was postponed; later on, Meredith, now the sole +owner and the only living person who knew the secret, made another and +many subsequent ascents. + +“As age advanced, he felt unequal to the strain such voyages entailed, +falling as it did on him alone—and he would not take any one, even +his son, into his confidence—so he decided to make no more journeys +until he became a little stronger; therefore he housed the _Regina_ +in her shed with all the fittings intact, also placing around it the +well-known protective current of de-atomising force. In the hope of +wooing health and strength to return to him, he spent his days in +quietly studying, with the strange scientific instruments brought from +various worlds, the forces of nature on earth and the limitless space +beyond. However, instead of growing stronger, as he had anticipated, he +became gradually weaker, and less and less able to bear any excitement, +but still he would not give in, trying heroically to defy the old age +which was slowly and surely drawing him to his long home. + +“At last he felt the unmistakable grip of the kind and friendly hand +upon his heart-strings, gently deadening their vibration, so he thought +he would like to take one last voyage to glorious Venus, his favourite +planet, to which he often went for short visits, and die there; so +he called his son Dennis, after whom I am named, and told him of his +intentions. + +“‘But you cannot work the _Regina_, father!’ remonstrated his son. + +“‘No, Dennis, I cannot, but you can and shall. Carry me to the shed +and I will tell you what to do to board her, and how the gravity is +overcome, and how to guide her safely, for we’ll go up together; you +the head this time, and instead of being under my care, my lad, I must +come under yours, for I know you’ll look after your feeble old father, +as I have looked after you. And promise me, Dennis, my son, on your +word of honour, that come what may you will never divulge the secret of +the _Regina_ to any living soul unless your end is near, and then only +to prevent its being lost.’ + +“‘I promise, father!’ replied Dennis, much overcome. + +“‘Thanks, my boy, thanks!’ his father uttered, feebly. ‘Now move me +gently, for I am very weak, Denny, very weak; your father’s on his +last legs!’ and he held out his hand to his son; but before Dennis +could grasp it he exclaimed,—‘Oh, Dennis, Denny, my dear, dear boy, I +am dying. Stoop down and I’ll tell you how to get on the vessel. All +details are in the safe and if ... all is so dark, Denny, and I am so +very cold ... closer ... closer ... Dennis, where are you?’ + +“‘I am here, father dear!’ cried his son, brokenly and in tears. ‘I am +close beside you.’ And he took his father’s hand in his own and came +very close. ‘See, I am here.’ + +“‘Thank you, Denny. Don’t leave me.’ + +“‘No, father, I am close beside you.’ + +“By this time the dying man’s voice was scarcely a whisper. ‘Denny’—and +there was a painful silence—‘Denny, when ... you ... open ... the shed +door ... you ... must ...’—and with this effort his voice failed; +then he gave a faint sigh and fell back dead, and the secrets of the +_Regina_ were lost. + +“Dennis spent all the rest of his life trying to solve the mystery, +and his son did the same, and for generations my ancestors have made +electricity their life’s study, as I have made it mine, in the hope of +elucidating the mysterious force that could defy time and the elements, +even the blasting force of lightning—for many and many a time have +I and other people, too, seen the vessel struck by lightning which +has devastated the shed, but the flash has been met by an answering +flash from the vessel; and often have the whole forces of heaven’s +electricity been drawn to the magnificent ship, and there has started +from the _Regina’s_ sides a series of incessant flashes—curtains of +blinding flame—and her silver sides have seemed to ripple electric +fluid, in sparkles and drops of rainbow-coloured fire, like the +dripping of water from a salmon leaping through a sunbeam. And in the +very centre of the storm the brave vessel has seemed to enjoy the +uproar; wave after wave of crackling lightning pouring over her in a +flood of livid fire, awful to see, and, always victorious and unharmed, +she seems to take on her whole surface a smile of derision at nature’s +puny and childish attempts at injury. So has she stood through all +the years; defying time, apparently defying eternity, and not even her +timber supports affected or disturbed. + +“Time after time have the authorities in succeeding generations made +determined attempts to blow her up, notwithstanding the fact that she +is private property, but all to no purpose. No one knows how many +times the walls of the shed have been rebuilt, for storms, dynamite, +gun-cotton, rystosol, scores of other explosives, lightning and what +not, have levelled them to the ground, too often for record, but she +still remains perfect as when last used and altogether unapproachable +by person or thing. In her safe lies the greatest secret the earth has +ever known, the secret that can play with gravity, and yet it is as far +out of our reach as is the most distant star.” + +Here Dennis paused a moment to select a fresh cigar, but his listeners +were too deeply interested to say a word which might break the thread +of his story, so he resumed,— + +“Until this annihilating force can be cut off, any thing or person +brought within twelve inches of any part of the vessel’s surface or +projections is volatilised. As I have said, my ancestors have devoted +their lives to the subject, and after all these years of toil and +enormous expense, the mystery is as impenetrable to human minds as is +the occupation of the dead—and yet what wonders have been, and still +could be, opened out if this secret could but be found! + +“In weird and awful majesty the _Regina_ rests on her +blocks—impregnable, unapproachable, indestructible; and so she can +remain so long as this world lasts, aye, to all eternity! Although +within sight and touch, nothing has been known to pass the protecting +current. The shed has to be kept well secured lest any one should +inadvertently enter within this invisible zone, and enter eternity at +the same moment.” + +Here Dennis paused, and Gilbert asked: “What has been done recently—say +in your father’s time?” + +“My father spent all his life in trying to find some switch or other +controlling force, without success.” + +“But there must be some wire or secret switch near the door, or the +inventors could not have controlled it,” argued Ross. + +“And it must have been a very secret switch, or they would not have +gone into the shed intending to use it before all the people,” urged +Gilbert, “else the vessel would not be safe if the source of its +control were known.” + +“So it was thought,” answered Dennis, “and my father, when I was a +youth, gradually took down the whole of the wall, piece by piece, in +the hope of finding some wires, but nothing was seen, and I myself have +done the same thing with a like result.” + +“Have you tried the floor?” inquired Ross. + +“Yes, certainly, that has been up, too,” replied Dennis. + +“Have you gone deep? Have you tried tunnelling under the vessel?” asked +Gilbert. + +“Yes, and a remarkable thing happened,” said Dennis. “The floor and +foundations of the walls can be taken up and have been up many a time. +I dug down to a great depth, leaving that portion on which the vessel +rests and plenty all round it, so that she should not fall, going +so deep that she stood as on a monument. Nothing resulting, I felt +desperate and told the men to tunnel underneath and blow the lower +rock and earth away from below, so that she should topple over. They +blew all the earth away, but she would not come down, nor did she move +so much as a hair’s-breadth—her gravity and that of the earth were +in equilibrium. There she remained, suspended in air, resting on her +blocks, with a foot or so of earth below them, and a pick, or indeed +anything else, brought within a foot of the earth below the blocks, or +the vessel, over or beneath, was at once rendered vaporous. The whole +thing was so uncanny that it was months before I could get the pit +filled in and then I had to pay well. So far I have spent the best part +of my life over the problem and have failed, so I built up the shed as +before, fastened it securely, and I do no more!” + +“That is a pity!” said Ross, musingly. + +“Why should I spend all my substance on what cannot be discovered? For +years many of the first electricians and scientists of the day have +spent thousands on her and all to no purpose; all in turn have had to +acknowledge themselves beaten.” + +“It need not cost you anything, you know, for the Government gives +grants for such things,” remarked Gilbert. + +“No, thank you, Eastern,” replied Dennis, decisively. “You will recall +that my much-esteemed ancestor and his friend obtained a warrant signed +by his Most Gracious Majesty, King Edward VII., by which they retained +the right of keeping the secret unmolested for ever. Now, if I received +any Government aid, I should forfeit my right—or it would be forfeited +if some Government-paid scientists found it out. They could not in +fairness refuse to tell those who had financed them, nor could I under +similar circumstances. No, my people have always paid for everything +and so do I. I am not going to run any risks of the Government getting +hold of my ship, notwithstanding my love for science.” + +“Would you mind if I try?” asked Ross. + +“Would I mind?” repeated Dennis, highly pleased. “I should be +delighted! Only I must make this stipulation, that if you succeed you +tell no one except me.” + +“Not our friend Eastern, here?” + +“We’ll see about that later,” replied Dennis, laughing. + +“Oakland,” exclaimed Ross, earnestly, “I promise you faithfully that I +will reserve nothing from you that I may discover, and all from every +other soul so long as I live; if any one else is to know, you shall +tell them. I am deeply interested in this, for it is a matter after my +own heart.” + +“Then commence when you like and I will pay for all that is necessary,” +responded Dennis. “When can you start?” + +“At your convenience, Oakland,” answered Ross, aglow with zeal. + +“Then we’ll make a beginning to-morrow. Both of you come over to +Derwent and we’ll go into the matter. And now we must be off; we have +talked Bona to her setting and old Sol is just rising.” + +The trio of new-formed friends then entered their respective vessels, +and a few minutes later three airships were swiftly flying to England +and home. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + THE _REGINA_ GIVES UP HER SECRET + + + “And now I will unclasp a secret book, + And to your quick-conceiving discontent, + I’ll read you matter deep and dangerous.” + (+Shakespeare.+) + +The day following, the three friends met at Dennis’s home, and at once +proceeded to the shed in which the stately _Regina_ was housed. On +entering, Dennis moved a switch and a revolving steel shutter slowly +descended from before one side of the shed, the whole of which was +lined with thick glass; at another movement a similar shutter slid from +above the glass roof, and a third movement caused this roof to fold +itself up and slide aside, leaving the top open to the sky throughout +its entire length. + +Both the visitors uttered an exclamation of delight at sight of the +stately vessel, the lines of which sent them into raptures of pleasure +and wonderment. + +“You are a lucky dog, Oakland, to have a creature like that all your +own!” said Gilbert, enthusiastically. “What is the material?” + +“I don’t know,” replied Dennis; “no one knows beyond that it is some +untarnishable alloy, probably from the fact that no one can examine it. +See, I throw this hammer at it and you will see it de-atomise,” saying +which, with a fine disregard of tools, he lifted up a heavy steel +hammer and flung it at the vessel, but when it came within about a foot +of the side it suddenly vanished and there appeared a little puff of +faint, thin vapour—the gaseous atoms of the missile—which became mixed +with and lost in the air of the shed. + +“There’s an enormous force there,” observed Ross, amazed. “What +generates it? Batteries?” + +“No one knows,” answered Dennis, “that is one of the mysteries. If it +came from the engines or dynamos on the vessel, they would have been +run out or worn out ages ago; we should also hear motion of some kind, +but you will notice everything is silent as the grave. Listen!” and +they all remained mute and motionless for a few minutes, but not a +sound disturbed the vault-like quietude. + +“Batteries would be equally out of the question,” remarked Gilbert; +“apart from the quantity needed to give a constant current of that +strength, they would require recharging and replenishing, and perpetual +motion has not yet been discovered.” + +“That is so,” agreed Ross. “I think we must seek some other cause, +some means by which the force is spontaneously extracted from the air +or earth around. You know our airships have no engines to drive the +motors; we gather the necessary power for this direct from the air by +the aid of certain metals which, when alloyed in given proportions, +attract electricity to any desired volume and under perfect control, +and I think some such force is here. Have you tried any of the active +metals?” + +“Yes, all; everything!” replied Dennis. “She is a strange anomaly; she +has engines and motors which are necessary for her flight in some way, +and yet there is a continuous current, as you see, which apparently +comes from nowhere. And one would think that if such a force is +self-generating, engines and motors would not be necessary. The whole +thing is a mystery; especially when you consider that one might almost +imagine her to be alive, or that some demon is on board who manipulates +the forces, for if any electric energy or metal comes in her vicinity, +she seems to get her blessed temper up and literally fights. At the +mere approach she crackles all over and throws out sparks of fire and +lightning that have more than once blasted the shed to the ground, +and everything has had to be strongly insulated, or there would be +an electric storm;” and Dennis drew their attention to the building, +saying, “You will notice all the tools are insulated and the whole +interior of the shed lined with sheets of thick glass cemented +together, the masonry and shutters being on the outside.” + +After examining the building, Gilbert remarked,— “You mentioned last +night, Oakland, that the gravity of the ship and the earth were equal; +consequently she possesses no weight and could be floated off. Have you +tried strong blasts of air? Theoretically, a breath would waft her.” + +“I have had fans and blowers, but the strange force around her stops +everything. I have even made fires underneath, thinking to sink her +by rarefying the air (and so causing her to settle as the air became +thinner), but she did not move. It is exasperating when one knows she +would divulge everything if one could but get aboard. She is also such +a source of danger and terrible care to have on one’s mind, that if you +cannot win her it is possible you may find some means of destroying +her; I really don’t mind which! But there she stands in the most +aggravating fashion, quietly defying everything and everybody,” and +Dennis’s annoyance was evident and excusable. + +“As you say, Oakland,” remarked Ross, “she’s a tough nut to crack, full +of apparent anomalies and impossibilities and, while uncontrolled, +dangerous in the extreme. Have you tried to register the strength of +the current?” + +“Yes, but it is unregisterable. Nothing, no matter how strongly +insulated, can pass the zone, in which there is no demarcation. The +dial shows no current at all till it reaches the protecting belt, +not even when moved by micrometer screws working in gear, and there +is a point when nothing is recorded; the next turn forward, even of a +two-millionth of an inch, and the whole apparatus is vapour. I have +used some scores in this way, but these are expensive experiments. + +“I have thought several times of encasing myself in an exceedingly +effective insulating suit and making a dash for the ladder, or dropping +on deck from above, for then I might get below to the safe, but when +I tested the suit first, filled with sawdust, by dropping it from the +roof, it never reached the deck but became vapour, so I was glad I had +experimented with a dummy.” + +“Not a bad way of getting rid of rubbish,” said Ross, laughing. + +“Yes, but a little too dangerous,” replied Dennis, “especially if it +had been me instead of the sawdust,” and he laughed boisterously, when, +seeing the others looked slightly mystified, he stopped abruptly and +continued soberly,—“Do you think, Ainley, that you could do anything to +crack this nut if Eastern helped you?” + +“We will try,” Ross replied, speaking also for his friend. “The secrets +of the pyramids and the sphinx have been laid bare, and maybe this +beautiful creature shall float again,” and his voice took upon itself +a more serious tone as he continued,—“Oakland, it is often said that +the whole current of lives and destinies of persons and countries may +be changed in a moment as if by chance, and, with your permission, we, +Gilbert and I, for we talked it over last night after you left us, will +give up our present work and devote the rest of our lives if need be to +cut this Gordian knot, and if we fail, we may pave the way for others +to bring this treasure under control again.” + +Before Dennis could reply, Gilbert said, eagerly, “I will stand by my +friend Ross and you, Oakland, in this work all my life, if I may, and +if we do not succeed we can die at our unfinished work!” + +“Thank you, my friends!” responded Dennis, somewhat overcome; “you +shall not regret it. Let it be so. I had not intended spending another +moment on her, but your enthusiastic devotion to science has warmed my +blood, and from this moment I will work with you and we will all devote +our lives to this one object, whether it demands little or the whole of +them, and our interests shall be united.” + +All were deeply moved, and the whole of that and many subsequent days +were taken up in going through papers and books containing particulars +of the work done in previous years. Ever since the death of the +first Jervis Meredith, the succeeding generations had recorded all +the details of their work, and had dealt with the problem in such a +masterly manner as appeared to leave nothing to be tried that had +not been done already. After the three had gone through everything +together, weighing each step of progress carefully, the enigma became +more and more puzzling. For weeks they spent every moment working and +discussing, bringing all the latest science to bear on the previous +work; and month followed month till at the end of two years they had to +acknowledge themselves hopelessly vanquished, for there seemed nothing +more to try. + +During this time several storms had occurred in the neighbourhood, and +they had witnessed the whole interior of the shed, to the insulating +glass casing, as one mass of awful lightning and electric discharge, +which had left the vessel serenely victorious. In one storm they were +watching through glasses at a safe distance, the peculiar form the +discharges took gave them an idea upon which they acted, after careful +discussion together. + +Two months later the solution seemed solved; but was it? + +Like three schoolboys they approached the airship in great trepidation; +up to a few minutes previously, for centuries everything brought +near its surface had been instantly volatilised, irrespective of +its substance and chemical composition; and in the first flush of +excitement, they had joyfully flung their hats at the ship and they had +struck the hitherto defiant Queen, now docile and manageable again, +for the hats were resting on the supporting stage on which they had +fallen—the first time for centuries that anything had passed that +awful zone of destruction. Would _they_ pass, or become vaporous? +Dennis insisted on being the first to venture, saying he could not +allow others to do that from which he shrank, and amidst great emotion +he grasped sleeves with both his friends, bade them good-bye, and +one second later he was standing on the ladder top, where no living +creature had expected to tread. The instant the anxious watchers saw +Dennis touch the ladder they rushed for it and ran up like a couple of +monkeys, reaching the platform almost as soon as he, and tingling with +excited enthusiasm, the three passed through the vessel to the safe. + +Dennis knew from his papers where the keys were, and unlocking the +desk drawer, the key of which had been handed down to him through the +past generations as a sacred heirloom, he obtained the _Regina’s_ +safe-keys, and soon the sheets of drawings and details were lying on +the table, all three almost devouring them in their eagerness, for +now the greatest secret of the world was about to be disclosed. Their +scientific matter-of-factness gave place to boyish and exuberant +delight which could not be repressed. They took the precaution to +reconstruct the protecting force to prevent intrusion—although the shed +had been locked before putting their discovery to the test—and then +they became so absorbed in the study of the minute descriptions of the +mechanism and forces now at their disposal that twelve hours passed +unheeded. + +“This is stupendous!” at length exclaimed Gilbert. “There is enough +force here to destroy the world! And now we have gone through +everything and know the principle, it is easy enough to work it +blindfold, almost. But what’s the matter?” he asked, looking at Dennis, +who stood perfectly still, listening. + +“I fancied I heard voices in the shed,” he replied, “but I am sure we +locked the door, I went back to see.” + +“It would be awkward if any one came too near the ship,” said Ross; +“although every one knows the danger. I’ll just look outside.” He +stepped up to the observatory and was astonished to find the door down +and the shed crowded with people. + +Calling the others up, the three stood and watched, and, gently opening +the door a mere chink, they heard every word spoken below. + +The crowd was greatly excited, and one man, Richard Howett, the chief +personage in the town, said,— + +“My friends, it is with extreme regret that we learn of the deaths of +our townsman, Dennis Oakland, and his two friends, Ross Ainley and +Gilbert Eastern, all men of high standing and renown. It needs no proof +to convince us that they have shared the fate of all the foolhardy +people who previously have ventured too near this magnificent but fatal +vessel, for they were seen to be working here yesterday and have not +returned. The door was locked on the inside and you see there are no +hiding-places, and they could not return except by means of the door +which we have just broken down, so that the calamitous fate they have +met is most deplorable.” + +Here the three listeners chuckled, unconscious of which the speaker +continued,—“As soon as the news of a possible disaster reached me, I +obtained the permission of the authorities to break open the place and +blow up the vessel, as a danger and menace no longer to be tolerated.” + +“That has been tried many a time, and no explosive has ever been able +to touch it,” objected some one in the crowd. “When I worked for Dennis +Oakland, some five or six years ago, he himself tried to blow up the +ship, but he only brought the shed down.” + +“What explosive did he use?” asked the first speaker. + +“We bored under the ship and he used rystosol, which blew the whole +place down and the foundations also, but the vessel stayed where she +was, hanging on air, and none of us would work at it again.” + +“That is strange; nothing has ever been known to withstand it. However, +we will try a very heavy charge. All of you except three volunteers go +outside to a safe distance.” + +As they made a movement for the door, and about twenty volunteers +stepped forward instead of the three asked for, Dennis, remembering one +of the early experiments of his ancestor, told his friends to look out +for some fun and instantly altered the de-atomising force to one of +protection only, so that any one touching the vessel would receive an +electric shock of sufficient strength to teach him caution, but not to +prove injurious. He then moved a switch, gently at first, as he was not +sure if the power really was as much under control as the instructions +stated. Very slowly all the people in the shed became lighter; one man, +his former workman, taking a stride towards Richard Howett, stepped +right over his head, landing with one foot on the _Regina’s_ outer +deck. With a yell of fright he slid down her sloping sides, but long +before he could reach the ground he was so light as to be floating +about like a butterfly. In a panic the whole company made a dash for +the doorway, but ere they could reach it Dennis made them sufficiently +light to float about in the room a few feet above, their vain efforts +to jerk themselves downwards low enough to pass out causing them to +look like living corks bobbing up and down in water, and to the +three watchers it was indescribably funny to see the consternation +on the faces of the floating citizens, who could not comprehend the +situation. After they had taken the edge off their mirth, the three all +stepped on the outer deck, which they insulated—for any part of the +vessel and surroundings could be insulated or brought in circuit at +will—and the sudden sight of the supposed victims in the very zone of +death caused several of the floating people to give an exclamation of +terror, thinking they were spirits. Dennis saw this and addressed them, +tragically,— + +“Ye floating spirits, what would ye! Come ye to this abode of death +to attend our apotheosis? Why come ye to disturb our repose?—Gently, +gently, my friends!” he interjected, as he wafted off, with a wave of +his hand, a few of the people who were drawn towards him with the air +disturbed by his movements. Then the laughter of his two companions +broke the spell, and many of the people laughed and cried, for all were +hysterical and frightened, and some called on him in terror to spare +their lives. + +“We’ve gone far enough, Dennis!” remonstrated Gilbert. “Let them down +gently, or they’ll faint with fear!” + +Wafting and blowing away a few more who came too close, Dennis resumed, +this time speaking in his usual tones,— + +“My friends, do not be alarmed! We are not ghosts, but real flesh +and blood and very much alive—excuse me!”—as he blew off a couple +clinging together for protection. “My friends and I have discovered the +long-lost secret of my ship, the _Regina_, now _our_ ship, for my two +friends, Ross Ainley and Gilbert Eastern, join me in the ownership from +this moment, and in order to prove to you that we really have found the +secrets, the chief of which is the one and only scientific method of +adding to and overcoming or depriving of gravity, we thought we could +not do better than give you an actual demonstration of the fact, in +return for your kindness in breaking down my door—our door, I should +say—in order to favour us with this visit, the object of which is now +frustrated, though you may be sure we appreciate your good intentions +none the less. You will perceive—pardon me!” as he sent a few more +away with a wave of his hand—“you will perceive that you have been +made lighter, and were it not for the retaining walls of the shed, +you would float away and for ever remain as far off the ground as you +are now, and if weighted down you would inevitably rise on the weight +being removed; also if you were made lighter still you would float +upwards through the roof. For some reasons this would be an advantage, +for in this age of aërial navigation it would be pleasant to know that +in case of disaster you could never come crashing to earth, but would +only fall through the air till you arrived at your equilibrium, or +correct specific gravity, and the lower air would make your descent +like that of a high diver in water, and you would have always a deep, +soft cushion of air to fall upon on which you could take no hurt. Some +of you, however, have business on the ground, and as some sage once +suggested, if the ground will not come to you, you must perforce come +to the ground—steady!”—as another citizen floated too near. “I notice +several of you have already lost your tempers, which is bad for the +nerves; you see we are quite placid and cool, though you have damaged +much of our property, and had we not appeared in time, you would have +blown the whole building to dust. For this you must forgive our joke; +we do not bear malice, neither must you, and those who are not prepared +to take this as a jest—and you can see it is perfectly harmless—I +propose to float upwards just within the walls, with their heads only +above the top till they are willing to see it in that light. I see +several are looking alarmed, but I can assure all those who want to +go up that they will come to no hurt; they cannot fall, and will be so +light that they could not injure themselves, even wilfully, by bumping +against the walls. To those who are convinced of the _Regina’s_ power, +we will restore their former weight, and after we have had an hour to +prepare the vessel, they shall be conducted by us through the ship, +where no foot has trodden for centuries till yesterday, and they will +see that after this lapse of time everything is as perfect and dustless +as if just new, for the protecting force that has caused the death +of several people has preserved the vessel from damp, heat, and even +dust. We want that hour to cord the way, for the mechanism cannot be +shown you and whoever goes beyond the cords will pay the penalty with +his life. We do not anticipate throwing the vessel open to general +inspection again and you only shall have this privilege. Now, all who +desire to forgive and forget, please raise a hand!” Dennis looked +round and proceeded: “I am much pleased to see there is not a single +dissentient, and that smiles have replaced frowns. In a few seconds’ +time you will be restored to your personal comfort and weight.” Here +Dennis nodded to Gilbert, who entered the vessel and slowly removed the +switch back to zero; as gradually did the people fall. + +When they knew there was no danger and that they had not been suddenly +transformed into angels—which many had often expressed a desire to +become—they could see the humorous side; who could not? for who +could remain serious and see sixty or seventy people of all ages and +conditions bobbing up and down light as feathers, actually blowing one +another away? Even before they reached the ground tears of laughter +were on all faces as they struggled to congratulate the three owners, +in the best of good humour. After the preparation they went round +the vessel and saw what even in that enlightened age were hitherto +inconceivable wonders, and finally the vessel was cleared, the outside +protected as before, in proof of which several missiles were hurled +within the zone and all present saw them vaporised. Willing hands +helped to fix up the door as before, and the shed was closed and locked +securely to shelter the gigantic Queen, still a deadly enigma to all +in the world except three persons, but to them a kind and gracious +mistress, ready and willing at any moment to do their bidding and to +carry them to the utmost confines of creation, to open out wonders and +mysteries hitherto beyond mortal ken. + +Weary as they were, they sat talking the matter over for several hours, +and then retired to rest, feeling that life was indeed worth living and +work a blessed privilege. + +Needless to say, the instant the people had got outside the shed news +began to travel far and fast; before nightfall it was telepathed all +over the world, and airships by scores came to Derwent; the sky was +full of them, almost every stratum of atmosphere having hundreds of +ships jostling one another, each hoping to catch a glimpse of their +wonderful rival; but the _Regina_, in her protected and armoured shed, +was safe from all observation and theft. The door, which had only been +partially fastened when the crowd broke in, was now thoroughly secure +and in electric circuit. + +Twice the same night Dennis’s house was broken into and the three +friends were roused by the alarms, which at the same time frightened +the would-be thieves, who no doubt thought the papers might have been +brought away for examination, notwithstanding the self-evident fact +that no place in the world could be more secure than the _Regina_ safe. + +The following day a deputation from the Government with the State +authority and seal waited upon Dennis and asked for the _Regina_ +and her secrets to be handed over to the Government. On this being +refused, they demanded it, then threatened, trying to bluster the +secrets out of the discoverers by force and threats, but at every +outburst they were referred to and shown a copy of the warrant of +absolute protection granted by H.M. King Edward VII., of blessed +memory, and his Parliament, centuries before. Eventually the deputation +had to return foiled, for not even the Government could go beyond that +warrant. + +Untold wealth and high positions were offered, but what is wealth when +all have enough and none can be oppressed? No, the _Regina_ should not +be bought, she was too precious to be sold; she should be the sweet, +lovely and gracious Queen to the end, and _give_ her power for the +cause of science, for the good of the whole human race; she should +benefit the people and lead them to the contemplation of higher and +nobler things, and be really and truly in everything their Queen—not +for any personal gain to her supporters, but to unfold before all men, +as only she could, the wonders of creation which would otherwise be +hidden. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + _VOX POPULI_ + + + “In my morning’s walk I culled a handful of flowers, some with + thorns, which I found made the smooth stalks easier to carry.” + (+Giranoli.+) + +From time immemorial it has been the custom to celebrate every special +occasion with a more or less gorgeous feast, at which, especially from +the eighteenth to the twentieth century, men drank to intoxication, and +not only those who had over-indulged but the majority of those who were +sober, were not considered sociable or properly educated if they could +not narrate coarse, trivial and lewd stories, and turn every innocent +expression to obscenity during the whole course of the evening; but in +these times, when everything is chemically made and repasts partaken +of under hygienic conditions both as regards morals and intellect, the +food is wholesome and sustaining, and the conversation, instead of +leaving a sear on the minds of those obliged to sit and listen to it, +is good and elevating, and leaves no objectionable taste and feeling. +Thus, when Dennis, Gilbert and Ross followed the usual custom and +celebrated the discovery by a banquet, at which all the subjects of +the harmless joke in the shed were present, the gathering was a great +success and those who sat down rose again afterwards with thoughts and +lips as pure as before dining, and the event recalled nothing but +pleasant and wholesome memories later. + +In all the years of the world’s history human nature has on the whole +gradually improved, but there are certain traits which are embedded +in the hearts of men and do not reflect happily on an otherwise +enlightened age. One of these quickly asserted itself. Directly it +became known that the lost secrets of the _Regina_ had at last been +found, many people belittled them, and though they knew how important +was the discovery they held up the matter to the most unseemly +ridicule. Even when faced with the question of the proof in the +validity of history, they averred positively that gravity could not +be overcome; that nothing could travel through limitless space and be +under perfect human control, and because these cavillers had no part +or share in the discovery, they sneeringly declared there was neither +discovery nor honour in the resuscitation of the ship, and they had +many followers, for people are like sheep and must be led; such as +these cast slights and doubts on the honours and attainments of others +as being beneath their notice till perchance similar honours come +within their own reach, to be grasped with delight and paraded before +all men as being exclusive, difficult of attainment, and having the +hall-mark of high honour. + +Thus it came about that sceptics innumerable rose up and discounted +all proofs of the _Regina’s_ power. No proof could be sufficiently +strong to convince them, short of making them a present of the vessel, +for which they could not very well ask though they wanted it all the +same; others also professed incredulity unless the whole of the secrets +were laid bare before them, and when this proposal was treated with +derision, they said the owners were afraid of the consequences, knowing +the matter would not bear investigation. + +In former times—particularly about the nineteenth and twentieth +centuries—the British government dealt with matters so slowly that in +many cases the need for action had passed long before the decision to +act had been arrived at, and when this action was by time rendered +unnecessary or perhaps impossible, further consideration was indulged +in to countermand the previous decision, the pros and cons of which +took up so much time that when the fiat had gone forth that no action +was necessary, the time had then come round for a decisive move to be +made. All this used to please the heads of the government in those +days, for they gloried in what was then called ‘red tape,’ which was a +term understood to mean refusing to grant what was needed when wanted, +and compelling acceptance when neither wanted nor necessary. This was +the essence of parliament in times past and business of world-wide +importance would readily be put aside indefinitely, in order that some +hundreds of members could debate at length on more urgent questions, +such as “When expecting friends to tea on the Terrace, are members +compelled to take a parliamentary bath first, and are towels a suitable +costume in which to vote or entertain?” + +Fortunately ‘red tape’ had rolled away with the old order of things; +the government was now alive to the country’s interests, and the +officials were almost always first in the field, often before the +ordinary people had realised the necessity for action. This was proved +by the hurried meeting that was called after the discomfited deputation +had left Dennis, when one of the chief officials was deputed to go +alone, on the assumption that one might find out more and be more +confidentially treated than a deputation. Solomon Magson was therefore +selected because he was one of the smartest of officials, though he +suffered from _caput inflatum_, which is a disease especially prevalent +amongst the young though it has been known to attack those of maturer +age, as in this case. + +Solomon at once called upon the friends at the shed and introduced +himself, demanding full particulars or forbidding the use of the +vessel. At this Dennis laughed derisively, saying, “My dear Solomon +Magson, as you put it that way we can only point out to you that not +all the opposition in the world could prevent it, as I will prove to +you. Will you kindly take hold of this bar?” and he handed a bar of +steel to his visitor and asked Gilbert to de-atomise it; instantly the +bar dropped like a melting candle and became a pool of liquid steel. +The visitor was visibly astonished, but remarked, loftily, “Ah, yes! +gentlemen, but that is a trick; it is, of course, steel specially +prepared for the experiment; it is very pretty!” + +“No, it is the ordinary best steel, as you will find if you analyse it. +Take a bottleful of it; you will notice it runs like quicksilver, but +there is this difference, that neither by heat, cold, nor anything you +can bring to bear on it will it alter and become solid again; till we +give it the power of cohesion,” said Dennis, “it will remain fluid as +water.” + +“You _say_ so, but it is obvious I cannot test it here,” and he gave a +superior smile. + +“You are still unconvinced?” asked Ross. + +“I have seen no substantial proof as yet,” he replied; “gravity is not +affected.” + +“Here is another bar,” said Dennis, “we will cut this in two and make +one half light and the other heavy,” saying which the bar was broken +and the roof being open, it was placed on end, instantly to shoot up +like a rocket with a whizzing scream, to become white-hot and fall +into dust; the other portion was placed on the same spot and the +current reversed, when the bar sank into the earth like water and +vanished. Again the supercilious official smiled and observed: “Very +entertaining, very! I see you have plenty of pretty experiments for +visitors.” + +“Not convinced yet?” asked Dennis, brusquely. + +“I fear not!” the visitor smiled. + +“Just stand here, please, opposite the vessel,” said Dennis, drawing +him from the end of the shed, at the same time giving a nod to Ross, +who passed up the ladder and inside. “You shall have full proof,” he +continued, as he walked away. + +Instantly the visitor rose like a lark half-way up the shed, when +several vessels passing in the air slowed up in curiosity, so Ross +closed the roof and steel shutters and then sent the sceptical Magson +up to the top, where he floated about gently, bobbing his head against +the glass after the manner of a gas balloon. + +“How dare you take such a liberty!” he cried, angrily. + +“You asked for proof, and you’ve got it!” replied Ross, now on the +outer deck, where Gilbert and Dennis joined him. + +“I will have your vessel destroyed!” Magson shouted, shaking his fist +towards them in a fury, which exertion brought his back up to the roof +and he narrowly escaped turning upside down. With a struggle, he got +the right way up again, and the effort to keep so absorbed most of his +attention. + +“You must see, Solomon Magson,” said Ross, “that if everything and +every living soul approached the ship, one and all could be made so +light as they came within its zone, that they would float off into +space or, if we reversed the current, so heavy that they would be +disintegrated or de-atomised into powder with the shock, and sink +through the ground. We don’t do that to you as it would kill you, +whereas we only wish to give you the positive proof you ask for, and if +we made you lighter still and opened the roof, you would continue to +rise until we had sent you out of the earth’s atmosphere, long before +which you would be asphyxiated, as you are aware.” + +“Let me down, instantly!” he bellowed. + +“And as it is,” continued Ross, ignoring the interruption, “we have +merely altered your specific gravity by scientific means and unless +we restored it you would remain that distance from the ground all +your life; even when you were dead and your body became less buoyant, +you would have to be buried on the top of a monument, or it would be +difficult to keep you down.” + +“I insist on coming down!” + +“You do not understand me. I was trying to prove that you cannot insist +on anything.” + +“But I will come down!” + +“You still fail to grip the point of the argument,” said Ross, +imperturbably; “you cannot insist, you have no will, you are powerless.” + +For some minutes there was no sound save the slight tapping of Magson’s +head against the roof, as he bobbed up and down and felt his way all +round the shed, floating like a swan. Ross was quite unmoved, and his +two friends were enjoying the situation too much to make any remark, +and wondered what Ross would do next, for he was not the man to submit +to insolence. However, after waiting a few minutes he descended the +ladder and resumed his interrupted work, Dennis and Gilbert doing the +same, all apparently unconscious of their floating audience of one, who +was obtaining a splendid bird’s-eye view of everything. + +“Please let me down!” at length came a submissive voice from above. + +“That’s decidedly better!” commented Ross, stopping work and looking +upward; “and you are quite convinced that the _Regina_ has some +semblance of power, and that notwithstanding your dictum?” + +“Perfectly!” + +Ross did not reply, but went inside and a few moments later, Solomon +Magson was standing beside them, a milder and wiser man, and by +tacit consent the escapade was not alluded to, but a very different +representative of the government was now present; the new Solomon +Magson paid the three owners considerable deferential respect. + +“What do you intend doing?” he began; “you surely will not let such a +beautiful vessel be unused.” + +“By no means,” replied Gilbert, “we have already arranged a voyage +aloft.” + +“You will give the results to science, of course?” + +“That is our intention,” replied Gilbert. + +“Have you decided on your destination?” asked Magson. + +“We thought that after being unused for so long, it would be best +to take only a short voyage this time,” replied Dennis, “so we have +decided to go to Bona.” + +“Would it be too much for me to ask permission to be one of the party?” +inquired Magson, eagerly. + +“I fear it would not be possible,” said Dennis. “We shall make a few +trials in the earth’s atmosphere, but that will necessarily limit +the speed, or we should suffer from the heat of friction, but in the +journey beyond there might be danger. We cannot be sure that everything +will be in working order for rapid transit outside the atmosphere, so +we three are taking our lives in our hands and risking it, but we dare +not endanger others.” + +“I will gladly take my chance with you,” said the former sceptic, all +his resentment gone and now as enthusiastic as they. + +“We dare not,” answered Dennis. + +“Three are few to negotiate a vessel of this size; I should be useful,” +he persisted. + +“I am very sorry, but it would not be possible,” replied Dennis. + +Magson was deeply disappointed but accepted the decision and continued,— + +“When you start you will make it known, I suppose, as many people will +follow your course with glasses.” + +“And many will say we have not been, but have merely hidden ourselves,” +laughed Ross, scornfully, instantly regretting having put it that +way, fearing Magson might perhaps take the remark as personal; but +the latter responded, “No doubt of that. It would be better if you +could state your course first and then by adhering to it, you would +substantiate your statements.” + +“We shall do that, certainly,” assented Dennis; and after a little more +conversation Magson left, feeling that his visit had not been entirely +unprofitable in that he had added to his circle of friends and also +considerably reduced the swelling in his head. + +The three friends discussed the projected journey at great length, +referring to the papers in the _Regina’s_ safe in order to compare the +arrangements made and the stores required on the previous expeditions, +but these did not help them very materially, for since that time many +of the things taken had become obsolete, and many improvements had been +made for curtailing labour. + +The engines having been built for petroleum would answer for the newer +‘breezol,’ which is made from waste products and has an enormous +explosive force, with the advantage of being non-explosive and +non-inflammable under the ordinary conditions of storage. The older +compressed petroleum was taken away and cubes of ‘breezol’ substituted; +these cubes were very small, each representing one gallon, which was +equal to twelve or fourteen gallons of petroleum, and sufficient cubes +were stored to give ten years’ continuous work on all the engines, even +with extravagant use. + +In the cuisine of the vessel several alterations had to be made, +for cooking was now almost obsolete, so the ranges and other former +appliances and fittings were taken out to adapt the galley to the +present wants, the modern food requiring little or no preparation, +being composed almost entirely of the chemical constituents necessary +to maintain the body in full health and vigour. Few people, therefore, +need the same kind of food, each person’s formula being in the hands +of a medical man. The doctors are responsible to the public, each +practitioner having a limited number of patients in a certain district, +in which he must reside, each person paying him an annual fee regulated +by statute. For this the doctor has to examine the person at fixed +periods, and analyse his blood when necessary in order to supply the +lacking chemicals to re-establish his health. Both doctor and patient +have their obligations; if the patient becomes worse the case can, if +desirable, be reported to a referee who, if he finds the illness is +not running its course but has been aggravated by a wrong formula, +gives the patient an order to deduct a certain amount from the doctor’s +fee. On the other hand, if the patient is at fault, by neglecting +his doctor’s orders, or by such actions on his part as tend to bring +on avoidable illness, or reduce his mental or physical strength, or +minimise his chances of recovery, or in any way make him an unhealthy +citizen, he is fined and put upon a rigid course of living till he +recovers, during which he has to pay his doctor an extra heavy fee. By +these means doctors understand their patients, who work so well with +them as a rule that serious illness is now unknown, for toxins are met +with antitoxins, and chemistry has become such a fine art that at the +first sign of failing health chemicals can be given to counteract the +illness and restore the normal conditions, and doctors can cure almost +everything short of actual dissolution. + +These chemicals are given in the place of food, in the form of wafers +or flexible capsules which are easily swallowed, or if actual meals are +wanted, these are supplied chiefly in various kinds of chemical eggs, +meat, fruit, vegetables, etc., all in air-tight capsules which are only +broken just before use. + +All goods formerly of linen, being now made of wood pulp, very soft yet +exceedingly strong, and white, and capable of great compression, are +burnt when soiled, and three or four changes of this highly antiseptic +clothing can be carried in a small, thin, very light box in the vest +pocket. Each member of the expedition, therefore, carried his own food, +toilet and wardrobe about with him, all suited to his own particular +taste and requirements. Consequently, after getting their formulæ +corrected, our travellers-to-be laid in a store of such things as +they needed, which left much unoccupied space in the vessel. They did +not require a crew, as the vessel was now capable of being controlled +by one person if necessary, and their united knowledge was such as +to enable them to keep everything in excellent order with little +expenditure of time and labour. + +In this instance it was fortunate for science that none of the three +was married, or unforeseen difficulties would have arisen, for it is +doubtful if their wives would have consented to their hubbies jaunting +off to other worlds, and it is equally doubtful if they would have +accompanied their partners, in which case this story would never +have been written. Women are not the meek, down-trodden creatures +historians would have us believe they had been some decades back. Long +ago they had risen as one woman in revolt at their so-called slavery +and subjection to man. Demanding and obtaining an active part in the +government of the country they had, to some extent, lost much of that +womanliness and feminine lovableness which had formerly been considered +amongst the chief attributes and attractions of the sex. + +They had also so strongly resented the relinquishing of their own names +for that of the men they married that few of them could be persuaded +to marry at all. The men, however, insisted, and sought help from the +state, and it was made an indictable offence for a woman to refuse to +marry the man she loved if he offered her marriage. Even that did not +answer, and the whole world was agitated; men became frantic whilst +women stood by, pensive, longing, loving and lovable, but resolutely +refusing to hear the voice of the charmer, charmed he never so wisely. +Finally, the difficulty was to a certain extent overcome by the men +owning that for the woman to sink her name in that of a husband on +marriage really _did_ show a marked inferiority to him and was a gross +libel on the universal belief that she was in every way the ‘better +half.’ From this time matters improved, and on the passing of a special +law entitling wives to retain their maiden names, a few of them here +and there were induced to marry, mostly against their will, when a +fresh difficulty arose which stopped all further marriages. The wives +declared they were the better halves, and that married couples should +be named “wife and husband”; their partners as firmly contending that +as they were by nature constituted bread-winners the expression should +be “husband and wife.” + +It often happens that when disputants are right, yet both at opposites, +and neither will give way, the only bridge is a compromise; so in +this case the difficulty was bridged by the husband saying “husband +and wife,” whilst the wife referred to a married couple as “wife and +husband.” + +This important matter settled, all went amicably, and the terms “Mrs.” +and “Mr.” were dealt with in the same manner, though these have +now fallen almost into disuse, whilst the mention of man—as a mere +man—being the “lord and master of creation,” was attended with so much +angry discussion as to have sunk into oblivion long ago. Formerly +also, for ages, every newspaper and book was filled with stories of +how poor, deluded, unwilling and powerless men were dragged by women +to the altar, but for some time past the true statement of things has +prevailed—as truth always will prevail eventually—and instead, it is +painfully evident every day how deceitful men are, and how they get +women so into their toils as to marry the men out of sheer goodness of +heart, merely to put an end to their manly importunities. + +As our three heroes were ignorant of the joys of running in double +harness, they were reckless of their lives, no one would have them, +so what happened affected no one; they did not shrink, therefore, +from risking themselves in the _Regina_, which had already absorbed +all their affections. So one night, without any public warning, they +entered the shed, fastened the door and slid aside the roof; boarding +the vessel, they made all secure, and amidst great excitement, the +switch was moved and in uncanny obedience the vessel slowly rose. + +Several airships had for some days been hovering over the shed in the +hope of finding out how the vessel was manipulated, and now, as she +rose silently and steadily like some majestic thing of life, these +watching craft drew nearer, telepathing the news that the _Regina_ +had at last risen as though from the dead. Quickly others approached, +but nothing was to be seen on the outside save her well-known form, +her silver-like plates glistening in the moonlight. Higher and higher +she rose, the other vessels also rising till they reached their limit +and the air became so rarefied that their vanes could no longer meet +the proper resistance. Then a strange thing happened, about which +all the people had heard and read, but which needed to be seen to +be appreciated fully; the great ship remained quite stationary, +uninfluenced by gravity. Then she came a little lower and stopped; +then again lower, as the owners were testing her condition. + +All the ships around were kept in position only by the full power of +their motors, many slowly sinking, unable to sustain the high altitude; +yet here was the _Regina_ actually repeating before their very eyes +what had made her famous in history; actually playing with gravity, +silent as a bird on its nest. + +Throughout all creation there seems to be instilled a dread of that +which is not understood; and this awful stillness in mid-air quickly +spread a great fear and dread amongst the craft around, and the +watchers became first nervous, then alarmed and finally in a panic, +when their motors suddenly stopped and the ships slowly sank, gradually +becoming heavier till they nearly reached the earth, when each occupant +received this message, telepathed from the _Regina_: “We are proving +to you that the _Regina_ can overcome gravity, and we could force you +disintegrated through the earth to your destruction. In one minute from +now, your weight will be made normal, so prepare your vanes and motors +for the plane you are now in, lest your machinery break and you shoot +upward to the plane you left on the release of pressure.” + +True to promise the ships found themselves released, and most of them +sailed away to what they considered a safe distance, but they were +brought back by the _Regina_, then let go again, as her repulsive +forces were reversed and became attractive. + +Then the _Regina_ put on her whole six search-lights, almost blinding +every one by the sudden glare, and soared upwards, shedding long +trails of light like a meteor; smaller and smaller she grew, then +vanished. Then again the light was seen in the distance and then +darkness; and again the vessel was seen travelling outside the earth’s +atmosphere like a falling star and was gone; round she came again and +then encircled the earth within the atmosphere, then traversed the +length and breadth of England, finally hovering over Derwent for a +few moments, lighting up the whole city with a blinding glare, and, +with her lights still on, she slowly settled into her shed. For a few +minutes the brilliant lights shot upward for miles into the sky through +the top of the building, when the roof slid over and all was hidden +from view. + +Ten minutes later the three occupants came out of the shed to be +received by crowds of curious folk who, late as it was, had been drawn +to the spot and who asked all manner of questions, and as they looked +upward they saw fast-racing airships gathering from all quarters of the +sky, their lights forming a miniature milky-way. + +This flight had been anticipated by the government, who had whetted +everybody’s curiosity, for with commendable business despatch, the +instant the news of the discovery became known, the whole history +of the _Regina_ was set up in type and printed in pamphlet form, +the brochures being on sale within twenty-four hours, and enormous +quantities were disposed of by the government booksellers, the later +ones containing Solomon Magson’s official report, which was so +eulogistic that people purchased fresh copies and the printers could +scarcely keep up with the demand. + +Even before the flight, almost every child in the street knew the +story, yet to find the vessel had actually departed and was already in +space, kept people up to watch and roused those already sleeping to +excited wakefulness, for every one wanted to see the actual exploiting +of the wonder of ages. + +Almost overcome by their experiences, the three men of the hour made +their way with difficulty through the throng to their home, giving +instructions that none were to be admitted, for though no one could +enter the grounds by the gates, many airships had deposited their +occupants inside and all wanted to have a few words, but once in the +shelter of the house, the three were safe from the crowd of inquirers. + +“My dear friends,” exclaimed Dennis, with much feeling, “what a lucky +day it was when we entered on this business!” and he could say no more. + +“What an awful power there is in that ship! It is overwhelming to think +of!” said Gilbert, fervently. “And how awe-inspiring to travel outside +this blessed earth and air, where angels are supposed to dwell. Oh! +Dennis, it is good to live and I thank you from my very soul!” + +“And I, too, Dennis!” concurred Ross. “I thought I should have died +with awe or fear or joy—I don’t know which it was—to see our own old +earth revolving, and the atmosphere throbbing and moving like a sea. I +can never be sufficiently thankful!” + +“Nor I!” agreed Dennis. “It has been the dream of my life! and to think +that generations should have been passed over and that _I_ should be +the one to see the long-lost secrets laid bare. We have a good deal to +be thankful for, our present sanity even, and we ought to thank Him who +made us and all creation, for giving us the privilege of seeing outside +this wonderful world and bringing us home again in safety with our +reason unimpaired, for this last is perhaps the greatest blessing of +all!” + +“I feel as if I had been dreaming!” exclaimed Ross; “it is difficult +to realise that the _Regina_ has really taken us so far; it is not yet +morning. How beautifully she acts! a child could work her, once the +force and switches are understood, thanks to your revered ancestor—may +his bones rest in peace—for writing all down so clearly.” + +“Yes,” agreed Gilbert, “now we have got it at our fingers’ ends we can +keep the description in the safe where it was, for we could manipulate +her blindfold. It was a capital idea of yours, Dennis, for us to take +turns at everything, because we are able to fit in anywhere in an +emergency and relieve each other.” + +“It is much the best, I think,” assented Dennis, “for as our interests +are now one, we are bound, in justice to ourselves and each other, +and in view of our united safety, to be able each to manage the whole +business right through.” + +“We must have gone through the atmosphere at a great speed,” said +Gilbert. “I tested the casing and it was not even warmed, so we are +fairly heat-proof. We will have the ship stored with food for a long +time and then sail off to Bona. Shall we risk ourselves straight there, +or have a few shorter flights first in order to get our heads a little?” + +“I should say, go straight away,” said Ross, eagerly. “I think we can +work her in perfect safety and she is as good and manageable a ship as +could be.” + +“I think so, too,” agreed Dennis, “and we are all almost childishly +anxious to go off again.” + +“I am, anyway!” said Ross, laughing, “so we’ll turn in and sleep the +sleep of the just, if not too tired and excited, and begin preparation +to-morrow.” + +With that they all retired to rest; but the experiences of the evening +had been too sensational for quiet slumber, and the following morning +each had to confess to having had but fitful sleep. + +The arrangements went on apace, and a few days later, the stores being +packed safely, all was ready for the flight to beautiful and beneficent +Bona. + +“I think it would be a good plan to use ether-wave every day, say +at six o’clock p.m., and let all our messages be sent to every +wave-apparatus on the whole earth,” said Dennis, when discussing final +arrangements. + +“But we shall have them all sending to us, and that would be a +nuisance,” objected Ross. + +“That won’t do!” replied Dennis. “We can have a set earth-time for +general news, and the instruments so arranged that only Greenwich and +the chief government newspaper can communicate with the ship, between +which and these two points there should be facilities for news at any +time if necessary. The _Times_ would therefore be able to publish such +of the special information as they and Greenwich might consider of +interest to the general public.” + +This being arranged, a special photograph was taken of Bona in order +that the adventurers could decide as to which portion of the planet +they should alight upon, so that their progress could be watched +from earth. After much consideration it was decided to aim straight +for the valley called the “Kidney,” because of its shape. This was +unmistakable, and according to careful calculation, the airship should +be visible in London till some time after they had landed on Bona, for +they would go straight, uninfluenced by the earth’s rotation, and thus, +providing glasses could distinguish what would in comparison be a speck +on Bona’s disc, her flight and settling might be seen by almost every +one in England. + +It was decided that plenty of notice should be given, so that those +who wished to note the flight should have opportunity for preparation, +and the 13th of June, fourteen days later, was fixed for the journey, +particulars being at once sent all over the world by the ship’s +wave-apparatus, the code used being that issued by the government for +universal use. + +By the 10th of June, air-craft began to assemble from all parts, and +large as Derwent was, the whole resources of the city were taxed to the +utmost to provide for the visitors. + +Most of the modern ships are, of course, adapted for remaining in +the air at various altitudes if anchored, their vanes revolving at +sufficient speed to keep them fairly stationary. The anchors are of +various forms, the more usual being attached to a flexible steel cord, +giving a fine line of enormous strength; the anchors being small +tubes which give out their air on contact, thus instantly creating a +perfect vacuum; atmospheric pressure on the outside of the tube and an +automatic grip inside, pin the tube with very great force to the ground +or any other object on which it falls, more than sufficient to restrain +any airship from straying; a light current transmitted on the wire +moves a slide, allows air to enter the tube, and instantly the whole is +released without injury to the object on which it has been allowed to +fall. + +On the 12th of June, so many ships had arrived in Derwent that the +business of the city was seriously incommoded; there was scarcely a +free stratum of sky-space left for traffic, the sky was so wedged with +ships of all forms and sizes that the city beneath was completely +darkened, and scores of anchor-lines were constantly snapping by the +moving ships below cutting them, and there was heard on all sides the +twang of breaking wires, some emitting deep, sonorous tones, whilst +others gave out a shrill scream. Often would come fresh arrivals on one +of the higher planes, and on all sides the little suction-tubes were +sinking, to be pushed aside by the vigilant owners of other ships, when +they would sink still lower, perhaps to settle on another vessel, when +the tube would be immovable. If not noticed in time and the line cut, +a second later it would be drawn taut and the double strain would snap +the line of the lower ship, when both vessels would be set adrift. It +was important that some one should be momentarily alert, for tubes were +constantly descending and tubeless lines hauled up to be refitted, any +one of which might injure another craft. + +Below the effect was even worse, for the taut wires rose from the +ground every few feet, and in the vicinity of the shed passage between +them was impossible. Hundreds of the aëronauts descended to sleep in +the houses in Derwent and found it impossible to return to their +ships, then too closely packed to descend, and hundreds wished to come +down but were unable to do so and had perforce to stay aloft. + +On the morning of the 13th, all traffic in Derwent was stopped, the +lines forming such a network in the streets that passage between them +was actually dangerous, for many of the owners, in order to protect +themselves and their craft from being cast adrift, or providing +anchorage for some other vessel, had placed their lines and steel decks +in electric circuit of sufficient strength to fuse any other line +or tube touching them; and if any person below touched such a line, +certain electrocution followed, and their removal from it was equally +dangerous to those who went to their assistance, so the authorities +‘waved’ to the shed, asking for the _Regina_ to be cast off, the three +friends having taken the precaution of removing there a few days +before, which was a piece of admirable forethought, or the _Regina_ +could not have sailed to time, for all approach to the shed had by then +been cut off for twelve hours or more. + +It was just before dawn on the 13th, when the message arrived and a few +minutes later the first ‘wave’ was emitted from the _Regina_, telling +all the people that the ship would sail five minutes later. Instantly +all anchors were released and there commenced such a crush in the air +as had never been seen before and, for humanitarian reasons, it is to +be hoped will never be seen again. All rules of right of way, passing, +and air-plane laws went by the board; some powerfully electrified +vessels fused all others that touched them, throwing the weaker +vessels out of action and precipitating them on the vessels below, +which in turn were rendered impotent by the crushing weight and broken +gearing, or by being thrown in sudden contact with others by the shock. +Fortunately only two lives were lost in this dreadful crush, but the +damage was terrible; all but the most powerfully electrified vessels +were scraped clean and smooth as unpainted ships. + +In four minutes came a message to clear all space above the shed; but +so tight was the pack that none could get away laterally, and many of +the ships over the shed were already at the highest altitudes to which +their engines had power to lift them, so that they were unable to go +over the others, and the lower ones, though capable of doing so were +equally unable to pass above those wedged higher; but they were soon +to see a demonstration of the _Regina’s_ power which made the aërial +navigators blanch with fear, seasoned to danger as they were. + +Punctually to time the roof of the shed slid back, and in the dim +twilight there streamed aloft a blinding light. + +In these days of high-voltage electricity, brilliant lights are common +enough, but no one in that vast throng had ever seen so powerful a +glare as that which belched upwards from the shed. It lit up the keels +of the lower vessels, sending their shadows, black as pitch, for miles +into the sky, as it penetrated the higher planes where an opening +permitted, blinding everybody with its awful glare. Nothing could be +seen as yet of the source of light, which was below, and this gave the +shed the semblance of being the opening to the bottomless pit, or as +if a damper had been drawn from the flue of some awful subterranean +furnace. + +For a great height above the shed there lay a solid mass of airships in +a closely wedged belt. Over this living, throbbing pack, spotted with +innumerable lights like diamonds, the stars were paling for the dawn +and a faint streak of light showed itself on the eastern horizon. Below +the stratum of ships lay the country, fields and trees made blacker by +the throng of vessels above. Blackest of all was the enormous shed, the +steel-covered walls of which rose up sheer and menacing to a great +height, but now this dark and forbidding-looking building was rendered +doubly black by the awful glare pouring out of its roof. + +The message to clear the way not being complied with, the people held +their breath and clutched tightly at one another, or the first thing +which gave them substantial grip, for all the ships’ motors stopped +as though magnetised, whilst the vessels remained perfectly poised +and steady, in their exact positions of the moment. Scarcely had this +been realised when it was seen that all the ships over the shed were +rising bodily, without their relative positions changing by so much as +a hair’s-breadth; becoming lighter and still lighter they rose still +higher as from a well, leaving all those outside them in a solid wall +like a shaft. + +Several tried to sail out and rise in the shaft to a higher plane, but +their ships were still immovable, their engines and motors unable to +make a single revolution. Those who were sufficiently near to look up +the shaft could see the vessels rise and then float aside over those of +the highest plane, leaving the shaft clear to the sky. + +The fact that the _Regina_ had not yet appeared made this demonstration +of her power all the more eerie, for all felt that some awful +influence, more mysterious because unseen, was using the natural force +of gravity with wonderful and irresistible strength in some simple yet +secret manner, and the steady and certain way in which the forces of +nature were used made thousands of the watchers nearly frantic to find +out by what means it was done. + +The course clear, very slowly the glittering vessel rose above the +roof of the shed, as steadily as if on wires, and when just above the +building, the roof slid back automatically; up the shaft of ships the +_Regina_ rose, sending out a light so blinding that all the people were +dazzled by it, yet they could see that she had no machinery outside, +and save for a dome and an outer deck round it, her sides were smooth +and free from anything which could hinder her swift passage through the +air. + +Not a sound was heard from the vessel, not a tremor disturbed her +poise, as she rose gently and regally like the Queen she was. When at +the top of the shaft she paused, and in forced obedience to her silent +will, the vessels that had previously occupied the shaft re-entered +it and took up their former position exactly, their previous gravity +being restored. The instant the last vessel had floated into place, all +the ships were relieved of that mysterious tension that had stopped +all movement, and there was heard the din of the screams of hundreds +of motors, as the vessels started from where their movements had been +arrested. As those on the upper planes rose and separated to follow the +_Regina_ the lower ones were set free, and sailed out of the dangerous +crush. A few minutes later the _Regina_ was surrounded by scores of +inspecting ships, and as her lights were now out, her beautiful lines +were the admiration of all. Still she stood, motionless as a dead body, +so still and stately, with not a throb or tremor on her gigantic form, +that the people became awed by the uncanny silence and the strange, +mysterious power of gravity-control which she used so perfectly. + +So she stood, silent and dignified, her sides dazzlingly white in the +paling twilight. Suddenly, the sun, which had not yet risen to those +on the ground below, came into view at that high altitude, and a ray +of sunlight caught the _Regina’s_ dome, and that same instant, as +though it were the good-bye kiss from earth she had been waiting for, +and was now satisfied, she rose; so slowly that she had gone above +them before those around noticed it. Higher and higher she went, the +ships gradually falling back as their utmost altitudes were reached, +till at last only one remained and watched the _Regina_ mount higher +and still higher till she became a mere speck, then was lost to view +in the rapidly brightening sky, and the solitary attendant commenced +its descent. At that moment a sheet of paper fluttered down from the +_Regina_ close to the ship and there remained perfectly still, gently +floating on the air as on water. Securing it they read,—“Good-bye! +good luck. Keep an eye on us if possible. This is a souvenir of the +_Regina_; may you be able to keep it!” + +Of course they could keep it! what an absurd thing to write about! +and it was handed round as they descended, but just as the owner was +passing it to his wife it slipped out of his hand and went fluttering +upwards, then suddenly stopped and remained floating, as before. +Elevating the vessel again they took it in and descended, and again +it floated back the instant the close grip on it was relaxed. Again +they secured it and this time took it into the cabin to examine more +closely, but it flew up to the ceiling and getting in the current of +air there, was wafted out of the window and they saw it float up to its +former position. This was most annoying, and the owner was not going +to trouble further when his wife, recalling the chief secret of the +_Regina_, suggested that the gravity of the paper had been altered to +coincide with the particular pressure of the atmosphere at which it +was found. This being the case, and his being the highest ship afloat, +it was no longer a mere slip of paper, but a precious souvenir. He +therefore rose, and just when he could rise no more he saw the paper a +few yards away, floating as before. This time he placed it under glass, +which he screwed to his table and, descending, proudly exhibited it to +his friends. + +In the meantime, the _Regina_, once away from her audience, increased +speed rapidly, and in a few minutes was outside the earth’s atmosphere, +when she shot forward straight at Bona, watched by thousands of eyes; +and through the most powerful telescopes she was seen to settle down as +a tiny spot of light, like a mote in sunbeam, in the very centre of the +still-luminous Bona, in the ‘heart’ of the “Kidney.” + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + _MUSCÆ VOMITORIÆ_ + + + “I saw three insects alight ... and after careful consideration + I classed them as _Musca Vomitoria_ (blue-bottle flies) ... of + exceptional size.”—_Insect Life._ + +“How is the air, Gilbert?” inquired Dennis, as Gilbert emerged from the +laboratory where he had been testing a collected sample. + +“Excellent,” he replied; “about the same as ours but a little drier, +though not much; it will suit us admirably.” + +“What about the gravity?” observed Ross, at the same time walking +across to the gravitometer. “I see it is almost the same as Earth +has now and exactly what she used to have. It measures a speed of +thirty-two feet per second of a falling substance for each second of +motion.” + +“That makes a unit force of half an ounce, then,” remarked Dennis. + +“Roughly, yes,” replied Gilbert, “about one-thirty-secondth of a pound, +so it will be rather better for us than Earth.” + +“Then it is no use waiting any longer, we might as well land,” said +Dennis. + +“Right you are!” exclaimed Gilbert, at the same time moving the +ventilator-switch and closing the artificial air apparatus. “We may +as well save our breath,” he observed. “What about our meeting any +possible people?” + +“We had better be fully armed,” counselled Dennis; “and then we’ll +explore.” + +Accordingly, they each armed themselves with a brace of noiseless +revolvers, containing fifty needle-like capsule-shots apiece, fired by +compressed air; on striking, they flatten against the body and burst, +emitting a powerful corrosive acid which instantly bites through every +known substance to the skin, in which it at once becomes absorbed, and +in the same second the whole of the blood is solidified. No cure or +antidote has been found, and so certain is it in effect that death is +inevitable. + +Having made the vessel immovable and secure, they stood at the foot of +the ladder wondering which way to go. They were in a great clearing, +carpeted with beautiful green grass as even and close as if freshly +mown. On this grass were clusters of shrubs bearing reddish leaves and +brilliant yellow blossoms, the whole forming a perfect, harmonious +scheme of colour. Encircling this was a dense wood, and the visitors +could not help noticing the strange fact that though the grass was as +brilliantly green as any on Earth in spring, all other vegetation, such +as trees and shrubs, was a russet-brown, here and there tinged with +red, like the colours on Earth in autumn. Their attention was also +forcibly drawn to the grass, which on Earth grows thin and sparsely +under trees and in all places where light cannot reach it, but here +was, in such situations, as thick and velvety and as luscious as in the +open, proving that this vegetation was not so dependent on light as +that on Earth. Almost immediately they had stepped on the thick, mossy +turf they felt all their doubts needless, and there came over them a +feeling of serenity and confidence that altogether disarmed suspicion +of evil. + +Passing along this velvety carpet, they approached the bordering +wood and entered its delightful shade. Here were thousands of flowers +which on Earth bloom only in certain seasons, all growing together—the +primrose, violet, daffodil, rose, chrysanthemum fuchsia, snowdrop, and +countless others in splendid profusion, giving the air a ravishing +perfume. A few yards further on was a long, untrimmed hedge of +sweetbriar, and as the breeze bore its exquisite fragrance towards +them, they could not withstand the desire to sit under its pleasant +shade, quietly to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. + +From the elevation of their approach in the ship, this Bonian “Kidney” +had seemed to them an ideal place; the country waved in undulating +stretches of land and water—here a sea, there a lake, and running +between and beyond were many silver streaks of river, narrowing and +fading into seeming strands of silver wire. As they lay beside the +deliciously scented hedge, they saw beyond them a long level stretch of +grass like a well-kept lawn, ending in a glimpse of blue sea. + +“Let us go to the shore,” suggested Dennis; and looking round, +continued,—“isn’t this a glorious country! I feel the mild air +invigorating me so much that I glory in being alive!” + +“I never dreamed of anything so delightful!” exclaimed Ross, drawing in +a full breath of the sweet air, almost chewing it in his enjoyment. + +“Come along then!” cried Gilbert. “I feel like a boy again, and I’m +going to have a swim in that sea, if I get sharked!” + +Across the moorland they went, and soon came to a cliff of earth down +which they scrambled to the beach—a stretch of beautiful sands. Some +two miles distant there jutted into the sea a long, flat rock with +deep water around it; Ross pointed this out and suggested bathing from +there, so in order to get a better view they reclimbed the cliff and +walked along the edge of it to the spot indicated. The walking here +was as easy and soft as on the richest carpet; the grass was thick and +mossy, and below this were several inches of peat. The cliffs were +most peculiar in shape, some sharp at the top like a long knife-edge, +others pointed like needles, and all of a soft, red sandstone. Very +soon they came to the outer edge of this promontory, which divided two +bays and ran into the sea like a long and attenuated letter V, and they +stood lost in delighted wonderment, for the coast beyond was opened +out before them in a mighty sweep; in and out the line went, bordered +with an edging of sand and rocks and seaweed and splashing, sparkling +foam from the broken waves, as if a long piece of diamond-trimmed lace +had been laid open to view. Below them, the sea had hollowed out great +basins in the rocks, forming gigantic pools of immense depth, and rocks +innumerable were scattered about, giving plain evidence of the power of +the Bonian sea. These rocks were spread open and piled upon each other, +their peculiar square shapes resembling enormous toy bricks. + +Full of the vigour of life and joyously exhilarated with the beauty of +the scene, the explorers raced down the cliff and bathed in one of the +pools, to their great enjoyment. After running about in the sun till +dry, they dressed and retraced their steps, but had not proceeded far +before they began to feel very uncomfortable. The sea-water had been +somewhat sticky, and though they were quite dry before they dressed, +their skin and clothing were now united, and their hair also was matted +into one solid piece like a shell, all shrinking in the sunshine to +a painful extent. Their clothing not being quite so elastic as their +skin, considerably impeded their progress, so much so as soon to stop +it altogether, and at last they could walk no more but had to tumble +down as gently as their stiffened limbs would permit. + +“Now we’re in for it!” groaned Dennis. + +“It’s glorious!” said Ross, ruefully. “I feel like a capsuled herring! +And here we shall be, in full view of Earth telescopes!” + +“I never thought of that!” exclaimed Gilbert, trying to laugh, but his +stiffened face refused to bend into a smile, and the laugh turned into +a kind of choke. “But I doubt if they will be able to pick us out, +though if they can, we shall have been giving them an entertainment to +some tune!” + +“I am afraid we shall have to roll down the cliff into the sea again +and stay there till this gummy stuff has softened,” said Dennis, +through his teeth, for it was next to impossible to move his lips +without cracking his skin. + +“And if we do, we shall be in the same state again,” mumbled Ross, +with closed mouth. “Besides, how could we swim? We should just flop +over with a smack into the mouth of the first fish that chanced to be +waiting. Oh, my nose itches terribly! Could you reach it with your +elbow, or knee, or foot, or anything, Dennis? I positively can’t bend +my arm! My limbs are held as if in a vice.” And he rolled over like a +semi-animated mummy and rubbed his face in the grass, which made him +sneeze. “I believe that’s split my face off; I felt it crack! And my +nose is worse than ever. It’s awful!” he spluttered. “How is it that +when you can’t or daren’t scratch, some inaccessible place itches and +tickles till one gets frantic?” + +“For the very same reason that if you forget your pocket-handkerchief, +you don’t need it till you recollect it isn’t there, and then you want +it urgently,” said Gilbert; and then suddenly,—“didn’t we pass a stream +in coming? I believe we are close by it; let us roll in and soak till +we get limp.” + +With that the ‘expedition’ rolled over and over painfully for a hundred +yards or so, when they got to the bank, down which they tumbled into +the narrow and shallow stream which flowed from a spring a little +higher on the hill. Down they went, one after the other, all in line, +the head of one to the feet of the one higher, which was accomplished +with considerable pain and difficulty. Their bodies dammed up the +narrow stream, and in a short time the water was raised sufficiently +high to flow over them. + +“We shall soon soften now,” observed Dennis, painfully trying to +brighten up the spirits of his companions. + +“I hope we shall, for my only object in life just now is to kill a +beetle which is stuck on my eyebrow, and he won’t be worked off, the +brute!” exclaimed Ross, irritably. “I believe he is either plucking it +out or biting it off!” + +“Keep calm, old man!” said Gilbert, soothingly, “it shows his +appreciation of you, and you ought to feel flattered—Great Bona! A gnat +or something is biting my nose, and I can’t wash him off!” + +“Keep calm, old man!” repeated Ross, mockingly, “it shows his +appreciation!” + +“That’s all very well, Ross, but——” and Gilbert broke off to laugh, or +rather, he attempted to do so. + +With jest and banter they whiled away the time, but in the course of +about half an hour they were chilled to the bone, though they were limp +again. The first to get up was Dennis, the lowest, who, with stiffened +joints, painfully knelt, then turned round, saying, “How do you feel +now, both of—— Great Bona!” he suddenly ejaculated, at the same time +remaining with one knee in the water, as though turned to stone, his +eyes starting with astonishment, the while his two friends stared at +him in wild alarm. They did not remove their gaze from his face for an +instant, whilst he gazed at them as though bewitched. Still looking +at Dennis, Ross scrambled up and approached him, in doing which he +had to pass Gilbert, who was in the middle. In the act of passing, he +glanced at him, then stood still, staring first at him and then at +Dennis, as if transfixed, whilst Gilbert, at sight of him, was too +surprised to make any further effort to rise, but sat where he was in +the stream-bed, the water pouring past on each side of him. + +“Am I mad, or are you?” blurted out Dennis. “I swear you are both as +blue as blue-bottle flies!” + +“I?” queried each of the others, in one breath. “You two are!” + +“Do you mean to say _I_ am the colour of you two?” exclaimed Ross, in +amazement. + +“If _my_ face is as yours,” uttered Gilbert, despairingly, “I shall die +with grief!” + +“Look at our hands and clothes!” exclaimed Ross, so ruefully that +Dennis burst into uncontrollable laughter, sitting back in the stream +without noticing it, his friends joining in the mirth till they could +laugh no more, and then they all stripped only to find they were dyed +from head to foot a brilliant and magnificent blue—hair, skin, nails, +as well as clothing. + +“Well! this _is_ a glorious picnic!” laughed Dennis, boisterously. + +“It’s all very well to laugh,” remonstrated Ross, himself at the same +time laughing heartily, “but the honour of Britain is at stake, and if +we meet any natives here, they’ll think us humans a bright lot with +this sample before them.” + +“Oh, don’t! Ross,” pleaded Gilbert, holding his paining sides tightly. +“Don’t! don’t, I am sore. I can’t laugh any more, I really can’t!” + +“Bright lot!” gasped Dennis, in jerks, for speech was painful with +excessive laughter; “we _are_ a bright lot, polished like mirrors. For +Bona’s sake tell me if my tears are blue, or if they’ve washed any blue +off my face! No? Then we are permanently and beautifully blue.” And +they had another fit of laughter. + +“How are we to dry ourselves?” asked Gilbert; “by the time this +coating has dried we shall perhaps be stiff again.” + +“Oh, don’t trouble, Gilbert, old man!” replied Dennis, airily. “We’ll +find another stream and soak ourselves red, or green, or something; one +or two colours more won’t matter much now!” + +“I say, you fellows, be serious!” panted Ross. “Think a bit, if you +can! Don’t you see that this is beyond a joke? If we come across any +folk here, what _will_ they think of us?” + +By dint of each insisting on the others taking it seriously they began +to talk the matter over, and could only conclude that one of the waters +must have contained some substance similar to potassium ferrocyanide, +but non-poisonous, and the other some ingredient like a ferric +chloride, and the long immersion had precipitated prussian blue—dyed +them blue. What the substance really was they could not tell, for +though they got samples of both waters later and analysed them, they +could find no chemicals with which they were acquainted, and none of +the reagents known on Earth revealed anything in either sample except +H_{2}O, leaving a considerable quantity of unknown substance—and always +each was harmless alone, yet when the two were mixed together, though +the water remained perfectly transparent, any substance of Earth placed +in the mixture became dyed a fast blue. + +“Let us get back to the ship,” said Dennis; “it is only prussian blue, +and we can get it off in the lab.” + +“And let us hope no natives will see us till we are ourselves again,” +rejoined Gilbert. “Ross is in a sweat about his complexion!” + +Laughing gaily, they made tracks for the _Regina’s_ laboratory, where +their troubles would soon be at an end. After proceeding about half-way +to the vessel, they were both surprised and annoyed to see several +people step out of the wood and cross the open to meet them. + +“Drat it all!” ejaculated Ross, exasperated. “Why couldn’t they have +waited a little till we had got this wretched stuff off.” + +“‘In for a penny, in for a pound,’ as the old saying is,” said Dennis, +laughing, but feeling much embarrassed. + +By this time the Bonians had met them, expressing no surprise at +sight of their visitors, whom they saluted by placing two fingers on +their foreheads. Then they talked fast and long in a language quite +unintelligible to the explorers, who themselves were not understood. + +“Here’s a treat!” said Gilbert; “we know about a dozen languages +between us and not a word they can understand.” Then turning to the +natives, he pointed to where the Earth was and, utterly oblivious of +the fact that talking was no use, he continued, with pointings and +energetic gesticulations, “We have come from there,” pointing to Earth, +“in that ship,” pointing to it, “to see here,” pointing downwards and +embracing the whole country with a wave of his arm, and speaking very +loudly and distinctly. + +Whether they thought he was mad or not is doubtful, but they drew apart +and talked together, looking in turn at the strangers and their ship. +At last one of them ran swiftly to the wood, the others still standing +silently apart, and Ross said, “Let us get into the ship and take this +stuff off, we can talk with these people after,” at the same time +stepping forward. + +Immediately these innocent-looking people advanced to bar the way, and +held across the path one of some curious thin rods they carried and +which the visitors thought were wood, but which were really highly +magnetic steel, for instantly the three travellers became rigid, unable +to move a limb, and experiencing all the tingling sensation of a +galvanic shock. + +For a few minutes they stood thus, with the rod before them held at +each end by one of the natives, when from amongst the trees came about +fifty others, all similarly armed. One, evidently the chief, stepped +out and signed for the rod to be removed, and with its removal, the +power of speech and motion returned to the visitors. Gilbert, who was +a little peppery, drew his revolver, more for show than anything, +but whether his expression gave him away, or they suspected danger, +movement was again made impossible by the holding before him of one of +the rods. + +Again did the king, or leader, sign for the rod to be lowered, and +for the second time the strangers were free, and they were now more +cautious. It was, however, impossible to understand or be understood, +so Dennis tore a leaf out of his pocket-book, but as he could make no +visible impression on the deep blue paper by his equally blue pencil, +he pointed to the sky and drew lines on the ground to represent +the solar system, with leaves for the planets, which they at once +recognised. For as a great portion of the atmosphere is practically +devoid of particles by means of which sunlight could be reflected, the +stars and the solar system are distinctly visible in the broad daylight +on a dark sky—as is the case on Mars and on Luna. The Bonians instantly +corrected Dennis in the position of their planet, fixing the satellite +where she was at that particular moment, proving they were _au fait_ in +the science of astronomy. By this means they comprehended the situation +and immediately, by signs and tokens, showed their friendliness and +laid down their weapons. + +The visitors also put down their arms, which excited much curiosity, +and Ross explained their action by shooting at a stone, but they were +primitive compared with the rods, which instantly stopped all movement +and rendered anything impotent; when necessary, these rods would fuse +stone and bring steel to a white heat; they were not used to take life, +for the Bonians never killed or tortured any living creature. + +The three visitors had forgotten about their shining complexions, +until one of the natives pointed in comparison to his own white skin +and to the face of Ross. Poor Ross nearly died with mortification, +for he was fair and clear-skinned—that peculiar clearness which often +accompanies chestnut hair—and of all these things he was vain. It was +his only weakness, and to be suddenly recalled to fact by so personal +a reference humiliated him terribly. He tried to make them understand, +and in part succeeded by rousing their curiosity without convincing +them; so thinking he would be in good company, he, by signs, persuaded +several of them to bathe in the sea, which was not difficult, seeing +they were fond of it. Ross then managed to make them comprehend that +they had to dry in the sun, which they also did willingly enough, +little thinking of the surprise he had in store for them in the change +that was coming, for he determined they should repeat his experiences +and get blued, but he was a little disappointed to find their linen to +be still soft and not at all sticky, nor were the people stiffened in +their clothing as the visitors had been, and to the touch their hair +was still soft and loose. However, these matters were mere details and +Ross proceeded with his joke, grimly determined to blue his victims +as effectively as he and his friends were dyed. When they came to the +stream he tried to persuade them to lie still in it, in their clothing, +but they did not see this at all, and only the desire of the chief +personage to please the visitors caused them to comply with Ross’s +request, and there they stayed, minute after minute, in their clothing, +for about half an hour, at the end of which time their skins were +undyed and their linen was white as before. + +At last they got up and squeezed the water out of their clothing, +feeling that it was a funny sort of joke, the point of which neither +they nor their companions could see—nor could the visitors, and poor +Ross, who had run the whole entertainment, both looked and felt +foolish and, if possible, bluer than ever, especially when the people +seemed to ask for an explanation of his joke and evidently considered +the strangers a true specimen of those living on Earth. + +It was plain the Bonians were not of the same substance as Earthy folk, +and therefore only the laboratory could restore the Terrestrians to +their personal comfort and, in Ross’s case, good looks, for the other +two didn’t mind much, not having so much to lose. So off they started +straight for the ship, like three enormous blue-bottle flies walking +upright, sans wings, with a crowd of fair, English-flesh-coloured +people in their wake. Telling them by signs that they would soon come +out again the same colour as the natives, they rushed to the laboratory +and bathed themselves first in one thing and then another, but nothing +would make the slightest impression on their blueness. They were +well and truly dyed and polished with a very fast colour, and at the +end of their exertions, with blistered, sore and cracking skin, they +had to face the fact as it stood, and trust to time to bring them to +their normal condition. Meanwhile the Bonians were free to consider +all people on Earth like the sample submitted, which was felt to be a +severe blow to England’s pride and glory as represented by the three +explorers, and to Ross in particular, for apparently never more would +his clear skin and chestnut hair be admired by any one unless they were +predisposed to take the blues. + +“We’ve got to stay here till we pale again, that’s clear!” declared he, +emphatically. “I shall never go back to England this colour, if I never +go at all!” + +“And I have no ambition to be one of the first blue men on the face of +the Earth!” agreed Gilbert, ruefully. + +“We’ll see!” said Dennis, cheerily. “It may wear off in a day or two.” + +“That’s all right; the people here think we are naturally blue, and we +cannot undeceive them, worse luck! But I am certainly not going to give +any others a sight of myself just yet!” retorted Ross, saying which he +set about preparing their simple meal, it being his turn. + +“We have not attempted to telepath with these people,” remarked Dennis, +after their meal. “Thought is universal and knows no language, and +we might be able to exchange ideas that way as conversation is not +possible.” + +“Certainly!” replied Gilbert. “We can try it anyway, and if successful +they may perhaps tell us how we can get rid of this dreadful metallic +blueness, and ease Ross’s mind. I see they are waiting for us.” + +The three then descended, and by telepathy they soon found a ready +means of communicating thought, and all difficulties were at an end. +Seeing their skins cracked and blistered, the Bonians gave them +some kind of ointment which, when applied, proved both soothing and +healing, and on hearing the story of their adventure at the spring, +were considerably astonished; as such a change of colour was unknown to +them, it could only come from a peculiarity in the Earthian skin and +clothing, which combined with the chemicals in the water to produce +dye, and after some little experimenting by the natives, a lotion was +made for their visitors which gradually dissolved the blue pigment on +the skin. In the course of two months desquamation commenced over the +whole surface of the body, and a week or so later, after the scales had +fallen, the travellers were flesh-coloured once more, for which they +were devoutly thankful. + +In the meantime they had learned enough of the new language to make +themselves understood and to understand conversation, which, added to +telepathy, made them feel very much as if with friends, as they were. +They found the Bonians much more advanced in some things than the +people of Earth, whilst in others they were not so capable. They were +in constant communication with Venus, Mars, and all the planets of +the solar system except Earth, which alone seemed to be cut off from +telepathic influence. Messages could be sent by all to Earth, but they +were not understood, nor had any communication ever been received from +there by any of the planets. The Bonians were unable to say definitely +where the fault lay—whether the atmosphere surrounding Earth was not +favourable to telepathic messages from and to other worlds, or if the +perceptions of the Earthians were not sufficiently sensitive to other +influences; they thought the latter, and they were probably right, for +it transpired that at the first meeting by the spring, finding speech +impossible, they had earnestly telepathed, to no purpose, and though +but a few yards distant, the desire to use transmission of thought had +not suggested itself to the visitors till several hours had been spent +on the planet, whereas the desire should have been coincident with +their own; and while the natives telepathed easily, the three visitors +could only do so with difficulty though accustomed to it on their own +world, and when the people were not actually present, the Earthians +could not telepath to them or receive their messages, proving the +inferior mental perceptions of the Earth people. + +It was most remarkable that no reply could come from Earth to +the Bonians, yet the three visitors could hold communication at +all times, and at the first thought it seemed to point to the +superiority of Earth, but not so when it was remembered that the +travellers were obliged to use special and elaborate ‘wave’ apparatus +in delicate sympathy with those on Earth, whereas the Bonians +and all other inhabitants of the solar system conversed by pure +telepathy—transmission of thought—alone, without instruments. + +Dennis and his friends determined to put Bona in direct communication +with Earth by making another ‘wave’ apparatus like their own for +the natives, and after considerable time and trouble they succeeded +and, proud of their achievement, sent the first message from actual +Bonian soil. What was their astonishment, however, to find all their +work useless, for although the messages were really sent, Earth +did not receive any of them. They could ‘wave’ from the _Regina_, +but not from the planet; and after several weeks of most assiduous +experimenting, they were compelled to abandon the project and bow to +the inevitable—Earth and Earth alone was the one outcast in the system +over which old Sol ruled. + +Disappointing as was the failure, it added considerably to the already +unique powers of the vessel, which, by some mysterious affinity in its +control of gravity, was alone enabled to hold communication with the +instruments on Earth, with which its own were in sympathy. + +“Can you tell us, positively, what was the cause of your planet’s +coming into the Earth’s orbit?” asked Dennis, _àpropos_ of the subject +of gravitation which was under discussion. + +“We do not know exactly,” was the reply; “according to the records we +were at one time beyond the star you call Neptune. We were even then +in the solar system as we are now, but had a double orbit, one round a +subsidiary sun as one of the members of a small solar family, and the +whole system of which we were a part revolved round our present sun, +but far outside the orbit of Neptune, and altogether invisible to your +Earth. The sun round which we revolved became cold, too cold to retain +its system, and we were more closely drawn into that of the greater +sun.” + +“We on Earth know very little indeed of the limitless space beyond +Neptune,” said Ross; “our instruments reveal little to us beyond space +after space, and stars and more space _ad infinitum_.” + +“It is, of course, the same with us now,” replied the Bonian, “but on +our former charts which you see here”—showing a collection—“you will +observe our original position, from which our present sun shows in the +photograph as an exceedingly fine spot—a star of the twenty-seventh +magnitude, as you would class them. Our world and its former sun +would then be quite invisible to you, as you say the limit of your +instruments is about the twenty-seventh magnitude. From the position +shown here we very slowly approached your orbit, for you will see from +these various photographs that Neptune was too far away to influence +us, as was Uranus, and we crossed the orbit of Saturn at this point, +when the planet was here”—showing the position on the map—“Jupiter was +far away here with Mars opposite—as you see—and as we were progressing +in this direction, you will notice by the position of your world in +this photograph that we were travelling straight for it, and the +voluminous records of the time state the terrible catastrophe that +seemed imminent. However, as opposing forces when equal repel one +another, we did not approach near enough to collide, and your somewhat +stronger gravity retained us, and we described a new orbit round +your Earth which does not seem to have affected our world in any way +beyond a slight alteration of the climate, to which the people became +accustomed along with the change, which was, of course, gradual.” + +“We supposed some such cause must have effected the approach of your +world,” said Gilbert, “and many theories have been given by Earth +scientists, but we are indeed glad to have the matter placed beyond +doubt, strange as the explanation seems.” + +The Bonians were so generous as to give the travellers copies of all +the photographs shown them, together with many celestial photographs +of the unthinkable space beyond Neptune, which were taken centuries +before, when the planet revolved in a different system; also a copy of +the ancient records. These constituted priceless gifts, and were of +inestimable benefit to the whole world of Earth, giving, as they did, a +verified account of the annexation by Earth of a moon. + +They discovered that the Bonians were highly skilled in botany, and +that they were to a great extent responsible for much of the vegetation +on the planets belonging to the present solar system, as they had been +in the previous system, and therefore the friends aptly named them +the “spirits of vegetation.” On Bona were millions and millions of +varieties of trees, plants, flowers, herbage and grasses, which they +cultivated, sending the germs of their life on ether in the form of +microscopically fine dust, which travelled to certain of the planets +in such measure and variety as the individual worlds required, where +they fell more or less abundantly as the climatic conditions were +favourable, and it devolved on the Bonians to keep the worlds supplied; +otherwise, should the seeds fail to be propagated by birds, insects, or +by other plants, the variety would then die out. Here then would seem +to originate the first germs, or the early forms of vegetable life, +and by careful guarding and cross-fertilisation they obtained endless +varieties, some suited to extremes of heat and cold. During one of +the conversations, while the explorers were watching some luxuriant +blooms which would probably, they thought, become parasites on Earth, +perhaps some new order of orchid, the question was raised as to how +some similar plants would grow—as they eventually would—on warm lava, +and the natives told them that the plants were inoculated with a grub +of a certain bug which would withstand any heat, even fire. Gilbert +and Ross appeared a little incredulous, when Dennis observed,—“That +is not so very extraordinary, if you come to think it over, for many +parasitic forms of life in flesh-meat will withstand continued cooking +and then develop in the body of the eater, which is one of the reasons, +as you know, why our food is sterilised, compressed and enclosed in +hermetically sealed and germ-proof capsules. Microbes also may be +frozen in meat and remain inactive for years, yet be full of life and +grow on the meat being thawed.” + +“Of course,” responded Gilbert; “now I come to think of it, Ross and +I bought a mummy to experiment with some years ago, and when we had +finished we set it on fire, and the gums and spices and seeds used in +embalming burned furiously. We then threw the ashes on the garden and a +dozen or more of the seeds took root and grew, although they were over +three thousand years old and had passed through fire, so burning does +not always destroy life.” + +“No, it does not,” assented Ross, “for I myself obtained plants from +some seeds which I found embedded in lava, when I was unearthing some +buried ruins. I had forgotten it for the moment.” He then sank into +silence. Shortly Dennis asked him a question, but he was thinking so +deeply that he did not hear; instead of answering he turned to a native +and asked,—“Will this microbe, or grub, or whatever it is, stand actual +fire, like hot lava, or burning gums?” + +“Certainly,” was the answer. “It is sent over to us from a certain +place in Jupiter. They cultivate it there and may give you some if you +wish it. I will inquire, but I must leave you to be alone;” saying +which he left them to transmit the message, returning shortly to say, +“I have a reply. If you go to Jupiter, and travel round the planet till +you find a large mountain with a crater like a flat cross, the people +will meet you there.” + +“Could you not give us some of yours?” inquired Dennis, “and so prevent +the risk of our getting wrong?” + +“No, you would have to get them from the animal direct and breed them +on your Earth to do any good. Ours are reared here, and would die if +they were taken away.” + +All were considerably excited, and determined to take a few specimens +of this extraordinary creature back to Earth as a curiosity, but in +discussing the matter, a daring scheme occurred to them which this +bug might be the means of accomplishing. The Bonians advised them to +enlist the services of a clever microscopist and bacteriologist, in +order that they might deal with the creatures scientifically from the +outset. This, of course, necessitated a journey back to Earth, and as +they were now their normal selves there was no reason for delaying +their departure; they therefore decided to return home the following +week, which would make a three months’ stay on Bona, so this news was +‘waved’ to Earth, in accordance with the prearranged custom; for at the +close of each day they had carefully ‘waved’ their doings in detail—all +except the blueness and the object of their return; the former seemed +unnecessary, and it would be soon enough to publish the latter when the +bug was within their grasp. + +“Now about the expert. Who will be best? Godfrey Spenser?” asked Ross, +in the midst of their preparations for departure. + +“Most decidedly!” responded Dennis; “but we must look after him, as he +is a bit of a crank.” + +“Very much so,” agreed Ross, laughing. “In his own line he is a genius, +but strange to say, he has a fixed idea that his special forte is in +electricity, about which he knows just enough to kill us all if we +don’t mind.” + +“Oh, he’ll be all right on board,” declared Dennis. “Once get him on +the grub and microbe tack and he’ll forget to meddle.” + +“We must hope so, anyway!” answered Ross. + +“I only know him as a microscopist,” said Gilbert, smiling. + +“In that he stands alone,” said Ross. “Shall we have him if he’ll come?” + +“I think so, if Gilbert is agreeable,” replied Dennis; and on Gilbert +assenting, he continued, “I am sure we couldn’t do better, and as for +coming, he’ll be only too glad; he pressed me to allow him to come here +with us, but I thought it best not.” + +A week soon passed, and with many a good-bye and promise of speedy +return they entered their vessel, and a few minutes later were slowly +soaring upwards from the strange and beautiful Bona. Once outside her +atmosphere, they made straight for Earth, and when nearing home, long +lines of ships, flying electric bunting, honoured their home-coming and +sailed with them to Derwent. + +This time the aërial regulations were perfect and the _Regina_ settled +into her shed like a falling feather, her passengers coming out a +little later to receive their hero-worship. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + AN INNOCENT OFFENDER + + + “Mischief that may be helped, is hard to know, + And danger going on still multiplies; + When harm hath many wings, care comes too late. + (+Lord Brooke.+) + +“I knew you’d have to send for me, Dennis, old man!” exclaimed Godfrey +Spenser, as he flung open the door, threw his coat on a seat close by +from which it fell unheeded to the floor, and sat down amongst the +three friends, all in a rush; “and here you are only back two days and +you’re stuck.” + +“Yes, Godfrey, we’re stuck, as you say, and want your assistance,” +replied Dennis, smiling. “Can you go back with us?” + +“When?” + +“As soon as you like. It is now mid-September; can you go in a week?” + +“I told you, Dennis, and you too, Ross, you’d never manage that ship +alone; with all your theoretical knowledge of electricity, you need +a practical hand; I will undertake that and help you out. I never +expected to see you again, and when you stuck on the Kidney so long, I +told folks it was very doubtful if you would be able to work her back, +reversed.” + +“It was very good of you, Godfrey,” replied Dennis, laughing, as did +the others. “Very good indeed, but I think that between us we can +manage the working all right—anyway we have done so far. What we want +you for is not that at all.” + +“Oh!” ejaculated Godfrey in surprise. + +“While we were on Bona,” resumed Dennis, “the folks there told us of a +microbe that would stand fire of any degree of heat, and we have been +thinking you could help us to cultivate some for a little scheme we +have.” + +“Microbe? Rubbish!” snapped Godfrey. + +“We think it’s a microbe,” said Ross. + +“Tell me all you know,” ordered Godfrey, now keenly interested. + +“Tell him, Ross,” said Dennis. + +“No, you,” said Ross; and Dennis began,— + +“You are aware, from our ‘waves,’ that the Bonians supply the solar +system with vegetation of all kinds, even that which grows in hot +climates and, in some places, on volcanoes, for which purpose they +import a microbe from Jupiter, which in some way fertilises the plant, +or does something else——” + +“That’s extremely lucid,” interrupted Godfrey; “we shall come to +something at this rate!” + +“This microbe goes through several metamorphoses,” continued Dennis, +smiling, “and finally winds itself in a cocoon and then——” + +“Microbe, did you say?” asked Godfrey, incredulously. + +“Yes, certainly!” + +“Why certainly? not grub, for instance?” + +“Perhaps; microbe, or grub; they’re the same thing,” answered Dennis, +lightly. + +“Are they? It’s about time you had a tutor, young man!” said Godfrey, +severely. + +“Why! what’s the difference?” + +“Poor fellow! get on with your story!” said Godfrey, wearily, and +Dennis proceeded,— + +“Briefly, Godfrey, what we want is this. You are to go with us to +Jupiter—not to help us, or do anything at the vessel; you’ll have to +promise us that—but to lay in a stock of these microbes, or grubs, or +whatever you call them, and feed them up so that they’ll cocoon for us; +then you’ll unwind these cocoons or deal with them so as to give us +some material to make into fine gauze, or cloth, or net—we shall have +to experiment with it to see which form is best, and if things turn out +well we will all go to the sun!” + +“The sun!” almost shouted Godfrey, in amazement, sitting bolt upright +with a jerk. “Are you mad?” + +“Not at all,” said Ross, calmly; “and you are coming with us, Godfrey. +We can’t do without you.” + +“But the heat! You would all be burnt up!” + +“If our experiments are successful,” said Gilbert, “we shall not be +more than warm. The idea is startling at first, it startled us; but +if what the Bonians told us is correct—and we have no reason to doubt +it—this cocoon should not admit the passage of heat and flame; and +we thought that if the net really would withstand heat and was also +sufficiently strong to withstand passage through air, we would envelop +the whole ship in it and be proof against any heat, even that of the +sun.” + +“But you might want millions and millions of grubs and cocoons, which +would probably take years,” broke in Godfrey, still incredulous. + +“That’s why we want you, Godfrey,” replied Ross; “you see we don’t +understand these things.” + +“Cela va sans dire!” observed Godfrey, drily. + +“You must come with us,” pressed Dennis. “The folk in Jupiter will tell +you all about them, and you’ve got to provide us with enough net or +gauze to cover the ship. For doing this we’ll take you to the sun as a +specially privileged passenger. Now, is that a bargain?” + +“If any one else had asked me that question but you two,” returned +Godfrey, looking at Dennis and Ross, whom he had known for many years, +“I should have said they had gone stark, staring mad. You, sir,” +looking at Gilbert, “I only know by repute; I never met you before, +so I have no means of gauging your mental balance, but if it is +anything like as far gone as theirs, there never was such a foolhardy, +crack-brained project as we four idiots will be engaged in.” + +“Then you’re going with us?” exclaimed all three excitedly. + +“Of course I am! I’ve said so all along,” replied Godfrey, quietly, +“and if we come back in an uncremated form I shall be surprised.” + +“Of course we shall test the thing severely first,” said Gilbert. “When +can you start?” + +“Any time. Where’s Jupiter now?” + +“I looked it up to-day,” replied Gilbert. “He is due to reach his +meridian about midnight, and will be visible all night. As seen from +here he will be opposite the sun—that is ‘in opposition’—on the 15th +of October, or a month from to-day, and at his best time for approach. +As viewed from here he will be moving towards the right in Aquarius, +and Luna will pass over him on the fourth and thirtieth of next month, +October.” + +“And how will that fit in?” + +“Excellently, if we start in a week, better still in four days.” + +“Right!” said Godfrey. “And is the whole thing to be kept quiet?” + +“As the grave!” replied Dennis. “We want to be off without any fuss +this time, and have decided to go on a cloudy night, and not show +ourselves till well away.” + +“Then I’ll be mum,” said Godfrey, “and get off to find some apparatus; +we shall want a tidy pile of things. I’ll send them to the shed +to-morrow or the next day and be here myself the day following, that is +three days from now, and you can start the first cloudy night you like +after that. How will that fit in?” + +“Splendidly,” they all cried, delighted. + +Ten minutes later Godfrey’s airship was waiting outside a wholesale +store, the proprietor almost overcome at the magnitude of the orders +given. + +On the nineteenth of September the night was very black and stormy, +with lowering clouds and a strong drizzle of rain. Very few ships were +out and none near, for no one suspected the _Regina_ would stay but +four or five days after being away three months, so that nobody thought +it worth while to commence a systematic watch on the shed so soon, and +on such a night those aloft were in their cabins, making themselves +as cosy as possible with nothing exposed to the elements except the +regulation guard and location-lights. + +The four travellers, therefore, reached the shed unseen by any one, and +this time very silently, like a silver spirit, the _Regina_ rose in +the cold and pitiless rain. Every light in the vessel was concealed, +and in the saloon the only lights were a few hooded lamps over the +switch-board, at which stood Gilbert, directing the movements of the +vessel. Godfrey was standing at the other side of the room, his face +pressed close against the window, his nose flattened out like a piece +of rubber, quite unconscious of the grotesqueness of his appearance, so +absorbed was he, for he had, of course, never been up so high before. + +“I say, Ross, she’s a beauty!” he exclaimed, as Ross came and stood +beside him. “She travels as sweetly as a swan, and I don’t feel +the least motion or vibration in the engines. It was a good thing +you joined Dennis, though I’d have found the thing out myself, if +he’d asked me. Just fancy such a fine ship being unapproachable for +centuries! Great Bona! what is that? She’s struck!” he cried, in +horror, as an enormous cloud that they had just cut through burst with +an awful simultaneous flash and roar; the same instant the _Regina_ +became a mass of living flame which seemed to set fire to the +whole heavens, and the clouds around them became one solid sheet of +electricity. + +“Now, how would you deal with that, Godfrey?” queried Ross, quietly. + +“Say my prayers!” replied Godfrey, briefly, decidedly frightened, +though somewhat reassured by the general indifference of his companions +who, he saw, were paying no attention to the furies outside, so he +turned to Ross and inquired, “Is there not danger?” + +“Not a bit!” answered Ross. “Every flash that strikes calls out the +same, or more, power from the ship to resist it. She has her repulsive +force on now, and no matter what force she is passing through, that +force is repulsed—unit for unit—and even more, so that it merely +amounts to splutter on both sides, and the forces being always equally +opposed, the result is nil, for the ship not only takes no hurt, but +proceeds in spite of everything.” + +“It looks frightening enough, anyway,” observed Godfrey, considerably +awed by the sight which so engrossed his attention that he did not +notice Dennis letting out a small cup-shaped object which he caused to +fall, when it sank some distance on a flexible wire which ran off its +roller at enormous speed. All at once he saw it and asked what it was, +and its object. + +“It’s a floating light,” replied Dennis; “it will fall till it is a +quarter of a mile over the shed, when it will meet its equilibrium +and remain poised—see, it is slowing up; now it has stopped and there +is slack, for its weight sank it too low and it has now risen and +is floating in perfect poise. I fire it through this switch on the +roller, which at the same time releases the cord by fusing the soft +connecting-wire, and you see the cord is rewinding; the shed and a mile +round it will be lit up with a red light for thirty hours. That’s our +good-bye signal.” + +“But they can’t see us, I suppose?” asked Godfrey, looking down and +seeing a glow come through the clouds below them like the effulgence of +a rising sun. + +“No,” answered Dennis, “the clouds are too thick, but all will know by +the light that we are here, and Gilbert is ‘waving’ soon, so there’ll +be a fine scramble for the disk afterwards.” + +“Really!” said Godfrey. “I read of that paper business the last time +you went up, but I thought there was nothing in it.” + +“You unbelieving sinner! you’re as bad as the rest!” laughed Dennis, +and having wound the last of the cord, he attached another soft-wire +terminal so that it should be ready for any similar purpose at a +moment’s notice, and passed on to another part of the ship, leaving +Godfrey examining the wire reel. Whilst he was standing there Gilbert +passed on his way to the ‘wave’ apparatus and cautioned Godfrey, “Don’t +touch that, old man, or there’ll be trouble!” + +“Oh, I know all about these things, Gilbert. I shall come to no harm,” +responded Godfrey, smiling confidently, and walking away. + +A few minutes later, a blinding flash of light went across the room, +accompanied by the peculiar crackle of a powerful short-circuit, +immediately followed by a yell of pain and terror from Godfrey. + +“You idiot!” shouted Ross, “why can’t you keep your fingers out of +mischief? Didn’t you promise us faithfully that you’d touch nothing?” + +“I’m awfully sorry, Ross, I am indeed!” said Godfrey, contritely, but +whether from the broken promise, or from the pain he felt, only he +knew, as he turned away nursing his badly blistered hand. “I only moved +that switch on the roller to see what it would do.” + +“Well, you’ve seen now! and if you do any more of your monkey tricks +we’ll put you in a cabin and keep you prisoner. You don’t know +what you’re doing when you move switches here, and you might kill +us all. Now don’t let it occur again!” and highly incensed Ross +attached another terminal on the wire, and the other two running up +gave the culprit a few forcible admonitions; after which Godfrey +humbly apologised, saying he would not transgress again, at the same +time protesting they were throwing his kindness in his face, when +electricity was his forte and he wanted to assist in order to relieve +them. + +Tranquillity being restored, Godfrey strolled to a window to look out, +and very shortly he cried: “Oh! do look here, ‘triad’” (which word he +used when referring to the three), calling his friends to the window, +where they saw far behind them a great dark mass, getting slowly +smaller as they left it in the distance. “What is it? It has a halo of +light round it,” he cried, excitedly. + +“It’s our Earth,” said Gilbert, quietly. + +“That!” vociferated Godfrey. “Do you mean to say that we are now, so +soon, outside the Earth’s atmosphere?” + +They all laughed at his surprise, and Gilbert went on, “At this moment +we are about fifty thousand miles distant from Earth, and what you see +is the illumined atmosphere of the further side. If you go to the end +window, you will see we are going straight to Jupiter.” + +“Why straight?” queried Godfrey, staying where he was. + +“Because we always travel in a straight line.” + +“But can you not turn aside?” + +“Certainly, but after turning, by our own desire or the force of some +other body, the original normal position—the straight line—will be +resumed and maintained till again altered.” + +“Really!” exclaimed Godfrey. “But how about speed? How do you get it?” + +“We get our repulsive force from the gravity of a heavy body,” answered +Dennis; “and in the old days when the ship was first used, the +inventors could not control a greater attractive or repulsive force +than the gravity of the object from which they obtained it; but that +was long ago, and since then science has made great strides. Adding the +science of to-day to the secret of the ship’s power, we can get a force +equal to the force of the gravity of any particular source multiplied +some thousands of times, which makes the _Regina’s_ power irresistible. +For instance, we could exert more than a hundred thousand times the +power of Jupiter’s gravity, or the sun’s, and could displace both if we +wished.” + +“I should just like to see the sun go the other way round,” remarked +Godfrey, musingly. “Would it make much difference?” and as the trio +laughed, he continued, “Here, Gilbert, you’re the physicist! Give me +some particulars about this heat business, so that I can be thinking +things over by the time we get to Jupiter, to enable me to recognise +this fire-eating grub when I come across him. Give me his life-history +if you can; it will save a lot of trouble.” + +They all laughed, and Gilbert replied,—“You’ve got to find all that out +for yourself, old fellow; we know nothing more than you know already.” + +“But what _is_ heat? What temperature has the cocoon to stand, and how +and when and all the rest of it? You see, I’m working in the dark. Is +it heat as matter it must stand? And what is the effect of heat in +non-atmospheric space?” + +“That’s a big order,” responded Gilbert. “To begin with, until we get +the web we cannot tell how heat will affect it. As for what _is_ heat +it is difficult to say. We cannot take touch as a criterion, as we +might say a certain substance ‘feels’ hot or cold, such as wool being +classed amongst the hot and metal amongst the cold. Some scientists +say heat is ‘ponderable’ and others consider it ‘caloric’—a form of +‘matter,’ but to me both are wrong.” + +“How do you make that out?” queried Godfrey. + +“The fact that it is _im_ponderable is fully proved in that it cannot +be weighed, for it is well known that a cold substance does not +increase its weight on receiving heat, but remains the same weight as +before being heated, and it cannot by any possibility be considered +‘matter’ or its ‘quantity’ would remain unchangeable so far as human +means could influence it.” + +“How can that be?” + +“Because there are innumerable instances in which heat can be and is +regularly produced without either flame or combustion, such as raising +the temperature by friction, and you know that if several materials of +different degrees of heat are placed in the same room they will all +become eventually of the same temperature; thus, if a bucketful of iced +water is placed in a hot room it will itself be warmed and the air in +the room cooled till both are equal. This, therefore, disproves the +‘materiality’ of heat.” + +“But the laws of heat are constant, are they not?” + +“Not at all,” resumed Gilbert. “In some cases it is governed by certain +laws; in others it seems to set the same laws at defiance, giving +strange contradictions. Take water, for instance; most substances +expand by heat and contract by cold, but in water there are strange +anomalies, the scientific causes of which are mere hypotheses, though +their utility is well known. Only to a certain degree is water +contracted by cold, when a further increase of cold expands it instead +of causing a greater contraction; thus water cooled will contract to +40° F., and if further cooled it expands till 32° F. is reached; it +then becomes solid, or ice, when it again expands, frequently bursting +the pipe or vessel in which it is contained.” + +“But that serves a good purpose in the physical economy, I suppose?” + +“Certainly; this departure from the general law of nature is wise and +providential, for as the water cools below 40° F. it increases in +buoyancy and rises, to float on the surface, and when ice forms below +it soon comes to the surface, on which it rests, protecting the water +under it from freezing and preserving the lives of fishes and insects, +for it is obvious that if rivers and seas were frozen to the bottom +all life in them would be destroyed. Many of the seas would become +nothing less than a constantly changing and unchartable conglomeration +of sunken rocks of ice, and would be altogether unnavigable, for all +the bergs would sink where no sun could get at them to melt and reduce +their bulk.” + +“Go on, Gilbert!” said Godfrey, encouragingly, as his friend paused. “I +have nothing to do, and this is deeply interesting to me; besides, I +have for some time been experimenting in freezing micro-organisms.” + +By no means loth to ride his pet hobby, Gilbert proceeded,—“An even +more wonderful anomaly lies in the fact that if we take, say, a pound +of hot water at, say, 100° and mix it with a pound of cold water at 0°, +we get two pounds of water at 50°, the temperature of the hotter being +reduced and the colder increased in equal ratio, but if one of them is +ice, the temperature of the whole is that of the colder.” + +“I am afraid I don’t follow you there.” + +“Suppose, then, we take a given quantity of ice and melt it over +a fire, it is utterly impossible—no matter what amount of heat is +applied—to raise the temperature till all the ice has been melted; thus +a pound of ice at 0° and a pound of water at 100° cannot possibly be +raised higher than 0°, but will remain two pounds of water at 0° till +the ice is melted, irrespective of the heat applied. And if we take +the same two pounds of water in experiment further, and bring it to +boiling-point, converting it into steam, no amount of heat given to it +will raise the temperature of the steam a fraction of a degree till +_all_ the water has become steam; but when all of it is steam, we can +then, by the application of more heat, get superheated steam, to an +explosive point of enormous force. These are but a few of the complete +violations of the ordinary laws of nature, and they answer their +purpose well in the economy of creation, for you will see that did heat +but raise the temperature of the ice in an equal ratio to its addition, +the ice would melt in a moment, and thus the first warm day, or the +first ray of sunshine, would cause every particle of snow and ice on +the hills and in the valleys to melt instantly, and the mighty glaciers +and bergs would also become almost instantly liquid, and a general +inundation of many parts of the world would be the inevitable result; +whilst in the case of steam, if that formed in equal ratio with the +heat applied to water, the water would immediately become _all_ steam +and would at once be superheated and explosive. The useful and harmless +saucepan, kettle, or boiler, would produce such a deadly explosive +as to require special apparatus and precautions to manufacture and +manipulate steam, or even hot water, and the mere drinking of a +harmless cup of any warm beverage, or eating steaming food, would have +more disastrous results and blow us to atoms more effectively than +drinking ‘corpsogen’ and then falling down.” + +“Then what do you consider heat to be?” + +“I think it is only possible to consider heat as ‘energy,’ as +discovered by the experiments of Rumford and Davy in 1798 and 1799, +the latter’s experiments on the melting of ice by friction being too +well known to be detailed, and the same Davy, about 1812, discovered +that “the immediate cause of the phenomenon of heat is motion, and +the laws of its communication are precisely the same as the laws of +the communication of motion.” I consider this the only true idea, +notwithstanding the modern tendency to discard these old theories for +newer. I can only conceive of heat as particles in motion, and it +can only be measured satisfactorily by the speed or energy of the +disturbed particles, which in many cases causes a distinct vibration +in them, and in the case of gases a direct dashing and pressing of the +separate particles, not only against each other, but against the sides +or walls of the vessel in which they are confined, in their efforts to +expand by separation; and bearing all these things in mind, Godfrey, +if the idea on which we have embarked and in which we want your help +is successful, we can make some gauze, fasten it on the outside of +the ship, and instead of it and the ship setting up a fresh series of +_their own_ moving particles in the presence of heat—such as we shall +encounter when in close proximity to the sun—and becoming destroyed by +the energy or the intense vibration of their own particles, this net +will so far _itself_ resist this vibration and thus protect itself and +the ship within it. This resisting power will be considerably augmented +by the _Regina’s_ own repulsive force, which will be incalculable, +being obtained from the sun and capable of enormous augmentation, +and this will also assist and give great repulsive force to the net, +thus more than counterbalancing any tendency to its becoming heated +by so much as a degree. If this theory works out, as we feel sure it +will, assuming that the cocoon _is_ fireproof, while all around may be +molten in the terrific heat, the _Regina_ and all in her will be cool +as a cucumber, literally; for if the net acts as we have reason to +hope it will, the protecting force will de-atomise and repel anything +and everything—heat included—for at least a foot beyond the ship, +and covered with our net, we shall still be able to see what the sun +really is, go through his atmosphere and photosphere, which even our +telescopes have not been able to penetrate, and do excellent work for +science, and that whilst we ourselves are in no way inconvenienced. + +“And now, Godfrey, you have our whole scheme complete, and whether +we are successful or not depends on you and you alone. It may be a +wild-goose chase we are on, but we believe the Bonians, and trust you +to bring the whole scheme to a successful issue, as we are sure you +will. What do you think?” + +“Think!” cried Godfrey, enthusiastically, “think! I think it is +great—very great—and that you are a triad of very clever—idiots, shall +I say, for going to risk a flight to the sun! Never mind, if there is +any truth at all in what you have been told about this bug, it shall +succeed; I tell you it _shall!_ and we four will test the net on old +Sol himself. But I’m going too fast, I’m losing my reason. I must not +be carried away with enthusiasm; as yet I’m in my right mind, so I’ll +not go further than that, or talk about settling on the sun till we see +how my grubs turn out.” + +During the whole of this conversation all had been so interested that +they had not paid any attention to the vessel, for there was little +danger of chance collision, as the great repulsive force would keep +any ordinary world or planetoid from her path, and in the case of a +more powerful world, any deviation from her straight flight, or any +strong attractive force which she might enter, would automatically +signal itself, and show the strength on the gravitometer. Also the +_Regina_ was, to a certain extent, self-adjusting, and would thus go +rounds or away from, any large and powerful object, and after the +influence had ceased to be felt, she would resume her original straight +course, for it is evident that if the force of A equals the force +of B, they are both equal, consequently neither can be drawn to the +other, and the nearer they approach the greater will be the repulsion +which drives both away, for the gravity and repulsion of both are +equal. The _Regina_, therefore, now she had been perfected as far as +modern science permitted, could never by any possibility collide with +anything, no matter how powerful, for her force would now always equal +the opposing force. In the case of landing, this could be effected +in two ways: by increasing the _Regina’s_ gravitating force, by +converting some of her repulsion into gravitation (or attraction), and +thus drawing the other world to her, because of her greater attractive +powers; or by retarding her repulsive force, and thus bringing her +within the attraction of the world on which she wished to settle. This +latter was the usual method of alighting, as the former would most +certainly have upset the fixed orbits of the worlds displaced. + +Suddenly the needle on the indicator swerved, giving its familiar +tinkle, which signified the nearness of approach to a world or object +having gravitating force. Ross, who was nearest the observatory door, +rushed up and then called Dennis and Gilbert, who ran up the steps +and looked out of the dome, which gave them a view in every direction +except vertically downwards. + +Behind them lay the stars in strange and almost unrecognisable +positions, for the various constellations and stars seen on Earth +as of fixed shape and position on a dome-shaped setting, were not +now on a setting at all, but all in different planes vast distances +apart, some viewed ‘end on,’ others at all degrees of angles, and +their constellatory shapes no longer distinguishable. Wherever the +travellers were, it was plain they were not going to Jupiter, for +they were leaving him far away on the left and were heading straight +for some strange, dark object which was looming before them in a wild +confusion of what seemed to be caverns, craters and mountains, and +the gravitometer-needle was slowly moving, already showing forward +resistance to the repulsion of the ship, proving the object had gravity +at that distance of about 0.10 compared with Earth as 1. + +“What is it?” exclaimed Dennis, “and why have we altered our course. +Look, there is Jupiter in another direction altogether!” + +It was inexplicable. None of them had moved the steering switches since +Gilbert had aimed for Jupiter after leaving Earth, and Godfrey was +not allowed in those parts of the sanctum and observatory where the +controlling switches were fixed, which parts were guarded. They had not +heard or read of the ship ever having gone wrong, and their knowledge +of the working principle made an accidental swerving seem impossible, +yet already the world they were approaching blotted out the whole of +the forward heavens in a dense mass of dark shade, save for a halo of +light which came from the sunlight on the opposite side, and in its +penumbra of diffusion into the deep shadows showed mountains and plains +and a dreary waste of country. + +“Suppose we pull up and travel with it for a while,” suggested Gilbert, +“and then we’ll call up that idiot downstairs; he’ll perhaps tell us +something.” + +“Certainly,” replied Dennis, who shouted Godfrey, and up came their +friend two steps at a time. Gilbert made the necessary alteration and +joined the others, as Dennis said, “Have you ever passed this barrier, +Godfrey?” + +“No, not this one. I went behind that downstairs; I expect they’re the +same; they look it,” replied Godfrey, nonchalantly. + +“When was that?” + +“Just after we left Derwent.” + +“Before you burnt your hand?” + +“Certainly. You made me promise then on my honour not to touch +anything, and I have left all those things severely alone and have not +even stepped behind that rail since, which is hard lines on a fellow, +considering that electricity is my forte, and you are unnecessarily +busy when I could relieve you; but volunteered kindness is never +appreciated!” and Godfrey looked very much injured. “Can I help you +now?” he asked, brightening up. + +Ignoring the question, Dennis asked, “Did you move anything whilst +there? Did you touch _anything?_” + +“Well,—no ...yes—not to mean anything, though. I just moved a switch +off and on and looked round to see which lights it controlled, but +nothing happened, so I did not bother any more with it, but came out +and tried that reel thing immediately inside the barrier rail in the +saloon and burnt my hand, worse luck!” + +“Would you mind going downstairs, Godfrey? We’ll be with you in a +minute,” said Dennis, politely, and Godfrey descended, surprised at +this unusual deference and wondering why they all looked so solemn. +When he had gone, Ross exclaimed, “Now what can you make of a fellow +like that! He means well and is mad on helping, but if this goes on +he’ll kill us all!” + +“I don’t think so,” said Dennis; “he has kept his word, and will +continue to do so. I don’t think he will give us any further anxiety +or transgress again; however, we must not let him off lightly, but so +frighten him that he will never step on prohibited ground again. It +will not do to let any one go behind the barrier.” + +“We will have everything in contact from this moment,” said Gilbert, +severely, “and run no risks either of accidents or of any of the +secrets leaking out. If any one except ourselves comes up to the rail +he will be held there till we come.” + +“Yes, that will be best,” said Dennis; “we must, for the sake of our +general interests and safety, exercise every care, and from this moment +one of us at least must be in charge in turn.” + +“The switch he moved must have been the one directing the steering, and +the vessel turned accordingly and kept the new course when he brought +the switch back to ‘block,’” said Gilbert; “had he understood the +mechanism, he would not have used that switch only and then we should +have resumed our original line, notwithstanding the deviation. As it +is—there is Jupiter! and here, in front is—what?” + +“Let’s go down and deal with Godfrey,” proposed Ross, and they all +descended to the saloon, where the delinquent was whistling to himself +whilst curiously watching the great mass now below them. He turned at +their entrance, inquiring, “What is that? Is it Jupiter?” + +“No one knows. We are lost!” said Dennis, gloomily, “and it is your +doing!” And then the three of them proceeded to frighten the poor +microscopist almost out of his wits, with suggestion of the fearful +doom they would have met, had not their position been noticed in +time to prevent the ship crashing to destruction. They succeeded in +instilling into him such consternation as kept him away from the +barrier ever after, nor would he come near that part of the saloon or +observatory again, though he often begged to be allowed to ‘drive’ the +vessel, for he said it only needed a switch moving and she’d go on for +ever, which opinion only drew a benign and soothing smile from his +friends, which he could not quite understand. + +Godfrey disposed of, Dennis turned to Ross and said, “Just test the +atmosphere, Ross, will you?” and in a short time he returned saying +the atmosphere was variable, and he thought they had better go across +the world to get several samples before they thought of landing. +Accordingly, the _Regina_ shot ahead till she came into the sunshine +forward and then back into the sunshine at the opposite side, about +half a dozen bags being filled with atmospheric air at different points +easily located. Whilst Gilbert and Ross were testing these samples, +Dennis took measurements of distances, gravity on surface, speed +travelled, etc. They had come about 245,000 miles, but having altered +their course, it was probable that this measurement was in excess of +the actual distance of the object from Earth, as measured on a straight +line, which is, of course, the shortest distance between two points. +The diameter would be, roughly speaking, about 2160 miles, and the +total surface was, as near as could be ascertained without going all +round, about 14,500,000 square miles or a little over, or O.074 of +Earth, and its volume about 5,300,000,000 cubic miles; its density was +about 3.57 of Earth-water, or 0.63 of earth, reckoning earth as 1; it +was travelling in its orbit with a velocity of 2273 miles per hour, and +had an equatorial velocity of rotation of a little over ten miles an +hour. + +Just as these calculations were complete Gilbert and Ross came in +laughing, and asked Dennis, “Where are we, do you think?” + +“On the shady side of old Luna,” replied Dennis, “or I’ll eat her!” + +“Right!” said Ross; “we can’t be anywhere else. You, Godfrey, have +shot us to Luna instead of Jupiter, and now we know where we are, the +positions of the other planets can be fixed also.” + +“Luna! and after all those elaborate calculations!” exclaimed Godfrey, +sarcastically. “What remarkable brain-power there is on board, triad, +to discover it at last—but better late than never!” + +No one on Earth has ever seen the dark side of the moon, owing to the +illuminated or convex edge always being turned towards the sun; there +is, therefore, continual light on one side of the moon and constant +comparative darkness on the other, the crescent altering in shape by +becoming increased or diminished as we on Earth see more or less of the +illumined side as the moon changes its position; consequently, the dark +side is hidden from Earth in almost every phase except occasionally +when, owing to libration, it is possible to see those parts beyond the +edge, or border, of the lunar disc, which alternately come into view +and are hidden. It was, therefore, perhaps not unprofitable, whilst +they were there, to gain, a little information on several points about +which the scientists of Earth had been in dispute for centuries. + +So the travellers sailed round Luna and once for all set at rest +all disputes by actual observation. It was proved beyond the shadow +of a doubt that the planet did possess an atmosphere of extreme +variableness. On the bright side, towards the edges, or what would be +the edges seen from Earth, this atmosphere was extremely transparent, +but capable of supporting life as we know it. There were no mists, +clouds, or vapour, consequently the sight penetrated through the +atmosphere without the softening effect of that delicate and beautiful +variety of colour of terrestrial scenery. On the shadow side, the +atmosphere was much more dense, and this darker hemisphere was palled +in a faint twilight, in which could be seen considerable stretches of +morass, peopled by strange beings who became frantically aggressive +when the _Regina_ swooped down amongst them in order to land. Gifts +were let down from the ship, and every known effort was made to show +the inhabitants the friendly spirit of their visitors, but without +avail; the self-deluded Lunians worked themselves into rage so violent +and impotent as to cause many to become cataleptic. This was repeated +at all parts of the surface, so that in kindness to them the _Regina_ +sailed round to the sunny side, where she was again seen by the +astronomers on Earth, and noted on the bright disc of the full moon, +not as a flashing shadow as at her first encircling of the satellite, +but this time as a tiny, floating cloud of flittering light and shade +and brilliant iridescence, as her bright sides alternately were shaded +and then reflected the rays of the sun to Earth in dazzling spots. + +Having traversed the whole surface of the moon Luna, they then waved +this message to Earth,— + +“We are investigating Luna, and while on the spot we can clear up all +those points on which Earth information is at present uncertain. + +“That surface of Luna which is illumined by the sun is rock, sand, +stone and earth, covered in places with rich and beautiful vegetation, +both wild and cultivated, but all the trees are small and bush-like, +the colour a peculiar russet-brown and gold, which on Earth seems like +bare rock or ice; on a few of the highest peaks snow and ice are seen, +though not in great quantity. The people on the two sides are entirely +different races of beings, but all extremely unfriendly to us, so we +are not landing. The atmosphere is exceedingly dry and clear, with no +clouds and very little vapour. The ramparts and waterways which we +see from Earth are not natural but made by the people, and the quays +and locks are now almost generally being constructed and repaired. +At present there is little water on the illumined portion, though it +seems plentiful on the dark side; there are also many springs, and the +people are certainly preparing for a rainy season, or some other source +of irrigation; they seem intelligent, and all work proceeds on highly +scientific lines. + +“With regard to the so-called seas and lakes, the _Mare Crisium_ is a +plain of dark vegetation, oval in shape and situated near the edge of +a new moon, as seen from Earth. The irregular, dark plain, _Oceanus +Procellarum_, is thickly wooded with the small and dark brown trees +already mentioned. It has open places of rock, thickly covered, and +veined with metals which are exceedingly abundant over the whole of +the planet, and can be seen lying on the surface and in rich strata +everywhere, as volcanic action has exposed them, so that they reflect +the sun’s rays like mirrors and are dazzling to view. We should say +these are the cause of the strange, bright lights and flashes often +seen through telescopes, for, of course, on the moving moon they are +always changing. Luna is exceedingly rich in all kinds of metals, +including gold, much of which is on the surface. What we have been +accustomed to consider marsh, we found to be grass-land, plentifully +spotted with darker grass and earth and some peculiar loose earth +containing unknown minerals in fine grains. An old lake bed, as we +expected to find it, is now used, apparently, as an amphitheatre for +games and sports. The broad white ‘rays’ which have been a mystery +to astronomers of all ages, and which diverge from many of the +lunar ring-plains, comprise seven distinct systems, each composed +of many hundreds of rays. They pass over the surface of the plains +and mountains parallel to the configuration of them, thus partaking +of their shape and, as seen from Earth, differ from them only in +brightness; they vary from eight to fifteen miles in breadth and many +are of enormous length. Perhaps the longest are from Tycho, but instead +of being two thousand miles, as measured on Earth, we find these, from +actual measurement, to be two thousand six hundred and twenty-four +miles in extent. These hitherto inexplicable streaks are caused by +peculiar effects of refraction. + +“Most of the country is highly volcanic, and there are numerous +mountains, volcanoes and craters of all sizes. On many of these +the greater part of the surface is covered with metallic deposits +which throw upwards the strong reflections of the sun’s rays; these +reflections are caught by the atmosphere which is in perceptible layers +not seen from Earth. These layers maintain the same height above the +ground, regular or irregular, the lower being about two miles deep, +the next being a shade more dense, unlike the atmosphere of Earth, +which is more dense as it approaches the ground. The reflection, +therefore, readily penetrates the lighter and more transparent layer +and, on striking the more dense, becomes refracted by it and is carried +along in enormous streaks at the junction of the two, as from the +surface of a mirror or from a silvery cloud, thus forming great rays +which follow the curvature of the ground at a height of about two +miles, and, partaking of the colour of the sun and being transparent, +so colour the ground below them that on Earth there appears little +difference except in brightness. We are just now sinking through that +proceeding from Tycho, and you will be convinced that this explanation +is correct by noticing that we cut off all the rays from beyond us on +the shadow side. Now we are in the lower stratum, and you will see +the rays proceeding for thousands of miles as before—we see them over +our heads like a transparent golden cloud on which is a faint shadow +of our vessel, though not sufficiently strong to be distinguishable +from Earth. Now we have left the lower plane and are rising again; +our dome has just cut through the rays, casting a long shadow like a +triangle, the apex of which is our dome, and this shadow may appear +to you as a faint line or pencilling of shade. In this place we have +also measured the depth of the stratum from the ground and find it +is exactly two miles, as elsewhere, so will you correct your present +measurements to this. Earth-sighted instruments are in error because +they must first penetrate through the fifty miles, or thereabouts, of +Earth’s atmosphere, then travel through the thousands of miles of space +minus the atmosphere, and have then to penetrate another and altogether +different atmosphere, and Earth measurements at best are only +comparative. It is impossible for you on Earth to see, measure, and +understand as we do here, for you cannot allow for unbounded vacuum and +these strange atmospheres without coming into them, especially as Earth +measurements _in vacuo_ must necessarily be made through the flask or +vessel bounding the vacuum, and consequently are not strictly reliable. +We give you only what we verify by actual measurement and experiment +made on the spot, and you may rely upon all details being correct. + +“We are now leaving Luna without landing and are going straight to +Jupiter. Good-bye!” + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + THE DOOMED PLANET + + + “A hopeless darkness settles o’er my fate; + • • • • • + My doom is closed.” + (+Count Basil.+) + +From the moon Luna the good ship sailed straight for the brilliant +Jupiter, the giant planet of the solar system, passing Mars and +numerous planetoids on the way. It was almost overwhelming to be flying +through space as silently and as steadily as if standing, and to see +the various worlds suspended in the black heavens, each turning more +or less rapidly and at the same time travelling in a fixed orbit in +the race round its governing sun. Words cannot describe the feeling of +vastness which seemed to crush the travellers with its awful solemnity +and power. As far as the powerful observatory telescope could reach, +and beyond that, myriads and myriads of stars; stars everywhere! all +lost in the immensity of space. Space and stars! each vista opening out +still more stars and still more space, up and down, to right and left, +every space bounded by still greater space. And the natural thought +came into their minds that if anything went wrong with the ship, what +would become of them? where would they go? for they and their puny +ship were not of so much moment in that infinite vastness as is one +of the thousands of microbes on a pin’s point in comparison to the +size of the whole Earth. And ever as they flew through space a large +world or planetoid would glide swiftly past them—stately and silent +as a ghost—so near that through the glasses they could distinguish on +its surface moving life, apparently unconscious of the enormous speed +at which the world was spinning and travelling through space; people +who, perhaps, as a whole, could not realise that such simple laws as +gravity and motion and a thin atmosphere kept them in safety on what +might be likened to a single speck of dust floating in a sunbeam. And +as the adventurers had all these things impressed upon their hearts and +minds by their unique position, they felt that but for the Divine Love, +combined with the blessings of mental and physical strength, their +intellects must have given way at the mere thought of their littleness +amongst so much grandeur. They were seeing something of the Mind of the +Creator, and they were compelled to exercise the greatest self-control +to prevent hysteria or insanity, as all this glorious mystery was +unfolded before them, as they rushed with enormous speed across the +vast expanse of heaven, every hour the mighty Jupiter becoming larger +and larger as they approached him. + +Roughly speaking he is about 490,000,000 miles distant from the sun and +his periodical revolution is about twelve Earth-years, his enormous +bulk is about 1400 times greater than Earth and his day and night +about ten Earth-hours. He travels in his orbit at over 29,000 miles +per hour, and the equatorial parts rotate at 28,000 miles an hour. +At the time the _Regina_ was christened, in the old days, the days +of King Edward the Seventh, Jupiter had six moons—the _Regina_ gave +him another, the one she had stolen—making seven: since then six more +had been discovered, and the travellers saw there were four others, +making in all, seventeen; this alone was worth coming for. Also as +they drew nearer they saw that his equatorial velocity of rotation, +compared with Earth, was so great that if they landed they would be +so light as to be flung off into space and it would be necessary for +them to be made heavier, but if this were done, would their physical +strength enable them to bear the increased weight, and would the extra +atmospheric pressure so oppress them as to cause congestion of the +brain, or in other ways be fatal? However, the risk had to be taken, +otherwise it would be difficult to get the insects they had come so far +to obtain, if they were unable to leave the vessel. + +Whilst they were discussing the point they were drawing sufficiently +near to elucidate several controversial matters. For centuries it +had been thought that the belts of Jupiter were vapour or clouds +and nothing more, but now the voyagers distinctly saw what would be +hidden and probably unknown to the Jovians themselves, who from their +position on the underside of their atmosphere could not be aware of +its appearance as seen from the outside. It was unmistakable that the +belts were caused by millions of fine particles, like dust, which were +constantly coming through the atmosphere, being of too little gravity +to remain on the planet, the rapid revolution of which flung them +off into space by centrifugal force, and reaching the outside, they +revolved round the planet’s atmosphere at a distance of over a thousand +miles; these particles were coming from all parts of the planet, +eventually to become attracted to one or other of the belts on which +they settled. These belts were consequently slowly widening, though +they remained isolated and distinct by their own force of gravity and +repulsion and were visible to Earth, with an addition of but a few +inches in each century. + +Passing between the belts nearest the equator, the _Regina_ became +involved in the conflicting forces of the revolving atmosphere and the +belts and for the space of a few seconds spun round at awful speed, +but all danger—if there really was any—passed as she became enveloped +in the atmosphere in which she, of course, ceased to spin as she +travelled along with it and the planet, seeming stationary but for the +slow descent. She was placed in equilibrium some thirty feet from the +ground, well out of reach of an assembled and excited throng and before +attempting to leave the ship the inmates decided to speak to the people +from the outer deck, lest they should not be friendly. They therefore +stepped outside, one at a time, in turn, but though their weight had +been adjusted, the air was extremely oppressive and it was with much +difficulty their voices penetrated the heavy atmosphere. In a few +minutes they had severe headaches and were obliged to retire into the +artificial air of the ship, in which they quickly revived. + +Finding it impossible to hold converse with the Jovians either by word +of mouth or telepathy, Godfrey sketched a few grubs of various forms +on a piece of paper and dropped it amongst them, and they seemed to +understand by motioning that they would send something up. + +“I told you you could not do without me!” he cried, simply delighted, +and lowering a thin line. “You see, my friendly triad, you’ll never +regret bringing me with you. I can manage these people splendidly—Oh, +Great Bona!” he ejaculated, aghast, in a tone that brought the rest to +the curved window, through which they looked below; “if they’re not +bringing a hippopotamus, or something like it! this is a species of +vertebrata with which I am unacquainted, and if it is a specimen of +their bugs, I shall, at any rate, be able to show my Earth-friends a +new and wonderful variety of Hemiptera, or Rhynchota, as we style them +now. Great Bona! here, triad! don’t stand staring at it—do something! +that line is no good; get out a steel rope, or else float it up; the +bug weighs two ton if he weighs a grain! If we’ve to bring a colony of +those things aboard, we shall have to sit outside. There’ll only be +room for three of them in all this blessed ship, if it’s emptied to the +shell;” and he energetically hauled up the thin cord while the others, +laughing heartily, lowered a steel line and hooked the end to the winch. + +In the meantime the folk below had dragged the weird ‘grub’ to +the rope, which they wrapped round its body, but they were either +unaccustomed to the work or careless, for when the creature had been +hauled about half-way up, the rope slid to one end and he hung head +downwards wriggling. + +“Just look at the silly folk!” exclaimed Godfrey, in disgust, busily +directing operations. “They can’t tie a wisp of rope round a thing like +that; it will wriggle out soon and break its neck—what are they running +away for?” + +Scarcely had he spoken when the ‘grub’ fell, and the instant it touched +the ground, there was a terrific report, and several people who could +not get away in time lay killed. + +“So that was their little present, was it!” continued Godfrey, +sarcastically. “They intended the thing to explode in here, did they? +we shall have to break the necks of the next lot to see if they’re +dangerous!” and disgusted Godfrey drew in the short length of rope +still dangling and cast it aside. Seeing his friends still looking +below in surprise he went on, “That’s a joke they’ll appreciate better +than we do, judging from the mess down there. Now, triad, what’s to be +done! I told you it was an idiotic scheme we were on with, and where +are my grubs? It strikes me they’re going to be big ones, if that thing +there is a young one. I brought dishes and incubators and what-not, +for grubs, for Rhynchota, and not vertebrata, they’re made for grubs, +so don’t blame me if they’re not big enough. If other things are the +size of that little grub they wanted to give us, the cocoons will have +to be done quick and be big, or we shall have to live a few hundred +years to get enough to weave a decent net, for we can only look after +one of these beasts at once. What is to be done? Unless Jovian bugs are +miraculous, that beast can no more make a cocoon than I can;” and he +looked so completely dismayed that his friends could not help laughing. + +As Godfrey said, what was to be done? They could not understand the +people, nor the Jovians them, and after proposing several schemes, +and rejecting all as impracticable, they remembered that the Bonians +had said all planets except Earth were in communication with each +other, and it was known that in the old days the Venusians had told +the original inventors of the _Regina_ the same thing; therefore they +should be able to ‘wave’ to Mars, so they sent several preliminary +messages, asking if communication could be established, without +receiving any reply except from Earth, saying that communication was +already established; what did they mean? Then they ‘waved’ the same +messages to Bona, again to receive the same questioning reply from +Earth, to which all their messages went and to no other planet. + +Pleased that they had not given any particulars of their mission, +they merely replied to Earth that they were on Jupiter and testing if +their apparatus would carry so far. They then decided to go back and +visit Mars, which was between Jupiter and Earth, so closing all up and +leaving the people below in wonderment, the _Regina_ rose till outside +the belts, when her course was headed for the planet Mars, to which she +shot with terrific speed. + +The Martians, they knew, were very clever, perhaps the cleverest +inhabitants of the whole solar system. This, no doubt, came from +generations of scientific training, for they were in jeopardy; +they knew their ultimate fate and, with a commendable spirit of +determination to retard it as long as possible, rose to the occasion +and astonished more than one world with their powers of resource. + +The planet is very small, and although it has many moons some are too +minute to be measured by Earth-means, appearing to Earthians as but +tiny spots, the largest not more than ten miles or so in diameter. + +The air of Mars is becoming drier every year; less rain falls, less +snow forms, and as vegetation must have moisture it ever becomes more +and still more difficult for the Martians to preserve water, for though +the atmosphere is like that of Earth in its components it is much +clearer and drier. The doomed Martians, therefore, have to husband +every drop of water; they build reservoirs, lakes, and swamps, and cut +trenches and ditches at all angles and of enormous length, many of +them from one thousand to two thousand miles long and some many miles +wide. This gigantic scheme of canals is but a great national system of +irrigation. Snow forms at the poles during the long Martian winter, and +melts in the spring, when it is conducted to all portions of the planet +along these immense canals; this causes the vegetation to grow, and the +people on Earth see the fresh green growth on the belts and oases after +the snow has left the mountain tops. Other large tracts of country are +a dark red, whilst others, which are seen from Earth to change from +yellow to brown, are marshy land which change in colour according to +the quantity of water and moisture stored in them. + +Notwithstanding all their care, the planet is doomed, and certain as +time will come a day when all the skill of skilled Mars will be unable +to procure enough water to keep anything alive, and one of the most +beautiful little worlds in creation will cease to support any life as +existing on it to-day. Time may change the Martians’ physical needs, +and they may adapt themselves to altering circumstances so as to be +able to live without moisture, as different beings, but from the trend +of existing conditions on Mars, life, as we know it, is doomed. + +Knowing and appreciating this, the Martians are using every endeavour +to obtain a continuous supply of that which is even more necessary to +the existence of human beings than bread. + +Being aware of the friendly relations that existed between the Martians +and the people of Bona, confined, of course, to telepathy, the +travellers had no hesitation in settling down on the planet, feeling +sure of a friendly welcome, especially as they knew that the Bonians +had telepathed the news and particulars of their visitors and the +wonderful ship, both to Mars and Jupiter, and from them the Martians +had learned much about Earth, and Great Britain in particular. + +As the quartette entered the atmosphere of the planet, they again tried +to ‘wave’ and telepath without result, and it was only when they were +actually amongst the people that they could interchange thought, though +even then with great difficulty. + +Alighting from the ship and making all secure, as was their custom, +they stepped forward to welcome and be welcomed by the friendly +Martians, who had assembled to the number of about thirty, accompanied +by the chief of the city in which the _Regina_ had settled. + +Imagine their surprise, therefore, on being immediately surrounded and +suddenly made prisoners, and their property at once taken over by the +chief on behalf of the people. Powerless in such deep treachery they +were marched off to a prison to be put to death, whilst some dozen or +more scientists rushed to the ladder to enter the vessel. The first +to touch the ladder vanished into air before their eyes; so did the +second, then the third. By this time the others saw that the matter +was not quite the simple thing it appeared, and the next, determining +to be very cautious, stretched out his hand to grasp the rail of the +ladder, when, with a yell of agony, he saw his hand volatilised to +the wrist. In the suddenness of the pain he let fall an electric lamp +he was carrying in the other hand, and it rolled towards the foot of +the ladder, but when it came near, there was a crackling flash, and +that too was gone. The silent suddenness with which their comrades +had vanished proved too eerie for the Martian scientists, and they +conferred together, agreeing that the prisoners should not be executed +till they had explained the matter, when they should share the fate +of the Martians. A messenger was therefore despatched in great haste +to the captives, offering them their lives if they would explain the +secret of entrance and control of their ship, but this they refused +to do, and all four were taken to Maraban, the chief town of that +district, to be tried as Earth-spies. + +The trial was a mere matter of form and all were found guilty; few knew +what the trial was about, but that was an unnecessary detail, so that +the prisoners were condemned to death. Dennis, Ross and Gilbert all +swore Godfrey knew nothing of the working of the ship and was there +merely as an entomologist, whilst he—resolutely determined not to part +from them—as firmly swore he knew all about it and was in reality the +chief expert on board. + +Like the people of Earth, the Martians were influenced to a far greater +extent by the fabrication than by the truth, which latter they cast +aside altogether, preferring to believe Godfrey rather than his more +truthful companions, so that though as a race they were superior to +Earthians, they possessed the same characteristics in that they only +believed what suited their purpose, were it true or false. After a +little discussion the judges sentenced Godfrey to imprisonment for +life, during which he would have to do such work as was required of +him, they thinking that after his three friends had explained the +secrets, and had been executed, he would be at hand to solve any +difficulties which might crop up in the future, so he was led away +to prison, amidst general satisfaction. Saying nothing to him of the +fate they had decided upon for the three others, the judges sentenced +them to death, their execution to take place within three days, unless +they explained the working of their ship in the meantime, and if they +complied with this and explained everything so that the Martians +could navigate the vessel, they should not die, but remain prisoners +on Mars as long as they lived, their ship becoming the property of +the state; for the Martians had an idea that by its means they could +eventually settle on another planet when their own became too dry to +be comfortable. Even immediately many of the people could be sent to +Earth, and preferably England, which they knew from the accounts the +visitors had given to the Bonians for ages past had been foolish in +allowing herself to be the free dumping-ground for all the refuse +of other Earth-nations who liked to come, for though many questions +might be asked, they need not be answered, or could be answered very +indifferently by proxy. + +In this way England had become overrun with an undesirable foreign +element, for in the height of her prosperity she gave all a welcome, +blind to the possibility that harm could come, and that though she held +the zenith of the world there might come a setting. Spain, Greece, +Russia, Turkey, and other powers had long sunk below the horizon, and +to oblivion, and already many of England’s foreign possessions had +passed to the stranger, for England had loved the perfumed air and the +lap of luxury too much to protest—till the power to protest was lost. +Her children had been pampered and pauperised till they expected all +things to come to them without effort, and rather than work for their +needs they bartered England’s honour for a downy bed; and the time had +come when other nations could do just as they liked, if it was done +pleasantly and insidiously and caused no inconvenience; so that the +Martians knew that England would be the best place in the whole solar +system to which the selfish could retire, leaving the weak and the +undesirables on their own planet to fight out their doom as best they +could. + +The three condemned prisoners were isolated, but on asking permission +to talk the matter over together, the reasonable request was not +refused. They concocted a plan which was put into instant execution, +and the Martians were delighted when, a few hours later, the three +captives agreed to enter the vessel with several Martian scientists and +demonstrate its power, stipulating that their companion should be well +treated. This promise was readily given and they were well guarded and +brought near the vessel. Although all eyes were on them none saw what +they did, but they walked up the ladder safely and entered the ship, +followed by the three chosen scientists, and the door was closed. + +Dennis asked the Martians to stand in a certain place, so that +they should have a clear view of all that was done; Ross, from the +switchboard, telepathed: “Notice this switch carefully, it controls +great force. I move it ever so little and—you are rigid, in a powerful +electric field, unable to move hand or limb.” + +Whilst he was doing this, Dennis and Gilbert had insulated themselves +and quickly corded the three Martians like mummies, Ross protecting the +outside of the vessel as before, and then raising it from the ground +about fifty feet, the people below thinking it was merely a matter of +demonstration before their scientists. Then the current was broken +and the three men were carried to the window, when Dennis and Gilbert +lifted one up to throw him out. At sight of their companions bound +and helpless, the men below howled with rage and an electric pellet +struck the _Regina’s_ side close by Gilbert’s head, just as the man was +balanced on the frame. Stopping the figure from falling, he telepathed +that if any further hostility was shown, he would kill all three of +their captives. His determined manner had its effect and the man was +thrown out of the window, but instead of falling he floated about +unable to drop. This caused great consternation below, especially when +Dennis was seen, not carrying, but almost wafting Number Two out of the +window, where he also floated alongside his companion, and then their +gravity was altered and they gradually sank. While they were watching +these the third Martian, whom they were intending to retain as their +interpreter on Jupiter, and whom they had not bound very securely, +seeing the opening in the side through which anything could be let down +or drawn up, and that it had beside it a coil of flexible wire rope, +one end of which was permanently fastened, determined not to be thrown +outside and killed like his companions, as he thought, so he suddenly +flung aside the door, threw the coil outside, and himself slid down +the rope as it fell—all this happening so quickly that he reached the +ground before any one had realised what had happened. + +With a cry to look out, Ross at once brought the rope in strong +galvanic circuit, hoping to hold the man before he let go, but though +the fish they wanted had escaped, they hooked another, for at sight +of the Martian climbing down the rope several had run to assist, and, +just as he let go, a soldier, one of the guard, took hold of the rope +to fling it aside, at the same time kicking away the coil on the ground +with his unshod foot, when he found himself held. Instinctively, to +save himself from falling, he grasped the rope with the other hand, and +both minds and feet were fast. + +“Here’s luck, Ross!” shouted Dennis, “we’ve lost one and caught +another; float him up quick,” and Ross at the switch-board quickly +made him lighter and he was soon level with the doorway, when he was +drawn in and the door closed, he still fast to the rope with both hands +and feet. His gravity being restored, he lay on the floor perfectly +helpless, telepathing unutterable things to his three captors, at whom +he glared stolidly. + +“We only want one man,” said Gilbert, “and he’ll do as well as any.” + +“Yes,” assented Dennis, as he rolled the man over to see his face and +telepath: “We told your people we would take three men in here and +demonstrate the _Regina’s_ power—you make a fourth; now what have you +done with our friend?” + +No answer. + +“What have you done with our friend?” again telepathed Dennis, his face +set and hard. + +Still no answer. + +“Give him a bit more, Ross,” said Dennis, and a stronger current was +sent along the rope to which the man’s hands and feet were still +clinging, and the power of it made his wrists bend outwards and beads +of perspiration began to form on his forehead and trickle down his +face, but bravely he endured the torture and refused to tell where +Godfrey was imprisoned. Seeing this Dennis continued: “Give him more, +Ross; go on slowly till he tells or dies—one or the other.” + +The man was now writhing in agony, his limbs twisted all shapes as the +muscles became unduly contracted, but still he would not give way. At +last nature could bear it no longer; he tried to speak, but his lips +were blue and motionless, and he made an effort to telepath. Slight as +the effort was, Dennis felt it and, holding up his hand, said, “He’s +done, Ross, stop it;” and the current being shut off the poor fellow +released the cord and tumbled into an inert, exhausted heap. They +revived him, then took him to one of the windows from which position +he telepathed the course, and they hovered over the prison. Lower and +lower they sank, and then the people saw the second demonstration of +great and hidden power, for the _Regina_ was slowly reducing the weight +of the prisons. The people below had, at the first sign of trouble, +telepathed for the Earthian to be specially guarded, and Godfrey had +been placed in an inner prison. This was a small square building with +high walls having only one door and no window, and though practically +impregnable, there was a strong guard completely encircling it. + +The first intimation of the matter being serious came when the roofs +became so light that the walls could not retain them; they would not +be held down, and one after another, with a series of wobbling jerks +they tore away and floated off bodily, borne on the wind gently as +butterflies. On the removal of that of the central building, they saw +the inner guarded keep and Godfrey, who shouted up, “Good old chums! I +knew you’d do something, but I didn’t expect this. Oh!” he cried, as he +rose from the floor, “I’m coming up too, am I! well, I will, as you’re +so pressing. It will be a little practice for me against the time when +I become an angel. Steady!” as he collided gently with the top edge of +the wall, and in another second he was soaring like a lark up to the +_Regina_, waving his hands in farewell to the people below, telepathing +his “hearty good wishes” and regretting he could not “stay to supper!” + +Resolved not to let their captive escape alive, the whole of the prison +guard below levelled their weapons at him, and scores of deadly pellets +came like a shower, but as they drew near his person, they also +became proportionately light and floated beside him, their force being +instantly spent; in consequence they were wafted harmlessly away on the +breeze. + +A few seconds later he was inside the ship, when the de-atomising +current was instantly connected outside the whole casing, and not a +second too soon, for the military was now out. So well organised were +the soldiers, that scarcely had protection been secured than the ground +was alive with them, and the martial Martians were hurling a fusillade +of shells, containing electric shot, deadly liquids, corrosive and +explosive gases confined under enormous pressures, and many other +death-dealing missiles in a heavy shower, any one of which would have +blown the ship to atoms but for the electric invisible shield which +de-atomised everything hurled against it. + +Right amongst the fighters swooped the _Regina_ like a terrible +avenging spirit. + +“We’ll let them see what the old ship has in her, and pay them out for +their treachery,” said Gilbert, vindictively. + +“Right, oh!” cried Godfrey, “serve them as you did me, and scatter them +to the four winds of heaven. Hallo!” he broke off to exclaim, catching +sight of the Martian who was lying full-length, white and motionless, +beside one of the windows. “Is he dead?” + +“No,” replied Gilbert, “we had to use a little gentle persuasion before +he’d tell us where you were.” + +“He’s not far off being dead, though!” + +“Not very, but we couldn’t help it, and we want a man, so he’ll do.” + +“He’s watching his folks, and the sight will make him respect us as +long as he lives. He can tell all we say, I believe, from his face. +Look outside!” said Dennis. + +Never before had such a fight been witnessed by Earthians. As the +_Regina_ settled on the very arms that were projecting deadly missiles, +they became de-atomised into vapour and hundreds of the armed fighting +men flung themselves bodily on the ship to climb her, instantly to +disappear. Slowly she moved along, mowing down the army in battalions; +causing the flower of the Martian army to melt away like smoke. + +From all directions fresh supplies of men and armaments came pouring +up like a flood. This time the _Regina_ ascended and sailed above +them, reducing their gravity till they rose about three feet above the +ground, where they floated about unstable as straw—a mass of raging, +impotent humanity, at the mercy of every breeze that blew. + +“Let’s leave them at that,” said Ross, “they’ve only got it temporarily +this time, and the effect will wear off in a day or two.” + +“Won’t they be able to touch the ground till then?” asked Godfrey, +concerned. + +“No,” replied Gilbert; “they’ll get gradually heavier as the effect +wears off, but if they had got it strong, they would have remained like +that so long as they lived, or till we took it off again, and they +would have had to be weighted down.” + +“It’s a pretty stiff lesson,” commented Godfrey, “but I think they +deserved it.” + +“They’ll think twice before they act treacherously again,” said Dennis, +“and if they or any other people want to fight the _Regina_ she’s +ready.” + +“I believe our captive does not relish the present aspect of affairs,” +remarked Godfrey, “see, he’s white to the very lips,” and they saw the +man pale with fear, brave as they knew him to be. + +Godfrey went over to him and kneeling beside him asked, by telepathy, +if he understood their language, when he responded that he knew all +they were saying when they were thinking deeply of it, but when they +spoke lightly, without concentrated thought, he could understand +nothing. So Godfrey told him how sorry they were to have caused him +pain but it was unavoidable. “Cheer up, old fellow,” he continued, “we +are all friends here, and all we want of you is to act as interpreter +on Jupiter, for we can neither speak nor telepath with them. We’ll +bring you back as sound as a bell; I’ll teach you all about electricity +on the way, and you shall teach us your language and interpret for us, +so we shall neither be under any obligation. We are just off to Jupiter +again, and my friends here will wear a tunnel in the ether where we +keep going and coming, if we make the journey many more times. You’re +pleased? that’s good—it looks healthier,” and he offered the exhausted +man a reviving tablet. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + THE STORY OF A STAR + + + “Methought I saw + Life, swiftly treading over endless space.” + (+Hood.+) + +Jupiter now lay before them as they pointed straight for his surface, +and the Martian warrior soon recovered sufficiently to walk to the +window and watch the great belted mass. His name was Werran, and he was +an expert general of high standing, much esteemed for his numerous acts +of bravery. + +When he looked outside and beheld the countless worlds and planetoids +crossing and recrossing in various orbits he became lost in thought. +He had seen them through telescopes hundreds of times and knew their +courses, recognising many of the globes from their positions and +configurations, their distances and progress he also knew; but when he +saw them, as from a stationary ship, speeding towards and passing them +in a flash, the ship itself overtaking and passing with terrific speed +all those travelling in the same direction, he could scarcely realise +it. This, however, was nothing to what happened a few hours later. + +From somewhere on their extreme right, discernible with the naked eye, +came a faint glow like a phosphorescence; going to the glasses it was +seen to be a ray of light from some distant star, seen on some floating +stratum of dense ether, the star itself unseen in the infinity of +space. Probably for millions of years the ray had been travelling at +a velocity of nearly 187,000 miles per second, and they could see it +far ahead travelling towards them, the light falling on the denser +strata of ether in its path in a broad, straight ray. Adjusting their +movements they drew nearer and nearer to this ray till they met and +entered it, when they saw strange things—scenes that were travelling +on the light beams, scenes that happened perhaps millions of years +before, when these particular light-beams left their source. It might +be the people had now ceased to exist, perhaps the world itself had now +no existence, and no place in creation as a world, but the marvellous +light-beams were carrying the record of a bygone time, on and on +throughout the universe, showing every world that crossed their path, +what things had been done at some infinitely remote portion of the +infinite universe in the far distant past. + +Thus was the history of a whole world laid bare, too rapidly for the +sight to distinguish details, so the high-speed continuous photographic +apparatus was at once set in motion. As they shot into the light-ray, +with incalculable speed, it sped past them, and later they found +that the lenses of the instruments had given them miles and miles of +excellent pictures of the distant world, proving that it had been +formed physically like Earth, and that all the various periods of its +existence till the formation of man coincided exactly with those of +Earth, and as the ship entered into and obstructed the light-beams +there came the time when out of the darkness that was on the face of +the deep there appeared lurid lights of phosphorescence and exploding +gases, which became chemically united to form better and purer air and, +eventually, an atmosphere; then land appeared, though the azoic rocks +and land were incapable of supporting life and the world was small and +deadly. Then followed long periods in which various forms of animal +and vegetable life existed, each living its allotted time and dying, +its remains resting upon the ground, each epoch in its turn adding to +the size of the world and preparing it for the next form of life. First +of all came the molluscs, to which the world was principally given +over, for these sightless creatures needed no light; then came the +fishes, which disturbed and aërated the waters by their movements; then +came marine reptiles, and as the land became habitable, though soft, +these were followed by every variety of reptiles, and after these had +prepared the ground, all forms of animals except man; later came man +and all the animals suited to live with him, and as the races of men +progressed, their various actions of good and ill were imprinted. + +For several days the voyagers travelled in this light-beam, unable even +with the powerful instruments to penetrate the distance to its source, +and at last they turned aside to resume their flight to Jupiter. + +Eagerly running the films through the reproducer, they were almost +overwhelmed to see the wonderful sights being presented to them as in a +book. Although well known in theory, it seemed miraculous to prove by +actual sight that the light was carrying on its beams the whole history +of a world across the great infinity of space, unfolding it silently +and swiftly to all who had eyes to see. + +“That was the most awesome sight I ever beheld!” said Ross, deeply +impressed. + +“Had we gone forward,” said Godfrey, “we should have come to the world +itself and seen what lives the people are leading to-day. If the world +exists now!” + +“Yes,” assented Gilbert, “but we might have gone on for years and then +not have come to the source of light,” and then he continued, laughing, +“if we get lost and can’t find Earth again, we can hunt up that beam +and eventually locate the world it came from! It is so like our own +that it would just suit us to settle on.” + +With that began a general discussion on the probability of losing Earth +and the possibilities that would open out in that case, for in the +immensity of space where every point can be the centre of infinity, +direction seemed of no account. But there was little danger of such a +calamity, for so long as they did not travel beyond sight of the sun, +or some member of the solar system, they could always return and locate +themselves, for the movements of the planets were doubly clear to them +by actual sight and not as diagrams drawn on a flat surface. + +Rapidly they approached the mighty Jupiter, looming before them like +a giant golden ball, and they all stood at the windows fascinated by +the glorious sight of one of the moons passing before him as a dark, +semi-opaque object with an iridescent border. + +A few hours later the _Regina_ was again in the heavy atmosphere, and +Godfrey inquired, “What are you going to do with these people for the +trick they played us when we came before?” + +“We will see,” replied Dennis. “If they are friendly now, we will be +friendly too and let bygones be bygones;” and Ross, whose turn it was +at the time to pilot the vessel, caused her to settle to within twenty +feet of the ground, and connected the protecting current to the outer +casing to prevent possible damage being done by the Jovians. + +Of course they landed at a different part of the planet this time, and +below them the people came running up from all directions. These people +could not have been of the same constitution as the Terrestrians, for +considering that the specific gravity on the surface is more than +double that of Earth, the inhabitants might reasonably be expected to +be proportionately larger and heavier. Heavier they must have been, +but they were of the average Earth size and slighter in build. + +They crowded below, gesticulating and talking volubly, but in the +ship their combined voices could not be distinguished by Werran, so +the current was switched off as the Jovians appeared friendly, and +Werran stepped outside and held up his hand for silence, which is a +sign understood on every planet, apparently. In a few seconds all was +quiet and in his commanding voice the interpreter asked them to give +him and his companions every assistance during their visit, at the same +time requesting to speak with the principal personage. Whether they +understood his language or the concentrated thought of it was difficult +to say, but at once the governor of the town approached under the +escort of an armed guard, and asked if the visitors were friendly—from +whence they came and for what purpose? + +Werran gave the desired information, then, feeling his head beginning +to swim, he stepped inside the vessel and translated all that had +passed, he speaking in Martian language, as he had done from the start, +for soon after his forced imprisonment he had unthinkingly spoken in +his own tongue, forgetting his hosts were ignorant of it, whereas they +replied in English, equally oblivious of the fact that English was a +dead letter to their captive. This was not noticed till some time had +elapsed because, in his near presence, the serious thought accompanying +the words on both sides made the actual speech a mere matter of form, +so that they conversed with Werran in English, he speaking the Martian +tongue, though he alone was able to converse with the Jovians, either +by thought or language. + +In the meantime, the Jovians were busily discussing the situation, and +whether it was that the people were different from those they had first +met, or that the presence of an interpreter gave an air of ‘quality’ +to the expedition, the Jovians seemed disposed to give the travellers +every assistance. They appeared to know little about the grub asked +for and talked over the question with Werran at great length, till +all in the ship grew impatient. At last Werran came inside and said, +innocently, “They don’t seem to understand what grub it is you want, so +I have asked them to bring all the animals they have and you can take +your choice.” + +“Oh, Great Bona!” gasped Godfrey, in dismay, while the others roared +with laughter. “There will be a Noah’s Ark soon! We shall have to stay +here for years to go through every variety of living thing on the face +of Jupiter!” and he sat down quite overcome, glaring round at the +laughter of his companions. + +Werran could not understand it, but then he never could understand +laughter, for the Martians do not laugh. It seemed to him so strange +that the Earthians should crease their faces and make noises and hold +their sides when they were pleased. He kept his face perfectly serene +under the influence of both pleasure and pain, for it was considered +bad form on Mars to alter the expression in the slightest degree, no +matter what the circumstances. Consequently, he was amazed that his +companions—who seemed to him refined and educated—should occasionally +lose all self-control and give themselves up to peculiar contortions +of the features, often ending in tears and a holding of the sides. Nor +could he understand why they seemed nonplussed at his request to bring +out _all_ the animals. They had none on Mars, and his idea of what an +animal was seemed very vague. + +“There’s nothing for it but waiting to see what they’ll bring us,” said +Ross, laughing. + +In a few hours the Jovians brought some hundreds of animals, native to +the locality, but it was impossible for Godfrey to make a selection, +as not one of them bore any resemblance to Earth animals, and there +were no grubs or any form of caterpillar amongst them. They were of +all sizes, from that of a mouse to a mammoth, and of endless variety; +all seemed extremely friendly, looking trustfully at the strangers in +passing, and Godfrey averred he saw one of them deliberately wink at +him, but when the others looked, the creature’s eyes were filled rather +with sadness and reproach than with frivolity, though it seemed to +brighten up when Godfrey was charged with maligning it, but this might +have been fancy. + +“There’s your Noah’s Ark, Godfrey, my boy,” said Dennis. “All the +varieties of animals in the kingdom are at your feet, take your choice, +only get a little one! that frisky one there would fill the saloon.” + +“It’s all very well for you fellows to stand there and chaff,” replied +Godfrey, shortly. “It’s a great pity three great hulking fellows like +you cannot employ your time to better advantage! If these are specimens +of Jovian bugs we’d better get back home again, for there are no +apparatus here to deal with any of that lot.” + +“Werran!” exclaimed Gilbert, laughing, “just ask them if they’ve any +nice little grubs to trot out for our friend here, there’s a good chap! +tell them these insects are too full-grown for him, and not the right +kind.” + +Werran delivered the message, but the folks had done their best +and could do no more, so matters were at a dead-lock. In a fit of +desperation, Godfrey turned to Werran, saying, “We want a grub that +will stand fire, Werran, old chap. Ask them to burn the whole lot, and +then we’ll take those that live and thrive on it.” + +The message was duly and seriously given, but the Jovians had no +sense of humour as propounded by Terrestrians, for they refused to +do anything more and seemed rather huffy at the ingratitude of their +visitors. + +“You three are running this show,” said Godfrey, with an air of +disclaiming all connection with the business. “What are you going to +do? Take the lot, or none?” + +“No! we’re letting you run it, old man! you know you said you could +manage the people splendidly,” remarked Ross, laughing, receiving a +glare from Godfrey as a reward for his too-ready memory. + +“That’s just where we want your advice as an expert,” said Dennis, +banteringly. “We’d like to have the lot, so as to give you every +encouragement, but the ship won’t hold them;” then turning to Ross, he +asked, “_Had_ we come to _Jupiter?_ and what part of him did they say? +I forget.” + +“Upon my word, I’ve completely forgotten!” said Ross. + +“So have I!” chimed in Gilbert, laughing. + +“Great Bona!” cried Godfrey, with a start, “you _are_ a brilliant +triad, I must say! you undertake two journeys, hundreds of millions of +miles, to say nothing of a war or two by the way, and the only address +you have is—‘a grub, Jupiter’—and Jupiter is about fourteen hundred +times larger than Earth. And I give up all my important work on Earth +to play dummy to three idiots! Let us go home again till you grow a +bit older! I’m surprised at you!” he continued, sarcastically. “I said +I should have to look after you, and upon my word you need it. If any +one had told me that you three scientists could come all this distance +and bring me with you, like a toy on a string, without knowing what you +want and where to find it, I’d have—eaten ’em. A grub on Jupiter! upon +my word, it does you great credit and I feel quite proud of you. A grub +on——” and Godfrey, following the example of his three companions, gave +way to long and uncontrollable laughter. + +Their mirth so affected Werran, that after staring hard first at one, +then another, he found himself following their example, first smiling, +then laughing like his companions, which surprised him so much and was +withal so comforting that he continued to laugh long after the others +could laugh no more, but sat looking stolidly at one another with +tear-streaming faces. It thus fell to the lot of four Britons to have +the honour of causing the first Martian laugh. + +“Can none of your fuzzled brains remember?” asked Godfrey, in gasps. + +“Don’t! Godfrey,” begged Ross. “I can’t laugh any more; my sides ache +as if they were raw.” + +“We shall have to spin round the planet’s surface till something +recalls the instructions,” said Dennis. + +“Ay!” agreed Gilbert, and turning to Werran, said, “Will you tell those +folks down there, Werran, please, that we are much obliged—we did not +want to look at their stock for ourselves, but for a friend, and we’ll +call again!” and he stepped towards the switch-board as unconcernedly +as if he had been walking out of a shop. + +Werran gave the message, though it is to be hoped he wrapped it up +rather more daintily, and a few minutes later they were wandering +over the surface of Jupiter in search of the forgotten locality. The +landscape that unfolded itself below them was as unlike Earth as it was +possible to be. There was a great deal of water, both salt and fresh, +but the strangest feature lay in the vegetation, for all the grass was +long, broad, and thick in the blade, and the trees had heavy, leathery +leaves covered with stiff, bristly hairs and as strong as the giant +cactus of Earth. The explorers were constantly stopping to collect +samples of this strange vegetation and specimens of the geology and +mineralogy of the planet, and to hold converse with various inhabitants. + +Terrestrial history shows that in times past Earth had been given over +to engines, carriages, and cars, and trains running on rails which +lay upon the ground and bridges and entered tunnels in the hills, +and many of the beauty spots on Earth had been covered with these +unsightly lines and wires for transmitting electric current and sending +messages from place to place. All these things had long ago disappeared +and the Earth had been much improved thereby; but here, in certain +districts, were lines on which goods were sent, but what was the motive +power could not be seen, except that it was of enormous strength, for +when the force of the _Regina_ was directed to resist one of these +loads in order to test it, the dial registered a force of over one +thousand horse-power. There was an entire absence of pneumatic tubes +for transmitting luggage, but perhaps this unseen force and single +guide-line would be as effective as Earth-methods, or more so. + +The Jovians spoke of Earth as “Gorok,” which to them signifies ‘small’; +Mars they call “Lazak,” or ‘ruby,’ because, as seen from the surface +of Jupiter through his atmosphere, Mars appears blood-red, which +recalls the fact that Jovian blood is colourless, and contains few red +corpuscles though rich in hæmoglobin and, consequently, possesses great +power of absorbing oxygen, the people, therefore, being healthy and +strong. Their own planet is named “Milak,” which signifies ‘beautiful +garden’; the sun they call “Kulik,” or ‘learned’; and it was noticed +that most of the proper names terminated with the explosive sound of k. + +Suddenly, as they were flying over a village, Gilbert shouted, “Now +I remember! the Bonian told us we should get what we wanted beside a +mountain with a crater like a flat cross.” + +“So he did!” agreed Ross, “he said the people would meet us there.” + +“I remember it, too, now!” also assented Dennis. + +“Do you really!” broke in Godfrey, ironically, “blessed memory! and is +this haven of rest at hand?” + +“Yes!” replied Dennis, laughing, “it is close before us and we shall be +there in a minute!” + +Slowly the vessel skimmed over a city, then a village, and then a few +straggling houses, and beside the crater of an extinct volcano lay a +long building having a roof of some glittering metal which was unknown +on Earth and which shone strangely in the peculiar light cast by two +differently coloured moons. + +Coming to a stand above the building they saw many people gathering +together on the ground below, and Werran, as usual, spoke to them. +It was plain that they were expected, and after a brief conversation +Werran returned to tell them that they had at last reached their goal +and their difficulties were now at rest, for here, the only place on +the whole surface of Jupiter, were cultivated the germs which were +wafted on ether to Bona, the floral paradise of the solar system. + +Godfrey was now a different being; all banter was put aside for the +nonce in the seriousness of the work he had undertaken, and full of +his subject, he kept Werran busy asking and translating innumerable +questions and answers relating to the life-history of the little +creature he had come to cultivate. He and Werran then landed and +entered the building, but the air was too oppressive for a long stay, +and after a matter of ten or fifteen minutes they were obliged to +return to the ship for recovery and rest, after which they resumed +their work, Werran becoming quite as interested in the small organisms +as Godfrey himself. This caused them to be constantly entering and +leaving the ship, and Godfrey soon enlisted the services of the three +others, so that before very long all five were working, each with +fixed duties, and matters progressed so well that Godfrey was in high +spirits. Fortunately, also, as the days wore on, they became more and +more accustomed to the air until they were able soon to remain in it +for several hours at a time, although, remembering the adventure in +Mars, the vessel was never left without one or other of the owners in +charge, well-disposed as the Jovians appeared. + +In the garden of this place, called “Kulametik” was a strange beast, +like the one that had caused the death of so many of the Jovians, and, +on inquiry, they gained much information about this curious animal, +which made them feel sorry they had imputed wrong motives to the +natives they had met on their first visit. + +They learned that the particular insect, the germs of which are sent +to Bona, is a variety of remarkable habit. Although living in distinct +colonies, they are symbiotic, and do not grow to perfection unless +there is a certain beast living near them. Such an instance is by no +means isolated, for there are, on Earth, many forms of bacilli, for +example, which, to arrive at perfect development, must be placed side +by side with amœbæ; if they are thus placed on culture-plates and both +fed, the samples taken from them for independent culture must also be +symbiotic, and contain both bacteria and amœbæ so that both may grow +together, if results are to be depended upon. For this purpose the +people at Kulametik imported an animal of enormous bulk from a distant +land called Carakulak, in which district alone it was bred. + +On Jupiter there is only one language, which is spoken in all parts +of the planet, and telepathy is in universal use, consequently, when +the Bonians sent their message, all the people on Jupiter on the +same ‘waves’ disturbed by the Bonians received the same message. It +so happened that the people at Carakulak received the message, which +was the cause of their excitement when the _Regina_ settled in their +midst, for they had been expecting and hoping to see the ship which had +travelled so far in so short a time. Understanding what was wanted, +and knowing they sent the large animal to Kulametik for the same +purpose, they no doubt considered they were doing the Terrestrians a +kindness in presenting them with one of the beasts that were necessary +to the full development of the insects at the farm at Kulametik, where +the naturalists in charge would not have one to spare. + +These great beasts were perfectly harmless, living or dead, provided +death came naturally, or in any other way than from a broken spine; +for when the spine was fractured, especially near the throat, there +came from the spinal cord or marrow, if exposed, an oozing which was +exceedingly volatile, and instantly became converted into a gas so +deadly as to cause immediate death to every living thing within a +radius of fifty feet of the carcass. When the natives saw the beast +slip through the rope and hang head downwards they feared it might slip +away altogether and break its weak and brittle neck; this explained why +they had run helter-skelter at the first sign of danger. + +This great risk made the travellers dubious about taking so dangerous +a creature on board, lest it should inadvertently come to grief +against something, and end their careers suddenly whilst in space; +but it was found, fortunately, that the variety of grub that needed +the close presence of such a beast would not suit Earth, so they +felt considerably relieved. They stayed on Jupiter a little over a +month, during which time Godfrey gained all information possible with +regard to the life-history and culture of the strange and interesting +creatures, the rest of the party rendering valuable assistance. In a +special room which had been made out of what had originally been three +cabins, they fixed up apparatus and dishes and some strange boxes given +them by the people of Kulametik, in which colonies of over fourteen +million eggs or germs were coming forward. These would produce some +millions each in the course of a year or so, and when Godfrey felt +confident in proceeding with them and understood what to do in each +phase of their existence, the visitors took their leave, full of +gratitude to their kind hosts, and sailed away to Mars in order to +return the borrowed Martian. Werran was quite overcome at the parting, +as were they all, for in their close and friendly companionship and +their intimate association in the realms of space they had all become +like brothers. They tried to persuade him to stay with them, but his +friends and family were in Mars and he would not hear of them being +taken to Earth, which had not a very good reputation on the planet, +though many were anxious to risk going there, or indeed anywhere, to +escape the threatened doom, foolishly forgetting, as Werran had himself +strongly pointed out at the time of the attempted seizure of the +_Regina_, that the end could not come for many generations hence; the +present inhabitants were, themselves, in no immediate danger, and there +was certainly no necessity to be hysterical in the matter. He longed +to go back to his native country, nor could they blame him, for there +seems ingrained in the soul such an intense affinity with the land of +one’s birth, that however far one may be removed from it, and no matter +how happy one may be, there is felt such a strong yearning and love +for one’s native land as makes the return to it the subject of many a +longing heartache. + +Treacherous as the Martians might appear in their fervent desire to +save their posterity when the chance seemed suddenly to be placed +before them, they were Werran’s own countrymen and Mars his native +soil, and nothing would induce him to leave it, and as the voyagers +sought out and hovered over the locality from which he had been +kidnapped, the natives again congregated in crowds. They still appeared +antagonistic, but bearing past experiences in mind they were not +aggressive, but stood sullenly watching the ship’s every movement as +Werran was gently floated down. Then the _Regina_ rose and over the +house where Werran lived a dark object was seen to fall and then rest. +A few seconds later there was a blinding flash, and, brilliant in the +glaring sunshine even, there shot downwards a powerful red light. Then +the _Regina_ soared upward like a giant bird, becoming smaller and +smaller till lost to view. Still the light poured down its powerful +ray, continuing to illumine Werran’s house for three days and nights, +and when this faded and finally went out in a series of fizzles and +splutters, still the metal cup, inverted like a mushroom, remained +perfectly poised, floating over the house as a further reminder to him +and his warlike compatriots of the _Regina_, although they needed no +souvenir to keep her memory green, for as long as doomed Mars holds +sensate beings, so long will the story of the _Regina_ figure in +Martian history. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + A JOVIAN BUG + + + “The wise and active conquer difficulties + By daring to oppose them.” + (+Rowe.+) + +Having arrived at Derwent the four wanderers dedicated a few rooms at +Dennis’s house for use as a laboratory. By this means the project could +proceed without exciting notice and remark, for they wisely concluded +that it would be soon enough to let the public into the secret if and +when the experiments were successful and not before, so that in case +the venture did not bring the result anticipated they could laugh at +each other without the public joining in. + +Accordingly Godfrey took up his quarters there, and arrangements were +set on foot for the immediate commencement of the cultivation of the +wonderful grub which they called by its Jovian name of “Gorokakak,” +signifying ‘small fire-eater.’ + +According to Linnæus, this strange creature would have been included in +the sub-order Homoptera in the order Hemiptera, or Rhynchota, and it +lives on plants as a parasite. This necessitated bringing from Jupiter +a quantity of the twigs and leaves on which it thrived; fortunately +the insect devoured both dead and living leaves, or the difficulty of +transplanting Jovian trees to terrestrial soil and keeping them alive +would have been almost insurmountable. Although they brought as many +leaves as they could, it was doubtful if they would have sufficient, as +the insects were exceedingly voracious, but if not they would be able +to return for a fresh supply. + +These twigs were most peculiar in shape and form, being infested with +gall-gnarls, and having a hard, horny bark, rough and covered with +gleaming white spots about the size of a drop of water; the leaves were +long and fibrous, with long spines and serrated edges, from the points +of which projected numerous long, silky hairs of such scintillating +iridescence as to look as though spangled with mica or bright minerals, +each leaf seeming edged with long and magnificently jewelled lace +of charming colour. The leaf itself was blood-red like our Virginia +creeper in autumn, while the lace near the stem was a deep violet, +gradually and imperceptibly varying through all the gamut of browns, +greens, reds, purples and the like, to a rich and brilliant yellow at +the apex, and as these filaments were long, flexible, and in constant +motion, each leaf was a kaleidoscope of exquisite colour—a dream of +colour harmony. + +To Earth-ideas, the appearance of these bushes and shrubs surpasses +all description, being a paradise, a heaven of beauty; every movement +of air causing the filaments to quiver and the light to strike on +different metallic surfaces, changing the whole scheme in the twinkling +of an eye. So delicate and fragile are the leaves that when holding one +between the thumb and fingers, however lightly, the mere pulsation of +the blood flowing through the hand is more than sufficient to keep the +whole curtain of coloured metallic fringe in a state of constant and +ravishing motion. + +No such plants have ever before been seen or known on Earth, and in the +_Regina_ rooms of the ancient British Museum may be seen one of them, +perhaps the most wonderful of all the marvellous mineral and botanical +specimens collected during the ship’s travels in other worlds. A +‘botanical’ specimen it has been proved to be, yet when portions of the +bark, leaf, and silken hairs have been submitted to experts, they have +one and all declared them to be specimens of excellent metal-work of +some minerals at present unknown. + +How reasonable is this conclusion may be gathered at the Museum +where, in the “A” room, in a large glass case, stands a complete +bush exactly as growing, and although it is labelled “Gorokakak tree +from Jupiter”—after the insect feeding upon it—many of the leading +metallurgists consider it a magnificent specimen of Jovian metal-work. +Strange to say, the leaf, living or dead, undergoes no change, and +the hairs will successfully withstand a very high temperature, but +are not entirely fireproof, for after sustaining long-continued heat, +eventually they blaze and burn quickly, then subside to a glow which +remains for a short time and becomes brilliantly white, with evolution +of dense smoke, and then they fall to powder, like magnesium-ribbon. + +The life-history of the gorokakak is extremely interesting. First of +all there are the winged male and female, incapable of flying more +than a few inches, and both these male and female parents have sucking +mouth-organs which attach themselves to the undersides of the leaves. +After mating the male dies and the female spreads her wings over her +body like a shroud, and these becoming fast there by the interlocking +of a hook, or spine, on the inner side of each wing-tip, she flies no +more but, her mouth taking the nutriment from the leaf to which she is +attached for the short time she has to live, commences laying her eggs +on the underside of the leaf in circles of about a quarter of an inch +in diameter and about half an inch apart, in order to give them space +to develop, the sheltering leaf affording shade and protection from the +weather and enemies. Then she dies, and in the course of a few weeks +the ova develop into both males and females, but these have no sucking +and piercing mouth-organs, and being wingless, progress slowly towards +the stem of the plant, eating the leaf as they proceed, leaving but +the skeleton with the silken fibres or hairs attached. On reaching the +stem, each female, having selected her mate, lays two eggs, neither +more nor less, on the tender part of the bark, and these minute grubs, +which are always females, pierce their way under the bark where they +lie dormant for several months, when they emerge and crawl to the stems +and roots and lay parthenogenetic eggs, which form galls. These eggs +develop again into young females, which also lay parthenogenetic eggs, +forming more galls, and so on for ten parthenogenetic generations. All +this causes the roots and stems of the plant to become gnarled and +knotted and the leaves all skeleton. The eleventh of these generations +crawls to the leaves to devour the skeleton fibres and the long, +silken filaments, leaving nothing except the deformed and knotted +roots and stem-sticks. After the fibres and hairs have undergone +certain processes in the viscera, the insect spins a cocoon which it +covers with a hard, heat-resisting substance like mica, leaving open +a small hole at one end into which it creeps; then it exudes more +of the mica-like material and joins up the vacant space, spins more +silky substance to complete the cocoon under the outer coating, and, +after thus hermetically sealing itself in a heat-resisting capsule, +inside which is a beautifully soft cocoon, it prepares to undergo +its metamorphosis, which keeps it dormant for seven weeks, when of +the silk it has formed wings and other appendages. It then exudes +some colourless liquid which sinks to the bottom of the capsule and +dissolves it, when the winged male and female with which we started +appear, and the same life-history is repeated. + +Godfrey left many of the cocoons undisturbed in order that the stock +should be kept up, the remainder being taken and made into threads, +which were again twisted into long strands and placed on rollers or +bobbins, and stored ready for weaving. + +Prolific as the insects were, all this occupied a considerable time, +and over eighteen months passed before sufficient material was +obtained for the actual weaving to be commenced. In the meantime, +experiments had been conducted with the cocoons in all stages, and +it was found that the best results came from those taken about three +weeks after the sealing. These strands resisted all temperatures, +even that which volatilises steel; but again did a difficulty arise. +The strands were perfectly opaque, even to the intense brilliancy of +the sun, consequently, if woven so tightly as to present a close web +of fibres, though the object could be achieved by the production of +a heat-resisting material, it would be defeated in its attainment, +for nothing would be visible through the cloth. It would therefore +be necessary to have a net of sufficiently wide mesh to enable the +travellers to see plainly through it, yet not wide enough to admit heat. + +This compelled a further long series of experiments in order to +ascertain how far the strands were effective outside their own +substance in certain temperatures. These experiments were the most +delicate and elaborate of all, for the heat of the sun is beyond +terrestrial calculation, all Earth-knowledge ending at the fact that +all metals known on Earth and many others undiscovered by science exist +there as thin vapour, and temperatures of metals become unregisterable +at their volatilisation. Allowance had therefore to be made for +temperatures thousands of times greater than the highest obtainable on +Earth, and even when this was done, the result might prove altogether +inadequate to the heat that would be encountered—a terrestrial +estimation of which could, at the best, be nothing more than a wild +guess. + +It was ascertained by actual experiment that the strands were effective +in transmitting their properties of withstanding the passage of heat to +a considerable distance around their mass, and when cords a line thick +(one-twelfth of an inch) were placed half an inch apart, phosphorus and +other elements, which are self-igniting in a dry atmosphere, covered +with such a mesh received no added heat and remained unconsumed, though +the net was subjected to a temperature of over 3000° C. + +The experiments were a brilliant success, and in order to make +assurance doubly sure and so avoid all risk of danger to themselves +and their ship, the friends had the net woven with fine strands in +so close a mesh that they could but dimly see through it when placed +before one of the vessel’s powerful search-lights. It was nearly two +years after their return from Jupiter before they were in a position to +commence the work of weaving, which was to be conducted under their own +supervision in a windowless building specially erected adjoining the +shed, and not till the web was finished could they let their object be +known. To all inquiries they had returned smiling and evasive answers. +It was guessed that something wonderful was afoot, or they would not +have remained busy yet closed up for two years. All kinds of rumours +were circulated, not the least of which was that something had gone +wrong with the _Regina_, and the owners, unable to use the vessel +again, had built another shed and were constructing a second ship, +making a mystery over it to cover their incompetency. Every movement +was closely watched and publicly reported; every time they went to +either of the sheds dozens of watching craft ‘waved’ the news to the +whole earth, and so great a nuisance did this become that the secret +workers built a covered way from one shed to the other. This privacy, +together with the knowledge that from the house to the new shed was an +underground passage, all in electrification, but added fuel to the +fire of public curiosity, and the four friends could not step outside +the buildings for their daily exercise, which they always took in +the grounds, without being besieged by correspondents from airships +overhead, who pressed for interviews in the hope of gleaning more +information than the little already known. + +One evening all four were coming out of the shed, when the instant +Gilbert, who was first, got outside the door, a cable-tow with a +running noose was slipped round his neck and any attempt to retreat +would have been fatal. Whilst he was struggling with it to escape being +strangled, it fell across his shoulders when it was drawn tight and a +second later he was being hauled up into a powerful airship overhead. +So well had the noose been dropped and manipulated that his companions +were unaware he was being kidnapped till his body rose from the ground, +dragged upwards by means of an electric winch, as the powerful ship +set off at a tremendous speed. The people in the ship must have been +mad, or else have believed the rumours that the _Regina_ was a hopeless +wreck, to have attempted such a crime, but they soon became wiser, +for before they had gone a hundred miles the _Queen_ rose from her +shed like an awful Nemesis, with her search-lights full on, sweeping +the earth and sky in all quarters, then started in the direction +taken by the fugitive. In a few minutes the quarry flew round at a +dangerous speed towards the north, taking an upper plane where were +few ships, and soon saw that the _Regina_ had still some life in her. +Her attractive force was switched on gently and the airship suddenly +pulled up to a dead stand with a terrific shock which shot the driver +through his glass cage a distance of twenty yards ahead, when he fell +to the ground, giving an awful shriek and turning over and over in his +descent. Very gradually, so as to cause no further damage, the ship +was drawn to the _Regina_, the two mechanics in her white with fear, +and bringing Gilbert forward, they begged for mercy. Gilbert shouted +hurriedly, “Let them go! the owner is dead and these were but obeying +his instructions.” + +“Come in, all three of you,” said Dennis, now on the outer deck, “leave +the ship, she’ll travel with us.” + +All three entered and the two men were placed in what had been a +cabin for one of the crew, when the door was electrified, and with +the two prisoners and the fine prize in tow, the _Regina_ sailed back +to Derwent. Within fifteen minutes of the abduction they were over +the shed again, to find dozens of air-craft in various planes, and in +the gathering darkness could be seen the lights of scores of others +coming from all directions, drawn thither by the news. The four friends +decided to make an example of the offending craft as a public warning, +so the _Regina_ rose upwards, causing the captive to float below in the +full glare of her lights; the ship was then drawn to the _Regina_, the +outside of which was now put in de-atomising field, and just as a moth +rushes to the light and falls, so did this valuable but fated craft +hover in the glare for a moment, then rush towards the upper vessel, +instantly to fall in a shower of myriads of atoms which, sinking to +the ground in the beams of the search-lights, appeared like a sheet of +falling fire. + +The two men were floated downwards and were free, for the vengeance was +complete; a little later the _Regina_ was housed and the government +notified of the accident, with full particulars. + +This time the four left the shed, they were not molested by so much +as an inquiry. All the same, the incident, while filling every one +with a fear of taking strong measures with so powerful an adversary, +capable of such relentless and successful pursuit, did but whet the +general curiosity which now rose to fever-heat. ‘Wave’ messages and +other communications arrived every moment, far too numerous to be +dealt with, so all were treated with the same silence, one message only +in government code being sent all over the world intimating that at +present no information could be given. + +That was all very well, but the public wanted to know what was afoot; +why the _Regina_, when in excellent condition and under perfect +control, was allowed to rest unused, and why so much secrecy; and +dozens of air-craft waited at various hailing distances, ready to flash +the news by ‘wave’ to their various centres directly anything was +discovered, by accident or design. Weeks passed, then months, yet not +a word the wiser was any one. At last, nearly three years after the +return from Jupiter, an announcement was made which almost caused the +hair of every scientist to stand on end, and set every thinking being +aghast with astonishment and incredulity. The message was short and to +the point; every wave apparatus received the words,—“The _Regina_ will +sail within ten days into the Sun.” + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + TESTING THE WEB + + + “Let’s keep them + In desperate hope of understanding us.” + (+Cartwright.+) + +No bomb could have been more startling than the simple statement from +the _Regina_. Surely there must be some mistake, or the men were mad, +for who in their senses would think of going into the _sun!_ Various +instruments were compared but all gave the same word “sun.” Had the +adventurers been any other men they would probably have been derided, +but it was evidently a case of _non compos mentis_, and though to a +certain extent they could act as they pleased in all that concerned +themselves personally, in the interests of science they should not +be allowed to destroy the _Regina_ in attempting such an insane act +as that contemplated. No one could understand it. Mental aberration +occasionally plays tricks with the best, but surely such scientists +could not for a moment have overlooked the fact that the terrific heat +of the sun would shrivel up the ship and all she contained long before +they could approach his surface; and how could anything live—even the +_Regina_—in the sun’s atmosphere, which the merest child knew would +convert the ship, powerful as she was, into the most tenuous vapour. + +So every one argued, from the highest to the lowest, and the government +was petitioned to prevent such an inevitable catastrophe, but the +government replied that they had no control whatever over the vessel, +and though the owners should be requested to abandon the scheme, +pressure could not be brought to bear on them, and again were the +conditions of the original deed printed and made public, and all could +see that even if the owners arranged to go elsewhere, they could still +go to the sun and no one could hinder them. As a matter of fact, the +government was afraid of doing anything to stop them; history had +recorded what the _Regina_ had accomplished in the past, and the grant +of perpetual protection was too serious lightly to be set aside. + +The people then clamoured for Dennis and his companions to be +imprisoned for destroying the pirate airship and causing the death +of its owner, but again those in authority refused to move, merely +pointing out that the grant gave unlimited power to protect the vessel +in the best way possible, and so long as they used that power within +due limits, the law would and must uphold them. The man who was killed +had only himself to blame, and the owners, in reporting the occurrence, +which was proved to be a pure accident, had done all the law required. +Foiled at every turn, the populace became furious until the first flush +of excitement had passed, when they began to consider the matter more +calmly, and what had been anger gave place to an intense curiosity, for +they felt that some mysterious secret was withheld from them and that +the contemplated voyage must be possible. + +This excitement grew as the days passed till folk spoke of very little +else, each greeting the other with the question whether any news had +been received, for all wanted to be the first to know and carry the +information with respect to the means by which the heat was to be +overcome, but these particulars were not to be divulged till the day +of starting, though in view of the great curiosity the owners sent a +‘wave’: “In four days we sail to the sun covered with a heat-resisting +net. _Regina_ in net will be on view before starting.” + +This set all doubts at rest, but if anything it caused more excitement +than ever, and Derwent became the gathering-ground for all ships +that could make the journey. So great faith had the people in the +_Regina_ and her owners, that thousands of ‘wave’ messages were +forwarded from scientists and others all over the world asking for +the privilege of making one of the party. In vain did Dennis and his +friends ‘wave’ a refusal, saying they four only were going—applications +still came in, and the government suggested that in the interests of +science it would be well to take the presidents or other officials +of the chief societies, so that each in his own special line could +investigate the branch he represented, and by this means gain more +real knowledge on every subject than would be possible with four +only. This wise suggestion was gladly adopted and invitations given +to twenty representatives of all branches of science, who were to be +under rigid restrictions not to trespass. The decision was received +with great delight by the fortunate few, who made their arrangements +and hurried to Derwent with all speed. This influx of visitors made +it necessary to have a few attendants. While the four were alone, +they rather enjoyed being so, taking it in turns to attend to meals, +there being very little cooking necessary under the present system +of tablet and pilule form of food; and reliable mechanical servants, +dusters, etc., worked by motive power, rendered human help of any +kind superfluous. Up to the present no repairs had been needed in +the machinery or the vessel beyond easy adjustment _en route_, and +automatic cleaners kept the engines and all parts of the ship in a +condition bordering on newness. But easy as it was for the three +owners and Godfrey to regulate their work and actions to fall in with +these accurately timed automatic servants, as they are called, which, +when once started, perform their allotted duties with a regularity no +human being could emulate, they could not expect twenty visitors to be +entirely without some human attendants, for the work undertaken by each +would be exacting, both as regards time and energy, so two good men +were obtained and the original men’s quarters not already disposed of +were altered for them, and re-arrangements made in the ship so that all +requirements could be supplied automatically and instantly, far better +and more quickly than would have been possible by human agency, and a +movement of the zero switch closed everything, and returned everything. +Moreover, as in the original design of the ship, so now was every +cabin electrically connected with those of the owners, and contained +a secret sehen-microphone, telephone, and ‘wave’ apparatus, and, if +necessary, each cabin could be electrically closed should any occupant +have to be kept prisoner from any cause, in which case, though in +solitary confinement, he would still be able to enjoy the delights of +the table, the pleasures of books, a constant view outside, and other +comforts; also conversation, but with the owners only, who alone, by +means of the sehen-microphones, could make themselves acquainted with +his every movement by sound and sight, although such a contingency was +extremely unlikely to arise. The owners’ quarters and those portions of +the saloon and observatory containing the controlling-switches were so +protected as to render approach by any one except themselves impossible. + +Probably the greatest stock required would be water, which, up to a +few centuries ago, had not been thought capable of more than slight +compression, but about that time some explorers entered an underground +city named the “City of Earth” and were shown by the governor, +Antistes,[A] how to compress water into the form of a cord, when, like +twine, it could be coiled into balls and stored for an indefinite +length of time if in air-tight cases. When a small piece of this +is cut off and subjected to the movement of friction, it rapidly +becomes liquid, a piece a few inches long providing several gallons +of distilled water. Thousands of these large balls were stocked so +that each person could have an abundant supply during the whole of the +voyage. This was not expected to be of longer duration than a year, or +two at the outside, but sufficient provisions were taken for a seven +years’ absence, so that if any unforeseen delay should occur there +would be ample food for all. + +[Footnote A: “The Immortal Light.”] + +These arrangements were soon finished, and in making the alterations +in the ship to accommodate so large a party and to provide the extra +working space required, the present owners followed the lead of the +original builders by employing each man on a portion only of one job, +leaving another to complete, they themselves fixing the necessary +secret connections and fittings after the men had prepared the way for +they knew not what. + +The wisdom of this course soon became apparent, for before many days +had passed the workmen were waylaid and fêted, many of the highest in +the land thinking it not beneath their dignity to step from their high +estate to fraternise with the humblest workman, if by so doing a little +information could be obtained which would place them in possession of +some of the secrets of the _Regina’s_ power. Astonished almost beyond +measure at the sudden interest taken in their welfare, the humble, +honest workmen felt that the theory of equality had, at last, resolved +itself into definite practice, and that they were now being lifted +up into the higher station of their patrons and were fast becoming +compeers. Consequently, they, never suspecting duplicity—for what can +a mouse know of the patient wiles of a cat till too late—exerted their +utmost endeavours to please, and told all they knew with the frankness +and innocence characteristic of them, suddenly to find their innocence +become their undoing, for the patrons soon perceived that willing as +the workmen might be to supply information, they could neither give +nor suggest any reason for their work, and all led to confusion. The +blind led the blind, and both fell; the rich to withdraw; the honest, +well-meaning poor—who are, and will be, always with us—to return to +their own level, ignored and discourteously treated by those of the +higher grade who had just been so kind and friendly. This need not +have occasioned surprise, for an arrogant and insolent manner is the +prerogative of the well-to-do, and is useless to a poor man who has no +one poorer than himself to practise upon. It is only when the pocket +is well lined, and the conscience is seared almost to extinction by +countless corrosive stains, that one can afford to be oblivious to +everything except personal interests. A good maxim to follow is to + + “Be good and you’ll be happy. + Another thing is sure, + More certain than the happiness— + Be good and you’ll be poor.” + +This is probably why the poor, who have so little comfort here, +“inherit” the Kingdom of Heaven, but to the rich it is hard to find +entrance, which can only be gained by the loving, voluntary sacrifice +of everything, to give to the poor. This is a hard lesson, and more +often than not causes a denial and a clinging to the riches as they are +gripped all the closer—the poor remain poor and the rich hang the head, +for the moment sorrowing that the peace of the poor is refused them, +for they have great possessions. + +All this but confirms the fact that though age succeeds age, human +nature remains unchanged, and the world wags on much in the old way. +“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet” +is equally true to-day as it was in wise old Solomon’s time, and as +it will be always. In certain ways improvements take place, manners +and customs change along with changing circumstances, but deep down +“the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked,” +and self is ever uppermost. Education advances and with it general +knowledge increases, but this only gives a more or less thin veneer; +the hearts and lives of men remain the same, they still work for self +and ill-gotten gains, though as they rise in station and become more +‘educated,’ they become all the more dangerous, as they can obtain +their spoils more quietly and insidiously. + +King Solomon seems to have had a varied experience which gave him an +intimate knowledge of most things, and he was never more correct than +when he said, “He that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want.” +And not from his own fault, but that the rich, having obtained all the +poor man has to give, cannot bear to think he may possibly say, with +apparent truth, that he has helped them, and given them such and such +things, so they persecute him who befriended them and bring him to +such a pass, that if ever he should be so indiscreet as to hint at any +obligation on their part, he would but draw to himself the ridicule +and unbelief of his hearers, and from the rich man, the good-humoured, +patronising smile of light amusement, as though the statement were too +ridiculously funny to be other than a joke; for is it within the bounds +of possibility to think that the mouse was believed when it returned to +its nest, and told to its loving, trusting friends the story of how it +alone had set free the mighty lion. + +Although everything is now in the hands of the state, and there is +little need to be rich when there can be no open oppression, which is +one of the chief advantages accruing from riches, there are still the +old faults and vanities exposed by Solomon underlying every phase and +walk of life. The poorer serve the wealthy in the hope of being helped +to riches, losing sight of the fact that they would then be in little +better position, for in the semi-commonwealth of the present day the +rich man is, morally, no more wealthy than the poor, as he must spend +all his riches according to his position. All the same, beautiful as +is the present state of things in theory, in actual practice the same +envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness existing thousands of +years ago, still flourish in ghastly virility. + +The workmen employed on the _Regina_ were, one after another, left by +the curious to go their own way totally disregarded, and they could not +understand it, for it never entered their guileless brains that they +had been opened like oysters and, like the empty shells, flung aside. + +It was plain that nothing could be learned about the vessel but what +the owners permitted, and patience was a trying virtue to cultivate, +but at last the delay which the alterations had occasioned came to an +end, and the actual date of flight was fixed for the following Tuesday. +The first flight of the _Regina_ was altogether eclipsed by this, the +most important voyage of all. On the Monday, the city of Derwent was +again packed with people, and both on land and in the air business +began to be restricted, and before the day was out ceased altogether. +The following day crowds of people and ships assembled to see the +mysterious net; and punctually at half-past ten in the morning the +vessel rose out of her shed into the brilliant sunshine to be greeted +with roar after roar of enthusiastic applause. She floated clear of the +roof, then sank to within about twelve feet of the ground and there +remained stationary. Over all her surface was a wonderful covering +of network, fitting her shape exactly like a glove, woven without +a seam to fit the contour of the vessel; at every point where the +threads crossed, it was knotted, and the sun, glinting on these fine +projections, reflected sparks of brilliant light, making the shimmering +net appear as if studded with myriads of diamonds. The people went into +ecstasies of delight and wonder, and every one wanted to know all about +it. In response to the clamouring call, the three owners and Godfrey +emerged to give a demonstration of the wonderful properties of the net, +and on a platform specially erected, in full view of the assembled +throng, they performed many experiments with the heat-resisting +material, amongst which were fruitless attempts to ignite gunpowder, +cordite, and other explosives with heat and flame and blazing liquids, +none of which would pass the net in which the explosives were wrapped; +even a powerful oxyhydrogen blowpipe failed to ignite dry phosphorus +under the same conditions, and having successfully gone through dozens +of tests with all forms of materials and substances, there followed +a perfect furore of applause; for all in that vast assemblage were +sufficiently experienced in chemistry and physics to comprehend the +full import of the discovery, and what possibilities were open to +the owners now the question of heat—as the world knows it—had been +overcome. Whether the material would withstand the inconceivable heat +of the sun could only be ascertained by going there, and none were more +fully aware than those embarking that, severe and successful as the +tests had been, they might all meet their doom in the crucial test. + +All at once Dennis called his three friends aside. + +“You look excited, old chap,” said Ross. “What’s in the wind?” + +“An idea has just struck me!” was the reply, his eyes shining. + +“Ideas must be scarce to cause such a to-do!” remarked Godfrey. “You +look as excited as a schoolboy.” + +“I am!” replied Dennis. “I believe we have made a still further +discovery and placed the _Regina_’s powers beyond all limit!” + +Instantly all were alert as Dennis continued,—“Hitherto a great +drawback to our power came from the fact that we have always been +obliged to go steady through atmosphere, or the friction would +over-heat and destroy the ship; but if this network will withstand +friction as well as heat, we can go through atmospheres as quickly as +through vacuum and not be burned or warmed. Don’t you see——” + +“Capital!” interrupted the others, enthusiastically. + +“Let us try it,” suggested Godfrey, “shall we go round the Earth fast, +to see how she acts?” + +“We must tell the folk what we are doing,” said Ross, “so that they can +time us,” so they returned to the vessel and ‘waved’ their intention to +all, explaining their reasons for putting the ship to this further test +by a rapid flight within the Earth’s atmosphere, saying that in fifteen +minutes’ time she would go round the Earth at a height of twenty miles, +pause for ten minutes, then encircle it again at a lower distance at +a considerably increased speed. Whilst they were entering and sealing +the vessel, the people were getting ready their instruments to time and +photograph the flight. Punctually to time, the _Regina_ rose and then +shot ahead, soon afterwards to be resting over the shed, when the net +was examined and found to be perfectly cold and uninjured. + +Ten minutes later, she vanished towards the east and returned from the +west, almost before many of the watchers had realised she had gone, the +second circuit having been so quickly accomplished. Again were the net +and casing found to be of the same temperature as before the flight, +and the four travellers were again overwhelmed with congratulations. +Thousands of excellent photographs had been obtained from various +points on the light and dark sides of the Earth, those taken on the +shadow side showing little more than the ship’s brilliant lights, for +she had gone with all her lights full on; on each of those taken on the +illumined side, every detail of her wonderful covering was distinctly +seen to be undisturbed by the terrible rapidity of her flight. + +“That was fine!” exclaimed Godfrey; “one just blinks and we are back! +it’s a splendid success.” + +“We shall be able to go hundreds of times faster, if need be,” said +Dennis. “That was merely to try it.” + +“But shall we always go through atmosphere at so terrific a speed?” +asked Godfrey, in surprise. + +“No, not necessarily, though it is reassuring to know that no matter +what speed we have, we are not in danger, and there would be no reason +why we should alter for atmosphere unless we wished to land, or take +observations.” + +“Let us get off then!” exclaimed Godfrey. “I am anxious to go and +so are we all. We are already an hour behind time. Shall I call the +passengers?” + +The others agreeing, Godfrey very unceremoniously called up the twenty +impatient visitors who, along with the two attendants, mounted the +ladder and were soon safely aboard. The net was joined, doors were +closed, and amidst applause which rolled aloft like thunder, the ship +ascended, all the occupants going to the windows to watch the people +becoming smaller and smaller, suddenly to vanish as the ship increased +speed; and now they saw the rivers and seas like strips of hammered +silver; then all was lost in billowy clouds; then all was dark; below +them lay the Earth, a great ball, or disc of light, which became +smaller and smaller and was even now but the size of a marble, as the +_Regina_ shot onwards with terrific speed straight for the gigantic sun. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + THE CONSPIRACY + + + “Foul whisp’rings are abroad; unnatural deeds + Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds + To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.” + (+Shakespeare.+) + +Almost the first thing to excite comment amongst the visitors was the +appearance of the stars. On Earth stars are seen above and around, +as if the spectator were placed in the centre of a great ball, on +the inner side of which ball stars are seen, but owing to the Earth +intervening and cutting off all sight below the horizon, only the +upper half of the dome is visible. But here in space the stars were +above, around, and below; in every direction they shone brilliantly, +the _Regina_, notwithstanding her rapid movement, being always and at +all times the altering centre of a vast and ever-changing space, with +ever-changing objects, which appeared weird and awful when viewed in +the absence of an atmosphere through which everything in nature must +necessarily be seen from Earth, and which softens and beautifies by +its moisture and substance and clouds and refraction and dozens of +other blessings, or the inhabitants would be driven almost mad to see +the wonders of creation and the terrible sun, shorn of the Earth’s +beneficent veil of atmosphere. + +Many of the passengers were appalled, and several intensely regretted +their misplaced enthusiasm. They had, all their lives, examined their +celestial globes from _without_, as they necessarily were obliged to +do, merely bearing in mind, in a casual sort of way, that the Earth +was really _within_, and instead of the dome of the heavens being +above, the Earth was itself the centre of limitless space. They nearly +lost their self-control and were driven to the verge of hysterics to +realise that the frail thing on which they stood was actually adrift in +immeasurable space, and only the All-seeing Eye could guide them back +to their own world. + +As seen from Earth, stars are mere points of light, the rays from +which in passing to us become subject to various laws, and are also +not only refracted, but are affected by the density, humidity and +temperature of our atmosphere, coming to us as twinkling lights. Also +under the highest telescopic power stars show no appreciable size, and +are comparatively fixed in their places, forming such small points +in the heavens that their positions can be determined so correctly +that the measurements and movements of other stars and planets can be +recorded with almost certain accuracy, for keeping the same position +themselves with regard to Earth, they define clearly and unmistakably +the movements of our world. + +A star being _one_ point of light, twinkles only, whilst planets, +moons, and the sun have so many points and rays of light, all +twinkling, that the combination of all the scintillating rays causes +a steady light which is quite distinct from the light of a star, the +magnitudes of which are classed according to their relative brightness, +the first half-dozen or so classes being visible to the naked eye, and +the next eighteen or more to the lens of a good telescope. + +For many centuries it had been thought that the difference in the +brilliancy of the stars came from the fact that though they were +nearly all equally brilliant, their distances were so remote as more +or less to reduce their light, and that ether in space was entirely +transparent. The _Regina_, however, had been the cause of considerable +modification of these views by enabling many of the difficulties to +be removed by actual observation on the spot, when it was found that +certain parts of the ether of space were more or less opaque and +partially, and often entirely, obliterated certain of the stars by +intervening and absorbing some, or all, of their light; also that +many, if not all, of these semi-opaque webs of ether were in motion, +and sometimes this movement caused the more dense web to pass away +from between certain stars and Earth, and thus in the more transparent +space certain stars would appear brighter, and the new stars and moons +of planets would become visible; at the same time the opaque web of +ether having changed position, stars hitherto visible were blotted out +of sight from Earth. This accounted for many discoveries of new stars +and the loss of many previously observed, also for the periodic loss +and reappearance of others, for in certain cases the fog-like stratum +of ether was found to move in definite and periodic pulsations which +exposed one or more stars beyond, as the veil lifted, or fell, or moved +aside. Such stars may then have remained visible for years and would +again vanish as the stratum moved back, and in course of time, probably +anything from a few hours to thousands of years, it would again +expose the hidden star, which would appear and disappear in definite +cycles of time. Such stars are called “variables,” of which there +are considerably over a thousand, and others are being added as time +goes on; some have definite periods of visibility and invisibility, +and some change erratically, being seldom equal, all depending on the +size, movement and density of the particular semi-transparent web of +intervening ether, which, although appearing to be bound by no known +law, yet has a certain law of movement of its own, because it may be +timed and its passage anticipated with accuracy. + +One of the chief of these periodical stars is Mira Ceti, the “wonderful +star,” which was visible from Earth when the travellers left, but in +a few days they passed through a great bank of dense, semi-opaque +ether, thousands of miles in thickness and extent. This was almost +imperceptible when they were in it, but as they had approached it had +appeared like a faint cloud, the mass of which was sufficient to hide +the star from Earth when intervening. The magnitude of Mira—in common +with that of all other such stars—varies according to the density +and opacity of the intervening stratum, undergoing many ‘wonderful’ +changes. Its period is less than an Earth-year by about thirty-four +days, thus going through about twelve changes in eleven Earth-years, +or thereabouts. Its brightness, which is fiery red, causes it to be +classed in the second magnitude, in which it remains about fifteen +days, when it diminishes in brightness till, in about three months’ +time, the full bulk of the bank of ether hides it altogether from the +naked eye, and only through powerful telescopes can it be seen for a +little under five months, when a more transparent portion of the web +of ether gradually pulsates before it. In the course of a little under +three months the belt has lifted, or become so thin as to be wholly +transparent, and the “wonderful star” comes into view again without +anything intervening. She has thus regained her original brilliancy +as a star of the second magnitude, and Mira has now gone through her +average changes, but even these are subject to much variation. The +movements of the ether follow a law at present unknown, to discover +which the _Regina_ would have been obliged to stay close at hand, +probably for years, which was scarcely advisable, so the scientists +left the definition of the law of ether-movement to some future +occasion, contenting themselves with the elucidation of the cause of +the variability of stars, and particularly of this “wonderful star,” +which has been the source of so much controversy and speculation since +its discovery in Cetus in 1596 by David Fabricius. It was also found +that the ether pulsated and moved in such a manner as to cause the star +to appear of varying brightness, and to alter its period to a longer +or shorter time—probably a matter of twenty to thirty days either way. +They, however, noticed that at the eleventh maximum of brilliancy, +which was then approaching, the star was completely exposed to view +from Earth, thus causing it to appear at that particular time far +brighter than when at its greatest brilliancy. It was seen far away, +shining steadily, but without the scintillating, fiery glow seen from +Earth, which, along with other characteristics peculiar to their unique +point of sight, caused much friendly discussion amongst the voyagers +as the ship sped onward direct for her goal—the star which warms, +illumines and governs all the planets and the thousands of planetoids +forming the solar system, binding them all together by such close +and common ties, as of relationship, that no shock or change of any +magnitude can take place in any one of them without affecting all the +others, however remote. + +By this time the _Regina_ had travelled a little over twenty-seven +of the ninety-three millions of miles which separate the earth from +the sun, and consequently had arrived within the orbit of Venus. The +details of the visit the original owners had paid to this “Star of +Love” centuries before, were, of course, matters of history, well +known to every person on board; notwithstanding which, several of +the visitors wished to go out of their course to follow in the wake +of the planet, and land, and pressed Dennis to go there, but he +refused, saying they must travel direct to the sun and back, and in +this decision the rest of the party concurred, seeing that Venus was +at the opposite side of the sun to Earth and they would have to go +past the sun and then come back. Then for the first time dissension +arose, and amongst the few who wished to go to Venus were some of those +who first regretted having embarked. These openly expressed their +dissatisfaction, and endeavoured to inflame the fears of their more +courageous and peace-abiding companions by referring constantly to the +now awful-looking sun which, shorn of the protecting veil of Earth +atmosphere, glared with terrible power into the vessel, and contrasted +his malignancy with the benign, yet distant Venus, rolling onward in +stately movement. So effective were these constant comparisons that +before many days had passed other faint-hearts saw in the sun and its +slowly increasing and awful bulk a doom by the worst of deaths, and +they commenced to argue with all the owners in turn, that even if the +vessel could withstand the enormous heat and friction, she could not +possibly sustain the equally enormous pressure, but would be cracked +like a nut as she drew nearer, for a tiny jet of vapour on the sun +would strike with a force of thousands, perhaps millions of tons, and +shatter the ship like burnt paper. + +“The vessel can withstand lightning and any other force,” said Dennis, +with conviction. + +“Lightning, may be!” retorted Edgar Holt, who seemed to be regarded by +his friends as their spokesman, “but not solar energy. In lightning +you have direct electrical energy, and I will admit for argument your +sources of power to be greater than lightning, but solar energy is +infinitely stronger, and we shall be crushed.” + +“Energy, solar or otherwise, is all the same to us; the energy +radiated from each square foot of the sun’s surface has been computed +at something like twelve thousand horse-power, but that is, of +course, only a guess, as must be all estimates. Now the secret of the +_Regina’s_ power lies in the fact that not only can we absorb any form +of opposing energy—be it gravity, heat, electricity, magnetism, or +what not—but oppose to it the same force increased a thousand-fold and +more, so that we can assure you there is no danger; we may safely enter +the sun’s atmosphere, and no matter what force opposes us, it will be +harmless.” + +“It will not!” retorted Holt, in rude contradiction, “we shall be +annihilated!” + +“Oakland is right, Holt,” broke in Ross, with some warmth; “and if not, +and we are burnt up, you knew the risks—why did you come if you were +not prepared to face them?” + +“We were blinded with the glamour of the adventure, but that has worn +off and we cannot go!” + +“You cannot go?” exclaimed Godfrey, who had heard all. “My most +estimable friends, you’ve got to go, you must go! unless you prefer +being put outside, and even then you’d go, for you’d follow us.” + +“We do not intend going,” repeated Holt, quietly, but with evident +determination. + +“You see that collection of spots over there, good people?” queried +Godfrey, sarcastically. “One of them is our world—I’ll be hanged if I +know which, and yet I’m here. I know no more about this ship than you +do, and it seems like tempting Providence even to hope that we can +ever find our own little speck of a planet again amongst the thousands +of others, which seem to me to be all alike, and yet I am perfectly +content—as are we all except you—to trust to Providence, the _Regina_, +and to the power the three owners have over her. Going to the sun we +are, and as we have been friendly so far, let us proceed and all work +together amicably for the general good. Believe me, we are sure to +return to Earth safe and sound. If we don’t—well—we don’t!” + +This long and sensible speech of Godfrey’s, despite the cold comfort of +the climax, created an excellent impression, and caused several who +seemed wavering to side with the owners and remain true to the original +plan, but it was plain to see that the dissentients to the number of +eight were unconvinced, and it was equally evident that some plan, +known only to themselves, had been formed. + +Fearing an attempt at mutiny, Dennis wisely professed to compromise +and suggested that the objectors should talk the matter over amongst +themselves in the far saloon, and the rest should do the same +where they now were, all meeting the following morning (_i.e._, +Earth-morning, for they kept Earth-time) so that they could settle the +matter amicably, if possible. + +The eight went away as suggested, and after a short discussion, the +meeting terminated and work proceeded as before. In the meantime, +immediately the eight had left, Gilbert slipped into the sanctum and +set the sehen-microphones in recording motion, which, minute by minute, +recorded the mutineers’ every act and speech, how they had formulated a +plan to seize the ship, for as there were several eminent electricians +amongst them, they did not for a moment doubt their ability to work +her. They considered all the cautionary notices placed in various parts +of the vessel, forbidding further passage, to be but ‘bluff,’ merely +placed there to give an air of mystery to intensify the influence +of the owners, and it was absurd to think that if they transgressed +they would be held rigid, if not seriously injured. And all the time, +silently and secretly, the recorders reproduced their every word +with persistent and remorseless accuracy, working automatically by +electricity and independent of attention. Occasionally one or other of +the owners saw that the supply of films was ample, and so, hour after +hour, from the first suspicion of danger, each of the eight cabins +and the far saloon were kept in circuit, and waking or sleeping every +action of the eight suspects was recorded in indisputable evidence. +On turning in for the night, the owners took out some of the films, +and placing them on a reproducer in their private room heard the whole +scheme. Upon this, ascertaining that all the occupants were in their +berths, the doors of their cabins were electrically sealed, and the +friends retired to rest, keeping a four hours’ watch in turn, for they +had agreed that during the whole of the voyage, considering they were +not alone, at least one of them should always be in guarded territory. +The following morning, all met together as arranged, and Dennis—who +as chief and senior owner was deputed spokesman—requested the eight +mutineers to stand at one side of the saloon, and the rest at the +opposite side; he, with his two partners, being behind the barrier. + +“My friends,” he began, addressing the friendly passengers, “before +going further into the matter we are discussing, I am sure you will be +interested to hear what these eight objectors have to say, in order +to come to a proper decision—No, Holt! it is not necessary for either +you or any of your party to speak yet,” he remarked, as Edgar Holt +stepped forward, “we have something here that will explain everything;” +saying which he motioned to his companions, and Ross and Gilbert, who +had brought out the recorder from the sanctum, set it working and the +machine spoke out loudly as the films travelled through it. For a +moment the offenders seemed struck dumb with amazement and when Holt +understood what was happening, he made a dart forward, instantly to +become rigid, for within a few feet of where the party stood the floor +had been electrified and he could not pass. As soon as the others saw +this and that all was going to be disclosed, they became furious, and +one, losing his self-control, pulled out a revolver which shot electric +pellets, but before he could use it, Gilbert, who had left Ross to the +machine, whilst he went to the switch-board to prepare for such an +emergency, instantly put the whole of that portion of the steel floor +in circuit with the roof, and the men, being between the two metallic +surfaces, were brought into electric field and became immovable. Still +the machine talked on, reproducing their very voices, tones, and +expressions, disclosing the whole scheme, clearly and exactly as when +the words were uttered, all that had been said and done, both when +in the saloon and in conversations together in the privacy of their +own cabins; even their breathings and talks during sleep were equally +distinct, as Ross put through such of the films taken by the various +instruments as would give a general idea of their proceedings and +plots. When these were finished Dennis resumed, “This is no time for +sentiment. You have heard their schemes as from their own lips, and +we should be justified in destroying them; with you all as witnesses, +the law would uphold our action in so doing, for they have not only +mutinied but attempted murder. We must not, however, take life except +in dire necessity, and yet these people cannot stay here. As they say +they do not intend going to the sun, they shall not do so. Last night +we went through most of the films you have just heard, and we decided +that these men should leave us, for their presence here would be a +constant source of danger and suspicion, and at the very least, they +would disturb that harmony which our association together renders +necessary to ensure a happy and successful voyage. At the same time, +we cannot land them on Venus, they are not good enough; so we have +arranged to seek, out of the numerous planetoids around us, one with +an atmosphere similar to that of our own world and leave them there +till we return, they running the risk of our not finding them; and you +will be witness to the wisdom of this course, for as they positively +refuse to go to the sun, we have no alternative but to yield. We shall, +therefore, provide them sufficient water and general provisions for +twelve months, and if we do not pick them up before then, they must +look after themselves, or die;” then turning to the mutineers, he +continued,—“You have heard your fate! you will now go to your cabins +and remain there as prisoners until such time as we find that for which +we shall search. We do not fear your arms, as by this time they will be +too hot for use, if not actually dangerous to yourselves;” and nodding +to Gilbert, he stepped back, and Gilbert switched off the current, +when Bosworth Keeth, who had his revolver poised, dropped it with a +cry of agony, for some of his skin was still sizzling on it, though +the pain had not been felt till the electric current was broken. His +companions, also, with cries of pain, hurriedly snatched revolvers from +their pockets and threw them down with burning fingers, as they were +scorching through their clothing to the skin. + +In complete silence, cowed but malevolent, they then marched to +their respective cabins, instantly to find the metal doors strongly +magnetised to the frames and themselves prisoners, each in a +chilled-metal, drill-proof cabin, which, however, was warm and +luxurious. + +Had any of the other passengers questioned the powers of the _Regina_, +or the determined characters of the three men in charge, the tragedy +just enacted must have set all doubts at rest. They one and all +approved the punishment following the conviction from the men’s own +lips, and the attempt at murder, which the others were evidently +prepared to follow up, seeing that all were armed, and they commended +the way in which the mutiny had been quelled at its inception, while +the few who had wavered now felt devoutly thankful they had decided +rightly. + +The following day nothing occurred, and for two more days there was no +sign of anything likely to prove a suitable object on which to deposit +the mutineers, but on the fourth day they saw what happened to be a +wandering star, or planet, which was ahead, near Venus, and would be +between her and the sun, as seen from Earth at that time. This star +had a faint phosphorescent glow, showing through the spectrum flutings +of a peculiar purple; evidently a star which was cooling though not to +extinction and would therefore be easily distinguishable, and far out +of their course as this was, they decided to go to it. An examination +of a portion of its atmosphere proved it to be capable of supporting +Earth-life, whilst the gravitometer showed it to have a surface-gravity +only slightly exceeding that of Earth. + +“We are not likely to find a world more suitable than this,” said +Gilbert. “Shall we dump them here?” + +The others assenting, the two attendants got together the necessary +provisions and brought the men, each from his cabin. In the meantime, +the ship sank slowly through the clouds and hovered over water. Slowly +she roved, but everywhere was water broken only by rocky islands, +barren and fruitless, on which no food of any kind could be obtained, +so they sailed towards the other side, and as they approached the +further hemisphere, they saw the islands were by no means so numerous, +though larger, and were covered with vegetation, and well stocked with +animals. + +At last they came to a great continent dotted with numerous cities, +and selecting one they descended to within fifty feet of the ground, +which caused numbers of people to collect. These seeming friendly, +the eight prisoners were brought forward, their weight regulated to +the weight of the air at that level and, some of them sullen and +revengeful, others frightened into pleading for mercy, they were all +floated outside and their weights gradually increased. So they slowly +sank down to the ground, each with his supply of provisions; then +seeing the men reach _terra firma_ and be received by the astonished +natives with demonstrations of warm welcome and friendliness, the net +of the vessel was joined again, the doors sealed, and the _Regina_ +rose like an eagle. Getting a rebound from the gravity of the planet, +the good ship continued her course to the sun, her passengers, sure of +themselves and of each other, feeling more tranquil and comfortable +now that the only disturbing element and source of danger had been +removed from their midst, and they tried to dismiss the occurrence +from their minds by assiduous devotion to the object of their voyage, +which now lay before them like an awful furnace of molten fire. But +enthusiastic as they were and confident as they might be of safety, +they could not look ahead without feelings of awe and a nervous tremor. +The _Regina_ had travelled slowly in order that all should have time +and opportunity for astronomical and other observations, and although, +with a gravity similar to that of Earth and so powerful an objective as +the sun, she could have travelled the distance in a very short space +of time, the journey had occupied three weeks, and every one on board +had been intensely busy, some checking the Earth-measured distances +of stars by actual measurement in celestial survey, others from their +unique position in space noting the physical and chemical changes +and dispositions of the stars; taking moving photographs in colour; +testing and analysing the structure and movements of the ether-web; +the currents; passages of light; atoms, germs, meteoric stones and +other substances floating on, and passing through, the ether, and +scores of other phenomena hitherto impossible to deal with first hand: +all this was so engrossing that the hours and days appeared to slip +away ere they had well begun. Every one on board worked with feverish +application to add to his knowledge, each allowing himself merely the +amount of sleep actually necessary to maintain health in order that he +could—in his own line—gather as much information as possible for the +ultimate benefit of the people on Earth. Very quickly, as it seemed, +the time drew near when the sun was but a few million miles ahead, and +its gravity had just altered the position of their vessel. Instead of +the sun being _before_ them, they approaching bows first, their ship +had, as it were, stood on end and the sun was _below_ them, they being +still on an even keel, but instead of going _forward_, they now had +simply to sink to his surface, like descending on our own world from +the clouds. As soon as they perceived this change, they paused, making +the ship in equilibrium, and, over five million miles above him, rested +for final discussion and completion of arrangements. + +Already they were encountering clouds of metallic dust, still red-hot, +being rapidly drawn to the sun again by their own gravity; and although +the intrepid travellers were intent on sinking to the actual furnace +raging below them, which now blotted out the whole of the lower +heavens, the sight of the awful mass of seething ‘something’ made all +quake, and the pause was generally welcome. At the same instant there +rang through the ship the soft, silvery sound of the electric tubular +bells, calling all to the saloon for a meeting, whilst each passenger +received a telepathic message stating the object. A few moments later +all were assembled and Dennis, as usual, being elected spokesman, +began, with considerable emotion,— + +“Fellow-travellers, on the last occasion when we assembled here there +were, unfortunately, mutinous companions in our midst, but now we +all meet together in heart and mind one, and it may be for the last +time, for in that fearful heat below us—that heat which no human +mind has power to grasp or means of defining—we may be destroyed, +notwithstanding all our precautions; and at this sacred and solemn +moment we cannot do better than kneel and ask Him who keeps yon +furnace in its place, and dots limitless space with wondrous worlds, to +keep us safely also, and watch over us.” + +All knelt, and he continued,— + +“O Almighty and Eternal God! at Whose command worlds burst forth from +chaos and darkness to perfection, without Whom nothing is strong, +nothing is holy, we Thy unworthy servants humbly implore Thee to look +down upon us who are assembled in Thy Most Holy Name; and may we so +consider our present undertaking that we proceed not lightly in it, +or recede from it dishonourably, but pursue it steadfastly, ever +remembering that the object and intent of our journey is to learn +obedience to Thy sacred laws. Also grant to us Thy Truth, that Thou +being our Ruler and Guide we may so pass through things temporal as +finally not to lose the things eternal, and as Thou never failest +those who trust Thee, be now our Guide. For we know that our eternal +welfare is considered in every atom and law of the ineffable mysteries +of Creation, and that from all eternity, now and through endless time, +Thou art the Being from Whom all perfection springs. + +“And bringing us safely through this solar fire, grant that we may use +the knowledge gained to Thy Glory. May it inspire us with the most +exalted idea of Thee, and lead us to the exercise of pure and solemn +piety and a greater reverence for the Universe and Thee, the Eternal +Maker and Ruler of it and of its life; the primordial source of all its +principles and the very spring and fountain of all its virtues. Amen.” + +On rising, Dennis remained silent for a few moments and then, after a +few preliminary words on the danger which possibly threatened them, he +proceeded,— + +“The diameter of the sun is supposed to be about 866,500 miles, as you +know; we will, of course, measure this and ascertain its accuracy. We +have been sailing in the curiously shaped corona for over five million +miles, in fact we entered the corona at a height of about twelve of +its diameters, or, roughly speaking, when we were ten million four +hundred thousand miles from its surface. And as you will see through +the darkened sun-screens, we are in the midst of the vast clouds and +flames lying over the solar atmosphere, and even here, sound-insulated +as we are, the noises of the explosions and collidings of the vast jets +of vapour which are hurtling around us on all sides are unpleasantly +evident. Thanks to our net, the shell of the vessel is not advanced +the fraction of a degree in temperature, and you will notice the +de-atomising force around the ship prevents any of the jets of fire +and vapour from touching us. From the fact that for some distance back +the flames and fiery vapour have played about us, and at this height +we are encountering vaporous metals at enormous pressure, we gain an +idea of what the force must be on the surface of the sun itself. And +my partners and I thought it a time for us all to consult together +as to the manner in which the observations shall be conducted.” Here +he paused, and Crawford Rollsborough, the chief astronomer on board, +asked,— + +“So far, we are all right; but before we test the still greater dangers +below us, are you _certain_ the vessel is likely to be proof against +the terrific power of the vapours and forces there? for we had better +be sure before we leap.” + +“We have every reason to believe so,” replied Dennis; “her resisting +or repulsive force is now about two thousand times less than she is +capable of projecting, and it is more than sufficient to withstand the +present forces and awful turbulence immediately outside.” + +“But as we get lower and the forces increase?” + +“So will our power to resist increase in equal ratio, and judging from +the needle here,” looking at the dial, “we shall then have in reserve +at least two thousand times more force than that being projected, so +that so far as power to resist is concerned, we have no fear: a danger +might arise if our de-atomising force, backed up by the net, would +not withstand the heat, but this we cannot tell without actual test, +although we feel sure there is nothing to fear.” + +“Would not the net alone answer?” inquired Price Rowland, a physicist. + +“Certainly it would, but without the protecting force, it would itself +be for weeks and months in actual contact with baths of liquid fire, +explosive vapours and gases, many of which may be corrosive to its +substance; and there are elements to encounter of which we Earth-folk +do not understand the nature, and consequently could not test before +we left; so by projecting the de-atomising force to, say, a distance +of one or two feet beyond the vessel, the net is protected from every +danger, and will, we hope, see us through safely.” + +“But the pressure?” said Raymond Sorrel, the geologist. “Will not that +be difficult to overcome below?” + +“No, it should not be. All forces should be de-atomised, and whether +they take the form of pressure, expansion, or heat in solid, liquid, +or gaseous form, or any other force, all should be pulled up at our +current, which is self-adjusting and is always more than enough to +dispel anything brought or projected near it.” + +“Then you think we can safely approach the surface?” questioned Merrick +Rutherford, a metallurgist. + +“Without doubt. You see the large needle over your head; it is still as +if welded where it stands; the fearful thunders and explosions round us +and the rushing of flaming vapours under enormous pressure, are turned +aside by us and go round, causing not so much as a tremor. The needle +shows us absolutely motionless, moving only with the sun, so that I +feel sure we can reach his surface unharmed.” + +“Will the windows sustain the pressure?” asked Sorrel, again. + +“Yes, both heat and pressure,” replied Dennis, reassuringly. “No +one nowadays knows how the glass was made, but it is unbreakable, +uncutable, and neither heat nor anything we know affects it except +fluorine, and it is covered with the net, as you see, like the casing.” + +“But when we sink through this corona, and through these flames and +the atmosphere, and reach the photosphere, what shall we do then? go +through that?” asked Rollsborough. + +“Yes, if possible, and see what lies below!” + +“But suppose below the photosphere there is nothing but molten +fire—liquid chaos; what then?” + +“Go through that to the other side and see what it is.” + +“Could we do that!” exclaimed several, jumping up in excitement. + +“Certainly, if you wish it!” + +“But if we sank to the centre, should we not be fixed there?” asked +Kirkby Reeve, a zoologist. + +“Certainly not; we should become heavier as we descended till we +reached the interior, from which we should repel ourselves and come out +at the other side on a straight line. Anyway, we will risk it if you +are willing. So far, no one, even with the most powerful glasses, has +ever penetrated the photosphere, so we cannot say what is below, but it +would be interesting to discover.” + +“But is not the project of going _through_ the sun an impossibility?” +objected Rowland. “The ship, when resting on the ground in the shed, +did not de-atomise the ground below her, and how could she sink +through the sun’s mass—solid or liquid—unless that mass were in part +de-atomised? if not, she would crush herself.” + +“That is so,” replied Dennis; “when in the shed and when resting on +land, there was no real line of current under the ship, but the force +surrounding her was so placed that nothing, however small, could come +upwards under any part of the vessel without entering into electric +field, and causing the current to fly from each side to itself, and the +intruding object would be destroyed long before contact. This is the +ship’s safety, as it precludes all risk of danger through tunnelling. +When going through the sun—if we decide to do so—we should, in that +case, connect the current below us and be completely enveloped in it +as we are now, and as we always are when there is danger, such as +hovering over formidable foes, and any matter through which we wished +to sink would become de-atomised, and we should sink through it as +through water. We should use this power to give a temporary and local +alteration only, so that the instant our force had passed, and _as_ +it passed, the power would be lost, and the objects, solid or liquid, +would resume their former condition—it would be equivalent to passing +through solids without altering their substances and compactness, and +on this point there is nothing we are likely to encounter but what the +forces of the ship will take without being taxed.” + +“Gentlemen!” cried Rollsborough, standing up and turning slightly +to face his companions, “to my thinking there is no obstacle to the +accomplishment of our purpose; it seems as if we could go through the +sun as easily as not, and I, personally, would dearly like to see of +what it really is composed, and as the owners have placed the decision +with us, are you willing to risk your lives in this manner as the +owners risk the ship, for the cause of science? Are you——” + +He got no further, for he was interrupted by shouts of “Aye” and +applause which drowned all words, leaving no doubt of the unanimity of +opinion. + +The conversation then became general, drifting to the _modus operandi_ +of conducting the observations and examinations, and for several hours +the voyagers discussed the subject in detail, deciding to examine the +corona in which they rested; to sink into the atmosphere, testing, +photographing, and analysing as they proceeded, and measuring its +depth in various places. Then to settle down to the photosphere and +travel round the sun in or over this, take all measurements, find its +composition, its physical and chemical properties, its spots, granules, +and, in short, settle beyond dispute every detail at present doubtful +or unknown, and verify all now accepted as fact. + +After this the _Regina_ was to sink through the photosphere, be it +gaseous, molten elements, or what not, and risk annihilation by +penetrating to its heart to find its inner structure, coming out, in +all probability, on the other side. Not a soul on board flinched at the +possible danger of a horrible death, not one doubted the powers of the +_Regina_ or the skill of the men controlling her, to whose hands they +had gladly entrusted their lives. Heroes, and possibly martyrs, in the +cause of science, facing death itself and that in its most awful form +on the mere chance of adding a little more scientific knowledge to that +already possessed which, great as it might seem, was less than a mere +drop in the vast ocean of the unknown. Grey-headed men, many of them, +they anticipated the perilous venture with the same keen enthusiasm +with which a youth anticipates his play, and the details being settled, +they were impatient to proceed. + +Accordingly, the _Regina_ was made slowly to sink, perhaps her last +descent, and as she gently settled down like a falling leaf in a +motionless air, the occupants became completely absorbed in their +work, which had been so arranged that each one took such items and +branches as would collectively cover every phase and detail on which +information was necessary or desirable, and so they slowly but surely +approached nearer and ever nearer the glorious but annihilating +Mystery, defying the Death that was lurking there with sharpened scythe. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + “THE IMPREGNABLE ROCK” + + + “He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the + world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His + discretion.” + (+Jeremiah.+) + +Godfrey was a kind of gentleman visitor, free to work or not as he +chose. His work had been done in being the means of providing the +net, and he was enjoying a well-earned repose after the assiduous +toil of the past two years. At the same time he could not be idle and +had insisted on taking his share of work, to which he devoted himself +with all his energies, and after some hours of close application he +found himself with a little time to spare and was strolling about +promiscuously, glancing at anything and everything, when he came upon +the chief geologist, Raymond Sorrel, who was looking out of a window +intently watching the ‘flames’ which were shooting past them with a +terrific roar and, knowing he was always ready to talk on his pet +subject, and was never so happy as when he had a good listener who +would not interrupt, Godfrey thought he could not do better than spend +an hour or so with the great man whose knowledge was so profound, and +obtain some information on certain subjects about which he had thought +very little, so he sauntered up and casually remarked, “I fear most of +my bacilli would get frizzled in that furnace, Sorrel.” + +“Without doubt, Spenser!” responded Sorrel, smiling. “I do not suppose +you ever thought to rear fire-proof-spinning insects, any more than I +imagined it would ever be my good fortune to come to the sun—even now I +can scarcely realise it!” + +“I am ashamed to say I am almost ignorant of astronomical matters and +everything else except my grubs and electricity—my _métier_ is _really_ +electricity, but fate placed me amongst grubs, so I suppose I shall be +with them as long as I live, and they’ll be with me after, unless we +get cremated here—and until I made my first voyage for the Jovian bug +with my friends, I scarcely knew one star from another.” + +“We cannot be everything,” replied Sorrel, laughing. “I knew little +about natural history till you explained to me the habits of those most +interesting creatures to which we owe our presence here and our safety +from that!” and he pointed outside. + +“What an awful sight it is!” said Godfrey. “It makes one realise what a +wonderful and holy thing creation is.” + +“Indeed it does! and the Bible, despite the attacks made on it, still +stands true in its references to science.” + +“Really!” responded Godfrey; “it seems to be a growing belief that the +Bible story of creation is merely fanciful; very poetic, but untenable +when faced with scientific research.” + +“You mean that science and theology are at variance?” + +“Certainly!” replied Godfrey; “such is the acknowledged belief +nowadays.” + +“Then don’t you believe it, Spenser. Poetical the story may be, with +apparent slight contradictions in places, which are mostly different +writers’ ideas of things, but the broad teaching and general truths +are actually proved by scientific fact to be founded on a rock, and +impregnable. Science confirms the truth of the Bible, and in like +manner the Bible proves scientific facts to be facts.” + +“But take the story of creation, for instance,” persisted Godfrey; +“science cannot surely support the Bible-sequence of the events in the +creation.” + +“Why not? To me it does.” + +“Because if the story is to be believed, the earth had light and +darkness, day and night, long before the sun and moon were created, and +yet we depend on both for light.” + +“Certainly, but what about the luminiferous ether, which can both +convey and absorb healthy light, the _ignis fatuus_, and other +well-known chemical phenomena which could give a form of light (though +not healthy to us, but man was not then created), for ages before the +formation of the sun, and the sun was certainly created long after our +Earth because it is younger, being yet in its infancy, notwithstanding +the old belief which is held even now by many eminent scientists, +that the sun is the parent of the whole of the solar system. Besides, +Spenser, if you give this matter but a moment’s thought, you will see +how untenable is the argument that light emanates _only_ from the sun, +for there are seen certain stars which are not suns and, so far as +we can see, these have no ruling suns; if they had, our lenses would +show them; but granted they have, the suns, to be out of reach of our +glasses, must be so far away that their light could not reach these +particular stars visible to us, which ought, therefore, to be dark and +invisible. And if it had reached them and illumined them, the chances +are the time is so long past that these suns do not now exist, and we +see but the light of a bygone time, which no doubt in many instances is +the case. + +“Again, to bring the argument nearer home, to our own system, +Mercury is nearest the sun, at a distance of but 36 million miles, +or thereabouts, and in order of distance follow Venus, Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, etc., the most distant measured +being Neptune at 2794 million miles away—there are many others of +equal bulk further off still, but these will answer my purpose;—now +if the planets, and the stars that are not suns _cannot_ give their +own light, what lights them? And again, if these members of our system +are _entirely_ dependent on this governing sun for every particle of +their light, it would naturally follow that Mercury, being nearest the +sun, would be brightest, and then the others in proportion to their +distance; but we have the second star, Venus, as the brightest star +in the whole system; the next brightest is not Earth, as we should +expect (for we saw in coming that Mars, who is distant from the sun +over half as far again as is Earth, was considerably brighter than +Earth), but Jupiter, the _fifth_ in point of distance; yet Jupiter, +from a scientific and theoretical point of view, can only receive about +twenty-five or twenty-six times _less_ light from the sun than do we +on Earth; Saturn over eighty times less, Uranus a shade over a three +hundred and sixtieth part, and Neptune barely a one-thousandth part of +Earth-light and -heat! + +“Many theories have been propounded to account for this, the most +popular being that the differences in lighting are merely those of +atmosphere. That, however, will not bear argument, because modern +science has proved positively what has been for ages asserted—that we +can live on Mars and Venus, and so far as atmosphere goes we could +live on Mercury; yet if the argument is to stand we should be burnt +up on Venus and roasted alive on Mercury, which is so near the great +heat of the sun that it should itself be a star, a subsidiary red-hot +sun. To carry the same argument further, we ought not to be able to +see Neptune at all, considering his great distance and the little +light he receives from our sun, for if he depended on that alone, he +would be quite invisible to us. And to take it still further, to the +planets discovered far beyond the orbit of Neptune and yet undoubtedly +belonging to our system: how did they get there? and why were they +not noticed, as belonging to our system, before the nineteenth to +twenty-first centuries. If flung from our sun ages before, they would +have wrecked the whole system, being great masses of energising matter, +and at their enormous distances they cannot possibly receive any +appreciable light from the sun, which will be but a star to them. Yet +we can see them plainly, when by the very argument brought forward, of +the sun being sole light-giver, they should be black and altogether +invisible. No, Spenser, they must have been attracted and are now kept +within the sun’s mighty influence by his power, but receive not his +light. + +“Many other theories, besides those relating to the atmosphere, have +been brought forward to account for various degrees of illumination of +our own planets and of other heavenly bodies, but none are satisfactory +except the one admitting that each world, star, planet, comet, or other +heavenly body is, to a great extent, self-luminous; be it solid, hot or +cold, watery, vaporous, molten, or of any other substance. + +“Now, to prove to you how true is the story of creation as related +in the Bible, let us take the version step by step and see how it +harmonises with, or refutes, known scientific facts, for I want to +convince you that the Bible, in its scientific statements, will repel +any attacks on its veracity.” + +“Well, I have an open mind on the subject, Sorrel,” replied Godfrey; +“it seems to me that it is not irrelevant to discuss these most +interesting matters under the present circumstances.” + +Sorrel then resumed,— + +“At the first chapter in the Bible we have ‘In the beginning God +created the heaven and the earth,’ at a period in the dim past, some +millions of years ago, when perhaps, from a primary ‘something’ there +was formed a world which gradually solidified, and there came a time +when the azoic rocks were established; this was, roughly speaking, +about 49,600 feet below the present surface of the Earth, and in these, +as the name implies, exists no trace of organic life. At this time +‘the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face +of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,’ +causing to spring into being molluscs without sight, and very low forms +of phytozoa and radiata, the fossils of which are found in the next +bed above these azoic rocks, the bed being about 16,600 feet thick, or +about 33,000 feet below the present surface. Of these shells, limestone +and other substances necessary to later periods were made, and during +the countless ages that passed whilst this great deposit, designated +the Cambrian Period, was being formed, darkness brooded over the +waters, as the Spirit of God caused these low forms of life to spring +into existence and to die, in order that their remains might prepare +the Earth for further races. Then ‘God said, Let there be light: and +there was light,’ and in the waters there came a new race of beings +with eyes—which had not been necessary previously—trilobites, and many +other strange and wonderful creatures. + +“Then the Bible goes on to say ‘And God saw the light, that it +was good,’ and so it was, for it was life-giving, and was also +accomplishing His purpose. ‘And God divided the light from the +darkness. And God called the light Day and the darkness he called +Night’—and for the first time there was ‘evening and morning.’ As +yet there was no mention of a sun; the earth _itself_ had become +light-giving, and day dawned and faded into night without any solar +aid, for over all the earth there were thick and impenetrable mists +which excluded all exterior light, if any existed, and precluded all +life save that which was capable of existing in water, and necessarily +of the most lowly form. Then we find a further development, for after +these ages had passed, the Creator commences a new phase—‘And God +said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it +divide the waters from the waters,’ and at His creative fiat the damp +and heavy mists arose and, taking the form of clouds, floated upwards. +‘And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under +the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it +was so’—and from that time humid clouds began to separate from the +watery world, and between the two there lay a depth of atmospheric +space stirred by life-giving winds, the open air and winds cleansing +and purifying the seas, and then there followed the call into being of +creatures which required air for existence.” + +“And is all this your own theory, or based on proof?” interrupted +Godfrey. + +“Absolute proof, Spenser! indisputable proof from actual fossils and +the geological structure of the earth.” + +As Godfrey remained silent, Sorrel continued his story,—“In course of +time there then followed the appearance of dry land above the waters, +for the capillary action of the atmosphere between the water and +the clouds reduced the quantity of water and the absorption of the +under-land would do the same, whilst in many places the moisture would +reach the internal heat and volcanic eruptions would occur; these would +also be brought about by the gradual gathering of gases and in many +other ways, and the earth, by its upheavals, would be disturbed and +tilted upwards and so give the seas and oceans limits which they could +not pass, thus dividing land from water, this being what is known as +the Devonian period. + +“After these had all done their work, and insects had formed islands +and the ground had become adapted for growth, God said, ‘Let the +earth bring forth grass, the herb _yielding_ seed, and the fruit-tree +_yielding_ fruit after his kind, _whose seed is in itself_, upon the +earth: and it was so.’ This, to my mind, Spenser, is a direct Creation, +not evolution—a creation of everything first, and _then_ evolution, and +varieties caused by adaptations to surroundings.” + +“It quite agrees with what I have proved in my researches in natural +history,” observed Godfrey, “for I have found that each species of +animals keeps to itself, and the different species never, under any +circumstances, mix in their natural state. For instance, the wild ass +will never mate with the zebra, or the zebra with the horse; it is only +under the influence of man that these race-distinctions are diverted, +and, given the first creation, there follows natural adaptation, +selection, and variety, in the same species according to surroundings +in consequent succession.” + +“Just so,” assented Sorrel. “The first vegetable creation, according +to scripture, is ‘the herb yielding seed’—or seed-pod—‘and the +fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself’—so +that ever afterwards the fruit of the tree produces its own seed and +no further ‘creation’ is necessary, it being from that time a question +of repetition and evolution. ‘And it was so,’ for vegetation became +luxuriant in the extreme, from which reason that period is called the +Carboniferous era. + +“In due time all this wealth of vegetation cleared the atmosphere and +brightened the clouds, and when the time was ripe, there followed +the next scheme which, as in the case of all the other phases, came +slowly, without any line of demarcation, one period being gradually and +imperceptibly blended with the next. So that the succeeding phase, the +creation of the starry firmament, would also come about slowly; the +luxuriant vegetation would clear the sky, and the stars beyond would +become visible in consequence. This creation of the stars, therefore, +can only mean that those already existing became _visible_ for the +first time through the gradually clearing sky—for it is not tenable +to suppose, even for a moment, that all the stars and celestial bodies +were created for _our_ special benefit; the benefit of pleasure or +instruction of the few people on earth who seriously study the science +of astronomy, considering that myriads of these stars are millions of +years older than Earth is now. Of course, seeing that man was not yet +created, this influx of light could only be for the immediate benefit +of the animals and vegetation then existing, in order that the world +might be prepared for the succeeding life of all forms, and there comes +another wonderful creation which may have been sudden. A sun is formed +and begins to shine on the Earth, and the moon Luna, probably being +already there—for she is older than the Earth, or, at any rate, older +in her life—but dark, that is, merely luminous like some of the stars, +receives the full blaze of the sunlight also, and our Earth, from +its position, is illumined by the reflecting moon. And God made ‘the +greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: +he made the stars also’—thus came the completion, or the formation, of +many of the stars, some of which might probably mean certain of our own +planets, considering that several are younger than Earth, or possibly +some of the actual stars or suns of other systems. + +“Then commenced another epoch in Earth-history, and one, if anything, +even more wonderful than those previous. For ages there had been light, +but only the light which every world gives out from itself, as in the +case of certain stars which are not suns and on which no sun ever +shines, yet which are seen shining by their own light and lighting +other worlds, as they do Earth to a great extent, quite apart from the +light of our sun and moons, as I have already explained in detail. But +the rays of the newly created sun warmed and penetrated the sombre haze +which had hitherto surrounded the Earth, till at last all opposition +was destroyed and the vivifying rays and heat reached the ground, +warming land, water and air, and causing more violent circulation of +the atmosphere, and making certain portions of varying temperature. +The winds, therefore, became fresher and stronger, and the sun ever +after became the visible and physical ruler of Earth and all the other +planets which were, or had been, drawn within his force of energy. + +“This is, of course, taking my belief that the sun was made _after_ +the Earth, which belief I base on excellent and irrefutable grounds, +though it is contrary to the opinion held by many great scientists, +as I before remarked. You will see how strong is the basis of my +theory from the fact that the Earth is proved to be certainly not less +than one hundred and thirty million years old by the fossils on it, +its structure, and the progress of its life, and even the greatest +estimation of the age of the sun, as a sun, is that it _cannot_ be more +than fifteen and a half million years. How is it possible, then, for +the Earth to have come from the sun’s mass, either in the solid or in +any other form? + +“Then followed the creative word—‘Let the waters bring forth abundantly +the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the +earth in the open firmament of heaven,’ and the Reptile Age was formed, +when sea-animals, reptiles and winged saurians existed. + +“Then came the Tertiary period, the age of mammoths, with all kinds of +animals _except man_. The fossils of these are found at a depth of from +two hundred to two thousand feet below the present surface. Many noted +scientists positively assert that there lived at this period human +beings of a very primitive type, and say the order given in the Bible +is out of place, but I cannot agree with them, for no remains of man +have ever been found to exist with these, and it is but reasonable to +suppose that considering his bones are of similar substance to those of +other animals and of fishes, _his_ remains could not have completely +vanished while theirs have been left to fossilise. As a matter of +fact, no _human_ fossils, bones, implements, or indeed any other human +relics are, or ever have been, found lower than two hundred feet below +the present surface. The argument, therefore, is entirely in favour of +the Bible sequence of events—for man to be uncreated at this period. + +“But after all these (to man) harmful creatures had died off, their +places in the ordinary course being taken by others more suited to +the quieter time, and over which man could have rule, _then_, and not +before, was man created and given dominion over every living and moving +thing—which brings us to the present era, when man, as a race, has for +a time power to subdue the whole of the vegetable and animal creation, +and according to the manner in which the privilege is used, so will +posterity and the future of the world suffer, or benefit.” + +“Then you believe the Bible story absolutely as written?” said Godfrey, +much impressed. + +“How can I do otherwise, when I can only prove its correctness, search +as I may to find it faulty?” replied Sorrel, with fervour. “I do +believe the story most assuredly, as certainly as I believe that this +sun will be peopled in time as Earth is now.” + +“You really believe that, Sorrel!” asked Godfrey. “Tell me how, for I +have never considered the question of creation in so serious an aspect +before. If these changes come gradually, what causes them?” + +“The Creator, Spenser,” replied Sorrel, reverently, “by first of all +creating a certain law which, by means of cause and effect, works +itself out _ad infinitum_. Without going over the ground again, I will +tell you how from every effect giving rise to a later effect, the +Creator’s Wonderful Will and Power are worked out. Take this sun; in +time the mass will cool to such an extent that the internal heat will +not burst through it, and a crust will form; as this becomes thicker, +it will, on the outside, turn from white to black till it is almost +cold. This coolness will cause these heavy, hot vapours above to +condense and the ground will be covered with water, making it a watery +world. The heavy, black, grit-laden clouds above will cause general +darkness. Then will come a repetition of the creation of Earth, with +which I will not trouble you again in its Biblical sense—the clouds +will clear by precipitating their solid matter on the water, where it +will sink, to form muddy ooze and the like at the bed. This deposit +will lighten the clouds and there will be light—the light of a star +unlit by a sun. In time, all the solid matter will have left the clouds +which, relieved of their weight, will rise and an atmosphere will form +below them, and, being in circulation, will cause winds which, in turn, +will disperse the deadly gases and cause the water to have motion, +which will purify it, and in the mud molluscs will grow, and the deadly +gases above will be destroyed by combining, some with air, others +with water, and others with land, so that there will be a healthy, +breathable atmosphere through which the stars will be seen, and period +follows period as I have just stated, till this present sun has become +another world, even like Earth.” + +“And what about the present solar system,—where will it be then?” + +“Probably revolving round some other sun. There would be a time, long +in the past, when each of the planets was in some other part of the +universe, each as a sun, the centre of its own system, but as time +passed, and the violent energy gave place to the cooler and quieter +energy of inhabited worlds, some other world, expending its new-formed +energy in visible heat, by a coalescence with one or more others, +became this present sun, and, powerful in its youthful and terrible +energy, which was more assertive than that of any of the planets near, +drew them within the circle of its influence, and itself became the +centre and ruler round which these planets must revolve until such +times as its energy has no longer the power to retain them, when the +next strongest will take up the tale and probably cause new suns and +moons to form.” + +“How could a sun form,—by impact?” + +“Yes, but I think that scarcely likely, for I have often experimented +with motes in a sunbeam. If these are agitated in vacuum, they rise and +fall and float around but never collide. At least I have never been +able to cause any to do so; many draw near to each other, but long +before they get sufficiently near to touch, they fly off horizontally +and fall. So long as they float in space they will not collide; only +is it possible for them to do so when they reach the fixed point to +which they have been drawn. The motes will rest upon one another when +they have reached the lowest part to which gravity has drawn them, but +so long as they are above that part, I cannot cause them to collide, +no matter to what agitation they are subjected. They float and dart +here and there in the sunbeam as separate units—stars if you like—each +avoiding contact with its neighbour, though the sizes are unequal.” + +“Then how could a sun form? I could understand the worlds separating if +all the forces are equal, for in that case one would repel the other, +but if they cannot collide, how can they form a sun by coalescence?” + +“Though two worlds could not collide accidentally in space, one could +draw the other to its own surface, if powerful enough to do so, the +impact causing such heat as to liquefy both.” + +“Is not that the same thing as colliding in space?” asked Godfrey, +dubiously. “I must confess I see no difference.” + +“No, not at all,” said Sorrel, smiling, “I will illustrate the point +by a simple experiment I have often used to prove this very question to +my own satisfaction. + +“If you take two revolvers exactly alike, firing the old-fashioned lead +bullets, and so place and fix them that when fired their respective +bullets will traverse the same line exactly, at the end of which is an +iron-plate target, and arrange for them to be fired simultaneously, +one would be inclined to think that the instant the bullet has left +the end of the one barrel, it will strike and coalesce with that from +the other barrel and travel along the same line as a single globule +of molten lead, striking the target as one, for only one splash will +be seen. If now, the experiment is repeated and arrangements made by +which the bullet shall be photographed during the whole of its flight, +you will find that both bullets leave simultaneously and approach +each other instantly, but instead of colliding, they then _separate_, +and travel together to the target side by side, but the instant they +reach the iron plate—a mere breath before impact on it—they coalesce, +and the actual impact on the plate takes place as one drop composed +of two bullets _already_ united, their union causing them to expend +their energy in coalescence into a single globule of liquid lead. If +you now increase or diminish the distance by placing the plate further +back, or drawing it nearer, the result is the same. The bullets will +not coalesce till the actual destination is reached, but will repel +one another from the straight line till that time, though they are but +a breath apart—from which we may infer that heavenly bodies cannot +collide, but must be drawn definitely and irresistibly by some more +powerful agency to the actual surface of another world before a union +is possible, like a comet flying into the sun.” + +“In the case of the bullet experiment,” said Godfrey, “if one followed +the other, the latter at greater speed, it would overtake and absorb +the former?” + +“Naturally, for its energy would be the greater.” + +“And if one went immediately behind the other, almost touching, I +suppose there would be two impacts on the target; one would not hasten +or retard the other?” + +“There would be a slight influence, but not an appreciable one; there +would be two impacts on the plate, in rapid succession, the first, +naturally, striking the plate before that which followed.” + +“Are there other ways in which suns could be formed, without the energy +called into being by the shock of contact?” + +“Certainly, there are many ways; perhaps the quickest and most +effective to Earth-minds would be the sudden withdrawal from the +atmosphere of, say, our world, our own Earth, of every trace of +nitrogen. The air then being all oxygen, without any nitrogen to +restrain it, would cause the whole world to catch fire; as the Bible +says, ‘The elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and +the works that are therein, shall be burned up’; everything would +instantly catch fire; the water, seas, rocks, earth, and sky would +become a molten mass of liquid fire—a fresh sun, full of the terrible +energy of its own combustion; and in our blazing atmosphere and flaming +clouds the people on other worlds would see exactly the same awful +combustion as we are watching now. And our Earth, formed into a new +sun, would probably still revolve round this sun, if his greater bulk +and attraction had not then diminished, and would itself be the centre +of a new system by reason of its energy attracting other planets, and +causing them to form a new orbit round it. + +“Such an inevitable result would follow the simple withdrawal from +Earth of such a deadly gas as nitrogen, which by a loving Creator +has been made to temper its exactly opposite energising gas, oxygen, +the addition of but one-fifth of which, as you know, is sufficient +to turn the death-dealing four-fifths of nitrogen into our glorious, +life-sustaining atmosphere, that is, of course, eliminating the small +quantity of argon present (which is rather less than 1 per cent. of +the atmosphere’s volume) and the carbon di-oxide and aqueous vapour. +There is thus but a breath between life and an awful, agonising, though +rapid, death.” + +Godfrey, deeply impressed, stood musing and looking out into the +flaming sea around them, when just as he turned to Sorrel to ask +a question, there was heard a report in the laboratory, and crash +after crash followed in swift succession as something hard could be +heard striking the metallic walls there, and then came the sound of +shattering glass. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + THROUGH FIRE AND FLAME AND MYSTERY + + + “I stand like one + Has lost his way, and no man near him to inquire it of.” + (+Sir Robert Howard.+) + +Instantly everybody rushed to the laboratory, to find that though no +one was injured much damage had been done to the apparatus, and on +inquiry it transpired that Gilbert had prepared to obtain a sample of +the outer air for analysis, and knowing that the pressure must be so +much greater—inconceivably greater—than Earth-minds could estimate, he +had provided a specially thick box, sheeted and clamped with strong +steel, and had placed this over the net-covered valve, specially +designed for such purposes, when, the instant the valve was opened, +the accident occurred. Whether it was the enormous pressure outside, +or the composition of the outer air which burst the box, could not be +told, but it had been blown to little pieces and the air was filled +with dry and acrid fumes, some of which were collected for examination. +By a miracle Gilbert was unhurt, and he picked up several pieces of the +broken box and handed them round. So great had been the pressure and so +fierce the heat that in the momentary opening and closing of the valve, +the vapour collected in that short time had completely destroyed what +had been deemed a fireproof casing and fused the steel shell almost +through before the explosion, which Gilbert said was instant. Although +there were more of these boxes, it was decided that for their general +safety they would sample no more outer air, for the present, at least. + +The gas which had been collected was soon found to have been metals in +tenuous vapour, and now carbon and metallic dust in very fine division. +It seemed most remarkable that although only a small quantity of vapour +had entered, there should be so great a residue of this dust, for +almost everything in the room was covered with the fine, impalpable +powder. On analysis, this powder was proved to contain many of the +metallic and other elements found on Earth and others at present +unknown; all the deposit was carefully collected and stored in sealed +jars for more searching analysis later. + +In the meantime, observations showed the ‘corona’ to consist of clouds +which were similar to terrestrial clouds, but most delicately coloured +in tone and hue and ever changing, being driven about by the constant +explosions and gaseous projections from the furnace beneath, these +projections being of such appalling force that times without number +a mere pencil of gas would rise with lightning speed for several +millions of miles and strike the surface of an enormous cloud, miles +in extent and depth, and this cloud, which they proved to contain fine +particles of hitherto vaporous carbon of a rosy tint, would turn to a +dazzling white in the twinkling of an eye, and the whole cloud would +sometimes be reheated so fiercely as to become vaporous and rise bodily +for millions of miles, till it became so cooled as to be more dense, +when it sank again; at other times, or in other places, such a cloud +would be disintegrated completely, dropping in miles of fire, which +the glasses or spectrum showed to consist of minute metallic dust, now +separated and falling in a white-hot shower, soon to be converted into +vapour, proving most of the clouds to be, as it were, but bags of +gas sufficiently buoyant to hold the metals in suspension at enormous +heights till burst by ignition, or rendered more rarefied, when the +heavier and more refractory elements, such as carbon, were free to +fall by their own gravity. These clouds were of exquisite colour of +extraordinary variety, according to the degree of heat of the particles +contained in their mass and the colour which was reflected from the +lower strata of similar clouds, the moving, terrible ‘flames’ roaring +round them with repeated flashes of gleaming white, as some terrific +explosion below burst all flames and clouds asunder, and allowed the +fearful lurid heat of the photosphere to be reflected directly upwards +through the atmosphere. + +This turbulence was incessant, and as they slowly sank and the hours +passed, the awful grandeur made the necessary sleep seem almost a waste +of time, for every mile they descended brought fresh wonders which it +was felt almost a crime to miss. Frequently, as they were leaving to +retire to their cabins, the spectacular display around them would be +so amazing, that tired as they were, they would remain at the windows +entranced, as perhaps a gigantic flame would mount higher and higher, +licking a cloud like a huge tongue, and at the touch, the sea of cloud +would be blown to ribbons which stretched in all directions, waving +about in the terrible reek in millions of ragged tendrils, which darted +away till lost in the distant flames, their long, tape-like feelers in +constant motion as the heat twisted them, like a giant octopus being +roasted alive and writhing in agony. For hours this would continue, +till the watchers would turn away, reluctant to leave it, and seek +their long-desired rest, impatient that nature had made it necessary +for Earth-life to take systematic and regular repose. At other times +the clouds would burst and disgorge their contents in floods of fire, +awful to contemplate as they poured downwards like water, making broad +bands of flame connecting the two strata—the rolling sea of cloud-fire +above with that of the furnace beneath. + +This is, without doubt, what is seen from Earth and there discussed as +“stems, which, though they appear thin and pencilled, are of enormous +substance, connect the clouds with the chromosphere,” and which are +seen to last sometimes for several days, so great is the quantity +disgorged. + +In addition to these the travellers saw the eruptive portions known on +Earth as ‘flames,’ which were not only ruptured and changed from the +gases below, but themselves became eruptive, causing violent changes +to take place every few minutes, at times projecting dense masses of +lava-like substances high aloft, and masses of dark but brilliant oily +material like half-cooled metal; at other times their cavernous depths +were comparatively shaded by the clouds and by their own immensity, and +corresponded to the ‘spots’ seen from Earth. There are also immense +clouds of hydrogen, similar to Earth-clouds, forming, dispersing, +and exploding continuously above and amongst these ‘flames,’ and the +matter, liquid, solid, and gaseous, ejected from these ‘flames’ is +inconceivable. + +In shape the ‘corona’ spreads far and wide in all directions in +wondrous variety both of form and colour, the ‘rays’ extending like a +‘glory,’ inexpressible in grandeur and magnificence. There is no real +or definite line of demarcation between the ‘corona’ and the ‘flames,’ +for, in some cases, the flames reach upwards and spread outwards like a +gaseous envelope and form the base of the corona, whilst in others, the +corona becomes part of the actual substance and shape of the tongues of +eruptive fire which are designated ‘flames.’ + +Many theories have been put forward to explain what the corona really +is; some saying that it is cometary matter, others that it is merely +nebulous; that it is formed of streams of myriads of meteorites; that +it is merely a form of Zodiacal Light, and again others that it is +nothing more than the glare of the furnace below reflected on the upper +strata of atmosphere, as that of a terrestrial furnace is reflected +on the clouds above it. It was, therefore, a proud moment when, after +long investigation, the explorers could settle all these points of +doubt, and prove it to be gaseous, finding, at various portions of +its mass, oxygen, combining in enormous quantities with hydrogen, +carbon, phosphorus, carbon mon-oxide, and sulphur, the combustion being +accompanied with terrific heat and noise. Some idea of the amazing +heat may be gathered from the fact that there were thousands of miles +of carbon existing in combination with other of the most refractory +elements as extremely thin and tenuous vapour, accompanying which +were violent electric discharges, which encircled the _Regina_ hour +after hour and day after day in a tireless surging sea which, until +the first fear had subsided, had paled the faces of the occupants, for +the flood was so incessant that they could not help doubting if their +protecting force would be proof against it, so close it seemed as they +gathered round the windows trying to believe they were safe, longing +for it either to terminate or for the annihilating stroke to end their +suspense and close the terrible waiting for the death that tarried. +But as it was perceived that although the _Regina_ was the focus of +all the wild, electric fluid of the zones and strata through which she +sank, she continued her roving course unfettered and unharmed as if in +a shower of Earth-rain, all fear gradually subsided, and the voyagers +could look on the awful scene as on a wondrous panorama; with no alarm +and scarcely an expression of surprise except when some more than +usually magnificent effect compelled their voiced admiration. And all +this time as the ship was sinking with a slow and steady descent, the +clouds were dropping their elements, cooled from their gaseous state to +finely powdered dust, to be reheated and blown back in fresh clouds of +white and glowing gas, which mounted higher and higher in an endless +repetition. + +Had the voyage ended here the results would have been worth all the +trouble and risk, for the solar corona, and chromosphere or sierra, +had once and for all time given up their secrets. Having gone through +these, the travellers came to the ‘photosphere,’ which, when seen from +Earth, defines to the eye the extent of the sun’s disc. This was, in +reality, a sea of white-hot fire, or lava, so fierce that the liquid +was thin as spirit, and the ‘waves,’ ‘granules,’ ‘willow-leaves,’ +or ‘rice-grains,’ to which various astronomers have referred, were +actually the rippling waves of the fiery, solar sea, the ‘photosphere’ +through which no instrument known on Earth has power to penetrate, and +so white and blinding is the glare of it, that only those instruments +of very high power can clearly distinguish the ‘rice-grains,’ which +are accompanied by myriads of dark spots, called ‘pores,’ these being +merely the shadows between the ‘rice-grains’; the latter in a constant +state of ‘boil,’ caused by portions being heated from the under-source +and, increasing in volume, becoming specifically lighter and rushing +upwards to a higher plane to which they carry much of their newly +acquired temperature, their tops, or crests, glowing; whilst the +portions of the sea which surrounded them sink into the cavities they +left behind when they were projected upward, these also to be heated +and again to return, their cooler portions and return showing as +‘pores.’ + +The intense energy and rapidity with which these convection currents +take place are so awful in their fierceness that the human mind can +form no idea of what gas, vapour and energy on the sun really are. +Solar vapour is certainly millions of times more powerful than a +terrestrial solid, and the greatest conceivable crash of impact of +Earth-solid would not be anything near so violent as the tiniest spray +of solar vapour, and in addition to this lightning-like, irresistible +surge, there are portions of the solar sea where, either through the +extra refractibility, or the union of some explosive gases, the liquid +remains quiescent, or rather in a state of quiet ebullition, when, with +a terrific report, it suddenly bursts, shooting upwards in a spray of +white-hot foam, for hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles into the +atmosphere. And there follows terrible flaming and explosive vapour, +which spreads upwards and around, exploding and lighting other units of +similar gas here, there, and everywhere, till the whole atmosphere to +the horizon, and upwards as far as the clouds and flames will allow the +sight to penetrate, is one deafening, exploding mass, as if some giant +insect had rushed into a flame and the fierce heat caused the sudden +expansion of its moisture to burst it, and the now dismembered creature +had been flung screeching and flaming to the four winds of heaven, or +as if some mighty bomb had been flung into and devastated hell. + +As they hovered over this solar sea the effect was frightful to +contemplate and their position nerve-shaking in the extreme, and again +came the natural doubt that if they were fortunate in that the ship +withstood the incalculable heat, she could never even float on that +terrible sea, for who could estimate the temperature of a mass of +molten metal and other substances nearly nine hundred thousand miles in +diameter. She would be shattered in the awful tumult and the hurtling +masses of vapour and the batterings of the irresistible fiery waves, +the mere splashes of the foam of which came together with crashes of +thunder, and several of the passengers rushed in trepidation to the +owners of the vessel who, each in his own prearranged place, were +watching intently the _Regina’s_ various gauges and instruments, for +the lives of all depended on the accurate adjustment of the various +forces over which they had control, and the movement of a switch a +thousandth of an inch too much or too little would throw matters out +of balance and mean death, instant and certain. Ross was controlling +the gravity, retarding and increasing as the ship rested and fell, +constantly watching and comparing the dials registering the sun’s +gravity with that stating their own, keeping both in proper adjustment +together, lest, in the twinkling of an eye, they should be drawn to the +surface of the fiery sea. The work of Dennis and Gilbert was no less +important and necessary to the general safety, and as Morris Farrant +approached the barrier, Ross made the ship stationary and stepped into +the saloon, along with his two colleagues, and in answer to Farrant’s +inquiry, he replied, “You need have no fear! the vessel’s protective +force could even now be greatly increased.” + +“Then there is no danger from shock of impact?” inquired Rowland. + +“None whatever!” replied Ross; “we have on the compensating force which +automatically calls out more force than that projected against her, +as and to the extent in which it is needed, so that nothing can touch +her,” and then he suddenly exclaimed, “Just look at that sea coming +straight at us!” and all rushed to the sloping windows, to see before +them a flood of fire, miles in extent, rapidly welling upwards, the +ship in the centre of it, and safe as they felt themselves to be, each +gave an involuntary gasp as the deluge swept towards them and rose up +and up till they were in the heart of it; then it passed and a few +minutes later was exploded to the corona, where it was cast in all +directions, falling on the surface of the sea with hissing splashes; +a second later it was reheated, and the sea was gleaming white as +before. All gave another sigh as this great tidal-wave passed. + +“That is, perhaps, the most severe test we have had,” exclaimed +Gilbert, “for it is the actual solar sea which swept over us! and this +proves that we can go through it in safety.” + +“I cannot grasp it!” said Lees Ingle, an electrician. “I cannot +comprehend how you can overcome gravity in this way, and why we are not +overwhelmed! but then, that’s your affair!” and he laughed, thoroughly +mystified. + +“There’s this in it, anyway!” observed Godfrey, also laughing, “they’d +scarcely come and bring _me_ if there was much danger of being +frizzled, and if we get toasted they do, for we’re all in the same +boat.” + +This safe passage of the tidal-wave set all doubts at rest finally, +which was felt by all a wonderful relief, and with added zest they set +to work again, this time to investigate the sun spots, but they could +not find any. For days they wandered to and fro, seeing only larger +and smaller ‘granules’ and ‘pores,’ as the heat and movement were more +or less intense; but owing to the difficulty of seeing far ahead by +reason of the heavy and fiery clouds above, and the deceptive whiteness +of the surface below, they were unable to locate their position, for +terrestrial compasses were useless. At last, after a long search they +came to a zone of what they judged to be the familiar ‘sun spots’ which +may be seen from Earth any day without the aid of a telescope, if there +be but a little fog, or a smoked glass handy, and straightway commenced +examining, measuring, and observing the origin of their formation, and +why Earth was affected by their movements. + +The primary cause was found to be the enormous pressures of vapour +and currents of heat, which, acting violently on certain parts of +the photosphere, made those parts much fiercer and brighter by the +intensity of the heat, and thus the parts adjacent and surrounding +the whiter portions appeared considerably darker by contrast, just as +a spot of brilliant white placed on a piece of paper less white will +cause that portion of the paper immediately surrounding it to appear +grey by contrast. Such portions resumed their normal state when the +fierce local heat had passed—or, in reality, when the super-heated +portion had cooled to that of the surrounding portions and the colour +had become normal and even; for in these cases there are no spots +except by contrast, which accounted satisfactorily for the fact that +from Earth dark spots are seen to remain for various lengths of time, +from a few minutes to a few days, and then vanish, suddenly to appear +again elsewhere, following the course of the super-heated zone or the +locality which might then be in a state of constant motion. + +Some of these locally super-heated spots were found to vary from the +diameter of a few inches to thousands of miles—one near the solar +equator, and visible from Earth, being nearly two hundred thousand +miles across. These and other large spots are mostly situated between +solar latitudes 5° and 35° north and south of the equator, and are so +extensive that certain physical causes have made them more or less +constant. The continued welling upward of these portions of the solar +sea and their cooler return have banked up the outer sides or borders +of the spots, and deepened their interior space, after the manner of a +volcano, and they are in a state of incessant eruption or boil. + +Many of the sun-spots, also forming deep depressions, cavities, or +wells in the photosphere, and penetrating for a considerable distance +towards the interior of the sun, are caused by vast descending and +often cyclonic cones of super-heated vapour of inconceivably enormous +energy. Passing over the tops of the apertures, these are drawn inside +and, once entered, spin round the whole interior surface with terrible +velocity, causing the boiling lava-like contents to be involved in +intense revolution, the speed of which cools the far edges on the +surface of the photosphere, causing definite lines or boundaries of +demarcation which, owing to their reduced temperature, though still +liquid, are considerably subdued in colour. To the eye these present +a darkened hollow of terrible depth and fierceness, in and through +which mighty currents flow unceasingly with lightning rapidity, and in +many cases several of these cyclonic seas are connected by straits or +channels. Seen from above, they show a dark core, or ‘nucleus,’ and +surrounding this is the ‘umbra,’ which is not so dark as the core but +is really the darker and cooler _sides_ of the cavity; and between this +and the blinding white of the outer sea, or surface of the photosphere, +is the ‘penumbra,’ which is the _margin_ of the cavity, appearing a +greyish white in contrast to the gleaming white outer surface, and +these three lines of demarcation are easily distinguishable from Earth. + +In some cases there are long ‘bridges’ from the umbra to the penumbra, +caused by surface irregularities. In passing over these cones, or +spots, the _Regina_ gave out enormous charges of electricity, and for +some time the cause was not discovered, till at last it was found that +the extraordinary pressures and conflicting currents in these regions +generated a considerable amount of electricity, which was projected +outwards and caught full on the _Regina_ as she passed over. This, +then, was the solution to the hitherto mysterious manner in which +the appearance and disappearance of sun-spots affect the Earth; the +gigantic force of electricity generated in these super-heated zones +is projected outwards and, travelling through space, no doubt affects +every member of the solar family, Earth-people feeling its influence +in simultaneous atmospheric and cyclonic disturbances and a general +upsetting of magnetic needles, wave-apparatus and the like, while in +the mass of Earth itself causing at these times shakings, tremors, +volcanic eruptions, landslips and earthquakes, all of a more or less +violent character. Some of these vapour movements, vertical, horizontal +and oblique, were proved by measurements to exceed half a million miles +per second. + +A sail round the entire surface of the sun proved the actual +measurement to be 2,742,937 miles in circumference, or, roughly, +about 873,105 miles in diameter, and not 866,500 or thereabouts, as +previously supposed, and that its velocity of rotation at the equator +was 6570 miles per hour, whilst the force of gravity on its surface, +reckoning Earth as 1, was measured by the _Regina’s_ gravitometer to be +28·75 exactly. + +Having spent nearly six weeks in roaming over the surface, the question +arose as to the advisability of passing into or through its mass, +and all were eager to make the attempt, risking the possibility of +annihilation. + +“We are in your hands,” said Gilbert; “we have arranged to go when and +where you desire; so shall we go down slowly, in order that you may +examine the strata as we go, or quickly?” + +“We would like to go slow,” said several; and Kirkby Reeve asked if +any idea could be formed of the interior, and of what it was likely to +consist; when Gilbert answered,—“We can only tell by going. We shall +find plenty of excitement in it till we get to the centre, and as we go +through to the other side.” + +“Is it not tempting Providence?” observed Heriot Field, a naturalist. +“Considering we were saved in the tidal wave, shall we not let that +suffice?” + +“Certainly, if you wish it,” replied Gilbert, bluntly; “would you +rather not go—are you afraid?” + +“I am, I know! awfully afraid!” exclaimed Godfrey, tactfully, seeing +that Field resented Gilbert’s unthinking remark, “and so are we all, +and I expect if you asked each of us if we would rather not go, we +should all say ‘Yes,’ but we intend going all the same!—at least I +suppose so, for we don’t get the chance of slipping into the sun every +day; so if all are ready and willing, sink her, old man, and then we’ll +watch—and get roasted together, may be!” + +All smiled, even Field, serious as was the occasion, and Gilbert +altered several of the switches, closely examining the indicators +meanwhile, then came into the saloon and joined the rest, who +were crowded round the windows in silence; somehow, words seemed +superfluous, as they stood, each intently thinking, for any moment now +they might meet their doom. + +For the space of several minutes they stood, with no apparent change. + +“We are not moving!” said Rollsborough, in an intense whisper. + +“Yes,” responded Gilbert, “we are becoming slowly heavier; look! the +sea is drawing nearer!” + +So it was; the ship seemed perfectly still, and the fiery ocean +to the whole horizon was apparently rising up to them, the waves +spinning and lashing and the ‘granules,’ or ‘rice-grains,’ their tops +wonderfully white, were gleaming and sparkling like the sun on rippling +Earth-water, as they spun in eddies and long, lapping waves; and a +moment later the ocean appeared to give a final rush upwards to crush +the ship, and the liquid fire was level with the base of the windows; +then the surface of it was level with their eyes; then it rose higher, +and the windows seemed covered from the bottom with a golden-like blind +with an edging of sparkling lace as it drew higher and higher, and then +they were engulfed. + +Now what was to happen? Were they to be destroyed in that awful bath? +Each drew a deep breath and gripped the sides of the windows, as +though that would save them; then the deathly silence was broken by +Rollsborough saying in a whisper, “See, the fire is at least a foot +distant from the windows. We are safe!” + +“Thank God!” came from several parts of the saloon, so hoarsely and +faintly that it had been more heartfelt than articulate. + +No one spoke again for some minutes, for thoughts and the relief from +tension were too deep for words. Slowly they sank, seeing nothing but +cream-coloured blinds to the windows—a sea which became as slowly +hotter and more glaringly white till at last they could scarcely see in +the blinding light. They drew all the screens before the windows, and +after ascertaining that the continuous photographic apparatus and the +instruments for spectrum-photography were working properly, they waited +as patiently as their excitement would allow. For hours they continued +their slow descent, the time seeming like an eternity, till at last +some one ejaculated, “For mercy’s sake, let us get through or we shall +be turning delirious!” + +Gilbert, whose turn it was to be in charge of the ship’s movements, +said not a word, but walked across to the switchboard and made some +slight alteration, then came amongst them again. Scarcely had he +resumed his position when, with the suddenness of a pistol-shot, they +were plunged into darkness—a darkness that could be felt. + +Willing hands excitedly drew up the screens, but all outside was dense +blackness; the inner lights were put on, but only the inside of the net +was visible through the glass, and Ross at once switched on the whole +of the search-lights, which blazed forth in all directions, revealing +dense and impenetrable fog on every side. + +“What has happened? Where are we?” every one was asking, in +consternation. + +“I don’t know!” replied Gilbert, looking at the dial and the distance +travelled; “the ship is all right; we are still falling rapidly, but +we’re not in the sun, that’s evident!” And he brought the vessel to a +stand, poised in equilibrium, wherever they might be. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + “VAULTS OF PURPLE” + + + “All the elements + At least had gone to wreck, disturbed and torn + With violence of this conflict.” + (+Milton.+) + +“What’s up, old man?” exclaimed Ross, hurriedly, as he and Dennis came +hastily round the barrier, and Dennis asked, “Anything gone wrong?” + +“Not here!” replied Gilbert, mystified; “the ship’s all right, +everything is in perfect order and working splendidly. What’s gone +wrong we’ve to find out. We have come on a straight line towards the +centre.” + +“Have we gone off at a tangent and come outside?” asked Miles Dalton, a +botanist, as the rest all crowded up to the barrier. + +“Impossible!” replied Dennis, “or we should again be in the atmosphere, +or photosphere.” + +“We must do something!” said Gilbert; “shall we sample the fog outside +with one of the strong retainers, and risk another explosion?” All the +others assenting, he continued: “Here, Dennis, take my place, old man, +and do something for your living! that job can wait, under the circs.!” +And he and Price Rowland passed into the laboratory. + +The ship being safe, the others all stood about discussing the curious +situation, without arriving at any reasonable conclusion. In the +meantime, Gilbert and Rowland had obtained a sample of the outer air, +this time without accident, and in due course they entered the saloon, +where all the others crowded round them, anticipating startling news +from their surprised expressions. + +“What do you think!” exclaimed Gilbert; “the atmosphere here is +nitrogen, neither more nor less than pure nitrogen!” + +Had he told them they were in the shed at home, his fellow travellers +could not have been more astonished, and several incredulously +repeated, “Nitrogen? _nitrogen!_ are you sure? Nitrogen!!—a colourless +gas, and this colour!” + +“Yes, indeed it is,” answered Rowland. “This soup-like appearance is +due entirely to fine particles of metallic and other dust which, when +taken away, leaves absolutely pure nitrogen.” + +“Then the inference is obvious!” cried Rutherford and several others. + +“Assuredly,” agreed Gilbert; “all is now clear as daylight. We have +passed through the immensely thick crust of the sun, and either come +into a stratum of nitrogen or the whole interior of the planet is +nitrogen.” + +Here, indeed, was a discovery. This gas, nitrogen, from its being +neutral and neither inflammable nor a supporter of combustion, either +had put out the solar fire or caused a thick black crust of solid +matter to form, which was the black portion through which they had +recently passed, and the fine particles of solidified sun-dust were +falling towards the centre, drawn thither by their own gravity; those +being eliminated, nitrogen only remained. + +“All has come to pass as you foretold, Oakland,” said Parkin Coombes; +“but in spite of the _Regina’s_ powers it seems a marvellous thing that +the sea has not rushed in after us, through the aperture we made.” + +“And if the atoms were pushed aside by the _Regina_ and pressed into +the parts adjacent, so as to allow free passage to the ship, one would +think the sides of the well-like opening we made would become so +tightly packed as to prevent the re-formation of the atoms in their +original position, and thus form a shaft down which the sea could +pour,” said Farrant. + +“Yes,” replied Dennis, “that is what would occur ordinarily; but +being temporarily turned into vapour by our de-atomising force, the +atoms would, almost instantly after our passage, resume their former +condition, and what heat had been imparted to them by the change would +be destroyed by this nitrogen. Consequently, we have not disturbed the +crust—actually—although, considering the circumstances, how we have +escaped being involved in an awful explosion is a mystery.” + +“Anyway, it is evident we _are_ fairly inside Dan Phœbus!” exclaimed +Rowland; “and whether we caused an extra explosion up above or not +is immaterial, for it is certain that the crust is as substantial as +before, or the fiery sea even now would be pouring down on us and into +the interior.” + +Their discovery of the nitrogen could not do otherwise than cause a +violent sensation, and every one buttonholed his neighbour, and talked +and expounded theories galore. Then Gilbert asked them to come into the +laboratory, and they trooped in _en masse_, for each knew what such a +revelation meant, and to what it might lead, and every one was on the +tip-toe of expectancy. Fresh samples were taken, with the same result +as before; they were in a sea of nitrogen, safe from fire—but were they +safe from chemical action? + +On this point, judging from the severe tests which their protecting +currents had withstood already, they were reassured, and then the whole +company went nearly wild with enthusiasm. They were so delighted as +almost to bewilder the three owners with thanks and congratulations +for bringing them there, and to Godfrey also for his share in it, which +made the four of them so shy and embarrassed that, in comic despair, +they took Rollsborough by the collar and pushed him to the fore, as the +one who had first suggested they should go _through_ the sun, and then +_he_ became the centre of a fresh avalanche of applause; they chaired +him, like a set of wild schoolboys, and kept it up till the simple, +good-hearted little man nearly cried with pleasure and excitement, +and could only say, hysterically, “No, no, gentlemen! not I, not I! I +had no idea of this happening; I had not, really! Thank Oakland and +his friends, and our good friend Spenser. Oh dear! gentlemen, don’t, +I beg of you! It is very kind of you, very, but—no, no! I thank you +sincerely, but—Oakland, and——” And, overwhelmed, he struggled and +fought his way amongst his clamouring colleagues till he got to Dennis, +under whose wing he took shelter, exclaiming, “Really, Oakland, all the +thanks are due to you and to Eastern, and Ainley, and to Spenser, here, +and how _can_ we thank you enough! What will the world say?” And the +poor man mopped his forehead, agitated and perspiring. + +“The world!” interjected Godfrey, laughing. “What will the world say? +It will say that we are one and all supreme liars, at the very least, +possibly something stronger!—for to begin with, no one on Earth will +believe for a moment that we have been under the sun’s enormous crust, +or even _in_ the fiery sea at all.” + +No one seemed to have thought of that, and somebody suggested they +should at once ‘wave’ the news to Earth and see how they took it, so +Ross despatched the message, and after a while the instrument started +and the reply came: “The _Regina_ is too small for us to pick her out +on the sun’s disc. We note you say that you are inside the sun and +appreciate your joke.” + +This was pinned up, and caused no little amusement, which soon turned +to mortification when there dawned on them the utter impossibility of +being able to prove their statements. + +The dust seemed exactly like that obtained up above, and therefore +to say a portion of it had been obtained below the photosphere, and +another portion high above, would be no proof that they had not divided +it; and to bring back cylinders of pure nitrogen with a statement that +it came from inside the crust would not prove that it had not been +made on board. Neither would the miles of continuous photographs and +spectrum films prove the positions from which they had been taken. + +Of course they were all trusted scientists, men on whose word +reliance was placed, but it seems to be a trait in human nature to +doubt anything abnormally wonderful, unusual, or even contrary to +established belief and expectations; and though the weight of numbers +all telling the same story precluded avowed incredulity, all knew that +to state such startling and unexpected facts without substantial and +indisputable proof would but cause people to disbelieve at heart while +apparently agreeing with what they could not deny. + +They could only leave it to chance to provide them the evidence +required, so they dismissed the matter for the moment, and several +suggested that they should rise and examine the interior of the crust, +or shell. Accordingly Dennis caused the _Regina_ to rise till her +dome was just below the crust, but near as were the lights, their +powerful beams failed to penetrate the gas, rendered thick by the fine +dust which absorbed their rays. The vessel then circled the crust, +travelling immediately beneath, but though many samples of air were +taken, the same results followed, revealing only nitrogen. + +After the circuit had been made, Ross inquired, “Are we going upward +outside, the way we came, or shall we descend to the centre?” + +Some were for returning and others for sinking, when Sorrel said: +“Let us fall, Ainley. There’s no telling what will happen, and as we +_are_ here we shall see, at any rate, if the whole of the interior is +nitrogen.” + +This now meeting with general assent, the ship fell steadily, all +the search-lights full on, and every face was pressed closely to the +windows, watching the opaque wall of dust, so that no alteration or +passing object should escape notice. In a few minutes there was a +general exclamation of surprise, as, simultaneously, all saw a change +take place in the fog around, and there was a sudden cry from various +places, “Oxygen, with nitrogen—nitrogen peroxide!” + +Instantly the ship was stopped, and on all sides the wall of fog showed +ruddy-coloured and glowing. The particles of dust were being destroyed, +either by heat or evaporation, for the light now penetrated several +feet and the haze had the distinct red glow which comes from the +chemical combination of nitrogen with oxygen, though on Earth such a +union is caused by the action of intense heat. + +Again was there great excitement, and all crowded round Gilbert, as he +obtained and examined a sample of the outer air, which but confirmed +their suppositions, there being a perceptible diminution in the +quantity of dust collected. + +It was now about the usual time for retiring to rest but all ignored +the automatic electric signal; sleep, even rest, was out of the +question, for who could sleep when such strange and marvellous +phenomena were unfolded before them in such unexpected and exciting +form. + +They sailed forward, maintaining the same gravity, thus keeping +an equal distance from the crust all round, returning to the spot +from which they started, finding but a repetition of the previous +experience; in some wonderful and unaccountable way the deadly +nitrogen had taken to itself, and united with, oxygen, giving promise +of becoming less deadly. + +Slowly sank the ship, samples of the air being taken every few miles, +and though for several hours there was no change, they eventually came +to a stratum where there was a greater percentage of oxygen. All knew +what this portended and again everybody became almost distracted, and +it required all their self-control to enable them to conduct their +observations calmly and systematically, step by step, as they proceeded. + +All at once Dennis threw down some wires from an induction coil which +he had been using, saying to Ross,—“I’m played out, Ross! Tell them +all to go to sleep, and insist on it; what’s coming can wait! And let +the ship stay where she is.” And he passed on into his cabin, where he +flung himself down just as he was, falling asleep almost before he had +settled in his hammock, without heeding Ross’s reply. + +Ross then spoke up: “I say, you fellows, we must look after our health, +you know! For nearly fifty hours we have had no sleep, and all the time +have been under full pressure of exciting work. We cannot continue it +without being ill, and illness on board would be a dreadful thing. Let +us all retire for at least twelve hours and then we can continue our +observations and experiments in detail, as we sink down to that which +appears to be below us. In the meantime, the ship is stationary and +will not move a hair’s-breadth, so we shall lose nothing. Good-night.” +And he also passed into his room and was soon fast asleep. + +Loth to leave their work, yet feeling the wisdom of reserving their +energies, and finding there was no movement in the air around, the +others gradually sought repose in their cabins, going off in driblets +till the saloon, laboratory and observatory were empty, and throughout +the ship there reigned silence, broken only by the heavy breathing of +the sleepers. + +Gilbert had retired some hours before Dennis; for over two days he had +been working feverishly, but though fagged out, he would not seek rest +except on Ross’s solemn promise to wake him in order to take charge of +the vessel. Consequently, he was the first up, and saw that for the +first time during the voyage the ship was unwatched, and felt somewhat +annoyed that Ross had not called him as promised before vacating his +position. Evidently both he and Dennis had been too weary to waken +their sleeping companion. + +Mechanically Gilbert looked round and saw that all was safe, then +passed into the rooms of Dennis and Ross, both of whom were sleeping +soundly; in the reflecting tubes he examined every berth and nook of +the whole ship, to find all safe and the occupants sleeping calmly in +their cabins. He then, in the dead silence, passed out of the _sanctum +sanctorum_ to examine the air apparatus, which proved to be working +satisfactorily, and then forward into the laboratory where, after a +general glance round to see what experiments were in progress, he +commenced some further analyses of the composition, weight, and nature +of the atmosphere in which the ship rested. What was his surprise to +find that the air outside was in motion, so slight that only the most +delicate instrument recorded the faintest trace of sound, but sound it +was, undoubtedly. Rushing back, he examined the switches and dials, to +find the ship poised and absolutely still. The air must have been in +motion, therefore, the night before, but so slightly that, the ship’s +motion being present also, the instrument was unaffected. When the ship +was still, the vibration of eighteen moving people, imperceptible as +that seemed on so large and rigid a vessel, had, nevertheless, proved +sufficient to annul the instrument’s record of sound. + +It was evidently an illustration of a law of physics—that if two +sound-waves not in unison meet, and the swell of one encounters the +opposite phase of the other, silence will result, for both will be +neutralised; just as in the well-known experiment of the tumbler +placed on a table and a second tumbler held at right-angles over it. +A tuning-fork in rapid vibration is held in the centre of the angle +formed by the two tumblers, and though its vibrations continue, no +sound results; but the sound is made to become audible or cease as one +of the tumblers is removed or replaced. In the one phase, by the upper +tumbler being removed there is no check on the vibrations, which are +free to produce sound, but when the upper tumbler is held as described, +the sound-waves strike one another at opposite phases, and the plus of +one is absorbed in the minus of the other. + +It was a most interesting point, for the sound-waves set in motion by +the moving air and those disturbed by the moving people chanced to be +at right-angles, and produced silent vibrations. For several hours +Gilbert continued his observations and experiments, hearing first one +and then another of his companions moving about, and at last he awoke +Dennis and Ross, asking them not to start the ship for the present. +Very soon all were in their accustomed places, refreshed and alert +after their long sleep. Hearing that Gilbert had found out something +important, everybody trooped into the laboratory and he explained his +discovery. + +“What do you infer from that?” asked Godfrey. “I only see in it a most +interesting physical experiment naturally conducted.” + +“It is more than that,” was the reply; “it means that there is ‘sound’ +outside.” + +“Really!” remarked Godfrey, banteringly. “Surely we have had enough +sound outside since we came near the sun to make a little more or less +now a matter of no surprise—but you physicists have always something +wonderful up your sleeve, haven’t you, Gilbert? What is it now?” + +All the rest laughed at Godfrey’s manner, and Gilbert, turning to his +chum, retorted, laughingly,—“This will prove a lesson in deduction, +old man, and show you how to make one fact elucidate another!” And +then more seriously,—“You notice that after passing through the +enormously thick sun-crust we came to silence; all the upper thundering +noises were cut off. We entered a stratum of nitrogen which even the +sun could not burn; then a little lower and it became mixed with +oxygen; now the percentage of oxygen is higher. So far, everything +points, as you all know, to the presence far below us of a breathable +atmosphere—breathable to us, I mean—and we are all naturally asking +ourselves the question, ‘Why this breathable air if there is no need +for it?’ and the presence of ‘sound,’ faint as it is, strengthens the +supposition. _If_ there is sound, as there is, something must make it, +and given an atmosphere capable of supporting human life, added to +sound, or the echo of sound as we might call it, which is now absent as +we are all moving, it is highly probable that something living exists +below. If you will kindly turn the ship on its axis, Ross, so as to +alter the direction of our waves to run parallel to those outside, we +shall find, unless I am very much mistaken, a modification of the same +law, and the two sounds which seem now to have changed and to run in +unison will be doubled when they run side by side.” + +This was proved to be the case, and a sound coming from the instrument, +though faint, was distinctly audible, and the vibrations were numbered +on the dial. + +“It is possible that down below us we shall find light, of course,” +remarked Parkin Coombes. + +“More than possible,” replied Rowland. + +“What new phase has turned up now? Do you mean to say we are likely to +be lit up shortly?” interposed Godfrey. + +“Everything points to that, certainly,” answered Sorrel, “and +Rollsborough here will tell us all about it.” And as several others +came up at the news and crowded round, Rollsborough proceeded,—“It +seems more than possible that we shall come to an illumined world; the +luminiferous ether permeates everything, and given an air free from +solid matter that could obstruct, absorb, or divert the rays of light +(and every mile of descent the air is becoming clearer), there is no +reason why we should not have light below, for light is, in effect, the +same as sound and follows many of the same laws, and if two luminous +waves encounter each other at opposites, each extinguishes the other +and total darkness results; but on the other hand, if two light-rays +run parallel to each other, then the light is doubled. An effect of +this is seen in the twinkling stars, from which two unequally vibrating +rays will coincide at certain points, when their light will be doubled, +but at all their vibrations that do not coincide there is no light +of any kind, but instead, total darkness. This—darkness and light +following in rapid succession as the unequal rays coincide and miss one +another—gives us the twinkling of the stars; the altering humidity and +density of the air on Earth through which the light-rays must pass also +contribute largely to the effect of scintillation. + +“It is, therefore, judging from the present progress, probable that +as we descend we shall come to a world which is self-lighting, and on +which the luminiferous ether has so many of its rays in coincidence +that every ray is augmented by its next ray, and not a single light-ray +is lost, thus making this unknown world, if not brilliant, at least +light; probably very light, as is the case with many of the stars.” + +Needless to say, this conversation did not conduce to calmness in +their already exciting position, and Godfrey remarked,—“Folk say +that scientists conduct their work without sentiment, and are all +matter-of-fact, but, upon my word, we all of us need a good thrashing +to compel us to go on with our own business! I never knew it so +difficult to work steadily on and wait patiently for what is coming!” + +All the same, every one knew he was working well and seriously with +every nerve concentrated on what he had in hand. And if it had been +suggested that they should rush down to solve their doubts, he +would have been one of the first to say, “No, we must not be too +enthusiastic; we must examine step by step, and get a true record of +every stratum through which we pass.” He, however, did but express the +general feeling, and none were sorry when the time came to sink lower. + +All at once they descried below them a peculiar sight. As far as they +could see, there were piled up hundreds of miles of rocks, the _bases_ +lit with a peculiar haze, or glow, which came from the ground itself +like a giant _ignis fatuus_, or ‘will-o’-the-wisp,’ the origin of which +is, even to-day, a mystery to science, and though many explanations +have been attempted, none are conclusive, or even tenable. Then numbers +of these flashing lights appeared, as though a multitude of people +were carrying huge candles or lanterns, some of the lights being blue, +others greenish and yellow, but the majority purple, and all these +flitted in and out and about the bases of the hills, and clambered up +and rested on peak after peak in the most ghostly manner imaginable. +Then all was dark again. The ground heaved and split, and the ‘marsh +gas,’ the colliers’ ‘fire-damp’ (evolved during the process of +decomposition of the dead and dying vegetable matter in the ground and +in the changes taking place while coal was being formed), had found a +means of outlet through the opening, and, mixing with the air, formed +the well-known explosive mixture which, with an awful though silent +disruption, laid low hill after hill, and a few seconds later what had +been a range of mountains became a desolate plain. + +The ship was made in equipoise, and in complete amazement, all watched +the surface of the world below them change its shape and configuration +every few minutes—it was in constant fret, and though not losing its +shape as a whole, yet valleys were turned into hills and mountains into +deserts with an awfulness which the darkness and silence rendered even +more frightful. + +All would be dark—black; then from point to point in the distance +the light would come again, roving here and there like a lost spirit +fruitlessly searching in a desolate world for its soul, and would run +up the rocks in a gliding flow, hanging for a few moments on dizzy +pinnacles, and then, in apparent despair, precipitate itself headlong, +or wash itself down the steep sides like an avalanche of sliding +snow; perhaps, when half-way down, suddenly to stop and take a fresh +movement, spreading and stretching itself like a flickering, elastic +web, embracing hill after hill in its toils, till the whole horizon was +covered with it, and there lay below them a snowy world, with every +summit frowning and black by contrast, showing above it as though +impaled. A second later the whole landscape, shuddering under its +cloak, would shake itself and the light suddenly vanish, leaving black +darkness again everywhere. + +The _Regina’s_ search-lights were switched off, and the whole vessel +plunged in darkness, so that the occupants could better examine the +strange world below them as they crowded round all the windows, +intently watching through their glasses. + +For a while nothing could be discerned, and then the whole country, +to the limits of blackness, was glowing with phosphorescent fire, and +times without number the rocks rose and fell as though floating on an +angry sea, completely hidden by the forms above. And all the while +the ‘will-o’-the-wisp’ lights were dancing their mad flight, and the +rocks, in their apparent endeavour to trap them, rent themselves apart +and crashed together, always too late, or too soon, for the lights +invariably fled elsewhere, whilst the rocks were but welded firmly into +larger and more compact masses. + +It was a world in chaos—a nightmare of evolution—where the ghosts and +spirits of creation tossed and tumbled in their fevered, restless +efforts to build themselves into solid shape; where earth and rock +were spun and pounded together as clay in the hands of the potter; +pounded this way and that in an ever-turning churn, becoming more and +more compact as gigantic masses of earth and rock crashed together +and became absorbed one in the other, and were again packed into less +than half their bulk, mountain after mountain becoming little more +than a hill; and when no further compression seemed possible, they +would tumble upside down, their bases uppermost, their jagged roots, +which had seemed so firmly embedded in the ground, showing in the +flickering light like awful teeth, the sight of which made the flesh +creep; their peaks also, now twisted and awry with the shock, were +wounded and beseeching, for the beautiful mountains had become deformed +monstrosities. So would they heave as in an agony of physical pain, +tumbling and twisting about to obtain relief; travelling over and under +other mountains which they exposed and lifted up as they dug underneath +them, they being momentarily hidden. Some of these did not rise again, +but were plunged into the depths below, in which they became fixed; +others, after being slowly and irresistibly pounded into compactness, +would suddenly become disintegrated and spread themselves out as though +some mighty roller were crushing them into slabs, and during the +process they would resume some semblance of their original form and +become dense, hard, invincible rock with precipitous sides. Chain after +chain of hills would turn to valleys and long sweeps of undulating +country; these undulations would then become more pronounced, then +involved, and then suddenly rise; the next moment they were hundreds of +miles of forbidding, death-inviting mountain ranges, with craggy sides +on which no human being could find a foothold, or if found, could keep. +Over the range would pass a gentle shiver, and without a sound would +follow an awful earthquake, swallowing up hundreds of enormous hills, +and for the space of fully five minutes there yawned beneath the ship a +bottomless gulf, with sides as straight as if cut, into which the whole +mass of the hills seemed to tumble. + +Even here the strange and lurid light flashed on the sides of the +chasm as they dashed together again, leaving no trace of the awful +catastrophe. + +Awed into long and complete silence, the occupants of the _Regina_ +watched the chaotic disturbance below, rendered doubly amazing by +the absence of sound—at least of sufficient volume to penetrate the +vessel—and the gentle, deliberate way in which all the movements took +place. Had the changes been made with terrible speed and deafening +clatter and bang, the observers would not have been disturbed, for +there would have been nothing abnormal, but sound _could_ be heard in +the ship, and such havoc ought to have been accompanied with crash and +noise, yet the upheavals took place silently, the impacts being an +‘absorption’ of one into the other, as it were, with quiet force which +seemed awful in its irresistibility. + +“I think this is more awful than the fire above!” ejaculated Merrick +Rutherford, at last. + +“It is!” agreed Creeve Kelman, with a long breath. “Who would have +thought that a world was so formed?” + +“And contrary, too, to all established beliefs and theories!” said +Sorrel. + +“We had better go down into it,” proposed Gilbert; “we shall be safe! +What do you say, all?” + +“Yes, let us go,” said Dennis; “we have seen as much as we can from +here”; and Gilbert stepped towards the switch-board, but scarcely had +he traversed half the distance when there was a yell from Godfrey, +who turned away from the window, shrieking with laughter. So long and +vigorously did he laugh that the poor fellow could not stand, and, +doubled up as he was, he sought to sit on a chair, but missing it, fell +on the floor, where he lay laughing and crying in turn. + +“He’s gone mad!” cried half a dozen, in dismay, as they rushed to his +assistance, but being waved aside, they formed a circle round their +prostrate companion, all the rest hurrying up also. + +“Whatever’s the matter, Godfrey,” exclaimed Gilbert, running back. + +“Mad! we’re all mad!” gurgled Godfrey, painfully. “Oh, Great Bona! I +shall die, I’m sure I shall! I can’t laugh any more. Oh, dear!” and he +rolled over in agony. + +“Tell us all about it, old man!” exclaimed several, soothingly, as they +attempted to raise him up, which drew a protest as he slid back on the +floor, moaning, “Oh, don’t! don’t touch me, or I’ll snap in two like a +carrot!—the windows!—look out——” + +All rushed to the windows, but nothing was visible except the turbulent +world, and when they turned round Godfrey was sat on the floor with his +legs straight out and his hands to his sides, the picture of woe. + +“There’s nothing!” said Dennis; “only what we’ve been looking at half a +day. Tell us what’s the matter, there’s a good chap.” + +“The matter?” moaned Godfrey, getting on his hands and knees like +a bear, but, finding it painful, sitting down again. “The matter! +everything’s the matter! And ‘only what we’ve been looking at half a +day’!—why, that’s just it, my boy! + +“We’re as bright a set of idiots as could be got together in a +lifetime!” And he declaimed, as if giving a lecture,—“We get into the +way of looking for scientific explanations for everything, till we +can’t use our eyes to see what’s staring us in the face as plainly as a +hole in a ladder! My dear fellow-idiots, I regret to say that it only +dawned across my woolly brains a few moments since that we have, the +whole lot of us, spent five solid hours staring at nothing more nor +less than _clouds with light on them_, thinking——” + +“Clouds!!” they all shrieked, without waiting to hear more, and, +leaving the orator as if he were a pestilence, they made a tumbling +rush for the windows. Now they had the idea, they saw distinctly that +they were above a stratum of clouds which were faintly illumined from +below, the light catching the upper portions as their movements allowed +it points of entrance. + +There was no doubt about it! the more they gazed, the more certain +it was, and the grim humour of the situation appealed to them as to +Godfrey; they all laughed till they could not stand, some till they +could not sit but rolled on the floor to join Godfrey, alternately +wiping away tears and holding their aching sides. Anon they would look +up at one another with pain-drawn features, and the sight of their +companions in a similar state would send them off into fresh paroxysms +of laughter. The joke, like the sun, was immense; not one of these +intensely scientific men could be said to be without a sense of humour, +and not one of them felt in any way ashamed or embarrassed to be +utterly prostrated with amusement at his own blunder. But the laugh did +come in, though they had to do it themselves, and “it’s a good thing to +laugh, at any rate.” + +After they had all calmed sufficiently to be serious again they +descended, photographing as they fell, in accordance with the custom +they had observed since the commencement of the voyage; and as they +sank they came to brighter and still brighter strata until at last, +far below them, they espied a wide stretch of what appeared to be +Earth-clouds, so Earth-names were given to them. The highest, those +now immediately below them, were the ‘cirrus,’ or ‘mare’s tails,’ and +were moving somewhat rapidly, proving the presence of a strong wind as +in the strata above. These cirrus clouds floating on this particular +current of atmosphere were proved to be minute crystals of ice, the +refractions and reflections of which produced ravishing colour. Below +these were heavy cumuli, cutting off all view below as they lay in +an unbroken bed beneath them, like a sea of grey, unbleached wool, +and once through these, although they had hoped for what they saw, +the realisation raised their excitement to fever-heat. Ever since +they had found the atmosphere changing from deadly nitrogen by very +gradual degrees into the semblance of Earth-atmosphere, they had partly +expected to find an interior world of some form or other, yet they +could be excused feeling fevered when they saw below them their whole +horizon filled with land, only lit by the luminous ether, ’tis true, +but clear and fresh as one sees the Earth under the light of early dawn. + +The cirrus clouds had been 43,000 feet above the ground, the cumulus +had had an elevation of but 6000 feet, and now, a few feet above the +ground, Rowland took the last sample of air and found it contained +nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, aqueous vapour, helium, and traces of +nitric acid, ammonia and carburetted hydrogen, thus being practically +like terrestrial atmosphere, and the gravitometer registered the same +gravity as that of Earth, so that there was no reason why the outer +air should not be breathed, and amidst cheers, for the second time +since leaving Earth, the doors were opened, the net drawn aside, and +there permeated the ship the natural air of heaven, pure and fresh +as that on the country moors in the far-away home—and the hearts of +the adventurers filled with gratitude and thankfulness for their +preservation. + +The first care was to go over every inch of the net and outer casing +of the ship, in case any damage had been sustained, so that they might +at once make any needful repairs, or, if necessary, replace the net +with a new one they had brought for such a contingency, several having +been woven at the same time. Every knot and twist was most searchingly +scrutinised, for all their lives during the equally perilous return +journey depended on the immutability of the net, but it was found in as +excellent condition as when newly woven. + +This long and tedious though important task over, they gave themselves +up to the examination of that portion of the country on which they had +settled; this was overgrown with small trees and shrubs, the foliage, +as well as the grass, being a strange golden yellow, twinkling with +green. + +This might be the effect of the peculiar light, but be that as it +may, all were amazed to see so strange a sight under circumstances +so entirely at variance, for in the absence of sunshine, how was it +possible for the vegetation to have such glinting, gleaming lights? + +On closer inspection, they were surprised beyond measure to find that +what they had taken to be long tendrils were, in reality, festoons +of insects, clinging together in such numbers as to obliterate every +living thing above the ground. There were millions of them, and their +golden, horny bodies, with brilliant green elytra, or wing-cases, +which their movements caused to be in a state of constant agitation, +produced a shimmering as of a myriad gems. On the bushes being shaken +they arose in a golden cloud, as of cut and sparkling precious stones, +to settle a moment later, hiding every living thing of vegetable +growth, clinging to each other in some places like swarming bees, and +in others they formed strings, festoons and tendrils, binding bush +to bush with living, jewelled cords, and the combined sound of their +movements rose in a faint hum like a distant, swiftly revolving fan. +It was a fairy-land. Examination of the plants was scarcely possible, +for no sooner had the little creatures been disturbed and their +resting-places exposed than they were back again, and so persistent +were they in this that though some of the shrubs were cut down and +taken into the vessel, thousands followed and rested on them. How they +lived was a miracle, for they did not appear to eat the vegetation, +yet it was necessary to their existence, for of all the thousands +Godfrey and his entomological colleagues collected and kept apart, not +one survived, yet those allowed to remain on or near the shrubs lived +and multiplied exceedingly, although, like some of the ephemera—the +may-fly, for instance—they possessed no mouth organs, or indeed any +digestive organs, even of a rudimentary nature. And strange to say, the +shrubs and plants (which, in common with all other vegetable growth +on this world, when divested of the insects, were of a pale green +colour) neither grew nor faded, losing none of their suppleness, and +when carefully weighed it was found that after they had given support +to scores of generations of thousands of insects, their weight had +not varied in the least. Neither ordinary heat nor moisture affects +them, but if an actual light is put to them or they are burned, they +then prove highly inflammable, burning furiously till consumed, when +they leave no ash or residue; they are, however, perfectly safe at any +temperature not exceeding 200° F. + +With regard to the insects themselves, so rapidly did they increase +that every week or so handfuls had to be taken away and kept apart from +the shrubs, when they died—yet thousands never got near because of +the thousands intervening, to which they clung. It was an interesting +instance of symbiosis, and virtue in some shape or form must have been +transmitted through the intervening bodies, or possibly by means of +some delicate sense of smell. + +Neither Godfrey nor any other of the great biologists of the time have +ever been able to throw any additional light on the matter, though +not unparallel cases have been known in certain of those islands on +Earth, of highly volcanic origin, formerly called the Fiji, or Viti +Islands, which were a British dependency. These islands were famed +for the tropical luxuriance of their vegetable and insect life, but +were submerged in the South Pacific by the great tidal wave closely +following the devastating eruption and earthquake of 2316 +a.d.+, which +permanently raised that portion of the South Pacific Ocean. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + BETWEEN TWO WORLDS + + + “For thousand perils lie in close await + That none except a god, or God him guide, + May them avoid, or remedy provide.” + (+Spenser.+) + +There were no inhabitants anywhere in sight, and the general appearance +of the landscape was flat, the country stretching away in beautiful +rolls of heath, broken only by the small, stunted trees and shrubs on +which were seen the millions and millions of strange insects, their +shining bodies causing the landscape to look as if covered with corn +golden to harvest, and shaking with vivid green dewdrops. + +After roaming about for several miles, disturbing these insects at +every step, at each further step to find that those last disturbed had +settled down again, the wanderers returned to the ship, most of them +weary with the monotony. + +As there was now no danger of damage from outer heat, the net had +been drawn back from before the windows, and with everything open and +most of the explorers on the outer deck, the vessel sailed along some +twenty feet above the ground. For some distance the country continued +flat, but before very long the ship had to rise to avoid some hills +over which they passed; then came a wooded valley where their presence +startled thousands of birds not unlike our wild pigeons, which rose out +of the trees and encircled the ship, many of them entering fearlessly. +Beyond the momentary alarm at the enclosed place, they seemed not in +the least afraid, when several of the fellows stroked their heads and +their tiny ears almost hidden by minute feathers. They followed the +ship for miles, flying inside and out, devouring the food offered them +with avidity, and making themselves so perfectly at home that a dozen +or more, finding things to their liking, stayed and became general +favourites, walking and flying about in all parts of the ship except +the laboratory and engine-room; either the aroma or a sense of danger +caused them to shun these two places. They, like terrestrial creatures, +required sleep, during which they crushed up together in circles with +their heads and bodies touching. + +In a short time there dawned on the horizon a long, dark streak of +blue-grey, with touches of white, unmistakably sea, and here they +pulled up for a day or so, during which they obtained dredgings +and samples of the water at various depths. The water was salt and +contained a considerable quantity of iodine. Several small fishes had +found their way into the boxes which collected the samples of water, +and amongst them were numbers of many new varieties of spirilla, +radiata and the like, while the dredgings in various places brought +up corals, pearl-oysters, granite, gravel, iron pyrites and the +like, as well as many new forms of deep-sea life, all of which added +considerably to the unique collection already on board. + +The sea-shore was bounded by rocks, sand and shingle, on and amongst +which were found sea-urchins and sea-squirts, also jelly-fish and many +other forms of amœbæ. The water was wonderfully clear, showing deep +grey-blue when in bulk, and though the waves were apparently the same +as those of Earth-seas, they were found to go to the very bottom, yet +there seemed to be no tide. The rocks were covered with barnacles, +limpets, sea-weeds and other sea-growths; they were wet to a fixed +level only, except where splashed by the lapping water or the waves +driven by the wind; there had been no evidence anywhere of a tide, and +the water was in a state of calm, but as they approached the further +hemisphere, the character and motion gradually changed, and at that +portion almost opposite the place where they had first landed, although +there were still no tides, the waves were so awful and so mighty as to +make the sea altogether unnavigable. It seemed as if each wave was a +great tidal wave caused by the eruption of volcanoes under the sea-bed, +or some other upheaval of the ocean, for so far as the eye could reach +were waves rising in blocks, as if great slabs of water had been cut +out of the ocean, and these were being pushed along the top as solid +things which tore along in walls seventy or eighty feet high, rolling +great rocks before them as if they were seeds, their crests for ten or +twenty feet deep white with foam. Straight up from the beach a wave +would roar till its energy was spent, when suddenly breaking, it fell, +an avalanche of water, in an overwhelming flood, and the shore became +a huge cauldron of foam. Quickly this subsided, leaving the rocky bed +as if filtered through, its place soon to be taken by the next wave, +and so on unceasingly, without any abatement, the sea from its inmost +depths being lifted up and almost turned upside down. So powerful was +the force of these waves and so sudden their break, that though the +travellers spent several days trying to get samples of deep-sea water +and dredgings of the ocean bed, everything they let down was lost, +wrenched away by the awful rush of these terrible waves, which were +wonderful even in calm, but when driven by the wind they were beyond +description, and one could not keep the thought out of the mind that if +on the shore, and in search of some of the wondrous stones and seaweed +brought up with each wave, a rush had been made between the waves to +snatch the treasure before it was reclaimed by the ocean, once the +safe ground had been left, the sudden inrush of the succeeding wave +would be so appalling as to terrify into inaction, though but a stride +from safety, for these waves did not flow as do those of Earth, but +came to their limits as a solid, and then suddenly stood and fell. Any +one venturing too near and seeing this wall of water come towering +along would become rooted to the spot with fear, powerless to do aught +but give an agonised cry for help—the help that could never come to +any one on that lonely shore; nothing but a pounding to pulp under the +thousands of tons of water that must fall, striking like an almighty +hammer. + +Such is the inner sun-sea—an awful thing—a thing to remember with +dread—a thing which to think of precludes sleep or, entering into it, +produces a horrible nightmare, in which the feet are fast in a rock, or +held there by some rock-wedged crab, or sunk in the sand, or as heavy +as lead; and the eyes start and the body becomes damp with agony, a +mere foretaste of the watery grave which is even then preparing—the +nerves so shaken as to be temporarily paralysed, and, unable to run, +crawl or move, or even to shout, the victim stands inert and hopeless; +unable to do anything but think and watch the avalanche rush forward +and mount high overhead; and just when the wave breaks, and the tons of +water are falling and crushing the very limbs apart, the capacity to +step aside returns, too tardily to benefit; the voice comes too late to +save, for no help is possible; yet help does come, for the cry brings +wakefulness again, and one is thankful to live a little longer and go +to one’s long home in some more restful way. Yet it is only fancy, and +a matter of little moment whether, when that time comes, we cross the +river with a wild and agonising wrench, or enter into rest lying on +our own bed, nestled in some loving arms, our hands held by those whom +only, in the whole of creation, it is hard to leave. In either case we +go, and though this world is so hard for many that it is a matter of +very little concern _how_ the end comes, providing it does come, and +quickly, so that the rest and quietness found on the bosom of dear, +kind Mother Earth are granted; yet somehow, we are all of us weak, and +life is so hard, so full of pain and suffering, with so little comfort, +that we cannot keep down the hope that the end will be quiet and happy, +merely “a sleeping and a forgetting,” and surely a hard and cruel fate +will not deny that one isolated happiness to its victims. + +Such thoughts come to many, not that they show a morbid or unhealthy +fancy, but because life, though apparently full of glowing happiness, +is, to the majority of those who are strictly honest, but a weary time +of toil and trouble, a time of endless struggle and pain; all battle +and strife and strenuous effort to exist, till actually to ‘live’ would +seem paradise: life to such is a period of giving up with a smile all +that it holds dear, though the throat chokes and the eyes blind with +scalding tears at every recollection; a period in which the close +friend may prove to be the devil; a period in which those in whom trust +is placed, and from whom advice is sought, betray their trust, and add +to treachery counsel that will enable them to plunder their confiding +victim, sinking every spark of honour, along with all people with whom +they come in contact, if by so doing they can benefit themselves or +rise higher. When friends prove false and age creeps on, and both soul +and body are less able to bear the strain, it becomes harder and ever +harder to keep both together, and torn and tired hearts cry, “O Lord, +how long!” and the soul is overwhelmed till it “longs for rest, yet +rest can never find”; longs for love and sympathy, and instead, + + “The purposes of life misunderstood + Baffle and wound us”— + +and the honest are ever the tiny flowers, whilst the callous and wicked +are the spreading bay-tree, and the unsolvable problem—Why? makes the +injustice of it the more keenly felt. For are not all precepts, from +childhood onwards, to the effect that honesty is the best policy? Yet +in real life, the honest, straight man always comes off worst in his +dealings with unscrupulous people, and he is invariably the loser, for +he will not stoop to their actions, so the conditions are not equal, +and as Longfellow so aptly says,— + + “Force rules the world still. + Has ruled it, shall rule it; + Meekness is weakness, + Strength is triumphant; + Over the whole earth + Still is it Thor’s Day!” + +To such contemplations did the appearance of the awful sun-sea give +rise, for it was like the friend, the counsellor, and any or all of +those who mean to grow rich anyhow, even at the price of another’s +blood; it waged a terrible and one-sided fight, itself always the +victor—it would relentlessly crush and batter and overwhelm all in +its path; rise it must; progress it must; and woe to that which stood +in its way, for without feeling, without an atom of sentiment or +veneration, that obstacle would be swept away, or if that were not +possible, because too firmly rooted (by honesty, say, to carry forward +the simile), it would be absorbed and covered, and though it might +to a slight extent retard the onward rush, it would be unceasingly +beaten and torn, and if not forced aside, worn away and, throughout, be +virtually non-existent. + +The _Regina_ sailed round this strange world, encountering sea, land, +moor and wood; birds, animals and insects innumerable, none greatly +differing from those of Earth, but apparently it was a world given up +to all forms of life except man, and was undoubtedly the purer and +better for it. + +Finding no trace of human beings, the explorers turned their attention +to the study of the physical conditions of the world; its natural +history, biology, climate, geology, and the scores of other matters on +which they were anxious to glean information, although this could only +be done in a superficial way, seeing they were human and the span of +their lives was limited. + +While they were looking for human beings, they found none, but as the +weeks passed they were conscious, at times, of having seen strange +figures in a kind of mist, or haze. In each case the travellers made +no mention of the incident, fearing to incur the ridicule of their +companions and putting the matter down to an excess of ‘bile’ in the +system, or to fancy, produced, perhaps, by the state of excitement in +which they had lived for some months past. However, it came out at +last. One evening—if a constant light can have an evening—they were all +assembled in the saloon for their usual discussion on the day’s work +and the progress made, preparatory to going to rest, when the subject +of ghosts was mentioned, and there were many furtive looks around. + +“I suppose we are safe?” asked Kelman of Dennis, who was seated beside +him. + +“Certainly; we are closed up—fifty feet from the ground with the +protecting current outside; nothing could reach us, and we could not be +successfully attacked. These precautions are never omitted under any +circumstances, no matter which of us chances to be in charge.” + +“I am glad of that,” said Kelman, and then remained silent, absorbed in +thought. + +“Why, what makes you ask that?” questioned Ingle. + +“Nothing much,” replied Kelman, “only I had an idea.” + +“Well, out with it, then!” cried several. + +“I expect you will say I am dreaming, or need a restoring tablet,” +said Kelman, reluctantly, “but several times lately I have had +hallucinations and have seen ghosts!” + +“Well, that’s curious,” said Heriot Field, “for I have too!” + +“So have I.” + +“And I!” “And I!” And so it went round. + +“Thanks for the information,” exclaimed Kelman, more brightly. “I am +much relieved! And now the ice is broken, we are all free to compare +notes and discuss the question, because I, personally, do not believe +in ghosts, and yet I cannot refute what I see myself.” + +Here he paused for some others to recount their experience, but as +all were looking to him to continue, he proceeded,—“For several weeks +past, when I have been intent on some work and completely absorbed, I +have suddenly looked aside to find close by me, one or two, or perhaps +half a dozen or more, strange beings, not human and not inhuman but a +kind of glorified ‘essence’—a ‘nebula’—out of focus, tangible and yet +ethereal—and I have looked, lost in amazement, thinking our hard work +and close application had upset my nerves, and to be frank with you +all, I began to wonder if I was going mad!” + +He looked round, and Coombes rejoined,—“I have had similar visions and +I wondered what was the import of it, judging it was my imagination, +purely and simply”; and most of the others said the same. + +“Have any of you ever seen these beings except when completely +engrossed in other matters?” asked Reeve. + +“No!” no one had. + +“Then it seems to me,” continued Reeve, “that these beings are not +under our influence, or we under theirs unless our minds are blank, so +to speak.” “Something like that,” agreed Rutherford. “I should say the +people are much better than ourselves—angels, in fact—for they have a +kind of ‘glory’ round them, and when addressed they become fainter and +die away.” + +“It’s a strange thing,” observed Godfrey, “if in the future life we +have to become nebulous and float about doing nothing particular +except frighten any folk who chance to come along by turning up when +they’re not expecting us, and vanish when they ask us what the deuce +we mean by it—as I did several lots of them. The idea is rather thin +and unsatisfactory to my mind, and I should have thought there would be +something better for us to do!” + +“We ought to get to the bottom of this mystery!” remarked Farrant, +seriously. “When we look for beings they are not there; we none of us +see them, unless our minds are, not a blank, but entirely preoccupied +to _their_ total exclusion; when we accost them they begin to fade. +All this seems to me to point to hallucinations, brought on by our +experiences, close application, and the perhaps somewhat morbid +influence of this inhabited, but unpeopled world.” + +“I think the same,” assented Ingle; “and the fact that we have been so +eager to find man has, in some mysterious way, stamped itself on our +minds to such an extent that when strained or much preoccupied, there +comes a reaction in a vision of the things desired.” + +“Yes, that may be granted in an isolated case, perhaps,” argued Field, +“but when _all_ have the same experience, I fail to see how you obtain +your case.” + +“To me that seems its strongest point,” responded Ingle, “for though +we experience no strain, as a physical sensation, there is no possible +doubt that the tension of the last few months must have told on us, +and made us fanciful.” + +“But all seeing the same?” repeated Field. + +“A mere matter of telepathy,” replied Ingle. “All being in the same +physical condition at the particular moment of total abstraction, ready +to be impressed by the same thing, by pure transmission of thought.” + +“I agree with you, Ingle,” said Reeve, “yet such impressions usually +are only transmissible and receivable when the mind is a blank.” + +“That is so,” continued Ingle, “but the acme of receptiveness is +reached at the identical moment of the acme of concentration, whether +that state is brought about by the concentration of nothingness or that +of serious abstraction. The result is the same: for that identical +moment the mind is a blank.” + +“And that moment is when the hallucination takes place, you think?” +asked Reeve. + +“So it seems to me,” Ingle replied. + +“I do not see it,” observed Rutherford, quietly; “neither in dreams +nor in any other manner do people see what is beyond or, I should say, +‘above’ their actual experience.” + +“I fear you’ll have to explain that,” said Coombes. + +“What I mean is this,” continued Rutherford; “you never, say, dream +of what is _beyond_ your experience, or of doing something you do not +previously know how to do, or of seeing correctly something of which +no previous and similar object has come within your experience or +crossed your vision; when that point comes,—when all previous knowledge +or suggestion ceases, then you will wake. Nor is there evidence, +even in telepathy with excellent mediums, of going beyond scenes and +objects which have come within the knowledge of the medium by sight or +description.” + +“What about mediums telling of heaven—of angels—by actual sight?” +queried Ingle. + +“Nothing of the kind! they merely relate the impressions given, and in +this age of telepathy, when we can transmit thought all over the world, +it is _known_ thought, and we do not get beyond it.” + +“But angels!” + +“Exactly the same thing. We cannot soar above our own knowledge, yet +we want to show human beings in a higher beatitude, so we make them +sexless and there arises a difficulty as to which sex they shall be +like, so we clothe the body with a long, white robe, and show only the +feet, making the faces clear so as to stand either for a woman or a +beardless man, for you must all admit that it would look incongruous +to represent angels with strongly marked features and nicely trimmed +beards and waxed moustachios!” + +“How would you represent an angel, then, Rutherford?” asked Coombes, +laughing. + +“I could not do better. No one could, for the simple reason I gave +before. We cannot soar beyond actual experience without being +ridiculous; we have never seen higher beings, and therefore what they +are like we cannot even imagine, for our fancy stops at ourselves, and +the best we can do is to make spirits, angels, and all higher beings, +like ourselves, but shorn of our carnal portions, and compromise the +matter.” + +“Then you think angels and spirits are not like us, and need not be of +anything like our form?” questioned Ingle. + +“Certainly not necessarily so,” answered Rutherford, and looking across +at Godfrey, he went on,—“I don’t want to intrude on the ground of the +biological section, but in the case of the caterpillar it does not +follow, necessarily, that its next life shall be that of another and +better caterpillar, and yet if it could answer the question it would +be sure to say that it would be a better caterpillar, with perhaps a +few more legs, for being accustomed to crawl all its life, it would +scarcely be likely to imagine that a future phase would be flying in +the sunshine, or the twilight, as the case might be, in an element of +which it could not know the existence as a crawling grub, or resting +pupa. This is a wonderful feature, and a few moments’ thought will show +how exceedingly difficult it is to conceive of a glorified human being +in any different shape to ourselves, without mutilating or degrading +the race. If we take the mental qualities and glorify them, we but +make the figure a brainy idiot, with a palsied body, his appearance +revolting to every sense of feeling and delicacy. If we take his skill +in work and glorify this by extending the power to exercise that skill +and confer on man a multiplicity of arms and legs, we merely form a +Hindoo idol; if his sight, and increase that, or in any way tamper +with him mentally or physically, we make nothing more than a revolting +heathen god. If we try to alter his shape and mode of movement, adding +a few more limbs, and make him creep, crawl or fly, we degrade him. +Finding all these things ruled out we take his limitless thought and +soul, and, knowing that thought can travel up to God, we give him +wings and make an angel of him, as mentioned at first—and that is man +as he is, with scarcely any alteration; because no one can suggest +any beautifying and ennobling variation apart from the present figure +of man, and yet there _is_ a Power in Creation which is not figure +or flesh. No man has seen this Power at any time, yet no one who has +eyes or a thinking brain can do other than feel it everywhere. For +instance, who can define ‘space’ in the universe? We get instrument +after instrument, each more powerful than the last, and in each one we +may begin another and more distant space where the previous instrument +ended, and when we have discovered millions of miles of space in all +directions, we are only at the beginning of it—if space can have a +beginning—and our finite brains almost burst at the effort to grasp and +actually realise ‘Infinity’—to understand how far it can extend and +what it contains. We know the Spirit of God is there and is part of, +and _in_, all Creation; but because no man has seen God, or can form +the slightest idea of describing such a Spirit without being profane, +he can only regard the conception in the abstract, as a ‘Spirit,’ +or ‘Influence’—yet is it only ‘Influence’ that makes and orders the +universe, our knowledge of which is so infinitesimal that the combined +learning of the whole Earth is not so much as one grain in comparison +with the weight of our world. And because of this incapacity of the +human mind to grasp the idea of higher beings, we are compelled to +represent them as ourselves, slightly improved—as we think it. + +“Still one more instance. Many will have been present at the death of +some near relation or friend, and as the end draws near, the sight +seems to enter futurity, and yet not one of these has been able to tell +us a single word of what is beyond this life, or to what the soul is +going. Yet the dying spirit _would_ be glad to do so, _would_ gladly +do us all the good possible, but the lips are sealed, and we shall +never know till the same psychical moment has arrived for each of us, +and our own dissolution is near. All that we know is that whatever the +‘home’ is, or wherever it is situated, the mere sight of it fills the +departing soul with an indescribable peace and a longing for possession +so holy, so lovely, and so welcome, that mere mortal lips cannot speak +of it, neither can the heart conceive of it—only the ‘soul’ understands +and grudges every moment spent out of the ‘rest,’ which would be too +disturbing for us to see, or to do aught but conjecture about before +we are almost entering. For it would be too disturbing to our peace of +mind to be compelled to live out our allotted time in this existence, +knowing positively all the while that in each after-phase we should be +working at that for which we are most fitted, and all this without any +of the storm, strife and turmoil of this life. Under these conditions, +such future work would be perfect rest and peace to us, in comparison +with the present, and would also be in such a transcendently higher +degree as to be altogether inconceivable to us while in this life.” + +Rutherford ceased, and for a few minutes no one broke the silence, when +Reeve asked,—“Then what do you infer from that in the present case?” + +“That beings are here,” answered Rutherford; “real spirits, of a far +higher grade than ourselves!” + +“And that being so, we can only see them in our higher and more serious +moments of thought?” suggested Godfrey. + +“Yes,” replied Rutherford, “and because of our inferiority, in +that peculiar psychical moment when our brain is at its zenith of +concentration, as Ingle put it, we are elevated out of ourselves, and +see those beings who are even now around us in a way we can neither +describe nor recall. Kelman hit it on exactly by his simile of a +‘nebulous glory,’ an ‘indescribable something’—and that is all I can +say.” + +“From that point of view, the return to a lower psychical state or zone +causes them to vanish by the inferiority of ourselves?” said Sorrel. + +“I should say so, for they are beyond our ken, except in the rare +moments when we, mentally, get nearer their level, and then a faint +radiance of their glory becomes visible to us!” + +“And you would take it, Rutherford,” questioned Rollsborough, “that +we, as we are normally, never could get more than a nebulous idea, or +vision, of a higher life, even under favourable circumstances?” + +“I do not see that it is possible, but of course I have never given the +subject a thought before; this is only my own idea, deduced from the +present experience.” + +“It would, of course, naturally follow that at the very best, the +glimpse we get might be nebulous, but never _could_ be sufficiently +distinct to enable us to form even a mental idea of what a spirit +really is, seeing we are mortal?” pursued Rollsborough. + +“I should say not, myself, judging from past experience and the +ever-present impossibility of the human mind to explain the unknown.” + +“Possibly there may be something in the air, or in the spirit of this +world, that renders us more susceptible to outside influences,” put in +Godfrey. + +“The magnetic influence is very strong,” said Dennis, as he stepped +back from looking at the dial. + +“It is possible,” remarked Sorrel, “that the tremendous forces above +are here diverted to make the world habitable.” + +“That opens out another difficulty—a difficulty to me, that is,” said +Godfrey. “I remember what you told me about the creation of worlds, +Sorrel, and if the sun is so much younger than our own Earth—in its +infancy, in fact—how can you account for a staid old world like this +being in his stomach—a world which is quite the age of our own, judging +from the landscape, trees and animals, all of which are practically of +our period—and if this has been formed like Earth, what is it doing +here?” + +“That is, indeed, a mystery,” said Sorrel; “strange to say, +Rollsborough mentioned the very same thing to me a few days ago. He +said it had been troubling him for a week or two, but I must confess +the idea never occurred to me till he spoke of it. Since then we have +had a good deal of talk on the subject between ourselves, but we are +not certain of our ground yet.” + +“But have you no idea?” asked Godfrey. “It seems to me inexplicable. +What do you think about it, Rollsborough?” + +“I must confess myself at sea, Spenser,” was the reply. “I am like +Sorrel; for want of proof, there is only conjecture, and conjecture is +not safe.” + +“Could we get proof?” + +“I fear not; it would mean staying here for years and years. You see, +Spenser, on Earth each succeeding generation adds a little knowledge to +that left by its predecessors, but only a little, and in our work and +studies, we of the present time reap the benefit of the experience and +discovery of ages,—of history which was mere ‘happenings’ at the time, +though we of later date see all these fit in like segments of a wheel, +and so the world wags! but to begin studying geological structure and +scores of other sciences, from _nothing_, would take many a lifetime to +get any kind of results. Is not that so, Sorrel?” + +“I regret to say it is,” Sorrel replied; “it would be just as hopeless +for you, in your life-time, to hunt up, classify, and elucidate the +life-history of every fly and grub and bacillus on this planet, from +the very beginning.” + +“Just so, Sorrel, but tell us what you think; how it _may_ have come +here. Has the sun blown out and the internal nitrogen and what not +developed this kernel more rapidly?” + +“I don’t like stating mere theories, Spenser,” answered Sorrel, +smiling, “but as you press me I will tell you what I imagine has been +the case. The only thing I can conceive as being in any way possible +is that the sun may have been formed by an extremely large planet +attracting to its mass another large planet of less gravity, the impact +forming this present sun. If a portion of one of the worlds, however, +embedded itself in the centre by probably an earthquake at the moment +of impact, there would be no immediate contact, and consequently no +immediate fusion of this portion, but directly the contact came, +perhaps less than a second later, there would be instant cohesion, and +also instant expansion of the parts brought into contact, which would +allow the embedding portion to touch nothing; it would strike to the +centre and remain there, because it would then have reached equally +opposing forces all round, and would commence to float and revolve in +space enveloped by the atmosphere projected with it, and probably some +instant conversion of some of the nitrates, or metallic portions of +the immense globule, would create a crust and generate a deep layer +of nitrogen, which would prevent further combustion downwards; the +ordinary breathable air below would remain there, with only a slight +intermingling in the extreme upper strata, which are further held in +place and away from the atmosphere here by that wonderful zone of thick +clouds which so deceived us, they forming natural shields, or vanes. In +any case, the cold centre would cause the outer crust to move away from +it, and expand, and conduce to the cooling of the crust, as would also +the nitrogen, being a non-supporter of combustion; the world itself +would become comparatively round and revolve as our Earth does, in its +own atmosphere. Then the usual cycle of waste and repair would follow, +and the air be made and kept sweet and fresh; the animal kingdom would +give out carbonic-acid gas and inhale oxygen, whilst the vegetable +kingdom would inhale carbonic acid and exhale oxygen, thus each kingdom +giving out as a waste product that which was necessary to the existence +of the other, as on Earth, the general health and safety of both +kingdoms being thus maintained, for each is indispensable to the other. + +“This is my explanation, and though it may seem to you at first thought +somewhat fanciful, I believe it is the one and only correct solution, +and it is at least a scientific possibility that will bear argument.” + +After airing opinions, and discussing the pros and cons of every +argument brought forward, they all retired, soon to be lost in slumber. + +For several weeks longer they continued their work of observation and +the collecting of specimens, still feeling, and at times seeing, their +nebulous friends, and in vain they tried to solve the problem “why had +they not felt the presences before, when they had been working so long +under similar conditions?” + +As the weeks sped on, there began to be signs of failing health in the +party; for the first time, first one and then another had to take a +day’s rest, lying in his cabin. Although no pain was felt, there was +prostration. Then this increased, and the day off extended into two +or three at a time, the usual remedies altogether failing to restore +chemical and physical balance. Finally, this came to such a pass that +only half the number were working, Dennis himself being too ill to +leave his cabin. Connecting this strange occurrence with something +unknown in the air or emanating from the ground, they decided that +it would be wise to leave, and bringing the work in hand to a speedy +close, they entered the ship, fastened the net securely, and started +the return journey with Dennis and half a dozen others ill in their +berths. They had made all aërial observations in coming, so there +was nothing to retard their progress; Ross took first turn at the +switchboard, and a few minutes later they were rapidly ascending to the +terrible heat and pressures and turbulence of the sun’s surface. + +Even as they ascended, the conditions of the invalids improved, and by +the time the windows needed further masking they were able to sit up +for a while, from which it was evident they had left behind something +inimical to them. + +It had long been a subject of keen controversy whether the sun was +solid, liquid or gaseous. It had been proved previously not to be +solid, at least not entirely so, and, consequently, was generally +accepted as being part gaseous and part either solid. or liquid, +excellent and almost indisputable scientific proof having been +forthcoming from the exponents of both theories, and as there was +so much that was doubtful, the partisans of both beliefs could each +make their case good in unanswerable argument. The adventures of the +explorers, the continuous photographs in colour, and the spectrum +photographs of the whole of the travels over the sun’s surface and the +actual descent, would, when reproduced on the scoposolograph machine, +show living, moving pictures in colour of the whole voyage, thus +elucidating completely many of the mysteries of the sun, the mighty +ruler and light-giver of the Solar system. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + _JOCI CAUSÂ_ + + + “Look, the world tempts our eye + And we would know it all.” + (+Arnold.+) + +As the _Regina_ arose amongst the flames or protuberances of the planet +they were leaving, they saw several violent eruptions, the dense masses +of flames in the chromosphere being sent upwards to measured heights of +half a million miles, and as they passed high into the corona, which +dyed the interior of the ship with gorgeous colour notwithstanding the +darkened windows, again they found the sun’s mass to cut off the whole +sight of the heavens, and later still to be but a vast horizon, then +a great disc behind them, from which the blackened heavens extended +into limitless space. One evening as they were sitting in the saloon +for their customary chat, Ross said, casually,—“We must now set +about finding our mutineers and take them home!” which remark caused +considerable comment, for, strange to say, so absorbed had they all +been in the wonders they encountered every day that the thought of the +mutineers had scarcely crossed their minds, and Ross’s simple remark +came upon them as a surprise. + +“I suppose you have got sufficiently correct bearings to locate the +position of the world on which we left them?” asked Dalton. + +“Yes,” responded Rollsborough, “it will be comparatively easy to find +when we reach the orbit of Venus. We shall have to follow in the wake +of the planet a little, that will be all.” + +“How shall we locate it?” inquired Rutherford. + +“It was a ‘Nova,’ or new star, which had been drawn into the orbit of +Venus and attracted to that planet.” + +“But it was between Venus and the sun as seen from Earth?” said Dalton. + +“That was so,” assented Rollsborough; “but that was mere coincidence; +it will be encircling Venus as a new satellite or forming a binary or +double planet, and consequently be easy to find.” + +“But supposing it is not easy to find, what then?” said Rutherford, +laughing. + +“We got its position too carefully to make any mistake,” replied +Rollsborough, also laughing. “Sorrel and several others of us worked +the thing out independently, then compared notes and all were the same. +I think we need have no fear.” + +“It would be decidedly awkward if it’s gone, certainly!” chimed in +Sorrel, “but that is scarcely likely. We tested its progress and +gravity, and it was following exactly the planet Venus; and, if you +remember, we followed it up for some time after we had sighted it, +testing it in every way before we landed our rebels. I don’t think +there can be any doubt.” + +“None at all,” rejoined Ross, “we are sure to find it when we see +Venus.” + +Very soon the screens could be taken from the windows; that portion of +the net covering the glass of the saloon and observatory had been made +so that it could be drawn aside or tightly secured from the inside, +and as the ship was some distance from the sun, the de-atomising and +repelling forces projected outside were now thought to be sufficient +to keep the ship secure, so these portions of the net were released +and observation was now possible all over the universe, as during the +first part of their outward journey. Venus was soon sighted, and along +with her a second world, forming a ‘double.’ + +“There she is!” cried several, excitedly. “There’s the planet we want, +still alongside,” and all rushed to the windows; but the greater +experience of Rollsborough and Sorrel discovered something, the +communication of which caused general consternation. They went to the +windows and at the first glance, Rollsborough exclaimed, “that’s not +the planet, that’s not a ‘binary’! the world we want is not there; now +what shall we do!” + +“Not there!” repeated several, incredulously. “Why, we can see it!” + +“That star is a long way past Venus! it is a ‘double’! get your glasses +and look,” said Sorrel. + +A rush was made to the observatory telescope and to the windows with +hand-glasses, when Rollsborough was proved to be right. Examination +showed that the new star, planet, or satellite of Venus had vanished, +and what they were examining was a large and distant star, the position +of which chanced to be close behind Venus ‘in line of sight,’ appearing +to be in the same plane, just as when two boats sailing down a river, +one in the middle and the other near the middle would, when viewed from +a distant bridge in line with the way they were travelling, or ‘end +on,’ appear as if sailing abreast, when in reality one might be a mile +before the other, which a change of position would show. So it was with +Venus; for some time the two stars seemed to be travelling together, +when a slight alteration in the _Regina’s_ position showed Venus +sailing rapidly to one side, whilst her supposed companion remained +fixed, ‘in line’ with the bows of the vessel—a distant star—the angle +of distance between the two worlds becoming wider and wider every +moment. Venus was lacking her previous attendant, and the occupants of +the _Regina_ looked at each other in dismay. + +“Our friends stand a fair chance of settling down permanently in their +new quarters,” said Godfrey, nonchalantly; “they are not at all likely +to mutiny here again.” + +This set every one smiling, notwithstanding the seriousness of the +situation, and Rowland exclaimed, “How shall we set about finding the +runaway!” + +No one could offer a satisfactory reply at the moment, so Godfrey +continued, laughing, “We ought to have chalked it!” and turning to +Dennis and his chums, “this beats the Jupiter affair altogether, +triad!” at which the three laughed sheepishly, and on the others +inquiring what was meant, Godfrey explained,—“Some years ago, Oakland, +Ainley, and Eastern took me to Jupiter to find a particular grub that +was to give us the material for the outer net, and the only address +they had was ‘one special grub, species unknown, Jupiter’; they had no +more information, in fact they were not quite sure if it _was_ Jupiter, +as if we could go round asking all the planets if they’d got a grub to +sell! I thought that showed a superb mind for detail, but this takes +all the shine out of it, we’ve dumped the folk down and where are +they? ‘eight denizens of Earth, a star, the universe,’ is a most lucid +address! shall we go there, Denny?” and as Godfrey made some further +similar remarks, Dennis cried, “Shut up, Godfrey! it’s no laughing +matter.” + +“It looks it, old man,” answered Godfrey, as he sat tilted back on a +chair with his toes just touching the floor. “We’re all serious, and +we ‘appreciate your joke’ as the wave message there says; I see it is +still up. It is a joke worthy of any of us.” + +For reply, Dennis shied an air-cushion at him; he caught it and placing +it at his back, continued, beaming,—“Thanks, dear boy! I’m glad to see +you’ve got an eye to your old chum’s comfort on this most solemn and +serious occasion.” + +“Oh! stop it, Godfrey!” exclaimed Ross, “you’ll kill us all! I can’t +laugh any more!” + +“Ay, do be serious!” said Gilbert, dabbing the tears of laughter out of +his eyes, his expression belying the words, “it’s no laughing matter! +we’ve put those fellows on a world which we’ve got to find, and how are +we to do it amongst the lot outside?” + +“Oh, easily enough!” replied Godfrey, airily, with a wave of his arm, +“take the lot in rotation and knock at each one, and ask if eight of +the wickedest and cleverest men of Earth are there, and if so, can they +come out? it’s simple enough!” + +This renewed the laughter, and another cushion came flying across the +room, this time from Gilbert, as Ross said,— + +“Stop it, Godfrey, or we shall be ill! you look after your grubs and +leave us to find the runaways.” + +“Oh, very well!” responded Godfrey, pretending to take offence. “What +did Gilbert ask me for if he didn’t want to know? there’s been some +mighty brain at work to provide us with this entertainment! was it +yours, Denny? it’s worthy of you, my boy, although by the quality of +it, you’ve all three had a hand in it.” + +After a little more banter all round, the travellers discussed the +situation more seriously. In the first place, the star was accompanying +Venus, and at no great distance, comparatively. For millions of miles +the _Regina_ had gone out of her course so that the voyagers could +test, retest, and confirm its position and movement, and so far as +human means could ascertain, Venus had permanently attached to herself +a satellite. As seen from Earth Venus would now be a morning star +rising nearly four hours before the sun; for some weeks previously she +had been moving to the left, crossing the constellation Leo and was, on +that particular day close to β in Virgo; she had only just passed the +period of her greatest brilliancy as a morning star, and from Earth +would appear like a crescent moon. Between Venus and β in Virgo this +‘Nova,’ or satellite, should now be seen, for the first plan, drawn +before the mutineers were landed, had been most carefully compiled; the +exact spot was now marked on the plan, but no star was there. Again +were the calculations checked over, and again the result showed the +position as being between Venus and β in Virgo, as now seen from Earth. + +“We shall have to do something!” exclaimed Rollsborough. “We cannot +return to Earth and leave our fellow creatures to their fate.” + +“Certainly not!” replied Dennis, “but what are we to do? We are still +racing rapidly onward with the impetus obtained from the sun; we can +slow up by converting the repulsive force into attractive, but we shall +lose the speed and cannot get it again until we come to some world from +whose gravity we can get a rebound. It is impossible for us to stand +still in space; we can only do that when within the force of gravity of +some other world.” + +“Can you alter direction?” asked Sorrel. + +“Yes, to a certain extent, but every deviation in space means loss of +speed, and we may now be going miles out of the right course every +second,” answered Gilbert, as they all stood talking together and +asking all manner of questions. + +“_We_ are not lost,” remarked Ross, “but we are practically in the same +state when in any and every direction we go we may be wrong.” + +“If we turn, can you get force enough to travel, and if we stop, what +would happen? annihilation?” + +“We can turn, certainly,” was the reply, “but as Oakland says, we shall +lose speed we cannot regain, and if we lost all, we should have little +or no de-atomising force and only a slight repelling force, and be +thrown entirely on our engines, which now we use only in atmosphere; +with a speed of a few hundred miles an hour obtained in this way it +would take us years to get anywhere, almost. We should have to become +negative and allow ourselves to be drawn into the gravity of the +nearest large star, which in this case is the sun, and we should fly +back on to his surface like a comet.” + +“Then we should be lost?” + +“No, for we should set the compensating current ready for whatever +might draw us, and whenever sufficiently near for it to act, we should +have full power again.” + +“Then there is no real danger to us, in any case?” questioned Reeve. + +“No, not to us; the only difficulty is the loss of time. We shall lose +speed by turning, but so long as we reserve enough power to return to +the sun, or do not go outside his influence, we can always get more +force, but it is obvious that we cannot waste all our time going back +to get fresh starts, and it seems to me that that is what it amounts +to if we cannot locate the position of the world we are in search of. +The idea of hunting up one world in infinity, as Godfrey put it, is +appalling!” + +Ross looked at his companions for suggestions, but no one had any to +make, so Dennis repeated, “What can we do? we are perhaps going further +off every second, and it would be madness to rush here and there on the +bare chance of any one of these millions of stars being the particular +one we seek.” + +“Could we not compare the photographs we are taking now with those +taken in coming? They would give us the progress and course of the star +in question,” suggested Godfrey. “Rollsborough, here, would work out +where that star is now from the course of its orbit.” + +This suggestion was acted upon immediately, but after leaving the +planet the ship had headed for the sun, and the shielded lenses were +round the bows, so that when they turned, the planet being then at the +stern all view of it ended with their departure. + +“Could you tell by the heavens now, compared with the relative position +in coming, whether any new stars are there?” again suggested Godfrey; +but Rollsborough shook his head, replying, “It is not possible; the +heavens are changing momentarily, and to calculate the positions of all +the stars, so that we could locate every one at any given moment, would +take too long for us to consider the attempt even. Besides, we have +seen thousands of new stars not visible to Earth, and these would have +to be explained before we could hope even to guess at the right one, +and as Ainley and Oakland say, it would be madness to guess.” + +However, Rollsborough, Sorrel, and several others did make many +calculations as to the relative positions their ship bore on the +outward journey to their present position, but the results were far +from encouraging, as were several special photographs, though the +latter were of great service to science, for in addition to the many +new stars seen with the naked eye, the searching lenses revealed many +distant ones of varying magnitude, invisible from Earth by reason of +their distance, or of other stars intervening. + +It was most difficult to arrive at location in space, for what on +Earth appeared as groups and constellations by reason of being viewed +in ‘line of sight’ ceased to be such when amongst them. Finally, +Rollsborough said to Dennis, “How would it be to ‘wave’ to Earth, and +inquire if they observed the phenomenon of the new satellite of Venus? +If they have had it under observation, and if they know where it has +gone?” + +At once this wise suggestion was carried into effect, and a few hours +later came the answer,—“For a short time preceding the date given, +Venus was scarcely visible here, being very low down in Sagittarius, +and was an evening star. She set twenty minutes after the sun, +gradually extending the time to two hours as she slowly passed into +Capricornus. She was at the opposite side of the sun from Earth, +and was most brilliantly illumined; though small, her disc was so +exceedingly and unusually bright as to excite general and keen +examination, especially as she was moving a little to the south of +Saturn. They being so near together, the effect was very marked, and, +entering the small space between the two planets, there appeared a new +object which we took to be a moon, either of Venus or Saturn. For ten +days after that, the weather prevented further observation, the skies +being overshadowed with clouds. On the eleventh day the light was bad, +though better; Saturn was too near the sun for successful observation, +and the extra moon was not noticed. Then he passed behind the sun (in +conjunction) and became invisible for five weeks. Venus was obliterated +by thick clouds and for several days no observation was possible, then +the sky cleared, and Venus was passed by Luna, but no new object was +visible. Can you explain the new object?” + +There the message ended and left them in the same difficulty as before. +Though from Earth, Saturn and Venus had the appearance of being close +together, when viewed from the ship in space their great distance apart +could be realised, but could Saturn, at his enormous distance, have +wrested a planet from Venus, who was comparatively close to the sun? +It did not seem possible. Or had the sun drawn the new planet to his +surface, it being between him and Venus? If so, then search could not, +of course, be successful, no matter how protracted, for the world would +but have swollen a small portion of the sun-sea, scarcely making any +difference. + +“Do you think it was merely drawn into the orbit of Venus for the time +being, and then flung out, to go travelling onward?” asked Dalton. + +“It is impossible to say,” responded Rollsborough. “In the time since +we left many things may have happened, meteor-swarms and dozens of +other things may have drawn it away.” + +“Are the fellows worth troubling about?” debated Field. “Considering +their offence, are we justified in wasting time looking for them?” + +“Perhaps not,” said Dennis, “but we must get them if at all possible.” + +“Then if you have the exact position of the heavens when they were +dumped on this moon, could you not calculate its present position from +its previous movement?” + +“That we have done,” replied Rollsborough, “and taking into account the +progress, the attraction of Venus, that of the sun, its own gravity, +and the influence and positions of the other members of the solar +family, the previous movement still brings it an attendant on Venus, +and every calculation we make gives that result, yet you see it is +not there! I have tried everything I can think of, so have Sorrel and +several others, but all our results come to Venus, and nowhere else—so +we are nonplussed.” + +“You know the attractive power of the world, Oakland?” said Coombes, +“Could you not draw it here?” + +Dennis shook his head without answering. + +“Would not that be possible?” Coombes persisted. + +“No, quite impossible! to attempt to do that would upset the balance of +the whole solar system and bring inconceivable disaster. We should also +attract millions of planetoids, meteor-swarms, and everything of less +power to resist, and be crowded with them on all sides for thousands of +miles.” + +“Then what _can_ we do, Oakland?” asked Rowland. “It would take +hundreds of years to go to all the planets we see from here, and every +mile we go brings new ones into view.” + +“I am done, Rowland!” replied Dennis, despairingly, “so are we all. +You tell us something, Rollsborough!” + +“I am quite in the dark like yourselves, Oakland, and anything I +can suggest must, of necessity, be wild and perhaps reckless, but I +recognise that we ought not to speed along home and perhaps be leaving +the planet we want further afield every second. I have an idea that we +are in some way the cause of the disappearance, and I would like to +work out the world’s present position, taking it to have flown off at a +tangent after we left.” + +After what seemed an interminable time, though in reality but a few +minutes, Rollsborough continued,—“This calculation I have made would +show the star to have taken a course directly to a few degrees to the +left of the way we are travelling, and it points to one of these two +stars which we see here on the last photograph, but invisible through +our glasses till we get nearer. I propose that we alter our course +slightly and proceed to one of these uncharted stars lying somewhat to +our left, and trust to chance to find the right one. This will entail +the alteration of but a few degrees, and would not, perhaps, lessen the +ship’s speed appreciably; would it, Oakland?” + +“That would not be sufficient to affect it in any way,” answered +Dennis; and a moment later they were heading for a distant star, and +after some days had passed, drew sufficiently near to form some idea of +its orbit. It was travelling rapidly from them, in the same direction, +which accounted for the long time taken to approach its mass, they, +fortunately, travelling at a much greater speed. + +On resting in its atmosphere, they obtained samples, to find it +contained constituents unknown on Earth, and every sample analysed by +Earth-methods exploded, and so seriously as to destroy much of the +glass apparatus in the laboratory. Although it was evident human beings +could not exist there, in response to the general desire to explore, +the good ship sank through the atmosphere and hovered about one hundred +feet over the ground, the occupants searching for signs of inhabitants. + +As far as their eyes could reach, to the distant horizon, the surface +of the globe was covered with water, and numerous islands, on which +were some fine animals not unlike the now almost extinct horses of +Earth, but with the spreading, palmated antlers of the elk, or moose. +After the first momentary start of surprise, the animals took no notice +of the great ship overhead, but continued their playing in total +unconcern. “If animals like these can breathe the atmosphere, we should +be able to do so,” said Farrant. + +“I fear not,” said Gilbert, “the composition is such as we have no +means of ascertaining without considerable research, but we can try it +on the birds.” + +All watched as some of the air was collected and one of the sun-birds +was about to be put in, when it was deemed to be too precious to +experiment with, so Reeve called up his dog and tried to put his +head in the receiver, but the dog only thought it a joke and barked +furiously; however, when Reeve dropped a biscuit in the jar and +suddenly released the cap, Dick fetched out his biscuit and ran off +with it to one of the softest rugs, where he could get a good grip and +make a litter of crumbs. Though much of the air in the receiver must +have mixed with that in the ship, there could not have been anything +harmful in it, or Dick would not have tried it, for he was very careful +and left experimenting to other dogs, and then he would fight for the +prize, or, more generally, cause others to do so, snatching it away +while they were busy, for he was a terrier and a born diplomatist. The +air doing Dick no harm, they concluded it would be breathable by them, +though to guard against danger, the large door was thrown open and +quickly closed, but they only felt a slight draught, the air itself +being undistinguishable from that in the vessel. The doors were then +flung wide open and the occupants stepped on the outer deck. + +“I should like a run on one of those things,” said Ingle. “Shall we get +down? We can’t do wrong, because they are on that small island.” + +The idea was urged by several others and when the vessel came to within +eight or ten feet of the ground, Coombes, Ingle, Kelman, Reeve and +Gardner descended. The animals allowed themselves to be caught, and +vaulting on their backs by the aid of their antlers, the riders got +excellent seats. Whether they were accustomed to being driven, or the +presence of a burden startled them, there was little time to discover, +for no sooner were the riders seated than the horses flourished their +heels and then set off like the wind, with heads lowered and horns +nearly vertical. Shouts of delight came from the daring riders as +they raced onward, surprised and thankful that the animals did not +elevate their heads and thus bring the horns horizontal, in which case +they would have stood an excellent chance of being swept off. On they +went at a break-neck pace, waving their arms and shouting to their +companions above who were watching, with not a little envy, perhaps +excusable. The speed increased as the horses settled down into long, +swinging strides, and now the end of the island was in sight; about +half a mile of water separated it from the next island, but the horses +never slackened pace, and instead of wheeling round and returning, or +following the contour of the island, they rushed madly forward, dashing +straight into the water at full speed, and that which followed made +every one breathless. They did not sink, or at any rate not more than +if they had been on sand, and the flying hoofs cut through the ripples +of water, flinging behind them the crests and splashes of the waves as +if they had been sand. + +The surprise of it so overcame Kelman that he let go the antlers, and +at the sudden release the creature lifted up his head, gave it a turn, +and the next instant Kelman was swept off his back, narrowly escaping +being trampled to death by the scores of riderless horses following, +whose flying hoofs, to the horrified gaze of those in the ship, seemed +to be pounding him to a jelly. Instead of sinking, however, he fell +flat with a splash, the water rising all around like sand, but in tiny +globules as of quicksilver, and there he lay floating on the water, +half his body immersed, and the waves lapping gently over him, wetting +him to the skin, he being too surprised to do anything but lie still +and stare around him. Then he essayed to rise, but instead of his feet +sinking, they remained almost where they were, the frustrated action +rolling him over on his face. From this position he got on his hands +and knees, and finally stood up with only his feet slightly sunk, as in +sand on the sea-shore, the water dripping from his nose, chin, elbows +and his clothing. + +This water was almost solid, as substantial as the soft sand on a +terrestrial sea-shore, and utterly oblivious to all else in his +astonishment, he stood splashing and slapping the water with his feet +and trying to sink. Then he tasted it, swallowed a mouthful, then +another, and then went down again on his knees digging and wobbling his +hands in an endeavour to bury his arms in the water flowing past, but +he might almost have tried to push them through earth, for he got no +further than the wrists despite his exertions. + +Meanwhile the watchers on board the _Regina_, on first seeing that the +horses meant taking to the water, considered it a fine joke, but when +the sight of its wonderful buoyancy followed, they were so surprised +that the herd had passed out of sight into a wood on the next island +almost before they had realised the situation. Quickly following, the +_Regina_ hovered over Kelman, who, apparently forgetting all that +had passed in the moment of surprised discovery, glanced upward and +shouted,—“Look here, you fellows, this water is solid as sand; I’ve +just had a drink and it’s beautiful. Come down, all of you!” + +“Where have the others gone?” shouted several from the outer deck. + +“The others? oh, ay! the others, to be sure!” he repeated, looking +round in dismay, without the ghost of an idea where they were, and +astonished to find himself alone. “The others? ay! yes, the others? ay, +yes!” and again he looked down and round, and up and down again, as if +he expected them to rise up out of the water, or fall from the sky; +“the others! they’re not here!” + +The remarkable wisdom displayed in this statement set every one +laughing, and then Kelman saw the situation himself, and laughed +boisterously, standing all the time in the water, and then said—no +longer abstractedly,—“I was so astonished and absorbed in this +discovery that really for the moment I had quite forgotten everything +else and how I came here. Help me up, you fellows, and don’t stand +grinning there. How can we hunt for them if you grin the time away +like that!” and amidst general laughter he was hauled up, dripping +as he was, when the ship rose so that they could get a more extended +horizon, but nowhere could the runaways be seen. This was serious, so +Godfrey, Dalton, Field and Rutherford were put down on the next island, +near the wood, armed in case of danger, and with instructions not to +leave that island. The _Regina_ rose to scour the country and the four +searchers entered the wood. All this, however, had taken some time, and +it was fully fifteen minutes before the _Regina_ could start her own +independent search. + +“It will be easy to search this,” said Godfrey, who led the party, +“for the antlers of the horses would make a track, or show one. +There it is!” as they came to a broad open way like an avenue where +the grass was trampled down. As they entered this avenue Godfrey +cautioned,—“Rutherford and I will go first; Dalton and Field, do you +keep a few yards in the rear and look well behind you and at each side, +to prevent any attack that way; we don’t know what dangers may be +lurking for us.” + +In this order they progressed for about half a mile, when a figure +dropped in front of them from one of the trees, and Ingle greeted them +with,—“So you’ve come, have you?” which self-evident fact was met by +the equally lucid,—“Oh, it’s you, is it?” and all five stood together +while Ingle recounted what had passed,— + +“You saw us cross that water? Yes? The surprise of it nearly unseated +us all. Kelman did fall; is he safe? Yes? Well, he had the best of it. +Most of us were well seated with an arm on the shovel or web-shaped +part of the antlers as they stuck up. When we entered the wood the +horses held their noses up, which made the antlers lie close on their +backs, so we were wedged as if in arm-chairs, and we pressed our elbows +on the horns to keep them down and steady, so getting a good leverage. +The horses didn’t like being held that way and began to wriggle, and +the brute I was on tried several times to spin his head and slice me +off, but I held him tight and then, like a streak of lightning, he +darted under the trees here, with his nose high in the air, and antlers +tight on his back. He’d have swept me off with some bough and killed +me in another second had I not instantly guessed his little game, for +we were going at least a mile a minute, so the instant he swerved, I +jumped off and up, and caught that bough, and he passed under it. See, +his tracks are there. What has become of the others? I’m sure I don’t +know. The fact is, I believe I fainted for a minute or two, for I shot +at the bough with an awful smack, and fell across two; they kept me +up, or I should have been killed, for my brute was one of the first.” + +“Then you are hurt!” exclaimed Godfrey, in concern. + +“Yes, a little, old man!” he answered, and snatched at Godfrey’s arm, +which he grasped below the greeting-band, but under the circumstances +this was allowed to pass unnoticed, although it was an indictable +offence; recovering himself, he continued,—“What have I done! You must +excuse me, I was a little dizzy for the moment; I have broken two or +three ribs, and I think one has scratched my lung, for I’m bleeding, +see”; and he spat out a mouthful of blood. + +“And you jumped off the tree and stood talking to us with broken ribs! +lie down this instant!” ordered Godfrey, in dismay. + +“How else could I get down? I had no wings! I was afraid to get off +till some one came, but the jerk has given the lung a scrape; I shall +be glad to lie down, for the trees are spinning, and you are all +upside——” and notwithstanding his bravery he had fainted. + +They strapped him up tightly till his breathing became easier, and then +restored him. + +“How do you feel now, old fellow?” inquired Rutherford. + +“As fit as a fiddle,” was the answer; “but it did hurt to lie across +the boughs! I’d buttoned my things up as tight as I could, but it +wasn’t like this.” + +“Then not another word!” said Godfrey. “Dalton and Field will stay +by you for company, but if you talk, they’ll gag you straight away. +Rutherford and I will search through the wood, although what we shall +do if we meet the herd, I don’t know! If danger comes, telepath to us, +and we’ll come back at once.” + +“Right!” replied Dalton. “We’ll telepath to the ship, any way, and rig +up a stretcher. Come back as soon as you can.” + +“I’m right enough!” expostulated Ingle, “I don’t want a stretcher.” + +“If he says another word, you two gag him!” ejaculated Godfrey, +bluntly, and he and Rutherford left, whilst Dalton and Field placed +Ingle in the undergrowth off the main avenue, lest the herd should +return, and prepared to make a stretcher. + +“We can’t telepath,” said Ingle, faintly. “I tried all the time I was +in the tree. Now I’ll not say any more.” + +“You’d better not, with a chest like that,” warned Field, “we’ll try.” +The two remained in close concentration of thought for a few minutes, +but it was as though an extinguisher was on their mind, and no reply +came. + +“That’s strange!” exclaimed Dalton. “I never knew a failure before!” + +“Marvellous!” agreed Field. “We’ve ‘waved’ from the sun to Earth, and +the others have ‘waved’ from Jupiter to Earth, and we can telepath all +over our world and yet here we can’t send a message half a mile.” + +“It may be that we have no power outside the solar system,” suggested +Dalton. + +“I never thought of that,” said Field. “We must look into it.” + +While they were discussing this discovery, their two companions passed +through the small forest for about two miles, when they came to water, +which they found as buoyant as that first seen. Finding no other way +out of the forest, except the avenue, they retraced their steps, and +each taking a corner of the stretcher which had been improvised by +taking two long boughs, plaiting the intervening branches together and +filling it with leaves, they brought their burden to the edge of the +forest where they had first alighted, and rested there to wait for the +ship, which was out of sight. + +After lowering them, she had risen high so that the occupants could +search the whole country with their glasses, but nowhere could the +runaways be seen; though there were numbers of other animals, the +horses and their riders had disappeared. Whilst they were looking, +however, the herd emerged from a great forest some distance away, +heading for their original pastures, the men still on their backs, and +the question arose as to how the riders could be rescued without being +damaged, or the horses being injured. + +“Couldn’t you make them light, and float them up?” asked Sorrel. + +“There are difficulties,” said Ross, smiling. “In that case, the horses +would come too, and our friends might be injured in the scrimmage of +getting off. If we lightened them so as not to affect the horses, as +the men’s legs are below the horses’ backs, it would be awkward if half +their bodies came up and the other half stayed down. We don’t know what +would happen, for we’ve never tried it.” + +“Make them light, and throw a rope down,” said Rollsborough. + +“And, they being light, the rope would knock the life out of them,” +objected Dennis. + +“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Rollsborough, laughing; “and, of +course if the rope was equally light, it would be no good.” + +“And if the horses are drawn up, they’d get such a fright as might +kill them, I suppose,” said Rowland. “But could we not telepath to the +fellows to stand on the horses’ backs and then waft them up?” + +“It will be risky,” returned Gilbert, “for if they slip, the horses +coming behind will rip them up, but we’ll try it,” and they all +telepathed. + +During this time the horses were still madly racing and reckless, the +three riders keeping pretty much their original positions. + +“Where’s Ingle?” asked Reeve. + +“I’m afraid he’s done for,” replied Coombes. “His horse flung him crash +against a tree, and he fell across it like a broken reed,—if he dropped +he would be trampled to death.” + +“And Kelman?” + +“He fell in the water, and he’ll be done for,” said Gardner, “for there +were scores behind him, or he’s drowned.” + +“Why don’t those fellows up there do something! they’re pottering +around, taking observations and photographing us, I’ll be bound, +instead of doing something to help!” said Reeve, grumpily. + +“I wish they would. These blessed things are going on for ever,” +exclaimed Gardner. “I’m sat on a thumping ridge of bone and it’s +scraping terribly!” + +“Sit tight!” cried Reeve, excitedly, “they’re turning!” as the +riderless horses in front wheeled round, their own and all in the rear +taking the same movement as if in one frame. + +“Great Bona!” groaned Gardner, “that jerk took off another inch +of bark, I’m certain! Look up at those asses in the ship, they’re +following us about, shouting for us to hurry up or something like it, +enjoying the fun instead of helping us.” + +“And when we get back, they’ll show us our photographs, how nice +we look from their point of view, and expect us to appreciate it,” +exclaimed Reeve. + +“They’re immediately overhead and following us and they’ll give us +elaborate calculations of our speed and distance travelled,” said +Coombes, jerkily. “I’m sure they’re measuring every inch of ground.” + +“Ay!” agreed Gardner, “and then they’ll expect us to enthuse over +it—steady there, mind my eye—” as an antler came very near his head. +“I’ve been telepathing like mad, and they take no notice!” + +“So have I,” responded Reeve, disgustedly. “But who can concentrate on +these blessed things! It takes us all our time to dodge their horns to +prevent being impaled. They could get at us, though, and they won’t!” + +“Not likely!” ejaculated Coombes, “they’re enjoying it too much to +think of our side of it;” and then suddenly,—“Hallo, what’s up now!” as +all the horses left the ground and floated about a foot above it. The +riders looked up, and from the outer deck Ross shouted, “Can you hear +me?” + +“Yes,” was the reply. + +“We’ve been shouting to you, but the noise the horses made drowned our +voices. Stand up on their backs, you cannot fall lower than you are. +Take hold of the upright horns and mind you don’t get impaled on those +following behind.” + +Too intent to speak, they obeyed, when the vessel swooped down and as +the herd divided in fright, many hands snatched up the figures with +a jerk, and in less time than it takes to tell, all three were safe +aboard again, and the horses were restored to their previous weight by +the simple withdrawal of all attraction. The ship then went to pick up +Godfrey and his party, and Ingle was put under treatment, suffering +very little inconvenience. When in the safety of the ship, the three +riders forgot their momentary annoyance, though they felt very contrite +about Ingle’s accident, but he protested he only was to blame, having +first suggested the frolic, and that the enjoyment was worth what +followed, especially considering the discovery of the strange water +which, in all probability, would not have been made but for that. +They took in a quantity of this water, which was sweet and pure, and +although no thicker than Earth-water was wonderfully buoyant, and of +the same specific gravity as the earth of the planet (taken from the +average of twenty samples of different kinds of earth, rock, stone, +etc. etc.). + +The adventure whetted their appetites for further exploration, and on +proceeding they saw in many parts of the country colonies of beings, +and selecting one of the largest colonies, they found it inhabited +by strange people, who were highly intelligent and who, though not +greatly unlike human beings, had a skin covered with exceedingly fine +and silky hair which gleamed in the light. They wore no clothing nor +did they eat, as do the denizens of the solar system, but drew in their +nourishment from the air itself, which not only entered the lungs and +gave life and heat to the body as with us, but provided them with a +sufficiency of the chemical elements to build up the frame, and replace +the loss caused by physical and mental exertion. They were apparently +sexless, and seemed all to live together in the closest bonds of love +and friendship, thinking and doing no wrong, and treating their strange +visitors with courtesy, respect and perfect frankness. They examined +the ship with interest, and were pleased to hear what the vessel had +done, though knowing nothing of Earth, which was too far away to be +seen by their instruments, except as a very minute star. They spoke of +the sun—which was seen from here with the naked eye as but a star—as +from actual knowledge, explaining its internal and external structure +accurately, and when their description was confirmed, they were both +pleased and grateful for the proof. + +They were entirely without guile, childishly frank and open, and of +a scale of intelligence far surpassing human limits. Although the +Earthians could not telepath even to each other in this world—or indeed +anywhere outside the solar system—they were so much under the influence +of these people that they could both understand and be understood by +thought alone. Dennis and his close friends had been to other planets +in the solar system, and only now did they realise what had previously +escaped their notice, plain though it was. Although the people and +climates, and modes of living, had differed on various planets, yet +there had been a certain similarity in form and thought. They had been +‘humans’—differing more or less, but in action, power, life, manner of +keeping alive by eating cooked or uncooked food, and telepathy alike, +and so far as the terrestrians were concerned they had been able to +communicate with Earth by ether wave so long as they had remained in +the solar system, thus proving that all the members of that system were +really of one family, and that the welfare of one world was identical +with that of all the others, but in this planet—the first they had +visited outside the system—all communication with the units of that +system was cut off. + +These new friends confirmed this and pointed out that the influence of +the various worlds and their inhabitants could always be felt most in +their own particular family; it did not necessarily follow that the +characteristics of one system were repeated _en bloc_ in all others +throughout the universe. They also explained that if it were possible +to visit all the systems in the universe, it would be found in each +case that all conditions were changed; gravity was not the same, +chemicals were not governed by the same laws, substances and cohesion +of atoms and particles were under laws suited to them in their special +local relation to other things, and though throughout the whole of +creation a certain general law might and did prevail, the countless +millions of units which formed the one grand whole were controlled and +built up by that which would, in each individual case, be best suited +to enable that one unit to fulfil its allotted task; that nothing in +creation was wasted, and that each world, each unit, was as necessary +to the proper adjustment of the whole, and was as important to the +completion of the great work of creation, as was one small wheel to the +correct movement of a clock. + +What that scheme is no mind other than that of the Creator can grasp; +but every single star and grain of meteoric dust in space is needed to +work it out. And all the movements in space, where orbits are within +orbits and worlds innumerable rush on with various speeds, clashing +when necessary, missing when necessary, all in regular motion like a +well-balanced clock; nothing wanting, not a speck of dust superfluous, +show the work of God proceeding, unerringly, unceasingly; in limitless +space above, around, below, where there is neither height, nor depth, +nor length, nor breadth that does not end as remote in eternity as the +beginning, and at the mere thought the mind experiences a crushing +feeling of oppression at such a declaration by the heavens of the Glory +of God. + +Never before had the travellers got such a close insight into the +wondrous Scheme of Creation, and never before had they met creatures +higher than found in any part of the solar system, or any unlike +themselves. Had any one told them that beings could be hairy and +unclothed and not be degraded, they would have been held in derision, +as suggesting an impossibility; yet here were people before their very +eyes, unlike any seen elsewhere, not greatly different in form, manner +or speech, but with soft, hairy skins, glossy as silk, every motion +full of grace and beauty, unclothed and sexless yet not knowing it, +their thoughts and actions guileless as those of children; god-like +in figure and movement, and withal a god-like mind, and a frank love +and trustfulness that were in themselves a protecting hedge from outer +evil, had there been any. + +Appreciating the great wisdom and kindness of these people it seemed +but natural to the explorers to tell them of the difficulty they were +in with relation to the recovery of their lost companions, and after +hearing the whole story in detail, and seeing the map of the heavens +at the time, the natives told them that the planet selected had been +for ages a member of the solar family, but it was not likely to be +often seen from Earth, as it was one of the ‘variable stars.’ Some +terrestrial months previously, however, they had seen it pass rapidly +out of the solar system, becoming larger and larger as it drew into +nearer view, and it was even now speeding forward some hundred million +miles distant. On referring to the photograph, it was found to be +the second of the two stars which Rollsborough had cleverly worked +out; they had naturally taken that needing the least alteration in +steering, but had they selected the second, they would by this time +have had their companions on board. On their saying they must go to +recover them, one of the natives asked if they had power to make their +attraction felt by telepathy, seeing the world was really one of the +solar family, but it was explained that so far they had never been able +to telepath anywhere except to Earth, though the people on the other +planets in the system communicated with each other freely, though none +to Earth. + +Dennis, Ross and Gilbert, feeling proud of the enormous power they had +under control, boastfully said—as a sort of set-off to the apparent +stigma cast on Earth by its seeming to be the pariah of the solar +system, which they took as personal—that it would be easy for the ship +to arrest the planet in its present course, and draw it to them, if +necessary, and letting their pride get the better of their judgment, +they tried to persuade the passengers to agree to the planet’s course +being changed towards them. + +Rollsborough, Sorrel, and some others strongly objected, saying that +such a proceeding would be most unfair both to the people on the planet +now giving them hospitality, and also to those on the world they +proposed attracting, and insinuating that as many dangers had been so +wonderfully overcome, they were allowing their heads to be turned by +their successes, and grossly presuming on their powers over nature. +The rival parties became considerably heated, one side enumerating some +of the evils that might be expected to ensue, the other treating the +matter as a joke, making light of the fears of the older section, until +at last a vote was proposed and taken, and wisdom lost, as usual. + +For several hours they talked over the project, most of them saying, +recklessly, that it would be a fine experience to draw the world to +them and let the mutineers almost step off one to the other, arguing +that as the worlds were practically equal in gravitating power, and the +atmospheres, though different in chemical composition, equally capable +of supporting Earth-life, by careful manipulation the two planets could +be brought together safely and their atmospheres would not explode but +would commingle; the harebrained section were certain that with the +power at their disposal they could overcome all the probable dangers, +and bring the two worlds actually into contact at their equators, like +two balls, and the rebels could and _should_ jump from one sphere +to the other, no matter what happened, and then the worlds should +be separated, neither the worse. Rollsborough and his party said +nothing, and without more than these passing thoughts to the possible +consequences, that same evening—so precipitate were they—the _Regina’s_ +attractive force was directed towards the runaway world. + +“It is speeding away from us rapidly,” said Dennis, “but before we +breakfast it will have begun to pull up until its present force is +broken, when it will veer round and come to us!” and most of them +cheered; but Rollsborough, taking off his glasses and putting them +in their case, said, severely,—“You are lightheaded, gentlemen, and +intoxicated with the previous success; but what will the end be?” + +No one spoke, and Sorrel quietly got up to go, but as he was passing +out of the saloon he turned and said,— + +“The price will be a heavy one; very heavy indeed. It is a mad project. +Good-night!” and he went to his cabin, followed by Rollsborough, who +silently passed on to his at the other side. + +For a few minutes this open disapproval put a damper on the jollity, +which was not lightened when several others rose and merely saying +“Good-night” left for their cabins, but this soon passed, and Allan +Gardner asked Ross,—“Are you going to tell the people here?” + +“That is as we may all decide,” answered Ross, already almost +regretting the scheme; “perhaps we had better say nothing, but let it +come as a surprise.” + +“Yes, that will be best,” agreed all; and so it came to pass that, +reckless of consequences, eleven men who were regarded as the coolest, +most matter-of-fact, most noted and reliable scientists Earth could +produce—for the sake of doing something bizarre in order to impress a +circle of new-found friends—so far forgot themselves as to wrench a +planet from its course and find it another. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + “A RACE OF LAUGHING PHILOSOPHERS” + + + “At length corruption, like a general flood, + So long by watchful ministers withstood, + Shall deluge all; and avarice creeping on, + Spread like a low-born mist and blot the sun.” + (+Pope.+) + +The approach and descent of the _Regina_ with the intent of warehousing +her cargo of detrimentals on the new-found world caused considerable +commotion, and in the district they approached, all the people within +sight came running up, signalling to others, so that a crowd had +collected within the space of a few minutes, quite in terrestrial +style. All gazed upward in astonishment to see the great vessel slowly +settling, which was augmented when the side opened, the shimmering net +was drawn back, and several figures stepped on the outer deck; the +watchers gave a shout of dismay as one of the figures walked off the +ship as if on a level crossing, and this dismay turned to consternation +as they saw that the man did not fall crashing to the ground as they +expected, but remained floating as he was. Then another followed +and still another till there were eight, all clustered together, +suspended in space, when they slowly sank to the ground, men just like +themselves, though differently dressed. Looking up to the airship they +saw the net drawn together, heard the metal doors clink and snap, and +then without further sound or sign the vessel rose higher and higher +till lost to sight. What did it mean? and they stood staring at the +eight strange people who had dropped in their midst from the clouds. +Edgar Holt, essaying the first question, asked the people around +where they were and the name of the planet, but neither the natives +nor visitors could understand the languages used. Like wild-fire the +news spread that eight beings from another world had been deposited on +their sphere, and people came flocking up from all directions till the +ground for some distance around was packed and movement was well-nigh +impossible. Word was passed from one to another, telling the story +of the strange descent over and over again, as could be perceived by +their gesticulations, and some looked upon Holt and his companions with +awe and reverence, almost as gods, whilst those who had not witnessed +their arrival considered the accounts exaggerated, owing to excitement, +especially as there was no trace of vessel, or sign of one, to +corroborate, and their visitors appeared much the same weight as their +own average, therefore it was difficult to believe they had floated. + +The eight friends could speak many different languages amongst them, +and these were all tried in turn, the people also speaking several, +as the visitors could tell by the change of accent and the different +vocalisation, but all without being understood. Two men, who seemed to +be governors or officers, next took the visitors in hand and conveyed +them to an enclosure, over which was placed an awning. Here again +the same difficulty arose with regard to speech, and matters at once +came to an _impasse_ when Aubrey Bolford thought of telepathy. All +difficulties were now ended, for the people were more expert in the +science than those of Earth, and both parties were surprised that +the idea had not occurred to them before, though as its use was not +necessary or usual in personal conversation, the temporary omission to +try it was not really to be wondered at. + +Edgar Holt, as a middle-aged man, had carried out the practice +and promise of his youth, for he made a point of ignoring and +belittling anything and everything in which he could not take the +chief part. This had been his undoing on the ship, and now he took +everything in his own hands and acted as the spokesman and appointed +leader of the expedition. It never occurred to him that any of his +companions-in-disgrace might object to his rule, nor would it have +made much difference if they had done so; he would have ruled, just +the same, or left them to go their way while he went his. His friends, +however, were well content to leave the leadership to him, for though, +like most men of his class, he was unscrupulous to a degree, he +was gifted with ready wit and infinite resource which had hitherto +stood him in good stead, for he had always been able to shift his +difficulties to some one else and himself appear not only guiltless +but very much injured; and in this last, and first, case of detection, +had it not been for those bothering secret instruments giving them +away, and the whole thing being dealt with before he had had time +to think, he felt quite confident that whatever might have happened +to the others _he_ would still have been in the ship, respected and +honoured, not only as a scientist, but as a gentleman. None of his +companions, therefore, resented the aspect their leader put on the +affair in not stating the raw and garish truth, but presenting that +cultured compromise which some call the ‘truth, put delicately,’ and +others a ‘white lie,’ as their fancy dictates; the result, however, is +the same. So in his most captivating way, as he could not tell a lie +for anything, Holt told the officials the ‘truth,’ according to his +lights—and no one living could disprove it, or call him an untruthful +man,—“We, with many others, were going on a voyage of exploration to +the sun in a splendidly equipped ship, but as we had to come near this +world, we expressed a strong desire to visit it and make friends with +the inhabitants, so we eight were put down here to explore whilst our +friends proceeded on their journey, and in due course our ship will +call and take us back again. We thought that by this means we could +render better service to science by visiting here whilst our friends +explored the sun, and thus both objects could be dealt with together +and considerable time saved. We therefore request that you will accord +to us that hospitality and assistance which you yourselves would +receive from our own people in similar circumstances.” + +This pretty, flattering little speech could have but one result, and +smiles and greetings of the warmest character followed. + +Then came many questions on both sides, and as the natives did not know +Earth by that name, a drawing was made of the solar system, and they +were asked to name the various worlds. The sun they named ‘Claytor,’ a +word to them signifying ‘light and heat’; Mercury they called ‘Celtas’ +or ‘one,’ being nearest the sun; their own planet was ‘Ramsar,’ and +‘Surans’—the former meaning ‘two,’ or the second from the sun, the +latter signifying ‘much water,’ the world having more water than land; +Venus was ‘Lovis’—or ‘three,’ and Earth ‘Rathela’ or ‘four.’ Stars were +called ‘Claros,’ which means ‘fixed,’ in contrast with ‘Icelaros,’ +signifying ‘unfixed,’ or ‘travelling’ stars, which Earthians call +‘planets.’ + +“What is your orbit in the system?” asked Fred Congreve. + +“It is within that of Venus, journeying round the sun.” + +“How is it then that we have never seen it from Earth?” questioned +Aubrey Bolford, who was an astronomer. + +“You see from this photograph that it is surrounded by a belt of +semi-opaque ether, which would render it wholly, or partially invisible +to you except on the rare occasions when the web lifted, and even then +meteor-swarms or planetoids might intervene. We shall therefore be a +‘variable’ star to you, just as your Earth and all the other members of +the solar family are not always visible to us, for which reason we call +them, as a whole, the ‘Selporas,’ a word signifying ‘variables,’ as you +name them.” + +“You may perhaps recall,” remarked Bolford, turning to Holt, “that in +the year 2000 +a.d.+ many astronomers at the chief observatories in the +world noticed a large object near Venus which was taken to be a ‘Nova,’ +or else a new moon, but after being under observation for a few days, +it disappeared and has not been seen since; it never has been visible +in England. Perhaps this is the one referred to.” + +“I think it is more than probable,” assented Holt, then turning to +one of the bystanders he asked if astronomy was one of their special +studies, to find that not only astronomy but all other arts and +sciences were studied most assiduously. Holt then informed them who +he and his companions were and explained their professions. Such an +event as the almost miraculous dropping in their midst of eight of the +most noted scientists of another world could not be other than a great +national event. All over the world the news was ‘waved,’ for the people +were far more advanced in every way than those of Earth, and the ‘wave’ +apparatus was so universal that almost every family had one fixed in +their dwelling, and even young children were conversant with its use; +it was a common sight even for them suddenly to stand for a moment in +silent concentration, and then smile happily, as some affectionate +message from parents or other loved ones was received and joyfully +answered. Considering the universal use of telepathy, the ‘wave’ +apparatus was almost unnecessary, except that it imprinted the messages +which mere transmission of thought necessarily made evanescent. + +It followed then that all the inhabited world was soon possessed of the +fullest particulars of the _Regina’s_ visit, and those who were able +to do so came to the spot on which the travellers had alighted, the +octet being the cynosure of all eyes. Certain people were deputed to +attend to their personal comfort and elucidate everything not clear to +them, the strangers on their part explaining the methods, science and +learning of their own planet. + +The people lived in community, each colony so excellently organised +that no one had ever known a single instance of any wrong being done. +However, this state of things was soon to be altered, for Earthians +are not yet fitted to associate with those of better life without +the latter suffering. In theory, the better exercise such a splendid +example for good that the less good immediately improve; but in +practice, the only way to maintain the perfection of the good is to +isolate them, in order that they may grow better and not worse, and +then perhaps go to a still better world; which is the reason, maybe, +why nature separated each world from its neighbour by instituting the +laws of gravity and atmospheric pressure, and by placing between a +chasm of unbreathable and unbridgable space. In conquering gravity, +science and chemistry had bridged this gulf and the visits to Venus +and other places had done no harm, because those particular visitors +were not base, but had sought only good. In the present instance, +however, the eight voyagers were very jealous-minded, and were disposed +to go to great lengths to obtain the fruits of other men’s labours, +hence their presence here, which was likely to prove a real calamity +to the pure and honourable inhabitants of this planet, who knew no +wrong,—and because they were far above the terrestrials in science, +learning and morals, they were childlike in their innocence, their +lives glowing with happiness and mirth; every one of them contented and +jovial, taking everything that came with a smiling face; having clear +consciences and knowing that everything _must_ work out for their good, +they accepted each event with philosophy and good-humour, and in their +own frankness they never for a moment even dreamed that their visitors +could be in any way different, for were not all in the solar system +closely related and under the ruling power of the same mighty Sun! They +therefore trusted the strangers implicitly and, to use a well-known +proverb, they wore their hearts on their sleeves, never imagining that +there were such creatures as daws to peck them. + +Unfortunately for the natives, thought-transmission with the visitors +could only be effected by very strong effort, or they would have known +what manner of men they were entertaining, and the visitors’ minds not +being so pure and refined as theirs could only grasp their thoughts +with the utmost difficulty, failing altogether to do so as often as not. + +The strangers were a type of the successful business man of Earth, +considering anything justifiable if gain resulted. Earth always favours +such men, scorning those boneless creatures whose honour shrinks from +causing another’s ruin, so these eight had always been regarded there +as exceedingly smart and, bearing in mind Earth’s definition of a sound +business man, they despised these clever, innocent people; before the +sun set on their first day Holt said to Keeth, laughingly,—“What do you +think of these folk here?” + +“Exceedingly clever, apparently,” Keeth replied, sneeringly, “but the +simplest folk I have ever seen.” + +“They’re too innocent by half,” broke in Congreve, an electrician, “and +if we don’t pluck them and feather our nests out of this lot, we shall +deserve all we get!” + +“Why, what shall we get?” inquired Ellis Siddall. + +“Get?” ejaculated Pease Dawson, querulously. “Get? you’ll see! We were +downright fools ever to have thought of taking that ship, and we shall +regret it to our dying day!” + +“Yes!” agreed Congreve, “with all our experience of what the owners +could and would be likely to do, we might have been sure it would end +badly.” + +“Well, after all,” said Herbert Wadsworth, “we took the risk, and we +made up our minds to stand or fall together when we attempted to seize +the ship, and we’ve lost, so we must make the best of it.” + +“That’s all right,” rejoined Brookes Hewitt, “but who would have +thought they’d have those instruments secreted everywhere, and that the +vessel could be electrified in units!” + +“Anyway,” said Siddall, much aggrieved, “they should have kept us +prisoners and not dumped us here.” + +“Never fear!” replied Congreve, “we shall have to face the music, all +in good time.” + +“You don’t mean to say you think they _will_ call for us?” said +Siddall, incredulously. + +“Of course they will,” answered Congreve, “and they’ll take us back to +England and we shall be tried for mutiny in the air, and you know that +is a capital offence.” + +“We’ll bring a counter-charge against them for damages,” persisted +Siddall, loth to feel he had no case. + +“My dear fellow,” interposed Holt, somewhat rudely, as was his wont, +“those folk in the ship hold the cards and they’ll play them at the +proper time and win. They’ll go to the sun, conduct their observations, +call for us and take us back, and then there’ll be a fine kettle of +fish, and we shall be the fish! so you might just as well make up your +mind to it.” + +“Then I for one shall stay here!” + +“Don’t be a fool, Siddall!” protested Wadsworth. “You know very well +from what you’ve heard and seen, that if we’re called for we’ve got +to go, _nolens volens_. Could you get out of your cabin? Could you +help coming here? No, when they come for us, we go! They’ll find us, +float us up, take the whole blessed world with them if they can’t find +us without, so it’s foolish to talk about not doing this, or that; +they’ll take us when we’re wanted, whether it’s days or years. It would +have been more charitable to kill us, for even if they beg us off in +England, our lives will be a misery to us on Earth after this business, +but they _cannot_ beg us off!” + +This violent outburst silenced Siddall, and Holt said,—“Well, I propose +that we have a good time here, and get as much out of these softies as +we can, for it’s the last good time we shall have, and we’d better make +the best of it.” + +“Yes, certainly,” agreed Hewitt, “and they’ll be simple enough to do +all that we want.” + +“Just fancy!” broke in Keeth, “with all their learning, they don’t know +what smoking is! and they are ignorant of alcohol, except as a chemical +compound, which they use in their manufactures and laboratories.” + +“And they’re so awfully good,” chimed in Congreve, “they know nothing +about games of chance, or anything, poor beggars. + +“That’s soon remedied,” laughed Holt; “we’ll show them! The _Regina_ +will be away getting on for a year, at least, and we can never exist so +long as that without relaxation.” + +“No,” said Siddall, “we worked hard in coming, and we must work +hard here, so as to learn as much as possible, while we have the +opportunity.” + +“That’s all right,” responded Wadsworth, laughing grimly; “but if we +manage to get off, which does not seem possible, we shall have to +work harder when we get back to Earth than we have done all our lives +together, and if we don’t get off and our lives are forfeit, what’s the +good? I think we can afford to take things easy for awhile.” + +“That’s all very well, as you say,” expostulated Siddall, “but in the +interests of science it is our duty to do the best we can, and we have +opportunities here that we shall never have again.” + +“Granted!” replied Wadsworth, airily, “I’m not going to argue the +matter, old man; I don’t say you’re wrong, but no amount of preaching +will avail—our reputations are gone, once and for ever, and nothing is +of any moment now.” + +“That is foolish, Wadsworth!” exclaimed Siddall, warmly; “that’s fool’s +talk! we must not lose our moral strength; we have gone wrong, let it +be a lesson to our profit—and considering who we are, it is indeed +degrading for us so to forget our manhood and the dignity of our +professions as to talk in this way. _Noblesse oblige_, remember!” + +This sensible speech pulled them together so much, and made several +feel so ashamed, that much heated argument resulted, in which Siddall +declared his determination to work and retrieve the past, and the +others vowed they would have a ‘decent’ time, and enjoy themselves, +showing the utter impossibility of Siddall’s working alone while they +went their own course untrammelled, and again Siddall appealed to their +honour and better judgment, this time to such purpose that they agreed +to spend the next few days in seeing the district and then attach +themselves to the various departments of learning and research to which +they were severally accustomed, if the people would allow them to do +so, and thus perhaps help and be helped in useful work. + +Then they retired for the night, but the next day was very dull and +they felt depressed; one of them begged a little alcohol to restore +him, for he had a weak heart. The chemists were aghast when they saw +him drink it, for such a thing had never been seen before. The strength +of terrestrial alcohol was no criterion for that made on another +planet, so he took what he considered a ridiculously small dose, but +it was very powerful and overcame him so much that he was completely +intoxicated. With deep regret at the occurrence, his companions tried +to rouse him, when they found, to their dismay, that he was slowly +sinking. It was extremely difficult to obtain the proper restoratives, +and those they had with them were not strong enough, for though all +the usual chemicals were in the natives’ laboratory, their names and +properties were different, and it was a long process to obtain what was +needed; at last one of them found some pure oxygen, which was pumped +into the unconscious man and he gradually recovered; but this first +lapse, half accidental as it was, cast a gloom over the party and +seemed to foreshadow trouble. + +The day following, the astronomical observatories were in uproar, +and on asking the cause, the visitors were told that the planet was +apparently steadily leaving its orbit. This was indeed startling news, +and Bolford, with several other members of the party, made careful +observations with the natives, of the sun in the daytime, and the stars +and planets in the night, and this they kept up for some time, in the +hope of getting a definite clue to their own position and movements, to +find, without doubt, that slowly and surely the relative positions of +the heavens and themselves were steadily changing. + +The sun no longer described the same arc in his course, and the +altering stars were already causing accidents at sea. Knowing their +original position, the astronomers found it only too true; they had +left their orbit near Venus, and were surely drifting onwards in a new +one, in a course leading them direct from the sun, and already they +must have passed out of the semi-opaque web of ether with which they +had hitherto been surrounded, for only a portion of the solar system +was now obscured and they had an uninterrupted view of almost the whole +of the heavens, thousands of stars, planets, and planetoids never seen +before being now visible to them. Many of them were known on Earth, +and Bolford and the other members of the expedition who understood the +science of astronomy were in great request, explaining and pointing out +the celestial objects as they could locate and recognise them, for it +was only natural that the people should be almost feverishly anxious to +learn all about those portions of the heavens now seen by them for the +first time, and after a few days of this high pressure they were very +much fatigued, for all had been working without cessation, calculating, +theorising, and taking observations and photographs when the clouds +made this possible. + +The visitors had been accustomed to taking various reviving drinks +by dissolving pellets in water, but when they were ejected from the +_Regina_ a supply of these pellet-intoxicants had not been included +in their stores; they had but some chemical restoratives, so, feeling +tired and knowing now where and what the alcohol was, they asked for +and drank a small quantity diluted with water, to pull them together. +Those in this department also had never thought of such a thing before, +but seeing that instead of killing their guests it really made them +bright-eyed and alert again, they were easily persuaded to try it, +especially as the visitors assured them it would produce good and +not harm. At the mere draught the potent spirit ran through their +veins like liquid fire, and being previously totally unacquainted +with this use of it, its effect was to take away all their weariness +as if by magic and make them fresh again. They thanked their new +friends profusely for the discovery, and began to take it frequently +on the assumption that if a little could revive them, more would do it +better, and the following day several of the natives were found in the +observatories hopelessly drunk. + +Most of the members of the visiting party were shocked and thought +it was a pity the people had no more sense, and they foresaw the +possible consequences, but the folk should not be so foolish!—they +would, however, soon learn better. But the secret was out and the drink +fiend had come in their midst. The poor fellows were carried home and +their friends were cautioned as to the danger, but they might just as +well have been cautioned not to let the lightning flash—one would not +have been more difficult than the other; several cases of drunkenness +occurred the following day,—and the visitors had not been there a week. + +Then in the evenings, after the serious day’s work was over, the people +asked the strangers to join them in conversation, being hospitable and +kind. Congreve, who was an inveterate smoker, had got Keeth, a chemist, +to sterilise some particular leaves which Dawson had found, rolled and +dried, and these were smoked by the visitors with delight; and they, +being hospitable and friendly also, could not sit there talking and +enjoying their smokes without offering similar cigars to their friends. +Such exchange of courtesy could not be denied, and what was good for +one could not harm two, so the natives followed the example of their +visitors and smoked with them, and, anxious to please and entertain +their guests, the spirit was brought out also. By this time, being +accustomed to live so near the sun, they perceived that though the +climate had not changed perceptibly, the evenings were a little chilly, +and they needed warm and cosy rooms to maintain their bodily heat, thus +fires had to be made, and as they were all seated around talking over +their experiences and discussing matters of great interest to all, it +was only natural that, seeing there was plenty of spirit and water, +Holt should suggest a warm drink the better to keep out the cold—and +Keeth, who was an adept at compounding appetising liquors, was called +upon to show the people what he could do; so with the boiling water, +some fruits, spirit and other ingredients, he made a splendid drink, +which was handed round, steaming hot, and swallowed with avidity. +The natives were assured it would do them good, and they knew it was +so by the taste and by the delightful feeling of inward warmth and +invigoration which followed. As the evening wore on all drank freely +of the comforting beverage, and the natives blessed their visitors for +showing them a new and enjoyable use for the material which they had +made for years and years, all their lives in fact, yet hitherto had +never attempted to drink. With the smoke and wine came games, and it +amused these ingenuous folk to play at winning shells from one another; +they were found in thousands on the sea-shore, and it was an exciting +pastime for chilly evenings—a pastime in which they soon became adepts; +then the lust for gambling became rooted in their simple minds, and +their visitors gave them to understand that, whatever the consequences +might be, gaming debts must in honour be paid in full. + +Before long this became the expected and customary method of spending +the evenings, now longer and cooler, and the news of these wonderful +terrestrial games and customs spread rapidly, and others wished to join +the privileged circle, to take part in these ravishing amusements. What +if they lost! it was nothing! they would lose one time and gain the +next, so things must work out even; and what so refreshing after a hard +day’s work as to spend their leisure in exciting play, smoking curled +leaves, and drinking the hot and delicious spirit that drove away all +care. Truly these Earthians were a wonderful race, and, but for them, +the leaves would have been unsmoked, the spirit untasted, all enjoyment +from them unknown, and they vowed that henceforth the world would not +be the same. They began to teach others, and some found themselves +unable to pay and had to sell their stock, for they could not be called +dishonourable; they could, however, always play again and win more, +getting all back with interest, and for the first time there came the +desire for wealth, for unlimited stock, and the only way to get it +was to win it from some one else, so again they played and several +lost all. These refused to pay, but they were so oppressed by the high +moral standard and tone of their companions, and especially of the +terrestrials, who placed ‘honour’ above all other virtues, even above +life, that in despair they gave up all that they had and paid,—and the +first pauper was created. + +Then others, men, and women too, who had lost even more than they +possessed, having staked wildly in their excitement, found themselves +in terrible positions, and being able to give themselves in complete +settlement, recklessly paid this price and became free from their +debts, but woke up to the fact that heavy toll was henceforth to be +exacted,—and theft and immorality were for the first time known on the +planet. + +The visitors had only been there a month, but they were doing excellent +business, having already taken much of the profits of these people, +many of whom, because they lived in community, had only part-shares +in goods, but who, in terror of being considered dishonourable, took +their own and their partners’ shares, themselves receiving all the +money with which to pay their debts and buy spirit, which had by this +time increased in value. In other places there was no money, but by a +gradual and judicious exchange of goods, the strangers soon gathered +to themselves many valuables in such small compass as could be carried +about with them on their persons, and in many other ways the Earthians +proved themselves smart business men. + +After the first momentary shock of finding they had laid a terrible +burden on the shoulders of these guileless people had passed, the same +jealous greed of gain which had prompted the eight men to seize the +ship now prompted them all—even Siddall—to throw to the winds all their +better feelings, discretion and honour, in order to take advantage of +their innocent victims, so gently and so insidiously that the injury +was unperceived until too late: to wrong these people who had been +more sinned against than sinning; who had hitherto been wealthy in the +possession of contentment and in a light-heartedness that shone in +every feature, causing every movement to fill them to overflowing with +the joy of life. + +It was but a repetition of the time-worn story of the devout and the +profane parrots, and a confirmation of the experience that the good +do not make the bad good, but are by them degraded, and one evil mind +in a community is as the “dead flies” that “cause the ointment of the +apothecary to send forth a stinking savour.” No longer the ‘laughing +philosophers’ of yore, the inhabitants were weary, careworn and sad, +filled with a deadly fear that ‘community’ would not bring them enough +to eat, so in order to protect themselves and those who were near and +dear to them, they became sly and thieving; and put goods and money +away secretly, and dissembled, feeling they could not keep on ‘giving’; +and all the time the drinking and gambling habits were growing fast, +numbers finding their only joy on the occasions when the hot and +flowing bowl drove away their cares, and the gaming-table diverted +their attentions from sorrow. + +Then some desperate spirits condemned their visitors, and lips that +before they came did naught but bless, cursed them, cursed those they +had greeted with loving trust and friendship. But what if the poor, +helpless, and injured one—whether injured through drink or anything +else—turns round and curses the shrewd and clever business man, what +effect has it? What does he care? As well might a gnat curse the +elephant that tramples it! even if by a lucky chance it manages to +insert a drop of poison and cause an instant’s pain, which is scarcely +felt, it gets crushed to nothingness. No more do curses trouble a man +of the world; something may perhaps sting him slightly, but the stinger +is hopelessly broken and as certainly forgotten; the victor has gained +all he desired and put his victim away at the same time. If he did care +in the least he would, _ipso facto_, cease to be respected as a smart +business man. + +The mutineers had only been on the world four months when they suddenly +disappeared from the community, and none too soon, or they would have +added a fresh link to the already long chain of their sins by causing +the crime of murder to be introduced, for more than one had sworn to +kill them, and these vengeful victims sought for them high and low, +in all communities, but they seemed to have vanished from the face of +the world. Meanwhile the planet was drifting more and more from its +course, going no one knew whither—apparently attracted by a stronger +force than the sun, the climate getting worse and worse. Fogs were now +of daily occurrence, and the diminution of the sun’s rays affected the +whole world most seriously. There was no longer the great difference +between the heat of the day and that of the night, and there was very +little circulation in the atmosphere. The vapours rising up from the +earth and water now hung over the globe in a thick and impenetrable +mist, clouds remained almost stationary, and through the thick, foggy +air was not a breath of wind; the heat from the warmer portions of +the globe was not wafted to the cooler, and _vice versâ_, in order to +produce a temperate average from their distribution. And the fœtid +vapours emanating from the earth and sea, and all the dead and dying +life in and on them, and from the living people, were not destroyed, +or blown away, and in some cases the inhabitants died like flies,—by +hundreds. And as the weeks and months sped on matters grew ever worse, +for the air became more and more dense and stationary. Sound became +gradually more subdued and at last ceased, and there settled on the +whole world a chilling, numbing cold, nipping the already paralysed +limbs. The clouds, unable to perform their functions, condensed less +and less, as the sun, the source of heat, grew more and more distant, +till at last the air—the world’s scavenger—finally refused to absorb +and disperse the now dreadful emanations from the animal, vegetable +and other matter, by its capillary attraction, and life became almost +intolerable, only possible to the very strong and vigorous, for the +climatic conditions were changing faster than it was possible for life +of any kind to adapt itself to them. + +Work was impossible, yet folk must live, and the stronger snatched the +food from dying lips to keep life going, and a second later it would +again be snatched away, clutched convulsively and lost, the exertion, +feeble though it was, being fatal, and the victorious one would roll +over inert as his own victim had done a moment before. + +It was now nearly an Earth-year since the strangers had alighted—their +cursed visitors; and where they were no one knew. Without doubt they +were the cause of the national disaster and moral degradation, and now +everybody was too feeble to wish them back except to kill them, for by +this no one cared to do that sufficiently to search for them, for every +atom of strength was needed for their own bare existence. For months +people had been telepathing with all their energies to all parts of the +world, but their corrupters had vanished as completely as if taken off +again in the ship. + +One day, to add to their misery, there burst over them an electric +storm, which first began in various parts of the world and then +embraced its whole surface, almost setting the very air on fire. Such +a storm had never been known before, and people crouched and crawled +and hobbled away in all directions to find a corner in which to shield +themselves from the lightning-charged air, as if they could get away +from that awful atmosphere which filled all the space on the earth, and +in a cave by a lonely shore eight figures crouched together in deadly +terror, waiting for the end which they felt was close at hand. + +“We are not safe by this water!” said Dawson, whose voice scarcely rose +above a whisper, and in that thick and soundless air would not have +been heard at all but for the acoustic properties of the cave. “Let us +get away. See, the whole heavens are blazing, and the sea is so charged +with electricity that it is actually floating fire.” + +“It is running in here and will burn us up!” exclaimed Siddall, +hoarsely. “Let us go out and find another place.” + +“No,” cried Holt, “the sea is our safety,” and for the first time in +his life he appealed to others for support of his statement. “The sea +and cave are our safety,” he repeated; “Keeth, Congreve and Hewitt +will tell you the same, and if we step outside we shall be caught. +No one has thought it possible for us to be here”; and as the first +wave of the rushing incoming tide rose up the floor, lighting the cave +with a flood of electric fire, he continued,—“Now we should have to +dive through the fire to get out!” Exhausted with this long speech, he +leaned back against the wall, panting for breath. + +“Let us go higher,” said Keeth, painfully lowering himself from the +ledge on which he had been sitting gazing seaward through a thin crack +in a stratum of rock, and they all clambered still higher up the side +of the cave, the water on the floor meanwhile being flooded with light. + +“It’s lucky we had a good supply of food in pellet form,” said Siddall, +“or we should be dead now!” + +“It would have been better so!” groaned Wadsworth, “our records are +none too clean; we have sent hundreds to the devil and have corrupted +the morals of a whole world, for if the people here recover from this +awful disaster, they’ll continue to go to the devil, who will get the +lot!” + +Dawson was in a state bordering on collapse, and as he painfully +dragged himself along, a few inches at a time, for he could not sit +up, he became very faint, but by dint of much patience and a heroic +determination not to give way, he managed to pull himself above +high-water mark, and, overcome with the exertion of keeping the few +inches in advance of the rising water, he now leaned back against the +wall with his head on the cool rock, damp with ooze from the sodden +herbage above; the touch of the wet and slimy rock, the only cool +thing in that fiery atmosphere, acted as an ice-cap and restored him +wonderfully, and looking round at his companions he said, brokenly,—“I +remember my parents telling me of a Bible story; it was something about +one who causes another to offend—I forget how it went, but I think it +said it would be better for him if a millstone had been tied round his +neck and he had been thrown into the sea first. I think we’ve tied +millstones round these folk as well as ourselves! I’ve not seen my +Bible since I was grown up, but I’d give a lot to be an innocent boy +again,” and he turned his face to the cooling slime. + +“You can’t have sentiment in business, my boy; life’s too short!” +exclaimed Holt, brusquely. + +“I fear it is, Holt,” came the feeble reply, in jerks. “Life’s very +short. Our days are but a shadow—life _is_ short, Holt—I fear it is—” +and then, after a pause, just as one of the others was commencing,—“and +Tom, dear, will you give your sister this, and say it’s from me——” + +“What’s the fellow talking about?” asked Holt, roughly. + +Unheeding, Dawson went on—“and tell her I’m very sorry. I fear I shall +not see her again,” another pause—“I had hoped I should meet her in +heaven, but I don’t know, now. I have not been good, Tom, but tell her +not to fret, I am not worth it! Why have you put out the light, Tom? it +is dark, and I——” + +“What’s the matter?” asked Congreve, trying to crawl nearer. + +“I believe he’s dying!” exclaimed Hewitt. + +“Good heavens!” they cried, as all came round, themselves almost too +ill to move, and held a volatile restoring tablet under his nostrils; +the oxygen which it gave off along with other vapours, though not +bringing him round, sent him into a deep sleep, his steady breathing +giving promise of recovery. + +“Thank God!” interjected several, as they placed another pellet beside +the face of the sleeping man. + +“We have need to say that!” observed Siddall, regretfully. “I’d like +to have the chance of undoing this business before I die, if that were +possible.” + +“Are you feeling bad, too?” asked Holt, offering him his box of +restorative tablets. + +“Only in mind! that’s bad enough!” replied Siddall, sinking down again. + +“What’s the cause of this electric storm and this fiery sea, Congreve?” +asked Wadsworth, “you should know.” + +“I have been wondering for the last two or three hours,” replied +Congreve, musingly. “It may be that the foul gases on the ground have +caught fire, or that there is some great electric disturbance; which it +is I cannot understand.” + +“Not the _Regina!_” exclaimed Hewitt. + +“No, certainly not!” broke in Holt. “Oakland would come to the old +orbit between Venus and the sun, and would never look for us here.” + +“It would be an utter impossibility,” rejoined Bolford; “the last view +we had of the sun was as of a star of the fifth magnitude; that was +some months since, and it will be about the seventh now, or invisible +without a glass.” + +“What can have caused us to shoot off? the _Regina?_” asked Keeth. + +“There’s no doubt about it to my mind,” returned Bolford; “but only +those in the ship could tell us why; perhaps only the owners.” + +Too exhausted to talk any more, they languidly rolled over, too ill to +care what happened, and they dropped off to sleep one after the other, +in fitful dozings, from which they were awakened a few hours later by +water dripping on their faces from the cracks in the roof above. On +going to the hidden chink in the rocks, from which they had an extended +view of the shore, they saw rain. It was falling in a deluge, heavy, +pouring rain; descending like long rods of polished steel, boring holes +in the sand and the motionless sea, breaking the now feeble, lanky and +colourless grass and pouring down the rocks in a flood, carrying the +electricity with it in rainbows innumerable—floods of prismatic, fiery +water. For hours it came down unceasingly, wetting them to the skin, as +from every niche and cranny tiny and then strong streams raced down +the cave floor and mixed with the stinking salt water at the entrance; +but their hope revived as the rain continued. At last it ceased, and +there came a freshened feeling in the air as the first puff of wind +blew through the slit in the rock. + +“You know what that means!” cried Bolford, joyfully. + +“Yes, thank heaven!” they exclaimed. + +“Yes, thank heaven!” he repeated, fervently; “we are drawing near to +the planet or source that has been pulling us all this time, and the +atmosphere is moving.” + +“That rain has come in the nick of time,” said Keeth; “one day later +and we should have been dead, every one of us.” + +“Let us get to the mouth of the cave to breathe the air, and bring +Dawson,” said Siddall; “we can dive under the water.” + +Only then did they realise how ill they were, for try as they would +they could not stand, or indeed rise higher than a sitting posture, and +in this position they shuffled along, dragging the still unconscious +form of Dawson with them, inch by inch, every foot or so of the way +having to rest to regain strength, and in this wise they got near +the water. There they rested quite overcome, and all more or less +unconscious, staying there for hours, perhaps for days, for most of the +time was spent dozing in a semi-unconscious condition and time passed +unnoticed, but when they did find intelligence returning to them, there +was a distinct breeze, the clouds had lifted, and the stars could be +seen. Bewildered, they searched the heavens, and Bolford cried,—“We +have altered our orbit again! when we first came here we had Aquarius +facing the cave, stationary, ‘in line of sight’ for months, and now we +are opposite Aries! Something else has got us now!” + +In great excitement they all looked out, and there, sure enough, was +Aries, and they were crossing. For hours they watched, and Holt +remarked, “Never mind where we go, so long as we can live, and this new +power is healthier than the last, anyway.” + +“We shall never get to England now, that’s one comfort!” exclaimed +Siddall, in a tone of relief. + +“No, old man,” responded Congreve, “you need have no more fear. Even +the _Regina_ can’t trace us now!” and he attempted a laugh, which +ended in a dry cackle. Only then did they notice that their lips and +tongues were cracked and hard, and the whole interior of their mouths +dry and almost devoid of feeling, their voices sounding hoarse and most +untuneful, so it was evident that hearing had returned. + +“Holt!” exclaimed Keeth, suddenly, “don’t you feel how charged the air +is with electricity? I feel myself full of faint prickles!” + +“I was going to remark the same thing,” replied Holt. “I will have +a look outside;” saying which he tried to rise, but failing to do +so, he drew a clasp-knife and stuck it in a crack in the rock to +assist him, when the metallic blade crackled and sparkled with +electricity. Withdrawing the blade and closing it, he turned to Hewitt, +saying,—“There’s some powerful current here and no mistake! Look +outside, Hewitt, old man; I’m too ill to rise without help.” + +Hewitt could not go either, so Congreve slowly worked his way to the +front, tasting the air and feeling at the rocks, and then going to the +opening he put his head outside, withdrew it, and then tested the rocks +with his own knife, but to find Holt’s experience repeated. + +“Anything atmospheric to cause that, Congreve?” inquired Hewitt. + +“No! nothing!” he replied, shortly. + +“What do you think?” asked Holt. + +Congreve did not answer, but put out his head again, and again withdrew +it, and stood looking out at the opening. + +“Don’t you know?” queried Holt and several others, impatiently. + +“No. I’m thinking!” he muttered, and then remained silently lost in +thought for so long that they asked again. + +“I don’t know; only a passing fancy, but it’s not possible!” + +“What is it?” they asked, excitedly. + +“Nothing, only a foolish fancy; but it cannot be,” he replied, +musingly, still looking out. + +“Tell us then!” they persisted. + +“I thought it might be the _Regina!_” he said slowly, pausing between +each word. “But she could not know where we are.” + +“Impossible!” interjected Holt. “She could never single one planet out +of millions, not knowing the direction we took, and especially now we +have changed again. It is absurd.” + +“I said so,” said Congreve, reflectively, still at the opening. + +“And as we are not near the orbit of Venus at all, she could not find +us; it is impossible!” put in Keeth. + +“No; I told you it was a foolish idea,” murmured Congreve, still lost +in thought and still closely watching. Then he came and sat down with +the rest, and one after another each one fell asleep where he was. How +long they slept they had no means of telling, but nature had applied +her own remedy and they awoke considerably refreshed; even Dawson was +now conscious, though too ill to move. + +After a while the air became so charged with electricity that their +cave was like an electric oven, so stifling as to be painful, and +they crawled to the opening for relief and to watch the weird effect +outside, and endeavour to locate their position by the stars, and in +the black and starry sky they beheld what they took to be a comet. + +“What can that be?” asked several, indifferently. + +“A comet,” replied Keeth, briefly. + +“I did not know there was one due there,” said Bolford, musingly,—and +then suddenly they all cried,— + +“Can it be?—can it! Oh! good heavens!—It IS the _Regina!!_” + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + SMALL PROFIT AND QUICK RETURN + + + “Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over + his fodder?” + (+Job.+) + +The day following the stormy meeting on board the _Regina_ nothing +of moment transpired, and only the strongest faith in the _Regina’s_ +powers made them know that, although unseen, a mighty force was +speeding along the enormous space that intervened between themselves +and the planet they were attracting. They knew it would be madness to +draw it to them rapidly, like rebounding elastic; the only safe thing +to do would be first to project against it a gradually increasing +attraction, till its present speed was completely overcome, when they +expected it would alter its course to follow the line of greater +attraction to them. Some time, therefore, must elapse before anything +would be noticeable, during which the visitors would have to continue +their work of joint observation and exploration with their new-found +friends, and in the abstraction of these researches the subject was +seldom referred to. In the course of a week, however, there came over +the atmosphere of that part of the world in which they had made their +headquarters a slight change, so gradual as to be scarcely perceptible; +it was the ‘smell’ of electricity—that peculiar, almost indefinable +odour which is always evident when an enormous amount of electricity +is present, and has been defined as being like many different +chemicals, though most people consider it chiefly resembles chlorine. +The natives noticed this, but attributed it to the continued presence +of the vessel. Then they perceived that the planet which had been +speeding away from them had altered its course, and they delightedly +told their visitors of this, saying that as it was now coming in their +own direction, it would be better for them to go to it by means of +their ship later, without making so long a journey, pressing them to +stay until the world drew nearer, never even dreaming for a moment that +their visitors were effecting it and not knowing or believing they +had power to do so. Feeling guilty at having to dissemble in order to +keep the secret for the great and final surprise, the travellers very +kindly accepted the offer to stay and wait till the other world drew +near. They had hoped the people would not notice the altered direction +of the planet, but the fact of other terrestrials being on it, and +wanted by their comrades, had aroused interest and the planet had, in +consequence, been under observation ever since. It was, however, but +a runaway star, and, like a lost and turned-out dog that is ready and +willing to become attached to any one who is kind enough to give it a +home, so was this disowned planet flying through space, ready to form a +new orbit in any system that would or could keep it, or to coalesce, if +need be, with any more powerful world into whose influence it chanced +to come, and thus form another sun. When it turned, the people merely +thought it had, as it were, aimlessly crossed a stronger influence and +had become drawn towards some other and distant force. + +“How long will it be before the planet is with us?” asked Dalton of +Gilbert. + +“About a fortnight,” he replied. “We do not wish it to come too fast, +lest its revolution and atmosphere and those of this world should be +disturbed.” + +A few hours later, there came upon the atmosphere a more sudden +change; the air became perceptibly drier, hotter and more stifling, +and before long, heavy clouds gathered and obliterated the stars, +the distant, yet approaching world sharing the same fate, being no +longer visible; and there were no means of ascertaining its position +except by intricate calculations from the amount of force projected. +By this time all around the ship there rested a faint phosphorescence, +and the heat and dryness in the air became severely felt, filling +the nostrils with such a choking as to make inspiration painful in +the extreme. The enormous amount of electricity projected was slowly +converting the air into allotropic oxygen, or ozone, of such intensity +that it burned the lungs and made breathing a torture, and the sense +of suffocation became almost intolerable. To the natives this change +was deplorable, depending as they did on the air for both breathing +and food; and living in the open they had no shelter, only the frail +structures erected for astronomical observations and the carrying on of +business—laboratories and the like. In vain they entered these in order +to find coolness, then returned to the open, for in that furnace of +altering elements there was no cool, everywhere was equally painful. + +“We cannot work in this stifling heat, and the clouds are +impenetrable,” telepathed one of the native astronomers to +Rollsborough. “There is some dreadful electrical disturbance around; +I am glad your ship is here, for it is drawing towards itself all the +local forces”; and in the air there could be seen floating beside the +ship, a faint, rosy light, paling into greens and purples and moving +fitfully. + +Rollsborough said nothing, for he, along with the other objectors, had +decided to take a neutral stand, and neither help nor hinder anything +the owners and their colleagues were pleased to do. But he now debated +with himself whether he would not be justified in divulging the real +facts of the case, though on further consideration he remembered that +if the owners chose to do anything with the ship’s powers, they could +do it, and as no one else understood the control of these forces, no +good purpose could be served by interfering now. Besides, with the ship +elevated, as was the usual custom, no hurt could come to the natives, +or district, and every man on board was supposed to be level-headed +and ought to know what he was doing. So Rollsborough made no comment, +but stood along with many of his companions and the natives, watching +the strange glow round the vessel, and thus they continued several +hours, during which gloom had fallen, and for the first time within +the history of this world there was dense, black night; the only light +seen was the ghastly, ghoulish glow round the vessel. The natives +insisted on their visitors going back to the ship, so Rollsborough and +his friends entered, and with closed doors and the artificial apparatus +going, they felt no inconvenience. So refreshing was this after the +heat outside, that they persuaded a number of the natives to enter, but +they could not breathe the air, which was _only_ air, and incapable +of supporting their life, so they had to leave hastily, but would not +hear of the visitors coming out of their ship again till the storm, +as they thought it, had passed. For even now, though they were so +extremely intelligent, they did not associate with it the _Regina_ and +the far-away world—never thinking that the world was coming straight at +them, like a shot out of a gun, for they knew the changes were really +electrical disturbances only, and bad as the effect was on the air, +it was their natural atmosphere, and they could endure it better than +their visitors; therefore, when they found those in the artificial air +were free from trouble, they insisted on their staying in the ship. +This consideration made the delinquents feel very guilty, and Godfrey +tried to persuade his friends to abandon their project, but they said +it was but a temporary inconvenience, and would pass away soon. + +The ship was elevated about two hundred feet in the air, in order +that the powerful current projected should not damage the surrounding +country and the inhabitants, for with such a force, so long continued, +no power in nature could have prevented its blasting effect on +everything, and particularly in all those parts coming between the +approaching planet and the ship, where would lie an inconceivably +strong current of electricity, for they were, in reality, using their +vessel as a magnet, bridging the space by the mighty current. Such a +force could not do otherwise than disturb the elements, for the power +required to draw the world from such a distance would have fused the +very earth beneath, had the vessel been nearer the ground. And although +the objectors still disapproved of the whole scheme, the manner in +which the three owners manipulated the vessel so as to ensure the +absolute safety of the people below, compelled their enthusiastic +admiration. Awful and spectacular as the results became as the world +drew nearer, and the same forces were more spread locally, they knew +that beyond a few weeks’ inconvenience and semi-starvation, the natives +would be no worse, and not a blade of grass would be singed. And as +they received somewhat of the reflected forces, the vessel became the +centre of wonderful displays of electric fireworks, which were watched +by the people below with amazement, for they could not see the world +because of the clouds, and the people in the ship could not telepath +with them except when in close proximity. All around the ship and +high into the clouds, forming a magnificent, gigantic corona, there +shone a living, trembling flame, changing colour incessantly; the +electric fluid, like a sea, washed and lashed around the ship, and +leaped in waves and spray, dashing against the vessel; the spray flying +upwards like phantoms, the white wreaths of light floating away into +nothingness, forming and re-forming, till lost in the distant sky. +Every now and then some wave, more violent than the rest, would break +itself upward in a column of lightning, twisting and twining like a +fiery snake standing erect and writhing in agony. Higher and higher +these terrible columns would rise, becoming thicker and more lurid, +bending and straightening as though alive, while here and there two +would meet and float away upward, united by loops and tongues and +festoons of lively flame. + +The people below, experienced as they were, and knowing there was +no real danger so long as the vessel was the centre of the storm, +as they believed, could not help being disturbed by the change in +the atmosphere, now so powerfully charged with electricity; and as +the world revolved, community after community beheld the wonderful +stationary ship, their preserver, and felt thankful it had come in +time to save them by bringing the elements to the focus of itself. At +her elevated position the _Regina_ remained poised and motionless—not +moving with the atmosphere, yet still in it—sending forth a steady, +continuous force, unerringly in the same direction. + +“Is it wise to carry this so far?” again remonstrated Godfrey. “Won’t +the world come on and on and crash into this?” + +“It would, of course, if we didn’t stop it in time,” smiled Gilbert. + +“But how can you tell when it _is_ near enough to stop?” + +“There are four days yet.” + +“But Gilbert,” pleaded Godfrey, “are you justified in causing these +good people all this inconvenience? Is it fair play?” And turning round +impetuously, he spoke up so that all should hear,—“Rollsborough and +I and all of us who originally objected to this mad scheme decided +neither to hinder nor to help, but to be perfectly neutral, and to +this decision I was fully intending to adhere, but I had to keep saying +something in protest. Nobody admires and appreciates more than I do the +capabilities of the vessel and the amazing skill of the owners, but +because we have power and skill here, are we to misuse them, merely +to let these people see what we can do? It might be excusable in a +youngster, but it does not sit very well on any of us. _We_ are in +here, with pure air, good food, and everything to make us happy, and +yet we are calmly looking on while we cause visible discomfort, if not +actual pain, to the people below who are gasping for breath; these +people who have been so exceedingly good to us,—and we allow them to +think we are their benefactors! I call it cowardly! yes, cowardly!! and +a thing we shall look back upon with shame to our dying day. Believe +me, we shall! Planet-shifting is not in my line, I know nothing of +it—but I feel very warm on this matter. We are Britons, bred and born; +do let us act like Britons! and above all, like gentlemen; men of too +much honour to abuse our privileges. Surely in sending that planet out +of its orbit we did damage enough! You know what Shakespeare says,—‘It +is excellent to have a giant’s strength, but tyrannous to use it like +a giant.’ Let us be merciful! I can say no more, friends, or I shall +break down!” and good, well-meaning Godfrey, quite overcome, stepped +down from the stool upon which he had jumped. + +For the space of a few seconds there was a deadly silence, and then as +if from one voice, they cheered Godfrey, and finally ‘chaired’ him. + +As soon as silence was restored, Dennis spoke up,—“My friends, let us +with one accord thank Spenser here for showing us our duty. Our pride +has humbled us to the dust, and we have fallen—fallen lower than I care +to think about, but we will make what reparation we can! Ainley has +already corrected the current and in a few hours the air will improve. +Rollsborough and Sorrel, we want your advice as to what we shall do +with the other planet, if we have not forfeited the right to ask for +it.” + +Their eyes filled with tears, the two stepped forward and remained in +long conversation with the three owners, looking at photographs and +drawings and making many calculations. + +While they were thus engaged, the rest, now as repentant as they had +been reckless, went to the windows and looked out. All restraint was +now over, and every one without exception felt happy in having taken +the one and only honourable course—and as they gazed at the sea of +fire around them, which cut off all view from below, a great cloud +burst above them and rain fell in torrents; the lightning ran down the +rain as it fell, filling the air with solid pillars of fire. Flash +followed flash in such quick succession that they seemed to strike one +another long before reaching the ground; and the focus of the storm was +ever the good old ship, which stood unmoved, as though imperturbably +defiant, while the whole heavens seemed to have combined to wage war +against her in revenge for the disturbance she had caused. All the +electricity projected seemed to return with angry energy, flashing +and beating round the ship in mighty fury, the _Regina_ answering +flash with flash till the fury was augmented instead of reduced, as +the teeming heavens sluiced fire. As far as the eye could reach the +rain brought down the lightning in floods of vivid flame, and on all +sides the clouds were incessantly opening and belching out their +overcharges of electricity, accompanied by deafening thunder. In ten +or fifteen minutes the storm was spent, and gradually nothing remained +but an occasional feeble flicker and roll of thunder. Soon even this +ceased, and slowly the light returned as the clouds dispersed or were +dissipated, and around the ship only a faint glow remained. This began +to flicker like the light from a dying candle, each flicker seeming +the last; and finally, with a last splash of light, all was gone. + +Instantly the ship fell and the occupants came out, to be greeted +effusively by the grateful people. “You have done this!” telepathed the +principal of the observatory. “How can we thank you?” + +“Thanks!” telepathed Dennis, stepping forward. “You have little to +thank us for!” and with feelings of deep shame, he telepathed a full +confession. + +“But what have you done with the planet? How can it remain where it is +if the forces are stopped?” + +“It is now under the influence of your world’s attraction, and +travelling with you as a binary, and as you see is too far off to +affect this planet for the short time it will stay.” + +Then it was for the visitors to see what friendship was, to have +‘coals of fire’ heaped upon them, for the natives made light of their +sufferings, and not only telepathed that there was nothing to forgive, +but persisted in thanking them for their kindness in relieving them +from the dreadful atmosphere. + +Such magnanimity made the visitors exceedingly contrite and feel that +they could have submitted to abuse, even, rather than such overwhelming +kindness and generosity; but it proved to them that in a higher life +feelings of evil and resentment find no place, but instead there is the +forgiveness that can both forget and forgive, though the past injuries +be incalculably great. + +The attracted planet could not stay where it was for any great length +of time, as it would soon affect the climatic conditions of the world +to which it had been drawn, so the travellers were obliged to leave +their noble friends, who parted with them most affectionately, they +feeling sincere remorse at their treatment by the kind inhabitants as +they set out for the adjoining world, obtaining a splendid rebound +straight for the solar system with the absconding planet in their wake; +the position it should at that time be occupying having been correctly +worked out by Rollsborough, it was restored to its proper place and +orbit in which it sped onwards in its journey round the sun—this time +free from the belt of semi-opaque ether in which it had hitherto +floated. Then the _Regina_ settled into its atmosphere. First locating +the place where the mutineers had originally been stored, but finding +it a waste, they hunted for them with their glasses in many parts; and +at last, on a lonely shore, they saw two men, apparently terrestrials, +dirty and unkempt, their clothing and faces smeared and hair matted +with slime. These men, too feeble to stand without staggering, +signalled to the ship, which settled down to find two of the party of +which they were in search—Congreve and Hewitt. Several of the fellows +came out of the vessel and were told in a few words, rendered painful +by the cracked lips and tongue, where their companions were. Then came +the long and difficult task of getting the six men from the cave, +for they were all too ill to help themselves, and the entrance being +under water it was necessary to dive to get inside. However, it was +accomplished at last, though Dawson became unconscious again with the +effort, and the whole eight were soon on board the _Regina_ and well +looked after. + +As they reclined in lounge-chairs enjoying the rest and comfort, and +already feeling considerably better, Bolford remarked,—“Did not the +_Regina_ send the planet ‘Ramsar’ out of its orbit?” + +“Yes,” replied Ross, “I regret to say that is the case, I believe.” + +“How did you do it, and why?” asked Siddall. + +“We approached the planet from between it and Venus, and we must +have left it with a repulsive force and sent it off; it was quite an +accident.” + +“But if you approached between it and Venus, and gave it a repulsive +force, it would have gone into the sun!” said Bolford. “I don’t +understand.” + +“If you remember,” continued Ross, “we had to go round the world, and +we left it at the side near the sun. The attraction of the sun was so +enormous that we had to steady ourselves by converting some of the +attraction into repulsion, and the planet being then in our wake, must +by that have been projected out of its system, away from the sun.” + +“Then how did you find us?” asked several, much interested. + +“Rollsborough suggested this solution when we found you’d bolted. +Knowing the exact position when we left, and the planet’s gravity, +speed of travel, and orbit, and all the rest of it, he cleverly worked +out the direction in which you had been hurled and—here you are!” + +While Ross was talking, the rest had gathered round, and as he +finished, they asked the mutineers for their story; Holt related the +account of their adventures, that is to say, the version which, while +in the cave, had been agreed upon to present to sympathising friends,— + +“On our arrival, the first thing we did was to attach ourselves to the +various departments of science, for Siddall at once suggested that as +we had fallen we must, in the short time we should have to live, do +our best to work well and try to retrieve the past, and in this we all +concurred. We were doing excellent work when the people discovered +they were out of their orbit and blamed us for it. Fearing this was +correct, yet not knowing how, or why, we made light of it, and their +fears were allayed for the time being. However, time passed, and as the +climatic changes which were sure to follow such an event on a world +not intended to be so far away from the sun came along, we were blamed +more and more. To so sorry a pass did matters come that, although we +had been presented with no end of wealth, we had to leave it all, and +fly suddenly for our very lives. They hunted for us everywhere, and we +should have been killed months since, but for the cave. + +“We found it by watching an animal dive in; eventually we killed the +beast and then one of us dived under to see if there was any shelter, +and, finding a cave, we lived there in terrible suffering through all +the changes the sudden departure from the sun brought about, till you +came and saved our lives.” + +All the listeners, hearing of these unmerited sufferings, were filled +with remorse and, not knowing the actual facts—that a demoralised world +had just been returned to its proper orbit—felt they had been doubly +guilty in causing such disaster and, most of all, in putting the lives +of their eight companions in jeopardy. These expressions of sincere +sympathy were received by the eight victims of an unkind fate as the +apology to which they were entitled, and as the subject of the mutiny +was not referred to, they considered they had kept their good names +untarnished and won but the just reward of their integrity and, not to +be outdone in generosity, they virtuously forgave their commanders, and +unity was again restored. + +That same day all the ‘wave’ instruments of Earth received the message,— + +“In three days expect the _REGINA!_” + + + + +———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— +Crown 8vo., 6s. + + “The Immortal Light,” + —— BY —— + JOHN MASTIN, F.S.A. +Scot.+, + F.L.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., F.R.M.S., R.B.A., + + Author of “The Stolen Planet;” “The True Analysis of Milk;” + “Parasites of Insects;” “Plate-Culture and Staining of Amœbæ;” + “Through the Sun in an Airship,” &c. &c. + + —————— + +It is a scientific romance dealing with the adventures of a South Polar +expedition, and holds the reader in a tremendous grip of interest and +amazement from the first page to the last. Mr. Mastin has used his +profound knowledge of chemistry, physics and art, so delightfully that +the reader is fascinated with the simple, forceful, and convincing way +in which the mysteries of the Antarctic region are explained, and the +deep problems of science treated, and, whilst learning something from +every page, he is carried from adventure to adventure with thrilling +interest. The science and logic are so sound, and the story is so +graphically written that the reader almost believes the adventures +to have really happened. For sheer imaginative power alone the book +demands first place amongst recent publications. + + HIS MAJESTY THE KING HAS MOST GRACIOUSLY CONDESCENDED + TO ACCEPT A COPY OF THIS BOOK. +======================================================================== +“Profound as is Mr. Mastin’s scientific knowledge, he never lets his +technicalities interfere with the clear understanding of his story, +either explaining them or putting them in such a way as to make them +plain to the uninitiated.”—_Publisher and Bookseller._ + +“More daring than Poe’s ‘Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket’ +is Mr. Mastin’s romance of Antarctic adventure; for Poe, having +introduced a giant ‘of the perfect whiteness of the snow,’ regrets the +loss of his crowning chapters. Certainly, if the matter which they +contained ‘relative to the Pole itself, or at least to regions in its +very near proximity,’ was as sensational as ‘The Immortal Light,’ the +loss is deplorable.... The story is wildly improbable, but confronts +incredulity with a considerable display of scientific detail. A strong +religious feeling animates the last part of the book.”—_Athenæum._ + +“To say that this is a really clever story is but bestowing on its +author, Mr. John Mastin, praise which is well deserved.... The +experiences of the explorers in conquering the ice barrier of the +South, as told by the writer, makes delightful reading. Although the +story is fiction unadulterated, it is of absorbing interest, and +even the most fastidious reader could not fail to find some charm in +a perusal of its pages.... That the bounds of possibility have been +far overstepped is only natural.... But with rare literary skill the +author discounts these by the many charms of a story which is well +told. The character studies are good, and many excellent word-pictures +are painted in glowing colours by the picturesque pen of the +author.”—_Western Daily Press._ + +“The book is exceedingly clever and up to date.”—_Glasgow Herald._ + +“What Jules Verne did with the science of the seventies and eighties, +Mr. Mastin does for the science of to-day.... Youth, if it has a +scientific turn of mind and some imagination, will revel in this +book.... We can heartily congratulate him on the imaginative power +which his book displays. That never flags, and he carries us on from +wonder to wonder as if he need never stop.”—_Sheffield Telegraph._ + +“Some of the speculations on the wonders of life and the possibilities +of science are broad, ingenious, and fascinating.... From telepathy to +telescopes which see everywhere, and from rides on ether to steel that +will line coats, Mr. Mastin ranges with plausible certitude.... ‘The +Immortal Light’ is an amazing book.”—_Sheffield Daily Independent._ + +“The plot is exciting.”—_Morning Leader._ + +“Mr. Mastin is thoroughly up to date in his paraphernalia.”—_Yorkshire +Post._ + +“But the work, while an intelligent boy could not read it without a +keen enjoyment, has a scientific weight, a plausibility of inductive +and deductive reasoning upon a basis of natural law, which takes it +well out of the category of the merely fantastic.”—_Scotsman._ + +“There are minute descriptions of all the wonderful inventions made +by a strange race which talks Latin and lives underground. The author +is evidently a learned scientist and ... quite as accurate as Jules +Verne.... He possesses a vivid imagination.... I may safely recommend +the story.”—_John Bull._ +———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— + + + + +Crown 8vo., 3s. 6d. + + “The Stolen Planet,” + A SCIENTIFIC ROMANCE, + —— BY —— + JOHN MASTIN, F.S.A. +Scot.+, + F.L.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., F.R.M.S., R.B.A., + + Author of “The Immortal Light;” “The True Analysis of Milk;” + “Parasites of Insects;” “Plate-Culture and Staining of Amœbæ;” + “Through the Sun in an Airship,” &c. &c. + + —————— + +=Sir Wyke Bayliss, late President of the Royal Society of British +Artists, on reading Mr. Mastin’s M.S. of “THE STOLEN PLANET,” wrote: +“It is a long time since I have read anything so brilliant.”= + +=His Majesty the King has most graciously condescended to accept a copy +of this book.= + +=H.R.H. the Princess of Wales has graciously condescended to accept a +copy of this book on behalf of H.R.H. Prince Edward of Wales.= + + —————— + +It is impossible to give in a few lines any adequate idea of the +amazing adventures of Jervis Meredith and his friend Fraser Burnley in +their journeys through the unlimited space of the stellar universe, +their visits to the various planets in their magnificently propelled +vessel, and the fantastically humorous situation which brings their +exploits to a fitting conclusion. Even Mr. H. G. Wells and his famous +predecessor, Jules Verne, have not handled their subjects with such +complete success as Mr. Mastin has done in this, his first imaginative +work. + +======================================================================== + +“It is a graphic and exciting tale.”—_The Times._ + +“Certain it is that the reading of this capital story will prove +exciting, for compared with the adventures therein written, the books +of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells read like the placid pages of Miss +Austen’s novels.”—_Daily Telegraph._ + +“The adventures ... are told with a verve which never flags. As a +consequence, the reader, who is attracted by the rollicking schoolboy +humour of the opening chapters, soon becomes absorbed, and is carried +wondering from adventure to adventure.”—_Sheffield Daily Telegraph._ + +“An interesting story in the Jules Verne manner.”—_The Bookman._ + +“Without the extraordinary detail that Jules Verne introduces into +his stories, it adopts a scientific basis throughout, and the reader +takes an interesting journey through space.... The story will make a +capital gift-book for boys of a scientific turn of mind.”—_Publishers’ +Circular._ + +“The wonders of Jules Verne pale before this thrilling account of a +voyage through the air to other worlds.”—_Outlook._ + +“Mr. Mastin’s ingenious and engaging fantasy ... he is to be commended +for resource, ingenuity, and persistent vigour of narrative.”—_Glasgow +Herald._ + +“The experiences of the two men in their aerostat make most exciting +reading.”—_Aberdeen Free Press._ + +“Our heroes sailed away in an aerostat and met with many unique +adventures ... it might really all have happened.”—_Publisher and +Bookseller._ + ———————————————————————— + _Companion book to “Through the Sun in an Airship.”_ +———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— + CHARLES GRIFFIN & Co., Ltd., Exeter Street, Strand, LONDON. + + + + + Transcriber’s Notes: + + • Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + • Text enclosed by pluses is in small caps (+small caps+). + • Text enclosed by equals is in Antiqua (=Antiqua=). + • Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. + • Errata on page 314 have been applied. + • In chapter 13, there is a reference to “the devastating eruption + and earthquake of 2316 +a.d.+”, which is obviously incorrect. + But the transcriber could not find a candidate for the actual + date, so it is left as-is. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77867 *** diff --git a/77867-h/77867-h.htm b/77867-h/77867-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2981bf6 --- /dev/null +++ b/77867-h/77867-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10906 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> +<meta charset="UTF-8"> +<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> +<title>Through the Sun in an Airship | Project Gutenberg</title> +<link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> +<style> +body { + margin-left: 8%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +h1 {font-size: 3em;} +h2 {line-height: 1.25em;} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} + +hr { + width: 60%; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.short {width: 15%; margin: 2% 42.5%;} +hr.double {width: 100%; margin: 0.5em 0; border-style: double; height: 2px;} +hr.full {width: 100%; margin: 0.5em 0;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable {border-collapse: collapse;} +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th {padding: 0.25em;} + +.tdr {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} +.tdch {text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + right: 3%; + font-size: x-small; 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margin-right: 2%;} +.center {text-align: center;} + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp8 {width: 8em;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77867 ***</div> + +<hr class="chap"> +<div class="poetry-container mt10 mb10"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i27">“<i>This I hold</i></div> + <div class="i0"><i>A secret worth its weight in gold</i></div> + <div class="i0"><i>To those who write as I write now;</i></div> + <div class="i0"><i>Not to mind where they go, or how—</i></div> + <div class="i0"><i>Through ditch, through bog, o’er bridge and stile;</i></div> + <div class="i0"><i>Make it but worth the reader’s while,</i></div> + <div class="i0"><i>And keep a passage fair and plain,</i></div> + <div class="i0"><i>Always to bring him back again.</i>”</div> + <div class="attrib"><span class="smcap">Churchill.</span></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1>THROUGH THE SUN<br> +IN AN AIRSHIP</h1> + +<div class="large">BY</div> + +<div class="mt2"><span class="xxlarge">JOHN MASTIN, F.S.A. <span class="smcap">Scot.</span></span><br> +<span class="large">F.L.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., F.R.M.S., R.B.A.</span><br> +<br> +AUTHOR OF<br> +<br> +“PARASITES OF INSECTS,” “THE TRUE ANALYSIS OF MILK,”<br> +“PLATE-CULTURE AND STAINING OF AMŒBÆ,” “THE<br> +STOLEN PLANET,” “THE IMMORTAL LIGHT,”<br> +ETC. ETC.</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp8 mt10 mb10"> + <img class="w100" src="images/colophon.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</figure> + +<div class="lh2">LONDON<br> +CHARLES GRIFFIN & COMPANY, LTD.<br> +EXETER STREET, STRAND<br> +[<i>All rights reserved</i>]</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="titlepage"> +<div class="mt10 mb5">Printed by <span class="smcap">Ballantyne & Co. Limited</span><br> +Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London</div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="titlepage"> +<div>TO<br> +<span class="large">PROFESSOR SIR HUBERT VON HERKOMER</span><br> +<span class="small">C.V.O., R.A., D.C.L., ETC.</span></div> + +<div class="lh2">AS A SLIGHT MARK OF GRATITUDE FOR<br> +MANY PAST KINDNESSES THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY<br> +DEDICATED<br> +BY HIS FORMER PUPIL<br> +THE AUTHOR</div> +</div> + +<div class="left mt5 ml10"> +<span class="smcap">Totley Brook</span><br> +<span style="padding-left: 1.5em;">near <span class="smcap">Sheffield</span>, <i>June 1909</i></span></div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">vii</span> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + +<table class="autotable"> + <thead class="xsmall"> + <tr> + <th class="tdch">CHAP.</th> + <th></th> + <th class="tdr">PAGE</th> + </tr> + </thead> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_I">I.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">The Story of the “Regina”</td> + <td class="tdr">1</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_II">II.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">The “Regina” gives up Her Secret</td> + <td class="tdr">28</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_III">III.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">Vox Populi</td> + <td class="tdr">41</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_IV">IV.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">Muscæ Vomitoriæ</td> + <td class="tdr">65</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_V">V.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">An Innocent Offender</td> + <td class="tdr">85</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_VI">VI.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">The Doomed Planet</td> + <td class="tdr">108</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_VII">VII.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">The Story of a Star</td> + <td class="tdr">125</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_VIII">VIII.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">A Jovian Bug</td> + <td class="tdr">140</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_IX">IX.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">Testing the Web</td> + <td class="tdr">149</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_X">X.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">The Conspiracy</td> + <td class="tdr">161</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_XI">XI.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">“The Impregnable Rock”</td> + <td class="tdr">182</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_XII">XII.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">Through Fire and Flame and Mystery</td> + <td class="tdr">198</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_XIII">XIII.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">“Vaults of Purple”</td> + <td class="tdr">213</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_XIV">XIV.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">Between Two Worlds</td> + <td class="tdr">234</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_XV">XV.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">Joci Causâ</td> + <td class="tdr">253</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_XVI">XVI.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">“A Race of Laughing Philosophers”</td> + <td class="tdr">280</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdch"><a href="#chap_XVII">XVII.</a></td> + <td class="smcap">Small Profit and Quick Return</td> + <td class="tdr">306</td> + </tbody> +</table> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_I">CHAPTER I<br> +<span class="large">THE STORY OF THE <i>REGINA</i></span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i13">“... ’Tis a ditty</div> + <div class="i0">Not of these days; but long ago ’twas told.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Keats.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“What’s that for, Gilbert?” asked Ross Ainley, in surprise, as his +chum, Gilbert Eastern, flung an egg into the stream which gurgled past +them.</p> + +<p>“It’s rotten, old chap, rotten as a man’s word of honour,” replied +Gilbert. “Thank goodness it’s the last of the batch, and I get no more +from Flatters. He assured me he had manufactured every one and all had +stood Government tests, therefore he could guarantee them. I don’t want +to spoil our little picnic here at the North Pole or I’d go back and +make the fellow eat the thing; see, even that fish discards it!” as a +fish rose to the surface, nosed the egg a little, and then darted off. +“No wonder!” he commented, and then without further remark he reached +for another egg and, cutting off the top of the capsule, at once became +absorbed in extracting the contents—a peculiar pink-coloured paste, +which he spread on a cake of brown meal and commenced to eat in silent +enjoyment. His friend Ross, who had just finished his meal, leaned over +the mossy bank and half filled a drinking vessel with water from the +stream; after sterilising it he rummaged in the basket, and bringing +out a small box extracted a pellet, which he placed in the vessel and +crumbled with his already sterilised fingers. Instantly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span>the water +became turbid, and, a second later, opaque-white as the powder entered +into solution, and he drank off what appeared to be fresh milk. Having +satisfied his thirst, he sprayed some antiseptic liquid on his hands +and the glass, threw his pulp serviette away, and leaving the other +things till his friend had finished also, lay down on his back full +length, with his elbows up and hands clasped under his head, gazing in +silence into the blue sky overhead between their two airships which +were riding at anchor, their vanes gently moving in the wind just +sufficiently to maintain them at an altitude of about twenty feet. They +were in a small clearing in the heart of a magnificent forest which +extended for miles in all directions and was, perhaps, the finest and +most picturesque portion of all that beautiful district of the North +Pole which was appropriately called ‘The Garden of the Earth.’ After +passing through miles of moss and peat and bog, the river Pole entered +this forest some ten or twelve miles distant as a gurgling brook, +tumbling and twisting and twining amongst the boulders in its bed; but +other streams, longing for closer companionship, drew nearer and nearer +till they joined it, and together they all came flowing down in noisy +happiness, whilst the rushes which were swept by the lively water, now +a river, bent their nodding heads lower and lower till they kissed the +sparkling wavelets and reared themselves again in their joy at having +stolen such sweetness. Thus the river Pole swept onwards, an ever +widening and deepening stream, spreading its fragrant influence around +till the trees, shrubs and underwood became almost intoxicated with the +luxuriance of their growth, and expanded their limbs in the ecstasy of +being alive. And in the twilight of the green woods occasional lovers +would be found, walking in its cool recesses and talking of the future, +or perhaps merely walking together oblivious of all save that they were +in love—love too deep for words, too strong and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span>holy for expression +in anything but silent thanks to heaven for the love which <i>is</i> +heaven; such are passed, they unnoticing and being unnoticed,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“For in love’s domain</div> + <div class="i1">Silence must reign;</div> + <div class="i1">Or it brings the heart</div> + <div class="i1">Smart</div> + <div class="i1">And pain”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">and here and there the trees grew more widely apart and clearings were +formed by nature almost specially for picnics and <i>alfresco</i> +meals, for the grass was thicker than any carpet and softer, having +a deep bed of peat, whilst the murmuring stream and the faint hum +of insects, and that delightful and peculiar sound of thousands +of branches being gently swayed by the wind, lent a delightful +accompaniment to the pleasantry and laughter inseparable from young and +healthy hearts which, like the air and sky, are clear and sunny.</p> + +<p>To one of these clearings had Ross and Gilbert come for a little +relaxation, because they knew that nature is always ready and able +to give health and vigour to all who seek her, and they made a point +of spending at least one half-day in each week in some spot on the +beautiful earth where they could talk and revel in nature unalloyed, +and after Ross had been looking for a few minutes into the throbbing +ether, where the blue was flecked with streamers of ‘mares’ tails’ +which floated in one of the higher strata, he suddenly rolled over to +face his friend and said, seriously,—</p> + +<p>“Has it ever struck you, Gilbert, what a wonderful age this is?”</p> + +<p>“The age is all right, Ross, so far as I can see,” answered Gilbert, +indifferently.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think so,” replied Ross, argumentatively. “It seems to me too +matter-of-fact.”</p> + +<p>“What else would you have it? all fancy?” asked <span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span>Gilbert, still +indifferent, being hungry and absorbed in his meal.</p> + +<p>“No, of course not,” replied Ross, musingly, “but it seems to me that +if a little of the past could be worked into the present it would +leaven things a bit.” Here he paused, and as Gilbert did not offer any +remark, he continued,—</p> + +<p>“Take that egg, for instance. Natural eggs are never eaten now, any +more than swans and peacocks, yet I don’t see why they shouldn’t be, +though at the bare suggestion of eating a real egg every one would +recoil with horror; but why should they be kept for broods only? They +are wholesome enough, or they used to be, anyway, and if they were +taken from the fowls and other egg-laying creatures, more eggs would be +laid and there would be plenty for all.”</p> + +<p>“Probably,” said prosaic Gilbert, “but the real eggs had to be boiled, +and cooked in other ways, and beaten, and goodness knows what, and all +that sort of thing must have been a shocking waste of time. Besides, +the shells are brittle, and if you should by chance sit on a basketful +of them, they would, of course, explode and break and make a nasty +mess, to say nothing of the perfume of a bad one. There is not one of +those objections in a modern egg, and they are wholesome, nutritious, +of fine flavour, will keep for years in these capsules, and if you +jump on one you will merely alter its shape and flatten it; no cooking +is necessary, they are pure and sterilised, and exert an antiseptic +action on the stomach, counteracting any tendency to undue acidity, +ulceration, cancer, and lots of other things—ergo, I say they are +better than the natural article, and not one in a million is faulty, +except by deliberate fraud.” And Gilbert, after this tirade, continued +his meal with renewed vigour, as if to make up for lost time.</p> + +<p>“But in this age it is supposed that there is no fraud,” observed Ross.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span></p> + +<p>“Just so,” replied Gilbert, with a kind of ‘I’m busy’ air; “but +ever since man was created some dispositions are and always will be +treacherous.”</p> + +<p>“Probably,” assented Ross, plucking a blade of grass and breaking it +into short lengths, “but everything in this world is so cut and dried, +so trite, that I am weary of it.”</p> + +<p>“Poor fellow!” said Gilbert, banteringly; “you need your diet changing; +you’re secreting too much bile and it’s giving you the blues. Just +talk and let off as much as you can whilst I finish my dinner; I +was bothering with my anchor while you were feeding; the blessed +thing wouldn’t suck. Now, fire away, and talk yourself into a better +humour—I’ll not interrupt.”</p> + +<p>“My humour is all right,” answered Ross, laughing, “but as I lay here +on this beautiful turf and saw our ships riding at anchor, as much +under control as if on the sea, I could not help thinking of all the +past.”</p> + +<p>“Think away, old man, only think aloud,” said Gilbert, as his friend +paused.</p> + +<p>“You think I’m not serious, but I am, really and truly!” said Ross. +“I was thinking of the changes this district of the North Pole has +undergone. Hundreds and hundreds of years ago it was as it is now—a +beautiful, warm climate; then came a time when things changed and all +turned to ice, and the trees were covered with snow, all approach +being cut off by an impassable barrier of ice, although even then +many explorers believed that at the Pole it was not all frozen; and +in 1878 or 1879, when the explorer Nordenskiold was locked in the ice +in Northern Siberia, and this ice extended as far as he could see, +he proved that here at the North Pole no ice existed; and another +explorer, Admiral Wrangell, I believe, when he was journeying north +from Siberia, found the ice getting thinner and thinner as he advanced +and the climate becoming warmer until he actually got to unbroken and +unfrozen sea and a temperate climate. This was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span>confirmed later by such +authorities as Anjou Hedenström and others. And still later, between +1905 and 1910, mammoths, stacks of peat, <i>living</i> but frozen +trees, were found by explorers; then a few years later, the conquest +of the air began to be felt as a practical possibility, and science +generally made enormous strides—the time from 1900, or say from 1850 to +1950, was a century of the greatest scientific triumphs of all time, +and electricity became so much used that the climate of the world +altered and the terrible barriers of ice at the poles became no longer +impassable. Then followed, in actual reality, the conquest of the air, +which caused a complete revolution in mechanical progress. After this +came a period of intense scientific research, and about a hundred years +ago was made the great ‘discovery’—which had been expected centuries +before—that <i>life originated</i> at the North Pole (from whence its +germs were wafted all over the world by air and water), and the South +Pole saw its passage to higher and more noble existences.</p> + +<p>“About the opening of the twentieth century morality in business had +sunk to a very low ebb; every one was possessed by a craze for making +money—in what manner was quite a secondary consideration—consequently +the richest people were almost invariably the most unscrupulous. At +last the working classes revolted and by sheer force of numbers sent +a majority of working men to Parliament, and by such means obtained +Old Age Pensions. Still they groaned under the dishonest and callous +actions of the moneyed people and employers, and in course of time +they rose up in revolution and swept the country clean. From that time +everything has improved, and though we have in some minor matters, +such as modes of expression and what not, reverted to the style of our +forefathers of about the twentieth century, science has progressed by +leaps and bounds, until now we have got almost to the other extreme, +and everything is science:—we <span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span>eat, drink, live, move and have our very +being on scientific lines, till one gets tired and weary almost to +death at the mere word.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll certainly have to change your diet, old fellow!” put in +Gilbert, laughing, “but go on!”</p> + +<p>“I am really serious,” continued Ross, smiling at the sarcasm. “I don’t +believe this world was ever intended for man, and it’s my opinion that +we came here by accident from some other planet.”</p> + +<p>“Really!”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Just think! where intellectual man is not, vegetation grows to +magnificent luxuriance; so do wild animals, insects, birds and flowers; +all these are made and suited to the world by nature, but directly the +so-called ‘lord of creation’ comes, one of two things must happen—he +must either open out nature and bring it into line with his life and +habits, or he must gradually acclimatise himself to his surroundings by +various doses of malaria, swamp fever, orchid-poisoning and the like, +and by the time he has become immune from these evils and can live, he +is not so healthy or so useful as were the scarecrows of ancient fame. +And wherever numbers live together, so many hygienic matters have to +be considered that healthy living in numbers is, and always will be, +a most serious problem. No, man is about the only animal on the earth +that upsets nature, or is upset by nature.</p> + +<p>“Wherever he lives the country suffers, and the rare and beautiful +birds and creatures fly from him as from a pestilence. Take the present +era, for example. Where are all the beautiful birds and beasts our +forefathers wrote about, and all the insects that used to keep the air +sweet and fresh? Man has frightened them away. He kills every insect in +the ground by electricity, and then finds that worms, moles, and other +such creatures aërate the ground and make it healthy, and he gets the +land to stink with rottenness <span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span>ere he decides to see it, when he could +have seen it before with half an eye had he not been blind; then he +goes to the other extreme and, finding that worms are healthy and good +for the land, he kills every blessed bird lest a single worm should be +destroyed. By that time he gets a little overdone in worms and wants +his birds back. Then the constant use of his electrical appliances +and forces so upset the atmosphere that the moving life in it has +to go higher into purer air, and the airships passing and repassing +at enormous speeds drive the birds still further away and higher, +gradually altering their habits, so that now it is a very rare thing to +see them flying, or even coming down to rest. They do rest, of course, +but only in the forests where people seldom enter, for every one has a +ship of some sort and is always in the air, as if this glorious grass, +this beautiful water, and these shady, magnificent trees were not good +enough for man to enjoy, but he must needs go tearing round the whole +world on every half-holiday. I call it a sin!”</p> + +<p>“What an excellent mood you’re in this afternoon!” remarked Gilbert, +as he made a pellet of his napkin and threw it at a darting fish. “I +have finished my meal, and have enjoyed it so much that I am inclined +to look on the world as it is now as being very beautiful, and on the +science of to-day as being the most useful in the world’s history. +It is true the climate of the whole earth has changed, and with it +manners and customs, perforce; but now, every man works at the trade +for which he is best fitted, physically and mentally, and receives +guaranteed Government wages on fixed scale for the work he does. If by +learning and application he can do more intellectual work, he receives +the higher pay, and every one can have his fair trial and none are +oppressed. All shops are under the control of the Government, and no +one can undersell, or buy to better advantage than his neighbour, nor +can there be undue competition, and if any licensed <span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span>manufacturer +supplies an inferior article, like my first egg, he must return its +equivalent on proof, and he is a loser.</p> + +<p>“If, in times past, a man robbed his employer of twenty shillings he +was imprisoned for five years with hard labour, whereas if the theft +was of twenty thousand pounds he was merely cautioned not to do it +again, or at the most imprisoned for a few months without labour, and +the quiet, restful time of serving the sentence invariably set him +up in health at the country’s expense; but nowadays, a man stays in +prison and must earn his keep and expenses, and in addition, enough +to pay back every farthing to the person robbed, who receives an +instalment every month until the loss is made good, or until the +prisoner dies. Thus, not only are the prisons self-supporting and a +profit to the State, but the ‘punishment fits the crime,’ and under the +present business methods anything beyond petty frauds is altogether +impossible. Then there are no poor, no really destitute; and there is +no institution in the world that is not self-supporting, whilst the +excellent system of our finances makes wealth, if not an impossibility, +of little value—for wealth formerly meant power and oppression, +but now the comparatively so-called poor are not poor enough to be +oppressed, consequently the rich have none to oppress, and in most +cases people spend their surplus wealth in scientific research, in +inventing and discovering that which will make life brighter, easier, +and happier to their fellow-men by lifting higher those who chance +to be less fortunate than they themselves. For what use is wealth +to a right-minded man when every man must work and earn enough to +keep himself comfortably, and he knows that when he gets past work +he will receive a pension according to his deserts. Nor can he marry +till he receives a certain salary, and even then his family must not +exceed the calls on his income for their maintenance, clothing and +education, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span>suitable to their station. If he errs in this respect, or +is unfaithful, or betrays anyone, no further offence is made possible +to him. Why! formerly, in the twentieth century, so far as some of the +working men of that period were concerned, one who earned what would +have kept half a dozen families in comfort would drink and gamble +his earnings away, have an unconscionable number of children, and if +he were but half a day out of work he was destitute. With a blissful +selfishness, he would neglect work to go drinking and gaming, to the +utter disregard of the needs of his wife and family, knowing his +neighbours would not let them starve; nor did they. If he were sent +to prison he did not care, for the burden of the maintenance of his +numerous family had to be borne by others who by self-denial had saved +and yet who, for humanitarian reasons, had to deny themselves still +more to help the idler. All that is now an utter impossibility, and yet +you long for the old times, Ross! I don’t. I like, too, to know what +I’m eating, to have everything made under rigid antiseptic conditions, +to have everything condensed and excluded from air, and to know that +what I am swallowing is good and wholesome, anyway.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all very well,” replied Ross, flinging fir-needles into the +stream, “but it’s very much overdone. Compression is all very well, +too, but when you come to certain foods and salts which, to begin with, +are indigestible and often quite insoluble in the stomach, and you +compress them to so small a compass that they are as hard as steel, +where are you? One swallows a good dinner, as one thinks, yet most of +it has gone; no stomach, not even that of an ostrich, could digest it. +One tries to realise what a delicious dinner it was, yet no stretch +of imagination can overlook the fact that one gets desperately hungry +quicker than one should. Now, notwithstanding all the science displayed +on my recent meal, I am sure I could eat, enjoy, <i>and</i> digest, +a thick, juicy steak from that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span>salmon there which is just turning a +somersault. Oh yes, hold up your hand in disgust! I’m not going to +fly in the face of custom, because I’m quite aware that the salmon’s +great and much revered ancestor might at some time have swallowed a +fly or a worm that had on it a parasite or some injurious microbe, and +therefore, because of this awful occurrence to its great grandparent +thrice removed, it cannot be eaten without being first dried, +sterilised, compressed, and enclosed in a little antiseptic capsule +in which it is guaranteed to remain, if need be, fresh and pure till +the crack of doom, when it may joyfully rise and meet its family as a +pure and wholesome fish. I am tired of it all! and as I said before +I think science, hygiene, and all the other aids to existence are so +much overdone that there will soon be a reaction, or my name’s not Ross +Ainley,” and disgusted Ross rolled back again and lay looking up at +his ship, a beautiful aluminium vessel, dipping and curtseying to the +rippling breeze as if she were breasting an incoming tide.</p> + +<p>Gilbert laughed and exclaimed, “You’re like old Alexander of ancient +fame—paying the penalty of an inordinate desire for conquest. You are +on the top rung of the ladder and because there is no higher rung to +step upon you are disgusted with everything. But who’s that coming?” he +suddenly broke off to exclaim, at the same time pointing to a sparkle +on the horizon caused by the sun’s glinting on an approaching airship.</p> + +<p>Instantly the blues and banter vanished, and they watched with interest +the new-comer fly over their heads at great speed, then seeing their +vessels below, immediately pull up, and a man looked over the side and +shouted, “Hallo! Ainley; how are you?”</p> + +<p>“Splendid, Oakland. Come down and have a chat; I’ve not seen you for +many a month!” answered Ross.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span></p> + +<p>“All serene!” was the reply as the ship was brought round and lowered +between the two others, an anchor let down which sucked on the turf, +and a pleasant-looking young man was soon standing beside them, to be +cordially greeted by Ross, who introduced him to Gilbert as Dennis +Oakland of electrical fame, and turning to Dennis, continued, “and this +is Gilbert Eastern, the eminent physicist; you know him by repute, and +I am much pleased to make such great men acquainted with each other.”</p> + +<p>“And here’s Ross Ainley, the greatest electrician of the day—barring +yourself, of course—the world’s expert!” mimicked Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve known him some time,” responded Dennis, laughing; “let me +grasp arms with you,” he continued, in high pleasure, and they each +laid a hand on that particular portion of the other’s sleeve which is +specially reserved for cordial greetings, and which is situated on the +upper arm over the biceps; every one being required by law to keep +this part highly antiseptic. This very friendly greeting over, Dennis +resumed,—</p> + +<p>“What a lucky dog I am to run across you here in this way. I never +miss an opportunity of making friends and having a chat with every one +I meet, but I never dreamed of such luck as this when I saw your two +ships chumming together like a couple of love birds!” and Dennis went +gleefully on till they all felt as if they had known one another for +years.</p> + +<p>They passed from ship to ship, their respective owners explaining the +chief features and special appliances that each possessed, and thus +several hours wore away. Twilight came long ere they had finished and +Bona shone with a fitful light owing to the clouds which had been +slowly gathering, but as she rose in the heavens the sky became clearer +and the country was flooded with her brilliant beams, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span>the three ships, +now almost motionless, casting dark shadows on the ground.</p> + +<p>“I see it is Bona’s night out,” said Dennis, looking up at the large +and brilliant disc on which with the naked eye could be discerned +continents and seas, the latter showing like white enamel.</p> + +<p>“I prefer it to old Luna myself,” said Gilbert, “although many folk +swear by Luna yet. It must have been a tremendous shock to bring Bona +where she is.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” agreed Ross. “Eastern and I, Oakland, were comparing the past +with the present when you joined us, and he maintains that the present +times are unequalled, but I consider that we have arrived at such a +stage of ultra science that there must be a reaction.”</p> + +<p>“I agree with you,” replied Dennis. “It is always so. There never has +been a perfect equilibrium in the affairs of nations and never will be. +We peg away at one scale, filling it till it goes down with a bump, and +then it dawns on our woolly brains that we have overdone it, so we let +that scale severely alone and work away at the other till that goes +down with a bump too. Then we empty both and begin again, to repeat the +blunder.”</p> + +<p>All three laughed and Ross remarked: “That is almost precisely what +I’ve been telling Eastern, but he does not see it.”</p> + +<p>“No! I don’t,” said downright Gilbert. “I don’t see that we have drawn +near to the time of a reaction by any means, considering that there are +many things which have been commonly known at different periods and +yet with all our ultra science are now a sealed letter. So science is +evidently not at its zenith yet.”</p> + +<p>“In the natural course of events things do die out as the use for them +declines, or the phases of life alter, or those with secrets fail +to commit them to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span>writing, or they are lost, but there is nothing +abnormal in that,” answered Ross, lightly.</p> + +<p>“But don’t you think that if science is as much advanced as you say, +these secrets would not be lost? Don’t you consider it want of brain, +rather?” objected Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“No, not by any means,” said Dennis, “I think it is mere chance.”</p> + +<p>“I differ with you both,” argued Gilbert, unconvinced. “I think these +things come in cycles. Take stained glass for instance—not the fired +and coloured glass of to-day, but the real old-fashioned stained glass +that admits the passage of sunlight, the sunbeams remaining untinted +by the glass they pass through, and which gives strange reflections +in a mirror. This was discovered in the seventh century and made in +several countries, proving that the secret was not entirely limited, +yet the art was lost for many centuries, rediscovered in the fourteenth +century and again practised in several countries, and soon afterwards +again lost, to remain so till the twenty-first century, when it was +again in vogue in various places for a short time, soon to be again +lost, and, as you know, thousands of pounds are now being spent daily +in experiments in the hope of the secret being rediscovered, yet it is +as elusive and far off as if it had never been. Now if this is, as you +say, the most scientific age of the world’s history, why the failure? +To my mind, the answer is that the cycle has not yet returned and +when it does, the secret will come out itself, whether it is in the +manufacture, the firing, the glass, or the colours used. Surely you +cannot call such a singular occurrence a mere coincidence!”</p> + +<p>“I grant there are unargumentable facts,” replied Ross, “but I am +rather inclined to believe that if the experts in that line were +intensely serious, they would solve the problem, for I think what <span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span>has +been done can be done again by earnest application.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all very well for you to talk like that,” said Gilbert, with +energy, “you’ve always been lucky in succeeding with everything to +which you set your hand, but I myself firmly believe that no amount of +luck will enable things to be done till their time comes round, and you +have taken up the phases of science which were ready to be solved.”</p> + +<p>“What about yourself then,” asked Dennis, smiling. “Have you also hit +upon the phases that were ready and waiting?”</p> + +<p>“In a great measure, yes,” responded Gilbert. “I have found—as you have +found, too—that there are times when no amount of work does any good; +it is entirely unproductive; and then nature suggests to all minds a +certain course. If the mind is sufficiently receptive, these ideas are +followed and what lay hidden for ages before, perhaps, is now revealed +and may appear wonderful; but I see in it merely the working of an +unchangeable law, a cycle of sympathy of the mental faculties with +material and natural forces.”</p> + +<p>“Then I wish some cycle of mental sympathy would come my way,” +exclaimed Dennis, “for I have the hardest nut in the world, and cannot +crack it, so I suppose it must wait till the cycle of fate brings the +sympathetic mind to solve the mystery,” and Dennis laughed banteringly. +“But there is no such luck, so I expect the nut must stay intact till +doomsday.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! what mystery is that?” asked the others, at once interested.</p> + +<p>“My vessel, the <i>Regina</i>,” replied Dennis, nonchalantly.</p> + +<p>“What!” ejaculated Ross, spinning round and grasping him on his +greeting-band. “Great Bona! and are you the very Dennis Oakland, the +present owner of that ship?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span></p> + +<p>“I am, worse luck!” was the rueful answer.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you say so before?” inquired Ross, surprised. “I had no +idea that the Dennis Oakland who tied with me in the electrical exam +last year was one and the same person as the owner of the famous +<i>Regina</i>. I thought you lived in London.”</p> + +<p>“No, only for the time of the exam.”</p> + +<p>“Had you mentioned Derwent I should have recognised the connection.”</p> + +<p>“We are more pleased than ever to meet you,” broke in Gilbert, and once +more the three grasped arms, and from that moment their lives became +full of excitement beyond their wildest dreams, and Ross’s blues were +gone never to return.</p> + +<p>“Let us hear all about it,” said Gilbert, hastily fetching a damp-proof +rug, which he spread over the ground for all to sit upon.</p> + +<p>“There is very little to tell, if anything, that is not known by every +one, for the history of the ‘Stolen Planet,’ written by an ancestor of +mine, Jervis Meredith, to whom the ship eventually belonged, explains +everything. For many generations the blessed Queen has reigned over our +family and cost us no end of money. In the natural course of events +she has been bequeathed to me, the sole surviving descendant of the +first Jervis Meredith, and I have spent some thousands on her till I +gave it up; I am tired of spending and working to no purpose, for she +became a real nightmare to me, till I got my back up, and I don’t spend +another farthing. She may go to Jupiter, or Sirius, or to any other +spot in creation for all I care!” and Dennis puffed vigorously at his +sterilised cigar.</p> + +<p>Instantly his two companions were alert. All thought and desire to +return had vanished, although time was getting on and the stars were +beginning to dot the sky. The river Pole, now in the full light of +the risen moon, Bona, lay before them dazzlingly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span>white, its placid +surface unbroken by so much as a ripple, except when a leaping fish set +in motion a series of circles which spread their dark rings to each +bank. Behind and around in the clearing lay the wood, now black with +shadows, and as they looked before them beyond their vessels, on which +silver lights were chasing ebony shadows, as their gentle movement made +the moonbeams ripple along their surfaces, several belated travellers +slowed up at sight of three standing ships, to ask if they were +stranded and needed help, but to each the trio telepathed a message +that all was well—and soon they were quite alone.</p> + +<p>“You should get Ainley, here, to help you,” suggested Gilbert; and +before Dennis could reply, Ross broke in—“I have often thought of +writing to ask if I could see it, Oakland, and had I known you were the +owner I should not have hesitated. If you would permit me I’d take it +as a great favour; I have heard and read so much about the ship that +I’m curious in the extreme.”</p> + +<p>“By all means, old fellow,” replied Dennis, heartily, “by all means. +Although I can promise you this, that you’ll know very little more +about it after than you do now; all that is to be known is common +property.”</p> + +<p>“I only know what the historians wrote about—the wonderful discovery of +gravity-control—and what the newspapers tell us,” said Ross, “let us +hear all about it from you yourself, will you? and then we shall know +everything.”</p> + +<p>“What! to-night?” queried Dennis. “It would take a long time and it is +getting very late.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind!” said Ross and Gilbert together. “We can get back to +England in an hour, less if we use top speed, and the sky will be free +now. But, perhaps you wish to return?”</p> + +<p>“I? No, any time will do for me,” replied Dennis; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span>so the three settled +themselves into comfortable positions and Dennis commenced the story of +the greatest wonder of the world:</p> + +<p>“Before the great crisis of the world’s history, for many generations +there had been so excessive a use of electricity, that the climates +had become seriously disturbed and the whole earth and air so unduly +charged, that there had followed a succession of terrible earthquakes +of so violent a nature as to shake the earth to its very centre. +Then a wonderful thing happened which at first threatened the whole +of creation on this earth—from some cause or other, even yet not +understood, the earth’s gravity became slightly increased. All the +scientists raved at the calamity, as they called it, saying that the +rains would damage the fruit and vegetation, that the sap in trees and +plants would not be able to rise, that muscular exertion would not be +possible, and that all mankind would become too heavy and weary to +live, while the air would become unbreathable. Very soon, however, they +found all as usual, for all being in the same proportion, everything +in nature, animate and inanimate, was just as perfectly adjusted as +before, and many scientists asserted that no increased gravity had +taken place—for as the increase was exactly proportionate throughout, a +pound still weighed a pound, of course. For long the debate continued, +serving no purpose, for even if walking had not been possible it would +have mattered little, for the time was approaching when, all forms of +work coming under government control and wages being paid according to +the work done, almost every one could buy a motor-vessel of some sort +for land or aërial traction, and walking became less and less indulged +in—and probably in a few generations from now humans will find their +legs transformed into wings.</p> + +<p>“But to return to actual facts. The strangest <span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span>change of all, which +drove people to a perfect frenzy and caused not a few to become insane, +was the gradual approach of a second moon; no one knows how, or why; +probably it had been wandering in space and would not have been +influenced at all by earth, but for the increased gravity. Be the cause +what it may, there it was, revolving in the solar system round the +earth half a circle behind Luna, thus lighting up earth when Luna was +hidden, as she is now, and consequently, every night is more or less +moonlight.</p> + +<p>“People recalled the records of the wondrous approach of the planet +stolen by the great airship <i>Regina</i>, now owned by me, and many +thought the ship had made a secret journey and brought back a second +planet, or perhaps the same as before, but no—the ‘seventh moon of +Jupiter’ which she had created was still attending that planet, and so +the new world must really be a new moon.”</p> + +<p>“Had the vessel attracted it, do you think?” inquired Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“No one knows,” continued Dennis; “that is a point on which there is +much controversy even to-day, as you know. Anyway, the thing was a +real miracle, for all predicted and feared universal disaster, and +prayers were offered in all places of worship, and a miracle <i>was</i> +performed, either in answer to the prayers or in the setting up of +some unknown laws in defiance of all existing known laws, for in +direct contradiction to every expectation, no disaster of any kind +occurred—nothing but good; and as time wore on and the planet’s +influence became felt in the steadying of the tides, and in scores of +other unexpected ways, it was proved to be a heaven-sent blessing and +therefore was named ‘Bona.’</p> + +<p>“Then followed another phase of great interest in the <i>Regina</i>, +for scientists longed to possess the means of visiting Bona and of +finding out all about her, for the most powerful telescopes revealed +little beyond the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span>facts that there were mountains, seas, deserts, and +peculiar vegetable growth, all of which can be seen faintly with the +naked eye, and the spectrum analysis shows many metals, some familiar +and some strange to us, together with an atmosphere similar to ours, +but drier. It is, as you know, considered that Bona is peopled, but so +far no people have been seen or recognised by us as people, for we, +of course, look for beings such as ourselves. The <i>Regina</i> would +have solved all these difficulties, but she was still quiescent, still +the enigma of science, as she has been since she was built and as she +always will be, I fear. And this brings me to the vessel herself and +how she came to be mine.</p> + +<p>“Apart from fiction, only one vessel in the history of the world has +ever actually sailed into the limitless space outside the earth’s +atmosphere, and that one is the stately <i>Regina</i>, which has been +unapproachable since the death of the last-surviving inventor, Jervis +Meredith, and the secret of her power to overcome gravity died with +him. It is not necessary for me to tell you the details of this, as you +know them, so I will pass on to later things, for I have already gone +over well-known ground at too great a length, and time is flying.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind that, Oakland,” exclaimed Ross, deeply interested, +“proceed”; and Gilbert followed—“It is all so different, somehow, +coming from you; there is a personal note in it which is far better +than history, so tell us all you know, as though we were ignorant of +the whole matter.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, do!” begged Ross, and Dennis took up his story.</p> + +<p>“Since the time when the <i>Regina</i> made her first serious voyage +to the dog-star Sirius, and brought back the planetoid to the +consternation of the whole earth, and then, shooting the planet back +into space, sent it within the orbit of Jupiter, she had made many +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span>voyages; but you will recall that the secret of the power to overcome +gravity and successfully to manipulate the vessel was committed to +writing and placed in the <i>Regina’s</i> safe previously to that first +long voyage recorded by my ancestor, ages ago. This document was never +disturbed, as the details were firmly fixed in the minds of the two +inventors, Fraser Burnley and Jervis Meredith, who never divulged the +secrets.</p> + +<p>“These two friends willed their whole interest in the vessel to +the survivor of them absolutely, and it is a matter of history how +Meredith, my ancestor, became the sole owner. Another long voyage had +been arranged—the seventh or eighth since that to Sirius—and both +went to the shed where the magnificent silver-like Queen was housed, +in order to enter for the voyage. Behind them followed the crew and +a number of other people, for the public had been admitted. Fraser +Burnley opened the door, and at the moving of a switch the great +roof slid aside. Evidently forgetting the current was still on, he +impulsively jumped on the ladder and that instant he was annihilated, +even before the cry of warning could form itself on Meredith’s lips.</p> + +<p>“Every one round the great doorway saw him, in the twinkling of an +eyelid, de-atomise into vapour and vanish. Not a trace of him was left; +he was completely volatilised.</p> + +<p>“Of course the journey was postponed; later on, Meredith, now the sole +owner and the only living person who knew the secret, made another and +many subsequent ascents.</p> + +<p>“As age advanced, he felt unequal to the strain such voyages entailed, +falling as it did on him alone—and he would not take any one, even his +son, into his confidence—so he decided to make no more journeys until +he became a little stronger; therefore he housed the <i>Regina</i> +in her shed with all the fittings intact, also placing around it the +well-known protective current <span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span>of de-atomising force. In the hope of +wooing health and strength to return to him, he spent his days in +quietly studying, with the strange scientific instruments brought from +various worlds, the forces of nature on earth and the limitless space +beyond. However, instead of growing stronger, as he had anticipated, he +became gradually weaker, and less and less able to bear any excitement, +but still he would not give in, trying heroically to defy the old age +which was slowly and surely drawing him to his long home.</p> + +<p>“At last he felt the unmistakable grip of the kind and friendly hand +upon his heart-strings, gently deadening their vibration, so he thought +he would like to take one last voyage to glorious Venus, his favourite +planet, to which he often went for short visits, and die there; so +he called his son Dennis, after whom I am named, and told him of his +intentions.</p> + +<p>“‘But you cannot work the <i>Regina</i>, father!’ remonstrated his son.</p> + +<p>“‘No, Dennis, I cannot, but you can and shall. Carry me to the shed +and I will tell you what to do to board her, and how the gravity is +overcome, and how to guide her safely, for we’ll go up together; you +the head this time, and instead of being under my care, my lad, I must +come under yours, for I know you’ll look after your feeble old father, +as I have looked after you. And promise me, Dennis, my son, on your +word of honour, that come what may you will never divulge the secret of +the <i>Regina</i> to any living soul unless your end is near, and then +only to prevent its being lost.’</p> + +<p>“‘I promise, father!’ replied Dennis, much overcome.</p> + +<p>“‘Thanks, my boy, thanks!’ his father uttered, feebly. ‘Now move me +gently, for I am very weak, Denny, very weak; your father’s on his +last legs!’ and he held out his hand to his son; but before Dennis +could grasp it he exclaimed,—‘Oh, Dennis, Denny, my dear, dear boy, I +am dying. Stoop down and I’ll tell <span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span>you how to get on the vessel. All +details are in the safe and if ... all is so dark, Denny, and I am so +very cold ... closer ... closer ... Dennis, where are you?’</p> + +<p>“‘I am here, father dear!’ cried his son, brokenly and in tears. ‘I am +close beside you.’ And he took his father’s hand in his own and came +very close. ‘See, I am here.’</p> + +<p>“‘Thank you, Denny. Don’t leave me.’</p> + +<p>“‘No, father, I am close beside you.’</p> + +<p>“By this time the dying man’s voice was scarcely a whisper. ‘Denny’—and +there was a painful silence—‘Denny, when ... you ... open ... the shed +door ... you ... must ...’—and with this effort his voice failed; +then he gave a faint sigh and fell back dead, and the secrets of the +<i>Regina</i> were lost.</p> + +<p>“Dennis spent all the rest of his life trying to solve the mystery, +and his son did the same, and for generations my ancestors have made +electricity their life’s study, as I have made it mine, in the hope of +elucidating the mysterious force that could defy time and the elements, +even the blasting force of lightning—for many and many a time have +I and other people, too, seen the vessel struck by lightning which +has devastated the shed, but the flash has been met by an answering +flash from the vessel; and often have the whole forces of heaven’s +electricity been drawn to the magnificent ship, and there has started +from the <i>Regina’s</i> sides a series of incessant flashes—curtains +of blinding flame—and her silver sides have seemed to ripple electric +fluid, in sparkles and drops of rainbow-coloured fire, like the +dripping of water from a salmon leaping through a sunbeam. And in the +very centre of the storm the brave vessel has seemed to enjoy the +uproar; wave after wave of crackling lightning pouring over her in a +flood of livid fire, awful to see, and, always victorious and unharmed, +she seems to take on her whole surface a smile of derision at nature’s +puny <span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span>and childish attempts at injury. So has she stood through all +the years; defying time, apparently defying eternity, and not even her +timber supports affected or disturbed.</p> + +<p>“Time after time have the authorities in succeeding generations made +determined attempts to blow her up, notwithstanding the fact that she +is private property, but all to no purpose. No one knows how many +times the walls of the shed have been rebuilt, for storms, dynamite, +gun-cotton, rystosol, scores of other explosives, lightning and what +not, have levelled them to the ground, too often for record, but she +still remains perfect as when last used and altogether unapproachable +by person or thing. In her safe lies the greatest secret the earth has +ever known, the secret that can play with gravity, and yet it is as far +out of our reach as is the most distant star.”</p> + +<p>Here Dennis paused a moment to select a fresh cigar, but his listeners +were too deeply interested to say a word which might break the thread +of his story, so he resumed,—</p> + +<p>“Until this annihilating force can be cut off, any thing or person +brought within twelve inches of any part of the vessel’s surface or +projections is volatilised. As I have said, my ancestors have devoted +their lives to the subject, and after all these years of toil and +enormous expense, the mystery is as impenetrable to human minds as is +the occupation of the dead—and yet what wonders have been, and still +could be, opened out if this secret could but be found!</p> + +<p>“In weird and awful majesty the <i>Regina</i> rests on her +blocks—impregnable, unapproachable, indestructible; and so she can +remain so long as this world lasts, aye, to all eternity! Although +within sight and touch, nothing has been known to pass the protecting +current. The shed has to be kept well secured lest any one should +inadvertently enter within this invisible zone, and enter eternity at +the same moment.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span></p> + +<p>Here Dennis paused, and Gilbert asked: “What has been done recently—say +in your father’s time?”</p> + +<p>“My father spent all his life in trying to find some switch or other +controlling force, without success.”</p> + +<p>“But there must be some wire or secret switch near the door, or the +inventors could not have controlled it,” argued Ross.</p> + +<p>“And it must have been a very secret switch, or they would not have +gone into the shed intending to use it before all the people,” urged +Gilbert, “else the vessel would not be safe if the source of its +control were known.”</p> + +<p>“So it was thought,” answered Dennis, “and my father, when I was a +youth, gradually took down the whole of the wall, piece by piece, in +the hope of finding some wires, but nothing was seen, and I myself have +done the same thing with a like result.”</p> + +<p>“Have you tried the floor?” inquired Ross.</p> + +<p>“Yes, certainly, that has been up, too,” replied Dennis.</p> + +<p>“Have you gone deep? Have you tried tunnelling under the vessel?” asked +Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and a remarkable thing happened,” said Dennis. “The floor and +foundations of the walls can be taken up and have been up many a time. +I dug down to a great depth, leaving that portion on which the vessel +rests and plenty all round it, so that she should not fall, going +so deep that she stood as on a monument. Nothing resulting, I felt +desperate and told the men to tunnel underneath and blow the lower +rock and earth away from below, so that she should topple over. They +blew all the earth away, but she would not come down, nor did she move +so much as a hair’s-breadth—her gravity and that of the earth were +in equilibrium. There she remained, suspended in air, resting on her +blocks, with a foot or so of earth below them, and a pick, or indeed +anything else, brought within a foot of the earth below the blocks, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span>or +the vessel, over or beneath, was at once rendered vaporous. The whole +thing was so uncanny that it was months before I could get the pit +filled in and then I had to pay well. So far I have spent the best part +of my life over the problem and have failed, so I built up the shed as +before, fastened it securely, and I do no more!”</p> + +<p>“That is a pity!” said Ross, musingly.</p> + +<p>“Why should I spend all my substance on what cannot be discovered? For +years many of the first electricians and scientists of the day have +spent thousands on her and all to no purpose; all in turn have had to +acknowledge themselves beaten.”</p> + +<p>“It need not cost you anything, you know, for the Government gives +grants for such things,” remarked Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“No, thank you, Eastern,” replied Dennis, decisively. “You will recall +that my much-esteemed ancestor and his friend obtained a warrant signed +by his Most Gracious Majesty, King Edward VII., by which they retained +the right of keeping the secret unmolested for ever. Now, if I received +any Government aid, I should forfeit my right—or it would be forfeited +if some Government-paid scientists found it out. They could not in +fairness refuse to tell those who had financed them, nor could I under +similar circumstances. No, my people have always paid for everything +and so do I. I am not going to run any risks of the Government getting +hold of my ship, notwithstanding my love for science.”</p> + +<p>“Would you mind if I try?” asked Ross.</p> + +<p>“Would I mind?” repeated Dennis, highly pleased. “I should be +delighted! Only I must make this stipulation, that if you succeed you +tell no one except me.”</p> + +<p>“Not our friend Eastern, here?”</p> + +<p>“We’ll see about that later,” replied Dennis, laughing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span></p> + +<p>“Oakland,” exclaimed Ross, earnestly, “I promise you faithfully that I +will reserve nothing from you that I may discover, and all from every +other soul so long as I live; if any one else is to know, you shall +tell them. I am deeply interested in this, for it is a matter after my +own heart.”</p> + +<p>“Then commence when you like and I will pay for all that is necessary,” +responded Dennis. “When can you start?”</p> + +<p>“At your convenience, Oakland,” answered Ross, aglow with zeal.</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll make a beginning to-morrow. Both of you come over to +Derwent and we’ll go into the matter. And now we must be off; we have +talked Bona to her setting and old Sol is just rising.”</p> + +<p>The trio of new-formed friends then entered their respective vessels, +and a few minutes later three airships were swiftly flying to England +and home.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_II">CHAPTER II<br> +<span class="large">THE <i>REGINA</i> GIVES UP HER SECRET</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“And now I will unclasp a secret book,</div> + <div class="i1">And to your quick-conceiving discontent,</div> + <div class="i1">I’ll read you matter deep and dangerous.”</div> + <div class="attrib">(<span class="smcap">Shakespeare.</span>)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The day following, the three friends met at Dennis’s home, and at once +proceeded to the shed in which the stately <i>Regina</i> was housed. On +entering, Dennis moved a switch and a revolving steel shutter slowly +descended from before one side of the shed, the whole of which was +lined with thick glass; at another movement a similar shutter slid from +above the glass roof, and a third movement caused this roof to fold +itself up and slide aside, leaving the top open to the sky throughout +its entire length.</p> + +<p>Both the visitors uttered an exclamation of delight at sight of the +stately vessel, the lines of which sent them into raptures of pleasure +and wonderment.</p> + +<p>“You are a lucky dog, Oakland, to have a creature like that all your +own!” said Gilbert, enthusiastically. “What is the material?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” replied Dennis; “no one knows beyond that it is some +untarnishable alloy, probably from the fact that no one can examine it. +See, I throw this hammer at it and you will see it de-atomise,” saying +which, with a fine disregard of tools, he lifted up a heavy steel +hammer and flung it at the vessel, but when it came within about a foot +of the side it suddenly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span>vanished and there appeared a little puff of +faint, thin vapour—the gaseous atoms of the missile—which became mixed +with and lost in the air of the shed.</p> + +<p>“There’s an enormous force there,” observed Ross, amazed. “What +generates it? Batteries?”</p> + +<p>“No one knows,” answered Dennis, “that is one of the mysteries. If it +came from the engines or dynamos on the vessel, they would have been +run out or worn out ages ago; we should also hear motion of some kind, +but you will notice everything is silent as the grave. Listen!” and +they all remained mute and motionless for a few minutes, but not a +sound disturbed the vault-like quietude.</p> + +<p>“Batteries would be equally out of the question,” remarked Gilbert; +“apart from the quantity needed to give a constant current of that +strength, they would require recharging and replenishing, and perpetual +motion has not yet been discovered.”</p> + +<p>“That is so,” agreed Ross. “I think we must seek some other cause, +some means by which the force is spontaneously extracted from the air +or earth around. You know our airships have no engines to drive the +motors; we gather the necessary power for this direct from the air by +the aid of certain metals which, when alloyed in given proportions, +attract electricity to any desired volume and under perfect control, +and I think some such force is here. Have you tried any of the active +metals?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, all; everything!” replied Dennis. “She is a strange anomaly; she +has engines and motors which are necessary for her flight in some way, +and yet there is a continuous current, as you see, which apparently +comes from nowhere. And one would think that if such a force is +self-generating, engines and motors would not be necessary. The whole +thing is a mystery; especially when you consider that one might almost +imagine her to be alive, or that some demon is on board who manipulates +the forces, for if any electric energy <span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span>or metal comes in her vicinity, +she seems to get her blessed temper up and literally fights. At the +mere approach she crackles all over and throws out sparks of fire and +lightning that have more than once blasted the shed to the ground, +and everything has had to be strongly insulated, or there would be +an electric storm;” and Dennis drew their attention to the building, +saying, “You will notice all the tools are insulated and the whole +interior of the shed lined with sheets of thick glass cemented +together, the masonry and shutters being on the outside.”</p> + +<p>After examining the building, Gilbert remarked,— “You mentioned last +night, Oakland, that the gravity of the ship and the earth were equal; +consequently she possesses no weight and could be floated off. Have you +tried strong blasts of air? Theoretically, a breath would waft her.”</p> + +<p>“I have had fans and blowers, but the strange force around her stops +everything. I have even made fires underneath, thinking to sink her +by rarefying the air (and so causing her to settle as the air became +thinner), but she did not move. It is exasperating when one knows she +would divulge everything if one could but get aboard. She is also such +a source of danger and terrible care to have on one’s mind, that if you +cannot win her it is possible you may find some means of destroying +her; I really don’t mind which! But there she stands in the most +aggravating fashion, quietly defying everything and everybody,” and +Dennis’s annoyance was evident and excusable.</p> + +<p>“As you say, Oakland,” remarked Ross, “she’s a tough nut to crack, full +of apparent anomalies and impossibilities and, while uncontrolled, +dangerous in the extreme. Have you tried to register the strength of +the current?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but it is unregisterable. Nothing, no matter how strongly +insulated, can pass the zone, in which there is no demarcation. The +dial shows no current <span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span>at all till it reaches the protecting belt, +not even when moved by micrometer screws working in gear, and there +is a point when nothing is recorded; the next turn forward, even of a +two-millionth of an inch, and the whole apparatus is vapour. I have +used some scores in this way, but these are expensive experiments.</p> + +<p>“I have thought several times of encasing myself in an exceedingly +effective insulating suit and making a dash for the ladder, or dropping +on deck from above, for then I might get below to the safe, but when +I tested the suit first, filled with sawdust, by dropping it from the +roof, it never reached the deck but became vapour, so I was glad I had +experimented with a dummy.”</p> + +<p>“Not a bad way of getting rid of rubbish,” said Ross, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but a little too dangerous,” replied Dennis, “especially if it +had been me instead of the sawdust,” and he laughed boisterously, when, +seeing the others looked slightly mystified, he stopped abruptly and +continued soberly,—“Do you think, Ainley, that you could do anything to +crack this nut if Eastern helped you?”</p> + +<p>“We will try,” Ross replied, speaking also for his friend. “The secrets +of the pyramids and the sphinx have been laid bare, and maybe this +beautiful creature shall float again,” and his voice took upon itself +a more serious tone as he continued,—“Oakland, it is often said that +the whole current of lives and destinies of persons and countries may +be changed in a moment as if by chance, and, with your permission, we, +Gilbert and I, for we talked it over last night after you left us, will +give up our present work and devote the rest of our lives if need be to +cut this Gordian knot, and if we fail, we may pave the way for others +to bring this treasure under control again.”</p> + +<p>Before Dennis could reply, Gilbert said, eagerly, “I will stand by my +friend Ross and you, Oakland, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span>in this work all my life, if I may, and +if we do not succeed we can die at our unfinished work!”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, my friends!” responded Dennis, somewhat overcome; “you +shall not regret it. Let it be so. I had not intended spending another +moment on her, but your enthusiastic devotion to science has warmed my +blood, and from this moment I will work with you and we will all devote +our lives to this one object, whether it demands little or the whole of +them, and our interests shall be united.”</p> + +<p>All were deeply moved, and the whole of that and many subsequent days +were taken up in going through papers and books containing particulars +of the work done in previous years. Ever since the death of the +first Jervis Meredith, the succeeding generations had recorded all +the details of their work, and had dealt with the problem in such a +masterly manner as appeared to leave nothing to be tried that had +not been done already. After the three had gone through everything +together, weighing each step of progress carefully, the enigma became +more and more puzzling. For weeks they spent every moment working and +discussing, bringing all the latest science to bear on the previous +work; and month followed month till at the end of two years they had to +acknowledge themselves hopelessly vanquished, for there seemed nothing +more to try.</p> + +<p>During this time several storms had occurred in the neighbourhood, and +they had witnessed the whole interior of the shed, to the insulating +glass casing, as one mass of awful lightning and electric discharge, +which had left the vessel serenely victorious. In one storm they were +watching through glasses at a safe distance, the peculiar form the +discharges took gave them an idea upon which they acted, after careful +discussion together.</p> + +<p>Two months later the solution seemed solved; but was it?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span></p> + +<p>Like three schoolboys they approached the airship in great trepidation; +up to a few minutes previously, for centuries everything brought +near its surface had been instantly volatilised, irrespective of +its substance and chemical composition; and in the first flush of +excitement, they had joyfully flung their hats at the ship and they had +struck the hitherto defiant Queen, now docile and manageable again, +for the hats were resting on the supporting stage on which they had +fallen—the first time for centuries that anything had passed that +awful zone of destruction. Would <i>they</i> pass, or become vaporous? +Dennis insisted on being the first to venture, saying he could not +allow others to do that from which he shrank, and amidst great emotion +he grasped sleeves with both his friends, bade them good-bye, and +one second later he was standing on the ladder top, where no living +creature had expected to tread. The instant the anxious watchers saw +Dennis touch the ladder they rushed for it and ran up like a couple of +monkeys, reaching the platform almost as soon as he, and tingling with +excited enthusiasm, the three passed through the vessel to the safe.</p> + +<p>Dennis knew from his papers where the keys were, and unlocking the +desk drawer, the key of which had been handed down to him through the +past generations as a sacred heirloom, he obtained the <i>Regina’s</i> +safe-keys, and soon the sheets of drawings and details were lying on +the table, all three almost devouring them in their eagerness, for +now the greatest secret of the world was about to be disclosed. Their +scientific matter-of-factness gave place to boyish and exuberant +delight which could not be repressed. They took the precaution to +reconstruct the protecting force to prevent intrusion—although the shed +had been locked before putting their discovery to the test—and then +they became so absorbed in the study of the minute descriptions of the +mechanism and forces now at their disposal that twelve hours passed +unheeded.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span></p> + +<p>“This is stupendous!” at length exclaimed Gilbert. “There is enough +force here to destroy the world! And now we have gone through +everything and know the principle, it is easy enough to work it +blindfold, almost. But what’s the matter?” he asked, looking at Dennis, +who stood perfectly still, listening.</p> + +<p>“I fancied I heard voices in the shed,” he replied, “but I am sure we +locked the door, I went back to see.”</p> + +<p>“It would be awkward if any one came too near the ship,” said Ross; +“although every one knows the danger. I’ll just look outside.” He +stepped up to the observatory and was astonished to find the door down +and the shed crowded with people.</p> + +<p>Calling the others up, the three stood and watched, and, gently opening +the door a mere chink, they heard every word spoken below.</p> + +<p>The crowd was greatly excited, and one man, Richard Howett, the chief +personage in the town, said,—</p> + +<p>“My friends, it is with extreme regret that we learn of the deaths of +our townsman, Dennis Oakland, and his two friends, Ross Ainley and +Gilbert Eastern, all men of high standing and renown. It needs no proof +to convince us that they have shared the fate of all the foolhardy +people who previously have ventured too near this magnificent but fatal +vessel, for they were seen to be working here yesterday and have not +returned. The door was locked on the inside and you see there are no +hiding-places, and they could not return except by means of the door +which we have just broken down, so that the calamitous fate they have +met is most deplorable.”</p> + +<p>Here the three listeners chuckled, unconscious of which the speaker +continued,—“As soon as the news of a possible disaster reached me, I +obtained the permission of the authorities to break open the place and +blow up the vessel, as a danger and menace no longer to be tolerated.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span></p> + +<p>“That has been tried many a time, and no explosive has ever been able +to touch it,” objected some one in the crowd. “When I worked for Dennis +Oakland, some five or six years ago, he himself tried to blow up the +ship, but he only brought the shed down.”</p> + +<p>“What explosive did he use?” asked the first speaker.</p> + +<p>“We bored under the ship and he used rystosol, which blew the whole +place down and the foundations also, but the vessel stayed where she +was, hanging on air, and none of us would work at it again.”</p> + +<p>“That is strange; nothing has ever been known to withstand it. However, +we will try a very heavy charge. All of you except three volunteers go +outside to a safe distance.”</p> + +<p>As they made a movement for the door, and about twenty volunteers +stepped forward instead of the three asked for, Dennis, remembering one +of the early experiments of his ancestor, told his friends to look out +for some fun and instantly altered the de-atomising force to one of +protection only, so that any one touching the vessel would receive an +electric shock of sufficient strength to teach him caution, but not to +prove injurious. He then moved a switch, gently at first, as he was not +sure if the power really was as much under control as the instructions +stated. Very slowly all the people in the shed became lighter; one man, +his former workman, taking a stride towards Richard Howett, stepped +right over his head, landing with one foot on the <i>Regina’s</i> outer +deck. With a yell of fright he slid down her sloping sides, but long +before he could reach the ground he was so light as to be floating +about like a butterfly. In a panic the whole company made a dash for +the doorway, but ere they could reach it Dennis made them sufficiently +light to float about in the room a few feet above, their vain efforts +to jerk themselves downwards low enough to pass out causing them to +look like living corks bobbing up and down in <span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span>water, and to the +three watchers it was indescribably funny to see the consternation +on the faces of the floating citizens, who could not comprehend the +situation. After they had taken the edge off their mirth, the three all +stepped on the outer deck, which they insulated—for any part of the +vessel and surroundings could be insulated or brought in circuit at +will—and the sudden sight of the supposed victims in the very zone of +death caused several of the floating people to give an exclamation of +terror, thinking they were spirits. Dennis saw this and addressed them, +tragically,—</p> + +<p>“Ye floating spirits, what would ye! Come ye to this abode of death +to attend our apotheosis? Why come ye to disturb our repose?—Gently, +gently, my friends!” he interjected, as he wafted off, with a wave of +his hand, a few of the people who were drawn towards him with the air +disturbed by his movements. Then the laughter of his two companions +broke the spell, and many of the people laughed and cried, for all were +hysterical and frightened, and some called on him in terror to spare +their lives.</p> + +<p>“We’ve gone far enough, Dennis!” remonstrated Gilbert. “Let them down +gently, or they’ll faint with fear!”</p> + +<p>Wafting and blowing away a few more who came too close, Dennis resumed, +this time speaking in his usual tones,—</p> + +<p>“My friends, do not be alarmed! We are not ghosts, but real flesh +and blood and very much alive—excuse me!”—as he blew off a couple +clinging together for protection. “My friends and I have discovered +the long-lost secret of my ship, the <i>Regina</i>, now <i>our</i> +ship, for my two friends, Ross Ainley and Gilbert Eastern, join me in +the ownership from this moment, and in order to prove to you that we +really have found the secrets, the chief of which is the one and only +scientific method of adding to and overcoming or <span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span>depriving of gravity, +we thought we could not do better than give you an actual demonstration +of the fact, in return for your kindness in breaking down my door—our +door, I should say—in order to favour us with this visit, the object of +which is now frustrated, though you may be sure we appreciate your good +intentions none the less. You will perceive—pardon me!” as he sent a +few more away with a wave of his hand—“you will perceive that you have +been made lighter, and were it not for the retaining walls of the shed, +you would float away and for ever remain as far off the ground as you +are now, and if weighted down you would inevitably rise on the weight +being removed; also if you were made lighter still you would float +upwards through the roof. For some reasons this would be an advantage, +for in this age of aërial navigation it would be pleasant to know that +in case of disaster you could never come crashing to earth, but would +only fall through the air till you arrived at your equilibrium, or +correct specific gravity, and the lower air would make your descent +like that of a high diver in water, and you would have always a deep, +soft cushion of air to fall upon on which you could take no hurt. Some +of you, however, have business on the ground, and as some sage once +suggested, if the ground will not come to you, you must perforce come +to the ground—steady!”—as another citizen floated too near. “I notice +several of you have already lost your tempers, which is bad for the +nerves; you see we are quite placid and cool, though you have damaged +much of our property, and had we not appeared in time, you would have +blown the whole building to dust. For this you must forgive our joke; +we do not bear malice, neither must you, and those who are not prepared +to take this as a jest—and you can see it is perfectly harmless—I +propose to float upwards just within the walls, with their heads only +above the top till they are willing to see it in that light. I see +several are looking <span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span>alarmed, but I can assure all those who want to +go up that they will come to no hurt; they cannot fall, and will be so +light that they could not injure themselves, even wilfully, by bumping +against the walls. To those who are convinced of the <i>Regina’s</i> +power, we will restore their former weight, and after we have had an +hour to prepare the vessel, they shall be conducted by us through the +ship, where no foot has trodden for centuries till yesterday, and they +will see that after this lapse of time everything is as perfect and +dustless as if just new, for the protecting force that has caused the +death of several people has preserved the vessel from damp, heat, and +even dust. We want that hour to cord the way, for the mechanism cannot +be shown you and whoever goes beyond the cords will pay the penalty +with his life. We do not anticipate throwing the vessel open to general +inspection again and you only shall have this privilege. Now, all who +desire to forgive and forget, please raise a hand!” Dennis looked +round and proceeded: “I am much pleased to see there is not a single +dissentient, and that smiles have replaced frowns. In a few seconds’ +time you will be restored to your personal comfort and weight.” Here +Dennis nodded to Gilbert, who entered the vessel and slowly removed the +switch back to zero; as gradually did the people fall.</p> + +<p>When they knew there was no danger and that they had not been suddenly +transformed into angels—which many had often expressed a desire to +become—they could see the humorous side; who could not? for who +could remain serious and see sixty or seventy people of all ages and +conditions bobbing up and down light as feathers, actually blowing one +another away? Even before they reached the ground tears of laughter +were on all faces as they struggled to congratulate the three owners, +in the best of good humour. After the preparation they went round +the vessel and saw what even in that enlightened age were hitherto +inconceivable <span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span>wonders, and finally the vessel was cleared, the outside +protected as before, in proof of which several missiles were hurled +within the zone and all present saw them vaporised. Willing hands +helped to fix up the door as before, and the shed was closed and locked +securely to shelter the gigantic Queen, still a deadly enigma to all +in the world except three persons, but to them a kind and gracious +mistress, ready and willing at any moment to do their bidding and to +carry them to the utmost confines of creation, to open out wonders and +mysteries hitherto beyond mortal ken.</p> + +<p>Weary as they were, they sat talking the matter over for several hours, +and then retired to rest, feeling that life was indeed worth living and +work a blessed privilege.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, the instant the people had got outside the shed news +began to travel far and fast; before nightfall it was telepathed all +over the world, and airships by scores came to Derwent; the sky was +full of them, almost every stratum of atmosphere having hundreds of +ships jostling one another, each hoping to catch a glimpse of their +wonderful rival; but the <i>Regina</i>, in her protected and armoured +shed, was safe from all observation and theft. The door, which had only +been partially fastened when the crowd broke in, was now thoroughly +secure and in electric circuit.</p> + +<p>Twice the same night Dennis’s house was broken into and the three +friends were roused by the alarms, which at the same time frightened +the would-be thieves, who no doubt thought the papers might have been +brought away for examination, notwithstanding the self-evident fact +that no place in the world could be more secure than the <i>Regina</i> +safe.</p> + +<p>The following day a deputation from the Government with the State +authority and seal waited upon Dennis and asked for the <i>Regina</i> +and her secrets to be <span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span>handed over to the Government. On this being +refused, they demanded it, then threatened, trying to bluster the +secrets out of the discoverers by force and threats, but at every +outburst they were referred to and shown a copy of the warrant of +absolute protection granted by H.M. King Edward VII., of blessed +memory, and his Parliament, centuries before. Eventually the deputation +had to return foiled, for not even the Government could go beyond that +warrant.</p> + +<p>Untold wealth and high positions were offered, but what is wealth +when all have enough and none can be oppressed? No, the <i>Regina</i> +should not be bought, she was too precious to be sold; she should be +the sweet, lovely and gracious Queen to the end, and <i>give</i> her +power for the cause of science, for the good of the whole human race; +she should benefit the people and lead them to the contemplation of +higher and nobler things, and be really and truly in everything their +Queen—not for any personal gain to her supporters, but to unfold +before all men, as only she could, the wonders of creation which would +otherwise be hidden.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_III">CHAPTER III<br> +<span class="large"><i>VOX POPULI</i></span></h2> +</div> + +<blockquote> +<p class="mb0">“In my morning’s walk I culled a handful of flowers, some with +thorns, which I found made the smooth stalks easier to carry.”</p> + +<div class="right smcap">(Giranoli.)</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>From time immemorial it has been the custom to celebrate every special +occasion with a more or less gorgeous feast, at which, especially from +the eighteenth to the twentieth century, men drank to intoxication, and +not only those who had over-indulged but the majority of those who were +sober, were not considered sociable or properly educated if they could +not narrate coarse, trivial and lewd stories, and turn every innocent +expression to obscenity during the whole course of the evening; but in +these times, when everything is chemically made and repasts partaken +of under hygienic conditions both as regards morals and intellect, the +food is wholesome and sustaining, and the conversation, instead of +leaving a sear on the minds of those obliged to sit and listen to it, +is good and elevating, and leaves no objectionable taste and feeling. +Thus, when Dennis, Gilbert and Ross followed the usual custom and +celebrated the discovery by a banquet, at which all the subjects of +the harmless joke in the shed were present, the gathering was a great +success and those who sat down rose again afterwards with thoughts and +lips as pure as before dining, and the event recalled <span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span>nothing but +pleasant and wholesome memories later.</p> + +<p>In all the years of the world’s history human nature has on the whole +gradually improved, but there are certain traits which are embedded +in the hearts of men and do not reflect happily on an otherwise +enlightened age. One of these quickly asserted itself. Directly +it became known that the lost secrets of the <i>Regina</i> had at +last been found, many people belittled them, and though they knew +how important was the discovery they held up the matter to the most +unseemly ridicule. Even when faced with the question of the proof in +the validity of history, they averred positively that gravity could not +be overcome; that nothing could travel through limitless space and be +under perfect human control, and because these cavillers had no part +or share in the discovery, they sneeringly declared there was neither +discovery nor honour in the resuscitation of the ship, and they had +many followers, for people are like sheep and must be led; such as +these cast slights and doubts on the honours and attainments of others +as being beneath their notice till perchance similar honours come +within their own reach, to be grasped with delight and paraded before +all men as being exclusive, difficult of attainment, and having the +hall-mark of high honour.</p> + +<p>Thus it came about that sceptics innumerable rose up and discounted all +proofs of the <i>Regina’s</i> power. No proof could be sufficiently +strong to convince them, short of making them a present of the vessel, +for which they could not very well ask though they wanted it all the +same; others also professed incredulity unless the whole of the secrets +were laid bare before them, and when this proposal was treated with +derision, they said the owners were afraid of the consequences, knowing +the matter would not bear investigation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span></p> + +<p>In former times—particularly about the nineteenth and twentieth +centuries—the British government dealt with matters so slowly that in +many cases the need for action had passed long before the decision to +act had been arrived at, and when this action was by time rendered +unnecessary or perhaps impossible, further consideration was indulged +in to countermand the previous decision, the pros and cons of which +took up so much time that when the fiat had gone forth that no action +was necessary, the time had then come round for a decisive move to be +made. All this used to please the heads of the government in those +days, for they gloried in what was then called ‘red tape,’ which was a +term understood to mean refusing to grant what was needed when wanted, +and compelling acceptance when neither wanted nor necessary. This was +the essence of parliament in times past and business of world-wide +importance would readily be put aside indefinitely, in order that some +hundreds of members could debate at length on more urgent questions, +such as “When expecting friends to tea on the Terrace, are members +compelled to take a parliamentary bath first, and are towels a suitable +costume in which to vote or entertain?”</p> + +<p>Fortunately ‘red tape’ had rolled away with the old order of things; +the government was now alive to the country’s interests, and the +officials were almost always first in the field, often before the +ordinary people had realised the necessity for action. This was proved +by the hurried meeting that was called after the discomfited deputation +had left Dennis, when one of the chief officials was deputed to go +alone, on the assumption that one might find out more and be more +confidentially treated than a deputation. Solomon Magson was therefore +selected because he was one of the smartest of officials, though he +suffered from <i>caput inflatum</i>, which is a disease especially +prevalent <span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span>amongst the young though it has been known to attack those +of maturer age, as in this case.</p> + +<p>Solomon at once called upon the friends at the shed and introduced +himself, demanding full particulars or forbidding the use of the +vessel. At this Dennis laughed derisively, saying, “My dear Solomon +Magson, as you put it that way we can only point out to you that not +all the opposition in the world could prevent it, as I will prove to +you. Will you kindly take hold of this bar?” and he handed a bar of +steel to his visitor and asked Gilbert to de-atomise it; instantly the +bar dropped like a melting candle and became a pool of liquid steel. +The visitor was visibly astonished, but remarked, loftily, “Ah, yes! +gentlemen, but that is a trick; it is, of course, steel specially +prepared for the experiment; it is very pretty!”</p> + +<p>“No, it is the ordinary best steel, as you will find if you analyse it. +Take a bottleful of it; you will notice it runs like quicksilver, but +there is this difference, that neither by heat, cold, nor anything you +can bring to bear on it will it alter and become solid again; till we +give it the power of cohesion,” said Dennis, “it will remain fluid as +water.”</p> + +<p>“You <i>say</i> so, but it is obvious I cannot test it here,” and he +gave a superior smile.</p> + +<p>“You are still unconvinced?” asked Ross.</p> + +<p>“I have seen no substantial proof as yet,” he replied; “gravity is not +affected.”</p> + +<p>“Here is another bar,” said Dennis, “we will cut this in two and make +one half light and the other heavy,” saying which the bar was broken +and the roof being open, it was placed on end, instantly to shoot up +like a rocket with a whizzing scream, to become white-hot and fall +into dust; the other portion was placed on the same spot and the +current reversed, when the bar sank into the earth like water and +vanished. Again the supercilious official smiled <span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span>and observed: “Very +entertaining, very! I see you have plenty of pretty experiments for +visitors.”</p> + +<p>“Not convinced yet?” asked Dennis, brusquely.</p> + +<p>“I fear not!” the visitor smiled.</p> + +<p>“Just stand here, please, opposite the vessel,” said Dennis, drawing +him from the end of the shed, at the same time giving a nod to Ross, +who passed up the ladder and inside. “You shall have full proof,” he +continued, as he walked away.</p> + +<p>Instantly the visitor rose like a lark half-way up the shed, when +several vessels passing in the air slowed up in curiosity, so Ross +closed the roof and steel shutters and then sent the sceptical Magson +up to the top, where he floated about gently, bobbing his head against +the glass after the manner of a gas balloon.</p> + +<p>“How dare you take such a liberty!” he cried, angrily.</p> + +<p>“You asked for proof, and you’ve got it!” replied Ross, now on the +outer deck, where Gilbert and Dennis joined him.</p> + +<p>“I will have your vessel destroyed!” Magson shouted, shaking his fist +towards them in a fury, which exertion brought his back up to the roof +and he narrowly escaped turning upside down. With a struggle, he got +the right way up again, and the effort to keep so absorbed most of his +attention.</p> + +<p>“You must see, Solomon Magson,” said Ross, “that if everything and +every living soul approached the ship, one and all could be made so +light as they came within its zone, that they would float off into +space or, if we reversed the current, so heavy that they would be +disintegrated or de-atomised into powder with the shock, and sink +through the ground. We don’t do that to you as it would kill you, +whereas we only wish to give you the positive proof you ask for, and if +we made you lighter still and opened the roof, you would continue to +rise until we had sent you out of the earth’s atmosphere, long <span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span>before +which you would be asphyxiated, as you are aware.”</p> + +<p>“Let me down, instantly!” he bellowed.</p> + +<p>“And as it is,” continued Ross, ignoring the interruption, “we have +merely altered your specific gravity by scientific means and unless +we restored it you would remain that distance from the ground all +your life; even when you were dead and your body became less buoyant, +you would have to be buried on the top of a monument, or it would be +difficult to keep you down.”</p> + +<p>“I insist on coming down!”</p> + +<p>“You do not understand me. I was trying to prove that you cannot insist +on anything.”</p> + +<p>“But I will come down!”</p> + +<p>“You still fail to grip the point of the argument,” said Ross, +imperturbably; “you cannot insist, you have no will, you are powerless.”</p> + +<p>For some minutes there was no sound save the slight tapping of Magson’s +head against the roof, as he bobbed up and down and felt his way all +round the shed, floating like a swan. Ross was quite unmoved, and his +two friends were enjoying the situation too much to make any remark, +and wondered what Ross would do next, for he was not the man to submit +to insolence. However, after waiting a few minutes he descended the +ladder and resumed his interrupted work, Dennis and Gilbert doing the +same, all apparently unconscious of their floating audience of one, who +was obtaining a splendid bird’s-eye view of everything.</p> + +<p>“Please let me down!” at length came a submissive voice from above.</p> + +<p>“That’s decidedly better!” commented Ross, stopping work and looking +upward; “and you are quite convinced that the <i>Regina</i> has some +semblance of power, and that notwithstanding your dictum?”</p> + +<p>“Perfectly!”</p> + +<p>Ross did not reply, but went inside and a few <span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span>moments later, Solomon +Magson was standing beside them, a milder and wiser man, and by +tacit consent the escapade was not alluded to, but a very different +representative of the government was now present; the new Solomon +Magson paid the three owners considerable deferential respect.</p> + +<p>“What do you intend doing?” he began; “you surely will not let such a +beautiful vessel be unused.”</p> + +<p>“By no means,” replied Gilbert, “we have already arranged a voyage +aloft.”</p> + +<p>“You will give the results to science, of course?”</p> + +<p>“That is our intention,” replied Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“Have you decided on your destination?” asked Magson.</p> + +<p>“We thought that after being unused for so long, it would be best +to take only a short voyage this time,” replied Dennis, “so we have +decided to go to Bona.”</p> + +<p>“Would it be too much for me to ask permission to be one of the party?” +inquired Magson, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“I fear it would not be possible,” said Dennis. “We shall make a few +trials in the earth’s atmosphere, but that will necessarily limit +the speed, or we should suffer from the heat of friction, but in the +journey beyond there might be danger. We cannot be sure that everything +will be in working order for rapid transit outside the atmosphere, so +we three are taking our lives in our hands and risking it, but we dare +not endanger others.”</p> + +<p>“I will gladly take my chance with you,” said the former sceptic, all +his resentment gone and now as enthusiastic as they.</p> + +<p>“We dare not,” answered Dennis.</p> + +<p>“Three are few to negotiate a vessel of this size; I should be useful,” +he persisted.</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry, but it would not be possible,” replied Dennis.</p> + +<p>Magson was deeply disappointed but accepted the decision and continued,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span></p> + +<p>“When you start you will make it known, I suppose, as many people will +follow your course with glasses.”</p> + +<p>“And many will say we have not been, but have merely hidden ourselves,” +laughed Ross, scornfully, instantly regretting having put it that +way, fearing Magson might perhaps take the remark as personal; but +the latter responded, “No doubt of that. It would be better if you +could state your course first and then by adhering to it, you would +substantiate your statements.”</p> + +<p>“We shall do that, certainly,” assented Dennis; and after a little more +conversation Magson left, feeling that his visit had not been entirely +unprofitable in that he had added to his circle of friends and also +considerably reduced the swelling in his head.</p> + +<p>The three friends discussed the projected journey at great length, +referring to the papers in the <i>Regina’s</i> safe in order to +compare the arrangements made and the stores required on the previous +expeditions, but these did not help them very materially, for since +that time many of the things taken had become obsolete, and many +improvements had been made for curtailing labour.</p> + +<p>The engines having been built for petroleum would answer for the newer +‘breezol,’ which is made from waste products and has an enormous +explosive force, with the advantage of being non-explosive and +non-inflammable under the ordinary conditions of storage. The older +compressed petroleum was taken away and cubes of ‘breezol’ substituted; +these cubes were very small, each representing one gallon, which was +equal to twelve or fourteen gallons of petroleum, and sufficient cubes +were stored to give ten years’ continuous work on all the engines, even +with extravagant use.</p> + +<p>In the cuisine of the vessel several alterations had to be made, +for cooking was now almost obsolete, so the ranges and other former +appliances and fittings were taken out to adapt the galley to the +present <span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span>wants, the modern food requiring little or no preparation, +being composed almost entirely of the chemical constituents necessary +to maintain the body in full health and vigour. Few people, therefore, +need the same kind of food, each person’s formula being in the hands +of a medical man. The doctors are responsible to the public, each +practitioner having a limited number of patients in a certain district, +in which he must reside, each person paying him an annual fee regulated +by statute. For this the doctor has to examine the person at fixed +periods, and analyse his blood when necessary in order to supply the +lacking chemicals to re-establish his health. Both doctor and patient +have their obligations; if the patient becomes worse the case can, if +desirable, be reported to a referee who, if he finds the illness is +not running its course but has been aggravated by a wrong formula, +gives the patient an order to deduct a certain amount from the doctor’s +fee. On the other hand, if the patient is at fault, by neglecting +his doctor’s orders, or by such actions on his part as tend to bring +on avoidable illness, or reduce his mental or physical strength, or +minimise his chances of recovery, or in any way make him an unhealthy +citizen, he is fined and put upon a rigid course of living till he +recovers, during which he has to pay his doctor an extra heavy fee. By +these means doctors understand their patients, who work so well with +them as a rule that serious illness is now unknown, for toxins are met +with antitoxins, and chemistry has become such a fine art that at the +first sign of failing health chemicals can be given to counteract the +illness and restore the normal conditions, and doctors can cure almost +everything short of actual dissolution.</p> + +<p>These chemicals are given in the place of food, in the form of wafers +or flexible capsules which are easily swallowed, or if actual meals are +wanted, these are supplied chiefly in various kinds of chemical <span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span>eggs, +meat, fruit, vegetables, etc., all in air-tight capsules which are only +broken just before use.</p> + +<p>All goods formerly of linen, being now made of wood pulp, very soft yet +exceedingly strong, and white, and capable of great compression, are +burnt when soiled, and three or four changes of this highly antiseptic +clothing can be carried in a small, thin, very light box in the vest +pocket. Each member of the expedition, therefore, carried his own food, +toilet and wardrobe about with him, all suited to his own particular +taste and requirements. Consequently, after getting their formulæ +corrected, our travellers-to-be laid in a store of such things as +they needed, which left much unoccupied space in the vessel. They did +not require a crew, as the vessel was now capable of being controlled +by one person if necessary, and their united knowledge was such as +to enable them to keep everything in excellent order with little +expenditure of time and labour.</p> + +<p>In this instance it was fortunate for science that none of the three +was married, or unforeseen difficulties would have arisen, for it is +doubtful if their wives would have consented to their hubbies jaunting +off to other worlds, and it is equally doubtful if they would have +accompanied their partners, in which case this story would never +have been written. Women are not the meek, down-trodden creatures +historians would have us believe they had been some decades back. Long +ago they had risen as one woman in revolt at their so-called slavery +and subjection to man. Demanding and obtaining an active part in the +government of the country they had, to some extent, lost much of that +womanliness and feminine lovableness which had formerly been considered +amongst the chief attributes and attractions of the sex.</p> + +<p>They had also so strongly resented the relinquishing of their own names +for that of the men they married <span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span>that few of them could be persuaded +to marry at all. The men, however, insisted, and sought help from the +state, and it was made an indictable offence for a woman to refuse to +marry the man she loved if he offered her marriage. Even that did not +answer, and the whole world was agitated; men became frantic whilst +women stood by, pensive, longing, loving and lovable, but resolutely +refusing to hear the voice of the charmer, charmed he never so wisely. +Finally, the difficulty was to a certain extent overcome by the men +owning that for the woman to sink her name in that of a husband on +marriage really <i>did</i> show a marked inferiority to him and was +a gross libel on the universal belief that she was in every way the +‘better half.’ From this time matters improved, and on the passing of a +special law entitling wives to retain their maiden names, a few of them +here and there were induced to marry, mostly against their will, when a +fresh difficulty arose which stopped all further marriages. The wives +declared they were the better halves, and that married couples should +be named “wife and husband”; their partners as firmly contending that +as they were by nature constituted bread-winners the expression should +be “husband and wife.”</p> + +<p>It often happens that when disputants are right, yet both at opposites, +and neither will give way, the only bridge is a compromise; so in +this case the difficulty was bridged by the husband saying “husband +and wife,” whilst the wife referred to a married couple as “wife and +husband.”</p> + +<p>This important matter settled, all went amicably, and the terms “Mrs.” +and “Mr.” were dealt with in the same manner, though these have +now fallen almost into disuse, whilst the mention of man—as a mere +man—being the “lord and master of creation,” was attended with so much +angry discussion as to have sunk into oblivion long ago. Formerly +also, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span>for ages, every newspaper and book was filled with stories of +how poor, deluded, unwilling and powerless men were dragged by women +to the altar, but for some time past the true statement of things has +prevailed—as truth always will prevail eventually—and instead, it is +painfully evident every day how deceitful men are, and how they get +women so into their toils as to marry the men out of sheer goodness of +heart, merely to put an end to their manly importunities.</p> + +<p>As our three heroes were ignorant of the joys of running in double +harness, they were reckless of their lives, no one would have them, so +what happened affected no one; they did not shrink, therefore, from +risking themselves in the <i>Regina</i>, which had already absorbed +all their affections. So one night, without any public warning, they +entered the shed, fastened the door and slid aside the roof; boarding +the vessel, they made all secure, and amidst great excitement, the +switch was moved and in uncanny obedience the vessel slowly rose.</p> + +<p>Several airships had for some days been hovering over the shed in the +hope of finding out how the vessel was manipulated, and now, as she +rose silently and steadily like some majestic thing of life, these +watching craft drew nearer, telepathing the news that the <i>Regina</i> +had at last risen as though from the dead. Quickly others approached, +but nothing was to be seen on the outside save her well-known form, +her silver-like plates glistening in the moonlight. Higher and higher +she rose, the other vessels also rising till they reached their limit +and the air became so rarefied that their vanes could no longer meet +the proper resistance. Then a strange thing happened, about which +all the people had heard and read, but which needed to be seen to +be appreciated fully; the great ship remained quite stationary, +uninfluenced by gravity. Then she came a little lower and stopped; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span>then again lower, as the owners were testing her condition.</p> + +<p>All the ships around were kept in position only by the full power of +their motors, many slowly sinking, unable to sustain the high altitude; +yet here was the <i>Regina</i> actually repeating before their very +eyes what had made her famous in history; actually playing with +gravity, silent as a bird on its nest.</p> + +<p>Throughout all creation there seems to be instilled a dread of that +which is not understood; and this awful stillness in mid-air quickly +spread a great fear and dread amongst the craft around, and the +watchers became first nervous, then alarmed and finally in a panic, +when their motors suddenly stopped and the ships slowly sank, gradually +becoming heavier till they nearly reached the earth, when each occupant +received this message, telepathed from the <i>Regina</i>: “We are +proving to you that the <i>Regina</i> can overcome gravity, and we +could force you disintegrated through the earth to your destruction. +In one minute from now, your weight will be made normal, so prepare +your vanes and motors for the plane you are now in, lest your machinery +break and you shoot upward to the plane you left on the release of +pressure.”</p> + +<p>True to promise the ships found themselves released, and most of them +sailed away to what they considered a safe distance, but they were +brought back by the <i>Regina</i>, then let go again, as her repulsive +forces were reversed and became attractive.</p> + +<p>Then the <i>Regina</i> put on her whole six search-lights, almost +blinding every one by the sudden glare, and soared upwards, shedding +long trails of light like a meteor; smaller and smaller she grew, +then vanished. Then again the light was seen in the distance and then +darkness; and again the vessel was seen travelling outside the earth’s +atmosphere like a falling star and was gone; round she came again and +then encircled the earth within the atmosphere, then traversed the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span>length and breadth of England, finally hovering over Derwent for a +few moments, lighting up the whole city with a blinding glare, and, +with her lights still on, she slowly settled into her shed. For a few +minutes the brilliant lights shot upward for miles into the sky through +the top of the building, when the roof slid over and all was hidden +from view.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the three occupants came out of the shed to be +received by crowds of curious folk who, late as it was, had been drawn +to the spot and who asked all manner of questions, and as they looked +upward they saw fast-racing airships gathering from all quarters of the +sky, their lights forming a miniature milky-way.</p> + +<p>This flight had been anticipated by the government, who had whetted +everybody’s curiosity, for with commendable business despatch, the +instant the news of the discovery became known, the whole history of +the <i>Regina</i> was set up in type and printed in pamphlet form, +the brochures being on sale within twenty-four hours, and enormous +quantities were disposed of by the government booksellers, the later +ones containing Solomon Magson’s official report, which was so +eulogistic that people purchased fresh copies and the printers could +scarcely keep up with the demand.</p> + +<p>Even before the flight, almost every child in the street knew the +story, yet to find the vessel had actually departed and was already in +space, kept people up to watch and roused those already sleeping to +excited wakefulness, for every one wanted to see the actual exploiting +of the wonder of ages.</p> + +<p>Almost overcome by their experiences, the three men of the hour made +their way with difficulty through the throng to their home, giving +instructions that none were to be admitted, for though no one could +enter the grounds by the gates, many airships had deposited their +occupants inside and all wanted to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span>have a few words, but once in the +shelter of the house, the three were safe from the crowd of inquirers.</p> + +<p>“My dear friends,” exclaimed Dennis, with much feeling, “what a lucky +day it was when we entered on this business!” and he could say no more.</p> + +<p>“What an awful power there is in that ship! It is overwhelming to think +of!” said Gilbert, fervently. “And how awe-inspiring to travel outside +this blessed earth and air, where angels are supposed to dwell. Oh! +Dennis, it is good to live and I thank you from my very soul!”</p> + +<p>“And I, too, Dennis!” concurred Ross. “I thought I should have died +with awe or fear or joy—I don’t know which it was—to see our own old +earth revolving, and the atmosphere throbbing and moving like a sea. I +can never be sufficiently thankful!”</p> + +<p>“Nor I!” agreed Dennis. “It has been the dream of my life! and to think +that generations should have been passed over and that <i>I</i> should +be the one to see the long-lost secrets laid bare. We have a good deal +to be thankful for, our present sanity even, and we ought to thank Him +who made us and all creation, for giving us the privilege of seeing +outside this wonderful world and bringing us home again in safety with +our reason unimpaired, for this last is perhaps the greatest blessing +of all!”</p> + +<p>“I feel as if I had been dreaming!” exclaimed Ross; “it is difficult to +realise that the <i>Regina</i> has really taken us so far; it is not +yet morning. How beautifully she acts! a child could work her, once the +force and switches are understood, thanks to your revered ancestor—may +his bones rest in peace—for writing all down so clearly.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” agreed Gilbert, “now we have got it at our fingers’ ends we can +keep the description in the safe where it was, for we could manipulate +her blindfold. It was a capital idea of yours, Dennis, for us to take +turns at everything, because we are able to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span>fit in anywhere in an +emergency and relieve each other.”</p> + +<p>“It is much the best, I think,” assented Dennis, “for as our interests +are now one, we are bound, in justice to ourselves and each other, +and in view of our united safety, to be able each to manage the whole +business right through.”</p> + +<p>“We must have gone through the atmosphere at a great speed,” said +Gilbert. “I tested the casing and it was not even warmed, so we are +fairly heat-proof. We will have the ship stored with food for a long +time and then sail off to Bona. Shall we risk ourselves straight there, +or have a few shorter flights first in order to get our heads a little?”</p> + +<p>“I should say, go straight away,” said Ross, eagerly. “I think we can +work her in perfect safety and she is as good and manageable a ship as +could be.”</p> + +<p>“I think so, too,” agreed Dennis, “and we are all almost childishly +anxious to go off again.”</p> + +<p>“I am, anyway!” said Ross, laughing, “so we’ll turn in and sleep the +sleep of the just, if not too tired and excited, and begin preparation +to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>With that they all retired to rest; but the experiences of the evening +had been too sensational for quiet slumber, and the following morning +each had to confess to having had but fitful sleep.</p> + +<p>The arrangements went on apace, and a few days later, the stores being +packed safely, all was ready for the flight to beautiful and beneficent +Bona.</p> + +<p>“I think it would be a good plan to use ether-wave every day, say +at six o’clock p.m., and let all our messages be sent to every +wave-apparatus on the whole earth,” said Dennis, when discussing final +arrangements.</p> + +<p>“But we shall have them all sending to us, and that would be a +nuisance,” objected Ross.</p> + +<p>“That won’t do!” replied Dennis. “We can have a set earth-time for +general news, and the instruments <span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span>so arranged that only Greenwich and +the chief government newspaper can communicate with the ship, between +which and these two points there should be facilities for news at any +time if necessary. The <i>Times</i> would therefore be able to publish +such of the special information as they and Greenwich might consider of +interest to the general public.”</p> + +<p>This being arranged, a special photograph was taken of Bona in order +that the adventurers could decide as to which portion of the planet +they should alight upon, so that their progress could be watched +from earth. After much consideration it was decided to aim straight +for the valley called the “Kidney,” because of its shape. This was +unmistakable, and according to careful calculation, the airship should +be visible in London till some time after they had landed on Bona, for +they would go straight, uninfluenced by the earth’s rotation, and thus, +providing glasses could distinguish what would in comparison be a speck +on Bona’s disc, her flight and settling might be seen by almost every +one in England.</p> + +<p>It was decided that plenty of notice should be given, so that those +who wished to note the flight should have opportunity for preparation, +and the 13th of June, fourteen days later, was fixed for the journey, +particulars being at once sent all over the world by the ship’s +wave-apparatus, the code used being that issued by the government for +universal use.</p> + +<p>By the 10th of June, air-craft began to assemble from all parts, and +large as Derwent was, the whole resources of the city were taxed to the +utmost to provide for the visitors.</p> + +<p>Most of the modern ships are, of course, adapted for remaining in +the air at various altitudes if anchored, their vanes revolving at +sufficient speed to keep them fairly stationary. The anchors are of +various forms, the more usual being attached to a flexible steel cord, +giving a fine line of enormous strength; the anchors <span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span>being small +tubes which give out their air on contact, thus instantly creating a +perfect vacuum; atmospheric pressure on the outside of the tube and an +automatic grip inside, pin the tube with very great force to the ground +or any other object on which it falls, more than sufficient to restrain +any airship from straying; a light current transmitted on the wire +moves a slide, allows air to enter the tube, and instantly the whole is +released without injury to the object on which it has been allowed to +fall.</p> + +<p>On the 12th of June, so many ships had arrived in Derwent that the +business of the city was seriously incommoded; there was scarcely a +free stratum of sky-space left for traffic, the sky was so wedged with +ships of all forms and sizes that the city beneath was completely +darkened, and scores of anchor-lines were constantly snapping by the +moving ships below cutting them, and there was heard on all sides the +twang of breaking wires, some emitting deep, sonorous tones, whilst +others gave out a shrill scream. Often would come fresh arrivals on one +of the higher planes, and on all sides the little suction-tubes were +sinking, to be pushed aside by the vigilant owners of other ships, when +they would sink still lower, perhaps to settle on another vessel, when +the tube would be immovable. If not noticed in time and the line cut, +a second later it would be drawn taut and the double strain would snap +the line of the lower ship, when both vessels would be set adrift. It +was important that some one should be momentarily alert, for tubes were +constantly descending and tubeless lines hauled up to be refitted, any +one of which might injure another craft.</p> + +<p>Below the effect was even worse, for the taut wires rose from the +ground every few feet, and in the vicinity of the shed passage between +them was impossible. Hundreds of the aëronauts descended to sleep in +the houses in Derwent and found it impossible to return <span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span>to their +ships, then too closely packed to descend, and hundreds wished to come +down but were unable to do so and had perforce to stay aloft.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 13th, all traffic in Derwent was stopped, the +lines forming such a network in the streets that passage between them +was actually dangerous, for many of the owners, in order to protect +themselves and their craft from being cast adrift, or providing +anchorage for some other vessel, had placed their lines and steel decks +in electric circuit of sufficient strength to fuse any other line +or tube touching them; and if any person below touched such a line, +certain electrocution followed, and their removal from it was equally +dangerous to those who went to their assistance, so the authorities +‘waved’ to the shed, asking for the <i>Regina</i> to be cast off, +the three friends having taken the precaution of removing there a +few days before, which was a piece of admirable forethought, or the +<i>Regina</i> could not have sailed to time, for all approach to the +shed had by then been cut off for twelve hours or more.</p> + +<p>It was just before dawn on the 13th, when the message arrived and a +few minutes later the first ‘wave’ was emitted from the <i>Regina</i>, +telling all the people that the ship would sail five minutes later. +Instantly all anchors were released and there commenced such a crush in +the air as had never been seen before and, for humanitarian reasons, +it is to be hoped will never be seen again. All rules of right of +way, passing, and air-plane laws went by the board; some powerfully +electrified vessels fused all others that touched them, throwing the +weaker vessels out of action and precipitating them on the vessels +below, which in turn were rendered impotent by the crushing weight and +broken gearing, or by being thrown in sudden contact with others by the +shock. Fortunately only two lives were lost in this dreadful crush, +but the damage was terrible; all but the most powerfully <span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span>electrified +vessels were scraped clean and smooth as unpainted ships.</p> + +<p>In four minutes came a message to clear all space above the shed; but +so tight was the pack that none could get away laterally, and many of +the ships over the shed were already at the highest altitudes to which +their engines had power to lift them, so that they were unable to go +over the others, and the lower ones, though capable of doing so were +equally unable to pass above those wedged higher; but they were soon to +see a demonstration of the <i>Regina’s</i> power which made the aërial +navigators blanch with fear, seasoned to danger as they were.</p> + +<p>Punctually to time the roof of the shed slid back, and in the dim +twilight there streamed aloft a blinding light.</p> + +<p>In these days of high-voltage electricity, brilliant lights are common +enough, but no one in that vast throng had ever seen so powerful a +glare as that which belched upwards from the shed. It lit up the keels +of the lower vessels, sending their shadows, black as pitch, for miles +into the sky, as it penetrated the higher planes where an opening +permitted, blinding everybody with its awful glare. Nothing could be +seen as yet of the source of light, which was below, and this gave the +shed the semblance of being the opening to the bottomless pit, or as +if a damper had been drawn from the flue of some awful subterranean +furnace.</p> + +<p>For a great height above the shed there lay a solid mass of airships in +a closely wedged belt. Over this living, throbbing pack, spotted with +innumerable lights like diamonds, the stars were paling for the dawn +and a faint streak of light showed itself on the eastern horizon. Below +the stratum of ships lay the country, fields and trees made blacker by +the throng of vessels above. Blackest of all was the enormous shed, the +steel-covered walls of which rose up sheer <span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span>and menacing to a great +height, but now this dark and forbidding-looking building was rendered +doubly black by the awful glare pouring out of its roof.</p> + +<p>The message to clear the way not being complied with, the people held +their breath and clutched tightly at one another, or the first thing +which gave them substantial grip, for all the ships’ motors stopped +as though magnetised, whilst the vessels remained perfectly poised +and steady, in their exact positions of the moment. Scarcely had this +been realised when it was seen that all the ships over the shed were +rising bodily, without their relative positions changing by so much as +a hair’s-breadth; becoming lighter and still lighter they rose still +higher as from a well, leaving all those outside them in a solid wall +like a shaft.</p> + +<p>Several tried to sail out and rise in the shaft to a higher plane, but +their ships were still immovable, their engines and motors unable to +make a single revolution. Those who were sufficiently near to look up +the shaft could see the vessels rise and then float aside over those of +the highest plane, leaving the shaft clear to the sky.</p> + +<p>The fact that the <i>Regina</i> had not yet appeared made this +demonstration of her power all the more eerie, for all felt that +some awful influence, more mysterious because unseen, was using the +natural force of gravity with wonderful and irresistible strength in +some simple yet secret manner, and the steady and certain way in which +the forces of nature were used made thousands of the watchers nearly +frantic to find out by what means it was done.</p> + +<p>The course clear, very slowly the glittering vessel rose above the +roof of the shed, as steadily as if on wires, and when just above the +building, the roof slid back automatically; up the shaft of ships the +<i>Regina</i> rose, sending out a light so blinding that all the people +were dazzled by it, yet they could see that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span>she had no machinery +outside, and save for a dome and an outer deck round it, her sides were +smooth and free from anything which could hinder her swift passage +through the air.</p> + +<p>Not a sound was heard from the vessel, not a tremor disturbed her +poise, as she rose gently and regally like the Queen she was. When at +the top of the shaft she paused, and in forced obedience to her silent +will, the vessels that had previously occupied the shaft re-entered +it and took up their former position exactly, their previous gravity +being restored. The instant the last vessel had floated into place, all +the ships were relieved of that mysterious tension that had stopped +all movement, and there was heard the din of the screams of hundreds +of motors, as the vessels started from where their movements had been +arrested. As those on the upper planes rose and separated to follow +the <i>Regina</i> the lower ones were set free, and sailed out of the +dangerous crush. A few minutes later the <i>Regina</i> was surrounded +by scores of inspecting ships, and as her lights were now out, her +beautiful lines were the admiration of all. Still she stood, motionless +as a dead body, so still and stately, with not a throb or tremor on +her gigantic form, that the people became awed by the uncanny silence +and the strange, mysterious power of gravity-control which she used so +perfectly.</p> + +<p>So she stood, silent and dignified, her sides dazzlingly white in the +paling twilight. Suddenly, the sun, which had not yet risen to those +on the ground below, came into view at that high altitude, and a ray +of sunlight caught the <i>Regina’s</i> dome, and that same instant, as +though it were the good-bye kiss from earth she had been waiting for, +and was now satisfied, she rose; so slowly that she had gone above +them before those around noticed it. Higher and higher she went, the +ships gradually falling back as their utmost altitudes were reached, +till at last only one <span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span>remained and watched the <i>Regina</i> mount +higher and still higher till she became a mere speck, then was lost +to view in the rapidly brightening sky, and the solitary attendant +commenced its descent. At that moment a sheet of paper fluttered down +from the <i>Regina</i> close to the ship and there remained perfectly +still, gently floating on the air as on water. Securing it they +read,—“Good-bye! good luck. Keep an eye on us if possible. This is a +souvenir of the <i>Regina</i>; may you be able to keep it!”</p> + +<p>Of course they could keep it! what an absurd thing to write about! +and it was handed round as they descended, but just as the owner was +passing it to his wife it slipped out of his hand and went fluttering +upwards, then suddenly stopped and remained floating, as before. +Elevating the vessel again they took it in and descended, and again +it floated back the instant the close grip on it was relaxed. Again +they secured it and this time took it into the cabin to examine more +closely, but it flew up to the ceiling and getting in the current of +air there, was wafted out of the window and they saw it float up to its +former position. This was most annoying, and the owner was not going +to trouble further when his wife, recalling the chief secret of the +<i>Regina</i>, suggested that the gravity of the paper had been altered +to coincide with the particular pressure of the atmosphere at which it +was found. This being the case, and his being the highest ship afloat, +it was no longer a mere slip of paper, but a precious souvenir. He +therefore rose, and just when he could rise no more he saw the paper a +few yards away, floating as before. This time he placed it under glass, +which he screwed to his table and, descending, proudly exhibited it to +his friends.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the <i>Regina</i>, once away from her audience, +increased speed rapidly, and in a few minutes was outside the earth’s +atmosphere, when she shot <span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span>forward straight at Bona, watched by +thousands of eyes; and through the most powerful telescopes she was +seen to settle down as a tiny spot of light, like a mote in sunbeam, +in the very centre of the still-luminous Bona, in the ‘heart’ of the +“Kidney.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_IV">CHAPTER IV<br> +<span class="large"><i>MUSCÆ VOMITORIÆ</i></span></h2> +</div> + +<blockquote> +<p>“I saw three insects alight ... and after careful consideration I +classed them as <i>Musca Vomitoria</i> (blue-bottle flies) ... of +exceptional size.”—<i>Insect Life.</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<p class="p2">“How is the air, Gilbert?” inquired Dennis, as Gilbert emerged from the +laboratory where he had been testing a collected sample.</p> + +<p>“Excellent,” he replied; “about the same as ours but a little drier, +though not much; it will suit us admirably.”</p> + +<p>“What about the gravity?” observed Ross, at the same time walking +across to the gravitometer. “I see it is almost the same as Earth +has now and exactly what she used to have. It measures a speed of +thirty-two feet per second of a falling substance for each second of +motion.”</p> + +<p>“That makes a unit force of half an ounce, then,” remarked Dennis.</p> + +<p>“Roughly, yes,” replied Gilbert, “about one-thirty-secondth of a pound, +so it will be rather better for us than Earth.”</p> + +<p>“Then it is no use waiting any longer, we might as well land,” said +Dennis.</p> + +<p>“Right you are!” exclaimed Gilbert, at the same time moving the +ventilator-switch and closing the artificial air apparatus. “We may +as well save our <span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span>breath,” he observed. “What about our meeting any +possible people?”</p> + +<p>“We had better be fully armed,” counselled Dennis; “and then we’ll +explore.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly, they each armed themselves with a brace of noiseless +revolvers, containing fifty needle-like capsule-shots apiece, fired by +compressed air; on striking, they flatten against the body and burst, +emitting a powerful corrosive acid which instantly bites through every +known substance to the skin, in which it at once becomes absorbed, and +in the same second the whole of the blood is solidified. No cure or +antidote has been found, and so certain is it in effect that death is +inevitable.</p> + +<p>Having made the vessel immovable and secure, they stood at the foot of +the ladder wondering which way to go. They were in a great clearing, +carpeted with beautiful green grass as even and close as if freshly +mown. On this grass were clusters of shrubs bearing reddish leaves and +brilliant yellow blossoms, the whole forming a perfect, harmonious +scheme of colour. Encircling this was a dense wood, and the visitors +could not help noticing the strange fact that though the grass was as +brilliantly green as any on Earth in spring, all other vegetation, such +as trees and shrubs, was a russet-brown, here and there tinged with +red, like the colours on Earth in autumn. Their attention was also +forcibly drawn to the grass, which on Earth grows thin and sparsely +under trees and in all places where light cannot reach it, but here +was, in such situations, as thick and velvety and as luscious as in the +open, proving that this vegetation was not so dependent on light as +that on Earth. Almost immediately they had stepped on the thick, mossy +turf they felt all their doubts needless, and there came over them a +feeling of serenity and confidence that altogether disarmed suspicion +of evil.</p> + +<p>Passing along this velvety carpet, they approached <span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span>the bordering +wood and entered its delightful shade. Here were thousands of flowers +which on Earth bloom only in certain seasons, all growing together—the +primrose, violet, daffodil, rose, chrysanthemum fuchsia, snowdrop, and +countless others in splendid profusion, giving the air a ravishing +perfume. A few yards further on was a long, untrimmed hedge of +sweetbriar, and as the breeze bore its exquisite fragrance towards +them, they could not withstand the desire to sit under its pleasant +shade, quietly to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings.</p> + +<p>From the elevation of their approach in the ship, this Bonian “Kidney” +had seemed to them an ideal place; the country waved in undulating +stretches of land and water—here a sea, there a lake, and running +between and beyond were many silver streaks of river, narrowing and +fading into seeming strands of silver wire. As they lay beside the +deliciously scented hedge, they saw beyond them a long level stretch of +grass like a well-kept lawn, ending in a glimpse of blue sea.</p> + +<p>“Let us go to the shore,” suggested Dennis; and looking round, +continued,—“isn’t this a glorious country! I feel the mild air +invigorating me so much that I glory in being alive!”</p> + +<p>“I never dreamed of anything so delightful!” exclaimed Ross, drawing in +a full breath of the sweet air, almost chewing it in his enjoyment.</p> + +<p>“Come along then!” cried Gilbert. “I feel like a boy again, and I’m +going to have a swim in that sea, if I get sharked!”</p> + +<p>Across the moorland they went, and soon came to a cliff of earth down +which they scrambled to the beach—a stretch of beautiful sands. Some +two miles distant there jutted into the sea a long, flat rock with +deep water around it; Ross pointed this out and suggested bathing from +there, so in order to get a better view they reclimbed the cliff and +walked along the edge of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span>it to the spot indicated. The walking here +was as easy and soft as on the richest carpet; the grass was thick and +mossy, and below this were several inches of peat. The cliffs were +most peculiar in shape, some sharp at the top like a long knife-edge, +others pointed like needles, and all of a soft, red sandstone. Very +soon they came to the outer edge of this promontory, which divided two +bays and ran into the sea like a long and attenuated letter V, and they +stood lost in delighted wonderment, for the coast beyond was opened +out before them in a mighty sweep; in and out the line went, bordered +with an edging of sand and rocks and seaweed and splashing, sparkling +foam from the broken waves, as if a long piece of diamond-trimmed lace +had been laid open to view. Below them, the sea had hollowed out great +basins in the rocks, forming gigantic pools of immense depth, and rocks +innumerable were scattered about, giving plain evidence of the power of +the Bonian sea. These rocks were spread open and piled upon each other, +their peculiar square shapes resembling enormous toy bricks.</p> + +<p>Full of the vigour of life and joyously exhilarated with the beauty of +the scene, the explorers raced down the cliff and bathed in one of the +pools, to their great enjoyment. After running about in the sun till +dry, they dressed and retraced their steps, but had not proceeded far +before they began to feel very uncomfortable. The sea-water had been +somewhat sticky, and though they were quite dry before they dressed, +their skin and clothing were now united, and their hair also was matted +into one solid piece like a shell, all shrinking in the sunshine to +a painful extent. Their clothing not being quite so elastic as their +skin, considerably impeded their progress, so much so as soon to stop +it altogether, and at last they could walk no more but had to tumble +down as gently as their stiffened limbs would permit.</p> + +<p>“Now we’re in for it!” groaned Dennis.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span></p> + +<p>“It’s glorious!” said Ross, ruefully. “I feel like a capsuled herring! +And here we shall be, in full view of Earth telescopes!”</p> + +<p>“I never thought of that!” exclaimed Gilbert, trying to laugh, but his +stiffened face refused to bend into a smile, and the laugh turned into +a kind of choke. “But I doubt if they will be able to pick us out, +though if they can, we shall have been giving them an entertainment to +some tune!”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid we shall have to roll down the cliff into the sea again +and stay there till this gummy stuff has softened,” said Dennis, +through his teeth, for it was next to impossible to move his lips +without cracking his skin.</p> + +<p>“And if we do, we shall be in the same state again,” mumbled Ross, +with closed mouth. “Besides, how could we swim? We should just flop +over with a smack into the mouth of the first fish that chanced to be +waiting. Oh, my nose itches terribly! Could you reach it with your +elbow, or knee, or foot, or anything, Dennis? I positively can’t bend +my arm! My limbs are held as if in a vice.” And he rolled over like a +semi-animated mummy and rubbed his face in the grass, which made him +sneeze. “I believe that’s split my face off; I felt it crack! And my +nose is worse than ever. It’s awful!” he spluttered. “How is it that +when you can’t or daren’t scratch, some inaccessible place itches and +tickles till one gets frantic?”</p> + +<p>“For the very same reason that if you forget your pocket-handkerchief, +you don’t need it till you recollect it isn’t there, and then you want +it urgently,” said Gilbert; and then suddenly,—“didn’t we pass a stream +in coming? I believe we are close by it; let us roll in and soak till +we get limp.”</p> + +<p>With that the ‘expedition’ rolled over and over painfully for a hundred +yards or so, when they got to the bank, down which they tumbled into +the narrow <span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span>and shallow stream which flowed from a spring a little +higher on the hill. Down they went, one after the other, all in line, +the head of one to the feet of the one higher, which was accomplished +with considerable pain and difficulty. Their bodies dammed up the +narrow stream, and in a short time the water was raised sufficiently +high to flow over them.</p> + +<p>“We shall soon soften now,” observed Dennis, painfully trying to +brighten up the spirits of his companions.</p> + +<p>“I hope we shall, for my only object in life just now is to kill a +beetle which is stuck on my eyebrow, and he won’t be worked off, the +brute!” exclaimed Ross, irritably. “I believe he is either plucking it +out or biting it off!”</p> + +<p>“Keep calm, old man!” said Gilbert, soothingly, “it shows his +appreciation of you, and you ought to feel flattered—Great Bona! A gnat +or something is biting my nose, and I can’t wash him off!”</p> + +<p>“Keep calm, old man!” repeated Ross, mockingly, “it shows his +appreciation!”</p> + +<p>“That’s all very well, Ross, but——” and Gilbert broke off to laugh, or +rather, he attempted to do so.</p> + +<p>With jest and banter they whiled away the time, but in the course of +about half an hour they were chilled to the bone, though they were limp +again. The first to get up was Dennis, the lowest, who, with stiffened +joints, painfully knelt, then turned round, saying, “How do you feel +now, both of—— Great Bona!” he suddenly ejaculated, at the same time +remaining with one knee in the water, as though turned to stone, his +eyes starting with astonishment, the while his two friends stared at +him in wild alarm. They did not remove their gaze from his face for an +instant, whilst he gazed at them as though bewitched. Still looking +at Dennis, Ross scrambled up and approached him, in doing which he +had to pass Gilbert, who was in the middle. In the act of passing, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span>glanced at him, then stood still, staring first at him and then at +Dennis, as if transfixed, whilst Gilbert, at sight of him, was too +surprised to make any further effort to rise, but sat where he was in +the stream-bed, the water pouring past on each side of him.</p> + +<p>“Am I mad, or are you?” blurted out Dennis. “I swear you are both as +blue as blue-bottle flies!”</p> + +<p>“I?” queried each of the others, in one breath. “You two are!”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say <i>I</i> am the colour of you two?” exclaimed Ross, +in amazement.</p> + +<p>“If <i>my</i> face is as yours,” uttered Gilbert, despairingly, “I +shall die with grief!”</p> + +<p>“Look at our hands and clothes!” exclaimed Ross, so ruefully that +Dennis burst into uncontrollable laughter, sitting back in the stream +without noticing it, his friends joining in the mirth till they could +laugh no more, and then they all stripped only to find they were dyed +from head to foot a brilliant and magnificent blue—hair, skin, nails, +as well as clothing.</p> + +<p>“Well! this <i>is</i> a glorious picnic!” laughed Dennis, boisterously.</p> + +<p>“It’s all very well to laugh,” remonstrated Ross, himself at the same +time laughing heartily, “but the honour of Britain is at stake, and if +we meet any natives here, they’ll think us humans a bright lot with +this sample before them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t! Ross,” pleaded Gilbert, holding his paining sides tightly. +“Don’t! don’t, I am sore. I can’t laugh any more, I really can’t!”</p> + +<p>“Bright lot!” gasped Dennis, in jerks, for speech was painful with +excessive laughter; “we <i>are</i> a bright lot, polished like mirrors. +For Bona’s sake tell me if my tears are blue, or if they’ve washed any +blue off my face! No? Then we are permanently and beautifully blue.” +And they had another fit of laughter.</p> + +<p>“How are we to dry ourselves?” asked Gilbert; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span>“by the time this +coating has dried we shall perhaps be stiff again.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t trouble, Gilbert, old man!” replied Dennis, airily. “We’ll +find another stream and soak ourselves red, or green, or something; one +or two colours more won’t matter much now!”</p> + +<p>“I say, you fellows, be serious!” panted Ross. “Think a bit, if you +can! Don’t you see that this is beyond a joke? If we come across any +folk here, what <i>will</i> they think of us?”</p> + +<p>By dint of each insisting on the others taking it seriously they began +to talk the matter over, and could only conclude that one of the waters +must have contained some substance similar to potassium ferrocyanide, +but non-poisonous, and the other some ingredient like a ferric +chloride, and the long immersion had precipitated prussian blue—dyed +them blue. What the substance really was they could not tell, for +though they got samples of both waters later and analysed them, they +could find no chemicals with which they were acquainted, and none of +the reagents known on Earth revealed anything in either sample except +H<sub>2</sub>O, leaving a considerable quantity of unknown substance—and always +each was harmless alone, yet when the two were mixed together, though +the water remained perfectly transparent, any substance of Earth placed +in the mixture became dyed a fast blue.</p> + +<p>“Let us get back to the ship,” said Dennis; “it is only prussian blue, +and we can get it off in the lab.”</p> + +<p>“And let us hope no natives will see us till we are ourselves again,” +rejoined Gilbert. “Ross is in a sweat about his complexion!”</p> + +<p>Laughing gaily, they made tracks for the <i>Regina’s</i> laboratory, +where their troubles would soon be at an end. After proceeding about +half-way to the vessel, they were both surprised and annoyed to see +several people step out of the wood and cross the open to meet them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span></p> + +<p>“Drat it all!” ejaculated Ross, exasperated. “Why couldn’t they have +waited a little till we had got this wretched stuff off.”</p> + +<p>“‘In for a penny, in for a pound,’ as the old saying is,” said Dennis, +laughing, but feeling much embarrassed.</p> + +<p>By this time the Bonians had met them, expressing no surprise at +sight of their visitors, whom they saluted by placing two fingers on +their foreheads. Then they talked fast and long in a language quite +unintelligible to the explorers, who themselves were not understood.</p> + +<p>“Here’s a treat!” said Gilbert; “we know about a dozen languages +between us and not a word they can understand.” Then turning to the +natives, he pointed to where the Earth was and, utterly oblivious of +the fact that talking was no use, he continued, with pointings and +energetic gesticulations, “We have come from there,” pointing to Earth, +“in that ship,” pointing to it, “to see here,” pointing downwards and +embracing the whole country with a wave of his arm, and speaking very +loudly and distinctly.</p> + +<p>Whether they thought he was mad or not is doubtful, but they drew apart +and talked together, looking in turn at the strangers and their ship. +At last one of them ran swiftly to the wood, the others still standing +silently apart, and Ross said, “Let us get into the ship and take this +stuff off, we can talk with these people after,” at the same time +stepping forward.</p> + +<p>Immediately these innocent-looking people advanced to bar the way, and +held across the path one of some curious thin rods they carried and +which the visitors thought were wood, but which were really highly +magnetic steel, for instantly the three travellers became rigid, unable +to move a limb, and experiencing all the tingling sensation of a +galvanic shock.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes they stood thus, with the rod before them held at +each end by one of the natives, when from amongst the trees came about +fifty others, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span>all similarly armed. One, evidently the chief, stepped +out and signed for the rod to be removed, and with its removal, the +power of speech and motion returned to the visitors. Gilbert, who was +a little peppery, drew his revolver, more for show than anything, +but whether his expression gave him away, or they suspected danger, +movement was again made impossible by the holding before him of one of +the rods.</p> + +<p>Again did the king, or leader, sign for the rod to be lowered, and +for the second time the strangers were free, and they were now more +cautious. It was, however, impossible to understand or be understood, +so Dennis tore a leaf out of his pocket-book, but as he could make no +visible impression on the deep blue paper by his equally blue pencil, +he pointed to the sky and drew lines on the ground to represent +the solar system, with leaves for the planets, which they at once +recognised. For as a great portion of the atmosphere is practically +devoid of particles by means of which sunlight could be reflected, the +stars and the solar system are distinctly visible in the broad daylight +on a dark sky—as is the case on Mars and on Luna. The Bonians instantly +corrected Dennis in the position of their planet, fixing the satellite +where she was at that particular moment, proving they were <i>au +fait</i> in the science of astronomy. By this means they comprehended +the situation and immediately, by signs and tokens, showed their +friendliness and laid down their weapons.</p> + +<p>The visitors also put down their arms, which excited much curiosity, +and Ross explained their action by shooting at a stone, but they were +primitive compared with the rods, which instantly stopped all movement +and rendered anything impotent; when necessary, these rods would fuse +stone and bring steel to a white heat; they were not used to take life, +for the Bonians never killed or tortured any living creature.</p> + +<p>The three visitors had forgotten about their shining <span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span>complexions, +until one of the natives pointed in comparison to his own white skin +and to the face of Ross. Poor Ross nearly died with mortification, +for he was fair and clear-skinned—that peculiar clearness which often +accompanies chestnut hair—and of all these things he was vain. It was +his only weakness, and to be suddenly recalled to fact by so personal +a reference humiliated him terribly. He tried to make them understand, +and in part succeeded by rousing their curiosity without convincing +them; so thinking he would be in good company, he, by signs, persuaded +several of them to bathe in the sea, which was not difficult, seeing +they were fond of it. Ross then managed to make them comprehend that +they had to dry in the sun, which they also did willingly enough, +little thinking of the surprise he had in store for them in the change +that was coming, for he determined they should repeat his experiences +and get blued, but he was a little disappointed to find their linen to +be still soft and not at all sticky, nor were the people stiffened in +their clothing as the visitors had been, and to the touch their hair +was still soft and loose. However, these matters were mere details and +Ross proceeded with his joke, grimly determined to blue his victims +as effectively as he and his friends were dyed. When they came to the +stream he tried to persuade them to lie still in it, in their clothing, +but they did not see this at all, and only the desire of the chief +personage to please the visitors caused them to comply with Ross’s +request, and there they stayed, minute after minute, in their clothing, +for about half an hour, at the end of which time their skins were +undyed and their linen was white as before.</p> + +<p>At last they got up and squeezed the water out of their clothing, +feeling that it was a funny sort of joke, the point of which neither +they nor their companions could see—nor could the visitors, and poor +Ross, who had run the whole entertainment, both looked and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span>felt +foolish and, if possible, bluer than ever, especially when the people +seemed to ask for an explanation of his joke and evidently considered +the strangers a true specimen of those living on Earth.</p> + +<p>It was plain the Bonians were not of the same substance as Earthy folk, +and therefore only the laboratory could restore the Terrestrians to +their personal comfort and, in Ross’s case, good looks, for the other +two didn’t mind much, not having so much to lose. So off they started +straight for the ship, like three enormous blue-bottle flies walking +upright, sans wings, with a crowd of fair, English-flesh-coloured +people in their wake. Telling them by signs that they would soon come +out again the same colour as the natives, they rushed to the laboratory +and bathed themselves first in one thing and then another, but nothing +would make the slightest impression on their blueness. They were +well and truly dyed and polished with a very fast colour, and at the +end of their exertions, with blistered, sore and cracking skin, they +had to face the fact as it stood, and trust to time to bring them to +their normal condition. Meanwhile the Bonians were free to consider +all people on Earth like the sample submitted, which was felt to be a +severe blow to England’s pride and glory as represented by the three +explorers, and to Ross in particular, for apparently never more would +his clear skin and chestnut hair be admired by any one unless they were +predisposed to take the blues.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to stay here till we pale again, that’s clear!” declared he, +emphatically. “I shall never go back to England this colour, if I never +go at all!”</p> + +<p>“And I have no ambition to be one of the first blue men on the face of +the Earth!” agreed Gilbert, ruefully.</p> + +<p>“We’ll see!” said Dennis, cheerily. “It may wear off in a day or two.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right; the people here think we are <span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</span>naturally blue, and we +cannot undeceive them, worse luck! But I am certainly not going to give +any others a sight of myself just yet!” retorted Ross, saying which he +set about preparing their simple meal, it being his turn.</p> + +<p>“We have not attempted to telepath with these people,” remarked Dennis, +after their meal. “Thought is universal and knows no language, and +we might be able to exchange ideas that way as conversation is not +possible.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly!” replied Gilbert. “We can try it anyway, and if successful +they may perhaps tell us how we can get rid of this dreadful metallic +blueness, and ease Ross’s mind. I see they are waiting for us.”</p> + +<p>The three then descended, and by telepathy they soon found a ready +means of communicating thought, and all difficulties were at an end. +Seeing their skins cracked and blistered, the Bonians gave them +some kind of ointment which, when applied, proved both soothing and +healing, and on hearing the story of their adventure at the spring, +were considerably astonished; as such a change of colour was unknown to +them, it could only come from a peculiarity in the Earthian skin and +clothing, which combined with the chemicals in the water to produce +dye, and after some little experimenting by the natives, a lotion was +made for their visitors which gradually dissolved the blue pigment on +the skin. In the course of two months desquamation commenced over the +whole surface of the body, and a week or so later, after the scales had +fallen, the travellers were flesh-coloured once more, for which they +were devoutly thankful.</p> + +<p>In the meantime they had learned enough of the new language to make +themselves understood and to understand conversation, which, added to +telepathy, made them feel very much as if with friends, as they were. +They found the Bonians much more advanced in some things than the +people of Earth, whilst in <span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</span>others they were not so capable. They were +in constant communication with Venus, Mars, and all the planets of +the solar system except Earth, which alone seemed to be cut off from +telepathic influence. Messages could be sent by all to Earth, but they +were not understood, nor had any communication ever been received from +there by any of the planets. The Bonians were unable to say definitely +where the fault lay—whether the atmosphere surrounding Earth was not +favourable to telepathic messages from and to other worlds, or if the +perceptions of the Earthians were not sufficiently sensitive to other +influences; they thought the latter, and they were probably right, for +it transpired that at the first meeting by the spring, finding speech +impossible, they had earnestly telepathed, to no purpose, and though +but a few yards distant, the desire to use transmission of thought had +not suggested itself to the visitors till several hours had been spent +on the planet, whereas the desire should have been coincident with +their own; and while the natives telepathed easily, the three visitors +could only do so with difficulty though accustomed to it on their own +world, and when the people were not actually present, the Earthians +could not telepath to them or receive their messages, proving the +inferior mental perceptions of the Earth people.</p> + +<p>It was most remarkable that no reply could come from Earth to +the Bonians, yet the three visitors could hold communication at +all times, and at the first thought it seemed to point to the +superiority of Earth, but not so when it was remembered that the +travellers were obliged to use special and elaborate ‘wave’ apparatus +in delicate sympathy with those on Earth, whereas the Bonians +and all other inhabitants of the solar system conversed by pure +telepathy—transmission of thought—alone, without instruments.</p> + +<p>Dennis and his friends determined to put Bona in direct communication +with Earth by making another <span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span>‘wave’ apparatus like their own for +the natives, and after considerable time and trouble they succeeded +and, proud of their achievement, sent the first message from actual +Bonian soil. What was their astonishment, however, to find all their +work useless, for although the messages were really sent, Earth did +not receive any of them. They could ‘wave’ from the <i>Regina</i>, +but not from the planet; and after several weeks of most assiduous +experimenting, they were compelled to abandon the project and bow to +the inevitable—Earth and Earth alone was the one outcast in the system +over which old Sol ruled.</p> + +<p>Disappointing as was the failure, it added considerably to the already +unique powers of the vessel, which, by some mysterious affinity in its +control of gravity, was alone enabled to hold communication with the +instruments on Earth, with which its own were in sympathy.</p> + +<p>“Can you tell us, positively, what was the cause of your planet’s +coming into the Earth’s orbit?” asked Dennis, <i>àpropos</i> of the +subject of gravitation which was under discussion.</p> + +<p>“We do not know exactly,” was the reply; “according to the records we +were at one time beyond the star you call Neptune. We were even then +in the solar system as we are now, but had a double orbit, one round a +subsidiary sun as one of the members of a small solar family, and the +whole system of which we were a part revolved round our present sun, +but far outside the orbit of Neptune, and altogether invisible to your +Earth. The sun round which we revolved became cold, too cold to retain +its system, and we were more closely drawn into that of the greater +sun.”</p> + +<p>“We on Earth know very little indeed of the limitless space beyond +Neptune,” said Ross; “our instruments reveal little to us beyond space +after space, and stars and more space <i>ad infinitum</i>.”</p> + +<p>“It is, of course, the same with us now,” replied the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span>Bonian, “but on +our former charts which you see here”—showing a collection—“you will +observe our original position, from which our present sun shows in the +photograph as an exceedingly fine spot—a star of the twenty-seventh +magnitude, as you would class them. Our world and its former sun +would then be quite invisible to you, as you say the limit of your +instruments is about the twenty-seventh magnitude. From the position +shown here we very slowly approached your orbit, for you will see from +these various photographs that Neptune was too far away to influence +us, as was Uranus, and we crossed the orbit of Saturn at this point, +when the planet was here”—showing the position on the map—“Jupiter was +far away here with Mars opposite—as you see—and as we were progressing +in this direction, you will notice by the position of your world in +this photograph that we were travelling straight for it, and the +voluminous records of the time state the terrible catastrophe that +seemed imminent. However, as opposing forces when equal repel one +another, we did not approach near enough to collide, and your somewhat +stronger gravity retained us, and we described a new orbit round +your Earth which does not seem to have affected our world in any way +beyond a slight alteration of the climate, to which the people became +accustomed along with the change, which was, of course, gradual.”</p> + +<p>“We supposed some such cause must have effected the approach of your +world,” said Gilbert, “and many theories have been given by Earth +scientists, but we are indeed glad to have the matter placed beyond +doubt, strange as the explanation seems.”</p> + +<p>The Bonians were so generous as to give the travellers copies of all +the photographs shown them, together with many celestial photographs +of the unthinkable space beyond Neptune, which were taken centuries +before, when the planet revolved in a different system; also a copy of +the ancient records. These constituted <span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">81</span>priceless gifts, and were of +inestimable benefit to the whole world of Earth, giving, as they did, a +verified account of the annexation by Earth of a moon.</p> + +<p>They discovered that the Bonians were highly skilled in botany, and +that they were to a great extent responsible for much of the vegetation +on the planets belonging to the present solar system, as they had been +in the previous system, and therefore the friends aptly named them +the “spirits of vegetation.” On Bona were millions and millions of +varieties of trees, plants, flowers, herbage and grasses, which they +cultivated, sending the germs of their life on ether in the form of +microscopically fine dust, which travelled to certain of the planets +in such measure and variety as the individual worlds required, where +they fell more or less abundantly as the climatic conditions were +favourable, and it devolved on the Bonians to keep the worlds supplied; +otherwise, should the seeds fail to be propagated by birds, insects, or +by other plants, the variety would then die out. Here then would seem +to originate the first germs, or the early forms of vegetable life, +and by careful guarding and cross-fertilisation they obtained endless +varieties, some suited to extremes of heat and cold. During one of +the conversations, while the explorers were watching some luxuriant +blooms which would probably, they thought, become parasites on Earth, +perhaps some new order of orchid, the question was raised as to how +some similar plants would grow—as they eventually would—on warm lava, +and the natives told them that the plants were inoculated with a grub +of a certain bug which would withstand any heat, even fire. Gilbert +and Ross appeared a little incredulous, when Dennis observed,—“That +is not so very extraordinary, if you come to think it over, for many +parasitic forms of life in flesh-meat will withstand continued cooking +and then develop in the body of the eater, which is one of the reasons, +as you know, why our food is sterilised, compressed <span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">82</span>and enclosed in +hermetically sealed and germ-proof capsules. Microbes also may be +frozen in meat and remain inactive for years, yet be full of life and +grow on the meat being thawed.”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” responded Gilbert; “now I come to think of it, Ross and +I bought a mummy to experiment with some years ago, and when we had +finished we set it on fire, and the gums and spices and seeds used in +embalming burned furiously. We then threw the ashes on the garden and a +dozen or more of the seeds took root and grew, although they were over +three thousand years old and had passed through fire, so burning does +not always destroy life.”</p> + +<p>“No, it does not,” assented Ross, “for I myself obtained plants from +some seeds which I found embedded in lava, when I was unearthing some +buried ruins. I had forgotten it for the moment.” He then sank into +silence. Shortly Dennis asked him a question, but he was thinking so +deeply that he did not hear; instead of answering he turned to a native +and asked,—“Will this microbe, or grub, or whatever it is, stand actual +fire, like hot lava, or burning gums?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” was the answer. “It is sent over to us from a certain +place in Jupiter. They cultivate it there and may give you some if you +wish it. I will inquire, but I must leave you to be alone;” saying +which he left them to transmit the message, returning shortly to say, +“I have a reply. If you go to Jupiter, and travel round the planet till +you find a large mountain with a crater like a flat cross, the people +will meet you there.”</p> + +<p>“Could you not give us some of yours?” inquired Dennis, “and so prevent +the risk of our getting wrong?”</p> + +<p>“No, you would have to get them from the animal direct and breed them +on your Earth to do any good. Ours are reared here, and would die if +they were taken away.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">83</span></p> + +<p>All were considerably excited, and determined to take a few specimens +of this extraordinary creature back to Earth as a curiosity, but in +discussing the matter, a daring scheme occurred to them which this +bug might be the means of accomplishing. The Bonians advised them to +enlist the services of a clever microscopist and bacteriologist, in +order that they might deal with the creatures scientifically from the +outset. This, of course, necessitated a journey back to Earth, and as +they were now their normal selves there was no reason for delaying +their departure; they therefore decided to return home the following +week, which would make a three months’ stay on Bona, so this news was +‘waved’ to Earth, in accordance with the prearranged custom; for at the +close of each day they had carefully ‘waved’ their doings in detail—all +except the blueness and the object of their return; the former seemed +unnecessary, and it would be soon enough to publish the latter when the +bug was within their grasp.</p> + +<p>“Now about the expert. Who will be best? Godfrey Spenser?” asked Ross, +in the midst of their preparations for departure.</p> + +<p>“Most decidedly!” responded Dennis; “but we must look after him, as he +is a bit of a crank.”</p> + +<p>“Very much so,” agreed Ross, laughing. “In his own line he is a genius, +but strange to say, he has a fixed idea that his special forte is in +electricity, about which he knows just enough to kill us all if we +don’t mind.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he’ll be all right on board,” declared Dennis. “Once get him on +the grub and microbe tack and he’ll forget to meddle.”</p> + +<p>“We must hope so, anyway!” answered Ross.</p> + +<p>“I only know him as a microscopist,” said Gilbert, smiling.</p> + +<p>“In that he stands alone,” said Ross. “Shall we have him if he’ll come?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">84</span></p> + +<p>“I think so, if Gilbert is agreeable,” replied Dennis; and on Gilbert +assenting, he continued, “I am sure we couldn’t do better, and as for +coming, he’ll be only too glad; he pressed me to allow him to come here +with us, but I thought it best not.”</p> + +<p>A week soon passed, and with many a good-bye and promise of speedy +return they entered their vessel, and a few minutes later were slowly +soaring upwards from the strange and beautiful Bona. Once outside her +atmosphere, they made straight for Earth, and when nearing home, long +lines of ships, flying electric bunting, honoured their home-coming and +sailed with them to Derwent.</p> + +<p>This time the aërial regulations were perfect and the <i>Regina</i> +settled into her shed like a falling feather, her passengers coming out +a little later to receive their hero-worship.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">85</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_V">CHAPTER V<br> +<span class="large">AN INNOCENT OFFENDER</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“Mischief that may be helped, is hard to know,</div> + <div class="i1">And danger going on still multiplies;</div> + <div class="i1">When harm hath many wings, care comes too late.</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Lord Brooke.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“I knew you’d have to send for me, Dennis, old man!” exclaimed Godfrey +Spenser, as he flung open the door, threw his coat on a seat close by +from which it fell unheeded to the floor, and sat down amongst the +three friends, all in a rush; “and here you are only back two days and +you’re stuck.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Godfrey, we’re stuck, as you say, and want your assistance,” +replied Dennis, smiling. “Can you go back with us?”</p> + +<p>“When?”</p> + +<p>“As soon as you like. It is now mid-September; can you go in a week?”</p> + +<p>“I told you, Dennis, and you too, Ross, you’d never manage that ship +alone; with all your theoretical knowledge of electricity, you need +a practical hand; I will undertake that and help you out. I never +expected to see you again, and when you stuck on the Kidney so long, I +told folks it was very doubtful if you would be able to work her back, +reversed.”</p> + +<p>“It was very good of you, Godfrey,” replied Dennis, laughing, as did +the others. “Very good indeed, but I think that between us we can +manage the working <span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">86</span>all right—anyway we have done so far. What we want +you for is not that at all.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” ejaculated Godfrey in surprise.</p> + +<p>“While we were on Bona,” resumed Dennis, “the folks there told us of a +microbe that would stand fire of any degree of heat, and we have been +thinking you could help us to cultivate some for a little scheme we +have.”</p> + +<p>“Microbe? Rubbish!” snapped Godfrey.</p> + +<p>“We think it’s a microbe,” said Ross.</p> + +<p>“Tell me all you know,” ordered Godfrey, now keenly interested.</p> + +<p>“Tell him, Ross,” said Dennis.</p> + +<p>“No, you,” said Ross; and Dennis began,—</p> + +<p>“You are aware, from our ‘waves,’ that the Bonians supply the solar +system with vegetation of all kinds, even that which grows in hot +climates and, in some places, on volcanoes, for which purpose they +import a microbe from Jupiter, which in some way fertilises the plant, +or does something else——”</p> + +<p>“That’s extremely lucid,” interrupted Godfrey; “we shall come to +something at this rate!”</p> + +<p>“This microbe goes through several metamorphoses,” continued Dennis, +smiling, “and finally winds itself in a cocoon and then——”</p> + +<p>“Microbe, did you say?” asked Godfrey, incredulously.</p> + +<p>“Yes, certainly!”</p> + +<p>“Why certainly? not grub, for instance?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps; microbe, or grub; they’re the same thing,” answered Dennis, +lightly.</p> + +<p>“Are they? It’s about time you had a tutor, young man!” said Godfrey, +severely.</p> + +<p>“Why! what’s the difference?”</p> + +<p>“Poor fellow! get on with your story!” said Godfrey, wearily, and +Dennis proceeded,—</p> + +<p>“Briefly, Godfrey, what we want is this. You are to go with us to +Jupiter—not to help us, or do anything <span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">87</span>at the vessel; you’ll have to +promise us that—but to lay in a stock of these microbes, or grubs, or +whatever you call them, and feed them up so that they’ll cocoon for us; +then you’ll unwind these cocoons or deal with them so as to give us +some material to make into fine gauze, or cloth, or net—we shall have +to experiment with it to see which form is best, and if things turn out +well we will all go to the sun!”</p> + +<p>“The sun!” almost shouted Godfrey, in amazement, sitting bolt upright +with a jerk. “Are you mad?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” said Ross, calmly; “and you are coming with us, Godfrey. +We can’t do without you.”</p> + +<p>“But the heat! You would all be burnt up!”</p> + +<p>“If our experiments are successful,” said Gilbert, “we shall not be +more than warm. The idea is startling at first, it startled us; but +if what the Bonians told us is correct—and we have no reason to doubt +it—this cocoon should not admit the passage of heat and flame; and +we thought that if the net really would withstand heat and was also +sufficiently strong to withstand passage through air, we would envelop +the whole ship in it and be proof against any heat, even that of the +sun.”</p> + +<p>“But you might want millions and millions of grubs and cocoons, which +would probably take years,” broke in Godfrey, still incredulous.</p> + +<p>“That’s why we want you, Godfrey,” replied Ross; “you see we don’t +understand these things.”</p> + +<p>“Cela va sans dire!” observed Godfrey, drily.</p> + +<p>“You must come with us,” pressed Dennis. “The folk in Jupiter will tell +you all about them, and you’ve got to provide us with enough net or +gauze to cover the ship. For doing this we’ll take you to the sun as a +specially privileged passenger. Now, is that a bargain?”</p> + +<p>“If any one else had asked me that question but you two,” returned +Godfrey, looking at Dennis and Ross, whom he had known for many years, +“I should <span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">88</span>have said they had gone stark, staring mad. You, sir,” +looking at Gilbert, “I only know by repute; I never met you before, +so I have no means of gauging your mental balance, but if it is +anything like as far gone as theirs, there never was such a foolhardy, +crack-brained project as we four idiots will be engaged in.”</p> + +<p>“Then you’re going with us?” exclaimed all three excitedly.</p> + +<p>“Of course I am! I’ve said so all along,” replied Godfrey, quietly, +“and if we come back in an uncremated form I shall be surprised.”</p> + +<p>“Of course we shall test the thing severely first,” said Gilbert. “When +can you start?”</p> + +<p>“Any time. Where’s Jupiter now?”</p> + +<p>“I looked it up to-day,” replied Gilbert. “He is due to reach his +meridian about midnight, and will be visible all night. As seen from +here he will be opposite the sun—that is ‘in opposition’—on the 15th +of October, or a month from to-day, and at his best time for approach. +As viewed from here he will be moving towards the right in Aquarius, +and Luna will pass over him on the fourth and thirtieth of next month, +October.”</p> + +<p>“And how will that fit in?”</p> + +<p>“Excellently, if we start in a week, better still in four days.”</p> + +<p>“Right!” said Godfrey. “And is the whole thing to be kept quiet?”</p> + +<p>“As the grave!” replied Dennis. “We want to be off without any fuss +this time, and have decided to go on a cloudy night, and not show +ourselves till well away.”</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll be mum,” said Godfrey, “and get off to find some apparatus; +we shall want a tidy pile of things. I’ll send them to the shed +to-morrow or the next day and be here myself the day following, that is +three days from now, and you can start the first cloudy night you like +after that. How will that fit in?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">89</span></p> + +<p>“Splendidly,” they all cried, delighted.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later Godfrey’s airship was waiting outside a wholesale +store, the proprietor almost overcome at the magnitude of the orders +given.</p> + +<p>On the nineteenth of September the night was very black and stormy, +with lowering clouds and a strong drizzle of rain. Very few ships were +out and none near, for no one suspected the <i>Regina</i> would stay +but four or five days after being away three months, so that nobody +thought it worth while to commence a systematic watch on the shed so +soon, and on such a night those aloft were in their cabins, making +themselves as cosy as possible with nothing exposed to the elements +except the regulation guard and location-lights.</p> + +<p>The four travellers, therefore, reached the shed unseen by any one, and +this time very silently, like a silver spirit, the <i>Regina</i> rose +in the cold and pitiless rain. Every light in the vessel was concealed, +and in the saloon the only lights were a few hooded lamps over the +switch-board, at which stood Gilbert, directing the movements of the +vessel. Godfrey was standing at the other side of the room, his face +pressed close against the window, his nose flattened out like a piece +of rubber, quite unconscious of the grotesqueness of his appearance, so +absorbed was he, for he had, of course, never been up so high before.</p> + +<p>“I say, Ross, she’s a beauty!” he exclaimed, as Ross came and stood +beside him. “She travels as sweetly as a swan, and I don’t feel +the least motion or vibration in the engines. It was a good thing +you joined Dennis, though I’d have found the thing out myself, if +he’d asked me. Just fancy such a fine ship being unapproachable for +centuries! Great Bona! what is that? She’s struck!” he cried, in +horror, as an enormous cloud that they had just cut through burst +with an awful simultaneous flash and roar; the same instant the +<i>Regina</i> became a mass of living flame <span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">90</span>which seemed to set fire +to the whole heavens, and the clouds around them became one solid sheet +of electricity.</p> + +<p>“Now, how would you deal with that, Godfrey?” queried Ross, quietly.</p> + +<p>“Say my prayers!” replied Godfrey, briefly, decidedly frightened, +though somewhat reassured by the general indifference of his companions +who, he saw, were paying no attention to the furies outside, so he +turned to Ross and inquired, “Is there not danger?”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit!” answered Ross. “Every flash that strikes calls out the +same, or more, power from the ship to resist it. She has her repulsive +force on now, and no matter what force she is passing through, that +force is repulsed—unit for unit—and even more, so that it merely +amounts to splutter on both sides, and the forces being always equally +opposed, the result is nil, for the ship not only takes no hurt, but +proceeds in spite of everything.”</p> + +<p>“It looks frightening enough, anyway,” observed Godfrey, considerably +awed by the sight which so engrossed his attention that he did not +notice Dennis letting out a small cup-shaped object which he caused to +fall, when it sank some distance on a flexible wire which ran off its +roller at enormous speed. All at once he saw it and asked what it was, +and its object.</p> + +<p>“It’s a floating light,” replied Dennis; “it will fall till it is a +quarter of a mile over the shed, when it will meet its equilibrium +and remain poised—see, it is slowing up; now it has stopped and there +is slack, for its weight sank it too low and it has now risen and +is floating in perfect poise. I fire it through this switch on the +roller, which at the same time releases the cord by fusing the soft +connecting-wire, and you see the cord is rewinding; the shed and a mile +round it will be lit up with a red light for thirty hours. That’s our +good-bye signal.”</p> + +<p>“But they can’t see us, I suppose?” asked Godfrey, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">91</span>looking down and +seeing a glow come through the clouds below them like the effulgence of +a rising sun.</p> + +<p>“No,” answered Dennis, “the clouds are too thick, but all will know by +the light that we are here, and Gilbert is ‘waving’ soon, so there’ll +be a fine scramble for the disk afterwards.”</p> + +<p>“Really!” said Godfrey. “I read of that paper business the last time +you went up, but I thought there was nothing in it.”</p> + +<p>“You unbelieving sinner! you’re as bad as the rest!” laughed Dennis, +and having wound the last of the cord, he attached another soft-wire +terminal so that it should be ready for any similar purpose at a +moment’s notice, and passed on to another part of the ship, leaving +Godfrey examining the wire reel. Whilst he was standing there Gilbert +passed on his way to the ‘wave’ apparatus and cautioned Godfrey, “Don’t +touch that, old man, or there’ll be trouble!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know all about these things, Gilbert. I shall come to no harm,” +responded Godfrey, smiling confidently, and walking away.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, a blinding flash of light went across the room, +accompanied by the peculiar crackle of a powerful short-circuit, +immediately followed by a yell of pain and terror from Godfrey.</p> + +<p>“You idiot!” shouted Ross, “why can’t you keep your fingers out of +mischief? Didn’t you promise us faithfully that you’d touch nothing?”</p> + +<p>“I’m awfully sorry, Ross, I am indeed!” said Godfrey, contritely, but +whether from the broken promise, or from the pain he felt, only he +knew, as he turned away nursing his badly blistered hand. “I only moved +that switch on the roller to see what it would do.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you’ve seen now! and if you do any more of your monkey tricks +we’ll put you in a cabin and keep you prisoner. You don’t know +what you’re doing when you move switches here, and you might kill +us <span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">92</span>all. Now don’t let it occur again!” and highly incensed Ross +attached another terminal on the wire, and the other two running up +gave the culprit a few forcible admonitions; after which Godfrey +humbly apologised, saying he would not transgress again, at the same +time protesting they were throwing his kindness in his face, when +electricity was his forte and he wanted to assist in order to relieve +them.</p> + +<p>Tranquillity being restored, Godfrey strolled to a window to look out, +and very shortly he cried: “Oh! do look here, ‘triad’” (which word he +used when referring to the three), calling his friends to the window, +where they saw far behind them a great dark mass, getting slowly +smaller as they left it in the distance. “What is it? It has a halo of +light round it,” he cried, excitedly.</p> + +<p>“It’s our Earth,” said Gilbert, quietly.</p> + +<p>“That!” vociferated Godfrey. “Do you mean to say that we are now, so +soon, outside the Earth’s atmosphere?”</p> + +<p>They all laughed at his surprise, and Gilbert went on, “At this moment +we are about fifty thousand miles distant from Earth, and what you see +is the illumined atmosphere of the further side. If you go to the end +window, you will see we are going straight to Jupiter.”</p> + +<p>“Why straight?” queried Godfrey, staying where he was.</p> + +<p>“Because we always travel in a straight line.”</p> + +<p>“But can you not turn aside?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, but after turning, by our own desire or the force of some +other body, the original normal position—the straight line—will be +resumed and maintained till again altered.”</p> + +<p>“Really!” exclaimed Godfrey. “But how about speed? How do you get it?”</p> + +<p>“We get our repulsive force from the gravity of a heavy body,” answered +Dennis; “and in the old days <span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">93</span>when the ship was first used, the +inventors could not control a greater attractive or repulsive force +than the gravity of the object from which they obtained it; but that +was long ago, and since then science has made great strides. Adding +the science of to-day to the secret of the ship’s power, we can get +a force equal to the force of the gravity of any particular source +multiplied some thousands of times, which makes the <i>Regina’s</i> +power irresistible. For instance, we could exert more than a hundred +thousand times the power of Jupiter’s gravity, or the sun’s, and could +displace both if we wished.”</p> + +<p>“I should just like to see the sun go the other way round,” remarked +Godfrey, musingly. “Would it make much difference?” and as the trio +laughed, he continued, “Here, Gilbert, you’re the physicist! Give me +some particulars about this heat business, so that I can be thinking +things over by the time we get to Jupiter, to enable me to recognise +this fire-eating grub when I come across him. Give me his life-history +if you can; it will save a lot of trouble.”</p> + +<p>They all laughed, and Gilbert replied,—“You’ve got to find all that out +for yourself, old fellow; we know nothing more than you know already.”</p> + +<p>“But what <i>is</i> heat? What temperature has the cocoon to stand, and +how and when and all the rest of it? You see, I’m working in the dark. +Is it heat as matter it must stand? And what is the effect of heat in +non-atmospheric space?”</p> + +<p>“That’s a big order,” responded Gilbert. “To begin with, until we get +the web we cannot tell how heat will affect it. As for what <i>is</i> +heat it is difficult to say. We cannot take touch as a criterion, as we +might say a certain substance ‘feels’ hot or cold, such as wool being +classed amongst the hot and metal amongst the cold. Some scientists +say heat is ‘ponderable’ and others consider it ‘caloric’—a form of +‘matter,’ but to me both are wrong.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">94</span></p> + +<p>“How do you make that out?” queried Godfrey.</p> + +<p>“The fact that it is <i>im</i>ponderable is fully proved in that it +cannot be weighed, for it is well known that a cold substance does not +increase its weight on receiving heat, but remains the same weight as +before being heated, and it cannot by any possibility be considered +‘matter’ or its ‘quantity’ would remain unchangeable so far as human +means could influence it.”</p> + +<p>“How can that be?”</p> + +<p>“Because there are innumerable instances in which heat can be and is +regularly produced without either flame or combustion, such as raising +the temperature by friction, and you know that if several materials of +different degrees of heat are placed in the same room they will all +become eventually of the same temperature; thus, if a bucketful of iced +water is placed in a hot room it will itself be warmed and the air in +the room cooled till both are equal. This, therefore, disproves the +‘materiality’ of heat.”</p> + +<p>“But the laws of heat are constant, are they not?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” resumed Gilbert. “In some cases it is governed by certain +laws; in others it seems to set the same laws at defiance, giving +strange contradictions. Take water, for instance; most substances +expand by heat and contract by cold, but in water there are strange +anomalies, the scientific causes of which are mere hypotheses, though +their utility is well known. Only to a certain degree is water +contracted by cold, when a further increase of cold expands it instead +of causing a greater contraction; thus water cooled will contract to +40° F., and if further cooled it expands till 32° F. is reached; it +then becomes solid, or ice, when it again expands, frequently bursting +the pipe or vessel in which it is contained.”</p> + +<p>“But that serves a good purpose in the physical economy, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly; this departure from the general law of nature is wise and +providential, for as the water <span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">95</span>cools below 40° F. it increases in +buoyancy and rises, to float on the surface, and when ice forms below +it soon comes to the surface, on which it rests, protecting the water +under it from freezing and preserving the lives of fishes and insects, +for it is obvious that if rivers and seas were frozen to the bottom +all life in them would be destroyed. Many of the seas would become +nothing less than a constantly changing and unchartable conglomeration +of sunken rocks of ice, and would be altogether unnavigable, for all +the bergs would sink where no sun could get at them to melt and reduce +their bulk.”</p> + +<p>“Go on, Gilbert!” said Godfrey, encouragingly, as his friend paused. “I +have nothing to do, and this is deeply interesting to me; besides, I +have for some time been experimenting in freezing micro-organisms.”</p> + +<p>By no means loth to ride his pet hobby, Gilbert proceeded,—“An even +more wonderful anomaly lies in the fact that if we take, say, a pound +of hot water at, say, 100° and mix it with a pound of cold water at 0°, +we get two pounds of water at 50°, the temperature of the hotter being +reduced and the colder increased in equal ratio, but if one of them is +ice, the temperature of the whole is that of the colder.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid I don’t follow you there.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose, then, we take a given quantity of ice and melt it over +a fire, it is utterly impossible—no matter what amount of heat is +applied—to raise the temperature till all the ice has been melted; thus +a pound of ice at 0° and a pound of water at 100° cannot possibly be +raised higher than 0°, but will remain two pounds of water at 0° till +the ice is melted, irrespective of the heat applied. And if we take +the same two pounds of water in experiment further, and bring it to +boiling-point, converting it into steam, no amount of heat given to it +will raise the temperature of the steam a fraction of a degree till +<i>all</i> the water has become steam; but when all of it is steam, +we can then, by <span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">96</span>the application of more heat, get superheated steam, +to an explosive point of enormous force. These are but a few of the +complete violations of the ordinary laws of nature, and they answer +their purpose well in the economy of creation, for you will see that +did heat but raise the temperature of the ice in an equal ratio to its +addition, the ice would melt in a moment, and thus the first warm day, +or the first ray of sunshine, would cause every particle of snow and +ice on the hills and in the valleys to melt instantly, and the mighty +glaciers and bergs would also become almost instantly liquid, and a +general inundation of many parts of the world would be the inevitable +result; whilst in the case of steam, if that formed in equal ratio +with the heat applied to water, the water would immediately become +<i>all</i> steam and would at once be superheated and explosive. The +useful and harmless saucepan, kettle, or boiler, would produce such +a deadly explosive as to require special apparatus and precautions +to manufacture and manipulate steam, or even hot water, and the mere +drinking of a harmless cup of any warm beverage, or eating steaming +food, would have more disastrous results and blow us to atoms more +effectively than drinking ‘corpsogen’ and then falling down.”</p> + +<p>“Then what do you consider heat to be?”</p> + +<p>“I think it is only possible to consider heat as ‘energy,’ as +discovered by the experiments of Rumford and Davy in 1798 and 1799, +the latter’s experiments on the melting of ice by friction being too +well known to be detailed, and the same Davy, about 1812, discovered +that “the immediate cause of the phenomenon of heat is motion, and +the laws of its communication are precisely the same as the laws of +the communication of motion.” I consider this the only true idea, +notwithstanding the modern tendency to discard these old theories for +newer. I can only conceive of heat as particles in motion, and it +can only be measured <span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">97</span>satisfactorily by the speed or energy of the +disturbed particles, which in many cases causes a distinct vibration +in them, and in the case of gases a direct dashing and pressing of +the separate particles, not only against each other, but against the +sides or walls of the vessel in which they are confined, in their +efforts to expand by separation; and bearing all these things in +mind, Godfrey, if the idea on which we have embarked and in which we +want your help is successful, we can make some gauze, fasten it on +the outside of the ship, and instead of it and the ship setting up a +fresh series of <i>their own</i> moving particles in the presence of +heat—such as we shall encounter when in close proximity to the sun—and +becoming destroyed by the energy or the intense vibration of their own +particles, this net will so far <i>itself</i> resist this vibration +and thus protect itself and the ship within it. This resisting power +will be considerably augmented by the <i>Regina’s</i> own repulsive +force, which will be incalculable, being obtained from the sun and +capable of enormous augmentation, and this will also assist and give +great repulsive force to the net, thus more than counterbalancing any +tendency to its becoming heated by so much as a degree. If this theory +works out, as we feel sure it will, assuming that the cocoon <i>is</i> +fireproof, while all around may be molten in the terrific heat, the +<i>Regina</i> and all in her will be cool as a cucumber, literally; for +if the net acts as we have reason to hope it will, the protecting force +will de-atomise and repel anything and everything—heat included—for at +least a foot beyond the ship, and covered with our net, we shall still +be able to see what the sun really is, go through his atmosphere and +photosphere, which even our telescopes have not been able to penetrate, +and do excellent work for science, and that whilst we ourselves are in +no way inconvenienced.</p> + +<p>“And now, Godfrey, you have our whole scheme complete, and whether +we are successful or not depends <span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">98</span>on you and you alone. It may be a +wild-goose chase we are on, but we believe the Bonians, and trust you +to bring the whole scheme to a successful issue, as we are sure you +will. What do you think?”</p> + +<p>“Think!” cried Godfrey, enthusiastically, “think! I think it is +great—very great—and that you are a triad of very clever—idiots, shall +I say, for going to risk a flight to the sun! Never mind, if there is +any truth at all in what you have been told about this bug, it shall +succeed; I tell you it <i>shall!</i> and we four will test the net on +old Sol himself. But I’m going too fast, I’m losing my reason. I must +not be carried away with enthusiasm; as yet I’m in my right mind, so +I’ll not go further than that, or talk about settling on the sun till +we see how my grubs turn out.”</p> + +<p>During the whole of this conversation all had been so interested that +they had not paid any attention to the vessel, for there was little +danger of chance collision, as the great repulsive force would keep +any ordinary world or planetoid from her path, and in the case of a +more powerful world, any deviation from her straight flight, or any +strong attractive force which she might enter, would automatically +signal itself, and show the strength on the gravitometer. Also the +<i>Regina</i> was, to a certain extent, self-adjusting, and would thus +go rounds or away from, any large and powerful object, and after the +influence had ceased to be felt, she would resume her original straight +course, for it is evident that if the force of A equals the force of B, +they are both equal, consequently neither can be drawn to the other, +and the nearer they approach the greater will be the repulsion which +drives both away, for the gravity and repulsion of both are equal. +The <i>Regina</i>, therefore, now she had been perfected as far as +modern science permitted, could never by any possibility collide with +anything, no matter how powerful, for her force would now always equal +the opposing force. In the case of landing, this <span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">99</span>could be effected +in two ways: by increasing the <i>Regina’s</i> gravitating force, by +converting some of her repulsion into gravitation (or attraction), and +thus drawing the other world to her, because of her greater attractive +powers; or by retarding her repulsive force, and thus bringing her +within the attraction of the world on which she wished to settle. This +latter was the usual method of alighting, as the former would most +certainly have upset the fixed orbits of the worlds displaced.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the needle on the indicator swerved, giving its familiar +tinkle, which signified the nearness of approach to a world or object +having gravitating force. Ross, who was nearest the observatory door, +rushed up and then called Dennis and Gilbert, who ran up the steps +and looked out of the dome, which gave them a view in every direction +except vertically downwards.</p> + +<p>Behind them lay the stars in strange and almost unrecognisable +positions, for the various constellations and stars seen on Earth +as of fixed shape and position on a dome-shaped setting, were not +now on a setting at all, but all in different planes vast distances +apart, some viewed ‘end on,’ others at all degrees of angles, and +their constellatory shapes no longer distinguishable. Wherever the +travellers were, it was plain they were not going to Jupiter, for +they were leaving him far away on the left and were heading straight +for some strange, dark object which was looming before them in a wild +confusion of what seemed to be caverns, craters and mountains, and +the gravitometer-needle was slowly moving, already showing forward +resistance to the repulsion of the ship, proving the object had gravity +at that distance of about 0.10 compared with Earth as 1.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” exclaimed Dennis, “and why have we altered our course. +Look, there is Jupiter in another direction altogether!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">100</span></p> + +<p>It was inexplicable. None of them had moved the steering switches since +Gilbert had aimed for Jupiter after leaving Earth, and Godfrey was +not allowed in those parts of the sanctum and observatory where the +controlling switches were fixed, which parts were guarded. They had not +heard or read of the ship ever having gone wrong, and their knowledge +of the working principle made an accidental swerving seem impossible, +yet already the world they were approaching blotted out the whole of +the forward heavens in a dense mass of dark shade, save for a halo of +light which came from the sunlight on the opposite side, and in its +penumbra of diffusion into the deep shadows showed mountains and plains +and a dreary waste of country.</p> + +<p>“Suppose we pull up and travel with it for a while,” suggested Gilbert, +“and then we’ll call up that idiot downstairs; he’ll perhaps tell us +something.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” replied Dennis, who shouted Godfrey, and up came their +friend two steps at a time. Gilbert made the necessary alteration and +joined the others, as Dennis said, “Have you ever passed this barrier, +Godfrey?”</p> + +<p>“No, not this one. I went behind that downstairs; I expect they’re the +same; they look it,” replied Godfrey, nonchalantly.</p> + +<p>“When was that?”</p> + +<p>“Just after we left Derwent.”</p> + +<p>“Before you burnt your hand?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. You made me promise then on my honour not to touch +anything, and I have left all those things severely alone and have not +even stepped behind that rail since, which is hard lines on a fellow, +considering that electricity is my forte, and you are unnecessarily +busy when I could relieve you; but volunteered kindness is never +appreciated!” and Godfrey looked very much injured. “Can I help you +now?” he asked, brightening up.</p> + +<p>Ignoring the question, Dennis asked, “Did you <span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">101</span>move anything whilst +there? Did you touch <i>anything?</i>”</p> + +<p>“Well,—no ...yes—not to mean anything, though. I just moved a switch +off and on and looked round to see which lights it controlled, but +nothing happened, so I did not bother any more with it, but came out +and tried that reel thing immediately inside the barrier rail in the +saloon and burnt my hand, worse luck!”</p> + +<p>“Would you mind going downstairs, Godfrey? We’ll be with you in a +minute,” said Dennis, politely, and Godfrey descended, surprised at +this unusual deference and wondering why they all looked so solemn. +When he had gone, Ross exclaimed, “Now what can you make of a fellow +like that! He means well and is mad on helping, but if this goes on +he’ll kill us all!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think so,” said Dennis; “he has kept his word, and will +continue to do so. I don’t think he will give us any further anxiety +or transgress again; however, we must not let him off lightly, but so +frighten him that he will never step on prohibited ground again. It +will not do to let any one go behind the barrier.”</p> + +<p>“We will have everything in contact from this moment,” said Gilbert, +severely, “and run no risks either of accidents or of any of the +secrets leaking out. If any one except ourselves comes up to the rail +he will be held there till we come.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that will be best,” said Dennis; “we must, for the sake of our +general interests and safety, exercise every care, and from this moment +one of us at least must be in charge in turn.”</p> + +<p>“The switch he moved must have been the one directing the steering, and +the vessel turned accordingly and kept the new course when he brought +the switch back to ‘block,’” said Gilbert; “had he understood the +mechanism, he would not have used that switch only and then we should +have resumed <span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</span>our original line, notwithstanding the deviation. As it +is—there is Jupiter! and here, in front is—what?”</p> + +<p>“Let’s go down and deal with Godfrey,” proposed Ross, and they all +descended to the saloon, where the delinquent was whistling to himself +whilst curiously watching the great mass now below them. He turned at +their entrance, inquiring, “What is that? Is it Jupiter?”</p> + +<p>“No one knows. We are lost!” said Dennis, gloomily, “and it is your +doing!” And then the three of them proceeded to frighten the poor +microscopist almost out of his wits, with suggestion of the fearful +doom they would have met, had not their position been noticed in +time to prevent the ship crashing to destruction. They succeeded in +instilling into him such consternation as kept him away from the +barrier ever after, nor would he come near that part of the saloon or +observatory again, though he often begged to be allowed to ‘drive’ the +vessel, for he said it only needed a switch moving and she’d go on for +ever, which opinion only drew a benign and soothing smile from his +friends, which he could not quite understand.</p> + +<p>Godfrey disposed of, Dennis turned to Ross and said, “Just test the +atmosphere, Ross, will you?” and in a short time he returned saying +the atmosphere was variable, and he thought they had better go across +the world to get several samples before they thought of landing. +Accordingly, the <i>Regina</i> shot ahead till she came into the +sunshine forward and then back into the sunshine at the opposite side, +about half a dozen bags being filled with atmospheric air at different +points easily located. Whilst Gilbert and Ross were testing these +samples, Dennis took measurements of distances, gravity on surface, +speed travelled, etc. They had come about 245,000 miles, but having +altered their course, it was probable that this measurement was in +excess of the actual distance of the object from Earth, as measured on +a straight line, which is, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</span>of course, the shortest distance between +two points. The diameter would be, roughly speaking, about 2160 miles, +and the total surface was, as near as could be ascertained without +going all round, about 14,500,000 square miles or a little over, or +O.074 of Earth, and its volume about 5,300,000,000 cubic miles; its +density was about 3.57 of Earth-water, or 0.63 of earth, reckoning +earth as 1; it was travelling in its orbit with a velocity of 2273 +miles per hour, and had an equatorial velocity of rotation of a little +over ten miles an hour.</p> + +<p>Just as these calculations were complete Gilbert and Ross came in +laughing, and asked Dennis, “Where are we, do you think?”</p> + +<p>“On the shady side of old Luna,” replied Dennis, “or I’ll eat her!”</p> + +<p>“Right!” said Ross; “we can’t be anywhere else. You, Godfrey, have +shot us to Luna instead of Jupiter, and now we know where we are, the +positions of the other planets can be fixed also.”</p> + +<p>“Luna! and after all those elaborate calculations!” exclaimed Godfrey, +sarcastically. “What remarkable brain-power there is on board, triad, +to discover it at last—but better late than never!”</p> + +<p>No one on Earth has ever seen the dark side of the moon, owing to the +illuminated or convex edge always being turned towards the sun; there +is, therefore, continual light on one side of the moon and constant +comparative darkness on the other, the crescent altering in shape by +becoming increased or diminished as we on Earth see more or less of the +illumined side as the moon changes its position; consequently, the dark +side is hidden from Earth in almost every phase except occasionally +when, owing to libration, it is possible to see those parts beyond the +edge, or border, of the lunar disc, which alternately come into view +and are hidden. It was, therefore, perhaps not unprofitable, whilst +they were there, to gain, a little <span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</span>information on several points about +which the scientists of Earth had been in dispute for centuries.</p> + +<p>So the travellers sailed round Luna and once for all set at rest +all disputes by actual observation. It was proved beyond the shadow +of a doubt that the planet did possess an atmosphere of extreme +variableness. On the bright side, towards the edges, or what would be +the edges seen from Earth, this atmosphere was extremely transparent, +but capable of supporting life as we know it. There were no mists, +clouds, or vapour, consequently the sight penetrated through the +atmosphere without the softening effect of that delicate and beautiful +variety of colour of terrestrial scenery. On the shadow side, the +atmosphere was much more dense, and this darker hemisphere was palled +in a faint twilight, in which could be seen considerable stretches of +morass, peopled by strange beings who became frantically aggressive +when the <i>Regina</i> swooped down amongst them in order to land. +Gifts were let down from the ship, and every known effort was made +to show the inhabitants the friendly spirit of their visitors, but +without avail; the self-deluded Lunians worked themselves into rage +so violent and impotent as to cause many to become cataleptic. This +was repeated at all parts of the surface, so that in kindness to them +the <i>Regina</i> sailed round to the sunny side, where she was again +seen by the astronomers on Earth, and noted on the bright disc of the +full moon, not as a flashing shadow as at her first encircling of the +satellite, but this time as a tiny, floating cloud of flittering light +and shade and brilliant iridescence, as her bright sides alternately +were shaded and then reflected the rays of the sun to Earth in dazzling +spots.</p> + +<p>Having traversed the whole surface of the moon Luna, they then waved +this message to Earth,—</p> + +<p>“We are investigating Luna, and while on the spot we can clear up all +those points on which Earth information is at present uncertain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</span></p> + +<p>“That surface of Luna which is illumined by the sun is rock, sand, +stone and earth, covered in places with rich and beautiful vegetation, +both wild and cultivated, but all the trees are small and bush-like, +the colour a peculiar russet-brown and gold, which on Earth seems like +bare rock or ice; on a few of the highest peaks snow and ice are seen, +though not in great quantity. The people on the two sides are entirely +different races of beings, but all extremely unfriendly to us, so we +are not landing. The atmosphere is exceedingly dry and clear, with no +clouds and very little vapour. The ramparts and waterways which we +see from Earth are not natural but made by the people, and the quays +and locks are now almost generally being constructed and repaired. +At present there is little water on the illumined portion, though it +seems plentiful on the dark side; there are also many springs, and the +people are certainly preparing for a rainy season, or some other source +of irrigation; they seem intelligent, and all work proceeds on highly +scientific lines.</p> + +<p>“With regard to the so-called seas and lakes, the <i>Mare Crisium</i> +is a plain of dark vegetation, oval in shape and situated near the +edge of a new moon, as seen from Earth. The irregular, dark plain, +<i>Oceanus Procellarum</i>, is thickly wooded with the small and dark +brown trees already mentioned. It has open places of rock, thickly +covered, and veined with metals which are exceedingly abundant over +the whole of the planet, and can be seen lying on the surface and in +rich strata everywhere, as volcanic action has exposed them, so that +they reflect the sun’s rays like mirrors and are dazzling to view. +We should say these are the cause of the strange, bright lights and +flashes often seen through telescopes, for, of course, on the moving +moon they are always changing. Luna is exceedingly rich in all kinds +of metals, including gold, much of which is on the surface. What we +have <span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</span>been accustomed to consider marsh, we found to be grass-land, +plentifully spotted with darker grass and earth and some peculiar loose +earth containing unknown minerals in fine grains. An old lake bed, as +we expected to find it, is now used, apparently, as an amphitheatre +for games and sports. The broad white ‘rays’ which have been a +mystery to astronomers of all ages, and which diverge from many of +the lunar ring-plains, comprise seven distinct systems, each composed +of many hundreds of rays. They pass over the surface of the plains +and mountains parallel to the configuration of them, thus partaking +of their shape and, as seen from Earth, differ from them only in +brightness; they vary from eight to fifteen miles in breadth and many +are of enormous length. Perhaps the longest are from Tycho, but instead +of being two thousand miles, as measured on Earth, we find these, from +actual measurement, to be two thousand six hundred and twenty-four +miles in extent. These hitherto inexplicable streaks are caused by +peculiar effects of refraction.</p> + +<p>“Most of the country is highly volcanic, and there are numerous +mountains, volcanoes and craters of all sizes. On many of these +the greater part of the surface is covered with metallic deposits +which throw upwards the strong reflections of the sun’s rays; these +reflections are caught by the atmosphere which is in perceptible layers +not seen from Earth. These layers maintain the same height above the +ground, regular or irregular, the lower being about two miles deep, +the next being a shade more dense, unlike the atmosphere of Earth, +which is more dense as it approaches the ground. The reflection, +therefore, readily penetrates the lighter and more transparent layer +and, on striking the more dense, becomes refracted by it and is carried +along in enormous streaks at the junction of the two, as from the +surface of a mirror or from a silvery cloud, thus forming great rays +which follow the curvature of the ground at a height of about two +miles, and, partaking <span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</span>of the colour of the sun and being transparent, +so colour the ground below them that on Earth there appears little +difference except in brightness. We are just now sinking through that +proceeding from Tycho, and you will be convinced that this explanation +is correct by noticing that we cut off all the rays from beyond us on +the shadow side. Now we are in the lower stratum, and you will see +the rays proceeding for thousands of miles as before—we see them over +our heads like a transparent golden cloud on which is a faint shadow +of our vessel, though not sufficiently strong to be distinguishable +from Earth. Now we have left the lower plane and are rising again; +our dome has just cut through the rays, casting a long shadow like a +triangle, the apex of which is our dome, and this shadow may appear +to you as a faint line or pencilling of shade. In this place we have +also measured the depth of the stratum from the ground and find it +is exactly two miles, as elsewhere, so will you correct your present +measurements to this. Earth-sighted instruments are in error because +they must first penetrate through the fifty miles, or thereabouts, +of Earth’s atmosphere, then travel through the thousands of miles of +space minus the atmosphere, and have then to penetrate another and +altogether different atmosphere, and Earth measurements at best are +only comparative. It is impossible for you on Earth to see, measure, +and understand as we do here, for you cannot allow for unbounded vacuum +and these strange atmospheres without coming into them, especially as +Earth measurements <i>in vacuo</i> must necessarily be made through the +flask or vessel bounding the vacuum, and consequently are not strictly +reliable. We give you only what we verify by actual measurement and +experiment made on the spot, and you may rely upon all details being +correct.</p> + +<p>“We are now leaving Luna without landing and are going straight to +Jupiter. Good-bye!”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_VI">CHAPTER VI<br> +<span class="large">THE DOOMED PLANET</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“A hopeless darkness settles o’er my fate;</div> + <div class="i2" style="word-spacing: 3.2em;">• • • • •</div> + <div class="i1">My doom is closed.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(<span class="">Count Basil.</span>)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>From the moon Luna the good ship sailed straight for the brilliant +Jupiter, the giant planet of the solar system, passing Mars and +numerous planetoids on the way. It was almost overwhelming to be flying +through space as silently and as steadily as if standing, and to see +the various worlds suspended in the black heavens, each turning more +or less rapidly and at the same time travelling in a fixed orbit in +the race round its governing sun. Words cannot describe the feeling of +vastness which seemed to crush the travellers with its awful solemnity +and power. As far as the powerful observatory telescope could reach, +and beyond that, myriads and myriads of stars; stars everywhere! all +lost in the immensity of space. Space and stars! each vista opening out +still more stars and still more space, up and down, to right and left, +every space bounded by still greater space. And the natural thought +came into their minds that if anything went wrong with the ship, what +would become of them? where would they go? for they and their puny +ship were not of so much moment in that infinite vastness as is one +of the thousands of microbes on a pin’s point in comparison to the +size <span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</span>of the whole Earth. And ever as they flew through space a large +world or planetoid would glide swiftly past them—stately and silent +as a ghost—so near that through the glasses they could distinguish on +its surface moving life, apparently unconscious of the enormous speed +at which the world was spinning and travelling through space; people +who, perhaps, as a whole, could not realise that such simple laws as +gravity and motion and a thin atmosphere kept them in safety on what +might be likened to a single speck of dust floating in a sunbeam. And +as the adventurers had all these things impressed upon their hearts and +minds by their unique position, they felt that but for the Divine Love, +combined with the blessings of mental and physical strength, their +intellects must have given way at the mere thought of their littleness +amongst so much grandeur. They were seeing something of the Mind of the +Creator, and they were compelled to exercise the greatest self-control +to prevent hysteria or insanity, as all this glorious mystery was +unfolded before them, as they rushed with enormous speed across the +vast expanse of heaven, every hour the mighty Jupiter becoming larger +and larger as they approached him.</p> + +<p>Roughly speaking he is about 490,000,000 miles distant from the sun and +his periodical revolution is about twelve Earth-years, his enormous +bulk is about 1400 times greater than Earth and his day and night about +ten Earth-hours. He travels in his orbit at over 29,000 miles per +hour, and the equatorial parts rotate at 28,000 miles an hour. At the +time the <i>Regina</i> was christened, in the old days, the days of +King Edward the Seventh, Jupiter had six moons—the <i>Regina</i> gave +him another, the one she had stolen—making seven: since then six more +had been discovered, and the travellers saw there were four others, +making in all, seventeen; this alone was worth coming for. Also as +they drew nearer they <span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</span>saw that his equatorial velocity of rotation, +compared with Earth, was so great that if they landed they would be +so light as to be flung off into space and it would be necessary for +them to be made heavier, but if this were done, would their physical +strength enable them to bear the increased weight, and would the extra +atmospheric pressure so oppress them as to cause congestion of the +brain, or in other ways be fatal? However, the risk had to be taken, +otherwise it would be difficult to get the insects they had come so far +to obtain, if they were unable to leave the vessel.</p> + +<p>Whilst they were discussing the point they were drawing sufficiently +near to elucidate several controversial matters. For centuries it +had been thought that the belts of Jupiter were vapour or clouds +and nothing more, but now the voyagers distinctly saw what would be +hidden and probably unknown to the Jovians themselves, who from their +position on the underside of their atmosphere could not be aware of +its appearance as seen from the outside. It was unmistakable that the +belts were caused by millions of fine particles, like dust, which were +constantly coming through the atmosphere, being of too little gravity +to remain on the planet, the rapid revolution of which flung them +off into space by centrifugal force, and reaching the outside, they +revolved round the planet’s atmosphere at a distance of over a thousand +miles; these particles were coming from all parts of the planet, +eventually to become attracted to one or other of the belts on which +they settled. These belts were consequently slowly widening, though +they remained isolated and distinct by their own force of gravity and +repulsion and were visible to Earth, with an addition of but a few +inches in each century.</p> + +<p>Passing between the belts nearest the equator, the <i>Regina</i> became +involved in the conflicting forces <span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</span>of the revolving atmosphere and the +belts and for the space of a few seconds spun round at awful speed, +but all danger—if there really was any—passed as she became enveloped +in the atmosphere in which she, of course, ceased to spin as she +travelled along with it and the planet, seeming stationary but for the +slow descent. She was placed in equilibrium some thirty feet from the +ground, well out of reach of an assembled and excited throng and before +attempting to leave the ship the inmates decided to speak to the people +from the outer deck, lest they should not be friendly. They therefore +stepped outside, one at a time, in turn, but though their weight had +been adjusted, the air was extremely oppressive and it was with much +difficulty their voices penetrated the heavy atmosphere. In a few +minutes they had severe headaches and were obliged to retire into the +artificial air of the ship, in which they quickly revived.</p> + +<p>Finding it impossible to hold converse with the Jovians either by word +of mouth or telepathy, Godfrey sketched a few grubs of various forms +on a piece of paper and dropped it amongst them, and they seemed to +understand by motioning that they would send something up.</p> + +<p>“I told you you could not do without me!” he cried, simply delighted, +and lowering a thin line. “You see, my friendly triad, you’ll never +regret bringing me with you. I can manage these people splendidly—Oh, +Great Bona!” he ejaculated, aghast, in a tone that brought the rest to +the curved window, through which they looked below; “if they’re not +bringing a hippopotamus, or something like it! this is a species of +vertebrata with which I am unacquainted, and if it is a specimen of +their bugs, I shall, at any rate, be able to show my Earth-friends a +new and wonderful variety of Hemiptera, or Rhynchota, as we style them +now. Great Bona! here, triad! don’t stand staring at it—do something! +that line <span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</span>is no good; get out a steel rope, or else float it up; the +bug weighs two ton if he weighs a grain! If we’ve to bring a colony of +those things aboard, we shall have to sit outside. There’ll only be +room for three of them in all this blessed ship, if it’s emptied to the +shell;” and he energetically hauled up the thin cord while the others, +laughing heartily, lowered a steel line and hooked the end to the winch.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the folk below had dragged the weird ‘grub’ to +the rope, which they wrapped round its body, but they were either +unaccustomed to the work or careless, for when the creature had been +hauled about half-way up, the rope slid to one end and he hung head +downwards wriggling.</p> + +<p>“Just look at the silly folk!” exclaimed Godfrey, in disgust, busily +directing operations. “They can’t tie a wisp of rope round a thing like +that; it will wriggle out soon and break its neck—what are they running +away for?”</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he spoken when the ‘grub’ fell, and the instant it touched +the ground, there was a terrific report, and several people who could +not get away in time lay killed.</p> + +<p>“So that was their little present, was it!” continued Godfrey, +sarcastically. “They intended the thing to explode in here, did they? +we shall have to break the necks of the next lot to see if they’re +dangerous!” and disgusted Godfrey drew in the short length of rope +still dangling and cast it aside. Seeing his friends still looking +below in surprise he went on, “That’s a joke they’ll appreciate better +than we do, judging from the mess down there. Now, triad, what’s to be +done! I told you it was an idiotic scheme we were on with, and where +are my grubs? It strikes me they’re going to be big ones, if that thing +there is a young one. I brought dishes and incubators and what-not, +for grubs, for Rhynchota, and not vertebrata, they’re made for grubs, +so don’t blame <span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">113</span>me if they’re not big enough. If other things are the +size of that little grub they wanted to give us, the cocoons will have +to be done quick and be big, or we shall have to live a few hundred +years to get enough to weave a decent net, for we can only look after +one of these beasts at once. What is to be done? Unless Jovian bugs are +miraculous, that beast can no more make a cocoon than I can;” and he +looked so completely dismayed that his friends could not help laughing.</p> + +<p>As Godfrey said, what was to be done? They could not understand the +people, nor the Jovians them, and after proposing several schemes, +and rejecting all as impracticable, they remembered that the Bonians +had said all planets except Earth were in communication with each +other, and it was known that in the old days the Venusians had told +the original inventors of the <i>Regina</i> the same thing; therefore +they should be able to ‘wave’ to Mars, so they sent several preliminary +messages, asking if communication could be established, without +receiving any reply except from Earth, saying that communication was +already established; what did they mean? Then they ‘waved’ the same +messages to Bona, again to receive the same questioning reply from +Earth, to which all their messages went and to no other planet.</p> + +<p>Pleased that they had not given any particulars of their mission, +they merely replied to Earth that they were on Jupiter and testing if +their apparatus would carry so far. They then decided to go back and +visit Mars, which was between Jupiter and Earth, so closing all up and +leaving the people below in wonderment, the <i>Regina</i> rose till +outside the belts, when her course was headed for the planet Mars, to +which she shot with terrific speed.</p> + +<p>The Martians, they knew, were very clever, perhaps the cleverest +inhabitants of the whole solar system. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">114</span>This, no doubt, came from +generations of scientific training, for they were in jeopardy; +they knew their ultimate fate and, with a commendable spirit of +determination to retard it as long as possible, rose to the occasion +and astonished more than one world with their powers of resource.</p> + +<p>The planet is very small, and although it has many moons some are too +minute to be measured by Earth-means, appearing to Earthians as but +tiny spots, the largest not more than ten miles or so in diameter.</p> + +<p>The air of Mars is becoming drier every year; less rain falls, less +snow forms, and as vegetation must have moisture it ever becomes more +and still more difficult for the Martians to preserve water, for though +the atmosphere is like that of Earth in its components it is much +clearer and drier. The doomed Martians, therefore, have to husband +every drop of water; they build reservoirs, lakes, and swamps, and cut +trenches and ditches at all angles and of enormous length, many of +them from one thousand to two thousand miles long and some many miles +wide. This gigantic scheme of canals is but a great national system of +irrigation. Snow forms at the poles during the long Martian winter, and +melts in the spring, when it is conducted to all portions of the planet +along these immense canals; this causes the vegetation to grow, and the +people on Earth see the fresh green growth on the belts and oases after +the snow has left the mountain tops. Other large tracts of country are +a dark red, whilst others, which are seen from Earth to change from +yellow to brown, are marshy land which change in colour according to +the quantity of water and moisture stored in them.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding all their care, the planet is doomed, and certain as +time will come a day when all the skill of skilled Mars will be unable +to procure enough water to keep anything alive, and one of the most +beautiful little worlds in creation will cease to support any life <span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">115</span>as +existing on it to-day. Time may change the Martians’ physical needs, +and they may adapt themselves to altering circumstances so as to be +able to live without moisture, as different beings, but from the trend +of existing conditions on Mars, life, as we know it, is doomed.</p> + +<p>Knowing and appreciating this, the Martians are using every endeavour +to obtain a continuous supply of that which is even more necessary to +the existence of human beings than bread.</p> + +<p>Being aware of the friendly relations that existed between the Martians +and the people of Bona, confined, of course, to telepathy, the +travellers had no hesitation in settling down on the planet, feeling +sure of a friendly welcome, especially as they knew that the Bonians +had telepathed the news and particulars of their visitors and the +wonderful ship, both to Mars and Jupiter, and from them the Martians +had learned much about Earth, and Great Britain in particular.</p> + +<p>As the quartette entered the atmosphere of the planet, they again tried +to ‘wave’ and telepath without result, and it was only when they were +actually amongst the people that they could interchange thought, though +even then with great difficulty.</p> + +<p>Alighting from the ship and making all secure, as was their custom, +they stepped forward to welcome and be welcomed by the friendly +Martians, who had assembled to the number of about thirty, accompanied +by the chief of the city in which the <i>Regina</i> had settled.</p> + +<p>Imagine their surprise, therefore, on being immediately surrounded and +suddenly made prisoners, and their property at once taken over by the +chief on behalf of the people. Powerless in such deep treachery they +were marched off to a prison to be put to death, whilst some dozen or +more scientists rushed to the ladder to enter the vessel. The first +to touch the ladder vanished into air before their eyes; so <span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">116</span>did the +second, then the third. By this time the others saw that the matter +was not quite the simple thing it appeared, and the next, determining +to be very cautious, stretched out his hand to grasp the rail of the +ladder, when, with a yell of agony, he saw his hand volatilised to +the wrist. In the suddenness of the pain he let fall an electric lamp +he was carrying in the other hand, and it rolled towards the foot of +the ladder, but when it came near, there was a crackling flash, and +that too was gone. The silent suddenness with which their comrades +had vanished proved too eerie for the Martian scientists, and they +conferred together, agreeing that the prisoners should not be executed +till they had explained the matter, when they should share the fate +of the Martians. A messenger was therefore despatched in great haste +to the captives, offering them their lives if they would explain the +secret of entrance and control of their ship, but this they refused +to do, and all four were taken to Maraban, the chief town of that +district, to be tried as Earth-spies.</p> + +<p>The trial was a mere matter of form and all were found guilty; few knew +what the trial was about, but that was an unnecessary detail, so that +the prisoners were condemned to death. Dennis, Ross and Gilbert all +swore Godfrey knew nothing of the working of the ship and was there +merely as an entomologist, whilst he—resolutely determined not to part +from them—as firmly swore he knew all about it and was in reality the +chief expert on board.</p> + +<p>Like the people of Earth, the Martians were influenced to a far greater +extent by the fabrication than by the truth, which latter they cast +aside altogether, preferring to believe Godfrey rather than his more +truthful companions, so that though as a race they were superior to +Earthians, they possessed the same characteristics in that they only +believed what suited their purpose, were it true or false. After a +little <span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">117</span>discussion the judges sentenced Godfrey to imprisonment for +life, during which he would have to do such work as was required of +him, they thinking that after his three friends had explained the +secrets, and had been executed, he would be at hand to solve any +difficulties which might crop up in the future, so he was led away +to prison, amidst general satisfaction. Saying nothing to him of the +fate they had decided upon for the three others, the judges sentenced +them to death, their execution to take place within three days, unless +they explained the working of their ship in the meantime, and if they +complied with this and explained everything so that the Martians +could navigate the vessel, they should not die, but remain prisoners +on Mars as long as they lived, their ship becoming the property of +the state; for the Martians had an idea that by its means they could +eventually settle on another planet when their own became too dry to +be comfortable. Even immediately many of the people could be sent to +Earth, and preferably England, which they knew from the accounts the +visitors had given to the Bonians for ages past had been foolish in +allowing herself to be the free dumping-ground for all the refuse +of other Earth-nations who liked to come, for though many questions +might be asked, they need not be answered, or could be answered very +indifferently by proxy.</p> + +<p>In this way England had become overrun with an undesirable foreign +element, for in the height of her prosperity she gave all a welcome, +blind to the possibility that harm could come, and that though she held +the zenith of the world there might come a setting. Spain, Greece, +Russia, Turkey, and other powers had long sunk below the horizon, and +to oblivion, and already many of England’s foreign possessions had +passed to the stranger, for England had loved the perfumed air and the +lap of luxury too much to protest—till the power to protest was lost. +Her children <span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">118</span>had been pampered and pauperised till they expected all +things to come to them without effort, and rather than work for their +needs they bartered England’s honour for a downy bed; and the time had +come when other nations could do just as they liked, if it was done +pleasantly and insidiously and caused no inconvenience; so that the +Martians knew that England would be the best place in the whole solar +system to which the selfish could retire, leaving the weak and the +undesirables on their own planet to fight out their doom as best they +could.</p> + +<p>The three condemned prisoners were isolated, but on asking permission +to talk the matter over together, the reasonable request was not +refused. They concocted a plan which was put into instant execution, +and the Martians were delighted when, a few hours later, the three +captives agreed to enter the vessel with several Martian scientists and +demonstrate its power, stipulating that their companion should be well +treated. This promise was readily given and they were well guarded and +brought near the vessel. Although all eyes were on them none saw what +they did, but they walked up the ladder safely and entered the ship, +followed by the three chosen scientists, and the door was closed.</p> + +<p>Dennis asked the Martians to stand in a certain place, so that +they should have a clear view of all that was done; Ross, from the +switchboard, telepathed: “Notice this switch carefully, it controls +great force. I move it ever so little and—you are rigid, in a powerful +electric field, unable to move hand or limb.”</p> + +<p>Whilst he was doing this, Dennis and Gilbert had insulated themselves +and quickly corded the three Martians like mummies, Ross protecting the +outside of the vessel as before, and then raising it from the ground +about fifty feet, the people below thinking it was merely a matter of +demonstration before their scientists. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">119</span>Then the current was broken +and the three men were carried to the window, when Dennis and Gilbert +lifted one up to throw him out. At sight of their companions bound and +helpless, the men below howled with rage and an electric pellet struck +the <i>Regina’s</i> side close by Gilbert’s head, just as the man was +balanced on the frame. Stopping the figure from falling, he telepathed +that if any further hostility was shown, he would kill all three of +their captives. His determined manner had its effect and the man was +thrown out of the window, but instead of falling he floated about +unable to drop. This caused great consternation below, especially when +Dennis was seen, not carrying, but almost wafting Number Two out of the +window, where he also floated alongside his companion, and then their +gravity was altered and they gradually sank. While they were watching +these the third Martian, whom they were intending to retain as their +interpreter on Jupiter, and whom they had not bound very securely, +seeing the opening in the side through which anything could be let down +or drawn up, and that it had beside it a coil of flexible wire rope, +one end of which was permanently fastened, determined not to be thrown +outside and killed like his companions, as he thought, so he suddenly +flung aside the door, threw the coil outside, and himself slid down +the rope as it fell—all this happening so quickly that he reached the +ground before any one had realised what had happened.</p> + +<p>With a cry to look out, Ross at once brought the rope in strong +galvanic circuit, hoping to hold the man before he let go, but though +the fish they wanted had escaped, they hooked another, for at sight +of the Martian climbing down the rope several had run to assist, and, +just as he let go, a soldier, one of the guard, took hold of the rope +to fling it aside, at the same time kicking away the coil on the ground +with his unshod foot, when he found himself held. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">120</span>Instinctively, to +save himself from falling, he grasped the rope with the other hand, and +both minds and feet were fast.</p> + +<p>“Here’s luck, Ross!” shouted Dennis, “we’ve lost one and caught +another; float him up quick,” and Ross at the switch-board quickly +made him lighter and he was soon level with the doorway, when he was +drawn in and the door closed, he still fast to the rope with both hands +and feet. His gravity being restored, he lay on the floor perfectly +helpless, telepathing unutterable things to his three captors, at whom +he glared stolidly.</p> + +<p>“We only want one man,” said Gilbert, “and he’ll do as well as any.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented Dennis, as he rolled the man over to see his face and +telepath: “We told your people we would take three men in here and +demonstrate the <i>Regina’s</i> power—you make a fourth; now what have +you done with our friend?”</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>“What have you done with our friend?” again telepathed Dennis, his face +set and hard.</p> + +<p>Still no answer.</p> + +<p>“Give him a bit more, Ross,” said Dennis, and a stronger current was +sent along the rope to which the man’s hands and feet were still +clinging, and the power of it made his wrists bend outwards and beads +of perspiration began to form on his forehead and trickle down his +face, but bravely he endured the torture and refused to tell where +Godfrey was imprisoned. Seeing this Dennis continued: “Give him more, +Ross; go on slowly till he tells or dies—one or the other.”</p> + +<p>The man was now writhing in agony, his limbs twisted all shapes as the +muscles became unduly contracted, but still he would not give way. At +last nature could bear it no longer; he tried to speak, but his lips +were blue and motionless, and he made <span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">121</span>an effort to telepath. Slight as +the effort was, Dennis felt it and, holding up his hand, said, “He’s +done, Ross, stop it;” and the current being shut off the poor fellow +released the cord and tumbled into an inert, exhausted heap. They +revived him, then took him to one of the windows from which position +he telepathed the course, and they hovered over the prison. Lower and +lower they sank, and then the people saw the second demonstration of +great and hidden power, for the <i>Regina</i> was slowly reducing +the weight of the prisons. The people below had, at the first sign +of trouble, telepathed for the Earthian to be specially guarded, and +Godfrey had been placed in an inner prison. This was a small square +building with high walls having only one door and no window, and though +practically impregnable, there was a strong guard completely encircling +it.</p> + +<p>The first intimation of the matter being serious came when the roofs +became so light that the walls could not retain them; they would not +be held down, and one after another, with a series of wobbling jerks +they tore away and floated off bodily, borne on the wind gently as +butterflies. On the removal of that of the central building, they saw +the inner guarded keep and Godfrey, who shouted up, “Good old chums! I +knew you’d do something, but I didn’t expect this. Oh!” he cried, as he +rose from the floor, “I’m coming up too, am I! well, I will, as you’re +so pressing. It will be a little practice for me against the time when +I become an angel. Steady!” as he collided gently with the top edge +of the wall, and in another second he was soaring like a lark up to +the <i>Regina</i>, waving his hands in farewell to the people below, +telepathing his “hearty good wishes” and regretting he could not “stay +to supper!”</p> + +<p>Resolved not to let their captive escape alive, the whole of the prison +guard below levelled their weapons at him, and scores of deadly pellets +came like a shower, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">122</span>but as they drew near his person, they also +became proportionately light and floated beside him, their force being +instantly spent; in consequence they were wafted harmlessly away on the +breeze.</p> + +<p>A few seconds later he was inside the ship, when the de-atomising +current was instantly connected outside the whole casing, and not a +second too soon, for the military was now out. So well organised were +the soldiers, that scarcely had protection been secured than the ground +was alive with them, and the martial Martians were hurling a fusillade +of shells, containing electric shot, deadly liquids, corrosive and +explosive gases confined under enormous pressures, and many other +death-dealing missiles in a heavy shower, any one of which would have +blown the ship to atoms but for the electric invisible shield which +de-atomised everything hurled against it.</p> + +<p>Right amongst the fighters swooped the <i>Regina</i> like a terrible +avenging spirit.</p> + +<p>“We’ll let them see what the old ship has in her, and pay them out for +their treachery,” said Gilbert, vindictively.</p> + +<p>“Right, oh!” cried Godfrey, “serve them as you did me, and scatter them +to the four winds of heaven. Hallo!” he broke off to exclaim, catching +sight of the Martian who was lying full-length, white and motionless, +beside one of the windows. “Is he dead?”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Gilbert, “we had to use a little gentle persuasion before +he’d tell us where you were.”</p> + +<p>“He’s not far off being dead, though!”</p> + +<p>“Not very, but we couldn’t help it, and we want a man, so he’ll do.”</p> + +<p>“He’s watching his folks, and the sight will make him respect us as +long as he lives. He can tell all we say, I believe, from his face. +Look outside!” said Dennis.</p> + +<p>Never before had such a fight been witnessed by <span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">123</span>Earthians. As the +<i>Regina</i> settled on the very arms that were projecting deadly +missiles, they became de-atomised into vapour and hundreds of the +armed fighting men flung themselves bodily on the ship to climb her, +instantly to disappear. Slowly she moved along, mowing down the army in +battalions; causing the flower of the Martian army to melt away like +smoke.</p> + +<p>From all directions fresh supplies of men and armaments came pouring +up like a flood. This time the <i>Regina</i> ascended and sailed above +them, reducing their gravity till they rose about three feet above the +ground, where they floated about unstable as straw—a mass of raging, +impotent humanity, at the mercy of every breeze that blew.</p> + +<p>“Let’s leave them at that,” said Ross, “they’ve only got it temporarily +this time, and the effect will wear off in a day or two.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t they be able to touch the ground till then?” asked Godfrey, +concerned.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Gilbert; “they’ll get gradually heavier as the effect +wears off, but if they had got it strong, they would have remained like +that so long as they lived, or till we took it off again, and they +would have had to be weighted down.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a pretty stiff lesson,” commented Godfrey, “but I think they +deserved it.”</p> + +<p>“They’ll think twice before they act treacherously again,” said Dennis, +“and if they or any other people want to fight the <i>Regina</i> she’s +ready.”</p> + +<p>“I believe our captive does not relish the present aspect of affairs,” +remarked Godfrey, “see, he’s white to the very lips,” and they saw the +man pale with fear, brave as they knew him to be.</p> + +<p>Godfrey went over to him and kneeling beside him asked, by telepathy, +if he understood their language, when he responded that he knew all +they were saying when they were thinking deeply of it, but when they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">124</span>spoke lightly, without concentrated thought, he could understand +nothing. So Godfrey told him how sorry they were to have caused him +pain but it was unavoidable. “Cheer up, old fellow,” he continued, “we +are all friends here, and all we want of you is to act as interpreter +on Jupiter, for we can neither speak nor telepath with them. We’ll +bring you back as sound as a bell; I’ll teach you all about electricity +on the way, and you shall teach us your language and interpret for us, +so we shall neither be under any obligation. We are just off to Jupiter +again, and my friends here will wear a tunnel in the ether where we +keep going and coming, if we make the journey many more times. You’re +pleased? that’s good—it looks healthier,” and he offered the exhausted +man a reviving tablet.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">125</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_VII">CHAPTER VII<br> +<span class="large">THE STORY OF A STAR</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i16">“Methought I saw</div> + <div class="i0">Life, swiftly treading over endless space.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Hood.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Jupiter now lay before them as they pointed straight for his surface, +and the Martian warrior soon recovered sufficiently to walk to the +window and watch the great belted mass. His name was Werran, and he was +an expert general of high standing, much esteemed for his numerous acts +of bravery.</p> + +<p>When he looked outside and beheld the countless worlds and planetoids +crossing and recrossing in various orbits he became lost in thought. +He had seen them through telescopes hundreds of times and knew their +courses, recognising many of the globes from their positions and +configurations, their distances and progress he also knew; but when he +saw them, as from a stationary ship, speeding towards and passing them +in a flash, the ship itself overtaking and passing with terrific speed +all those travelling in the same direction, he could scarcely realise +it. This, however, was nothing to what happened a few hours later.</p> + +<p>From somewhere on their extreme right, discernible with the naked eye, +came a faint glow like a phosphorescence; going to the glasses it was +seen to be a ray of light from some distant star, seen on some floating +stratum of dense ether, the star itself unseen <span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">126</span>in the infinity of +space. Probably for millions of years the ray had been travelling at +a velocity of nearly 187,000 miles per second, and they could see it +far ahead travelling towards them, the light falling on the denser +strata of ether in its path in a broad, straight ray. Adjusting their +movements they drew nearer and nearer to this ray till they met and +entered it, when they saw strange things—scenes that were travelling +on the light beams, scenes that happened perhaps millions of years +before, when these particular light-beams left their source. It might +be the people had now ceased to exist, perhaps the world itself had now +no existence, and no place in creation as a world, but the marvellous +light-beams were carrying the record of a bygone time, on and on +throughout the universe, showing every world that crossed their path, +what things had been done at some infinitely remote portion of the +infinite universe in the far distant past.</p> + +<p>Thus was the history of a whole world laid bare, too rapidly for the +sight to distinguish details, so the high-speed continuous photographic +apparatus was at once set in motion. As they shot into the light-ray, +with incalculable speed, it sped past them, and later they found +that the lenses of the instruments had given them miles and miles of +excellent pictures of the distant world, proving that it had been +formed physically like Earth, and that all the various periods of its +existence till the formation of man coincided exactly with those of +Earth, and as the ship entered into and obstructed the light-beams +there came the time when out of the darkness that was on the face of +the deep there appeared lurid lights of phosphorescence and exploding +gases, which became chemically united to form better and purer air and, +eventually, an atmosphere; then land appeared, though the azoic rocks +and land were incapable of supporting life and the world was small and +deadly. Then <span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">127</span>followed long periods in which various forms of animal +and vegetable life existed, each living its allotted time and dying, +its remains resting upon the ground, each epoch in its turn adding to +the size of the world and preparing it for the next form of life. First +of all came the molluscs, to which the world was principally given +over, for these sightless creatures needed no light; then came the +fishes, which disturbed and aërated the waters by their movements; then +came marine reptiles, and as the land became habitable, though soft, +these were followed by every variety of reptiles, and after these had +prepared the ground, all forms of animals except man; later came man +and all the animals suited to live with him, and as the races of men +progressed, their various actions of good and ill were imprinted.</p> + +<p>For several days the voyagers travelled in this light-beam, unable even +with the powerful instruments to penetrate the distance to its source, +and at last they turned aside to resume their flight to Jupiter.</p> + +<p>Eagerly running the films through the reproducer, they were almost +overwhelmed to see the wonderful sights being presented to them as in a +book. Although well known in theory, it seemed miraculous to prove by +actual sight that the light was carrying on its beams the whole history +of a world across the great infinity of space, unfolding it silently +and swiftly to all who had eyes to see.</p> + +<p>“That was the most awesome sight I ever beheld!” said Ross, deeply +impressed.</p> + +<p>“Had we gone forward,” said Godfrey, “we should have come to the world +itself and seen what lives the people are leading to-day. If the world +exists now!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented Gilbert, “but we might have gone on for years and then +not have come to the source of light,” and then he continued, laughing, +“if we get lost and can’t find Earth again, we can hunt up that beam +and eventually locate the world it came from! <span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">128</span>It is so like our own +that it would just suit us to settle on.”</p> + +<p>With that began a general discussion on the probability of losing Earth +and the possibilities that would open out in that case, for in the +immensity of space where every point can be the centre of infinity, +direction seemed of no account. But there was little danger of such a +calamity, for so long as they did not travel beyond sight of the sun, +or some member of the solar system, they could always return and locate +themselves, for the movements of the planets were doubly clear to them +by actual sight and not as diagrams drawn on a flat surface.</p> + +<p>Rapidly they approached the mighty Jupiter, looming before them like +a giant golden ball, and they all stood at the windows fascinated by +the glorious sight of one of the moons passing before him as a dark, +semi-opaque object with an iridescent border.</p> + +<p>A few hours later the <i>Regina</i> was again in the heavy atmosphere, +and Godfrey inquired, “What are you going to do with these people for +the trick they played us when we came before?”</p> + +<p>“We will see,” replied Dennis. “If they are friendly now, we will be +friendly too and let bygones be bygones;” and Ross, whose turn it was +at the time to pilot the vessel, caused her to settle to within twenty +feet of the ground, and connected the protecting current to the outer +casing to prevent possible damage being done by the Jovians.</p> + +<p>Of course they landed at a different part of the planet this time, and +below them the people came running up from all directions. These people +could not have been of the same constitution as the Terrestrians, for +considering that the specific gravity on the surface is more than +double that of Earth, the inhabitants might reasonably be expected to +be proportionately larger and heavier. Heavier they must <span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">129</span>have been, +but they were of the average Earth size and slighter in build.</p> + +<p>They crowded below, gesticulating and talking volubly, but in the +ship their combined voices could not be distinguished by Werran, so +the current was switched off as the Jovians appeared friendly, and +Werran stepped outside and held up his hand for silence, which is a +sign understood on every planet, apparently. In a few seconds all was +quiet and in his commanding voice the interpreter asked them to give +him and his companions every assistance during their visit, at the same +time requesting to speak with the principal personage. Whether they +understood his language or the concentrated thought of it was difficult +to say, but at once the governor of the town approached under the +escort of an armed guard, and asked if the visitors were friendly—from +whence they came and for what purpose?</p> + +<p>Werran gave the desired information, then, feeling his head beginning +to swim, he stepped inside the vessel and translated all that had +passed, he speaking in Martian language, as he had done from the start, +for soon after his forced imprisonment he had unthinkingly spoken in +his own tongue, forgetting his hosts were ignorant of it, whereas they +replied in English, equally oblivious of the fact that English was a +dead letter to their captive. This was not noticed till some time had +elapsed because, in his near presence, the serious thought accompanying +the words on both sides made the actual speech a mere matter of form, +so that they conversed with Werran in English, he speaking the Martian +tongue, though he alone was able to converse with the Jovians, either +by thought or language.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the Jovians were busily discussing the situation, and +whether it was that the people were different from those they had first +met, or that the presence of an interpreter gave an air of ‘quality’ +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">130</span>to the expedition, the Jovians seemed disposed to give the travellers +every assistance. They appeared to know little about the grub asked +for and talked over the question with Werran at great length, till +all in the ship grew impatient. At last Werran came inside and said, +innocently, “They don’t seem to understand what grub it is you want, so +I have asked them to bring all the animals they have and you can take +your choice.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Great Bona!” gasped Godfrey, in dismay, while the others roared +with laughter. “There will be a Noah’s Ark soon! We shall have to stay +here for years to go through every variety of living thing on the face +of Jupiter!” and he sat down quite overcome, glaring round at the +laughter of his companions.</p> + +<p>Werran could not understand it, but then he never could understand +laughter, for the Martians do not laugh. It seemed to him so strange +that the Earthians should crease their faces and make noises and hold +their sides when they were pleased. He kept his face perfectly serene +under the influence of both pleasure and pain, for it was considered +bad form on Mars to alter the expression in the slightest degree, no +matter what the circumstances. Consequently, he was amazed that his +companions—who seemed to him refined and educated—should occasionally +lose all self-control and give themselves up to peculiar contortions +of the features, often ending in tears and a holding of the sides. Nor +could he understand why they seemed nonplussed at his request to bring +out <i>all</i> the animals. They had none on Mars, and his idea of what +an animal was seemed very vague.</p> + +<p>“There’s nothing for it but waiting to see what they’ll bring us,” said +Ross, laughing.</p> + +<p>In a few hours the Jovians brought some hundreds of animals, native to +the locality, but it was impossible for Godfrey to make a selection, +as not one of them bore any resemblance to Earth animals, and there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">131</span>were no grubs or any form of caterpillar amongst them. They were of +all sizes, from that of a mouse to a mammoth, and of endless variety; +all seemed extremely friendly, looking trustfully at the strangers in +passing, and Godfrey averred he saw one of them deliberately wink at +him, but when the others looked, the creature’s eyes were filled rather +with sadness and reproach than with frivolity, though it seemed to +brighten up when Godfrey was charged with maligning it, but this might +have been fancy.</p> + +<p>“There’s your Noah’s Ark, Godfrey, my boy,” said Dennis. “All the +varieties of animals in the kingdom are at your feet, take your choice, +only get a little one! that frisky one there would fill the saloon.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all very well for you fellows to stand there and chaff,” replied +Godfrey, shortly. “It’s a great pity three great hulking fellows like +you cannot employ your time to better advantage! If these are specimens +of Jovian bugs we’d better get back home again, for there are no +apparatus here to deal with any of that lot.”</p> + +<p>“Werran!” exclaimed Gilbert, laughing, “just ask them if they’ve any +nice little grubs to trot out for our friend here, there’s a good chap! +tell them these insects are too full-grown for him, and not the right +kind.”</p> + +<p>Werran delivered the message, but the folks had done their best +and could do no more, so matters were at a dead-lock. In a fit of +desperation, Godfrey turned to Werran, saying, “We want a grub that +will stand fire, Werran, old chap. Ask them to burn the whole lot, and +then we’ll take those that live and thrive on it.”</p> + +<p>The message was duly and seriously given, but the Jovians had no +sense of humour as propounded by Terrestrians, for they refused to +do anything more and seemed rather huffy at the ingratitude of their +visitors.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">132</span></p> + +<p>“You three are running this show,” said Godfrey, with an air of +disclaiming all connection with the business. “What are you going to +do? Take the lot, or none?”</p> + +<p>“No! we’re letting you run it, old man! you know you said you could +manage the people splendidly,” remarked Ross, laughing, receiving a +glare from Godfrey as a reward for his too-ready memory.</p> + +<p>“That’s just where we want your advice as an expert,” said Dennis, +banteringly. “We’d like to have the lot, so as to give you every +encouragement, but the ship won’t hold them;” then turning to Ross, he +asked, “<i>Had</i> we come to <i>Jupiter?</i> and what part of him did +they say? I forget.”</p> + +<p>“Upon my word, I’ve completely forgotten!” said Ross.</p> + +<p>“So have I!” chimed in Gilbert, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Great Bona!” cried Godfrey, with a start, “you <i>are</i> a brilliant +triad, I must say! you undertake two journeys, hundreds of millions of +miles, to say nothing of a war or two by the way, and the only address +you have is—‘a grub, Jupiter’—and Jupiter is about fourteen hundred +times larger than Earth. And I give up all my important work on Earth +to play dummy to three idiots! Let us go home again till you grow a +bit older! I’m surprised at you!” he continued, sarcastically. “I said +I should have to look after you, and upon my word you need it. If any +one had told me that you three scientists could come all this distance +and bring me with you, like a toy on a string, without knowing what you +want and where to find it, I’d have—eaten ’em. A grub on Jupiter! upon +my word, it does you great credit and I feel quite proud of you. A grub +on——” and Godfrey, following the example of his three companions, gave +way to long and uncontrollable laughter.</p> + +<p>Their mirth so affected Werran, that after staring hard first at one, +then another, he found himself <span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">133</span>following their example, first smiling, +then laughing like his companions, which surprised him so much and was +withal so comforting that he continued to laugh long after the others +could laugh no more, but sat looking stolidly at one another with +tear-streaming faces. It thus fell to the lot of four Britons to have +the honour of causing the first Martian laugh.</p> + +<p>“Can none of your fuzzled brains remember?” asked Godfrey, in gasps.</p> + +<p>“Don’t! Godfrey,” begged Ross. “I can’t laugh any more; my sides ache +as if they were raw.”</p> + +<p>“We shall have to spin round the planet’s surface till something +recalls the instructions,” said Dennis.</p> + +<p>“Ay!” agreed Gilbert, and turning to Werran, said, “Will you tell those +folks down there, Werran, please, that we are much obliged—we did not +want to look at their stock for ourselves, but for a friend, and we’ll +call again!” and he stepped towards the switch-board as unconcernedly +as if he had been walking out of a shop.</p> + +<p>Werran gave the message, though it is to be hoped he wrapped it up +rather more daintily, and a few minutes later they were wandering +over the surface of Jupiter in search of the forgotten locality. The +landscape that unfolded itself below them was as unlike Earth as it was +possible to be. There was a great deal of water, both salt and fresh, +but the strangest feature lay in the vegetation, for all the grass was +long, broad, and thick in the blade, and the trees had heavy, leathery +leaves covered with stiff, bristly hairs and as strong as the giant +cactus of Earth. The explorers were constantly stopping to collect +samples of this strange vegetation and specimens of the geology and +mineralogy of the planet, and to hold converse with various inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Terrestrial history shows that in times past Earth had been given over +to engines, carriages, and cars, and trains running on rails which lay +upon the ground <span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">134</span>and bridges and entered tunnels in the hills, and many +of the beauty spots on Earth had been covered with these unsightly +lines and wires for transmitting electric current and sending messages +from place to place. All these things had long ago disappeared and the +Earth had been much improved thereby; but here, in certain districts, +were lines on which goods were sent, but what was the motive power +could not be seen, except that it was of enormous strength, for when +the force of the <i>Regina</i> was directed to resist one of these +loads in order to test it, the dial registered a force of over one +thousand horse-power. There was an entire absence of pneumatic tubes +for transmitting luggage, but perhaps this unseen force and single +guide-line would be as effective as Earth-methods, or more so.</p> + +<p>The Jovians spoke of Earth as “Gorok,” which to them signifies ‘small’; +Mars they call “Lazak,” or ‘ruby,’ because, as seen from the surface +of Jupiter through his atmosphere, Mars appears blood-red, which +recalls the fact that Jovian blood is colourless, and contains few red +corpuscles though rich in hæmoglobin and, consequently, possesses great +power of absorbing oxygen, the people, therefore, being healthy and +strong. Their own planet is named “Milak,” which signifies ‘beautiful +garden’; the sun they call “Kulik,” or ‘learned’; and it was noticed +that most of the proper names terminated with the explosive sound of k.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as they were flying over a village, Gilbert shouted, “Now +I remember! the Bonian told us we should get what we wanted beside a +mountain with a crater like a flat cross.”</p> + +<p>“So he did!” agreed Ross, “he said the people would meet us there.”</p> + +<p>“I remember it, too, now!” also assented Dennis.</p> + +<p>“Do you really!” broke in Godfrey, ironically, “blessed memory! and is +this haven of rest at hand?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">135</span></p> + +<p>“Yes!” replied Dennis, laughing, “it is close before us and we shall be +there in a minute!”</p> + +<p>Slowly the vessel skimmed over a city, then a village, and then a few +straggling houses, and beside the crater of an extinct volcano lay a +long building having a roof of some glittering metal which was unknown +on Earth and which shone strangely in the peculiar light cast by two +differently coloured moons.</p> + +<p>Coming to a stand above the building they saw many people gathering +together on the ground below, and Werran, as usual, spoke to them. +It was plain that they were expected, and after a brief conversation +Werran returned to tell them that they had at last reached their goal +and their difficulties were now at rest, for here, the only place on +the whole surface of Jupiter, were cultivated the germs which were +wafted on ether to Bona, the floral paradise of the solar system.</p> + +<p>Godfrey was now a different being; all banter was put aside for the +nonce in the seriousness of the work he had undertaken, and full of +his subject, he kept Werran busy asking and translating innumerable +questions and answers relating to the life-history of the little +creature he had come to cultivate. He and Werran then landed and +entered the building, but the air was too oppressive for a long stay, +and after a matter of ten or fifteen minutes they were obliged to +return to the ship for recovery and rest, after which they resumed +their work, Werran becoming quite as interested in the small organisms +as Godfrey himself. This caused them to be constantly entering and +leaving the ship, and Godfrey soon enlisted the services of the three +others, so that before very long all five were working, each with +fixed duties, and matters progressed so well that Godfrey was in high +spirits. Fortunately, also, as the days wore on, they became more and +more accustomed to the air until <span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">136</span>they were able soon to remain in it +for several hours at a time, although, remembering the adventure in +Mars, the vessel was never left without one or other of the owners in +charge, well-disposed as the Jovians appeared.</p> + +<p>In the garden of this place, called “Kulametik” was a strange beast, +like the one that had caused the death of so many of the Jovians, and, +on inquiry, they gained much information about this curious animal, +which made them feel sorry they had imputed wrong motives to the +natives they had met on their first visit.</p> + +<p>They learned that the particular insect, the germs of which are sent +to Bona, is a variety of remarkable habit. Although living in distinct +colonies, they are symbiotic, and do not grow to perfection unless +there is a certain beast living near them. Such an instance is by no +means isolated, for there are, on Earth, many forms of bacilli, for +example, which, to arrive at perfect development, must be placed side +by side with amœbæ; if they are thus placed on culture-plates and both +fed, the samples taken from them for independent culture must also be +symbiotic, and contain both bacteria and amœbæ so that both may grow +together, if results are to be depended upon. For this purpose the +people at Kulametik imported an animal of enormous bulk from a distant +land called Carakulak, in which district alone it was bred.</p> + +<p>On Jupiter there is only one language, which is spoken in all parts +of the planet, and telepathy is in universal use, consequently, when +the Bonians sent their message, all the people on Jupiter on the same +‘waves’ disturbed by the Bonians received the same message. It so +happened that the people at Carakulak received the message, which was +the cause of their excitement when the <i>Regina</i> settled in their +midst, for they had been expecting and hoping to see the ship which had +travelled so far in so short a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">137</span>time. Understanding what was wanted, +and knowing they sent the large animal to Kulametik for the same +purpose, they no doubt considered they were doing the Terrestrians a +kindness in presenting them with one of the beasts that were necessary +to the full development of the insects at the farm at Kulametik, where +the naturalists in charge would not have one to spare.</p> + +<p>These great beasts were perfectly harmless, living or dead, provided +death came naturally, or in any other way than from a broken spine; +for when the spine was fractured, especially near the throat, there +came from the spinal cord or marrow, if exposed, an oozing which was +exceedingly volatile, and instantly became converted into a gas so +deadly as to cause immediate death to every living thing within a +radius of fifty feet of the carcass. When the natives saw the beast +slip through the rope and hang head downwards they feared it might slip +away altogether and break its weak and brittle neck; this explained why +they had run helter-skelter at the first sign of danger.</p> + +<p>This great risk made the travellers dubious about taking so dangerous +a creature on board, lest it should inadvertently come to grief +against something, and end their careers suddenly whilst in space; +but it was found, fortunately, that the variety of grub that needed +the close presence of such a beast would not suit Earth, so they +felt considerably relieved. They stayed on Jupiter a little over a +month, during which time Godfrey gained all information possible with +regard to the life-history and culture of the strange and interesting +creatures, the rest of the party rendering valuable assistance. In a +special room which had been made out of what had originally been three +cabins, they fixed up apparatus and dishes and some strange boxes given +them by the people of Kulametik, in which colonies of over fourteen +million eggs or germs were coming forward. These would produce some +millions each in the course of a year or so, and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">138</span>when Godfrey felt +confident in proceeding with them and understood what to do in each +phase of their existence, the visitors took their leave, full of +gratitude to their kind hosts, and sailed away to Mars in order to +return the borrowed Martian. Werran was quite overcome at the parting, +as were they all, for in their close and friendly companionship and +their intimate association in the realms of space they had all become +like brothers. They tried to persuade him to stay with them, but his +friends and family were in Mars and he would not hear of them being +taken to Earth, which had not a very good reputation on the planet, +though many were anxious to risk going there, or indeed anywhere, to +escape the threatened doom, foolishly forgetting, as Werran had himself +strongly pointed out at the time of the attempted seizure of the +<i>Regina</i>, that the end could not come for many generations hence; +the present inhabitants were, themselves, in no immediate danger, and +there was certainly no necessity to be hysterical in the matter. He +longed to go back to his native country, nor could they blame him, for +there seems ingrained in the soul such an intense affinity with the +land of one’s birth, that however far one may be removed from it, and +no matter how happy one may be, there is felt such a strong yearning +and love for one’s native land as makes the return to it the subject of +many a longing heartache.</p> + +<p>Treacherous as the Martians might appear in their fervent desire to +save their posterity when the chance seemed suddenly to be placed +before them, they were Werran’s own countrymen and Mars his native +soil, and nothing would induce him to leave it, and as the voyagers +sought out and hovered over the locality from which he had been +kidnapped, the natives again congregated in crowds. They still appeared +antagonistic, but bearing past experiences in mind they were not +aggressive, but stood sullenly watching the ship’s <span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">139</span>every movement as +Werran was gently floated down. Then the <i>Regina</i> rose and over +the house where Werran lived a dark object was seen to fall and then +rest. A few seconds later there was a blinding flash, and, brilliant +in the glaring sunshine even, there shot downwards a powerful red +light. Then the <i>Regina</i> soared upward like a giant bird, becoming +smaller and smaller till lost to view. Still the light poured down its +powerful ray, continuing to illumine Werran’s house for three days and +nights, and when this faded and finally went out in a series of fizzles +and splutters, still the metal cup, inverted like a mushroom, remained +perfectly poised, floating over the house as a further reminder to him +and his warlike compatriots of the <i>Regina</i>, although they needed +no souvenir to keep her memory green, for as long as doomed Mars holds +sensate beings, so long will the story of the <i>Regina</i> figure in +Martian history.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">140</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br> +<span class="large">A JOVIAN BUG</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“The wise and active conquer difficulties</div> + <div class="i1">By daring to oppose them.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Rowe.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Having arrived at Derwent the four wanderers dedicated a few rooms at +Dennis’s house for use as a laboratory. By this means the project could +proceed without exciting notice and remark, for they wisely concluded +that it would be soon enough to let the public into the secret if and +when the experiments were successful and not before, so that in case +the venture did not bring the result anticipated they could laugh at +each other without the public joining in.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Godfrey took up his quarters there, and arrangements were +set on foot for the immediate commencement of the cultivation of the +wonderful grub which they called by its Jovian name of “Gorokakak,” +signifying ‘small fire-eater.’</p> + +<p>According to Linnæus, this strange creature would have been included in +the sub-order Homoptera in the order Hemiptera, or Rhynchota, and it +lives on plants as a parasite. This necessitated bringing from Jupiter +a quantity of the twigs and leaves on which it thrived; fortunately +the insect devoured both dead and living leaves, or the difficulty of +transplanting Jovian trees to terrestrial soil and keeping them alive +would have been almost insurmountable. Although <span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">141</span>they brought as many +leaves as they could, it was doubtful if they would have sufficient, as +the insects were exceedingly voracious, but if not they would be able +to return for a fresh supply.</p> + +<p>These twigs were most peculiar in shape and form, being infested with +gall-gnarls, and having a hard, horny bark, rough and covered with +gleaming white spots about the size of a drop of water; the leaves were +long and fibrous, with long spines and serrated edges, from the points +of which projected numerous long, silky hairs of such scintillating +iridescence as to look as though spangled with mica or bright minerals, +each leaf seeming edged with long and magnificently jewelled lace +of charming colour. The leaf itself was blood-red like our Virginia +creeper in autumn, while the lace near the stem was a deep violet, +gradually and imperceptibly varying through all the gamut of browns, +greens, reds, purples and the like, to a rich and brilliant yellow at +the apex, and as these filaments were long, flexible, and in constant +motion, each leaf was a kaleidoscope of exquisite colour—a dream of +colour harmony.</p> + +<p>To Earth-ideas, the appearance of these bushes and shrubs surpasses +all description, being a paradise, a heaven of beauty; every movement +of air causing the filaments to quiver and the light to strike on +different metallic surfaces, changing the whole scheme in the twinkling +of an eye. So delicate and fragile are the leaves that when holding one +between the thumb and fingers, however lightly, the mere pulsation of +the blood flowing through the hand is more than sufficient to keep the +whole curtain of coloured metallic fringe in a state of constant and +ravishing motion.</p> + +<p>No such plants have ever before been seen or known on Earth, and in +the <i>Regina</i> rooms of the ancient British Museum may be seen one +of them, perhaps the most wonderful of all the marvellous mineral and +botanical specimens collected during the ship’s <span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">142</span>travels in other +worlds. A ‘botanical’ specimen it has been proved to be, yet when +portions of the bark, leaf, and silken hairs have been submitted +to experts, they have one and all declared them to be specimens of +excellent metal-work of some minerals at present unknown.</p> + +<p>How reasonable is this conclusion may be gathered at the Museum +where, in the “A” room, in a large glass case, stands a complete +bush exactly as growing, and although it is labelled “Gorokakak tree +from Jupiter”—after the insect feeding upon it—many of the leading +metallurgists consider it a magnificent specimen of Jovian metal-work. +Strange to say, the leaf, living or dead, undergoes no change, and +the hairs will successfully withstand a very high temperature, but +are not entirely fireproof, for after sustaining long-continued heat, +eventually they blaze and burn quickly, then subside to a glow which +remains for a short time and becomes brilliantly white, with evolution +of dense smoke, and then they fall to powder, like magnesium-ribbon.</p> + +<p>The life-history of the gorokakak is extremely interesting. First of +all there are the winged male and female, incapable of flying more +than a few inches, and both these male and female parents have sucking +mouth-organs which attach themselves to the undersides of the leaves. +After mating the male dies and the female spreads her wings over her +body like a shroud, and these becoming fast there by the interlocking +of a hook, or spine, on the inner side of each wing-tip, she flies no +more but, her mouth taking the nutriment from the leaf to which she is +attached for the short time she has to live, commences laying her eggs +on the underside of the leaf in circles of about a quarter of an inch +in diameter and about half an inch apart, in order to give them space +to develop, the sheltering leaf affording shade and protection from the +weather and enemies. Then she dies, and in the course of a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">143</span>few weeks +the ova develop into both males and females, but these have no sucking +and piercing mouth-organs, and being wingless, progress slowly towards +the stem of the plant, eating the leaf as they proceed, leaving but +the skeleton with the silken fibres or hairs attached. On reaching the +stem, each female, having selected her mate, lays two eggs, neither +more nor less, on the tender part of the bark, and these minute grubs, +which are always females, pierce their way under the bark where they +lie dormant for several months, when they emerge and crawl to the stems +and roots and lay parthenogenetic eggs, which form galls. These eggs +develop again into young females, which also lay parthenogenetic eggs, +forming more galls, and so on for ten parthenogenetic generations. All +this causes the roots and stems of the plant to become gnarled and +knotted and the leaves all skeleton. The eleventh of these generations +crawls to the leaves to devour the skeleton fibres and the long, +silken filaments, leaving nothing except the deformed and knotted +roots and stem-sticks. After the fibres and hairs have undergone +certain processes in the viscera, the insect spins a cocoon which it +covers with a hard, heat-resisting substance like mica, leaving open +a small hole at one end into which it creeps; then it exudes more +of the mica-like material and joins up the vacant space, spins more +silky substance to complete the cocoon under the outer coating, and, +after thus hermetically sealing itself in a heat-resisting capsule, +inside which is a beautifully soft cocoon, it prepares to undergo +its metamorphosis, which keeps it dormant for seven weeks, when of +the silk it has formed wings and other appendages. It then exudes +some colourless liquid which sinks to the bottom of the capsule and +dissolves it, when the winged male and female with which we started +appear, and the same life-history is repeated.</p> + +<p>Godfrey left many of the cocoons undisturbed in <span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">144</span>order that the stock +should be kept up, the remainder being taken and made into threads, +which were again twisted into long strands and placed on rollers or +bobbins, and stored ready for weaving.</p> + +<p>Prolific as the insects were, all this occupied a considerable time, +and over eighteen months passed before sufficient material was +obtained for the actual weaving to be commenced. In the meantime, +experiments had been conducted with the cocoons in all stages, and +it was found that the best results came from those taken about three +weeks after the sealing. These strands resisted all temperatures, +even that which volatilises steel; but again did a difficulty arise. +The strands were perfectly opaque, even to the intense brilliancy of +the sun, consequently, if woven so tightly as to present a close web +of fibres, though the object could be achieved by the production of +a heat-resisting material, it would be defeated in its attainment, +for nothing would be visible through the cloth. It would therefore +be necessary to have a net of sufficiently wide mesh to enable the +travellers to see plainly through it, yet not wide enough to admit heat.</p> + +<p>This compelled a further long series of experiments in order to +ascertain how far the strands were effective outside their own +substance in certain temperatures. These experiments were the most +delicate and elaborate of all, for the heat of the sun is beyond +terrestrial calculation, all Earth-knowledge ending at the fact that +all metals known on Earth and many others undiscovered by science exist +there as thin vapour, and temperatures of metals become unregisterable +at their volatilisation. Allowance had therefore to be made for +temperatures thousands of times greater than the highest obtainable on +Earth, and even when this was done, the result might prove altogether +inadequate to the heat that would be encountered—a terrestrial +estimation of which could, at the best, be nothing more than a wild +guess.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</span></p> + +<p>It was ascertained by actual experiment that the strands were effective +in transmitting their properties of withstanding the passage of heat to +a considerable distance around their mass, and when cords a line thick +(one-twelfth of an inch) were placed half an inch apart, phosphorus and +other elements, which are self-igniting in a dry atmosphere, covered +with such a mesh received no added heat and remained unconsumed, though +the net was subjected to a temperature of over 3000° C.</p> + +<p>The experiments were a brilliant success, and in order to make +assurance doubly sure and so avoid all risk of danger to themselves +and their ship, the friends had the net woven with fine strands in +so close a mesh that they could but dimly see through it when placed +before one of the vessel’s powerful search-lights. It was nearly two +years after their return from Jupiter before they were in a position to +commence the work of weaving, which was to be conducted under their own +supervision in a windowless building specially erected adjoining the +shed, and not till the web was finished could they let their object be +known. To all inquiries they had returned smiling and evasive answers. +It was guessed that something wonderful was afoot, or they would not +have remained busy yet closed up for two years. All kinds of rumours +were circulated, not the least of which was that something had gone +wrong with the <i>Regina</i>, and the owners, unable to use the vessel +again, had built another shed and were constructing a second ship, +making a mystery over it to cover their incompetency. Every movement +was closely watched and publicly reported; every time they went to +either of the sheds dozens of watching craft ‘waved’ the news to the +whole earth, and so great a nuisance did this become that the secret +workers built a covered way from one shed to the other. This privacy, +together with the knowledge that from the house to the new shed was an +underground passage, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</span>all in electrification, but added fuel to the +fire of public curiosity, and the four friends could not step outside +the buildings for their daily exercise, which they always took in +the grounds, without being besieged by correspondents from airships +overhead, who pressed for interviews in the hope of gleaning more +information than the little already known.</p> + +<p>One evening all four were coming out of the shed, when the instant +Gilbert, who was first, got outside the door, a cable-tow with a +running noose was slipped round his neck and any attempt to retreat +would have been fatal. Whilst he was struggling with it to escape being +strangled, it fell across his shoulders when it was drawn tight and a +second later he was being hauled up into a powerful airship overhead. +So well had the noose been dropped and manipulated that his companions +were unaware he was being kidnapped till his body rose from the ground, +dragged upwards by means of an electric winch, as the powerful ship set +off at a tremendous speed. The people in the ship must have been mad, +or else have believed the rumours that the <i>Regina</i> was a hopeless +wreck, to have attempted such a crime, but they soon became wiser, for +before they had gone a hundred miles the <i>Queen</i> rose from her +shed like an awful Nemesis, with her search-lights full on, sweeping +the earth and sky in all quarters, then started in the direction taken +by the fugitive. In a few minutes the quarry flew round at a dangerous +speed towards the north, taking an upper plane where were few ships, +and soon saw that the <i>Regina</i> had still some life in her. Her +attractive force was switched on gently and the airship suddenly +pulled up to a dead stand with a terrific shock which shot the driver +through his glass cage a distance of twenty yards ahead, when he fell +to the ground, giving an awful shriek and turning over and over in his +descent. Very gradually, so as to cause no further damage, the ship was +drawn to the <i>Regina</i>, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</span>the two mechanics in her white with fear, +and bringing Gilbert forward, they begged for mercy. Gilbert shouted +hurriedly, “Let them go! the owner is dead and these were but obeying +his instructions.”</p> + +<p>“Come in, all three of you,” said Dennis, now on the outer deck, “leave +the ship, she’ll travel with us.”</p> + +<p>All three entered and the two men were placed in what had been a cabin +for one of the crew, when the door was electrified, and with the two +prisoners and the fine prize in tow, the <i>Regina</i> sailed back +to Derwent. Within fifteen minutes of the abduction they were over +the shed again, to find dozens of air-craft in various planes, and in +the gathering darkness could be seen the lights of scores of others +coming from all directions, drawn thither by the news. The four friends +decided to make an example of the offending craft as a public warning, +so the <i>Regina</i> rose upwards, causing the captive to float below +in the full glare of her lights; the ship was then drawn to the +<i>Regina</i>, the outside of which was now put in de-atomising field, +and just as a moth rushes to the light and falls, so did this valuable +but fated craft hover in the glare for a moment, then rush towards the +upper vessel, instantly to fall in a shower of myriads of atoms which, +sinking to the ground in the beams of the search-lights, appeared like +a sheet of falling fire.</p> + +<p>The two men were floated downwards and were free, for the vengeance +was complete; a little later the <i>Regina</i> was housed and the +government notified of the accident, with full particulars.</p> + +<p>This time the four left the shed, they were not molested by so much +as an inquiry. All the same, the incident, while filling every one +with a fear of taking strong measures with so powerful an adversary, +capable of such relentless and successful pursuit, did but whet the +general curiosity which now rose to fever-heat. ‘Wave’ messages and +other communications arrived every moment, far too numerous <span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</span>to be +dealt with, so all were treated with the same silence, one message only +in government code being sent all over the world intimating that at +present no information could be given.</p> + +<p>That was all very well, but the public wanted to know what was afoot; +why the <i>Regina</i>, when in excellent condition and under perfect +control, was allowed to rest unused, and why so much secrecy; and +dozens of air-craft waited at various hailing distances, ready to flash +the news by ‘wave’ to their various centres directly anything was +discovered, by accident or design. Weeks passed, then months, yet not +a word the wiser was any one. At last, nearly three years after the +return from Jupiter, an announcement was made which almost caused the +hair of every scientist to stand on end, and set every thinking being +aghast with astonishment and incredulity. The message was short and to +the point; every wave apparatus received the words,—“The <i>Regina</i> +will sail within ten days into the Sun.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_IX">CHAPTER IX<br> +<span class="large">TESTING THE WEB</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i15">“Let’s keep them</div> + <div class="i0">In desperate hope of understanding us.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Cartwright.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>No bomb could have been more startling than the simple statement from +the <i>Regina</i>. Surely there must be some mistake, or the men were +mad, for who in their senses would think of going into the <i>sun!</i> +Various instruments were compared but all gave the same word “sun.” +Had the adventurers been any other men they would probably have been +derided, but it was evidently a case of <i>non compos mentis</i>, +and though to a certain extent they could act as they pleased in all +that concerned themselves personally, in the interests of science +they should not be allowed to destroy the <i>Regina</i> in attempting +such an insane act as that contemplated. No one could understand it. +Mental aberration occasionally plays tricks with the best, but surely +such scientists could not for a moment have overlooked the fact that +the terrific heat of the sun would shrivel up the ship and all she +contained long before they could approach his surface; and how could +anything live—even the <i>Regina</i>—in the sun’s atmosphere, which the +merest child knew would convert the ship, powerful as she was, into the +most tenuous vapour.</p> + +<p>So every one argued, from the highest to the lowest, and the government +was petitioned to prevent such <span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</span>an inevitable catastrophe, but the +government replied that they had no control whatever over the vessel, +and though the owners should be requested to abandon the scheme, +pressure could not be brought to bear on them, and again were the +conditions of the original deed printed and made public, and all could +see that even if the owners arranged to go elsewhere, they could still +go to the sun and no one could hinder them. As a matter of fact, the +government was afraid of doing anything to stop them; history had +recorded what the <i>Regina</i> had accomplished in the past, and the +grant of perpetual protection was too serious lightly to be set aside.</p> + +<p>The people then clamoured for Dennis and his companions to be +imprisoned for destroying the pirate airship and causing the death +of its owner, but again those in authority refused to move, merely +pointing out that the grant gave unlimited power to protect the vessel +in the best way possible, and so long as they used that power within +due limits, the law would and must uphold them. The man who was killed +had only himself to blame, and the owners, in reporting the occurrence, +which was proved to be a pure accident, had done all the law required. +Foiled at every turn, the populace became furious until the first flush +of excitement had passed, when they began to consider the matter more +calmly, and what had been anger gave place to an intense curiosity, for +they felt that some mysterious secret was withheld from them and that +the contemplated voyage must be possible.</p> + +<p>This excitement grew as the days passed till folk spoke of very little +else, each greeting the other with the question whether any news had +been received, for all wanted to be the first to know and carry the +information with respect to the means by which the heat was to be +overcome, but these particulars were not to be divulged till the day +of starting, though in view <span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</span>of the great curiosity the owners sent a +‘wave’: “In four days we sail to the sun covered with a heat-resisting +net. <i>Regina</i> in net will be on view before starting.”</p> + +<p>This set all doubts at rest, but if anything it caused more excitement +than ever, and Derwent became the gathering-ground for all ships +that could make the journey. So great faith had the people in the +<i>Regina</i> and her owners, that thousands of ‘wave’ messages were +forwarded from scientists and others all over the world asking for +the privilege of making one of the party. In vain did Dennis and his +friends ‘wave’ a refusal, saying they four only were going—applications +still came in, and the government suggested that in the interests of +science it would be well to take the presidents or other officials +of the chief societies, so that each in his own special line could +investigate the branch he represented, and by this means gain more +real knowledge on every subject than would be possible with four +only. This wise suggestion was gladly adopted and invitations given +to twenty representatives of all branches of science, who were to be +under rigid restrictions not to trespass. The decision was received +with great delight by the fortunate few, who made their arrangements +and hurried to Derwent with all speed. This influx of visitors made +it necessary to have a few attendants. While the four were alone, +they rather enjoyed being so, taking it in turns to attend to meals, +there being very little cooking necessary under the present system +of tablet and pilule form of food; and reliable mechanical servants, +dusters, etc., worked by motive power, rendered human help of any +kind superfluous. Up to the present no repairs had been needed in +the machinery or the vessel beyond easy adjustment <i>en route</i>, +and automatic cleaners kept the engines and all parts of the ship in +a condition bordering on newness. But easy as it was for the three +owners and Godfrey to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</span>regulate their work and actions to fall in with +these accurately timed automatic servants, as they are called, which, +when once started, perform their allotted duties with a regularity no +human being could emulate, they could not expect twenty visitors to be +entirely without some human attendants, for the work undertaken by each +would be exacting, both as regards time and energy, so two good men +were obtained and the original men’s quarters not already disposed of +were altered for them, and re-arrangements made in the ship so that all +requirements could be supplied automatically and instantly, far better +and more quickly than would have been possible by human agency, and a +movement of the zero switch closed everything, and returned everything. +Moreover, as in the original design of the ship, so now was every +cabin electrically connected with those of the owners, and contained +a secret sehen-microphone, telephone, and ‘wave’ apparatus, and, if +necessary, each cabin could be electrically closed should any occupant +have to be kept prisoner from any cause, in which case, though in +solitary confinement, he would still be able to enjoy the delights of +the table, the pleasures of books, a constant view outside, and other +comforts; also conversation, but with the owners only, who alone, by +means of the sehen-microphones, could make themselves acquainted with +his every movement by sound and sight, although such a contingency was +extremely unlikely to arise. The owners’ quarters and those portions of +the saloon and observatory containing the controlling-switches were so +protected as to render approach by any one except themselves impossible.</p> + +<p>Probably the greatest stock required would be water, which, up to a +few centuries ago, had not been thought capable of more than slight +compression, but about that time some explorers entered an underground +city named the “City of Earth” and were <span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">153</span>shown by the governor, +Antistes,⁠<a id="FNanchor_A_1" href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> how to compress water into the form of a cord, when, like +twine, it could be coiled into balls and stored for an indefinite +length of time if in air-tight cases. When a small piece of this +is cut off and subjected to the movement of friction, it rapidly +becomes liquid, a piece a few inches long providing several gallons +of distilled water. Thousands of these large balls were stocked so +that each person could have an abundant supply during the whole of the +voyage. This was not expected to be of longer duration than a year, or +two at the outside, but sufficient provisions were taken for a seven +years’ absence, so that if any unforeseen delay should occur there +would be ample food for all.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_A_1" href="#FNanchor_A_1" class="label">[A]</a> “The Immortal Light.”</p></div> + +<p>These arrangements were soon finished, and in making the alterations +in the ship to accommodate so large a party and to provide the extra +working space required, the present owners followed the lead of the +original builders by employing each man on a portion only of one job, +leaving another to complete, they themselves fixing the necessary +secret connections and fittings after the men had prepared the way for +they knew not what.</p> + +<p>The wisdom of this course soon became apparent, for before many days +had passed the workmen were waylaid and fêted, many of the highest +in the land thinking it not beneath their dignity to step from their +high estate to fraternise with the humblest workman, if by so doing +a little information could be obtained which would place them in +possession of some of the secrets of the <i>Regina’s</i> power. +Astonished almost beyond measure at the sudden interest taken in their +welfare, the humble, honest workmen felt that the theory of equality +had, at last, resolved itself into definite practice, and that they +were now being lifted up into the higher station of their patrons and +were fast becoming compeers. Consequently, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">154</span>they, never suspecting +duplicity—for what can a mouse know of the patient wiles of a cat till +too late—exerted their utmost endeavours to please, and told all they +knew with the frankness and innocence characteristic of them, suddenly +to find their innocence become their undoing, for the patrons soon +perceived that willing as the workmen might be to supply information, +they could neither give nor suggest any reason for their work, and all +led to confusion. The blind led the blind, and both fell; the rich to +withdraw; the honest, well-meaning poor—who are, and will be, always +with us—to return to their own level, ignored and discourteously +treated by those of the higher grade who had just been so kind and +friendly. This need not have occasioned surprise, for an arrogant and +insolent manner is the prerogative of the well-to-do, and is useless to +a poor man who has no one poorer than himself to practise upon. It is +only when the pocket is well lined, and the conscience is seared almost +to extinction by countless corrosive stains, that one can afford to +be oblivious to everything except personal interests. A good maxim to +follow is to</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“Be good and you’ll be happy.</div> + <div class="i3">Another thing is sure,</div> + <div class="i1">More certain than the happiness—</div> + <div class="i3">Be good and you’ll be poor.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>This is probably why the poor, who have so little comfort here, +“inherit” the Kingdom of Heaven, but to the rich it is hard to find +entrance, which can only be gained by the loving, voluntary sacrifice +of everything, to give to the poor. This is a hard lesson, and more +often than not causes a denial and a clinging to the riches as they are +gripped all the closer—the poor remain poor and the rich hang the head, +for the moment sorrowing that the peace of the poor is refused them, +for they have great possessions.</p> + +<p>All this but confirms the fact that though age <span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">155</span>succeeds age, human +nature remains unchanged, and the world wags on much in the old way. +“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet” +is equally true to-day as it was in wise old Solomon’s time, and as +it will be always. In certain ways improvements take place, manners +and customs change along with changing circumstances, but deep down +“the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked,” +and self is ever uppermost. Education advances and with it general +knowledge increases, but this only gives a more or less thin veneer; +the hearts and lives of men remain the same, they still work for self +and ill-gotten gains, though as they rise in station and become more +‘educated,’ they become all the more dangerous, as they can obtain +their spoils more quietly and insidiously.</p> + +<p>King Solomon seems to have had a varied experience which gave him an +intimate knowledge of most things, and he was never more correct than +when he said, “He that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want.” +And not from his own fault, but that the rich, having obtained all the +poor man has to give, cannot bear to think he may possibly say, with +apparent truth, that he has helped them, and given them such and such +things, so they persecute him who befriended them and bring him to +such a pass, that if ever he should be so indiscreet as to hint at any +obligation on their part, he would but draw to himself the ridicule +and unbelief of his hearers, and from the rich man, the good-humoured, +patronising smile of light amusement, as though the statement were too +ridiculously funny to be other than a joke; for is it within the bounds +of possibility to think that the mouse was believed when it returned to +its nest, and told to its loving, trusting friends the story of how it +alone had set free the mighty lion.</p> + +<p>Although everything is now in the hands of the state, and there is +little need to be rich when there <span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">156</span>can be no open oppression, which is +one of the chief advantages accruing from riches, there are still the +old faults and vanities exposed by Solomon underlying every phase and +walk of life. The poorer serve the wealthy in the hope of being helped +to riches, losing sight of the fact that they would then be in little +better position, for in the semi-commonwealth of the present day the +rich man is, morally, no more wealthy than the poor, as he must spend +all his riches according to his position. All the same, beautiful as +is the present state of things in theory, in actual practice the same +envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness existing thousands of +years ago, still flourish in ghastly virility.</p> + +<p>The workmen employed on the <i>Regina</i> were, one after another, left +by the curious to go their own way totally disregarded, and they could +not understand it, for it never entered their guileless brains that +they had been opened like oysters and, like the empty shells, flung +aside.</p> + +<p>It was plain that nothing could be learned about the vessel but what +the owners permitted, and patience was a trying virtue to cultivate, +but at last the delay which the alterations had occasioned came to an +end, and the actual date of flight was fixed for the following Tuesday. +The first flight of the <i>Regina</i> was altogether eclipsed by this, +the most important voyage of all. On the Monday, the city of Derwent +was again packed with people, and both on land and in the air business +began to be restricted, and before the day was out ceased altogether. +The following day crowds of people and ships assembled to see the +mysterious net; and punctually at half-past ten in the morning the +vessel rose out of her shed into the brilliant sunshine to be greeted +with roar after roar of enthusiastic applause. She floated clear of the +roof, then sank to within about twelve feet of the ground and there +remained stationary. Over all her surface was a wonderful covering +of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">157</span>network, fitting her shape exactly like a glove, woven without +a seam to fit the contour of the vessel; at every point where the +threads crossed, it was knotted, and the sun, glinting on these fine +projections, reflected sparks of brilliant light, making the shimmering +net appear as if studded with myriads of diamonds. The people went into +ecstasies of delight and wonder, and every one wanted to know all about +it. In response to the clamouring call, the three owners and Godfrey +emerged to give a demonstration of the wonderful properties of the net, +and on a platform specially erected, in full view of the assembled +throng, they performed many experiments with the heat-resisting +material, amongst which were fruitless attempts to ignite gunpowder, +cordite, and other explosives with heat and flame and blazing liquids, +none of which would pass the net in which the explosives were wrapped; +even a powerful oxyhydrogen blowpipe failed to ignite dry phosphorus +under the same conditions, and having successfully gone through dozens +of tests with all forms of materials and substances, there followed +a perfect furore of applause; for all in that vast assemblage were +sufficiently experienced in chemistry and physics to comprehend the +full import of the discovery, and what possibilities were open to +the owners now the question of heat—as the world knows it—had been +overcome. Whether the material would withstand the inconceivable heat +of the sun could only be ascertained by going there, and none were more +fully aware than those embarking that, severe and successful as the +tests had been, they might all meet their doom in the crucial test.</p> + +<p>All at once Dennis called his three friends aside.</p> + +<p>“You look excited, old chap,” said Ross. “What’s in the wind?”</p> + +<p>“An idea has just struck me!” was the reply, his eyes shining.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">158</span></p> + +<p>“Ideas must be scarce to cause such a to-do!” remarked Godfrey. “You +look as excited as a schoolboy.”</p> + +<p>“I am!” replied Dennis. “I believe we have made a still further +discovery and placed the <i>Regina</i>’s powers beyond all limit!”</p> + +<p>Instantly all were alert as Dennis continued,—“Hitherto a great +drawback to our power came from the fact that we have always been +obliged to go steady through atmosphere, or the friction would +over-heat and destroy the ship; but if this network will withstand +friction as well as heat, we can go through atmospheres as quickly as +through vacuum and not be burned or warmed. Don’t you see——”</p> + +<p>“Capital!” interrupted the others, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>“Let us try it,” suggested Godfrey, “shall we go round the Earth fast, +to see how she acts?”</p> + +<p>“We must tell the folk what we are doing,” said Ross, “so that they can +time us,” so they returned to the vessel and ‘waved’ their intention to +all, explaining their reasons for putting the ship to this further test +by a rapid flight within the Earth’s atmosphere, saying that in fifteen +minutes’ time she would go round the Earth at a height of twenty miles, +pause for ten minutes, then encircle it again at a lower distance at +a considerably increased speed. Whilst they were entering and sealing +the vessel, the people were getting ready their instruments to time and +photograph the flight. Punctually to time, the <i>Regina</i> rose and +then shot ahead, soon afterwards to be resting over the shed, when the +net was examined and found to be perfectly cold and uninjured.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, she vanished towards the east and returned from the +west, almost before many of the watchers had realised she had gone, the +second circuit having been so quickly accomplished. Again were the net +and casing found to be of the same temperature <span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">159</span>as before the flight, +and the four travellers were again overwhelmed with congratulations. +Thousands of excellent photographs had been obtained from various +points on the light and dark sides of the Earth, those taken on the +shadow side showing little more than the ship’s brilliant lights, for +she had gone with all her lights full on; on each of those taken on the +illumined side, every detail of her wonderful covering was distinctly +seen to be undisturbed by the terrible rapidity of her flight.</p> + +<p>“That was fine!” exclaimed Godfrey; “one just blinks and we are back! +it’s a splendid success.”</p> + +<p>“We shall be able to go hundreds of times faster, if need be,” said +Dennis. “That was merely to try it.”</p> + +<p>“But shall we always go through atmosphere at so terrific a speed?” +asked Godfrey, in surprise.</p> + +<p>“No, not necessarily, though it is reassuring to know that no matter +what speed we have, we are not in danger, and there would be no reason +why we should alter for atmosphere unless we wished to land, or take +observations.”</p> + +<p>“Let us get off then!” exclaimed Godfrey. “I am anxious to go and +so are we all. We are already an hour behind time. Shall I call the +passengers?”</p> + +<p>The others agreeing, Godfrey very unceremoniously called up the twenty +impatient visitors who, along with the two attendants, mounted the +ladder and were soon safely aboard. The net was joined, doors were +closed, and amidst applause which rolled aloft like thunder, the ship +ascended, all the occupants going to the windows to watch the people +becoming smaller and smaller, suddenly to vanish as the ship increased +speed; and now they saw the rivers and seas like strips of hammered +silver; then all was lost in billowy clouds; then all was dark; below +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">160</span>them lay the Earth, a great ball, or disc of light, which became +smaller and smaller and was even now but the size of a marble, as +the <i>Regina</i> shot onwards with terrific speed straight for the +gigantic sun.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">161</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_X">CHAPTER X<br> +<span class="large">THE CONSPIRACY</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“Foul whisp’rings are abroad; unnatural deeds</div> + <div class="i1">Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds</div> + <div class="i1">To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Shakespeare.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Almost the first thing to excite comment amongst the visitors was the +appearance of the stars. On Earth stars are seen above and around, +as if the spectator were placed in the centre of a great ball, on +the inner side of which ball stars are seen, but owing to the Earth +intervening and cutting off all sight below the horizon, only the upper +half of the dome is visible. But here in space the stars were above, +around, and below; in every direction they shone brilliantly, the +<i>Regina</i>, notwithstanding her rapid movement, being always and at +all times the altering centre of a vast and ever-changing space, with +ever-changing objects, which appeared weird and awful when viewed in +the absence of an atmosphere through which everything in nature must +necessarily be seen from Earth, and which softens and beautifies by +its moisture and substance and clouds and refraction and dozens of +other blessings, or the inhabitants would be driven almost mad to see +the wonders of creation and the terrible sun, shorn of the Earth’s +beneficent veil of atmosphere.</p> + +<p>Many of the passengers were appalled, and several intensely regretted +their misplaced enthusiasm. They <span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">162</span>had, all their lives, examined their +celestial globes from <i>without</i>, as they necessarily were obliged +to do, merely bearing in mind, in a casual sort of way, that the Earth +was really <i>within</i>, and instead of the dome of the heavens being +above, the Earth was itself the centre of limitless space. They nearly +lost their self-control and were driven to the verge of hysterics to +realise that the frail thing on which they stood was actually adrift in +immeasurable space, and only the All-seeing Eye could guide them back +to their own world.</p> + +<p>As seen from Earth, stars are mere points of light, the rays from +which in passing to us become subject to various laws, and are also +not only refracted, but are affected by the density, humidity and +temperature of our atmosphere, coming to us as twinkling lights. Also +under the highest telescopic power stars show no appreciable size, and +are comparatively fixed in their places, forming such small points +in the heavens that their positions can be determined so correctly +that the measurements and movements of other stars and planets can be +recorded with almost certain accuracy, for keeping the same position +themselves with regard to Earth, they define clearly and unmistakably +the movements of our world.</p> + +<p>A star being <i>one</i> point of light, twinkles only, whilst planets, +moons, and the sun have so many points and rays of light, all +twinkling, that the combination of all the scintillating rays causes +a steady light which is quite distinct from the light of a star, the +magnitudes of which are classed according to their relative brightness, +the first half-dozen or so classes being visible to the naked eye, and +the next eighteen or more to the lens of a good telescope.</p> + +<p>For many centuries it had been thought that the difference in the +brilliancy of the stars came from the fact that though they were +nearly all equally brilliant, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">163</span>their distances were so remote as +more or less to reduce their light, and that ether in space was +entirely transparent. The <i>Regina</i>, however, had been the cause +of considerable modification of these views by enabling many of the +difficulties to be removed by actual observation on the spot, when +it was found that certain parts of the ether of space were more or +less opaque and partially, and often entirely, obliterated certain +of the stars by intervening and absorbing some, or all, of their +light; also that many, if not all, of these semi-opaque webs of ether +were in motion, and sometimes this movement caused the more dense +web to pass away from between certain stars and Earth, and thus in +the more transparent space certain stars would appear brighter, and +the new stars and moons of planets would become visible; at the same +time the opaque web of ether having changed position, stars hitherto +visible were blotted out of sight from Earth. This accounted for many +discoveries of new stars and the loss of many previously observed, +also for the periodic loss and reappearance of others, for in certain +cases the fog-like stratum of ether was found to move in definite +and periodic pulsations which exposed one or more stars beyond, as +the veil lifted, or fell, or moved aside. Such stars may then have +remained visible for years and would again vanish as the stratum +moved back, and in course of time, probably anything from a few hours +to thousands of years, it would again expose the hidden star, which +would appear and disappear in definite cycles of time. Such stars are +called “variables,” of which there are considerably over a thousand, +and others are being added as time goes on; some have definite +periods of visibility and invisibility, and some change erratically, +being seldom equal, all depending on the size, movement and density +of the particular semi-transparent web of intervening ether, which, +although appearing to be bound by no known law, yet has a certain +law of movement of its <span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</span>own, because it may be timed and its passage +anticipated with accuracy.</p> + +<p>One of the chief of these periodical stars is Mira Ceti, the “wonderful +star,” which was visible from Earth when the travellers left, but in +a few days they passed through a great bank of dense, semi-opaque +ether, thousands of miles in thickness and extent. This was almost +imperceptible when they were in it, but as they had approached it had +appeared like a faint cloud, the mass of which was sufficient to hide +the star from Earth when intervening. The magnitude of Mira—in common +with that of all other such stars—varies according to the density +and opacity of the intervening stratum, undergoing many ‘wonderful’ +changes. Its period is less than an Earth-year by about thirty-four +days, thus going through about twelve changes in eleven Earth-years, +or thereabouts. Its brightness, which is fiery red, causes it to be +classed in the second magnitude, in which it remains about fifteen +days, when it diminishes in brightness till, in about three months’ +time, the full bulk of the bank of ether hides it altogether from the +naked eye, and only through powerful telescopes can it be seen for a +little under five months, when a more transparent portion of the web +of ether gradually pulsates before it. In the course of a little under +three months the belt has lifted, or become so thin as to be wholly +transparent, and the “wonderful star” comes into view again without +anything intervening. She has thus regained her original brilliancy +as a star of the second magnitude, and Mira has now gone through her +average changes, but even these are subject to much variation. The +movements of the ether follow a law at present unknown, to discover +which the <i>Regina</i> would have been obliged to stay close at hand, +probably for years, which was scarcely advisable, so the scientists +left the definition of the law of ether-movement to some future +occasion, contenting themselves with the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</span>elucidation of the cause of +the variability of stars, and particularly of this “wonderful star,” +which has been the source of so much controversy and speculation since +its discovery in Cetus in 1596 by David Fabricius. It was also found +that the ether pulsated and moved in such a manner as to cause the star +to appear of varying brightness, and to alter its period to a longer +or shorter time—probably a matter of twenty to thirty days either way. +They, however, noticed that at the eleventh maximum of brilliancy, +which was then approaching, the star was completely exposed to view +from Earth, thus causing it to appear at that particular time far +brighter than when at its greatest brilliancy. It was seen far away, +shining steadily, but without the scintillating, fiery glow seen from +Earth, which, along with other characteristics peculiar to their unique +point of sight, caused much friendly discussion amongst the voyagers +as the ship sped onward direct for her goal—the star which warms, +illumines and governs all the planets and the thousands of planetoids +forming the solar system, binding them all together by such close +and common ties, as of relationship, that no shock or change of any +magnitude can take place in any one of them without affecting all the +others, however remote.</p> + +<p>By this time the <i>Regina</i> had travelled a little over twenty-seven +of the ninety-three millions of miles which separate the earth from +the sun, and consequently had arrived within the orbit of Venus. The +details of the visit the original owners had paid to this “Star of +Love” centuries before, were, of course, matters of history, well +known to every person on board; notwithstanding which, several of +the visitors wished to go out of their course to follow in the wake +of the planet, and land, and pressed Dennis to go there, but he +refused, saying they must travel direct to the sun and back, and in +this decision the rest of the party concurred, seeing that Venus was +at the opposite side <span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</span>of the sun to Earth and they would have to go +past the sun and then come back. Then for the first time dissension +arose, and amongst the few who wished to go to Venus were some of those +who first regretted having embarked. These openly expressed their +dissatisfaction, and endeavoured to inflame the fears of their more +courageous and peace-abiding companions by referring constantly to the +now awful-looking sun which, shorn of the protecting veil of Earth +atmosphere, glared with terrible power into the vessel, and contrasted +his malignancy with the benign, yet distant Venus, rolling onward in +stately movement. So effective were these constant comparisons that +before many days had passed other faint-hearts saw in the sun and its +slowly increasing and awful bulk a doom by the worst of deaths, and +they commenced to argue with all the owners in turn, that even if the +vessel could withstand the enormous heat and friction, she could not +possibly sustain the equally enormous pressure, but would be cracked +like a nut as she drew nearer, for a tiny jet of vapour on the sun +would strike with a force of thousands, perhaps millions of tons, and +shatter the ship like burnt paper.</p> + +<p>“The vessel can withstand lightning and any other force,” said Dennis, +with conviction.</p> + +<p>“Lightning, may be!” retorted Edgar Holt, who seemed to be regarded by +his friends as their spokesman, “but not solar energy. In lightning +you have direct electrical energy, and I will admit for argument your +sources of power to be greater than lightning, but solar energy is +infinitely stronger, and we shall be crushed.”</p> + +<p>“Energy, solar or otherwise, is all the same to us; the energy +radiated from each square foot of the sun’s surface has been computed +at something like twelve thousand horse-power, but that is, of +course, only a guess, as must be all estimates. Now the secret of the +<i>Regina’s</i> power lies in the fact that not <span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</span>only can we absorb any +form of opposing energy—be it gravity, heat, electricity, magnetism, or +what not—but oppose to it the same force increased a thousand-fold and +more, so that we can assure you there is no danger; we may safely enter +the sun’s atmosphere, and no matter what force opposes us, it will be +harmless.”</p> + +<p>“It will not!” retorted Holt, in rude contradiction, “we shall be +annihilated!”</p> + +<p>“Oakland is right, Holt,” broke in Ross, with some warmth; “and if not, +and we are burnt up, you knew the risks—why did you come if you were +not prepared to face them?”</p> + +<p>“We were blinded with the glamour of the adventure, but that has worn +off and we cannot go!”</p> + +<p>“You cannot go?” exclaimed Godfrey, who had heard all. “My most +estimable friends, you’ve got to go, you must go! unless you prefer +being put outside, and even then you’d go, for you’d follow us.”</p> + +<p>“We do not intend going,” repeated Holt, quietly, but with evident +determination.</p> + +<p>“You see that collection of spots over there, good people?” queried +Godfrey, sarcastically. “One of them is our world—I’ll be hanged if +I know which, and yet I’m here. I know no more about this ship than +you do, and it seems like tempting Providence even to hope that we +can ever find our own little speck of a planet again amongst the +thousands of others, which seem to me to be all alike, and yet I am +perfectly content—as are we all except you—to trust to Providence, the +<i>Regina</i>, and to the power the three owners have over her. Going +to the sun we are, and as we have been friendly so far, let us proceed +and all work together amicably for the general good. Believe me, we are +sure to return to Earth safe and sound. If we don’t—well—we don’t!”</p> + +<p>This long and sensible speech of Godfrey’s, despite the cold comfort of +the climax, created an excellent <span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</span>impression, and caused several who +seemed wavering to side with the owners and remain true to the original +plan, but it was plain to see that the dissentients to the number of +eight were unconvinced, and it was equally evident that some plan, +known only to themselves, had been formed.</p> + +<p>Fearing an attempt at mutiny, Dennis wisely professed to compromise +and suggested that the objectors should talk the matter over amongst +themselves in the far saloon, and the rest should do the same where +they now were, all meeting the following morning (<i>i.e.</i>, +Earth-morning, for they kept Earth-time) so that they could settle the +matter amicably, if possible.</p> + +<p>The eight went away as suggested, and after a short discussion, the +meeting terminated and work proceeded as before. In the meantime, +immediately the eight had left, Gilbert slipped into the sanctum and +set the sehen-microphones in recording motion, which, minute by minute, +recorded the mutineers’ every act and speech, how they had formulated a +plan to seize the ship, for as there were several eminent electricians +amongst them, they did not for a moment doubt their ability to work +her. They considered all the cautionary notices placed in various parts +of the vessel, forbidding further passage, to be but ‘bluff,’ merely +placed there to give an air of mystery to intensify the influence +of the owners, and it was absurd to think that if they transgressed +they would be held rigid, if not seriously injured. And all the time, +silently and secretly, the recorders reproduced their every word +with persistent and remorseless accuracy, working automatically by +electricity and independent of attention. Occasionally one or other of +the owners saw that the supply of films was ample, and so, hour after +hour, from the first suspicion of danger, each of the eight cabins +and the far saloon were kept in circuit, and waking or sleeping every +action of the eight suspects was recorded in indisputable evidence. +On <span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</span>turning in for the night, the owners took out some of the films, +and placing them on a reproducer in their private room heard the whole +scheme. Upon this, ascertaining that all the occupants were in their +berths, the doors of their cabins were electrically sealed, and the +friends retired to rest, keeping a four hours’ watch in turn, for they +had agreed that during the whole of the voyage, considering they were +not alone, at least one of them should always be in guarded territory. +The following morning, all met together as arranged, and Dennis—who +as chief and senior owner was deputed spokesman—requested the eight +mutineers to stand at one side of the saloon, and the rest at the +opposite side; he, with his two partners, being behind the barrier.</p> + +<p>“My friends,” he began, addressing the friendly passengers, “before +going further into the matter we are discussing, I am sure you will be +interested to hear what these eight objectors have to say, in order +to come to a proper decision—No, Holt! it is not necessary for either +you or any of your party to speak yet,” he remarked, as Edgar Holt +stepped forward, “we have something here that will explain everything;” +saying which he motioned to his companions, and Ross and Gilbert, who +had brought out the recorder from the sanctum, set it working and the +machine spoke out loudly as the films travelled through it. For a +moment the offenders seemed struck dumb with amazement and when Holt +understood what was happening, he made a dart forward, instantly to +become rigid, for within a few feet of where the party stood the floor +had been electrified and he could not pass. As soon as the others saw +this and that all was going to be disclosed, they became furious, and +one, losing his self-control, pulled out a revolver which shot electric +pellets, but before he could use it, Gilbert, who had left Ross to the +machine, whilst he went to the switch-board to prepare for such an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</span>emergency, instantly put the whole of that portion of the steel floor +in circuit with the roof, and the men, being between the two metallic +surfaces, were brought into electric field and became immovable. Still +the machine talked on, reproducing their very voices, tones, and +expressions, disclosing the whole scheme, clearly and exactly as when +the words were uttered, all that had been said and done, both when +in the saloon and in conversations together in the privacy of their +own cabins; even their breathings and talks during sleep were equally +distinct, as Ross put through such of the films taken by the various +instruments as would give a general idea of their proceedings and +plots. When these were finished Dennis resumed, “This is no time for +sentiment. You have heard their schemes as from their own lips, and +we should be justified in destroying them; with you all as witnesses, +the law would uphold our action in so doing, for they have not only +mutinied but attempted murder. We must not, however, take life except +in dire necessity, and yet these people cannot stay here. As they say +they do not intend going to the sun, they shall not do so. Last night +we went through most of the films you have just heard, and we decided +that these men should leave us, for their presence here would be a +constant source of danger and suspicion, and at the very least, they +would disturb that harmony which our association together renders +necessary to ensure a happy and successful voyage. At the same time, +we cannot land them on Venus, they are not good enough; so we have +arranged to seek, out of the numerous planetoids around us, one with +an atmosphere similar to that of our own world and leave them there +till we return, they running the risk of our not finding them; and you +will be witness to the wisdom of this course, for as they positively +refuse to go to the sun, we have no alternative but to yield. We shall, +therefore, provide them sufficient water and general provisions <span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</span>for +twelve months, and if we do not pick them up before then, they must +look after themselves, or die;” then turning to the mutineers, he +continued,—“You have heard your fate! you will now go to your cabins +and remain there as prisoners until such time as we find that for which +we shall search. We do not fear your arms, as by this time they will be +too hot for use, if not actually dangerous to yourselves;” and nodding +to Gilbert, he stepped back, and Gilbert switched off the current, +when Bosworth Keeth, who had his revolver poised, dropped it with a +cry of agony, for some of his skin was still sizzling on it, though +the pain had not been felt till the electric current was broken. His +companions, also, with cries of pain, hurriedly snatched revolvers from +their pockets and threw them down with burning fingers, as they were +scorching through their clothing to the skin.</p> + +<p>In complete silence, cowed but malevolent, they then marched to +their respective cabins, instantly to find the metal doors strongly +magnetised to the frames and themselves prisoners, each in a +chilled-metal, drill-proof cabin, which, however, was warm and +luxurious.</p> + +<p>Had any of the other passengers questioned the powers of the +<i>Regina</i>, or the determined characters of the three men in charge, +the tragedy just enacted must have set all doubts at rest. They one and +all approved the punishment following the conviction from the men’s +own lips, and the attempt at murder, which the others were evidently +prepared to follow up, seeing that all were armed, and they commended +the way in which the mutiny had been quelled at its inception, while +the few who had wavered now felt devoutly thankful they had decided +rightly.</p> + +<p>The following day nothing occurred, and for two more days there was no +sign of anything likely to prove a suitable object on which to deposit +the mutineers, but on the fourth day they saw what happened to be <span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">172</span>a +wandering star, or planet, which was ahead, near Venus, and would be +between her and the sun, as seen from Earth at that time. This star +had a faint phosphorescent glow, showing through the spectrum flutings +of a peculiar purple; evidently a star which was cooling though not to +extinction and would therefore be easily distinguishable, and far out +of their course as this was, they decided to go to it. An examination +of a portion of its atmosphere proved it to be capable of supporting +Earth-life, whilst the gravitometer showed it to have a surface-gravity +only slightly exceeding that of Earth.</p> + +<p>“We are not likely to find a world more suitable than this,” said +Gilbert. “Shall we dump them here?”</p> + +<p>The others assenting, the two attendants got together the necessary +provisions and brought the men, each from his cabin. In the meantime, +the ship sank slowly through the clouds and hovered over water. Slowly +she roved, but everywhere was water broken only by rocky islands, +barren and fruitless, on which no food of any kind could be obtained, +so they sailed towards the other side, and as they approached the +further hemisphere, they saw the islands were by no means so numerous, +though larger, and were covered with vegetation, and well stocked with +animals.</p> + +<p>At last they came to a great continent dotted with numerous cities, and +selecting one they descended to within fifty feet of the ground, which +caused numbers of people to collect. These seeming friendly, the eight +prisoners were brought forward, their weight regulated to the weight of +the air at that level and, some of them sullen and revengeful, others +frightened into pleading for mercy, they were all floated outside +and their weights gradually increased. So they slowly sank down to +the ground, each with his supply of provisions; then seeing the men +reach <i>terra firma</i> <span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">173</span>and be received by the astonished natives +with demonstrations of warm welcome and friendliness, the net of the +vessel was joined again, the doors sealed, and the <i>Regina</i> rose +like an eagle. Getting a rebound from the gravity of the planet, the +good ship continued her course to the sun, her passengers, sure of +themselves and of each other, feeling more tranquil and comfortable now +that the only disturbing element and source of danger had been removed +from their midst, and they tried to dismiss the occurrence from their +minds by assiduous devotion to the object of their voyage, which now +lay before them like an awful furnace of molten fire. But enthusiastic +as they were and confident as they might be of safety, they could +not look ahead without feelings of awe and a nervous tremor. The +<i>Regina</i> had travelled slowly in order that all should have time +and opportunity for astronomical and other observations, and although, +with a gravity similar to that of Earth and so powerful an objective as +the sun, she could have travelled the distance in a very short space +of time, the journey had occupied three weeks, and every one on board +had been intensely busy, some checking the Earth-measured distances +of stars by actual measurement in celestial survey, others from their +unique position in space noting the physical and chemical changes +and dispositions of the stars; taking moving photographs in colour; +testing and analysing the structure and movements of the ether-web; +the currents; passages of light; atoms, germs, meteoric stones and +other substances floating on, and passing through, the ether, and +scores of other phenomena hitherto impossible to deal with first hand: +all this was so engrossing that the hours and days appeared to slip +away ere they had well begun. Every one on board worked with feverish +application to add to his knowledge, each allowing himself merely the +amount of sleep actually necessary to maintain health in order <span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">174</span>that he +could—in his own line—gather as much information as possible for the +ultimate benefit of the people on Earth. Very quickly, as it seemed, +the time drew near when the sun was but a few million miles ahead, and +its gravity had just altered the position of their vessel. Instead of +the sun being <i>before</i> them, they approaching bows first, their +ship had, as it were, stood on end and the sun was <i>below</i> them, +they being still on an even keel, but instead of going <i>forward</i>, +they now had simply to sink to his surface, like descending on our own +world from the clouds. As soon as they perceived this change, they +paused, making the ship in equilibrium, and, over five million miles +above him, rested for final discussion and completion of arrangements.</p> + +<p>Already they were encountering clouds of metallic dust, still red-hot, +being rapidly drawn to the sun again by their own gravity; and although +the intrepid travellers were intent on sinking to the actual furnace +raging below them, which now blotted out the whole of the lower +heavens, the sight of the awful mass of seething ‘something’ made all +quake, and the pause was generally welcome. At the same instant there +rang through the ship the soft, silvery sound of the electric tubular +bells, calling all to the saloon for a meeting, whilst each passenger +received a telepathic message stating the object. A few moments later +all were assembled and Dennis, as usual, being elected spokesman, +began, with considerable emotion,—</p> + +<p>“Fellow-travellers, on the last occasion when we assembled here there +were, unfortunately, mutinous companions in our midst, but now we +all meet together in heart and mind one, and it may be for the last +time, for in that fearful heat below us—that heat which no human +mind has power to grasp or means of defining—we may be destroyed, +notwithstanding all our precautions; and at this sacred and solemn +moment we cannot do better than kneel and ask Him <span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">175</span>who keeps yon +furnace in its place, and dots limitless space with wondrous worlds, to +keep us safely also, and watch over us.”</p> + +<p>All knelt, and he continued,—</p> + +<p>“O Almighty and Eternal God! at Whose command worlds burst forth from +chaos and darkness to perfection, without Whom nothing is strong, +nothing is holy, we Thy unworthy servants humbly implore Thee to look +down upon us who are assembled in Thy Most Holy Name; and may we so +consider our present undertaking that we proceed not lightly in it, +or recede from it dishonourably, but pursue it steadfastly, ever +remembering that the object and intent of our journey is to learn +obedience to Thy sacred laws. Also grant to us Thy Truth, that Thou +being our Ruler and Guide we may so pass through things temporal as +finally not to lose the things eternal, and as Thou never failest +those who trust Thee, be now our Guide. For we know that our eternal +welfare is considered in every atom and law of the ineffable mysteries +of Creation, and that from all eternity, now and through endless time, +Thou art the Being from Whom all perfection springs.</p> + +<p>“And bringing us safely through this solar fire, grant that we may use +the knowledge gained to Thy Glory. May it inspire us with the most +exalted idea of Thee, and lead us to the exercise of pure and solemn +piety and a greater reverence for the Universe and Thee, the Eternal +Maker and Ruler of it and of its life; the primordial source of all its +principles and the very spring and fountain of all its virtues. Amen.”</p> + +<p>On rising, Dennis remained silent for a few moments and then, after a +few preliminary words on the danger which possibly threatened them, he +proceeded,—</p> + +<p>“The diameter of the sun is supposed to be about 866,500 miles, as you +know; we will, of course, measure this and ascertain its accuracy. We +have been sailing in the curiously shaped corona for over five million +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</span>miles, in fact we entered the corona at a height of about twelve of +its diameters, or, roughly speaking, when we were ten million four +hundred thousand miles from its surface. And as you will see through +the darkened sun-screens, we are in the midst of the vast clouds and +flames lying over the solar atmosphere, and even here, sound-insulated +as we are, the noises of the explosions and collidings of the vast jets +of vapour which are hurtling around us on all sides are unpleasantly +evident. Thanks to our net, the shell of the vessel is not advanced +the fraction of a degree in temperature, and you will notice the +de-atomising force around the ship prevents any of the jets of fire +and vapour from touching us. From the fact that for some distance back +the flames and fiery vapour have played about us, and at this height +we are encountering vaporous metals at enormous pressure, we gain an +idea of what the force must be on the surface of the sun itself. And +my partners and I thought it a time for us all to consult together +as to the manner in which the observations shall be conducted.” Here +he paused, and Crawford Rollsborough, the chief astronomer on board, +asked,—</p> + +<p>“So far, we are all right; but before we test the still greater dangers +below us, are you <i>certain</i> the vessel is likely to be proof +against the terrific power of the vapours and forces there? for we had +better be sure before we leap.”</p> + +<p>“We have every reason to believe so,” replied Dennis; “her resisting +or repulsive force is now about two thousand times less than she is +capable of projecting, and it is more than sufficient to withstand the +present forces and awful turbulence immediately outside.”</p> + +<p>“But as we get lower and the forces increase?”</p> + +<p>“So will our power to resist increase in equal ratio, and judging from +the needle here,” looking at the dial, “we shall then have in reserve +at least two <span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</span>thousand times more force than that being projected, so +that so far as power to resist is concerned, we have no fear: a danger +might arise if our de-atomising force, backed up by the net, would +not withstand the heat, but this we cannot tell without actual test, +although we feel sure there is nothing to fear.”</p> + +<p>“Would not the net alone answer?” inquired Price Rowland, a physicist.</p> + +<p>“Certainly it would, but without the protecting force, it would itself +be for weeks and months in actual contact with baths of liquid fire, +explosive vapours and gases, many of which may be corrosive to its +substance; and there are elements to encounter of which we Earth-folk +do not understand the nature, and consequently could not test before +we left; so by projecting the de-atomising force to, say, a distance +of one or two feet beyond the vessel, the net is protected from every +danger, and will, we hope, see us through safely.”</p> + +<p>“But the pressure?” said Raymond Sorrel, the geologist. “Will not that +be difficult to overcome below?”</p> + +<p>“No, it should not be. All forces should be de-atomised, and whether +they take the form of pressure, expansion, or heat in solid, liquid, +or gaseous form, or any other force, all should be pulled up at our +current, which is self-adjusting and is always more than enough to +dispel anything brought or projected near it.”</p> + +<p>“Then you think we can safely approach the surface?” questioned Merrick +Rutherford, a metallurgist.</p> + +<p>“Without doubt. You see the large needle over your head; it is still as +if welded where it stands; the fearful thunders and explosions round us +and the rushing of flaming vapours under enormous pressure, are turned +aside by us and go round, causing not so much as a tremor. The needle +shows us absolutely <span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</span>motionless, moving only with the sun, so that I +feel sure we can reach his surface unharmed.”</p> + +<p>“Will the windows sustain the pressure?” asked Sorrel, again.</p> + +<p>“Yes, both heat and pressure,” replied Dennis, reassuringly. “No +one nowadays knows how the glass was made, but it is unbreakable, +uncutable, and neither heat nor anything we know affects it except +fluorine, and it is covered with the net, as you see, like the casing.”</p> + +<p>“But when we sink through this corona, and through these flames and +the atmosphere, and reach the photosphere, what shall we do then? go +through that?” asked Rollsborough.</p> + +<p>“Yes, if possible, and see what lies below!”</p> + +<p>“But suppose below the photosphere there is nothing but molten +fire—liquid chaos; what then?”</p> + +<p>“Go through that to the other side and see what it is.”</p> + +<p>“Could we do that!” exclaimed several, jumping up in excitement.</p> + +<p>“Certainly, if you wish it!”</p> + +<p>“But if we sank to the centre, should we not be fixed there?” asked +Kirkby Reeve, a zoologist.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not; we should become heavier as we descended till we +reached the interior, from which we should repel ourselves and come out +at the other side on a straight line. Anyway, we will risk it if you +are willing. So far, no one, even with the most powerful glasses, has +ever penetrated the photosphere, so we cannot say what is below, but it +would be interesting to discover.”</p> + +<p>“But is not the project of going <i>through</i> the sun an +impossibility?” objected Rowland. “The ship, when resting on the ground +in the shed, did not de-atomise the ground below her, and how could she +sink through the sun’s mass—solid or liquid—unless that mass were in +part de-atomised? if not, she would crush herself.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</span></p> + +<p>“That is so,” replied Dennis; “when in the shed and when resting on +land, there was no real line of current under the ship, but the force +surrounding her was so placed that nothing, however small, could come +upwards under any part of the vessel without entering into electric +field, and causing the current to fly from each side to itself, and the +intruding object would be destroyed long before contact. This is the +ship’s safety, as it precludes all risk of danger through tunnelling. +When going through the sun—if we decide to do so—we should, in that +case, connect the current below us and be completely enveloped in +it as we are now, and as we always are when there is danger, such +as hovering over formidable foes, and any matter through which we +wished to sink would become de-atomised, and we should sink through +it as through water. We should use this power to give a temporary +and local alteration only, so that the instant our force had passed, +and <i>as</i> it passed, the power would be lost, and the objects, +solid or liquid, would resume their former condition—it would be +equivalent to passing through solids without altering their substances +and compactness, and on this point there is nothing we are likely to +encounter but what the forces of the ship will take without being +taxed.”</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen!” cried Rollsborough, standing up and turning slightly +to face his companions, “to my thinking there is no obstacle to the +accomplishment of our purpose; it seems as if we could go through the +sun as easily as not, and I, personally, would dearly like to see of +what it really is composed, and as the owners have placed the decision +with us, are you willing to risk your lives in this manner as the +owners risk the ship, for the cause of science? Are you——”</p> + +<p>He got no further, for he was interrupted by shouts of “Aye” and +applause which drowned all words, leaving no doubt of the unanimity of +opinion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">180</span></p> + +<p>The conversation then became general, drifting to the <i>modus +operandi</i> of conducting the observations and examinations, and for +several hours the voyagers discussed the subject in detail, deciding to +examine the corona in which they rested; to sink into the atmosphere, +testing, photographing, and analysing as they proceeded, and measuring +its depth in various places. Then to settle down to the photosphere and +travel round the sun in or over this, take all measurements, find its +composition, its physical and chemical properties, its spots, granules, +and, in short, settle beyond dispute every detail at present doubtful +or unknown, and verify all now accepted as fact.</p> + +<p>After this the <i>Regina</i> was to sink through the photosphere, be +it gaseous, molten elements, or what not, and risk annihilation by +penetrating to its heart to find its inner structure, coming out, in +all probability, on the other side. Not a soul on board flinched at the +possible danger of a horrible death, not one doubted the powers of the +<i>Regina</i> or the skill of the men controlling her, to whose hands +they had gladly entrusted their lives. Heroes, and possibly martyrs, in +the cause of science, facing death itself and that in its most awful +form on the mere chance of adding a little more scientific knowledge +to that already possessed which, great as it might seem, was less than +a mere drop in the vast ocean of the unknown. Grey-headed men, many +of them, they anticipated the perilous venture with the same keen +enthusiasm with which a youth anticipates his play, and the details +being settled, they were impatient to proceed.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the <i>Regina</i> was made slowly to sink, perhaps her +last descent, and as she gently settled down like a falling leaf in +a motionless air, the occupants became completely absorbed in their +work, which had been so arranged that each one took such items and +branches as would collectively cover every <span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</span>phase and detail on which +information was necessary or desirable, and so they slowly but surely +approached nearer and ever nearer the glorious but annihilating +Mystery, defying the Death that was lurking there with sharpened scythe.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_XI">CHAPTER XI<br> +<span class="large">“THE IMPREGNABLE ROCK”</span></h2> +</div> + +<blockquote> +<p class="mb0">“He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the +world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His +discretion.”</p> + +<div class="right smcap">(Jeremiah.)</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>Godfrey was a kind of gentleman visitor, free to work or not as he +chose. His work had been done in being the means of providing the +net, and he was enjoying a well-earned repose after the assiduous +toil of the past two years. At the same time he could not be idle and +had insisted on taking his share of work, to which he devoted himself +with all his energies, and after some hours of close application he +found himself with a little time to spare and was strolling about +promiscuously, glancing at anything and everything, when he came upon +the chief geologist, Raymond Sorrel, who was looking out of a window +intently watching the ‘flames’ which were shooting past them with a +terrific roar and, knowing he was always ready to talk on his pet +subject, and was never so happy as when he had a good listener who +would not interrupt, Godfrey thought he could not do better than spend +an hour or so with the great man whose knowledge was so profound, and +obtain some information on certain subjects about which he had thought +very little, so he sauntered up and casually remarked, “I fear most of +my bacilli would get frizzled in that furnace, Sorrel.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</span></p> + +<p>“Without doubt, Spenser!” responded Sorrel, smiling. “I do not suppose +you ever thought to rear fire-proof-spinning insects, any more than I +imagined it would ever be my good fortune to come to the sun—even now I +can scarcely realise it!”</p> + +<p>“I am ashamed to say I am almost ignorant of astronomical matters +and everything else except my grubs and electricity—my <i>métier</i> +is <i>really</i> electricity, but fate placed me amongst grubs, so I +suppose I shall be with them as long as I live, and they’ll be with me +after, unless we get cremated here—and until I made my first voyage for +the Jovian bug with my friends, I scarcely knew one star from another.”</p> + +<p>“We cannot be everything,” replied Sorrel, laughing. “I knew little +about natural history till you explained to me the habits of those most +interesting creatures to which we owe our presence here and our safety +from that!” and he pointed outside.</p> + +<p>“What an awful sight it is!” said Godfrey. “It makes one realise what a +wonderful and holy thing creation is.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed it does! and the Bible, despite the attacks made on it, still +stands true in its references to science.”</p> + +<p>“Really!” responded Godfrey; “it seems to be a growing belief that the +Bible story of creation is merely fanciful; very poetic, but untenable +when faced with scientific research.”</p> + +<p>“You mean that science and theology are at variance?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly!” replied Godfrey; “such is the acknowledged belief +nowadays.”</p> + +<p>“Then don’t you believe it, Spenser. Poetical the story may be, with +apparent slight contradictions in places, which are mostly different +writers’ ideas of things, but the broad teaching and general truths +are actually proved by scientific fact to be founded on a rock, and +impregnable. Science confirms the truth <span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">184</span>of the Bible, and in like +manner the Bible proves scientific facts to be facts.”</p> + +<p>“But take the story of creation, for instance,” persisted Godfrey; +“science cannot surely support the Bible-sequence of the events in the +creation.”</p> + +<p>“Why not? To me it does.”</p> + +<p>“Because if the story is to be believed, the earth had light and +darkness, day and night, long before the sun and moon were created, and +yet we depend on both for light.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, but what about the luminiferous ether, which can both +convey and absorb healthy light, the <i>ignis fatuus</i>, and other +well-known chemical phenomena which could give a form of light (though +not healthy to us, but man was not then created), for ages before the +formation of the sun, and the sun was certainly created long after our +Earth because it is younger, being yet in its infancy, notwithstanding +the old belief which is held even now by many eminent scientists, +that the sun is the parent of the whole of the solar system. Besides, +Spenser, if you give this matter but a moment’s thought, you will see +how untenable is the argument that light emanates <i>only</i> from the +sun, for there are seen certain stars which are not suns and, so far as +we can see, these have no ruling suns; if they had, our lenses would +show them; but granted they have, the suns, to be out of reach of our +glasses, must be so far away that their light could not reach these +particular stars visible to us, which ought, therefore, to be dark and +invisible. And if it had reached them and illumined them, the chances +are the time is so long past that these suns do not now exist, and we +see but the light of a bygone time, which no doubt in many instances is +the case.</p> + +<p>“Again, to bring the argument nearer home, to our own system, +Mercury is nearest the sun, at a distance of but 36 million miles, +or thereabouts, and in order of distance follow Venus, Earth, Mars, +Jupiter, Saturn, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</span>Uranus, and Neptune, etc., the most distant measured +being Neptune at 2794 million miles away—there are many others of equal +bulk further off still, but these will answer my purpose;—now if the +planets, and the stars that are not suns <i>cannot</i> give their own +light, what lights them? And again, if these members of our system are +<i>entirely</i> dependent on this governing sun for every particle of +their light, it would naturally follow that Mercury, being nearest the +sun, would be brightest, and then the others in proportion to their +distance; but we have the second star, Venus, as the brightest star in +the whole system; the next brightest is not Earth, as we should expect +(for we saw in coming that Mars, who is distant from the sun over +half as far again as is Earth, was considerably brighter than Earth), +but Jupiter, the <i>fifth</i> in point of distance; yet Jupiter, from +a scientific and theoretical point of view, can only receive about +twenty-five or twenty-six times <i>less</i> light from the sun than do +we on Earth; Saturn over eighty times less, Uranus a shade over a three +hundred and sixtieth part, and Neptune barely a one-thousandth part of +Earth-light and -heat!</p> + +<p>“Many theories have been propounded to account for this, the most +popular being that the differences in lighting are merely those of +atmosphere. That, however, will not bear argument, because modern +science has proved positively what has been for ages asserted—that we +can live on Mars and Venus, and so far as atmosphere goes we could +live on Mercury; yet if the argument is to stand we should be burnt +up on Venus and roasted alive on Mercury, which is so near the great +heat of the sun that it should itself be a star, a subsidiary red-hot +sun. To carry the same argument further, we ought not to be able to +see Neptune at all, considering his great distance and the little +light he receives from our sun, for if he depended on that alone, he +would be quite invisible to us. And to take it still further, to the +planets discovered far <span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">186</span>beyond the orbit of Neptune and yet undoubtedly +belonging to our system: how did they get there? and why were they +not noticed, as belonging to our system, before the nineteenth to +twenty-first centuries. If flung from our sun ages before, they would +have wrecked the whole system, being great masses of energising matter, +and at their enormous distances they cannot possibly receive any +appreciable light from the sun, which will be but a star to them. Yet +we can see them plainly, when by the very argument brought forward, of +the sun being sole light-giver, they should be black and altogether +invisible. No, Spenser, they must have been attracted and are now kept +within the sun’s mighty influence by his power, but receive not his +light.</p> + +<p>“Many other theories, besides those relating to the atmosphere, have +been brought forward to account for various degrees of illumination of +our own planets and of other heavenly bodies, but none are satisfactory +except the one admitting that each world, star, planet, comet, or other +heavenly body is, to a great extent, self-luminous; be it solid, hot or +cold, watery, vaporous, molten, or of any other substance.</p> + +<p>“Now, to prove to you how true is the story of creation as related +in the Bible, let us take the version step by step and see how it +harmonises with, or refutes, known scientific facts, for I want to +convince you that the Bible, in its scientific statements, will repel +any attacks on its veracity.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I have an open mind on the subject, Sorrel,” replied Godfrey; +“it seems to me that it is not irrelevant to discuss these most +interesting matters under the present circumstances.”</p> + +<p>Sorrel then resumed,—</p> + +<p>“At the first chapter in the Bible we have ‘In the beginning God +created the heaven and the earth,’ at a period in the dim past, some +millions of years ago, when perhaps, from a primary ‘something’ there +was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">187</span>formed a world which gradually solidified, and there came a time +when the azoic rocks were established; this was, roughly speaking, +about 49,600 feet below the present surface of the Earth, and in these, +as the name implies, exists no trace of organic life. At this time +‘the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face +of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,’ +causing to spring into being molluscs without sight, and very low forms +of phytozoa and radiata, the fossils of which are found in the next +bed above these azoic rocks, the bed being about 16,600 feet thick, or +about 33,000 feet below the present surface. Of these shells, limestone +and other substances necessary to later periods were made, and during +the countless ages that passed whilst this great deposit, designated +the Cambrian Period, was being formed, darkness brooded over the +waters, as the Spirit of God caused these low forms of life to spring +into existence and to die, in order that their remains might prepare +the Earth for further races. Then ‘God said, Let there be light: and +there was light,’ and in the waters there came a new race of beings +with eyes—which had not been necessary previously—trilobites, and many +other strange and wonderful creatures.</p> + +<p>“Then the Bible goes on to say ‘And God saw the light, that it +was good,’ and so it was, for it was life-giving, and was also +accomplishing His purpose. ‘And God divided the light from the +darkness. And God called the light Day and the darkness he called +Night’—and for the first time there was ‘evening and morning.’ As yet +there was no mention of a sun; the earth <i>itself</i> had become +light-giving, and day dawned and faded into night without any solar +aid, for over all the earth there were thick and impenetrable mists +which excluded all exterior light, if any existed, and precluded all +life save that which was capable of existing in water, and necessarily +of the most lowly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">188</span>form. Then we find a further development, for after +these ages had passed, the Creator commences a new phase—‘And God +said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it +divide the waters from the waters,’ and at His creative fiat the damp +and heavy mists arose and, taking the form of clouds, floated upwards. +‘And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under +the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it +was so’—and from that time humid clouds began to separate from the +watery world, and between the two there lay a depth of atmospheric +space stirred by life-giving winds, the open air and winds cleansing +and purifying the seas, and then there followed the call into being of +creatures which required air for existence.”</p> + +<p>“And is all this your own theory, or based on proof?” interrupted +Godfrey.</p> + +<p>“Absolute proof, Spenser! indisputable proof from actual fossils and +the geological structure of the earth.”</p> + +<p>As Godfrey remained silent, Sorrel continued his story,—“In course of +time there then followed the appearance of dry land above the waters, +for the capillary action of the atmosphere between the water and +the clouds reduced the quantity of water and the absorption of the +under-land would do the same, whilst in many places the moisture would +reach the internal heat and volcanic eruptions would occur; these would +also be brought about by the gradual gathering of gases and in many +other ways, and the earth, by its upheavals, would be disturbed and +tilted upwards and so give the seas and oceans limits which they could +not pass, thus dividing land from water, this being what is known as +the Devonian period.</p> + +<p>“After these had all done their work, and insects had formed islands +and the ground had become adapted for growth, God said, ‘Let the earth +bring forth grass, the herb <i>yielding</i> seed, and the fruit-tree +<i>yielding</i> fruit <span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">189</span>after his kind, <i>whose seed is in itself</i>, +upon the earth: and it was so.’ This, to my mind, Spenser, is a direct +Creation, not evolution—a creation of everything first, and <i>then</i> +evolution, and varieties caused by adaptations to surroundings.”</p> + +<p>“It quite agrees with what I have proved in my researches in natural +history,” observed Godfrey, “for I have found that each species of +animals keeps to itself, and the different species never, under any +circumstances, mix in their natural state. For instance, the wild ass +will never mate with the zebra, or the zebra with the horse; it is only +under the influence of man that these race-distinctions are diverted, +and, given the first creation, there follows natural adaptation, +selection, and variety, in the same species according to surroundings +in consequent succession.”</p> + +<p>“Just so,” assented Sorrel. “The first vegetable creation, according +to scripture, is ‘the herb yielding seed’—or seed-pod—‘and the +fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself’—so +that ever afterwards the fruit of the tree produces its own seed and +no further ‘creation’ is necessary, it being from that time a question +of repetition and evolution. ‘And it was so,’ for vegetation became +luxuriant in the extreme, from which reason that period is called the +Carboniferous era.</p> + +<p>“In due time all this wealth of vegetation cleared the atmosphere and +brightened the clouds, and when the time was ripe, there followed +the next scheme which, as in the case of all the other phases, came +slowly, without any line of demarcation, one period being gradually and +imperceptibly blended with the next. So that the succeeding phase, the +creation of the starry firmament, would also come about slowly; the +luxuriant vegetation would clear the sky, and the stars beyond would +become visible in consequence. This creation of the stars, therefore, +can only mean that those already existing became <i>visible</i> for the +first <span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">190</span>time through the gradually clearing sky—for it is not tenable +to suppose, even for a moment, that all the stars and celestial bodies +were created for <i>our</i> special benefit; the benefit of pleasure or +instruction of the few people on earth who seriously study the science +of astronomy, considering that myriads of these stars are millions of +years older than Earth is now. Of course, seeing that man was not yet +created, this influx of light could only be for the immediate benefit +of the animals and vegetation then existing, in order that the world +might be prepared for the succeeding life of all forms, and there comes +another wonderful creation which may have been sudden. A sun is formed +and begins to shine on the Earth, and the moon Luna, probably being +already there—for she is older than the Earth, or, at any rate, older +in her life—but dark, that is, merely luminous like some of the stars, +receives the full blaze of the sunlight also, and our Earth, from +its position, is illumined by the reflecting moon. And God made ‘the +greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: +he made the stars also’—thus came the completion, or the formation, of +many of the stars, some of which might probably mean certain of our own +planets, considering that several are younger than Earth, or possibly +some of the actual stars or suns of other systems.</p> + +<p>“Then commenced another epoch in Earth-history, and one, if anything, +even more wonderful than those previous. For ages there had been light, +but only the light which every world gives out from itself, as in the +case of certain stars which are not suns and on which no sun ever +shines, yet which are seen shining by their own light and lighting +other worlds, as they do Earth to a great extent, quite apart from the +light of our sun and moons, as I have already explained in detail. But +the rays of the newly created sun warmed and penetrated the sombre haze +which had hitherto surrounded the Earth, till at last all opposition +was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">191</span>destroyed and the vivifying rays and heat reached the ground, +warming land, water and air, and causing more violent circulation of +the atmosphere, and making certain portions of varying temperature. +The winds, therefore, became fresher and stronger, and the sun ever +after became the visible and physical ruler of Earth and all the other +planets which were, or had been, drawn within his force of energy.</p> + +<p>“This is, of course, taking my belief that the sun was made +<i>after</i> the Earth, which belief I base on excellent and +irrefutable grounds, though it is contrary to the opinion held by many +great scientists, as I before remarked. You will see how strong is +the basis of my theory from the fact that the Earth is proved to be +certainly not less than one hundred and thirty million years old by the +fossils on it, its structure, and the progress of its life, and even +the greatest estimation of the age of the sun, as a sun, is that it +<i>cannot</i> be more than fifteen and a half million years. How is it +possible, then, for the Earth to have come from the sun’s mass, either +in the solid or in any other form?</p> + +<p>“Then followed the creative word—‘Let the waters bring forth abundantly +the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the +earth in the open firmament of heaven,’ and the Reptile Age was formed, +when sea-animals, reptiles and winged saurians existed.</p> + +<p>“Then came the Tertiary period, the age of mammoths, with all kinds of +animals <i>except man</i>. The fossils of these are found at a depth +of from two hundred to two thousand feet below the present surface. +Many noted scientists positively assert that there lived at this period +human beings of a very primitive type, and say the order given in the +Bible is out of place, but I cannot agree with them, for no remains of +man have ever been found to exist with these, and it is but reasonable +to suppose that considering his bones are of similar substance to +those of other animals and of fishes, <i>his</i> remains could not +have completely vanished <span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">192</span>while theirs have been left to fossilise. +As a matter of fact, no <i>human</i> fossils, bones, implements, or +indeed any other human relics are, or ever have been, found lower than +two hundred feet below the present surface. The argument, therefore, +is entirely in favour of the Bible sequence of events—for man to be +uncreated at this period.</p> + +<p>“But after all these (to man) harmful creatures had died off, their +places in the ordinary course being taken by others more suited to the +quieter time, and over which man could have rule, <i>then</i>, and not +before, was man created and given dominion over every living and moving +thing—which brings us to the present era, when man, as a race, has for +a time power to subdue the whole of the vegetable and animal creation, +and according to the manner in which the privilege is used, so will +posterity and the future of the world suffer, or benefit.”</p> + +<p>“Then you believe the Bible story absolutely as written?” said Godfrey, +much impressed.</p> + +<p>“How can I do otherwise, when I can only prove its correctness, search +as I may to find it faulty?” replied Sorrel, with fervour. “I do +believe the story most assuredly, as certainly as I believe that this +sun will be peopled in time as Earth is now.”</p> + +<p>“You really believe that, Sorrel!” asked Godfrey. “Tell me how, for I +have never considered the question of creation in so serious an aspect +before. If these changes come gradually, what causes them?”</p> + +<p>“The Creator, Spenser,” replied Sorrel, reverently, “by first of all +creating a certain law which, by means of cause and effect, works +itself out <i>ad infinitum</i>. Without going over the ground again, +I will tell you how from every effect giving rise to a later effect, +the Creator’s Wonderful Will and Power are worked out. Take this sun; +in time the mass will cool to such an extent that the internal heat +will not burst through it, and a crust will form; as this becomes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">193</span>thicker, it will, on the outside, turn from white to black till it is +almost cold. This coolness will cause these heavy, hot vapours above to +condense and the ground will be covered with water, making it a watery +world. The heavy, black, grit-laden clouds above will cause general +darkness. Then will come a repetition of the creation of Earth, with +which I will not trouble you again in its Biblical sense—the clouds +will clear by precipitating their solid matter on the water, where it +will sink, to form muddy ooze and the like at the bed. This deposit +will lighten the clouds and there will be light—the light of a star +unlit by a sun. In time, all the solid matter will have left the clouds +which, relieved of their weight, will rise and an atmosphere will form +below them, and, being in circulation, will cause winds which, in turn, +will disperse the deadly gases and cause the water to have motion, +which will purify it, and in the mud molluscs will grow, and the deadly +gases above will be destroyed by combining, some with air, others +with water, and others with land, so that there will be a healthy, +breathable atmosphere through which the stars will be seen, and period +follows period as I have just stated, till this present sun has become +another world, even like Earth.”</p> + +<p>“And what about the present solar system,—where will it be then?”</p> + +<p>“Probably revolving round some other sun. There would be a time, long +in the past, when each of the planets was in some other part of the +universe, each as a sun, the centre of its own system, but as time +passed, and the violent energy gave place to the cooler and quieter +energy of inhabited worlds, some other world, expending its new-formed +energy in visible heat, by a coalescence with one or more others, +became this present sun, and, powerful in its youthful and terrible +energy, which was more assertive than that of any of the planets near, +drew them within the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">194</span>circle of its influence, and itself became the +centre and ruler round which these planets must revolve until such +times as its energy has no longer the power to retain them, when the +next strongest will take up the tale and probably cause new suns and +moons to form.”</p> + +<p>“How could a sun form,—by impact?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I think that scarcely likely, for I have often experimented +with motes in a sunbeam. If these are agitated in vacuum, they rise and +fall and float around but never collide. At least I have never been +able to cause any to do so; many draw near to each other, but long +before they get sufficiently near to touch, they fly off horizontally +and fall. So long as they float in space they will not collide; only +is it possible for them to do so when they reach the fixed point to +which they have been drawn. The motes will rest upon one another when +they have reached the lowest part to which gravity has drawn them, but +so long as they are above that part, I cannot cause them to collide, +no matter to what agitation they are subjected. They float and dart +here and there in the sunbeam as separate units—stars if you like—each +avoiding contact with its neighbour, though the sizes are unequal.”</p> + +<p>“Then how could a sun form? I could understand the worlds separating if +all the forces are equal, for in that case one would repel the other, +but if they cannot collide, how can they form a sun by coalescence?”</p> + +<p>“Though two worlds could not collide accidentally in space, one could +draw the other to its own surface, if powerful enough to do so, the +impact causing such heat as to liquefy both.”</p> + +<p>“Is not that the same thing as colliding in space?” asked Godfrey, +dubiously. “I must confess I see no difference.”</p> + +<p>“No, not at all,” said Sorrel, smiling, “I will illustrate <span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">195</span>the point +by a simple experiment I have often used to prove this very question to +my own satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“If you take two revolvers exactly alike, firing the old-fashioned lead +bullets, and so place and fix them that when fired their respective +bullets will traverse the same line exactly, at the end of which is an +iron-plate target, and arrange for them to be fired simultaneously, +one would be inclined to think that the instant the bullet has left +the end of the one barrel, it will strike and coalesce with that from +the other barrel and travel along the same line as a single globule +of molten lead, striking the target as one, for only one splash will +be seen. If now, the experiment is repeated and arrangements made by +which the bullet shall be photographed during the whole of its flight, +you will find that both bullets leave simultaneously and approach each +other instantly, but instead of colliding, they then <i>separate</i>, +and travel together to the target side by side, but the instant they +reach the iron plate—a mere breath before impact on it—they coalesce, +and the actual impact on the plate takes place as one drop composed of +two bullets <i>already</i> united, their union causing them to expend +their energy in coalescence into a single globule of liquid lead. If +you now increase or diminish the distance by placing the plate further +back, or drawing it nearer, the result is the same. The bullets will +not coalesce till the actual destination is reached, but will repel +one another from the straight line till that time, though they are but +a breath apart—from which we may infer that heavenly bodies cannot +collide, but must be drawn definitely and irresistibly by some more +powerful agency to the actual surface of another world before a union +is possible, like a comet flying into the sun.”</p> + +<p>“In the case of the bullet experiment,” said Godfrey, “if one followed +the other, the latter at greater speed, it would overtake and absorb +the former?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">196</span></p> + +<p>“Naturally, for its energy would be the greater.”</p> + +<p>“And if one went immediately behind the other, almost touching, I +suppose there would be two impacts on the target; one would not hasten +or retard the other?”</p> + +<p>“There would be a slight influence, but not an appreciable one; there +would be two impacts on the plate, in rapid succession, the first, +naturally, striking the plate before that which followed.”</p> + +<p>“Are there other ways in which suns could be formed, without the energy +called into being by the shock of contact?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, there are many ways; perhaps the quickest and most +effective to Earth-minds would be the sudden withdrawal from the +atmosphere of, say, our world, our own Earth, of every trace of +nitrogen. The air then being all oxygen, without any nitrogen to +restrain it, would cause the whole world to catch fire; as the Bible +says, ‘The elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and +the works that are therein, shall be burned up’; everything would +instantly catch fire; the water, seas, rocks, earth, and sky would +become a molten mass of liquid fire—a fresh sun, full of the terrible +energy of its own combustion; and in our blazing atmosphere and flaming +clouds the people on other worlds would see exactly the same awful +combustion as we are watching now. And our Earth, formed into a new +sun, would probably still revolve round this sun, if his greater bulk +and attraction had not then diminished, and would itself be the centre +of a new system by reason of its energy attracting other planets, and +causing them to form a new orbit round it.</p> + +<p>“Such an inevitable result would follow the simple withdrawal from +Earth of such a deadly gas as nitrogen, which by a loving Creator +has been made to temper its exactly opposite energising gas, oxygen, +the addition of but one-fifth of which, as you know, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">197</span>is sufficient +to turn the death-dealing four-fifths of nitrogen into our glorious, +life-sustaining atmosphere, that is, of course, eliminating the small +quantity of argon present (which is rather less than 1 per cent. of +the atmosphere’s volume) and the carbon di-oxide and aqueous vapour. +There is thus but a breath between life and an awful, agonising, though +rapid, death.”</p> + +<p>Godfrey, deeply impressed, stood musing and looking out into the +flaming sea around them, when just as he turned to Sorrel to ask +a question, there was heard a report in the laboratory, and crash +after crash followed in swift succession as something hard could be +heard striking the metallic walls there, and then came the sound of +shattering glass.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">198</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_XII">CHAPTER XII<br> +<span class="large">THROUGH FIRE AND FLAME AND MYSTERY</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i16">“I stand like one</div> + <div class="i0">Has lost his way, and no man near him to inquire it of.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Sir Robert Howard.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Instantly everybody rushed to the laboratory, to find that though no +one was injured much damage had been done to the apparatus, and on +inquiry it transpired that Gilbert had prepared to obtain a sample of +the outer air for analysis, and knowing that the pressure must be so +much greater—inconceivably greater—than Earth-minds could estimate, he +had provided a specially thick box, sheeted and clamped with strong +steel, and had placed this over the net-covered valve, specially +designed for such purposes, when, the instant the valve was opened, +the accident occurred. Whether it was the enormous pressure outside, +or the composition of the outer air which burst the box, could not be +told, but it had been blown to little pieces and the air was filled +with dry and acrid fumes, some of which were collected for examination. +By a miracle Gilbert was unhurt, and he picked up several pieces of the +broken box and handed them round. So great had been the pressure and so +fierce the heat that in the momentary opening and closing of the valve, +the vapour collected in that short time had completely destroyed what +had been deemed a fireproof casing and fused the steel shell almost +through before the explosion, which Gilbert <span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">199</span>said was instant. Although +there were more of these boxes, it was decided that for their general +safety they would sample no more outer air, for the present, at least.</p> + +<p>The gas which had been collected was soon found to have been metals in +tenuous vapour, and now carbon and metallic dust in very fine division. +It seemed most remarkable that although only a small quantity of vapour +had entered, there should be so great a residue of this dust, for +almost everything in the room was covered with the fine, impalpable +powder. On analysis, this powder was proved to contain many of the +metallic and other elements found on Earth and others at present +unknown; all the deposit was carefully collected and stored in sealed +jars for more searching analysis later.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, observations showed the ‘corona’ to consist of clouds +which were similar to terrestrial clouds, but most delicately coloured +in tone and hue and ever changing, being driven about by the constant +explosions and gaseous projections from the furnace beneath, these +projections being of such appalling force that times without number +a mere pencil of gas would rise with lightning speed for several +millions of miles and strike the surface of an enormous cloud, miles +in extent and depth, and this cloud, which they proved to contain fine +particles of hitherto vaporous carbon of a rosy tint, would turn to a +dazzling white in the twinkling of an eye, and the whole cloud would +sometimes be reheated so fiercely as to become vaporous and rise bodily +for millions of miles, till it became so cooled as to be more dense, +when it sank again; at other times, or in other places, such a cloud +would be disintegrated completely, dropping in miles of fire, which +the glasses or spectrum showed to consist of minute metallic dust, now +separated and falling in a white-hot shower, soon to be converted into +vapour, proving most of the clouds to be, as it were, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">200</span>but bags of +gas sufficiently buoyant to hold the metals in suspension at enormous +heights till burst by ignition, or rendered more rarefied, when the +heavier and more refractory elements, such as carbon, were free to +fall by their own gravity. These clouds were of exquisite colour of +extraordinary variety, according to the degree of heat of the particles +contained in their mass and the colour which was reflected from the +lower strata of similar clouds, the moving, terrible ‘flames’ roaring +round them with repeated flashes of gleaming white, as some terrific +explosion below burst all flames and clouds asunder, and allowed the +fearful lurid heat of the photosphere to be reflected directly upwards +through the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>This turbulence was incessant, and as they slowly sank and the hours +passed, the awful grandeur made the necessary sleep seem almost a waste +of time, for every mile they descended brought fresh wonders which it +was felt almost a crime to miss. Frequently, as they were leaving to +retire to their cabins, the spectacular display around them would be +so amazing, that tired as they were, they would remain at the windows +entranced, as perhaps a gigantic flame would mount higher and higher, +licking a cloud like a huge tongue, and at the touch, the sea of cloud +would be blown to ribbons which stretched in all directions, waving +about in the terrible reek in millions of ragged tendrils, which darted +away till lost in the distant flames, their long, tape-like feelers in +constant motion as the heat twisted them, like a giant octopus being +roasted alive and writhing in agony. For hours this would continue, +till the watchers would turn away, reluctant to leave it, and seek +their long-desired rest, impatient that nature had made it necessary +for Earth-life to take systematic and regular repose. At other times +the clouds would burst and disgorge their contents in floods of fire, +awful to contemplate as they poured downwards like water, making broad +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">201</span>bands of flame connecting the two strata—the rolling sea of cloud-fire +above with that of the furnace beneath.</p> + +<p>This is, without doubt, what is seen from Earth and there discussed as +“stems, which, though they appear thin and pencilled, are of enormous +substance, connect the clouds with the chromosphere,” and which are +seen to last sometimes for several days, so great is the quantity +disgorged.</p> + +<p>In addition to these the travellers saw the eruptive portions known on +Earth as ‘flames,’ which were not only ruptured and changed from the +gases below, but themselves became eruptive, causing violent changes +to take place every few minutes, at times projecting dense masses of +lava-like substances high aloft, and masses of dark but brilliant oily +material like half-cooled metal; at other times their cavernous depths +were comparatively shaded by the clouds and by their own immensity, and +corresponded to the ‘spots’ seen from Earth. There are also immense +clouds of hydrogen, similar to Earth-clouds, forming, dispersing, +and exploding continuously above and amongst these ‘flames,’ and the +matter, liquid, solid, and gaseous, ejected from these ‘flames’ is +inconceivable.</p> + +<p>In shape the ‘corona’ spreads far and wide in all directions in +wondrous variety both of form and colour, the ‘rays’ extending like a +‘glory,’ inexpressible in grandeur and magnificence. There is no real +or definite line of demarcation between the ‘corona’ and the ‘flames,’ +for, in some cases, the flames reach upwards and spread outwards like a +gaseous envelope and form the base of the corona, whilst in others, the +corona becomes part of the actual substance and shape of the tongues of +eruptive fire which are designated ‘flames.’</p> + +<p>Many theories have been put forward to explain what the corona really +is; some saying that it is <span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">202</span>cometary matter, others that it is merely +nebulous; that it is formed of streams of myriads of meteorites; that +it is merely a form of Zodiacal Light, and again others that it is +nothing more than the glare of the furnace below reflected on the upper +strata of atmosphere, as that of a terrestrial furnace is reflected +on the clouds above it. It was, therefore, a proud moment when, after +long investigation, the explorers could settle all these points of +doubt, and prove it to be gaseous, finding, at various portions of +its mass, oxygen, combining in enormous quantities with hydrogen, +carbon, phosphorus, carbon mon-oxide, and sulphur, the combustion being +accompanied with terrific heat and noise. Some idea of the amazing +heat may be gathered from the fact that there were thousands of miles +of carbon existing in combination with other of the most refractory +elements as extremely thin and tenuous vapour, accompanying which were +violent electric discharges, which encircled the <i>Regina</i> hour +after hour and day after day in a tireless surging sea which, until +the first fear had subsided, had paled the faces of the occupants, for +the flood was so incessant that they could not help doubting if their +protecting force would be proof against it, so close it seemed as they +gathered round the windows trying to believe they were safe, longing +for it either to terminate or for the annihilating stroke to end their +suspense and close the terrible waiting for the death that tarried. But +as it was perceived that although the <i>Regina</i> was the focus of +all the wild, electric fluid of the zones and strata through which she +sank, she continued her roving course unfettered and unharmed as if in +a shower of Earth-rain, all fear gradually subsided, and the voyagers +could look on the awful scene as on a wondrous panorama; with no alarm +and scarcely an expression of surprise except when some more than +usually magnificent effect compelled their voiced admiration. And all +this time as the ship was sinking <span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">203</span>with a slow and steady descent, the +clouds were dropping their elements, cooled from their gaseous state to +finely powdered dust, to be reheated and blown back in fresh clouds of +white and glowing gas, which mounted higher and higher in an endless +repetition.</p> + +<p>Had the voyage ended here the results would have been worth all the +trouble and risk, for the solar corona, and chromosphere or sierra, +had once and for all time given up their secrets. Having gone through +these, the travellers came to the ‘photosphere,’ which, when seen from +Earth, defines to the eye the extent of the sun’s disc. This was, in +reality, a sea of white-hot fire, or lava, so fierce that the liquid +was thin as spirit, and the ‘waves,’ ‘granules,’ ‘willow-leaves,’ +or ‘rice-grains,’ to which various astronomers have referred, were +actually the rippling waves of the fiery, solar sea, the ‘photosphere’ +through which no instrument known on Earth has power to penetrate, and +so white and blinding is the glare of it, that only those instruments +of very high power can clearly distinguish the ‘rice-grains,’ which +are accompanied by myriads of dark spots, called ‘pores,’ these being +merely the shadows between the ‘rice-grains’; the latter in a constant +state of ‘boil,’ caused by portions being heated from the under-source +and, increasing in volume, becoming specifically lighter and rushing +upwards to a higher plane to which they carry much of their newly +acquired temperature, their tops, or crests, glowing; whilst the +portions of the sea which surrounded them sink into the cavities they +left behind when they were projected upward, these also to be heated +and again to return, their cooler portions and return showing as +‘pores.’</p> + +<p>The intense energy and rapidity with which these convection currents +take place are so awful in their fierceness that the human mind can +form no idea of what gas, vapour and energy on the sun really are. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">204</span>Solar vapour is certainly millions of times more powerful than a +terrestrial solid, and the greatest conceivable crash of impact of +Earth-solid would not be anything near so violent as the tiniest spray +of solar vapour, and in addition to this lightning-like, irresistible +surge, there are portions of the solar sea where, either through the +extra refractibility, or the union of some explosive gases, the liquid +remains quiescent, or rather in a state of quiet ebullition, when, with +a terrific report, it suddenly bursts, shooting upwards in a spray of +white-hot foam, for hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles into the +atmosphere. And there follows terrible flaming and explosive vapour, +which spreads upwards and around, exploding and lighting other units of +similar gas here, there, and everywhere, till the whole atmosphere to +the horizon, and upwards as far as the clouds and flames will allow the +sight to penetrate, is one deafening, exploding mass, as if some giant +insect had rushed into a flame and the fierce heat caused the sudden +expansion of its moisture to burst it, and the now dismembered creature +had been flung screeching and flaming to the four winds of heaven, or +as if some mighty bomb had been flung into and devastated hell.</p> + +<p>As they hovered over this solar sea the effect was frightful to +contemplate and their position nerve-shaking in the extreme, and again +came the natural doubt that if they were fortunate in that the ship +withstood the incalculable heat, she could never even float on that +terrible sea, for who could estimate the temperature of a mass of +molten metal and other substances nearly nine hundred thousand miles in +diameter. She would be shattered in the awful tumult and the hurtling +masses of vapour and the batterings of the irresistible fiery waves, +the mere splashes of the foam of which came together with crashes of +thunder, and several of the passengers rushed in trepidation to the +owners of the vessel who, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">205</span>each in his own prearranged place, were +watching intently the <i>Regina’s</i> various gauges and instruments, +for the lives of all depended on the accurate adjustment of the various +forces over which they had control, and the movement of a switch a +thousandth of an inch too much or too little would throw matters out +of balance and mean death, instant and certain. Ross was controlling +the gravity, retarding and increasing as the ship rested and fell, +constantly watching and comparing the dials registering the sun’s +gravity with that stating their own, keeping both in proper adjustment +together, lest, in the twinkling of an eye, they should be drawn to the +surface of the fiery sea. The work of Dennis and Gilbert was no less +important and necessary to the general safety, and as Morris Farrant +approached the barrier, Ross made the ship stationary and stepped into +the saloon, along with his two colleagues, and in answer to Farrant’s +inquiry, he replied, “You need have no fear! the vessel’s protective +force could even now be greatly increased.”</p> + +<p>“Then there is no danger from shock of impact?” inquired Rowland.</p> + +<p>“None whatever!” replied Ross; “we have on the compensating force which +automatically calls out more force than that projected against her, +as and to the extent in which it is needed, so that nothing can touch +her,” and then he suddenly exclaimed, “Just look at that sea coming +straight at us!” and all rushed to the sloping windows, to see before +them a flood of fire, miles in extent, rapidly welling upwards, the +ship in the centre of it, and safe as they felt themselves to be, each +gave an involuntary gasp as the deluge swept towards them and rose up +and up till they were in the heart of it; then it passed and a few +minutes later was exploded to the corona, where it was cast in all +directions, falling on the surface of the sea with hissing splashes; +a second later it was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">206</span>reheated, and the sea was gleaming white as +before. All gave another sigh as this great tidal-wave passed.</p> + +<p>“That is, perhaps, the most severe test we have had,” exclaimed +Gilbert, “for it is the actual solar sea which swept over us! and this +proves that we can go through it in safety.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot grasp it!” said Lees Ingle, an electrician. “I cannot +comprehend how you can overcome gravity in this way, and why we are not +overwhelmed! but then, that’s your affair!” and he laughed, thoroughly +mystified.</p> + +<p>“There’s this in it, anyway!” observed Godfrey, also laughing, “they’d +scarcely come and bring <i>me</i> if there was much danger of being +frizzled, and if we get toasted they do, for we’re all in the same +boat.”</p> + +<p>This safe passage of the tidal-wave set all doubts at rest finally, +which was felt by all a wonderful relief, and with added zest they set +to work again, this time to investigate the sun spots, but they could +not find any. For days they wandered to and fro, seeing only larger +and smaller ‘granules’ and ‘pores,’ as the heat and movement were more +or less intense; but owing to the difficulty of seeing far ahead by +reason of the heavy and fiery clouds above, and the deceptive whiteness +of the surface below, they were unable to locate their position, for +terrestrial compasses were useless. At last, after a long search they +came to a zone of what they judged to be the familiar ‘sun spots’ which +may be seen from Earth any day without the aid of a telescope, if there +be but a little fog, or a smoked glass handy, and straightway commenced +examining, measuring, and observing the origin of their formation, and +why Earth was affected by their movements.</p> + +<p>The primary cause was found to be the enormous pressures of vapour +and currents of heat, which, acting violently on certain parts of +the photosphere, made those parts much fiercer and brighter by the +intensity <span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">207</span>of the heat, and thus the parts adjacent and surrounding +the whiter portions appeared considerably darker by contrast, just as +a spot of brilliant white placed on a piece of paper less white will +cause that portion of the paper immediately surrounding it to appear +grey by contrast. Such portions resumed their normal state when the +fierce local heat had passed—or, in reality, when the super-heated +portion had cooled to that of the surrounding portions and the colour +had become normal and even; for in these cases there are no spots +except by contrast, which accounted satisfactorily for the fact that +from Earth dark spots are seen to remain for various lengths of time, +from a few minutes to a few days, and then vanish, suddenly to appear +again elsewhere, following the course of the super-heated zone or the +locality which might then be in a state of constant motion.</p> + +<p>Some of these locally super-heated spots were found to vary from the +diameter of a few inches to thousands of miles—one near the solar +equator, and visible from Earth, being nearly two hundred thousand +miles across. These and other large spots are mostly situated between +solar latitudes 5° and 35° north and south of the equator, and are so +extensive that certain physical causes have made them more or less +constant. The continued welling upward of these portions of the solar +sea and their cooler return have banked up the outer sides or borders +of the spots, and deepened their interior space, after the manner of a +volcano, and they are in a state of incessant eruption or boil.</p> + +<p>Many of the sun-spots, also forming deep depressions, cavities, or +wells in the photosphere, and penetrating for a considerable distance +towards the interior of the sun, are caused by vast descending and +often cyclonic cones of super-heated vapour of inconceivably enormous +energy. Passing over the tops of the apertures, these are drawn inside +and, once entered, spin round <span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">208</span>the whole interior surface with terrible +velocity, causing the boiling lava-like contents to be involved in +intense revolution, the speed of which cools the far edges on the +surface of the photosphere, causing definite lines or boundaries of +demarcation which, owing to their reduced temperature, though still +liquid, are considerably subdued in colour. To the eye these present +a darkened hollow of terrible depth and fierceness, in and through +which mighty currents flow unceasingly with lightning rapidity, and +in many cases several of these cyclonic seas are connected by straits +or channels. Seen from above, they show a dark core, or ‘nucleus,’ +and surrounding this is the ‘umbra,’ which is not so dark as the core +but is really the darker and cooler <i>sides</i> of the cavity; and +between this and the blinding white of the outer sea, or surface of +the photosphere, is the ‘penumbra,’ which is the <i>margin</i> of +the cavity, appearing a greyish white in contrast to the gleaming +white outer surface, and these three lines of demarcation are easily +distinguishable from Earth.</p> + +<p>In some cases there are long ‘bridges’ from the umbra to the penumbra, +caused by surface irregularities. In passing over these cones, or +spots, the <i>Regina</i> gave out enormous charges of electricity, and +for some time the cause was not discovered, till at last it was found +that the extraordinary pressures and conflicting currents in these +regions generated a considerable amount of electricity, which was +projected outwards and caught full on the <i>Regina</i> as she passed +over. This, then, was the solution to the hitherto mysterious manner in +which the appearance and disappearance of sun-spots affect the Earth; +the gigantic force of electricity generated in these super-heated zones +is projected outwards and, travelling through space, no doubt affects +every member of the solar family, Earth-people feeling its influence +in simultaneous atmospheric and cyclonic disturbances and a general +upsetting of magnetic needles, wave-apparatus <span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">209</span>and the like, while in +the mass of Earth itself causing at these times shakings, tremors, +volcanic eruptions, landslips and earthquakes, all of a more or less +violent character. Some of these vapour movements, vertical, horizontal +and oblique, were proved by measurements to exceed half a million miles +per second.</p> + +<p>A sail round the entire surface of the sun proved the actual +measurement to be 2,742,937 miles in circumference, or, roughly, +about 873,105 miles in diameter, and not 866,500 or thereabouts, as +previously supposed, and that its velocity of rotation at the equator +was 6570 miles per hour, whilst the force of gravity on its surface, +reckoning Earth as 1, was measured by the <i>Regina’s</i> gravitometer +to be 28·75 exactly.</p> + +<p>Having spent nearly six weeks in roaming over the surface, the question +arose as to the advisability of passing into or through its mass, +and all were eager to make the attempt, risking the possibility of +annihilation.</p> + +<p>“We are in your hands,” said Gilbert; “we have arranged to go when and +where you desire; so shall we go down slowly, in order that you may +examine the strata as we go, or quickly?”</p> + +<p>“We would like to go slow,” said several; and Kirkby Reeve asked if +any idea could be formed of the interior, and of what it was likely to +consist; when Gilbert answered,—“We can only tell by going. We shall +find plenty of excitement in it till we get to the centre, and as we go +through to the other side.”</p> + +<p>“Is it not tempting Providence?” observed Heriot Field, a naturalist. +“Considering we were saved in the tidal wave, shall we not let that +suffice?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, if you wish it,” replied Gilbert, bluntly; “would you +rather not go—are you afraid?”</p> + +<p>“I am, I know! awfully afraid!” exclaimed Godfrey, tactfully, seeing +that Field resented Gilbert’s <span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">210</span>unthinking remark, “and so are we all, +and I expect if you asked each of us if we would rather not go, we +should all say ‘Yes,’ but we intend going all the same!—at least I +suppose so, for we don’t get the chance of slipping into the sun every +day; so if all are ready and willing, sink her, old man, and then we’ll +watch—and get roasted together, may be!”</p> + +<p>All smiled, even Field, serious as was the occasion, and Gilbert +altered several of the switches, closely examining the indicators +meanwhile, then came into the saloon and joined the rest, who +were crowded round the windows in silence; somehow, words seemed +superfluous, as they stood, each intently thinking, for any moment now +they might meet their doom.</p> + +<p>For the space of several minutes they stood, with no apparent change.</p> + +<p>“We are not moving!” said Rollsborough, in an intense whisper.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” responded Gilbert, “we are becoming slowly heavier; look! the +sea is drawing nearer!”</p> + +<p>So it was; the ship seemed perfectly still, and the fiery ocean +to the whole horizon was apparently rising up to them, the waves +spinning and lashing and the ‘granules,’ or ‘rice-grains,’ their tops +wonderfully white, were gleaming and sparkling like the sun on rippling +Earth-water, as they spun in eddies and long, lapping waves; and a +moment later the ocean appeared to give a final rush upwards to crush +the ship, and the liquid fire was level with the base of the windows; +then the surface of it was level with their eyes; then it rose higher, +and the windows seemed covered from the bottom with a golden-like blind +with an edging of sparkling lace as it drew higher and higher, and then +they were engulfed.</p> + +<p>Now what was to happen? Were they to be destroyed in that awful bath? +Each drew a deep breath and gripped the sides of the windows, as +though <span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">211</span>that would save them; then the deathly silence was broken by +Rollsborough saying in a whisper, “See, the fire is at least a foot +distant from the windows. We are safe!”</p> + +<p>“Thank God!” came from several parts of the saloon, so hoarsely and +faintly that it had been more heartfelt than articulate.</p> + +<p>No one spoke again for some minutes, for thoughts and the relief from +tension were too deep for words. Slowly they sank, seeing nothing but +cream-coloured blinds to the windows—a sea which became as slowly +hotter and more glaringly white till at last they could scarcely see in +the blinding light. They drew all the screens before the windows, and +after ascertaining that the continuous photographic apparatus and the +instruments for spectrum-photography were working properly, they waited +as patiently as their excitement would allow. For hours they continued +their slow descent, the time seeming like an eternity, till at last +some one ejaculated, “For mercy’s sake, let us get through or we shall +be turning delirious!”</p> + +<p>Gilbert, whose turn it was to be in charge of the ship’s movements, +said not a word, but walked across to the switchboard and made some +slight alteration, then came amongst them again. Scarcely had he +resumed his position when, with the suddenness of a pistol-shot, they +were plunged into darkness—a darkness that could be felt.</p> + +<p>Willing hands excitedly drew up the screens, but all outside was dense +blackness; the inner lights were put on, but only the inside of the net +was visible through the glass, and Ross at once switched on the whole +of the search-lights, which blazed forth in all directions, revealing +dense and impenetrable fog on every side.</p> + +<p>“What has happened? Where are we?” every one was asking, in +consternation.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know!” replied Gilbert, looking at the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">212</span>dial and the distance +travelled; “the ship is all right; we are still falling rapidly, but +we’re not in the sun, that’s evident!” And he brought the vessel to a +stand, poised in equilibrium, wherever they might be.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">213</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_XIII">CHAPTER XIII<br> +<span class="large">“VAULTS OF PURPLE”</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i13">“All the elements</div> + <div class="i0">At least had gone to wreck, disturbed and torn</div> + <div class="i0">With violence of this conflict.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Milton.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“What’s up, old man?” exclaimed Ross, hurriedly, as he and Dennis came +hastily round the barrier, and Dennis asked, “Anything gone wrong?”</p> + +<p>“Not here!” replied Gilbert, mystified; “the ship’s all right, +everything is in perfect order and working splendidly. What’s gone +wrong we’ve to find out. We have come on a straight line towards the +centre.”</p> + +<p>“Have we gone off at a tangent and come outside?” asked Miles Dalton, a +botanist, as the rest all crowded up to the barrier.</p> + +<p>“Impossible!” replied Dennis, “or we should again be in the atmosphere, +or photosphere.”</p> + +<p>“We must do something!” said Gilbert; “shall we sample the fog outside +with one of the strong retainers, and risk another explosion?” All the +others assenting, he continued: “Here, Dennis, take my place, old man, +and do something for your living! that job can wait, under the circs.!” +And he and Price Rowland passed into the laboratory.</p> + +<p>The ship being safe, the others all stood about discussing the curious +situation, without arriving at any reasonable conclusion. In the +meantime, Gilbert and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">214</span>Rowland had obtained a sample of the outer air, +this time without accident, and in due course they entered the saloon, +where all the others crowded round them, anticipating startling news +from their surprised expressions.</p> + +<p>“What do you think!” exclaimed Gilbert; “the atmosphere here is +nitrogen, neither more nor less than pure nitrogen!”</p> + +<p>Had he told them they were in the shed at home, his fellow travellers +could not have been more astonished, and several incredulously +repeated, “Nitrogen? <i>nitrogen!</i> are you sure? Nitrogen!!—a +colourless gas, and this colour!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed it is,” answered Rowland. “This soup-like appearance is +due entirely to fine particles of metallic and other dust which, when +taken away, leaves absolutely pure nitrogen.”</p> + +<p>“Then the inference is obvious!” cried Rutherford and several others.</p> + +<p>“Assuredly,” agreed Gilbert; “all is now clear as daylight. We have +passed through the immensely thick crust of the sun, and either come +into a stratum of nitrogen or the whole interior of the planet is +nitrogen.”</p> + +<p>Here, indeed, was a discovery. This gas, nitrogen, from its being +neutral and neither inflammable nor a supporter of combustion, either +had put out the solar fire or caused a thick black crust of solid +matter to form, which was the black portion through which they had +recently passed, and the fine particles of solidified sun-dust were +falling towards the centre, drawn thither by their own gravity; those +being eliminated, nitrogen only remained.</p> + +<p>“All has come to pass as you foretold, Oakland,” said Parkin Coombes; +“but in spite of the <i>Regina’s</i> powers it seems a marvellous thing +that the sea has not rushed in after us, through the aperture we made.”</p> + +<p>“And if the atoms were pushed aside by the <i>Regina</i> <span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">215</span>and pressed +into the parts adjacent, so as to allow free passage to the ship, one +would think the sides of the well-like opening we made would become so +tightly packed as to prevent the re-formation of the atoms in their +original position, and thus form a shaft down which the sea could +pour,” said Farrant.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Dennis, “that is what would occur ordinarily; but +being temporarily turned into vapour by our de-atomising force, the +atoms would, almost instantly after our passage, resume their former +condition, and what heat had been imparted to them by the change would +be destroyed by this nitrogen. Consequently, we have not disturbed the +crust—actually—although, considering the circumstances, how we have +escaped being involved in an awful explosion is a mystery.”</p> + +<p>“Anyway, it is evident we <i>are</i> fairly inside Dan Phœbus!” +exclaimed Rowland; “and whether we caused an extra explosion up +above or not is immaterial, for it is certain that the crust is as +substantial as before, or the fiery sea even now would be pouring down +on us and into the interior.”</p> + +<p>Their discovery of the nitrogen could not do otherwise than cause a +violent sensation, and every one buttonholed his neighbour, and talked +and expounded theories galore. Then Gilbert asked them to come into the +laboratory, and they trooped in <i>en masse</i>, for each knew what +such a revelation meant, and to what it might lead, and every one was +on the tip-toe of expectancy. Fresh samples were taken, with the same +result as before; they were in a sea of nitrogen, safe from fire—but +were they safe from chemical action?</p> + +<p>On this point, judging from the severe tests which their protecting +currents had withstood already, they were reassured, and then the whole +company went nearly wild with enthusiasm. They were so delighted as +almost to bewilder the three owners with thanks <span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">216</span>and congratulations +for bringing them there, and to Godfrey also for his share in it, which +made the four of them so shy and embarrassed that, in comic despair, +they took Rollsborough by the collar and pushed him to the fore, as +the one who had first suggested they should go <i>through</i> the sun, +and then <i>he</i> became the centre of a fresh avalanche of applause; +they chaired him, like a set of wild schoolboys, and kept it up till +the simple, good-hearted little man nearly cried with pleasure and +excitement, and could only say, hysterically, “No, no, gentlemen! +not I, not I! I had no idea of this happening; I had not, really! +Thank Oakland and his friends, and our good friend Spenser. Oh dear! +gentlemen, don’t, I beg of you! It is very kind of you, very, but—no, +no! I thank you sincerely, but—Oakland, and——” And, overwhelmed, he +struggled and fought his way amongst his clamouring colleagues till he +got to Dennis, under whose wing he took shelter, exclaiming, “Really, +Oakland, all the thanks are due to you and to Eastern, and Ainley, and +to Spenser, here, and how <i>can</i> we thank you enough! What will +the world say?” And the poor man mopped his forehead, agitated and +perspiring.</p> + +<p>“The world!” interjected Godfrey, laughing. “What will the world say? +It will say that we are one and all supreme liars, at the very least, +possibly something stronger!—for to begin with, no one on Earth will +believe for a moment that we have been under the sun’s enormous crust, +or even <i>in</i> the fiery sea at all.”</p> + +<p>No one seemed to have thought of that, and somebody suggested they +should at once ‘wave’ the news to Earth and see how they took it, so +Ross despatched the message, and after a while the instrument started +and the reply came: “The <i>Regina</i> is too small for us to pick her +out on the sun’s disc. We note you say that you are inside the sun and +appreciate your joke.”</p> + +<p>This was pinned up, and caused no little amusement, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">217</span>which soon turned +to mortification when there dawned on them the utter impossibility of +being able to prove their statements.</p> + +<p>The dust seemed exactly like that obtained up above, and therefore +to say a portion of it had been obtained below the photosphere, and +another portion high above, would be no proof that they had not divided +it; and to bring back cylinders of pure nitrogen with a statement that +it came from inside the crust would not prove that it had not been +made on board. Neither would the miles of continuous photographs and +spectrum films prove the positions from which they had been taken.</p> + +<p>Of course they were all trusted scientists, men on whose word +reliance was placed, but it seems to be a trait in human nature to +doubt anything abnormally wonderful, unusual, or even contrary to +established belief and expectations; and though the weight of numbers +all telling the same story precluded avowed incredulity, all knew that +to state such startling and unexpected facts without substantial and +indisputable proof would but cause people to disbelieve at heart while +apparently agreeing with what they could not deny.</p> + +<p>They could only leave it to chance to provide them the evidence +required, so they dismissed the matter for the moment, and several +suggested that they should rise and examine the interior of the crust, +or shell. Accordingly Dennis caused the <i>Regina</i> to rise till +her dome was just below the crust, but near as were the lights, their +powerful beams failed to penetrate the gas, rendered thick by the fine +dust which absorbed their rays. The vessel then circled the crust, +travelling immediately beneath, but though many samples of air were +taken, the same results followed, revealing only nitrogen.</p> + +<p>After the circuit had been made, Ross inquired, “Are we going upward +outside, the way we came, or shall we descend to the centre?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">218</span></p> + +<p>Some were for returning and others for sinking, when Sorrel said: +“Let us fall, Ainley. There’s no telling what will happen, and as we +<i>are</i> here we shall see, at any rate, if the whole of the interior +is nitrogen.”</p> + +<p>This now meeting with general assent, the ship fell steadily, all +the search-lights full on, and every face was pressed closely to the +windows, watching the opaque wall of dust, so that no alteration or +passing object should escape notice. In a few minutes there was a +general exclamation of surprise, as, simultaneously, all saw a change +take place in the fog around, and there was a sudden cry from various +places, “Oxygen, with nitrogen—nitrogen peroxide!”</p> + +<p>Instantly the ship was stopped, and on all sides the wall of fog showed +ruddy-coloured and glowing. The particles of dust were being destroyed, +either by heat or evaporation, for the light now penetrated several +feet and the haze had the distinct red glow which comes from the +chemical combination of nitrogen with oxygen, though on Earth such a +union is caused by the action of intense heat.</p> + +<p>Again was there great excitement, and all crowded round Gilbert, as he +obtained and examined a sample of the outer air, which but confirmed +their suppositions, there being a perceptible diminution in the +quantity of dust collected.</p> + +<p>It was now about the usual time for retiring to rest but all ignored +the automatic electric signal; sleep, even rest, was out of the +question, for who could sleep when such strange and marvellous +phenomena were unfolded before them in such unexpected and exciting +form.</p> + +<p>They sailed forward, maintaining the same gravity, thus keeping +an equal distance from the crust all round, returning to the spot +from which they started, finding but a repetition of the previous +experience; in some wonderful and unaccountable way the deadly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">219</span>nitrogen had taken to itself, and united with, oxygen, giving promise +of becoming less deadly.</p> + +<p>Slowly sank the ship, samples of the air being taken every few miles, +and though for several hours there was no change, they eventually came +to a stratum where there was a greater percentage of oxygen. All knew +what this portended and again everybody became almost distracted, and +it required all their self-control to enable them to conduct their +observations calmly and systematically, step by step, as they proceeded.</p> + +<p>All at once Dennis threw down some wires from an induction coil which +he had been using, saying to Ross,—“I’m played out, Ross! Tell them +all to go to sleep, and insist on it; what’s coming can wait! And let +the ship stay where she is.” And he passed on into his cabin, where he +flung himself down just as he was, falling asleep almost before he had +settled in his hammock, without heeding Ross’s reply.</p> + +<p>Ross then spoke up: “I say, you fellows, we must look after our health, +you know! For nearly fifty hours we have had no sleep, and all the time +have been under full pressure of exciting work. We cannot continue it +without being ill, and illness on board would be a dreadful thing. Let +us all retire for at least twelve hours and then we can continue our +observations and experiments in detail, as we sink down to that which +appears to be below us. In the meantime, the ship is stationary and +will not move a hair’s-breadth, so we shall lose nothing. Good-night.” +And he also passed into his room and was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Loth to leave their work, yet feeling the wisdom of reserving their +energies, and finding there was no movement in the air around, the +others gradually sought repose in their cabins, going off in driblets +till the saloon, laboratory and observatory were empty, and throughout +the ship there reigned silence, broken only by the heavy breathing of +the sleepers.</p> + +<p>Gilbert had retired some hours before Dennis; for <span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">220</span>over two days he had +been working feverishly, but though fagged out, he would not seek rest +except on Ross’s solemn promise to wake him in order to take charge of +the vessel. Consequently, he was the first up, and saw that for the +first time during the voyage the ship was unwatched, and felt somewhat +annoyed that Ross had not called him as promised before vacating his +position. Evidently both he and Dennis had been too weary to waken +their sleeping companion.</p> + +<p>Mechanically Gilbert looked round and saw that all was safe, then +passed into the rooms of Dennis and Ross, both of whom were sleeping +soundly; in the reflecting tubes he examined every berth and nook of +the whole ship, to find all safe and the occupants sleeping calmly +in their cabins. He then, in the dead silence, passed out of the +<i>sanctum sanctorum</i> to examine the air apparatus, which proved +to be working satisfactorily, and then forward into the laboratory +where, after a general glance round to see what experiments were in +progress, he commenced some further analyses of the composition, +weight, and nature of the atmosphere in which the ship rested. What +was his surprise to find that the air outside was in motion, so slight +that only the most delicate instrument recorded the faintest trace +of sound, but sound it was, undoubtedly. Rushing back, he examined +the switches and dials, to find the ship poised and absolutely still. +The air must have been in motion, therefore, the night before, but so +slightly that, the ship’s motion being present also, the instrument was +unaffected. When the ship was still, the vibration of eighteen moving +people, imperceptible as that seemed on so large and rigid a vessel, +had, nevertheless, proved sufficient to annul the instrument’s record +of sound.</p> + +<p>It was evidently an illustration of a law of physics—that if two +sound-waves not in unison meet, and the swell of one encounters the +opposite phase of the other, silence will result, for both will be +neutralised; just <span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">221</span>as in the well-known experiment of the tumbler +placed on a table and a second tumbler held at right-angles over it. +A tuning-fork in rapid vibration is held in the centre of the angle +formed by the two tumblers, and though its vibrations continue, no +sound results; but the sound is made to become audible or cease as one +of the tumblers is removed or replaced. In the one phase, by the upper +tumbler being removed there is no check on the vibrations, which are +free to produce sound, but when the upper tumbler is held as described, +the sound-waves strike one another at opposite phases, and the plus of +one is absorbed in the minus of the other.</p> + +<p>It was a most interesting point, for the sound-waves set in motion by +the moving air and those disturbed by the moving people chanced to be +at right-angles, and produced silent vibrations. For several hours +Gilbert continued his observations and experiments, hearing first one +and then another of his companions moving about, and at last he awoke +Dennis and Ross, asking them not to start the ship for the present. +Very soon all were in their accustomed places, refreshed and alert +after their long sleep. Hearing that Gilbert had found out something +important, everybody trooped into the laboratory and he explained his +discovery.</p> + +<p>“What do you infer from that?” asked Godfrey. “I only see in it a most +interesting physical experiment naturally conducted.”</p> + +<p>“It is more than that,” was the reply; “it means that there is ‘sound’ +outside.”</p> + +<p>“Really!” remarked Godfrey, banteringly. “Surely we have had enough +sound outside since we came near the sun to make a little more or less +now a matter of no surprise—but you physicists have always something +wonderful up your sleeve, haven’t you, Gilbert? What is it now?”</p> + +<p>All the rest laughed at Godfrey’s manner, and Gilbert, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">222</span>turning to his +chum, retorted, laughingly,—“This will prove a lesson in deduction, +old man, and show you how to make one fact elucidate another!” And +then more seriously,—“You notice that after passing through the +enormously thick sun-crust we came to silence; all the upper thundering +noises were cut off. We entered a stratum of nitrogen which even the +sun could not burn; then a little lower and it became mixed with +oxygen; now the percentage of oxygen is higher. So far, everything +points, as you all know, to the presence far below us of a breathable +atmosphere—breathable to us, I mean—and we are all naturally asking +ourselves the question, ‘Why this breathable air if there is no need +for it?’ and the presence of ‘sound,’ faint as it is, strengthens the +supposition. <i>If</i> there is sound, as there is, something must make +it, and given an atmosphere capable of supporting human life, added to +sound, or the echo of sound as we might call it, which is now absent as +we are all moving, it is highly probable that something living exists +below. If you will kindly turn the ship on its axis, Ross, so as to +alter the direction of our waves to run parallel to those outside, we +shall find, unless I am very much mistaken, a modification of the same +law, and the two sounds which seem now to have changed and to run in +unison will be doubled when they run side by side.”</p> + +<p>This was proved to be the case, and a sound coming from the instrument, +though faint, was distinctly audible, and the vibrations were numbered +on the dial.</p> + +<p>“It is possible that down below us we shall find light, of course,” +remarked Parkin Coombes.</p> + +<p>“More than possible,” replied Rowland.</p> + +<p>“What new phase has turned up now? Do you mean to say we are likely to +be lit up shortly?” interposed Godfrey.</p> + +<p>“Everything points to that, certainly,” answered Sorrel, “and +Rollsborough here will tell us all about <span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">223</span>it.” And as several others +came up at the news and crowded round, Rollsborough proceeded,—“It +seems more than possible that we shall come to an illumined world; the +luminiferous ether permeates everything, and given an air free from +solid matter that could obstruct, absorb, or divert the rays of light +(and every mile of descent the air is becoming clearer), there is no +reason why we should not have light below, for light is, in effect, the +same as sound and follows many of the same laws, and if two luminous +waves encounter each other at opposites, each extinguishes the other +and total darkness results; but on the other hand, if two light-rays +run parallel to each other, then the light is doubled. An effect of +this is seen in the twinkling stars, from which two unequally vibrating +rays will coincide at certain points, when their light will be doubled, +but at all their vibrations that do not coincide there is no light +of any kind, but instead, total darkness. This—darkness and light +following in rapid succession as the unequal rays coincide and miss one +another—gives us the twinkling of the stars; the altering humidity and +density of the air on Earth through which the light-rays must pass also +contribute largely to the effect of scintillation.</p> + +<p>“It is, therefore, judging from the present progress, probable that +as we descend we shall come to a world which is self-lighting, and on +which the luminiferous ether has so many of its rays in coincidence +that every ray is augmented by its next ray, and not a single light-ray +is lost, thus making this unknown world, if not brilliant, at least +light; probably very light, as is the case with many of the stars.”</p> + +<p>Needless to say, this conversation did not conduce to calmness in +their already exciting position, and Godfrey remarked,—“Folk say +that scientists conduct their work without sentiment, and are all +matter-of-fact, but, upon my word, we all of us need a good thrashing +to compel us to go on with our own business! <span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">224</span>I never knew it so +difficult to work steadily on and wait patiently for what is coming!”</p> + +<p>All the same, every one knew he was working well and seriously with +every nerve concentrated on what he had in hand. And if it had been +suggested that they should rush down to solve their doubts, he +would have been one of the first to say, “No, we must not be too +enthusiastic; we must examine step by step, and get a true record of +every stratum through which we pass.” He, however, did but express the +general feeling, and none were sorry when the time came to sink lower.</p> + +<p>All at once they descried below them a peculiar sight. As far as +they could see, there were piled up hundreds of miles of rocks, the +<i>bases</i> lit with a peculiar haze, or glow, which came from the +ground itself like a giant <i>ignis fatuus</i>, or ‘will-o’-the-wisp,’ +the origin of which is, even to-day, a mystery to science, and though +many explanations have been attempted, none are conclusive, or even +tenable. Then numbers of these flashing lights appeared, as though a +multitude of people were carrying huge candles or lanterns, some of the +lights being blue, others greenish and yellow, but the majority purple, +and all these flitted in and out and about the bases of the hills, and +clambered up and rested on peak after peak in the most ghostly manner +imaginable. Then all was dark again. The ground heaved and split, and +the ‘marsh gas,’ the colliers’ ‘fire-damp’ (evolved during the process +of decomposition of the dead and dying vegetable matter in the ground +and in the changes taking place while coal was being formed), had found +a means of outlet through the opening, and, mixing with the air, formed +the well-known explosive mixture which, with an awful though silent +disruption, laid low hill after hill, and a few seconds later what had +been a range of mountains became a desolate plain.</p> + +<p>The ship was made in equipoise, and in complete <span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">225</span>amazement, all watched +the surface of the world below them change its shape and configuration +every few minutes—it was in constant fret, and though not losing its +shape as a whole, yet valleys were turned into hills and mountains into +deserts with an awfulness which the darkness and silence rendered even +more frightful.</p> + +<p>All would be dark—black; then from point to point in the distance +the light would come again, roving here and there like a lost spirit +fruitlessly searching in a desolate world for its soul, and would run +up the rocks in a gliding flow, hanging for a few moments on dizzy +pinnacles, and then, in apparent despair, precipitate itself headlong, +or wash itself down the steep sides like an avalanche of sliding +snow; perhaps, when half-way down, suddenly to stop and take a fresh +movement, spreading and stretching itself like a flickering, elastic +web, embracing hill after hill in its toils, till the whole horizon was +covered with it, and there lay below them a snowy world, with every +summit frowning and black by contrast, showing above it as though +impaled. A second later the whole landscape, shuddering under its +cloak, would shake itself and the light suddenly vanish, leaving black +darkness again everywhere.</p> + +<p>The <i>Regina’s</i> search-lights were switched off, and the whole +vessel plunged in darkness, so that the occupants could better examine +the strange world below them as they crowded round all the windows, +intently watching through their glasses.</p> + +<p>For a while nothing could be discerned, and then the whole country, +to the limits of blackness, was glowing with phosphorescent fire, and +times without number the rocks rose and fell as though floating on an +angry sea, completely hidden by the forms above. And all the while +the ‘will-o’-the-wisp’ lights were dancing their mad flight, and the +rocks, in their apparent endeavour to trap them, rent themselves apart +and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">226</span>crashed together, always too late, or too soon, for the lights +invariably fled elsewhere, whilst the rocks were but welded firmly into +larger and more compact masses.</p> + +<p>It was a world in chaos—a nightmare of evolution—where the ghosts and +spirits of creation tossed and tumbled in their fevered, restless +efforts to build themselves into solid shape; where earth and rock +were spun and pounded together as clay in the hands of the potter; +pounded this way and that in an ever-turning churn, becoming more and +more compact as gigantic masses of earth and rock crashed together +and became absorbed one in the other, and were again packed into less +than half their bulk, mountain after mountain becoming little more +than a hill; and when no further compression seemed possible, they +would tumble upside down, their bases uppermost, their jagged roots, +which had seemed so firmly embedded in the ground, showing in the +flickering light like awful teeth, the sight of which made the flesh +creep; their peaks also, now twisted and awry with the shock, were +wounded and beseeching, for the beautiful mountains had become deformed +monstrosities. So would they heave as in an agony of physical pain, +tumbling and twisting about to obtain relief; travelling over and under +other mountains which they exposed and lifted up as they dug underneath +them, they being momentarily hidden. Some of these did not rise again, +but were plunged into the depths below, in which they became fixed; +others, after being slowly and irresistibly pounded into compactness, +would suddenly become disintegrated and spread themselves out as though +some mighty roller were crushing them into slabs, and during the +process they would resume some semblance of their original form and +become dense, hard, invincible rock with precipitous sides. Chain after +chain of hills would turn to valleys and long sweeps of undulating +country; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">227</span>these undulations would then become more pronounced, then +involved, and then suddenly rise; the next moment they were hundreds of +miles of forbidding, death-inviting mountain ranges, with craggy sides +on which no human being could find a foothold, or if found, could keep. +Over the range would pass a gentle shiver, and without a sound would +follow an awful earthquake, swallowing up hundreds of enormous hills, +and for the space of fully five minutes there yawned beneath the ship a +bottomless gulf, with sides as straight as if cut, into which the whole +mass of the hills seemed to tumble.</p> + +<p>Even here the strange and lurid light flashed on the sides of the +chasm as they dashed together again, leaving no trace of the awful +catastrophe.</p> + +<p>Awed into long and complete silence, the occupants of the <i>Regina</i> +watched the chaotic disturbance below, rendered doubly amazing by +the absence of sound—at least of sufficient volume to penetrate the +vessel—and the gentle, deliberate way in which all the movements took +place. Had the changes been made with terrible speed and deafening +clatter and bang, the observers would not have been disturbed, for +there would have been nothing abnormal, but sound <i>could</i> be heard +in the ship, and such havoc ought to have been accompanied with crash +and noise, yet the upheavals took place silently, the impacts being an +‘absorption’ of one into the other, as it were, with quiet force which +seemed awful in its irresistibility.</p> + +<p>“I think this is more awful than the fire above!” ejaculated Merrick +Rutherford, at last.</p> + +<p>“It is!” agreed Creeve Kelman, with a long breath. “Who would have +thought that a world was so formed?”</p> + +<p>“And contrary, too, to all established beliefs and theories!” said +Sorrel.</p> + +<p>“We had better go down into it,” proposed Gilbert; “we shall be safe! +What do you say, all?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">228</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, let us go,” said Dennis; “we have seen as much as we can from +here”; and Gilbert stepped towards the switch-board, but scarcely had +he traversed half the distance when there was a yell from Godfrey, +who turned away from the window, shrieking with laughter. So long and +vigorously did he laugh that the poor fellow could not stand, and, +doubled up as he was, he sought to sit on a chair, but missing it, fell +on the floor, where he lay laughing and crying in turn.</p> + +<p>“He’s gone mad!” cried half a dozen, in dismay, as they rushed to his +assistance, but being waved aside, they formed a circle round their +prostrate companion, all the rest hurrying up also.</p> + +<p>“Whatever’s the matter, Godfrey,” exclaimed Gilbert, running back.</p> + +<p>“Mad! we’re all mad!” gurgled Godfrey, painfully. “Oh, Great Bona! I +shall die, I’m sure I shall! I can’t laugh any more. Oh, dear!” and he +rolled over in agony.</p> + +<p>“Tell us all about it, old man!” exclaimed several, soothingly, as they +attempted to raise him up, which drew a protest as he slid back on the +floor, moaning, “Oh, don’t! don’t touch me, or I’ll snap in two like a +carrot!—the windows!—look out——”</p> + +<p>All rushed to the windows, but nothing was visible except the turbulent +world, and when they turned round Godfrey was sat on the floor with his +legs straight out and his hands to his sides, the picture of woe.</p> + +<p>“There’s nothing!” said Dennis; “only what we’ve been looking at half a +day. Tell us what’s the matter, there’s a good chap.”</p> + +<p>“The matter?” moaned Godfrey, getting on his hands and knees like +a bear, but, finding it painful, sitting down again. “The matter! +everything’s the matter! And ‘only what we’ve been looking at half a +day’!—why, that’s just it, my boy!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">229</span></p> + +<p>“We’re as bright a set of idiots as could be got together in a +lifetime!” And he declaimed, as if giving a lecture,—“We get into the +way of looking for scientific explanations for everything, till we +can’t use our eyes to see what’s staring us in the face as plainly as a +hole in a ladder! My dear fellow-idiots, I regret to say that it only +dawned across my woolly brains a few moments since that we have, the +whole lot of us, spent five solid hours staring at nothing more nor +less than <i>clouds with light on them</i>, thinking——”</p> + +<p>“Clouds!!” they all shrieked, without waiting to hear more, and, +leaving the orator as if he were a pestilence, they made a tumbling +rush for the windows. Now they had the idea, they saw distinctly that +they were above a stratum of clouds which were faintly illumined from +below, the light catching the upper portions as their movements allowed +it points of entrance.</p> + +<p>There was no doubt about it! the more they gazed, the more certain +it was, and the grim humour of the situation appealed to them as to +Godfrey; they all laughed till they could not stand, some till they +could not sit but rolled on the floor to join Godfrey, alternately +wiping away tears and holding their aching sides. Anon they would look +up at one another with pain-drawn features, and the sight of their +companions in a similar state would send them off into fresh paroxysms +of laughter. The joke, like the sun, was immense; not one of these +intensely scientific men could be said to be without a sense of humour, +and not one of them felt in any way ashamed or embarrassed to be +utterly prostrated with amusement at his own blunder. But the laugh did +come in, though they had to do it themselves, and “it’s a good thing to +laugh, at any rate.”</p> + +<p>After they had all calmed sufficiently to be serious again they +descended, photographing as they fell, in accordance with the custom +they had observed since <span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">230</span>the commencement of the voyage; and as they +sank they came to brighter and still brighter strata until at last, +far below them, they espied a wide stretch of what appeared to be +Earth-clouds, so Earth-names were given to them. The highest, those +now immediately below them, were the ‘cirrus,’ or ‘mare’s tails,’ and +were moving somewhat rapidly, proving the presence of a strong wind as +in the strata above. These cirrus clouds floating on this particular +current of atmosphere were proved to be minute crystals of ice, the +refractions and reflections of which produced ravishing colour. Below +these were heavy cumuli, cutting off all view below as they lay in +an unbroken bed beneath them, like a sea of grey, unbleached wool, +and once through these, although they had hoped for what they saw, +the realisation raised their excitement to fever-heat. Ever since +they had found the atmosphere changing from deadly nitrogen by very +gradual degrees into the semblance of Earth-atmosphere, they had partly +expected to find an interior world of some form or other, yet they +could be excused feeling fevered when they saw below them their whole +horizon filled with land, only lit by the luminous ether, ’tis true, +but clear and fresh as one sees the Earth under the light of early dawn.</p> + +<p>The cirrus clouds had been 43,000 feet above the ground, the cumulus +had had an elevation of but 6000 feet, and now, a few feet above the +ground, Rowland took the last sample of air and found it contained +nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, aqueous vapour, helium, and traces of +nitric acid, ammonia and carburetted hydrogen, thus being practically +like terrestrial atmosphere, and the gravitometer registered the same +gravity as that of Earth, so that there was no reason why the outer +air should not be breathed, and amidst cheers, for the second time +since leaving Earth, the doors were opened, the net drawn aside, and +there permeated the ship the natural air of heaven, pure <span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">231</span>and fresh +as that on the country moors in the far-away home—and the hearts of +the adventurers filled with gratitude and thankfulness for their +preservation.</p> + +<p>The first care was to go over every inch of the net and outer casing +of the ship, in case any damage had been sustained, so that they might +at once make any needful repairs, or, if necessary, replace the net +with a new one they had brought for such a contingency, several having +been woven at the same time. Every knot and twist was most searchingly +scrutinised, for all their lives during the equally perilous return +journey depended on the immutability of the net, but it was found in as +excellent condition as when newly woven.</p> + +<p>This long and tedious though important task over, they gave themselves +up to the examination of that portion of the country on which they had +settled; this was overgrown with small trees and shrubs, the foliage, +as well as the grass, being a strange golden yellow, twinkling with +green.</p> + +<p>This might be the effect of the peculiar light, but be that as it +may, all were amazed to see so strange a sight under circumstances +so entirely at variance, for in the absence of sunshine, how was it +possible for the vegetation to have such glinting, gleaming lights?</p> + +<p>On closer inspection, they were surprised beyond measure to find that +what they had taken to be long tendrils were, in reality, festoons +of insects, clinging together in such numbers as to obliterate every +living thing above the ground. There were millions of them, and their +golden, horny bodies, with brilliant green elytra, or wing-cases, +which their movements caused to be in a state of constant agitation, +produced a shimmering as of a myriad gems. On the bushes being shaken +they arose in a golden cloud, as of cut and sparkling precious stones, +to settle a moment later, hiding every living thing of vegetable +growth, clinging <span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">232</span>to each other in some places like swarming bees, and +in others they formed strings, festoons and tendrils, binding bush +to bush with living, jewelled cords, and the combined sound of their +movements rose in a faint hum like a distant, swiftly revolving fan. +It was a fairy-land. Examination of the plants was scarcely possible, +for no sooner had the little creatures been disturbed and their +resting-places exposed than they were back again, and so persistent +were they in this that though some of the shrubs were cut down and +taken into the vessel, thousands followed and rested on them. How they +lived was a miracle, for they did not appear to eat the vegetation, +yet it was necessary to their existence, for of all the thousands +Godfrey and his entomological colleagues collected and kept apart, not +one survived, yet those allowed to remain on or near the shrubs lived +and multiplied exceedingly, although, like some of the ephemera—the +may-fly, for instance—they possessed no mouth organs, or indeed any +digestive organs, even of a rudimentary nature. And strange to say, the +shrubs and plants (which, in common with all other vegetable growth +on this world, when divested of the insects, were of a pale green +colour) neither grew nor faded, losing none of their suppleness, and +when carefully weighed it was found that after they had given support +to scores of generations of thousands of insects, their weight had +not varied in the least. Neither ordinary heat nor moisture affects +them, but if an actual light is put to them or they are burned, they +then prove highly inflammable, burning furiously till consumed, when +they leave no ash or residue; they are, however, perfectly safe at any +temperature not exceeding 200° F.</p> + +<p>With regard to the insects themselves, so rapidly did they increase +that every week or so handfuls had to be taken away and kept apart from +the shrubs, when they died—yet thousands never got near because <span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">233</span>of +the thousands intervening, to which they clung. It was an interesting +instance of symbiosis, and virtue in some shape or form must have been +transmitted through the intervening bodies, or possibly by means of +some delicate sense of smell.</p> + +<p>Neither Godfrey nor any other of the great biologists of the time have +ever been able to throw any additional light on the matter, though +not unparallel cases have been known in certain of those islands on +Earth, of highly volcanic origin, formerly called the Fiji, or Viti +Islands, which were a British dependency. These islands were famed +for the tropical luxuriance of their vegetable and insect life, +but were submerged in the South Pacific by the great tidal wave +closely following the devastating eruption and earthquake of 2316 +<span class="smcap">a.d.</span>, which permanently raised that portion of the South +Pacific Ocean.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">234</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_XIV">CHAPTER XIV<br> +<span class="large">BETWEEN TWO WORLDS</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“For thousand perils lie in close await</div> + <div class="i1">That none except a god, or God him guide,</div> + <div class="i1">May them avoid, or remedy provide.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Spenser.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>There were no inhabitants anywhere in sight, and the general appearance +of the landscape was flat, the country stretching away in beautiful +rolls of heath, broken only by the small, stunted trees and shrubs on +which were seen the millions and millions of strange insects, their +shining bodies causing the landscape to look as if covered with corn +golden to harvest, and shaking with vivid green dewdrops.</p> + +<p>After roaming about for several miles, disturbing these insects at +every step, at each further step to find that those last disturbed had +settled down again, the wanderers returned to the ship, most of them +weary with the monotony.</p> + +<p>As there was now no danger of damage from outer heat, the net had +been drawn back from before the windows, and with everything open and +most of the explorers on the outer deck, the vessel sailed along some +twenty feet above the ground. For some distance the country continued +flat, but before very long the ship had to rise to avoid some hills +over which they passed; then came a wooded valley where their presence +startled thousands of birds not unlike our wild pigeons, which rose out +of the trees and encircled <span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">235</span>the ship, many of them entering fearlessly. +Beyond the momentary alarm at the enclosed place, they seemed not in +the least afraid, when several of the fellows stroked their heads and +their tiny ears almost hidden by minute feathers. They followed the +ship for miles, flying inside and out, devouring the food offered them +with avidity, and making themselves so perfectly at home that a dozen +or more, finding things to their liking, stayed and became general +favourites, walking and flying about in all parts of the ship except +the laboratory and engine-room; either the aroma or a sense of danger +caused them to shun these two places. They, like terrestrial creatures, +required sleep, during which they crushed up together in circles with +their heads and bodies touching.</p> + +<p>In a short time there dawned on the horizon a long, dark streak of +blue-grey, with touches of white, unmistakably sea, and here they +pulled up for a day or so, during which they obtained dredgings +and samples of the water at various depths. The water was salt and +contained a considerable quantity of iodine. Several small fishes had +found their way into the boxes which collected the samples of water, +and amongst them were numbers of many new varieties of spirilla, +radiata and the like, while the dredgings in various places brought +up corals, pearl-oysters, granite, gravel, iron pyrites and the +like, as well as many new forms of deep-sea life, all of which added +considerably to the unique collection already on board.</p> + +<p>The sea-shore was bounded by rocks, sand and shingle, on and amongst +which were found sea-urchins and sea-squirts, also jelly-fish and many +other forms of amœbæ. The water was wonderfully clear, showing deep +grey-blue when in bulk, and though the waves were apparently the same +as those of Earth-seas, they were found to go to the very bottom, yet +there seemed to be no tide. The rocks were covered with barnacles, +limpets, sea-weeds and other sea-growths; they were <span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">236</span>wet to a fixed +level only, except where splashed by the lapping water or the waves +driven by the wind; there had been no evidence anywhere of a tide, and +the water was in a state of calm, but as they approached the further +hemisphere, the character and motion gradually changed, and at that +portion almost opposite the place where they had first landed, although +there were still no tides, the waves were so awful and so mighty as to +make the sea altogether unnavigable. It seemed as if each wave was a +great tidal wave caused by the eruption of volcanoes under the sea-bed, +or some other upheaval of the ocean, for so far as the eye could reach +were waves rising in blocks, as if great slabs of water had been cut +out of the ocean, and these were being pushed along the top as solid +things which tore along in walls seventy or eighty feet high, rolling +great rocks before them as if they were seeds, their crests for ten or +twenty feet deep white with foam. Straight up from the beach a wave +would roar till its energy was spent, when suddenly breaking, it fell, +an avalanche of water, in an overwhelming flood, and the shore became +a huge cauldron of foam. Quickly this subsided, leaving the rocky bed +as if filtered through, its place soon to be taken by the next wave, +and so on unceasingly, without any abatement, the sea from its inmost +depths being lifted up and almost turned upside down. So powerful was +the force of these waves and so sudden their break, that though the +travellers spent several days trying to get samples of deep-sea water +and dredgings of the ocean bed, everything they let down was lost, +wrenched away by the awful rush of these terrible waves, which were +wonderful even in calm, but when driven by the wind they were beyond +description, and one could not keep the thought out of the mind that if +on the shore, and in search of some of the wondrous stones and seaweed +brought up with each wave, a rush had been made between the waves to +snatch the treasure before it <span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">237</span>was reclaimed by the ocean, once the +safe ground had been left, the sudden inrush of the succeeding wave +would be so appalling as to terrify into inaction, though but a stride +from safety, for these waves did not flow as do those of Earth, but +came to their limits as a solid, and then suddenly stood and fell. Any +one venturing too near and seeing this wall of water come towering +along would become rooted to the spot with fear, powerless to do aught +but give an agonised cry for help—the help that could never come to +any one on that lonely shore; nothing but a pounding to pulp under the +thousands of tons of water that must fall, striking like an almighty +hammer.</p> + +<p>Such is the inner sun-sea—an awful thing—a thing to remember with +dread—a thing which to think of precludes sleep or, entering into it, +produces a horrible nightmare, in which the feet are fast in a rock, or +held there by some rock-wedged crab, or sunk in the sand, or as heavy +as lead; and the eyes start and the body becomes damp with agony, a +mere foretaste of the watery grave which is even then preparing—the +nerves so shaken as to be temporarily paralysed, and, unable to run, +crawl or move, or even to shout, the victim stands inert and hopeless; +unable to do anything but think and watch the avalanche rush forward +and mount high overhead; and just when the wave breaks, and the tons of +water are falling and crushing the very limbs apart, the capacity to +step aside returns, too tardily to benefit; the voice comes too late to +save, for no help is possible; yet help does come, for the cry brings +wakefulness again, and one is thankful to live a little longer and go +to one’s long home in some more restful way. Yet it is only fancy, and +a matter of little moment whether, when that time comes, we cross the +river with a wild and agonising wrench, or enter into rest lying on +our own bed, nestled in some loving arms, our hands held by those whom +only, in the whole of creation, it is hard to leave. In either case <span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">238</span>we +go, and though this world is so hard for many that it is a matter of +very little concern <i>how</i> the end comes, providing it does come, +and quickly, so that the rest and quietness found on the bosom of dear, +kind Mother Earth are granted; yet somehow, we are all of us weak, and +life is so hard, so full of pain and suffering, with so little comfort, +that we cannot keep down the hope that the end will be quiet and happy, +merely “a sleeping and a forgetting,” and surely a hard and cruel fate +will not deny that one isolated happiness to its victims.</p> + +<p>Such thoughts come to many, not that they show a morbid or unhealthy +fancy, but because life, though apparently full of glowing happiness, +is, to the majority of those who are strictly honest, but a weary time +of toil and trouble, a time of endless struggle and pain; all battle +and strife and strenuous effort to exist, till actually to ‘live’ would +seem paradise: life to such is a period of giving up with a smile all +that it holds dear, though the throat chokes and the eyes blind with +scalding tears at every recollection; a period in which the close +friend may prove to be the devil; a period in which those in whom trust +is placed, and from whom advice is sought, betray their trust, and add +to treachery counsel that will enable them to plunder their confiding +victim, sinking every spark of honour, along with all people with whom +they come in contact, if by so doing they can benefit themselves or +rise higher. When friends prove false and age creeps on, and both soul +and body are less able to bear the strain, it becomes harder and ever +harder to keep both together, and torn and tired hearts cry, “O Lord, +how long!” and the soul is overwhelmed till it “longs for rest, yet +rest can never find”; longs for love and sympathy, and instead,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“The purposes of life misunderstood</div> + <div class="i1">Baffle and wound us”—</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">239</span></p> + +<p class="noindent">and the honest are ever the tiny flowers, whilst the callous and wicked +are the spreading bay-tree, and the unsolvable problem—Why? makes the +injustice of it the more keenly felt. For are not all precepts, from +childhood onwards, to the effect that honesty is the best policy? Yet +in real life, the honest, straight man always comes off worst in his +dealings with unscrupulous people, and he is invariably the loser, for +he will not stoop to their actions, so the conditions are not equal, +and as Longfellow so aptly says,—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“Force rules the world still.</div> + <div class="i1">Has ruled it, shall rule it;</div> + <div class="i1">Meekness is weakness,</div> + <div class="i1">Strength is triumphant;</div> + <div class="i1">Over the whole earth</div> + <div class="i1">Still is it Thor’s Day!”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>To such contemplations did the appearance of the awful sun-sea give +rise, for it was like the friend, the counsellor, and any or all of +those who mean to grow rich anyhow, even at the price of another’s +blood; it waged a terrible and one-sided fight, itself always the +victor—it would relentlessly crush and batter and overwhelm all in +its path; rise it must; progress it must; and woe to that which stood +in its way, for without feeling, without an atom of sentiment or +veneration, that obstacle would be swept away, or if that were not +possible, because too firmly rooted (by honesty, say, to carry forward +the simile), it would be absorbed and covered, and though it might +to a slight extent retard the onward rush, it would be unceasingly +beaten and torn, and if not forced aside, worn away and, throughout, be +virtually non-existent.</p> + +<p>The <i>Regina</i> sailed round this strange world, encountering sea, +land, moor and wood; birds, animals and insects innumerable, none +greatly differing from those of Earth, but apparently it was a world +given up to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">240</span>all forms of life except man, and was undoubtedly the +purer and better for it.</p> + +<p>Finding no trace of human beings, the explorers turned their attention +to the study of the physical conditions of the world; its natural +history, biology, climate, geology, and the scores of other matters on +which they were anxious to glean information, although this could only +be done in a superficial way, seeing they were human and the span of +their lives was limited.</p> + +<p>While they were looking for human beings, they found none, but as the +weeks passed they were conscious, at times, of having seen strange +figures in a kind of mist, or haze. In each case the travellers made +no mention of the incident, fearing to incur the ridicule of their +companions and putting the matter down to an excess of ‘bile’ in the +system, or to fancy, produced, perhaps, by the state of excitement in +which they had lived for some months past. However, it came out at +last. One evening—if a constant light can have an evening—they were all +assembled in the saloon for their usual discussion on the day’s work +and the progress made, preparatory to going to rest, when the subject +of ghosts was mentioned, and there were many furtive looks around.</p> + +<p>“I suppose we are safe?” asked Kelman of Dennis, who was seated beside +him.</p> + +<p>“Certainly; we are closed up—fifty feet from the ground with the +protecting current outside; nothing could reach us, and we could not be +successfully attacked. These precautions are never omitted under any +circumstances, no matter which of us chances to be in charge.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad of that,” said Kelman, and then remained silent, absorbed in +thought.</p> + +<p>“Why, what makes you ask that?” questioned Ingle.</p> + +<p>“Nothing much,” replied Kelman, “only I had an idea.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">241</span></p> + +<p>“Well, out with it, then!” cried several.</p> + +<p>“I expect you will say I am dreaming, or need a restoring tablet,” +said Kelman, reluctantly, “but several times lately I have had +hallucinations and have seen ghosts!”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s curious,” said Heriot Field, “for I have too!”</p> + +<p>“So have I.”</p> + +<p>“And I!” “And I!” And so it went round.</p> + +<p>“Thanks for the information,” exclaimed Kelman, more brightly. “I am +much relieved! And now the ice is broken, we are all free to compare +notes and discuss the question, because I, personally, do not believe +in ghosts, and yet I cannot refute what I see myself.”</p> + +<p>Here he paused for some others to recount their experience, but as +all were looking to him to continue, he proceeded,—“For several weeks +past, when I have been intent on some work and completely absorbed, I +have suddenly looked aside to find close by me, one or two, or perhaps +half a dozen or more, strange beings, not human and not inhuman but a +kind of glorified ‘essence’—a ‘nebula’—out of focus, tangible and yet +ethereal—and I have looked, lost in amazement, thinking our hard work +and close application had upset my nerves, and to be frank with you +all, I began to wonder if I was going mad!”</p> + +<p>He looked round, and Coombes rejoined,—“I have had similar visions and +I wondered what was the import of it, judging it was my imagination, +purely and simply”; and most of the others said the same.</p> + +<p>“Have any of you ever seen these beings except when completely +engrossed in other matters?” asked Reeve.</p> + +<p>“No!” no one had.</p> + +<p>“Then it seems to me,” continued Reeve, “that these beings are not +under our influence, or we under theirs unless our minds are blank, so +to speak.” <span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">242</span>“Something like that,” agreed Rutherford. “I should say the +people are much better than ourselves—angels, in fact—for they have a +kind of ‘glory’ round them, and when addressed they become fainter and +die away.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a strange thing,” observed Godfrey, “if in the future life we +have to become nebulous and float about doing nothing particular +except frighten any folk who chance to come along by turning up when +they’re not expecting us, and vanish when they ask us what the deuce +we mean by it—as I did several lots of them. The idea is rather thin +and unsatisfactory to my mind, and I should have thought there would be +something better for us to do!”</p> + +<p>“We ought to get to the bottom of this mystery!” remarked Farrant, +seriously. “When we look for beings they are not there; we none of us +see them, unless our minds are, not a blank, but entirely preoccupied +to <i>their</i> total exclusion; when we accost them they begin to +fade. All this seems to me to point to hallucinations, brought on by +our experiences, close application, and the perhaps somewhat morbid +influence of this inhabited, but unpeopled world.”</p> + +<p>“I think the same,” assented Ingle; “and the fact that we have been so +eager to find man has, in some mysterious way, stamped itself on our +minds to such an extent that when strained or much preoccupied, there +comes a reaction in a vision of the things desired.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that may be granted in an isolated case, perhaps,” argued Field, +“but when <i>all</i> have the same experience, I fail to see how you +obtain your case.”</p> + +<p>“To me that seems its strongest point,” responded Ingle, “for though +we experience no strain, as a physical sensation, there is no possible +doubt that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">243</span>the tension of the last few months must have told on us, +and made us fanciful.”</p> + +<p>“But all seeing the same?” repeated Field.</p> + +<p>“A mere matter of telepathy,” replied Ingle. “All being in the same +physical condition at the particular moment of total abstraction, ready +to be impressed by the same thing, by pure transmission of thought.”</p> + +<p>“I agree with you, Ingle,” said Reeve, “yet such impressions usually +are only transmissible and receivable when the mind is a blank.”</p> + +<p>“That is so,” continued Ingle, “but the acme of receptiveness is +reached at the identical moment of the acme of concentration, whether +that state is brought about by the concentration of nothingness or that +of serious abstraction. The result is the same: for that identical +moment the mind is a blank.”</p> + +<p>“And that moment is when the hallucination takes place, you think?” +asked Reeve.</p> + +<p>“So it seems to me,” Ingle replied.</p> + +<p>“I do not see it,” observed Rutherford, quietly; “neither in dreams +nor in any other manner do people see what is beyond or, I should say, +‘above’ their actual experience.”</p> + +<p>“I fear you’ll have to explain that,” said Coombes.</p> + +<p>“What I mean is this,” continued Rutherford; “you never, say, dream +of what is <i>beyond</i> your experience, or of doing something you +do not previously know how to do, or of seeing correctly something of +which no previous and similar object has come within your experience or +crossed your vision; when that point comes,—when all previous knowledge +or suggestion ceases, then you will wake. Nor is there evidence, +even in telepathy with excellent mediums, of going beyond scenes and +objects which have come within the knowledge of the medium by sight or +description.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">244</span></p> + +<p>“What about mediums telling of heaven—of angels—by actual sight?” +queried Ingle.</p> + +<p>“Nothing of the kind! they merely relate the impressions given, and in +this age of telepathy, when we can transmit thought all over the world, +it is <i>known</i> thought, and we do not get beyond it.”</p> + +<p>“But angels!”</p> + +<p>“Exactly the same thing. We cannot soar above our own knowledge, yet +we want to show human beings in a higher beatitude, so we make them +sexless and there arises a difficulty as to which sex they shall be +like, so we clothe the body with a long, white robe, and show only the +feet, making the faces clear so as to stand either for a woman or a +beardless man, for you must all admit that it would look incongruous +to represent angels with strongly marked features and nicely trimmed +beards and waxed moustachios!”</p> + +<p>“How would you represent an angel, then, Rutherford?” asked Coombes, +laughing.</p> + +<p>“I could not do better. No one could, for the simple reason I gave +before. We cannot soar beyond actual experience without being +ridiculous; we have never seen higher beings, and therefore what they +are like we cannot even imagine, for our fancy stops at ourselves, and +the best we can do is to make spirits, angels, and all higher beings, +like ourselves, but shorn of our carnal portions, and compromise the +matter.”</p> + +<p>“Then you think angels and spirits are not like us, and need not be of +anything like our form?” questioned Ingle.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not necessarily so,” answered Rutherford, and looking across +at Godfrey, he went on,—“I don’t want to intrude on the ground of the +biological section, but in the case of the caterpillar it does not +follow, necessarily, that its next life shall be that of another and +better caterpillar, and yet if it could answer the question it would +be sure to say that it <span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">245</span>would be a better caterpillar, with perhaps a +few more legs, for being accustomed to crawl all its life, it would +scarcely be likely to imagine that a future phase would be flying in +the sunshine, or the twilight, as the case might be, in an element of +which it could not know the existence as a crawling grub, or resting +pupa. This is a wonderful feature, and a few moments’ thought will show +how exceedingly difficult it is to conceive of a glorified human being +in any different shape to ourselves, without mutilating or degrading +the race. If we take the mental qualities and glorify them, we but +make the figure a brainy idiot, with a palsied body, his appearance +revolting to every sense of feeling and delicacy. If we take his skill +in work and glorify this by extending the power to exercise that skill +and confer on man a multiplicity of arms and legs, we merely form a +Hindoo idol; if his sight, and increase that, or in any way tamper +with him mentally or physically, we make nothing more than a revolting +heathen god. If we try to alter his shape and mode of movement, adding +a few more limbs, and make him creep, crawl or fly, we degrade him. +Finding all these things ruled out we take his limitless thought and +soul, and, knowing that thought can travel up to God, we give him wings +and make an angel of him, as mentioned at first—and that is man as +he is, with scarcely any alteration; because no one can suggest any +beautifying and ennobling variation apart from the present figure of +man, and yet there <i>is</i> a Power in Creation which is not figure +or flesh. No man has seen this Power at any time, yet no one who has +eyes or a thinking brain can do other than feel it everywhere. For +instance, who can define ‘space’ in the universe? We get instrument +after instrument, each more powerful than the last, and in each one we +may begin another and more distant space where the previous instrument +ended, and when we have discovered millions of miles of space in all +directions, we are only at the beginning of it—if space can <span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">246</span>have a +beginning—and our finite brains almost burst at the effort to grasp +and actually realise ‘Infinity’—to understand how far it can extend +and what it contains. We know the Spirit of God is there and is part +of, and <i>in</i>, all Creation; but because no man has seen God, +or can form the slightest idea of describing such a Spirit without +being profane, he can only regard the conception in the abstract, as +a ‘Spirit,’ or ‘Influence’—yet is it only ‘Influence’ that makes and +orders the universe, our knowledge of which is so infinitesimal that +the combined learning of the whole Earth is not so much as one grain in +comparison with the weight of our world. And because of this incapacity +of the human mind to grasp the idea of higher beings, we are compelled +to represent them as ourselves, slightly improved—as we think it.</p> + +<p>“Still one more instance. Many will have been present at the death of +some near relation or friend, and as the end draws near, the sight +seems to enter futurity, and yet not one of these has been able to +tell us a single word of what is beyond this life, or to what the +soul is going. Yet the dying spirit <i>would</i> be glad to do so, +<i>would</i> gladly do us all the good possible, but the lips are +sealed, and we shall never know till the same psychical moment has +arrived for each of us, and our own dissolution is near. All that we +know is that whatever the ‘home’ is, or wherever it is situated, the +mere sight of it fills the departing soul with an indescribable peace +and a longing for possession so holy, so lovely, and so welcome, that +mere mortal lips cannot speak of it, neither can the heart conceive +of it—only the ‘soul’ understands and grudges every moment spent out +of the ‘rest,’ which would be too disturbing for us to see, or to do +aught but conjecture about before we are almost entering. For it would +be too disturbing to our peace of mind to be compelled to live out +our allotted time in this existence, knowing positively all the while +that in each after-phase we <span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">247</span>should be working at that for which we +are most fitted, and all this without any of the storm, strife and +turmoil of this life. Under these conditions, such future work would be +perfect rest and peace to us, in comparison with the present, and would +also be in such a transcendently higher degree as to be altogether +inconceivable to us while in this life.”</p> + +<p>Rutherford ceased, and for a few minutes no one broke the silence, when +Reeve asked,—“Then what do you infer from that in the present case?”</p> + +<p>“That beings are here,” answered Rutherford; “real spirits, of a far +higher grade than ourselves!”</p> + +<p>“And that being so, we can only see them in our higher and more serious +moments of thought?” suggested Godfrey.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Rutherford, “and because of our inferiority, in +that peculiar psychical moment when our brain is at its zenith of +concentration, as Ingle put it, we are elevated out of ourselves, and +see those beings who are even now around us in a way we can neither +describe nor recall. Kelman hit it on exactly by his simile of a +‘nebulous glory,’ an ‘indescribable something’—and that is all I can +say.”</p> + +<p>“From that point of view, the return to a lower psychical state or zone +causes them to vanish by the inferiority of ourselves?” said Sorrel.</p> + +<p>“I should say so, for they are beyond our ken, except in the rare +moments when we, mentally, get nearer their level, and then a faint +radiance of their glory becomes visible to us!”</p> + +<p>“And you would take it, Rutherford,” questioned Rollsborough, “that +we, as we are normally, never could get more than a nebulous idea, or +vision, of a higher life, even under favourable circumstances?”</p> + +<p>“I do not see that it is possible, but of course I have never given the +subject a thought before; this is only my own idea, deduced from the +present experience.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">248</span></p> + +<p>“It would, of course, naturally follow that at the very best, +the glimpse we get might be nebulous, but never <i>could</i> be +sufficiently distinct to enable us to form even a mental idea of what a +spirit really is, seeing we are mortal?” pursued Rollsborough.</p> + +<p>“I should say not, myself, judging from past experience and the +ever-present impossibility of the human mind to explain the unknown.”</p> + +<p>“Possibly there may be something in the air, or in the spirit of this +world, that renders us more susceptible to outside influences,” put in +Godfrey.</p> + +<p>“The magnetic influence is very strong,” said Dennis, as he stepped +back from looking at the dial.</p> + +<p>“It is possible,” remarked Sorrel, “that the tremendous forces above +are here diverted to make the world habitable.”</p> + +<p>“That opens out another difficulty—a difficulty to me, that is,” said +Godfrey. “I remember what you told me about the creation of worlds, +Sorrel, and if the sun is so much younger than our own Earth—in its +infancy, in fact—how can you account for a staid old world like this +being in his stomach—a world which is quite the age of our own, judging +from the landscape, trees and animals, all of which are practically of +our period—and if this has been formed like Earth, what is it doing +here?”</p> + +<p>“That is, indeed, a mystery,” said Sorrel; “strange to say, +Rollsborough mentioned the very same thing to me a few days ago. He +said it had been troubling him for a week or two, but I must confess +the idea never occurred to me till he spoke of it. Since then we have +had a good deal of talk on the subject between ourselves, but we are +not certain of our ground yet.”</p> + +<p>“But have you no idea?” asked Godfrey. “It seems to me inexplicable. +What do you think about it, Rollsborough?”</p> + +<p>“I must confess myself at sea, Spenser,” was the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">249</span>reply. “I am like +Sorrel; for want of proof, there is only conjecture, and conjecture is +not safe.”</p> + +<p>“Could we get proof?”</p> + +<p>“I fear not; it would mean staying here for years and years. You see, +Spenser, on Earth each succeeding generation adds a little knowledge to +that left by its predecessors, but only a little, and in our work and +studies, we of the present time reap the benefit of the experience and +discovery of ages,—of history which was mere ‘happenings’ at the time, +though we of later date see all these fit in like segments of a wheel, +and so the world wags! but to begin studying geological structure +and scores of other sciences, from <i>nothing</i>, would take many a +lifetime to get any kind of results. Is not that so, Sorrel?”</p> + +<p>“I regret to say it is,” Sorrel replied; “it would be just as hopeless +for you, in your life-time, to hunt up, classify, and elucidate the +life-history of every fly and grub and bacillus on this planet, from +the very beginning.”</p> + +<p>“Just so, Sorrel, but tell us what you think; how it <i>may</i> have +come here. Has the sun blown out and the internal nitrogen and what not +developed this kernel more rapidly?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t like stating mere theories, Spenser,” answered Sorrel, +smiling, “but as you press me I will tell you what I imagine has been +the case. The only thing I can conceive as being in any way possible +is that the sun may have been formed by an extremely large planet +attracting to its mass another large planet of less gravity, the impact +forming this present sun. If a portion of one of the worlds, however, +embedded itself in the centre by probably an earthquake at the moment +of impact, there would be no immediate contact, and consequently no +immediate fusion of this portion, but directly the contact came, +perhaps less than a second later, there would be instant cohesion, and +also instant expansion of the parts brought <span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">250</span>into contact, which would +allow the embedding portion to touch nothing; it would strike to the +centre and remain there, because it would then have reached equally +opposing forces all round, and would commence to float and revolve in +space enveloped by the atmosphere projected with it, and probably some +instant conversion of some of the nitrates, or metallic portions of +the immense globule, would create a crust and generate a deep layer +of nitrogen, which would prevent further combustion downwards; the +ordinary breathable air below would remain there, with only a slight +intermingling in the extreme upper strata, which are further held in +place and away from the atmosphere here by that wonderful zone of thick +clouds which so deceived us, they forming natural shields, or vanes. In +any case, the cold centre would cause the outer crust to move away from +it, and expand, and conduce to the cooling of the crust, as would also +the nitrogen, being a non-supporter of combustion; the world itself +would become comparatively round and revolve as our Earth does, in its +own atmosphere. Then the usual cycle of waste and repair would follow, +and the air be made and kept sweet and fresh; the animal kingdom would +give out carbonic-acid gas and inhale oxygen, whilst the vegetable +kingdom would inhale carbonic acid and exhale oxygen, thus each kingdom +giving out as a waste product that which was necessary to the existence +of the other, as on Earth, the general health and safety of both +kingdoms being thus maintained, for each is indispensable to the other.</p> + +<p>“This is my explanation, and though it may seem to you at first thought +somewhat fanciful, I believe it is the one and only correct solution, +and it is at least a scientific possibility that will bear argument.”</p> + +<p>After airing opinions, and discussing the pros and cons of every +argument brought forward, they all retired, soon to be lost in slumber.</p> + +<p>For several weeks longer they continued their work <span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">251</span>of observation and +the collecting of specimens, still feeling, and at times seeing, their +nebulous friends, and in vain they tried to solve the problem “why had +they not felt the presences before, when they had been working so long +under similar conditions?”</p> + +<p>As the weeks sped on, there began to be signs of failing health in the +party; for the first time, first one and then another had to take a +day’s rest, lying in his cabin. Although no pain was felt, there was +prostration. Then this increased, and the day off extended into two +or three at a time, the usual remedies altogether failing to restore +chemical and physical balance. Finally, this came to such a pass that +only half the number were working, Dennis himself being too ill to +leave his cabin. Connecting this strange occurrence with something +unknown in the air or emanating from the ground, they decided that +it would be wise to leave, and bringing the work in hand to a speedy +close, they entered the ship, fastened the net securely, and started +the return journey with Dennis and half a dozen others ill in their +berths. They had made all aërial observations in coming, so there +was nothing to retard their progress; Ross took first turn at the +switchboard, and a few minutes later they were rapidly ascending to the +terrible heat and pressures and turbulence of the sun’s surface.</p> + +<p>Even as they ascended, the conditions of the invalids improved, and by +the time the windows needed further masking they were able to sit up +for a while, from which it was evident they had left behind something +inimical to them.</p> + +<p>It had long been a subject of keen controversy whether the sun was +solid, liquid or gaseous. It had been proved previously not to be +solid, at least not entirely so, and, consequently, was generally +accepted as being part gaseous and part either solid. or liquid, +excellent and almost indisputable scientific proof having been +forthcoming from the exponents of both theories, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">252</span>and as there was +so much that was doubtful, the partisans of both beliefs could each +make their case good in unanswerable argument. The adventures of the +explorers, the continuous photographs in colour, and the spectrum +photographs of the whole of the travels over the sun’s surface and the +actual descent, would, when reproduced on the scoposolograph machine, +show living, moving pictures in colour of the whole voyage, thus +elucidating completely many of the mysteries of the sun, the mighty +ruler and light-giver of the Solar system.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">253</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_XV">CHAPTER XV<br> +<span class="large"><i>JOCI CAUSÂ</i></span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“Look, the world tempts our eye</div> + <div class="i1">And we would know it all.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Arnold.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>As the <i>Regina</i> arose amongst the flames or protuberances of +the planet they were leaving, they saw several violent eruptions, +the dense masses of flames in the chromosphere being sent upwards to +measured heights of half a million miles, and as they passed high into +the corona, which dyed the interior of the ship with gorgeous colour +notwithstanding the darkened windows, again they found the sun’s mass +to cut off the whole sight of the heavens, and later still to be but a +vast horizon, then a great disc behind them, from which the blackened +heavens extended into limitless space. One evening as they were sitting +in the saloon for their customary chat, Ross said, casually,—“We must +now set about finding our mutineers and take them home!” which remark +caused considerable comment, for, strange to say, so absorbed had they +all been in the wonders they encountered every day that the thought +of the mutineers had scarcely crossed their minds, and Ross’s simple +remark came upon them as a surprise.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you have got sufficiently correct bearings to locate the +position of the world on which we left them?” asked Dalton.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” responded Rollsborough, “it will be comparatively <span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">254</span>easy to find +when we reach the orbit of Venus. We shall have to follow in the wake +of the planet a little, that will be all.”</p> + +<p>“How shall we locate it?” inquired Rutherford.</p> + +<p>“It was a ‘Nova,’ or new star, which had been drawn into the orbit of +Venus and attracted to that planet.”</p> + +<p>“But it was between Venus and the sun as seen from Earth?” said Dalton.</p> + +<p>“That was so,” assented Rollsborough; “but that was mere coincidence; +it will be encircling Venus as a new satellite or forming a binary or +double planet, and consequently be easy to find.”</p> + +<p>“But supposing it is not easy to find, what then?” said Rutherford, +laughing.</p> + +<p>“We got its position too carefully to make any mistake,” replied +Rollsborough, also laughing. “Sorrel and several others of us worked +the thing out independently, then compared notes and all were the same. +I think we need have no fear.”</p> + +<p>“It would be decidedly awkward if it’s gone, certainly!” chimed in +Sorrel, “but that is scarcely likely. We tested its progress and +gravity, and it was following exactly the planet Venus; and, if you +remember, we followed it up for some time after we had sighted it, +testing it in every way before we landed our rebels. I don’t think +there can be any doubt.”</p> + +<p>“None at all,” rejoined Ross, “we are sure to find it when we see +Venus.”</p> + +<p>Very soon the screens could be taken from the windows; that portion of +the net covering the glass of the saloon and observatory had been made +so that it could be drawn aside or tightly secured from the inside, +and as the ship was some distance from the sun, the de-atomising and +repelling forces projected outside were now thought to be sufficient +to keep the ship secure, so these portions of the net were released +and observation was now possible all over the universe, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">255</span>as during the +first part of their outward journey. Venus was soon sighted, and along +with her a second world, forming a ‘double.’</p> + +<p>“There she is!” cried several, excitedly. “There’s the planet we want, +still alongside,” and all rushed to the windows; but the greater +experience of Rollsborough and Sorrel discovered something, the +communication of which caused general consternation. They went to the +windows and at the first glance, Rollsborough exclaimed, “that’s not +the planet, that’s not a ‘binary’! the world we want is not there; now +what shall we do!”</p> + +<p>“Not there!” repeated several, incredulously. “Why, we can see it!”</p> + +<p>“That star is a long way past Venus! it is a ‘double’! get your glasses +and look,” said Sorrel.</p> + +<p>A rush was made to the observatory telescope and to the windows with +hand-glasses, when Rollsborough was proved to be right. Examination +showed that the new star, planet, or satellite of Venus had vanished, +and what they were examining was a large and distant star, the position +of which chanced to be close behind Venus ‘in line of sight,’ appearing +to be in the same plane, just as when two boats sailing down a river, +one in the middle and the other near the middle would, when viewed from +a distant bridge in line with the way they were travelling, or ‘end +on,’ appear as if sailing abreast, when in reality one might be a mile +before the other, which a change of position would show. So it was with +Venus; for some time the two stars seemed to be travelling together, +when a slight alteration in the <i>Regina’s</i> position showed Venus +sailing rapidly to one side, whilst her supposed companion remained +fixed, ‘in line’ with the bows of the vessel—a distant star—the angle +of distance between the two worlds becoming wider and wider every +moment. Venus was lacking her previous attendant, and the occupants of +the <i>Regina</i> looked at each other in dismay.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">256</span></p> + +<p>“Our friends stand a fair chance of settling down permanently in their +new quarters,” said Godfrey, nonchalantly; “they are not at all likely +to mutiny here again.”</p> + +<p>This set every one smiling, notwithstanding the seriousness of the +situation, and Rowland exclaimed, “How shall we set about finding the +runaway!”</p> + +<p>No one could offer a satisfactory reply at the moment, so Godfrey +continued, laughing, “We ought to have chalked it!” and turning to +Dennis and his chums, “this beats the Jupiter affair altogether, +triad!” at which the three laughed sheepishly, and on the others +inquiring what was meant, Godfrey explained,—“Some years ago, Oakland, +Ainley, and Eastern took me to Jupiter to find a particular grub that +was to give us the material for the outer net, and the only address +they had was ‘one special grub, species unknown, Jupiter’; they had no +more information, in fact they were not quite sure if it <i>was</i> +Jupiter, as if we could go round asking all the planets if they’d got a +grub to sell! I thought that showed a superb mind for detail, but this +takes all the shine out of it, we’ve dumped the folk down and where are +they? ‘eight denizens of Earth, a star, the universe,’ is a most lucid +address! shall we go there, Denny?” and as Godfrey made some further +similar remarks, Dennis cried, “Shut up, Godfrey! it’s no laughing +matter.”</p> + +<p>“It looks it, old man,” answered Godfrey, as he sat tilted back on a +chair with his toes just touching the floor. “We’re all serious, and +we ‘appreciate your joke’ as the wave message there says; I see it is +still up. It is a joke worthy of any of us.”</p> + +<p>For reply, Dennis shied an air-cushion at him; he caught it and placing +it at his back, continued, beaming,—“Thanks, dear boy! I’m glad to see +you’ve got an eye to your old chum’s comfort on this most solemn and +serious occasion.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">257</span></p> + +<p>“Oh! stop it, Godfrey!” exclaimed Ross, “you’ll kill us all! I can’t +laugh any more!”</p> + +<p>“Ay, do be serious!” said Gilbert, dabbing the tears of laughter out of +his eyes, his expression belying the words, “it’s no laughing matter! +we’ve put those fellows on a world which we’ve got to find, and how are +we to do it amongst the lot outside?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, easily enough!” replied Godfrey, airily, with a wave of his arm, +“take the lot in rotation and knock at each one, and ask if eight of +the wickedest and cleverest men of Earth are there, and if so, can they +come out? it’s simple enough!”</p> + +<p>This renewed the laughter, and another cushion came flying across the +room, this time from Gilbert, as Ross said,—</p> + +<p>“Stop it, Godfrey, or we shall be ill! you look after your grubs and +leave us to find the runaways.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, very well!” responded Godfrey, pretending to take offence. “What +did Gilbert ask me for if he didn’t want to know? there’s been some +mighty brain at work to provide us with this entertainment! was it +yours, Denny? it’s worthy of you, my boy, although by the quality of +it, you’ve all three had a hand in it.”</p> + +<p>After a little more banter all round, the travellers discussed the +situation more seriously. In the first place, the star was accompanying +Venus, and at no great distance, comparatively. For millions of miles +the <i>Regina</i> had gone out of her course so that the voyagers could +test, retest, and confirm its position and movement, and so far as +human means could ascertain, Venus had permanently attached to herself +a satellite. As seen from Earth Venus would now be a morning star +rising nearly four hours before the sun; for some weeks previously she +had been moving to the left, crossing the constellation Leo and was, on +that particular day close to β in Virgo; she had only just passed the +period of her greatest brilliancy <span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">258</span>as a morning star, and from Earth +would appear like a crescent moon. Between Venus and β in Virgo this +‘Nova,’ or satellite, should now be seen, for the first plan, drawn +before the mutineers were landed, had been most carefully compiled; the +exact spot was now marked on the plan, but no star was there. Again +were the calculations checked over, and again the result showed the +position as being between Venus and β in Virgo, as now seen from Earth.</p> + +<p>“We shall have to do something!” exclaimed Rollsborough. “We cannot +return to Earth and leave our fellow creatures to their fate.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not!” replied Dennis, “but what are we to do? We are still +racing rapidly onward with the impetus obtained from the sun; we can +slow up by converting the repulsive force into attractive, but we shall +lose the speed and cannot get it again until we come to some world from +whose gravity we can get a rebound. It is impossible for us to stand +still in space; we can only do that when within the force of gravity of +some other world.”</p> + +<p>“Can you alter direction?” asked Sorrel.</p> + +<p>“Yes, to a certain extent, but every deviation in space means loss of +speed, and we may now be going miles out of the right course every +second,” answered Gilbert, as they all stood talking together and +asking all manner of questions.</p> + +<p>“<i>We</i> are not lost,” remarked Ross, “but we are practically in the +same state when in any and every direction we go we may be wrong.”</p> + +<p>“If we turn, can you get force enough to travel, and if we stop, what +would happen? annihilation?”</p> + +<p>“We can turn, certainly,” was the reply, “but as Oakland says, we shall +lose speed we cannot regain, and if we lost all, we should have little +or no de-atomising force and only a slight repelling force, and be +thrown entirely on our engines, which now we use only in atmosphere; +with a speed of a few hundred <span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">259</span>miles an hour obtained in this way it +would take us years to get anywhere, almost. We should have to become +negative and allow ourselves to be drawn into the gravity of the +nearest large star, which in this case is the sun, and we should fly +back on to his surface like a comet.”</p> + +<p>“Then we should be lost?”</p> + +<p>“No, for we should set the compensating current ready for whatever +might draw us, and whenever sufficiently near for it to act, we should +have full power again.”</p> + +<p>“Then there is no real danger to us, in any case?” questioned Reeve.</p> + +<p>“No, not to us; the only difficulty is the loss of time. We shall lose +speed by turning, but so long as we reserve enough power to return to +the sun, or do not go outside his influence, we can always get more +force, but it is obvious that we cannot waste all our time going back +to get fresh starts, and it seems to me that that is what it amounts +to if we cannot locate the position of the world we are in search of. +The idea of hunting up one world in infinity, as Godfrey put it, is +appalling!”</p> + +<p>Ross looked at his companions for suggestions, but no one had any to +make, so Dennis repeated, “What can we do? we are perhaps going further +off every second, and it would be madness to rush here and there on the +bare chance of any one of these millions of stars being the particular +one we seek.”</p> + +<p>“Could we not compare the photographs we are taking now with those +taken in coming? They would give us the progress and course of the star +in question,” suggested Godfrey. “Rollsborough, here, would work out +where that star is now from the course of its orbit.”</p> + +<p>This suggestion was acted upon immediately, but after leaving the +planet the ship had headed for the sun, and the shielded lenses were +round the bows, so <span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">260</span>that when they turned, the planet being then at the +stern all view of it ended with their departure.</p> + +<p>“Could you tell by the heavens now, compared with the relative position +in coming, whether any new stars are there?” again suggested Godfrey; +but Rollsborough shook his head, replying, “It is not possible; the +heavens are changing momentarily, and to calculate the positions of all +the stars, so that we could locate every one at any given moment, would +take too long for us to consider the attempt even. Besides, we have +seen thousands of new stars not visible to Earth, and these would have +to be explained before we could hope even to guess at the right one, +and as Ainley and Oakland say, it would be madness to guess.”</p> + +<p>However, Rollsborough, Sorrel, and several others did make many +calculations as to the relative positions their ship bore on the +outward journey to their present position, but the results were far +from encouraging, as were several special photographs, though the +latter were of great service to science, for in addition to the many +new stars seen with the naked eye, the searching lenses revealed many +distant ones of varying magnitude, invisible from Earth by reason of +their distance, or of other stars intervening.</p> + +<p>It was most difficult to arrive at location in space, for what on +Earth appeared as groups and constellations by reason of being viewed +in ‘line of sight’ ceased to be such when amongst them. Finally, +Rollsborough said to Dennis, “How would it be to ‘wave’ to Earth, and +inquire if they observed the phenomenon of the new satellite of Venus? +If they have had it under observation, and if they know where it has +gone?”</p> + +<p>At once this wise suggestion was carried into effect, and a few hours +later came the answer,—“For a short time preceding the date given, +Venus was scarcely visible here, being very low down in Sagittarius, +and was an evening star. She set twenty minutes after <span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">261</span>the sun, +gradually extending the time to two hours as she slowly passed into +Capricornus. She was at the opposite side of the sun from Earth, +and was most brilliantly illumined; though small, her disc was so +exceedingly and unusually bright as to excite general and keen +examination, especially as she was moving a little to the south of +Saturn. They being so near together, the effect was very marked, and, +entering the small space between the two planets, there appeared a new +object which we took to be a moon, either of Venus or Saturn. For ten +days after that, the weather prevented further observation, the skies +being overshadowed with clouds. On the eleventh day the light was bad, +though better; Saturn was too near the sun for successful observation, +and the extra moon was not noticed. Then he passed behind the sun (in +conjunction) and became invisible for five weeks. Venus was obliterated +by thick clouds and for several days no observation was possible, then +the sky cleared, and Venus was passed by Luna, but no new object was +visible. Can you explain the new object?”</p> + +<p>There the message ended and left them in the same difficulty as before. +Though from Earth, Saturn and Venus had the appearance of being close +together, when viewed from the ship in space their great distance apart +could be realised, but could Saturn, at his enormous distance, have +wrested a planet from Venus, who was comparatively close to the sun? +It did not seem possible. Or had the sun drawn the new planet to his +surface, it being between him and Venus? If so, then search could not, +of course, be successful, no matter how protracted, for the world would +but have swollen a small portion of the sun-sea, scarcely making any +difference.</p> + +<p>“Do you think it was merely drawn into the orbit of Venus for the time +being, and then flung out, to go travelling onward?” asked Dalton.</p> + +<p>“It is impossible to say,” responded Rollsborough. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">262</span>“In the time since +we left many things may have happened, meteor-swarms and dozens of +other things may have drawn it away.”</p> + +<p>“Are the fellows worth troubling about?” debated Field. “Considering +their offence, are we justified in wasting time looking for them?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not,” said Dennis, “but we must get them if at all possible.”</p> + +<p>“Then if you have the exact position of the heavens when they were +dumped on this moon, could you not calculate its present position from +its previous movement?”</p> + +<p>“That we have done,” replied Rollsborough, “and taking into account the +progress, the attraction of Venus, that of the sun, its own gravity, +and the influence and positions of the other members of the solar +family, the previous movement still brings it an attendant on Venus, +and every calculation we make gives that result, yet you see it is +not there! I have tried everything I can think of, so have Sorrel and +several others, but all our results come to Venus, and nowhere else—so +we are nonplussed.”</p> + +<p>“You know the attractive power of the world, Oakland?” said Coombes, +“Could you not draw it here?”</p> + +<p>Dennis shook his head without answering.</p> + +<p>“Would not that be possible?” Coombes persisted.</p> + +<p>“No, quite impossible! to attempt to do that would upset the balance of +the whole solar system and bring inconceivable disaster. We should also +attract millions of planetoids, meteor-swarms, and everything of less +power to resist, and be crowded with them on all sides for thousands of +miles.”</p> + +<p>“Then what <i>can</i> we do, Oakland?” asked Rowland. “It would take +hundreds of years to go to all the planets we see from here, and every +mile we go brings new ones into view.”</p> + +<p>“I am done, Rowland!” replied Dennis, despairingly, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">263</span>“so are we all. +You tell us something, Rollsborough!”</p> + +<p>“I am quite in the dark like yourselves, Oakland, and anything I +can suggest must, of necessity, be wild and perhaps reckless, but I +recognise that we ought not to speed along home and perhaps be leaving +the planet we want further afield every second. I have an idea that we +are in some way the cause of the disappearance, and I would like to +work out the world’s present position, taking it to have flown off at a +tangent after we left.”</p> + +<p>After what seemed an interminable time, though in reality but a few +minutes, Rollsborough continued,—“This calculation I have made would +show the star to have taken a course directly to a few degrees to the +left of the way we are travelling, and it points to one of these two +stars which we see here on the last photograph, but invisible through +our glasses till we get nearer. I propose that we alter our course +slightly and proceed to one of these uncharted stars lying somewhat to +our left, and trust to chance to find the right one. This will entail +the alteration of but a few degrees, and would not, perhaps, lessen the +ship’s speed appreciably; would it, Oakland?”</p> + +<p>“That would not be sufficient to affect it in any way,” answered +Dennis; and a moment later they were heading for a distant star, and +after some days had passed, drew sufficiently near to form some idea of +its orbit. It was travelling rapidly from them, in the same direction, +which accounted for the long time taken to approach its mass, they, +fortunately, travelling at a much greater speed.</p> + +<p>On resting in its atmosphere, they obtained samples, to find it +contained constituents unknown on Earth, and every sample analysed by +Earth-methods exploded, and so seriously as to destroy much of the +glass apparatus in the laboratory. Although it was evident human beings +could not exist there, in response to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">264</span>the general desire to explore, +the good ship sank through the atmosphere and hovered about one hundred +feet over the ground, the occupants searching for signs of inhabitants.</p> + +<p>As far as their eyes could reach, to the distant horizon, the surface +of the globe was covered with water, and numerous islands, on which +were some fine animals not unlike the now almost extinct horses of +Earth, but with the spreading, palmated antlers of the elk, or moose. +After the first momentary start of surprise, the animals took no notice +of the great ship overhead, but continued their playing in total +unconcern. “If animals like these can breathe the atmosphere, we should +be able to do so,” said Farrant.</p> + +<p>“I fear not,” said Gilbert, “the composition is such as we have no +means of ascertaining without considerable research, but we can try it +on the birds.”</p> + +<p>All watched as some of the air was collected and one of the sun-birds +was about to be put in, when it was deemed to be too precious to +experiment with, so Reeve called up his dog and tried to put his +head in the receiver, but the dog only thought it a joke and barked +furiously; however, when Reeve dropped a biscuit in the jar and +suddenly released the cap, Dick fetched out his biscuit and ran off +with it to one of the softest rugs, where he could get a good grip and +make a litter of crumbs. Though much of the air in the receiver must +have mixed with that in the ship, there could not have been anything +harmful in it, or Dick would not have tried it, for he was very careful +and left experimenting to other dogs, and then he would fight for the +prize, or, more generally, cause others to do so, snatching it away +while they were busy, for he was a terrier and a born diplomatist. The +air doing Dick no harm, they concluded it would be breathable by them, +though to guard against danger, the large door was thrown open and +quickly closed, but they only felt a slight draught, the air itself +being <span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">265</span>undistinguishable from that in the vessel. The doors were then +flung wide open and the occupants stepped on the outer deck.</p> + +<p>“I should like a run on one of those things,” said Ingle. “Shall we get +down? We can’t do wrong, because they are on that small island.”</p> + +<p>The idea was urged by several others and when the vessel came to within +eight or ten feet of the ground, Coombes, Ingle, Kelman, Reeve and +Gardner descended. The animals allowed themselves to be caught, and +vaulting on their backs by the aid of their antlers, the riders got +excellent seats. Whether they were accustomed to being driven, or the +presence of a burden startled them, there was little time to discover, +for no sooner were the riders seated than the horses flourished their +heels and then set off like the wind, with heads lowered and horns +nearly vertical. Shouts of delight came from the daring riders as +they raced onward, surprised and thankful that the animals did not +elevate their heads and thus bring the horns horizontal, in which case +they would have stood an excellent chance of being swept off. On they +went at a break-neck pace, waving their arms and shouting to their +companions above who were watching, with not a little envy, perhaps +excusable. The speed increased as the horses settled down into long, +swinging strides, and now the end of the island was in sight; about +half a mile of water separated it from the next island, but the horses +never slackened pace, and instead of wheeling round and returning, or +following the contour of the island, they rushed madly forward, dashing +straight into the water at full speed, and that which followed made +every one breathless. They did not sink, or at any rate not more than +if they had been on sand, and the flying hoofs cut through the ripples +of water, flinging behind them the crests and splashes of the waves as +if they had been sand.</p> + +<p>The surprise of it so overcame Kelman that he let <span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">266</span>go the antlers, and +at the sudden release the creature lifted up his head, gave it a turn, +and the next instant Kelman was swept off his back, narrowly escaping +being trampled to death by the scores of riderless horses following, +whose flying hoofs, to the horrified gaze of those in the ship, seemed +to be pounding him to a jelly. Instead of sinking, however, he fell +flat with a splash, the water rising all around like sand, but in tiny +globules as of quicksilver, and there he lay floating on the water, +half his body immersed, and the waves lapping gently over him, wetting +him to the skin, he being too surprised to do anything but lie still +and stare around him. Then he essayed to rise, but instead of his feet +sinking, they remained almost where they were, the frustrated action +rolling him over on his face. From this position he got on his hands +and knees, and finally stood up with only his feet slightly sunk, as in +sand on the sea-shore, the water dripping from his nose, chin, elbows +and his clothing.</p> + +<p>This water was almost solid, as substantial as the soft sand on a +terrestrial sea-shore, and utterly oblivious to all else in his +astonishment, he stood splashing and slapping the water with his feet +and trying to sink. Then he tasted it, swallowed a mouthful, then +another, and then went down again on his knees digging and wobbling his +hands in an endeavour to bury his arms in the water flowing past, but +he might almost have tried to push them through earth, for he got no +further than the wrists despite his exertions.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the watchers on board the <i>Regina</i>, on first seeing +that the horses meant taking to the water, considered it a fine joke, +but when the sight of its wonderful buoyancy followed, they were so +surprised that the herd had passed out of sight into a wood on the +next island almost before they had realised the situation. Quickly +following, the <i>Regina</i> hovered over Kelman, who, apparently +forgetting all that had passed in the moment of surprised discovery, +glanced upward <span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">267</span>and shouted,—“Look here, you fellows, this water is +solid as sand; I’ve just had a drink and it’s beautiful. Come down, all +of you!”</p> + +<p>“Where have the others gone?” shouted several from the outer deck.</p> + +<p>“The others? oh, ay! the others, to be sure!” he repeated, looking +round in dismay, without the ghost of an idea where they were, and +astonished to find himself alone. “The others? ay! yes, the others? ay, +yes!” and again he looked down and round, and up and down again, as if +he expected them to rise up out of the water, or fall from the sky; +“the others! they’re not here!”</p> + +<p>The remarkable wisdom displayed in this statement set every one +laughing, and then Kelman saw the situation himself, and laughed +boisterously, standing all the time in the water, and then said—no +longer abstractedly,—“I was so astonished and absorbed in this +discovery that really for the moment I had quite forgotten everything +else and how I came here. Help me up, you fellows, and don’t stand +grinning there. How can we hunt for them if you grin the time away like +that!” and amidst general laughter he was hauled up, dripping as he +was, when the ship rose so that they could get a more extended horizon, +but nowhere could the runaways be seen. This was serious, so Godfrey, +Dalton, Field and Rutherford were put down on the next island, near +the wood, armed in case of danger, and with instructions not to leave +that island. The <i>Regina</i> rose to scour the country and the four +searchers entered the wood. All this, however, had taken some time, and +it was fully fifteen minutes before the <i>Regina</i> could start her +own independent search.</p> + +<p>“It will be easy to search this,” said Godfrey, who led the party, +“for the antlers of the horses would make a track, or show one. +There it is!” as they came to a broad open way like an avenue where +the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">268</span>grass was trampled down. As they entered this avenue Godfrey +cautioned,—“Rutherford and I will go first; Dalton and Field, do you +keep a few yards in the rear and look well behind you and at each side, +to prevent any attack that way; we don’t know what dangers may be +lurking for us.”</p> + +<p>In this order they progressed for about half a mile, when a figure +dropped in front of them from one of the trees, and Ingle greeted them +with,—“So you’ve come, have you?” which self-evident fact was met by +the equally lucid,—“Oh, it’s you, is it?” and all five stood together +while Ingle recounted what had passed,—</p> + +<p>“You saw us cross that water? Yes? The surprise of it nearly unseated +us all. Kelman did fall; is he safe? Yes? Well, he had the best of it. +Most of us were well seated with an arm on the shovel or web-shaped +part of the antlers as they stuck up. When we entered the wood the +horses held their noses up, which made the antlers lie close on their +backs, so we were wedged as if in arm-chairs, and we pressed our elbows +on the horns to keep them down and steady, so getting a good leverage. +The horses didn’t like being held that way and began to wriggle, and +the brute I was on tried several times to spin his head and slice me +off, but I held him tight and then, like a streak of lightning, he +darted under the trees here, with his nose high in the air, and antlers +tight on his back. He’d have swept me off with some bough and killed +me in another second had I not instantly guessed his little game, for +we were going at least a mile a minute, so the instant he swerved, I +jumped off and up, and caught that bough, and he passed under it. See, +his tracks are there. What has become of the others? I’m sure I don’t +know. The fact is, I believe I fainted for a minute or two, for I shot +at the bough with an awful smack, and fell <span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">269</span>across two; they kept me +up, or I should have been killed, for my brute was one of the first.”</p> + +<p>“Then you are hurt!” exclaimed Godfrey, in concern.</p> + +<p>“Yes, a little, old man!” he answered, and snatched at Godfrey’s arm, +which he grasped below the greeting-band, but under the circumstances +this was allowed to pass unnoticed, although it was an indictable +offence; recovering himself, he continued,—“What have I done! You must +excuse me, I was a little dizzy for the moment; I have broken two or +three ribs, and I think one has scratched my lung, for I’m bleeding, +see”; and he spat out a mouthful of blood.</p> + +<p>“And you jumped off the tree and stood talking to us with broken ribs! +lie down this instant!” ordered Godfrey, in dismay.</p> + +<p>“How else could I get down? I had no wings! I was afraid to get off +till some one came, but the jerk has given the lung a scrape; I shall +be glad to lie down, for the trees are spinning, and you are all +upside——” and notwithstanding his bravery he had fainted.</p> + +<p>They strapped him up tightly till his breathing became easier, and then +restored him.</p> + +<p>“How do you feel now, old fellow?” inquired Rutherford.</p> + +<p>“As fit as a fiddle,” was the answer; “but it did hurt to lie across +the boughs! I’d buttoned my things up as tight as I could, but it +wasn’t like this.”</p> + +<p>“Then not another word!” said Godfrey. “Dalton and Field will stay +by you for company, but if you talk, they’ll gag you straight away. +Rutherford and I will search through the wood, although what we shall +do if we meet the herd, I don’t know! If danger comes, telepath to us, +and we’ll come back at once.”</p> + +<p>“Right!” replied Dalton. “We’ll telepath to the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">270</span>ship, any way, and rig +up a stretcher. Come back as soon as you can.”</p> + +<p>“I’m right enough!” expostulated Ingle, “I don’t want a stretcher.”</p> + +<p>“If he says another word, you two gag him!” ejaculated Godfrey, +bluntly, and he and Rutherford left, whilst Dalton and Field placed +Ingle in the undergrowth off the main avenue, lest the herd should +return, and prepared to make a stretcher.</p> + +<p>“We can’t telepath,” said Ingle, faintly. “I tried all the time I was +in the tree. Now I’ll not say any more.”</p> + +<p>“You’d better not, with a chest like that,” warned Field, “we’ll try.” +The two remained in close concentration of thought for a few minutes, +but it was as though an extinguisher was on their mind, and no reply +came.</p> + +<p>“That’s strange!” exclaimed Dalton. “I never knew a failure before!”</p> + +<p>“Marvellous!” agreed Field. “We’ve ‘waved’ from the sun to Earth, and +the others have ‘waved’ from Jupiter to Earth, and we can telepath all +over our world and yet here we can’t send a message half a mile.”</p> + +<p>“It may be that we have no power outside the solar system,” suggested +Dalton.</p> + +<p>“I never thought of that,” said Field. “We must look into it.”</p> + +<p>While they were discussing this discovery, their two companions passed +through the small forest for about two miles, when they came to water, +which they found as buoyant as that first seen. Finding no other way +out of the forest, except the avenue, they retraced their steps, and +each taking a corner of the stretcher which had been improvised by +taking two long boughs, plaiting the intervening branches together and +filling it with leaves, they brought their burden to the edge of the +forest where they had first alighted, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">271</span>and rested there to wait for the +ship, which was out of sight.</p> + +<p>After lowering them, she had risen high so that the occupants could +search the whole country with their glasses, but nowhere could the +runaways be seen; though there were numbers of other animals, the +horses and their riders had disappeared. Whilst they were looking, +however, the herd emerged from a great forest some distance away, +heading for their original pastures, the men still on their backs, and +the question arose as to how the riders could be rescued without being +damaged, or the horses being injured.</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t you make them light, and float them up?” asked Sorrel.</p> + +<p>“There are difficulties,” said Ross, smiling. “In that case, the horses +would come too, and our friends might be injured in the scrimmage of +getting off. If we lightened them so as not to affect the horses, as +the men’s legs are below the horses’ backs, it would be awkward if half +their bodies came up and the other half stayed down. We don’t know what +would happen, for we’ve never tried it.”</p> + +<p>“Make them light, and throw a rope down,” said Rollsborough.</p> + +<p>“And, they being light, the rope would knock the life out of them,” +objected Dennis.</p> + +<p>“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Rollsborough, laughing; “and, of +course if the rope was equally light, it would be no good.”</p> + +<p>“And if the horses are drawn up, they’d get such a fright as might +kill them, I suppose,” said Rowland. “But could we not telepath to the +fellows to stand on the horses’ backs and then waft them up?”</p> + +<p>“It will be risky,” returned Gilbert, “for if they slip, the horses +coming behind will rip them up, but we’ll try it,” and they all +telepathed.</p> + +<p>During this time the horses were still madly racing <span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">272</span>and reckless, the +three riders keeping pretty much their original positions.</p> + +<p>“Where’s Ingle?” asked Reeve.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid he’s done for,” replied Coombes. “His horse flung him crash +against a tree, and he fell across it like a broken reed,—if he dropped +he would be trampled to death.”</p> + +<p>“And Kelman?”</p> + +<p>“He fell in the water, and he’ll be done for,” said Gardner, “for there +were scores behind him, or he’s drowned.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t those fellows up there do something! they’re pottering +around, taking observations and photographing us, I’ll be bound, +instead of doing something to help!” said Reeve, grumpily.</p> + +<p>“I wish they would. These blessed things are going on for ever,” +exclaimed Gardner. “I’m sat on a thumping ridge of bone and it’s +scraping terribly!”</p> + +<p>“Sit tight!” cried Reeve, excitedly, “they’re turning!” as the +riderless horses in front wheeled round, their own and all in the rear +taking the same movement as if in one frame.</p> + +<p>“Great Bona!” groaned Gardner, “that jerk took off another inch +of bark, I’m certain! Look up at those asses in the ship, they’re +following us about, shouting for us to hurry up or something like it, +enjoying the fun instead of helping us.”</p> + +<p>“And when we get back, they’ll show us our photographs, how nice +we look from their point of view, and expect us to appreciate it,” +exclaimed Reeve.</p> + +<p>“They’re immediately overhead and following us and they’ll give us +elaborate calculations of our speed and distance travelled,” said +Coombes, jerkily. “I’m sure they’re measuring every inch of ground.”</p> + +<p>“Ay!” agreed Gardner, “and then they’ll expect us to enthuse over +it—steady there, mind my eye—” as an antler came very near his head. +“I’ve been telepathing like mad, and they take no notice!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">273</span></p> + +<p>“So have I,” responded Reeve, disgustedly. “But who can concentrate on +these blessed things! It takes us all our time to dodge their horns to +prevent being impaled. They could get at us, though, and they won’t!”</p> + +<p>“Not likely!” ejaculated Coombes, “they’re enjoying it too much to +think of our side of it;” and then suddenly,—“Hallo, what’s up now!” as +all the horses left the ground and floated about a foot above it. The +riders looked up, and from the outer deck Ross shouted, “Can you hear +me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“We’ve been shouting to you, but the noise the horses made drowned our +voices. Stand up on their backs, you cannot fall lower than you are. +Take hold of the upright horns and mind you don’t get impaled on those +following behind.”</p> + +<p>Too intent to speak, they obeyed, when the vessel swooped down and as +the herd divided in fright, many hands snatched up the figures with +a jerk, and in less time than it takes to tell, all three were safe +aboard again, and the horses were restored to their previous weight by +the simple withdrawal of all attraction. The ship then went to pick up +Godfrey and his party, and Ingle was put under treatment, suffering +very little inconvenience. When in the safety of the ship, the three +riders forgot their momentary annoyance, though they felt very contrite +about Ingle’s accident, but he protested he only was to blame, having +first suggested the frolic, and that the enjoyment was worth what +followed, especially considering the discovery of the strange water +which, in all probability, would not have been made but for that. +They took in a quantity of this water, which was sweet and pure, and +although no thicker than Earth-water was wonderfully buoyant, and of +the same specific gravity as the earth of the planet (taken from the +average of twenty samples of different kinds of earth, rock, stone, +etc. etc.).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">274</span></p> + +<p>The adventure whetted their appetites for further exploration, and on +proceeding they saw in many parts of the country colonies of beings, +and selecting one of the largest colonies, they found it inhabited +by strange people, who were highly intelligent and who, though not +greatly unlike human beings, had a skin covered with exceedingly fine +and silky hair which gleamed in the light. They wore no clothing nor +did they eat, as do the denizens of the solar system, but drew in their +nourishment from the air itself, which not only entered the lungs and +gave life and heat to the body as with us, but provided them with a +sufficiency of the chemical elements to build up the frame, and replace +the loss caused by physical and mental exertion. They were apparently +sexless, and seemed all to live together in the closest bonds of love +and friendship, thinking and doing no wrong, and treating their strange +visitors with courtesy, respect and perfect frankness. They examined +the ship with interest, and were pleased to hear what the vessel had +done, though knowing nothing of Earth, which was too far away to be +seen by their instruments, except as a very minute star. They spoke of +the sun—which was seen from here with the naked eye as but a star—as +from actual knowledge, explaining its internal and external structure +accurately, and when their description was confirmed, they were both +pleased and grateful for the proof.</p> + +<p>They were entirely without guile, childishly frank and open, and of +a scale of intelligence far surpassing human limits. Although the +Earthians could not telepath even to each other in this world—or indeed +anywhere outside the solar system—they were so much under the influence +of these people that they could both understand and be understood by +thought alone. Dennis and his close friends had been to other planets +in the solar system, and only now did they realise what had previously +escaped their notice, plain though it <span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">275</span>was. Although the people and +climates, and modes of living, had differed on various planets, yet +there had been a certain similarity in form and thought. They had been +‘humans’—differing more or less, but in action, power, life, manner of +keeping alive by eating cooked or uncooked food, and telepathy alike, +and so far as the terrestrians were concerned they had been able to +communicate with Earth by ether wave so long as they had remained in +the solar system, thus proving that all the members of that system were +really of one family, and that the welfare of one world was identical +with that of all the others, but in this planet—the first they had +visited outside the system—all communication with the units of that +system was cut off.</p> + +<p>These new friends confirmed this and pointed out that the influence +of the various worlds and their inhabitants could always be felt most +in their own particular family; it did not necessarily follow that +the characteristics of one system were repeated <i>en bloc</i> in all +others throughout the universe. They also explained that if it were +possible to visit all the systems in the universe, it would be found in +each case that all conditions were changed; gravity was not the same, +chemicals were not governed by the same laws, substances and cohesion +of atoms and particles were under laws suited to them in their special +local relation to other things, and though throughout the whole of +creation a certain general law might and did prevail, the countless +millions of units which formed the one grand whole were controlled and +built up by that which would, in each individual case, be best suited +to enable that one unit to fulfil its allotted task; that nothing in +creation was wasted, and that each world, each unit, was as necessary +to the proper adjustment of the whole, and was as important to the +completion of the great work of creation, as was one small wheel to the +correct movement of a clock.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">276</span></p> + +<p>What that scheme is no mind other than that of the Creator can grasp; +but every single star and grain of meteoric dust in space is needed to +work it out. And all the movements in space, where orbits are within +orbits and worlds innumerable rush on with various speeds, clashing +when necessary, missing when necessary, all in regular motion like a +well-balanced clock; nothing wanting, not a speck of dust superfluous, +show the work of God proceeding, unerringly, unceasingly; in limitless +space above, around, below, where there is neither height, nor depth, +nor length, nor breadth that does not end as remote in eternity as the +beginning, and at the mere thought the mind experiences a crushing +feeling of oppression at such a declaration by the heavens of the Glory +of God.</p> + +<p>Never before had the travellers got such a close insight into the +wondrous Scheme of Creation, and never before had they met creatures +higher than found in any part of the solar system, or any unlike +themselves. Had any one told them that beings could be hairy and +unclothed and not be degraded, they would have been held in derision, +as suggesting an impossibility; yet here were people before their very +eyes, unlike any seen elsewhere, not greatly different in form, manner +or speech, but with soft, hairy skins, glossy as silk, every motion +full of grace and beauty, unclothed and sexless yet not knowing it, +their thoughts and actions guileless as those of children; god-like +in figure and movement, and withal a god-like mind, and a frank love +and trustfulness that were in themselves a protecting hedge from outer +evil, had there been any.</p> + +<p>Appreciating the great wisdom and kindness of these people it seemed +but natural to the explorers to tell them of the difficulty they were +in with relation to the recovery of their lost companions, and after +hearing the whole story in detail, and seeing the map of the heavens +at the time, the natives told them that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">277</span>the planet selected had been +for ages a member of the solar family, but it was not likely to be +often seen from Earth, as it was one of the ‘variable stars.’ Some +terrestrial months previously, however, they had seen it pass rapidly +out of the solar system, becoming larger and larger as it drew into +nearer view, and it was even now speeding forward some hundred million +miles distant. On referring to the photograph, it was found to be +the second of the two stars which Rollsborough had cleverly worked +out; they had naturally taken that needing the least alteration in +steering, but had they selected the second, they would by this time +have had their companions on board. On their saying they must go to +recover them, one of the natives asked if they had power to make their +attraction felt by telepathy, seeing the world was really one of the +solar family, but it was explained that so far they had never been able +to telepath anywhere except to Earth, though the people on the other +planets in the system communicated with each other freely, though none +to Earth.</p> + +<p>Dennis, Ross and Gilbert, feeling proud of the enormous power they had +under control, boastfully said—as a sort of set-off to the apparent +stigma cast on Earth by its seeming to be the pariah of the solar +system, which they took as personal—that it would be easy for the ship +to arrest the planet in its present course, and draw it to them, if +necessary, and letting their pride get the better of their judgment, +they tried to persuade the passengers to agree to the planet’s course +being changed towards them.</p> + +<p>Rollsborough, Sorrel, and some others strongly objected, saying that +such a proceeding would be most unfair both to the people on the planet +now giving them hospitality, and also to those on the world they +proposed attracting, and insinuating that as many dangers had been so +wonderfully overcome, they were allowing their heads to be turned by +their successes, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">278</span>and grossly presuming on their powers over nature. +The rival parties became considerably heated, one side enumerating some +of the evils that might be expected to ensue, the other treating the +matter as a joke, making light of the fears of the older section, until +at last a vote was proposed and taken, and wisdom lost, as usual.</p> + +<p>For several hours they talked over the project, most of them saying, +recklessly, that it would be a fine experience to draw the world to +them and let the mutineers almost step off one to the other, arguing +that as the worlds were practically equal in gravitating power, and +the atmospheres, though different in chemical composition, equally +capable of supporting Earth-life, by careful manipulation the two +planets could be brought together safely and their atmospheres would +not explode but would commingle; the harebrained section were certain +that with the power at their disposal they could overcome all the +probable dangers, and bring the two worlds actually into contact at +their equators, like two balls, and the rebels could and <i>should</i> +jump from one sphere to the other, no matter what happened, and then +the worlds should be separated, neither the worse. Rollsborough and his +party said nothing, and without more than these passing thoughts to the +possible consequences, that same evening—so precipitate were they—the +<i>Regina’s</i> attractive force was directed towards the runaway world.</p> + +<p>“It is speeding away from us rapidly,” said Dennis, “but before we +breakfast it will have begun to pull up until its present force is +broken, when it will veer round and come to us!” and most of them +cheered; but Rollsborough, taking off his glasses and putting them +in their case, said, severely,—“You are lightheaded, gentlemen, and +intoxicated with the previous success; but what will the end be?”</p> + +<p>No one spoke, and Sorrel quietly got up to go, but <span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">279</span>as he was passing +out of the saloon he turned and said,—</p> + +<p>“The price will be a heavy one; very heavy indeed. It is a mad project. +Good-night!” and he went to his cabin, followed by Rollsborough, who +silently passed on to his at the other side.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes this open disapproval put a damper on the jollity, +which was not lightened when several others rose and merely saying +“Good-night” left for their cabins, but this soon passed, and Allan +Gardner asked Ross,—“Are you going to tell the people here?”</p> + +<p>“That is as we may all decide,” answered Ross, already almost +regretting the scheme; “perhaps we had better say nothing, but let it +come as a surprise.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that will be best,” agreed all; and so it came to pass that, +reckless of consequences, eleven men who were regarded as the coolest, +most matter-of-fact, most noted and reliable scientists Earth could +produce—for the sake of doing something bizarre in order to impress a +circle of new-found friends—so far forgot themselves as to wrench a +planet from its course and find it another.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">280</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_XVI">CHAPTER XVI<br> +<span class="large">“A RACE OF LAUGHING PHILOSOPHERS”</span></h2> +</div> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="i0">“At length corruption, like a general flood,</div> + <div class="i1">So long by watchful ministers withstood,</div> + <div class="i1">Shall deluge all; and avarice creeping on,</div> + <div class="i1">Spread like a low-born mist and blot the sun.”</div> + <div class="attrib smcap">(Pope.)</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The approach and descent of the <i>Regina</i> with the intent of +warehousing her cargo of detrimentals on the new-found world caused +considerable commotion, and in the district they approached, all the +people within sight came running up, signalling to others, so that +a crowd had collected within the space of a few minutes, quite in +terrestrial style. All gazed upward in astonishment to see the great +vessel slowly settling, which was augmented when the side opened, the +shimmering net was drawn back, and several figures stepped on the +outer deck; the watchers gave a shout of dismay as one of the figures +walked off the ship as if on a level crossing, and this dismay turned +to consternation as they saw that the man did not fall crashing to +the ground as they expected, but remained floating as he was. Then +another followed and still another till there were eight, all clustered +together, suspended in space, when they slowly sank to the ground, +men just like themselves, though differently dressed. Looking up to +the airship they saw the net drawn together, heard the metal doors +clink and snap, and then without <span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">281</span>further sound or sign the vessel +rose higher and higher till lost to sight. What did it mean? and they +stood staring at the eight strange people who had dropped in their +midst from the clouds. Edgar Holt, essaying the first question, asked +the people around where they were and the name of the planet, but +neither the natives nor visitors could understand the languages used. +Like wild-fire the news spread that eight beings from another world +had been deposited on their sphere, and people came flocking up from +all directions till the ground for some distance around was packed and +movement was well-nigh impossible. Word was passed from one to another, +telling the story of the strange descent over and over again, as could +be perceived by their gesticulations, and some looked upon Holt and his +companions with awe and reverence, almost as gods, whilst those who had +not witnessed their arrival considered the accounts exaggerated, owing +to excitement, especially as there was no trace of vessel, or sign of +one, to corroborate, and their visitors appeared much the same weight +as their own average, therefore it was difficult to believe they had +floated.</p> + +<p>The eight friends could speak many different languages amongst them, +and these were all tried in turn, the people also speaking several, +as the visitors could tell by the change of accent and the different +vocalisation, but all without being understood. Two men, who seemed to +be governors or officers, next took the visitors in hand and conveyed +them to an enclosure, over which was placed an awning. Here again +the same difficulty arose with regard to speech, and matters at once +came to an <i>impasse</i> when Aubrey Bolford thought of telepathy. +All difficulties were now ended, for the people were more expert in +the science than those of Earth, and both parties were surprised that +the idea had not occurred to them before, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">282</span>though as its use was not +necessary or usual in personal conversation, the temporary omission to +try it was not really to be wondered at.</p> + +<p>Edgar Holt, as a middle-aged man, had carried out the practice +and promise of his youth, for he made a point of ignoring and +belittling anything and everything in which he could not take the +chief part. This had been his undoing on the ship, and now he took +everything in his own hands and acted as the spokesman and appointed +leader of the expedition. It never occurred to him that any of his +companions-in-disgrace might object to his rule, nor would it have +made much difference if they had done so; he would have ruled, just +the same, or left them to go their way while he went his. His friends, +however, were well content to leave the leadership to him, for though, +like most men of his class, he was unscrupulous to a degree, he +was gifted with ready wit and infinite resource which had hitherto +stood him in good stead, for he had always been able to shift his +difficulties to some one else and himself appear not only guiltless +but very much injured; and in this last, and first, case of detection, +had it not been for those bothering secret instruments giving them +away, and the whole thing being dealt with before he had had time to +think, he felt quite confident that whatever might have happened to +the others <i>he</i> would still have been in the ship, respected and +honoured, not only as a scientist, but as a gentleman. None of his +companions, therefore, resented the aspect their leader put on the +affair in not stating the raw and garish truth, but presenting that +cultured compromise which some call the ‘truth, put delicately,’ and +others a ‘white lie,’ as their fancy dictates; the result, however, is +the same. So in his most captivating way, as he could not tell a lie +for anything, Holt told the officials the ‘truth,’ according to his +lights—and no one living could disprove it, or call him an untruthful +man,—“We, with <span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">283</span>many others, were going on a voyage of exploration to +the sun in a splendidly equipped ship, but as we had to come near this +world, we expressed a strong desire to visit it and make friends with +the inhabitants, so we eight were put down here to explore whilst our +friends proceeded on their journey, and in due course our ship will +call and take us back again. We thought that by this means we could +render better service to science by visiting here whilst our friends +explored the sun, and thus both objects could be dealt with together +and considerable time saved. We therefore request that you will accord +to us that hospitality and assistance which you yourselves would +receive from our own people in similar circumstances.”</p> + +<p>This pretty, flattering little speech could have but one result, and +smiles and greetings of the warmest character followed.</p> + +<p>Then came many questions on both sides, and as the natives did not know +Earth by that name, a drawing was made of the solar system, and they +were asked to name the various worlds. The sun they named ‘Claytor,’ a +word to them signifying ‘light and heat’; Mercury they called ‘Celtas’ +or ‘one,’ being nearest the sun; their own planet was ‘Ramsar,’ and +‘Surans’—the former meaning ‘two,’ or the second from the sun, the +latter signifying ‘much water,’ the world having more water than land; +Venus was ‘Lovis’—or ‘three,’ and Earth ‘Rathela’ or ‘four.’ Stars were +called ‘Claros,’ which means ‘fixed,’ in contrast with ‘Icelaros,’ +signifying ‘unfixed,’ or ‘travelling’ stars, which Earthians call +‘planets.’</p> + +<p>“What is your orbit in the system?” asked Fred Congreve.</p> + +<p>“It is within that of Venus, journeying round the sun.”</p> + +<p>“How is it then that we have never seen it from <span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">284</span>Earth?” questioned +Aubrey Bolford, who was an astronomer.</p> + +<p>“You see from this photograph that it is surrounded by a belt of +semi-opaque ether, which would render it wholly, or partially invisible +to you except on the rare occasions when the web lifted, and even then +meteor-swarms or planetoids might intervene. We shall therefore be a +‘variable’ star to you, just as your Earth and all the other members of +the solar family are not always visible to us, for which reason we call +them, as a whole, the ‘Selporas,’ a word signifying ‘variables,’ as you +name them.”</p> + +<p>“You may perhaps recall,” remarked Bolford, turning to Holt, “that in +the year 2000 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> many astronomers at the chief observatories +in the world noticed a large object near Venus which was taken to be +a ‘Nova,’ or else a new moon, but after being under observation for a +few days, it disappeared and has not been seen since; it never has been +visible in England. Perhaps this is the one referred to.”</p> + +<p>“I think it is more than probable,” assented Holt, then turning to +one of the bystanders he asked if astronomy was one of their special +studies, to find that not only astronomy but all other arts and +sciences were studied most assiduously. Holt then informed them who +he and his companions were and explained their professions. Such an +event as the almost miraculous dropping in their midst of eight of the +most noted scientists of another world could not be other than a great +national event. All over the world the news was ‘waved,’ for the people +were far more advanced in every way than those of Earth, and the ‘wave’ +apparatus was so universal that almost every family had one fixed in +their dwelling, and even young children were conversant with its use; +it was a common sight even for them suddenly to stand for a moment in +silent concentration, and then smile <span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">285</span>happily, as some affectionate +message from parents or other loved ones was received and joyfully +answered. Considering the universal use of telepathy, the ‘wave’ +apparatus was almost unnecessary, except that it imprinted the messages +which mere transmission of thought necessarily made evanescent.</p> + +<p>It followed then that all the inhabited world was soon possessed of the +fullest particulars of the <i>Regina’s</i> visit, and those who were +able to do so came to the spot on which the travellers had alighted, +the octet being the cynosure of all eyes. Certain people were deputed +to attend to their personal comfort and elucidate everything not clear +to them, the strangers on their part explaining the methods, science +and learning of their own planet.</p> + +<p>The people lived in community, each colony so excellently organised +that no one had ever known a single instance of any wrong being done. +However, this state of things was soon to be altered, for Earthians +are not yet fitted to associate with those of better life without +the latter suffering. In theory, the better exercise such a splendid +example for good that the less good immediately improve; but in +practice, the only way to maintain the perfection of the good is to +isolate them, in order that they may grow better and not worse, and +then perhaps go to a still better world; which is the reason, maybe, +why nature separated each world from its neighbour by instituting the +laws of gravity and atmospheric pressure, and by placing between a +chasm of unbreathable and unbridgable space. In conquering gravity, +science and chemistry had bridged this gulf and the visits to Venus +and other places had done no harm, because those particular visitors +were not base, but had sought only good. In the present instance, +however, the eight voyagers were very jealous-minded, and were disposed +to go to great lengths to obtain the fruits of other men’s <span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">286</span>labours, +hence their presence here, which was likely to prove a real calamity +to the pure and honourable inhabitants of this planet, who knew no +wrong,—and because they were far above the terrestrials in science, +learning and morals, they were childlike in their innocence, their +lives glowing with happiness and mirth; every one of them contented +and jovial, taking everything that came with a smiling face; having +clear consciences and knowing that everything <i>must</i> work out for +their good, they accepted each event with philosophy and good-humour, +and in their own frankness they never for a moment even dreamed that +their visitors could be in any way different, for were not all in the +solar system closely related and under the ruling power of the same +mighty Sun! They therefore trusted the strangers implicitly and, to use +a well-known proverb, they wore their hearts on their sleeves, never +imagining that there were such creatures as daws to peck them.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for the natives, thought-transmission with the visitors +could only be effected by very strong effort, or they would have known +what manner of men they were entertaining, and the visitors’ minds not +being so pure and refined as theirs could only grasp their thoughts +with the utmost difficulty, failing altogether to do so as often as not.</p> + +<p>The strangers were a type of the successful business man of Earth, +considering anything justifiable if gain resulted. Earth always favours +such men, scorning those boneless creatures whose honour shrinks from +causing another’s ruin, so these eight had always been regarded there +as exceedingly smart and, bearing in mind Earth’s definition of a sound +business man, they despised these clever, innocent people; before the +sun set on their first day Holt said to Keeth, laughingly,—“What do you +think of these folk here?”</p> + +<p>“Exceedingly clever, apparently,” Keeth replied, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">287</span>sneeringly, “but the +simplest folk I have ever seen.”</p> + +<p>“They’re too innocent by half,” broke in Congreve, an electrician, “and +if we don’t pluck them and feather our nests out of this lot, we shall +deserve all we get!”</p> + +<p>“Why, what shall we get?” inquired Ellis Siddall.</p> + +<p>“Get?” ejaculated Pease Dawson, querulously. “Get? you’ll see! We were +downright fools ever to have thought of taking that ship, and we shall +regret it to our dying day!”</p> + +<p>“Yes!” agreed Congreve, “with all our experience of what the owners +could and would be likely to do, we might have been sure it would end +badly.”</p> + +<p>“Well, after all,” said Herbert Wadsworth, “we took the risk, and we +made up our minds to stand or fall together when we attempted to seize +the ship, and we’ve lost, so we must make the best of it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” rejoined Brookes Hewitt, “but who would have +thought they’d have those instruments secreted everywhere, and that the +vessel could be electrified in units!”</p> + +<p>“Anyway,” said Siddall, much aggrieved, “they should have kept us +prisoners and not dumped us here.”</p> + +<p>“Never fear!” replied Congreve, “we shall have to face the music, all +in good time.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean to say you think they <i>will</i> call for us?” said +Siddall, incredulously.</p> + +<p>“Of course they will,” answered Congreve, “and they’ll take us back to +England and we shall be tried for mutiny in the air, and you know that +is a capital offence.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll bring a counter-charge against them for damages,” persisted +Siddall, loth to feel he had no case.</p> + +<p>“My dear fellow,” interposed Holt, somewhat rudely, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">288</span>as was his wont, +“those folk in the ship hold the cards and they’ll play them at the +proper time and win. They’ll go to the sun, conduct their observations, +call for us and take us back, and then there’ll be a fine kettle of +fish, and we shall be the fish! so you might just as well make up your +mind to it.”</p> + +<p>“Then I for one shall stay here!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be a fool, Siddall!” protested Wadsworth. “You know very well +from what you’ve heard and seen, that if we’re called for we’ve got to +go, <i>nolens volens</i>. Could you get out of your cabin? Could you +help coming here? No, when they come for us, we go! They’ll find us, +float us up, take the whole blessed world with them if they can’t find +us without, so it’s foolish to talk about not doing this, or that; +they’ll take us when we’re wanted, whether it’s days or years. It would +have been more charitable to kill us, for even if they beg us off in +England, our lives will be a misery to us on Earth after this business, +but they <i>cannot</i> beg us off!”</p> + +<p>This violent outburst silenced Siddall, and Holt said,—“Well, I propose +that we have a good time here, and get as much out of these softies as +we can, for it’s the last good time we shall have, and we’d better make +the best of it.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, certainly,” agreed Hewitt, “and they’ll be simple enough to do +all that we want.”</p> + +<p>“Just fancy!” broke in Keeth, “with all their learning, they don’t know +what smoking is! and they are ignorant of alcohol, except as a chemical +compound, which they use in their manufactures and laboratories.”</p> + +<p>“And they’re so awfully good,” chimed in Congreve, “they know nothing +about games of chance, or anything, poor beggars.</p> + +<p>“That’s soon remedied,” laughed Holt; “we’ll show them! The +<i>Regina</i> will be away getting on for a year, at least, and we can +never exist so long as that without relaxation.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">289</span></p> + +<p>“No,” said Siddall, “we worked hard in coming, and we must work +hard here, so as to learn as much as possible, while we have the +opportunity.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” responded Wadsworth, laughing grimly; “but if we +manage to get off, which does not seem possible, we shall have to +work harder when we get back to Earth than we have done all our lives +together, and if we don’t get off and our lives are forfeit, what’s the +good? I think we can afford to take things easy for awhile.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all very well, as you say,” expostulated Siddall, “but in the +interests of science it is our duty to do the best we can, and we have +opportunities here that we shall never have again.”</p> + +<p>“Granted!” replied Wadsworth, airily, “I’m not going to argue the +matter, old man; I don’t say you’re wrong, but no amount of preaching +will avail—our reputations are gone, once and for ever, and nothing is +of any moment now.”</p> + +<p>“That is foolish, Wadsworth!” exclaimed Siddall, warmly; “that’s fool’s +talk! we must not lose our moral strength; we have gone wrong, let it +be a lesson to our profit—and considering who we are, it is indeed +degrading for us so to forget our manhood and the dignity of our +professions as to talk in this way. <i>Noblesse oblige</i>, remember!”</p> + +<p>This sensible speech pulled them together so much, and made several +feel so ashamed, that much heated argument resulted, in which Siddall +declared his determination to work and retrieve the past, and the +others vowed they would have a ‘decent’ time, and enjoy themselves, +showing the utter impossibility of Siddall’s working alone while they +went their own course untrammelled, and again Siddall appealed to their +honour and better judgment, this time to such purpose that they agreed +to spend the next few days in seeing the district and then attach +themselves to the various departments of learning and research to which +they <span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">290</span>were severally accustomed, if the people would allow them to do +so, and thus perhaps help and be helped in useful work.</p> + +<p>Then they retired for the night, but the next day was very dull and +they felt depressed; one of them begged a little alcohol to restore +him, for he had a weak heart. The chemists were aghast when they saw +him drink it, for such a thing had never been seen before. The strength +of terrestrial alcohol was no criterion for that made on another +planet, so he took what he considered a ridiculously small dose, but +it was very powerful and overcame him so much that he was completely +intoxicated. With deep regret at the occurrence, his companions tried +to rouse him, when they found, to their dismay, that he was slowly +sinking. It was extremely difficult to obtain the proper restoratives, +and those they had with them were not strong enough, for though all +the usual chemicals were in the natives’ laboratory, their names and +properties were different, and it was a long process to obtain what was +needed; at last one of them found some pure oxygen, which was pumped +into the unconscious man and he gradually recovered; but this first +lapse, half accidental as it was, cast a gloom over the party and +seemed to foreshadow trouble.</p> + +<p>The day following, the astronomical observatories were in uproar, +and on asking the cause, the visitors were told that the planet was +apparently steadily leaving its orbit. This was indeed startling news, +and Bolford, with several other members of the party, made careful +observations with the natives, of the sun in the daytime, and the stars +and planets in the night, and this they kept up for some time, in the +hope of getting a definite clue to their own position and movements, to +find, without doubt, that slowly and surely the relative positions of +the heavens and themselves were steadily changing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">291</span></p> + +<p>The sun no longer described the same arc in his course, and the +altering stars were already causing accidents at sea. Knowing their +original position, the astronomers found it only too true; they had +left their orbit near Venus, and were surely drifting onwards in a new +one, in a course leading them direct from the sun, and already they +must have passed out of the semi-opaque web of ether with which they +had hitherto been surrounded, for only a portion of the solar system +was now obscured and they had an uninterrupted view of almost the whole +of the heavens, thousands of stars, planets, and planetoids never seen +before being now visible to them. Many of them were known on Earth, +and Bolford and the other members of the expedition who understood the +science of astronomy were in great request, explaining and pointing out +the celestial objects as they could locate and recognise them, for it +was only natural that the people should be almost feverishly anxious to +learn all about those portions of the heavens now seen by them for the +first time, and after a few days of this high pressure they were very +much fatigued, for all had been working without cessation, calculating, +theorising, and taking observations and photographs when the clouds +made this possible.</p> + +<p>The visitors had been accustomed to taking various reviving drinks +by dissolving pellets in water, but when they were ejected from the +<i>Regina</i> a supply of these pellet-intoxicants had not been +included in their stores; they had but some chemical restoratives, so, +feeling tired and knowing now where and what the alcohol was, they +asked for and drank a small quantity diluted with water, to pull them +together. Those in this department also had never thought of such a +thing before, but seeing that instead of killing their guests it really +made them bright-eyed and alert again, they were easily persuaded to +try it, especially as the visitors assured them it would produce good +and not <span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">292</span>harm. At the mere draught the potent spirit ran through their +veins like liquid fire, and being previously totally unacquainted +with this use of it, its effect was to take away all their weariness +as if by magic and make them fresh again. They thanked their new +friends profusely for the discovery, and began to take it frequently +on the assumption that if a little could revive them, more would do it +better, and the following day several of the natives were found in the +observatories hopelessly drunk.</p> + +<p>Most of the members of the visiting party were shocked and thought +it was a pity the people had no more sense, and they foresaw the +possible consequences, but the folk should not be so foolish!—they +would, however, soon learn better. But the secret was out and the drink +fiend had come in their midst. The poor fellows were carried home and +their friends were cautioned as to the danger, but they might just as +well have been cautioned not to let the lightning flash—one would not +have been more difficult than the other; several cases of drunkenness +occurred the following day,—and the visitors had not been there a week.</p> + +<p>Then in the evenings, after the serious day’s work was over, the people +asked the strangers to join them in conversation, being hospitable and +kind. Congreve, who was an inveterate smoker, had got Keeth, a chemist, +to sterilise some particular leaves which Dawson had found, rolled and +dried, and these were smoked by the visitors with delight; and they, +being hospitable and friendly also, could not sit there talking and +enjoying their smokes without offering similar cigars to their friends. +Such exchange of courtesy could not be denied, and what was good for +one could not harm two, so the natives followed the example of their +visitors and smoked with them, and, anxious to please and entertain +their guests, the spirit was brought out also. By this time, being +accustomed to live so near <span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">293</span>the sun, they perceived that though the +climate had not changed perceptibly, the evenings were a little chilly, +and they needed warm and cosy rooms to maintain their bodily heat, thus +fires had to be made, and as they were all seated around talking over +their experiences and discussing matters of great interest to all, it +was only natural that, seeing there was plenty of spirit and water, +Holt should suggest a warm drink the better to keep out the cold—and +Keeth, who was an adept at compounding appetising liquors, was called +upon to show the people what he could do; so with the boiling water, +some fruits, spirit and other ingredients, he made a splendid drink, +which was handed round, steaming hot, and swallowed with avidity. +The natives were assured it would do them good, and they knew it was +so by the taste and by the delightful feeling of inward warmth and +invigoration which followed. As the evening wore on all drank freely +of the comforting beverage, and the natives blessed their visitors for +showing them a new and enjoyable use for the material which they had +made for years and years, all their lives in fact, yet hitherto had +never attempted to drink. With the smoke and wine came games, and it +amused these ingenuous folk to play at winning shells from one another; +they were found in thousands on the sea-shore, and it was an exciting +pastime for chilly evenings—a pastime in which they soon became adepts; +then the lust for gambling became rooted in their simple minds, and +their visitors gave them to understand that, whatever the consequences +might be, gaming debts must in honour be paid in full.</p> + +<p>Before long this became the expected and customary method of spending +the evenings, now longer and cooler, and the news of these wonderful +terrestrial games and customs spread rapidly, and others wished to join +the privileged circle, to take part in these ravishing amusements. What +if they lost! it was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">294</span>nothing! they would lose one time and gain the +next, so things must work out even; and what so refreshing after a hard +day’s work as to spend their leisure in exciting play, smoking curled +leaves, and drinking the hot and delicious spirit that drove away all +care. Truly these Earthians were a wonderful race, and, but for them, +the leaves would have been unsmoked, the spirit untasted, all enjoyment +from them unknown, and they vowed that henceforth the world would not +be the same. They began to teach others, and some found themselves +unable to pay and had to sell their stock, for they could not be called +dishonourable; they could, however, always play again and win more, +getting all back with interest, and for the first time there came the +desire for wealth, for unlimited stock, and the only way to get it +was to win it from some one else, so again they played and several +lost all. These refused to pay, but they were so oppressed by the high +moral standard and tone of their companions, and especially of the +terrestrials, who placed ‘honour’ above all other virtues, even above +life, that in despair they gave up all that they had and paid,—and the +first pauper was created.</p> + +<p>Then others, men, and women too, who had lost even more than they +possessed, having staked wildly in their excitement, found themselves +in terrible positions, and being able to give themselves in complete +settlement, recklessly paid this price and became free from their +debts, but woke up to the fact that heavy toll was henceforth to be +exacted,—and theft and immorality were for the first time known on the +planet.</p> + +<p>The visitors had only been there a month, but they were doing excellent +business, having already taken much of the profits of these people, +many of whom, because they lived in community, had only part-shares +in goods, but who, in terror of being considered dishonourable, took +their own and their partners’ shares, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">295</span>themselves receiving all the +money with which to pay their debts and buy spirit, which had by this +time increased in value. In other places there was no money, but by a +gradual and judicious exchange of goods, the strangers soon gathered +to themselves many valuables in such small compass as could be carried +about with them on their persons, and in many other ways the Earthians +proved themselves smart business men.</p> + +<p>After the first momentary shock of finding they had laid a terrible +burden on the shoulders of these guileless people had passed, the same +jealous greed of gain which had prompted the eight men to seize the +ship now prompted them all—even Siddall—to throw to the winds all their +better feelings, discretion and honour, in order to take advantage of +their innocent victims, so gently and so insidiously that the injury +was unperceived until too late: to wrong these people who had been +more sinned against than sinning; who had hitherto been wealthy in the +possession of contentment and in a light-heartedness that shone in +every feature, causing every movement to fill them to overflowing with +the joy of life.</p> + +<p>It was but a repetition of the time-worn story of the devout and the +profane parrots, and a confirmation of the experience that the good +do not make the bad good, but are by them degraded, and one evil mind +in a community is as the “dead flies” that “cause the ointment of the +apothecary to send forth a stinking savour.” No longer the ‘laughing +philosophers’ of yore, the inhabitants were weary, careworn and sad, +filled with a deadly fear that ‘community’ would not bring them enough +to eat, so in order to protect themselves and those who were near and +dear to them, they became sly and thieving; and put goods and money +away secretly, and dissembled, feeling they could not keep on ‘giving’; +and all the time the drinking and gambling habits were growing fast, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">296</span>numbers finding their only joy on the occasions when the hot and +flowing bowl drove away their cares, and the gaming-table diverted +their attentions from sorrow.</p> + +<p>Then some desperate spirits condemned their visitors, and lips that +before they came did naught but bless, cursed them, cursed those they +had greeted with loving trust and friendship. But what if the poor, +helpless, and injured one—whether injured through drink or anything +else—turns round and curses the shrewd and clever business man, what +effect has it? What does he care? As well might a gnat curse the +elephant that tramples it! even if by a lucky chance it manages to +insert a drop of poison and cause an instant’s pain, which is scarcely +felt, it gets crushed to nothingness. No more do curses trouble a man +of the world; something may perhaps sting him slightly, but the stinger +is hopelessly broken and as certainly forgotten; the victor has gained +all he desired and put his victim away at the same time. If he did care +in the least he would, <i>ipso facto</i>, cease to be respected as a +smart business man.</p> + +<p>The mutineers had only been on the world four months when they suddenly +disappeared from the community, and none too soon, or they would have +added a fresh link to the already long chain of their sins by causing +the crime of murder to be introduced, for more than one had sworn to +kill them, and these vengeful victims sought for them high and low, +in all communities, but they seemed to have vanished from the face of +the world. Meanwhile the planet was drifting more and more from its +course, going no one knew whither—apparently attracted by a stronger +force than the sun, the climate getting worse and worse. Fogs were now +of daily occurrence, and the diminution of the sun’s rays affected the +whole world most seriously. There was no longer the great difference +between the heat of the day and that of the night, and there was very +little circulation in the atmosphere. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">297</span>The vapours rising up from the +earth and water now hung over the globe in a thick and impenetrable +mist, clouds remained almost stationary, and through the thick, foggy +air was not a breath of wind; the heat from the warmer portions of the +globe was not wafted to the cooler, and <i>vice versâ</i>, in order +to produce a temperate average from their distribution. And the fœtid +vapours emanating from the earth and sea, and all the dead and dying +life in and on them, and from the living people, were not destroyed, +or blown away, and in some cases the inhabitants died like flies,—by +hundreds. And as the weeks and months sped on matters grew ever worse, +for the air became more and more dense and stationary. Sound became +gradually more subdued and at last ceased, and there settled on the +whole world a chilling, numbing cold, nipping the already paralysed +limbs. The clouds, unable to perform their functions, condensed less +and less, as the sun, the source of heat, grew more and more distant, +till at last the air—the world’s scavenger—finally refused to absorb +and disperse the now dreadful emanations from the animal, vegetable +and other matter, by its capillary attraction, and life became almost +intolerable, only possible to the very strong and vigorous, for the +climatic conditions were changing faster than it was possible for life +of any kind to adapt itself to them.</p> + +<p>Work was impossible, yet folk must live, and the stronger snatched the +food from dying lips to keep life going, and a second later it would +again be snatched away, clutched convulsively and lost, the exertion, +feeble though it was, being fatal, and the victorious one would roll +over inert as his own victim had done a moment before.</p> + +<p>It was now nearly an Earth-year since the strangers had alighted—their +cursed visitors; and where they were no one knew. Without doubt they +were the cause of the national disaster and moral degradation, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">298</span>and now +everybody was too feeble to wish them back except to kill them, for by +this no one cared to do that sufficiently to search for them, for every +atom of strength was needed for their own bare existence. For months +people had been telepathing with all their energies to all parts of the +world, but their corrupters had vanished as completely as if taken off +again in the ship.</p> + +<p>One day, to add to their misery, there burst over them an electric +storm, which first began in various parts of the world and then +embraced its whole surface, almost setting the very air on fire. Such +a storm had never been known before, and people crouched and crawled +and hobbled away in all directions to find a corner in which to shield +themselves from the lightning-charged air, as if they could get away +from that awful atmosphere which filled all the space on the earth, and +in a cave by a lonely shore eight figures crouched together in deadly +terror, waiting for the end which they felt was close at hand.</p> + +<p>“We are not safe by this water!” said Dawson, whose voice scarcely rose +above a whisper, and in that thick and soundless air would not have +been heard at all but for the acoustic properties of the cave. “Let us +get away. See, the whole heavens are blazing, and the sea is so charged +with electricity that it is actually floating fire.”</p> + +<p>“It is running in here and will burn us up!” exclaimed Siddall, +hoarsely. “Let us go out and find another place.”</p> + +<p>“No,” cried Holt, “the sea is our safety,” and for the first time in +his life he appealed to others for support of his statement. “The sea +and cave are our safety,” he repeated; “Keeth, Congreve and Hewitt +will tell you the same, and if we step outside we shall be caught. +No one has thought it possible for us to be here”; and as the first +wave of the rushing incoming tide rose up the floor, lighting the cave +with <span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">299</span>a flood of electric fire, he continued,—“Now we should have to +dive through the fire to get out!” Exhausted with this long speech, he +leaned back against the wall, panting for breath.</p> + +<p>“Let us go higher,” said Keeth, painfully lowering himself from the +ledge on which he had been sitting gazing seaward through a thin crack +in a stratum of rock, and they all clambered still higher up the side +of the cave, the water on the floor meanwhile being flooded with light.</p> + +<p>“It’s lucky we had a good supply of food in pellet form,” said Siddall, +“or we should be dead now!”</p> + +<p>“It would have been better so!” groaned Wadsworth, “our records are +none too clean; we have sent hundreds to the devil and have corrupted +the morals of a whole world, for if the people here recover from this +awful disaster, they’ll continue to go to the devil, who will get the +lot!”</p> + +<p>Dawson was in a state bordering on collapse, and as he painfully +dragged himself along, a few inches at a time, for he could not sit +up, he became very faint, but by dint of much patience and a heroic +determination not to give way, he managed to pull himself above +high-water mark, and, overcome with the exertion of keeping the few +inches in advance of the rising water, he now leaned back against the +wall with his head on the cool rock, damp with ooze from the sodden +herbage above; the touch of the wet and slimy rock, the only cool +thing in that fiery atmosphere, acted as an ice-cap and restored him +wonderfully, and looking round at his companions he said, brokenly,—“I +remember my parents telling me of a Bible story; it was something about +one who causes another to offend—I forget how it went, but I think it +said it would be better for him if a millstone had been tied round his +neck and he had been thrown into the sea first. I think we’ve tied +millstones round these folk as well as ourselves! I’ve not seen my +Bible since I was grown up, but I’d give <span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">300</span>a lot to be an innocent boy +again,” and he turned his face to the cooling slime.</p> + +<p>“You can’t have sentiment in business, my boy; life’s too short!” +exclaimed Holt, brusquely.</p> + +<p>“I fear it is, Holt,” came the feeble reply, in jerks. “Life’s very +short. Our days are but a shadow—life <i>is</i> short, Holt—I fear +it is—” and then, after a pause, just as one of the others was +commencing,—“and Tom, dear, will you give your sister this, and say +it’s from me——”</p> + +<p>“What’s the fellow talking about?” asked Holt, roughly.</p> + +<p>Unheeding, Dawson went on—“and tell her I’m very sorry. I fear I shall +not see her again,” another pause—“I had hoped I should meet her in +heaven, but I don’t know, now. I have not been good, Tom, but tell her +not to fret, I am not worth it! Why have you put out the light, Tom? it +is dark, and I——”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Congreve, trying to crawl nearer.</p> + +<p>“I believe he’s dying!” exclaimed Hewitt.</p> + +<p>“Good heavens!” they cried, as all came round, themselves almost too +ill to move, and held a volatile restoring tablet under his nostrils; +the oxygen which it gave off along with other vapours, though not +bringing him round, sent him into a deep sleep, his steady breathing +giving promise of recovery.</p> + +<p>“Thank God!” interjected several, as they placed another pellet beside +the face of the sleeping man.</p> + +<p>“We have need to say that!” observed Siddall, regretfully. “I’d like +to have the chance of undoing this business before I die, if that were +possible.”</p> + +<p>“Are you feeling bad, too?” asked Holt, offering him his box of +restorative tablets.</p> + +<p>“Only in mind! that’s bad enough!” replied Siddall, sinking down again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">301</span></p> + +<p>“What’s the cause of this electric storm and this fiery sea, Congreve?” +asked Wadsworth, “you should know.”</p> + +<p>“I have been wondering for the last two or three hours,” replied +Congreve, musingly. “It may be that the foul gases on the ground have +caught fire, or that there is some great electric disturbance; which it +is I cannot understand.”</p> + +<p>“Not the <i>Regina!</i>” exclaimed Hewitt.</p> + +<p>“No, certainly not!” broke in Holt. “Oakland would come to the old +orbit between Venus and the sun, and would never look for us here.”</p> + +<p>“It would be an utter impossibility,” rejoined Bolford; “the last view +we had of the sun was as of a star of the fifth magnitude; that was +some months since, and it will be about the seventh now, or invisible +without a glass.”</p> + +<p>“What can have caused us to shoot off? the <i>Regina?</i>” asked Keeth.</p> + +<p>“There’s no doubt about it to my mind,” returned Bolford; “but only +those in the ship could tell us why; perhaps only the owners.”</p> + +<p>Too exhausted to talk any more, they languidly rolled over, too ill to +care what happened, and they dropped off to sleep one after the other, +in fitful dozings, from which they were awakened a few hours later by +water dripping on their faces from the cracks in the roof above. On +going to the hidden chink in the rocks, from which they had an extended +view of the shore, they saw rain. It was falling in a deluge, heavy, +pouring rain; descending like long rods of polished steel, boring holes +in the sand and the motionless sea, breaking the now feeble, lanky and +colourless grass and pouring down the rocks in a flood, carrying the +electricity with it in rainbows innumerable—floods of prismatic, fiery +water. For hours it came down unceasingly, wetting them to the skin, as +from every niche and cranny tiny and then strong streams raced <span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">302</span>down +the cave floor and mixed with the stinking salt water at the entrance; +but their hope revived as the rain continued. At last it ceased, and +there came a freshened feeling in the air as the first puff of wind +blew through the slit in the rock.</p> + +<p>“You know what that means!” cried Bolford, joyfully.</p> + +<p>“Yes, thank heaven!” they exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Yes, thank heaven!” he repeated, fervently; “we are drawing near to +the planet or source that has been pulling us all this time, and the +atmosphere is moving.”</p> + +<p>“That rain has come in the nick of time,” said Keeth; “one day later +and we should have been dead, every one of us.”</p> + +<p>“Let us get to the mouth of the cave to breathe the air, and bring +Dawson,” said Siddall; “we can dive under the water.”</p> + +<p>Only then did they realise how ill they were, for try as they would +they could not stand, or indeed rise higher than a sitting posture, and +in this position they shuffled along, dragging the still unconscious +form of Dawson with them, inch by inch, every foot or so of the way +having to rest to regain strength, and in this wise they got near +the water. There they rested quite overcome, and all more or less +unconscious, staying there for hours, perhaps for days, for most of the +time was spent dozing in a semi-unconscious condition and time passed +unnoticed, but when they did find intelligence returning to them, there +was a distinct breeze, the clouds had lifted, and the stars could be +seen. Bewildered, they searched the heavens, and Bolford cried,—“We +have altered our orbit again! when we first came here we had Aquarius +facing the cave, stationary, ‘in line of sight’ for months, and now we +are opposite Aries! Something else has got us now!”</p> + +<p>In great excitement they all looked out, and there, sure enough, was +Aries, and they were crossing. For <span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">303</span>hours they watched, and Holt +remarked, “Never mind where we go, so long as we can live, and this new +power is healthier than the last, anyway.”</p> + +<p>“We shall never get to England now, that’s one comfort!” exclaimed +Siddall, in a tone of relief.</p> + +<p>“No, old man,” responded Congreve, “you need have no more fear. Even +the <i>Regina</i> can’t trace us now!” and he attempted a laugh, which +ended in a dry cackle. Only then did they notice that their lips and +tongues were cracked and hard, and the whole interior of their mouths +dry and almost devoid of feeling, their voices sounding hoarse and most +untuneful, so it was evident that hearing had returned.</p> + +<p>“Holt!” exclaimed Keeth, suddenly, “don’t you feel how charged the air +is with electricity? I feel myself full of faint prickles!”</p> + +<p>“I was going to remark the same thing,” replied Holt. “I will have +a look outside;” saying which he tried to rise, but failing to do +so, he drew a clasp-knife and stuck it in a crack in the rock to +assist him, when the metallic blade crackled and sparkled with +electricity. Withdrawing the blade and closing it, he turned to Hewitt, +saying,—“There’s some powerful current here and no mistake! Look +outside, Hewitt, old man; I’m too ill to rise without help.”</p> + +<p>Hewitt could not go either, so Congreve slowly worked his way to the +front, tasting the air and feeling at the rocks, and then going to the +opening he put his head outside, withdrew it, and then tested the rocks +with his own knife, but to find Holt’s experience repeated.</p> + +<p>“Anything atmospheric to cause that, Congreve?” inquired Hewitt.</p> + +<p>“No! nothing!” he replied, shortly.</p> + +<p>“What do you think?” asked Holt.</p> + +<p>Congreve did not answer, but put out his head again, and again withdrew +it, and stood looking out at the opening.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">304</span></p> + +<p>“Don’t you know?” queried Holt and several others, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“No. I’m thinking!” he muttered, and then remained silently lost in +thought for so long that they asked again.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know; only a passing fancy, but it’s not possible!”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” they asked, excitedly.</p> + +<p>“Nothing, only a foolish fancy; but it cannot be,” he replied, +musingly, still looking out.</p> + +<p>“Tell us then!” they persisted.</p> + +<p>“I thought it might be the <i>Regina!</i>” he said slowly, pausing +between each word. “But she could not know where we are.”</p> + +<p>“Impossible!” interjected Holt. “She could never single one planet out +of millions, not knowing the direction we took, and especially now we +have changed again. It is absurd.”</p> + +<p>“I said so,” said Congreve, reflectively, still at the opening.</p> + +<p>“And as we are not near the orbit of Venus at all, she could not find +us; it is impossible!” put in Keeth.</p> + +<p>“No; I told you it was a foolish idea,” murmured Congreve, still lost +in thought and still closely watching. Then he came and sat down with +the rest, and one after another each one fell asleep where he was. How +long they slept they had no means of telling, but nature had applied +her own remedy and they awoke considerably refreshed; even Dawson was +now conscious, though too ill to move.</p> + +<p>After a while the air became so charged with electricity that their +cave was like an electric oven, so stifling as to be painful, and +they crawled to the opening for relief and to watch the weird effect +outside, and endeavour to locate their position by the stars, and in +the black and starry sky they beheld what they took to be a comet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">305</span></p> + +<p>“What can that be?” asked several, indifferently.</p> + +<p>“A comet,” replied Keeth, briefly.</p> + +<p>“I did not know there was one due there,” said Bolford, musingly,—and +then suddenly they all cried,—</p> + +<p>“Can it be?—can it! Oh! good heavens!—It IS the <i>Regina!!</i>”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">306</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="chap_XVII">CHAPTER XVII<br> +<span class="large">SMALL PROFIT AND QUICK RETURN</span></h2> +</div> + +<blockquote> +<p class="mb0">“Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over +his fodder?”</p> + +<div class="right smcap">(Job.)</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>The day following the stormy meeting on board the <i>Regina</i> +nothing of moment transpired, and only the strongest faith in the +<i>Regina’s</i> powers made them know that, although unseen, a mighty +force was speeding along the enormous space that intervened between +themselves and the planet they were attracting. They knew it would +be madness to draw it to them rapidly, like rebounding elastic; the +only safe thing to do would be first to project against it a gradually +increasing attraction, till its present speed was completely overcome, +when they expected it would alter its course to follow the line of +greater attraction to them. Some time, therefore, must elapse before +anything would be noticeable, during which the visitors would have to +continue their work of joint observation and exploration with their +new-found friends, and in the abstraction of these researches the +subject was seldom referred to. In the course of a week, however, there +came over the atmosphere of that part of the world in which they had +made their headquarters a slight change, so gradual as to be scarcely +perceptible; it was the ‘smell’ of electricity—that peculiar, almost +indefinable odour which is always evident when an enormous amount +of electricity <span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">307</span>is present, and has been defined as being like many +different chemicals, though most people consider it chiefly resembles +chlorine. The natives noticed this, but attributed it to the continued +presence of the vessel. Then they perceived that the planet which +had been speeding away from them had altered its course, and they +delightedly told their visitors of this, saying that as it was now +coming in their own direction, it would be better for them to go to +it by means of their ship later, without making so long a journey, +pressing them to stay until the world drew nearer, never even dreaming +for a moment that their visitors were effecting it and not knowing +or believing they had power to do so. Feeling guilty at having to +dissemble in order to keep the secret for the great and final surprise, +the travellers very kindly accepted the offer to stay and wait till the +other world drew near. They had hoped the people would not notice the +altered direction of the planet, but the fact of other terrestrials +being on it, and wanted by their comrades, had aroused interest and +the planet had, in consequence, been under observation ever since. It +was, however, but a runaway star, and, like a lost and turned-out dog +that is ready and willing to become attached to any one who is kind +enough to give it a home, so was this disowned planet flying through +space, ready to form a new orbit in any system that would or could +keep it, or to coalesce, if need be, with any more powerful world into +whose influence it chanced to come, and thus form another sun. When +it turned, the people merely thought it had, as it were, aimlessly +crossed a stronger influence and had become drawn towards some other +and distant force.</p> + +<p>“How long will it be before the planet is with us?” asked Dalton of +Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“About a fortnight,” he replied. “We do not wish it to come too fast, +lest its revolution and atmosphere and those of this world should be +disturbed.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">308</span></p> + +<p>A few hours later, there came upon the atmosphere a more sudden +change; the air became perceptibly drier, hotter and more stifling, +and before long, heavy clouds gathered and obliterated the stars, +the distant, yet approaching world sharing the same fate, being no +longer visible; and there were no means of ascertaining its position +except by intricate calculations from the amount of force projected. +By this time all around the ship there rested a faint phosphorescence, +and the heat and dryness in the air became severely felt, filling +the nostrils with such a choking as to make inspiration painful in +the extreme. The enormous amount of electricity projected was slowly +converting the air into allotropic oxygen, or ozone, of such intensity +that it burned the lungs and made breathing a torture, and the sense +of suffocation became almost intolerable. To the natives this change +was deplorable, depending as they did on the air for both breathing +and food; and living in the open they had no shelter, only the frail +structures erected for astronomical observations and the carrying on of +business—laboratories and the like. In vain they entered these in order +to find coolness, then returned to the open, for in that furnace of +altering elements there was no cool, everywhere was equally painful.</p> + +<p>“We cannot work in this stifling heat, and the clouds are +impenetrable,” telepathed one of the native astronomers to +Rollsborough. “There is some dreadful electrical disturbance around; +I am glad your ship is here, for it is drawing towards itself all the +local forces”; and in the air there could be seen floating beside the +ship, a faint, rosy light, paling into greens and purples and moving +fitfully.</p> + +<p>Rollsborough said nothing, for he, along with the other objectors, had +decided to take a neutral stand, and neither help nor hinder anything +the owners and their colleagues were pleased to do. But he now debated +with himself whether he would not be justified <span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">309</span>in divulging the real +facts of the case, though on further consideration he remembered that +if the owners chose to do anything with the ship’s powers, they could +do it, and as no one else understood the control of these forces, no +good purpose could be served by interfering now. Besides, with the ship +elevated, as was the usual custom, no hurt could come to the natives, +or district, and every man on board was supposed to be level-headed +and ought to know what he was doing. So Rollsborough made no comment, +but stood along with many of his companions and the natives, watching +the strange glow round the vessel, and thus they continued several +hours, during which gloom had fallen, and for the first time within +the history of this world there was dense, black night; the only light +seen was the ghastly, ghoulish glow round the vessel. The natives +insisted on their visitors going back to the ship, so Rollsborough and +his friends entered, and with closed doors and the artificial apparatus +going, they felt no inconvenience. So refreshing was this after the +heat outside, that they persuaded a number of the natives to enter, +but they could not breathe the air, which was <i>only</i> air, and +incapable of supporting their life, so they had to leave hastily, but +would not hear of the visitors coming out of their ship again till +the storm, as they thought it, had passed. For even now, though they +were so extremely intelligent, they did not associate with it the +<i>Regina</i> and the far-away world—never thinking that the world was +coming straight at them, like a shot out of a gun, for they knew the +changes were really electrical disturbances only, and bad as the effect +was on the air, it was their natural atmosphere, and they could endure +it better than their visitors; therefore, when they found those in the +artificial air were free from trouble, they insisted on their staying +in the ship. This consideration made the delinquents feel very guilty, +and Godfrey tried to persuade his friends to abandon their project, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">310</span>they said it was but a temporary inconvenience, and would pass away +soon.</p> + +<p>The ship was elevated about two hundred feet in the air, in order +that the powerful current projected should not damage the surrounding +country and the inhabitants, for with such a force, so long continued, +no power in nature could have prevented its blasting effect on +everything, and particularly in all those parts coming between the +approaching planet and the ship, where would lie an inconceivably +strong current of electricity, for they were, in reality, using their +vessel as a magnet, bridging the space by the mighty current. Such a +force could not do otherwise than disturb the elements, for the power +required to draw the world from such a distance would have fused the +very earth beneath, had the vessel been nearer the ground. And although +the objectors still disapproved of the whole scheme, the manner in +which the three owners manipulated the vessel so as to ensure the +absolute safety of the people below, compelled their enthusiastic +admiration. Awful and spectacular as the results became as the world +drew nearer, and the same forces were more spread locally, they knew +that beyond a few weeks’ inconvenience and semi-starvation, the natives +would be no worse, and not a blade of grass would be singed. And as +they received somewhat of the reflected forces, the vessel became the +centre of wonderful displays of electric fireworks, which were watched +by the people below with amazement, for they could not see the world +because of the clouds, and the people in the ship could not telepath +with them except when in close proximity. All around the ship and +high into the clouds, forming a magnificent, gigantic corona, there +shone a living, trembling flame, changing colour incessantly; the +electric fluid, like a sea, washed and lashed around the ship, and +leaped in waves and spray, dashing against the vessel; the spray flying +upwards like phantoms, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">311</span>the white wreaths of light floating away into +nothingness, forming and re-forming, till lost in the distant sky. +Every now and then some wave, more violent than the rest, would break +itself upward in a column of lightning, twisting and twining like a +fiery snake standing erect and writhing in agony. Higher and higher +these terrible columns would rise, becoming thicker and more lurid, +bending and straightening as though alive, while here and there two +would meet and float away upward, united by loops and tongues and +festoons of lively flame.</p> + +<p>The people below, experienced as they were, and knowing there was +no real danger so long as the vessel was the centre of the storm, +as they believed, could not help being disturbed by the change in +the atmosphere, now so powerfully charged with electricity; and as +the world revolved, community after community beheld the wonderful +stationary ship, their preserver, and felt thankful it had come in time +to save them by bringing the elements to the focus of itself. At her +elevated position the <i>Regina</i> remained poised and motionless—not +moving with the atmosphere, yet still in it—sending forth a steady, +continuous force, unerringly in the same direction.</p> + +<p>“Is it wise to carry this so far?” again remonstrated Godfrey. “Won’t +the world come on and on and crash into this?”</p> + +<p>“It would, of course, if we didn’t stop it in time,” smiled Gilbert.</p> + +<p>“But how can you tell when it <i>is</i> near enough to stop?”</p> + +<p>“There are four days yet.”</p> + +<p>“But Gilbert,” pleaded Godfrey, “are you justified in causing these +good people all this inconvenience? Is it fair play?” And turning round +impetuously, he spoke up so that all should hear,—“Rollsborough and +I and all of us who originally objected to this mad scheme decided +neither to hinder nor to help, but to be <span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">312</span>perfectly neutral, and to +this decision I was fully intending to adhere, but I had to keep saying +something in protest. Nobody admires and appreciates more than I do the +capabilities of the vessel and the amazing skill of the owners, but +because we have power and skill here, are we to misuse them, merely +to let these people see what we can do? It might be excusable in a +youngster, but it does not sit very well on any of us. <i>We</i> are +in here, with pure air, good food, and everything to make us happy, +and yet we are calmly looking on while we cause visible discomfort, if +not actual pain, to the people below who are gasping for breath; these +people who have been so exceedingly good to us,—and we allow them to +think we are their benefactors! I call it cowardly! yes, cowardly!! and +a thing we shall look back upon with shame to our dying day. Believe +me, we shall! Planet-shifting is not in my line, I know nothing of +it—but I feel very warm on this matter. We are Britons, bred and born; +do let us act like Britons! and above all, like gentlemen; men of too +much honour to abuse our privileges. Surely in sending that planet out +of its orbit we did damage enough! You know what Shakespeare says,—‘It +is excellent to have a giant’s strength, but tyrannous to use it like +a giant.’ Let us be merciful! I can say no more, friends, or I shall +break down!” and good, well-meaning Godfrey, quite overcome, stepped +down from the stool upon which he had jumped.</p> + +<p>For the space of a few seconds there was a deadly silence, and then as +if from one voice, they cheered Godfrey, and finally ‘chaired’ him.</p> + +<p>As soon as silence was restored, Dennis spoke up,—“My friends, let us +with one accord thank Spenser here for showing us our duty. Our pride +has humbled us to the dust, and we have fallen—fallen lower than I care +to think about, but we will make what reparation we can! Ainley has +already corrected the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">313</span>current and in a few hours the air will improve. +Rollsborough and Sorrel, we want your advice as to what we shall do +with the other planet, if we have not forfeited the right to ask for +it.”</p> + +<p>Their eyes filled with tears, the two stepped forward and remained in +long conversation with the three owners, looking at photographs and +drawings and making many calculations.</p> + +<p>While they were thus engaged, the rest, now as repentant as they had +been reckless, went to the windows and looked out. All restraint was +now over, and every one without exception felt happy in having taken +the one and only honourable course—and as they gazed at the sea of +fire around them, which cut off all view from below, a great cloud +burst above them and rain fell in torrents; the lightning ran down the +rain as it fell, filling the air with solid pillars of fire. Flash +followed flash in such quick succession that they seemed to strike one +another long before reaching the ground; and the focus of the storm was +ever the good old ship, which stood unmoved, as though imperturbably +defiant, while the whole heavens seemed to have combined to wage war +against her in revenge for the disturbance she had caused. All the +electricity projected seemed to return with angry energy, flashing and +beating round the ship in mighty fury, the <i>Regina</i> answering +flash with flash till the fury was augmented instead of reduced, as +the teeming heavens sluiced fire. As far as the eye could reach the +rain brought down the lightning in floods of vivid flame, and on all +sides the clouds were incessantly opening and belching out their +overcharges of electricity, accompanied by deafening thunder. In ten +or fifteen minutes the storm was spent, and gradually nothing remained +but an occasional feeble flicker and roll of thunder. Soon even this +ceased, and slowly the light returned as the clouds dispersed or were +dissipated, and around the ship only a faint glow remained. This began +to flicker <span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">314</span>like the light from a dying candle, each flicker seeming +the last; and finally, with a last splash of light, all was gone.</p> + +<p>Instantly the ship fell and the occupants came out, to be greeted +effusively by the grateful people. “You have done this!” telepathed the +principal of the observatory. “How can we thank you?”</p> + +<p>“Thanks!” telepathed Dennis, stepping forward. “You have little to +thank us for!” and with feelings of deep shame, he telepathed a full +confession.</p> + +<p>“But what have you done with the planet? How can it remain where it is +if the forces are stopped?”</p> + +<p>“It is now under the influence of your world’s attraction, and +travelling with you as a binary, and as you see is too far off to +affect this planet for the short time it will stay.”</p> + +<p>Then it was for the visitors to see what friendship was, to have +‘coals of fire’ heaped upon them, for the natives made light of their +sufferings, and not only telepathed that there was nothing to forgive, +but persisted in thanking them for their kindness in relieving them +from the dreadful atmosphere.</p> + +<p>Such magnanimity made the visitors exceedingly contrite and feel that +they could have submitted to abuse, even, rather than such overwhelming +kindness and generosity; but it proved to them that in a higher life +feelings of evil and resentment find no place, but instead there is the +forgiveness that can both forget and forgive, though the past injuries +be incalculably great.</p> + +<p>The attracted planet could not stay where it was for any great length +of time, as it would soon affect the climatic conditions of the world +to which it had been drawn, so the travellers were obliged to leave +their noble friends, who parted with them most affectionately, they +feeling sincere remorse at their treatment by the kind inhabitants as +they set out for the adjoining world, obtaining a splendid rebound +straight for the solar system with the absconding planet in their wake; +the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">315</span>position it should at that time be occupying having been correctly +worked out by Rollsborough, it was restored to its proper place and +orbit in which it sped onwards in its journey round the sun—this time +free from the belt of semi-opaque ether in which it had hitherto +floated. Then the <i>Regina</i> settled into its atmosphere. First +locating the place where the mutineers had originally been stored, but +finding it a waste, they hunted for them with their glasses in many +parts; and at last, on a lonely shore, they saw two men, apparently +terrestrials, dirty and unkempt, their clothing and faces smeared +and hair matted with slime. These men, too feeble to stand without +staggering, signalled to the ship, which settled down to find two of +the party of which they were in search—Congreve and Hewitt. Several +of the fellows came out of the vessel and were told in a few words, +rendered painful by the cracked lips and tongue, where their companions +were. Then came the long and difficult task of getting the six men +from the cave, for they were all too ill to help themselves, and the +entrance being under water it was necessary to dive to get inside. +However, it was accomplished at last, though Dawson became unconscious +again with the effort, and the whole eight were soon on board the +<i>Regina</i> and well looked after.</p> + +<p>As they reclined in lounge-chairs enjoying the rest and comfort, and +already feeling considerably better, Bolford remarked,—“Did not the +<i>Regina</i> send the planet ‘Ramsar’ out of its orbit?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Ross, “I regret to say that is the case, I believe.”</p> + +<p>“How did you do it, and why?” asked Siddall.</p> + +<p>“We approached the planet from between it and Venus, and we must +have left it with a repulsive force and sent it off; it was quite an +accident.”</p> + +<p>“But if you approached between it and Venus, and gave it a repulsive +force, it would have gone into the sun!” said Bolford. “I don’t +understand.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">316</span></p> + +<p>“If you remember,” continued Ross, “we had to go round the world, and +we left it at the side near the sun. The attraction of the sun was so +enormous that we had to steady ourselves by converting some of the +attraction into repulsion, and the planet being then in our wake, must +by that have been projected out of its system, away from the sun.”</p> + +<p>“Then how did you find us?” asked several, much interested.</p> + +<p>“Rollsborough suggested this solution when we found you’d bolted. +Knowing the exact position when we left, and the planet’s gravity, +speed of travel, and orbit, and all the rest of it, he cleverly worked +out the direction in which you had been hurled and—here you are!”</p> + +<p>While Ross was talking, the rest had gathered round, and as he +finished, they asked the mutineers for their story; Holt related the +account of their adventures, that is to say, the version which, while +in the cave, had been agreed upon to present to sympathising friends,—</p> + +<p>“On our arrival, the first thing we did was to attach ourselves to the +various departments of science, for Siddall at once suggested that as +we had fallen we must, in the short time we should have to live, do +our best to work well and try to retrieve the past, and in this we all +concurred. We were doing excellent work when the people discovered +they were out of their orbit and blamed us for it. Fearing this was +correct, yet not knowing how, or why, we made light of it, and their +fears were allayed for the time being. However, time passed, and as the +climatic changes which were sure to follow such an event on a world +not intended to be so far away from the sun came along, we were blamed +more and more. To so sorry a pass did matters come that, although we +had been presented with no end of wealth, we had to leave it all, and +fly suddenly for our very lives. They hunted for us everywhere, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">317</span>and we +should have been killed months since, but for the cave.</p> + +<p>“We found it by watching an animal dive in; eventually we killed the +beast and then one of us dived under to see if there was any shelter, +and, finding a cave, we lived there in terrible suffering through all +the changes the sudden departure from the sun brought about, till you +came and saved our lives.”</p> + +<p>All the listeners, hearing of these unmerited sufferings, were filled +with remorse and, not knowing the actual facts—that a demoralised world +had just been returned to its proper orbit—felt they had been doubly +guilty in causing such disaster and, most of all, in putting the lives +of their eight companions in jeopardy. These expressions of sincere +sympathy were received by the eight victims of an unkind fate as the +apology to which they were entitled, and as the subject of the mutiny +was not referred to, they considered they had kept their good names +untarnished and won but the just reward of their integrity and, not to +be outdone in generosity, they virtuously forgave their commanders, and +unity was again restored.</p> + +<p>That same day all the ‘wave’ instruments of Earth received the message,—</p> + +<p>“In three days expect the <i>REGINA!</i>”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="mt10"><b>Crown 8vo., 6s.</b></div> + +<div class="center mb2"> +<span class="xxxlarge"><b>“The Immortal Light,”</b></span><br> +<span class="xsmall"><b>—— BY ——</b></span><br> +<span class="xlarge"><b>JOHN MASTIN, F.S.A. <span class="smcap">Scot.</span>,</b></span><br> +<b>F.L.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., F.R.M.S., R.B.A.,</b><br> +<br><b>Author of “The Stolen Planet;” “The True Analysis of Milk;” +“Parasites of Insects;” “Plate-Culture and Staining of Amœbæ;” +“Through the Sun in an Airship,” &c. &c.</b></div> + +<hr class="short"> +<p>It is a scientific romance dealing with the adventures of a South Polar +expedition, and holds the reader in a tremendous grip of interest and +amazement from the first page to the last. Mr. Mastin has used his +profound knowledge of chemistry, physics and art, so delightfully that +the reader is fascinated with the simple, forceful, and convincing way +in which the mysteries of the Antarctic region are explained, and the +deep problems of science treated, and, whilst learning something from +every page, he is carried from adventure to adventure with thrilling +interest. The science and logic are so sound, and the story is so +graphically written that the reader almost believes the adventures +to have really happened. For sheer imaginative power alone the book +demands first place amongst recent publications.</p> + +<p class="center large"><b>HIS MAJESTY THE KING HAS MOST GRACIOUSLY CONDESCENDED +TO ACCEPT A COPY OF THIS BOOK.</b></p> + +<hr class="double"> + +<p>“Profound as is Mr. Mastin’s scientific knowledge, he never lets his +technicalities interfere with the clear understanding of his story, +either explaining them or putting them in such a way as to make them +plain to the uninitiated.”—<i>Publisher and Bookseller.</i></p> + +<p>“More daring than Poe’s ‘Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket’ +is Mr. Mastin’s romance of Antarctic adventure; for Poe, having +introduced a giant ‘of the perfect whiteness of the snow,’ regrets the +loss of his crowning chapters. Certainly, if the matter which they +contained ‘relative to the Pole itself, or at least to regions in its +very near proximity,’ was as sensational as ‘The Immortal Light,’ the +loss is deplorable.... The story is wildly improbable, but confronts +incredulity with a considerable display of scientific detail. A strong +religious feeling animates the last part of the book.”—<i>Athenæum.</i></p> + +<p>“To say that this is a really clever story is but bestowing on its +author, Mr. John Mastin, praise which is well deserved.... The +experiences of the explorers in conquering the ice barrier of the +South, as told by the writer, makes delightful reading. Although the +story is fiction unadulterated, it is of absorbing interest, and +even the most fastidious reader could not fail to find some charm in +a perusal of its pages.... That the bounds of possibility have been +far overstepped is only natural.... But with rare literary skill the +author discounts these by the many charms of a story which is well +told. The character studies are good, and many excellent word-pictures +are painted in glowing colours by the picturesque pen of the +author.”—<i>Western Daily Press.</i></p> + +<p>“The book is exceedingly clever and up to date.”—<i>Glasgow Herald.</i></p> + +<p>“What Jules Verne did with the science of the seventies and eighties, +Mr. Mastin does for the science of to-day.... Youth, if it has a +scientific turn of mind and some imagination, will revel in this +book.... We can heartily congratulate him on the imaginative power +which his book displays. That never flags, and he carries us on from +wonder to wonder as if he need never stop.”—<i>Sheffield Telegraph.</i></p> + +<p>“Some of the speculations on the wonders of life and the possibilities +of science are broad, ingenious, and fascinating.... From telepathy to +telescopes which see everywhere, and from rides on ether to steel that +will line coats, Mr. Mastin ranges with plausible certitude.... ‘The +Immortal Light’ is an amazing book.”—<i>Sheffield Daily Independent.</i></p> + +<p>“The plot is exciting.”—<i>Morning Leader.</i></p> + +<p>“Mr. Mastin is thoroughly up to date in his +paraphernalia.”—<i>Yorkshire Post.</i></p> + +<p>“But the work, while an intelligent boy could not read it without a +keen enjoyment, has a scientific weight, a plausibility of inductive +and deductive reasoning upon a basis of natural law, which takes it +well out of the category of the merely fantastic.”—<i>Scotsman.</i></p> + +<p>“There are minute descriptions of all the wonderful inventions made +by a strange race which talks Latin and lives underground. The author +is evidently a learned scientist and ... quite as accurate as Jules +Verne.... He possesses a vivid imagination.... I may safely recommend +the story.”—<i>John Bull.</i></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="mt10"><b>Crown 8vo., 3s. 6d.</b></div> + +<div class="center"> +<div class="xxxlarge"><b>“The Stolen Planet,”</b></div> +<div class="large">A SCIENTIFIC ROMANCE,</div> +<div class="small"><b>—— BY ——</b></div> +<div class="xlarge"><b>JOHN MASTIN, F.S.A. <span class="smcap">Scot.</span>,</b></div> +<div><b>F.L.S., F.C.S., F.R.A.S., F.R.M.S., R.B.A.,</b></div> +<div><b>Author of “The Immortal Light;” “The True Analysis of Milk;”<br> +“Parasites of Insects;” “Plate-Culture and Staining of Amœbæ;”<br> +“Through the Sun in an Airship,” &c. &c.</b></div> +</div> +<hr class="short"> + +<p><b>Sir Wyke Bayliss, late President of the Royal Society of British +Artists, on reading Mr. Mastin’s M.S. of “THE STOLEN PLANET,” wrote: +“It is a long time since I have read anything so brilliant.”</b></p> + +<p><b>His Majesty the King has most graciously condescended to accept a +copy of this book.</b></p> + +<p><b>H.R.H. the Princess of Wales has graciously condescended to accept a +copy of this book on behalf of H.R.H. Prince Edward of Wales.</b></p> + +<hr class="short"> + +<p>It is impossible to give in a few lines any adequate idea of the +amazing adventures of Jervis Meredith and his friend Fraser Burnley in +their journeys through the unlimited space of the stellar universe, +their visits to the various planets in their magnificently propelled +vessel, and the fantastically humorous situation which brings their +exploits to a fitting conclusion. Even Mr. H. G. Wells and his famous +predecessor, Jules Verne, have not handled their subjects with such +complete success as Mr. Mastin has done in this, his first imaginative +work.</p> + +<hr class="double"> + +<p>“It is a graphic and exciting tale.”—<i>The Times.</i></p> + +<p>“Certain it is that the reading of this capital story will prove +exciting, for compared with the adventures therein written, the books +of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells read like the placid pages of Miss +Austen’s novels.”—<i>Daily Telegraph.</i></p> + +<p>“The adventures ... are told with a verve which never flags. As a +consequence, the reader, who is attracted by the rollicking schoolboy +humour of the opening chapters, soon becomes absorbed, and is +carried wondering from adventure to adventure.”—<i>Sheffield Daily +Telegraph.</i></p> + +<p>“An interesting story in the Jules Verne manner.”—<i>The Bookman.</i></p> + +<p>“Without the extraordinary detail that Jules Verne introduces into his +stories, it adopts a scientific basis throughout, and the reader takes +an interesting journey through space.... The story will make a capital +gift-book for boys of a scientific turn of mind.”—<i>Publishers’ +Circular.</i></p> + +<p>“The wonders of Jules Verne pale before this thrilling account of a +voyage through the air to other worlds.”—<i>Outlook.</i></p> + +<p>“Mr. Mastin’s ingenious and engaging fantasy ... he is to be +commended for resource, ingenuity, and persistent vigour of +narrative.”—<i>Glasgow Herald.</i></p> + +<p>“The experiences of the two men in their aerostat make most exciting +reading.”—<i>Aberdeen Free Press.</i></p> + +<p>“Our heroes sailed away in an aerostat and met with many unique +adventures ... it might really all have happened.”—<i>Publisher and +Bookseller.</i></p> + +<hr> + +<div class="center"><i>Companion book to “Through the Sun in an Airship.”</i></div> + +<hr class="full"> +<div class="center large"><b>CHARLES GRIFFIN & Co., Ltd., Exeter Street, Strand, LONDON.</b></div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="transnote"> + <div class="large center"><b>Transcriber’s Notes:</b></div> + <ul> + <li>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</li> + <li>In chapter 13, there is a reference to “the devastating eruption + and earthquake of 2316 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>”, which is obviously incorrect. + But the transcriber could not find a candidate for the actual date, so it is left as-is.</li> + </ul> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77867 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77867-h/images/colophon.jpg b/77867-h/images/colophon.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf1ffa8 --- /dev/null +++ b/77867-h/images/colophon.jpg diff --git a/77867-h/images/cover.jpg b/77867-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..186fd8a --- /dev/null +++ b/77867-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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