Initial commit of ebook 79051 filesHEAD main

author: www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> 2026-07-08 14:03:41 -0700
committer: www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> 2026-07-08 14:03:41 -0700
commit: 933af73aaef37cfc9b9c330c2f04c71478fd5bb4 (patch)
tree: 2d42cf91db848a894d588f500329775554520f7b /79051-h
2 files changed, 10708 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/79051-h/79051-h.htm b/79051-h/79051-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a0ec85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/79051-h/79051-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,10708 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
+    <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no,date=no,address=no,email=no,url=no">
+    <title>
+      Atalanta | Project Gutenberg
+    </title>
+    <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover">
+    <style>
+
+body {
+    margin-left: 10%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {
+    text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+    clear: both;
+}
+
+p {
+    margin-top: .5em;
+    text-align: justify;
+    margin-bottom: .5em;
+}
+
+.p2       {margin-top: 2em;}
+.p4       {margin-top: 4em;}
+.p6       {margin-top: 6em;}
+
+hr {
+    width: 33%;
+    margin-top: 2em;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    margin-left: 33.5%;
+    margin-right: 33.5%;
+    clear: both;
+}
+
+hr.tb   {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;}
+hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;}
+@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} }
+
+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; }
+
+.tdl      {text-align: left;}
+.tdr      {text-align: right;}
+
+.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+    /*  visibility: hidden;  */
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 92%;
+    font-size: small;
+    text-align: right;
+    font-style: normal;
+    font-weight: normal;
+    font-variant: normal;
+    text-indent: 0;
+} /* page numbers */
+
+
+blockquote {
+    margin-top: 0;
+    margin-bottom: 0;
+    margin-left: 5%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+    font-size: small;
+}
+
+.center   {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;}
+
+.right    {text-align: right;}
+
+.smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+
+
+/* Images */
+
+img {
+    max-width: 100%;
+    height: auto;
+}
+
+
+
+
+/* Footnotes */
+
+.footnote         {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;}
+
+.footnote .label  {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;}
+
+.fnanchor {
+    vertical-align: super;
+    font-size: .8em;
+    text-decoration:
+    none;
+}
+
+/* Poetry */
+/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */
+/* .poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} */
+.poetry-container {text-align: center;}
+.poetry           {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;}
+.poetry .stanza   {margin: 1em auto;}
+.poetry .verse    {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em; font-size: small;}
+
+/* Transcriber's notes */
+.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA;
+    color: black;
+    font-size:small;
+    padding:0.5em;
+    margin-bottom:5em;
+    font-family:sans-serif, serif;
+}
+
+
+/* Poetry indents */
+.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;}
+.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2.0em;}
+.poetry .indent4 {text-indent: -1.0em;}
+.poetry .indent6 {text-indent:  0.5em;}
+
+.f08      {font-size: 0.9em;}
+.f12      {font-size: 1.2em;}
+.f15      {font-size: 1.5em;}
+.f20b     {font-size: 2.0em; font-weight: bold;}
+    </style>
+</head>
+
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79051 ***</div>
+
+
+
+<h1>
+ATALANTA
+</h1>
+<p class="center">OR</p>
+<p class="center f15">TWELVE MONTHS IN THE</p>
+<p class="center f15">EVENING STAR</p>
+
+
+
+<p class="center f08 p4">BY</p>
+<p class="center f12">CHARLES NAPIER RICHARDS</p>
+
+<p class="f08 center p6">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</p>
+<p class="f12 center p4">BRIGHTON</p>
+<p class="f12 center">H. &amp; C. TREACHER, 1 NORTH STREET</p>
+<p class="f08 center">LONDON</p>
+<p class="f08 center">SIMPKIN MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, &amp; CO., LTD.</p>
+<p class="f08 center">STATIONERS HALL COURT, E.C.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter"><p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p>
+
+
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">
+    CONTENTS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<table class="autotable">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+CHAPTER</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+PAGE
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+I.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">The Gathering of the Friends</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+7
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+II.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">A Life Sorrow and its Remedy</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+13
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+III.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">Starting Skywards</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+17
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+IV.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">The Lunar Peril</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+26
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+V.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">The Meteoric Storm</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+33
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+VI.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">Into the Black Gulf</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+40
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+VII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">The Northern Island</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+48
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+VIII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">First Explorations</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+54
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+IX.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span class="smcap">Across the Central Ocean</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+60
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+X.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span class="smcap">When the Rain Mist Lifted</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+67
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XI.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><span class="smcap">The City and its Welcome</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+77
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><span class="smcap">Needful Preparations</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+89
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XIII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><span class="smcap">The First Ordeal</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+98
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XIV.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><span class="smcap">The Second Ordeal</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+109
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XV.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><span class="smcap">A Tale at a Supper Party</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+120
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XVI.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><span class="smcap">Malchon’s Gospel</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+130
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XVII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><span class="smcap">The Perils of Cross Currents</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+139
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XVIII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><span class="smcap">The Festival of Panacla</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+147
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XIX.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><span class="smcap">An Aerial Voyage with Divers Experiences</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+156
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XX.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><span class="smcap">The Island of Twilight</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+167
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXI.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><span class="smcap">The Peak of Aptaura</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+173
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><span class="smcap">The Great Mystery</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+177
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXIII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><span class="smcap">Lydon’s Revolt</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+187
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXIV.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><span class="smcap">The Denunciation and the Retribution</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+198
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXV.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><span class="smcap">The Old Love and the New</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+211
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXVI.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><span class="smcap">The Farewell of Amalona</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+221
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXVII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><span class="smcap">The Sacred Manuscript and the Price Paid for it</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+228
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXVIII.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"> <span class="smcap">The Message from the Observatory</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+241
+</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXIX.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX"><span class="smcap">The Feast of Farewell</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+253
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+XXX.
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#CHAPTER_XXX"><span class="smcap">The Mystery that was Unsolved</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+267
+</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">
+
+</td>
+<td class="tdl">
+<a href="#Transcribers_note"><span class="smcap">Transcriber’s note</span></a>
+</td>
+<td class="tdr">
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter"></div>
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>
+
+<p class="f20b center">ATALANTA</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">
+    CHAPTER I
+    <br>
+    THE GATHERING OF THE FRIENDS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“I say, you fellows, can any of you oblige by
+throwing an illuminating light on the movements
+of old Carmichael?”</p>
+
+<p>The question was addressed by Maurice Sheldon to
+a party of undergraduates assembled in his college
+rooms in Cambridge, one lazy afternoon near the
+end of the summer term.</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” said Gilbert Rice, after some moments of
+acute reflection, “the dear old owl has taken advantage
+of the close of his lecture course to take
+himself off to some unknown hole in Northumberland
+called ‘Newbiggin-on-the-Sea,’ I believe.”</p>
+
+<p>“Anxious to turn over a new leaf and make a new
+beginning,” ejaculated Joe Vallance.</p>
+
+<p>“Why on earth did he stop there and not go on to
+Edinburgh or to the Highlands like any sensible
+man?” queried Sheldon.</p>
+
+<p>“I was dangerously near suggesting that he wasn’t
+one, but I see Abercromby getting ready a missile to
+shy at my head,” answered Gilbert Rice, “but I don’t
+mind saying Carmichael is an awfully decent sort
+when you really get to know him.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Well, I <i>have</i> got to know him,” retorted Frank
+Abercromby, with emphasis, “and I tell you this,
+he is working body and soul at something that will
+astonish the world when the secret is out.”</p>
+
+<p>“Stagger humanity like old Kruger,” said the
+teasing Vallance. “Put some whisky into his coffee,
+and he will tell us all about it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I shan’t tell you anything till Carmichael gives
+the word. He has gone up to that quiet spot to meet
+Carysfort the engineer whom some of you know, and
+also Clarence Radcliffe the Oxford curate. The last
+is a queer sort of a chap, rather a dreamer you know,
+been through an awful lot of trouble, lost his wife
+during their honeymoon, but he did me a regular
+good turn and I mean to stick to him. I’m going to
+ask him to come and meet the Professor and the
+engineer and we will see if we can’t get a bit ahead.”</p>
+
+<p>“But, my dear chap, how long is this job going to
+take?” said Sheldon. “Carysfort is a pledge there
+will be <i>one</i> sane person in the enterprise, but how
+are you to start again for your degree?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not going to start again.”</p>
+
+<p>“Great Scott! are you going down after this term?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve no alternative. My uncle hates me, and has
+taken an unjust advantage of my failing to pass to
+give up all further support of me.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m awfully sorry, but what the dickens will you do?”</p>
+
+<p>“Join myself to Carysfort and the Professor.”</p>
+
+<p>“And what will <i>he</i> do?” slyly put in Gilbert Rice.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, of all the extraordinary things I ever heard,
+this about beats the record,” said Sheldon. Then he
+resumed—</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Carmichael the scientific don, whose lectures
+were so dry that they well-nigh killed the Vice-Chancellor.
+Carysfort a hard-headed engineer,
+Radcliffe a poor parson nearly knocked silly by
+melodrama in his honeymoon, and you Abercromby—well,
+present company always excepted you know—meeting
+to carry on some work in Northumbria
+about which our distinguished selves are for an indefinite
+time to know nothing,” and he finished with
+the most expressive of gestures.</p>
+
+<p>“I think we had better go a walk to Cherry
+Hinton,” said Joe Vallance; “won’t you come with
+us, Abercromby?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, comrades of a bygone day,” said Abercromby,
+with a distinct catch in his voice, “I have a less
+pleasurable duty to do: to pack my box.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I’m beastly sorry,” said Gilbert Rice, “hope
+the clouds will roll by soon, old fellow.”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>A few weeks later a small group of friends were
+seated in the parlour of a house in a lonely situation
+facing the North Sea, a few hundred yards from St.
+Bartholomew’s Point at Newbiggin. The July sun
+was setting in splendour and the watery expanse was
+calm as a lake. The Professor had placed upon the
+table a small model, shaped after the fashion of a
+submarine boat constructed of a greyish-white substance,
+divided into several tiny compartments and
+pointed at the end with a steel prow.</p>
+
+<p>“Gentlemen,” said the Professor, “I will ask my
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>good friend Mr. Carysfort to explain to you in outline
+the significance of what you now see.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, gentlemen,” answered the engineer, “this is
+only a small model, but the first step is often the
+most important, and it will certainly be so, we trust,
+in this case. This machine is capable of doing more
+than solving the problem of aerial navigation. It is
+an airship and can be used as such by the action of
+the revolving fans, but it can do more. When there
+is no air sufficient for the fans to beat, it can still go
+onward farther and farther from the earth. You
+know that in theory any particle of attraction can
+be converted into a particle of repulsion whereby the
+law of gravitation may be suspended for an adequate
+time. But the practical difficulty has been to find a
+power that will effect this change. The power has
+been found. A new substance has been discovered
+by the joint labour of the Professor and myself, two
+new chemical elements both having certain affinities
+with radium, which can, by the help of electric energy,
+impart to this model, or to a machine of larger size,
+the power to resist the gravitation force of the earth
+until we are sufficiently far away from it to fall into
+some other centre of attraction. This simply means
+that the secret of interplanetary communication has
+been solved.”</p>
+
+<p>The others listened in profound silence. Then
+Clarence Radcliffe said: “How long will it take to
+construct a machine on the requisite scale and finish?”</p>
+
+<p>“About two years at the most,” answered Carysfort,
+“but I hope a less time will suffice.”</p>
+
+<p>“And where the dickens are we going?” asked
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>Abercromby. “To the moon, I suppose, first, and then
+onwards to Mars. Mars seems to be the goal of
+scientific enterprise just now.”</p>
+
+<p>“I shall not go to Mars,” replied the Professor;
+“we know as much about Mars already as we can
+ever hope to know without actually visiting it.
+People rave about the canals, but that semi-arctic
+planet, which I do not believe is inhabited after all,
+has little interest for me. But there is a planet equal
+in size to our own earth, much nearer to us than
+Mars, aglow with light and probably with life. We
+are going to Venus. This is the enterprise which
+will enrich humanity with the larger knowledge.
+You can get a map of Mars with all the continents
+named, but no one ever drew a map of Venus. No
+one ever will except he goes there.”</p>
+
+<p>“What is to be approximately the speed of the
+machine?” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Ten miles a second when we are in the airless
+void,” replied Carysfort, “but we can regulate our
+speed at will when it becomes advisable to do so.
+The distance to be travelled is between twenty-three
+and twenty-seven millions, according to the precise
+positions of the two planets. Mars is never less than
+thirty-five millions and that only once in about
+fifteen years; its ordinary minimum of nearness is at
+least forty-eight millions.”</p>
+
+<p>“How many people will the machine be constructed
+to hold?” said Abercromby in a rather
+excited tone.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor hesitated, then he slowly replied,
+“For myself, my servant Jackson, Carysfort, and one
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>other.” There was a moment’s pause, then the
+Professor looked fixedly at Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“May I take a turn with you on the sands?”
+asked Abercromby, his face somewhat flushed.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor assented, leaving Radcliffe talking
+with the engineer. The two others opened the
+garden gate and stepped out on to the fine dry sands
+for which Newbiggin is famous.</p>
+
+<p>“Come, my friend,” said the Professor, “you must
+not take refuge in shyness, but to end all dispute, I
+want <i>you</i>. You have had rough luck, and you are
+just the young fellow whose services an older man
+like me would gladly enlist.”</p>
+
+<p>“Professor,” said Abercromby, “I am awfully keen
+on the work, few could be more so, but I will give up
+my share to the man who saved me from a beastly
+scrape when I was visiting Oxford.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know to what you refer,” replied Carmichael a
+little impatiently; “some rascal accused you of stealing
+one of the inter-Varsity athletic prizes, and
+Radcliffe cleared you by unmasking the real culprit.
+No one rejoiced more than I, but I cannot see why
+this should cut you out of the greatest enterprise ever
+attempted by man.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have you heard of Radcliffe’s awful trial?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not full particulars.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I will tell you all I know, and then you will
+see that the only chance of saving him from utter
+shipwreck lies in giving him a new object in life.”</p>
+
+<p>“Will the story take long in the telling?”</p>
+
+<p>“Ten minutes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Drive ahead then.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">
+    CHAPTER II
+    <br>
+    A LIFE SORROW AND ITS REMEDY
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“I’m not going to pile on the agony, but will just
+give you the main facts.</p>
+
+<p>“He was curate at one of the Oxford churches,
+after taking a good degree in his special department.
+Well, he cycles over to Chipping Norton in the
+summer term, rescues a lady from the grip of a loafing
+tramp, gets invited to the house, a country
+rectory a mile or so from the town. She thinks him a
+paladin, of course; he thinks her an angel equally of
+course. They get head over ears; the old parson
+hesitates at first but consents. So he is married in
+the village church to May Lilian Carnforth. I do
+soberly believe that no two human beings ever so
+loved each other since marriage was instituted.”</p>
+
+<p>“Five minutes gone,” said the Professor dryly.</p>
+
+<p>“They went on their honeymoon to Barmouth.
+They had not been there long before she began to
+lose her admiration of him, though he kept his
+admiration of her. At last they had a row; I don’t
+know what it was about, some utterly trivial matter
+probably. She declared she would not go an
+excursion up the river to Dolgelly with him as had
+been planned. He said in anger she might go by
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>herself, knowing that this was practically impossible.
+She flounced out of the house and went across the
+road to her cousin, Miss Amy Vereker, who was
+staying in the place. Radcliffe saw them go off
+together. Miss Vereker was expert at the oar. He
+thought it best to let them go by themselves. It
+was an ideal day for a river or sea trip. He waved
+his hand to his wife as she turned the corner, but she
+gave no response. To cut the ghastly story short,
+the boat was upset near Penmaen Pool. Amy
+Vereker just narrowly saved her life, May Lilian
+Radcliffe was drowned. No one will ever know
+exactly what happened; it was held at the inquest
+that the boat grated upon a rock in mid-stream.
+Radcliffe came home alone, and resumed his work.
+He is said to have preached better, but I only heard
+him once. His subject was ‘The Wilderness,’
+and though I am a graceless scamp, and likely to
+remain so, I had a jolly old cry when I came out.”</p>
+
+<p>The Professor stood silent. At last he said, “We
+will go back to the house; I will speak to Radcliffe.”</p>
+
+<p>The party were still assembled in the parlour
+inspecting and admiring the model machine.
+Honest Tom Jackson, who had been the Professor’s
+faithful servant for years, was just saying, “It looks
+so nice that it’s a pity we can’t get into it and start
+at once. It’s a deal of polishing I’ll be after when I
+gets into the real one. I’ll keep it as bright as a new
+pin.”</p>
+
+<p>“Mr. Radcliffe,” said the Professor, “I shall be
+pleased to offer you a place in our expedition. You
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>will be a most welcome addition to our party if you
+choose to cast in your lot with us.”</p>
+
+<p>“I have often wished to die,” said Radcliffe, whose
+eyes shone with a strange lustre, “but you have
+offered me something nobler. But I am a minister
+and I do not know how far my beliefs may be in
+accord with yours. I am also a man crushed to the
+very ground with a sorrow that nothing can ever
+eradicate but the Mansions of the Blest, which even
+the ancient Egyptians believed in, and to which I
+wish to go some day for a special purpose. Ought
+such a man as I to travel with those whose energies
+are fresh and unimpaired? But if we ever reach
+Venus and find intelligent life upon its surface you
+must give me a free hand, provided I do not compromise
+your safety. I place myself at your disposal,
+gentlemen.”</p>
+
+<p>“My dear chap, just come along and see what
+there is to be seen,” said Abercromby cheerfully. “I
+shall often think of you, and hope that the bigger
+sun of Venus may shine upon your dream and your
+work. Don’t go on to Mercury, mind!”</p>
+
+<p>The whole party laughed, but upon the face of
+Radcliffe there was a grave and troubled look of
+enquiry. “You are coming of course,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“No room—given up my berth in the asteroid to
+you, old fellow.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then I decline,” said Radcliffe promptly.</p>
+
+<p>“Beg pardon, gentlemen,” broke in Jackson, “but
+why couldn’t we put on an extra bit to the machine,
+and have the two? One will dance to the natives up
+there, and the tother will preach to ’em.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p>
+
+<p>“I shall do it,” said the Professor; “it will cost very
+little more. They shall both go. As to the matter
+of beliefs, I don’t choose to let every bystander know
+my mind. Mr. Radcliffe’s may be old-fashioned, but
+they have contrived to carry him through what might
+have wrecked other men. A new world will probably
+put a number of things on a sounder footing, though
+it may knock others on the head. Carysfort and
+myself have not studied theology, we are simply
+thinkers with open minds. If there are any people in
+Venus to teach, teach them all you can, and learn from
+them all you can. You are a scholar and a philosophic
+dreamer as well as being an old-fashioned
+believer. I knew a parson very like yourself, he was
+the straitest of the strait, but when I got him out of
+the pulpit for a little private talk, I never met so
+daring a speculatist in my life. But he kept his
+speculations as speculations, and he gave his people
+only his convictions. But I am on the sermonising
+warpath myself, and will pull up. You are welcome
+amongst us, and are now one of us.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m a man of few words,” said the engineer, “but
+I’m right glad to have both you and Mr. Abercromby.
+We could not afford to dispense with either of you.”</p>
+
+<p>“From the depths of my grateful heart I thank
+you,” said Radcliffe in a broken voice.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, it is about time we had some tea,” suggested
+Abercromby; “all the rest of the business is settled
+<i>nem. con.</i> I always find it safe to abbreviate <i>my</i>
+Latin.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">
+    CHAPTER III
+    <br>
+    STARTING SKYWARDS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Two years have passed away since the meeting
+at Newbiggin described in the last chapter.
+They have been years of varied and incessant toil,
+research, forethought, and preparation.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor continued his scientific lectures in
+Cambridge for one more academic year and took a
+house for the vacation at Cullercoats. Carysfort
+stuck to his old quarters near to Newbiggin, where
+his workshops were erected. Abercromby kept with
+him, working like a dock labourer, as the engineer
+used often to say. Radcliffe held on to his curacy at
+Oxford and drew crowds, at least so Abercromby
+always declared, for when he could spare himself a
+holiday he ran down to see him. His rector, a man
+notorious for his orthodoxy though his sympathies
+ran in a somewhat different channel, would have been
+much startled had he known the character of the
+studies in which his curate delighted.</p>
+
+<p>Many works that bore on astronomy and kindred
+subjects were to be found in his library, and once a
+person, happening to drop in, casually remarked that
+the undergraduate who had evidently left his books
+behind him when he went down must have been a
+man of wide reading.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p>
+
+<p>Study is generally supposed to make a man pale
+and thin, but upon the curate it had a contrary
+effect. He seemed, as time went on, to get better
+and stronger. He sunk the whole of his private
+means in his friends’ enterprise, and supported himself
+for the last few months on the merest pittance.</p>
+
+<p>One bright June evening he and Abercromby met
+on the railway platform at Cullercoats. They walked
+together to Beverley Terrace and had tea and supper
+with the Professor and Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“Matters are approaching a crisis, old man,” said
+Abercromby. “The Professor tells me we must pack
+our week-end boxes in a month, in fact, to be precise,
+July 22nd is the day fixed.”</p>
+
+<p>A spasm of pain shot across Radcliffe’s face but
+he only said, “I will be ready.”</p>
+
+<p>“Write me down an ass,” said Abercromby. “We
+must alter the date, Professor.”</p>
+
+<p>“Quite so,” answered Carmichael. “Venus is approaching
+the minimum distance, but a margin of
+ten days could be allowed.”</p>
+
+<p>“There shall not be a margin of ten minutes as
+far as I am concerned,” replied Radcliffe. “After all,
+it is best for me that I should bid an eternal farewell
+to this earth on that date. It has been chosen for
+me, and I accept it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let me tell you how matters stand,” said Carysfort.
+“We had our trial trip last night. It was quite
+dark, there was no moon, so we could start unobserved.
+We passed over Rothbury at a height of
+about two miles, then we drifted towards Newcastle,
+and when we were over Ponteland we soared straight
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>towards the zenith. We saw the sun rise in the
+east, and then found that our most difficult task was
+to get back again before it rose over the Tyne. We
+were quite outside the atmosphere and saw the earth
+at a rather unusual altitude. It was a bit ghastly I
+allow, but we knew already we had succeeded.”</p>
+
+<p>“Abercromby was splendid,” said the Professor;
+“he stood in the outer balcony in that rarefied atmosphere
+till I had to drag him in.”</p>
+
+<p>“I drew the line at going off pop,” said Abercromby,
+“because I naturally felt that though I might
+be of little use at the best of times, yet if by chance
+I burst I might even be less.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did any people see you as you descended?” asked
+Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Only two bounders walking in from Woodhorn,
+and though it was barely six o’clock they had both
+been tippling. They ran down the road screaming,
+but we put on speed and were safe over the garden
+wall and our machine in its proper place before they
+could do any harm. It was a near shave though, and
+we have voted for no more trips till the final start.”</p>
+
+<p>“What I have chiefly feared,” said the Professor,
+“was that some meddling Government official would
+insist upon knowing what we were about. However,
+being in England, I knew I was in the easiest place
+to destroy the British Empire if I desired so to do, as
+nobody would believe it of me, and everybody would
+think it uncharitable to say it of me, so I had no
+bother except from the surveyor of taxes. It happened
+that some patriotic gentleman not very far off
+was perfecting an airship to render England invulnerable
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>to the Germans, but many liberal-minded clergymen
+and laymen think he would show a more broad
+spirit of Christianity if he gave it to the Kaiser. Thanks
+to this good man I have been much less an object of
+curiosity than I might have been.”</p>
+
+<p>“Suppose we just take a stroll on the Tynemouth
+sands and talk over details,” said Carysfort. “To-morrow,
+if you can stay, you must come with us to Newbiggin
+and inspect the machine for yourself. Full
+particulars must wait until then.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe assented with pleasure. They strolled
+along as far as they could, talking and discussing,
+while a band was playing “All in the hush of
+twilight,” and a negro minstrel performance was
+going on near the Palace Pier. There was a sort of
+open-air concert, two vocalists having sung “Beauty’s
+home, Killarney,” and “Phil the Fluter’s Ball,” sang
+“Love launched a fairy boat.” The people encored
+and they sang it again. Radcliffe stood listening,
+and only Frank Abercromby noticed that his eyes
+were full of tears. Carysfort, who voted the whole
+proceedings a deadly nuisance, at last pulled him
+away, and resumed discussions upon mathematics
+and locomotion.</p>
+
+<p>After supper the party had a further walk along
+the Cullercoats promenade and then retired to rest in
+readiness for a visit to Newbiggin in the early hours
+of the morning.</p>
+
+<p>The party were gathered in due course before the
+great steel-grey machine with its fans, its balconies,
+and its long steel prow. They mounted the short
+ladder that gave access to the interior, which consisted
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>of an upper-deck dining-room lighted with electricity,
+with large windows, the glass of which was protected
+by steel shutters easily workable and short steel
+projections. There was a long table in the centre
+with chairs, around the thickly padded walls ran
+couches and divans, and in recesses various collections
+of books, instruments of all kinds, and other articles,
+each firmly secured to the wall.</p>
+
+<p>Below the dining-room, approached by a hatchway,
+were small cabins with comfortable hammocks, and,
+below these, the engine-room and the store-rooms.
+At one end of the dining-room a flight of steps with
+protecting hand-rail led to the conning-tower where
+the upper steering apparatus was fixed, communicating
+with electric bells with the lower duplicate
+steering apparatus in the engine-room. There was
+direct communication by bells and telephones with
+each several part of the machine.</p>
+
+<p>In order that nothing useful might be forgotten,
+each member, every four months, wrote out a list of
+necessary and desirable things and sent them in to
+the Professor. Twice over the list was carefully
+revised. Abercromby reminded them one day that
+the only thing he could think of was to give a name
+to the machine, and they decided to christen her
+the “Asteroid.”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>At six o’clock on the evening of July 22nd the
+whole company was assembled in the parlour of
+the lonely house at Newbiggin. It was a close
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>thunderous summer evening, the sea had scarce a
+ripple, and the air was most oppressively still.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby in vain tried to revive their spirits by
+his jokes and sallies, but a solemn sadness hung over
+the company, yet combining with it an emotion of
+undaunted resolve.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, friends and comrades,” said the Professor,
+“I propose in an hour’s time that we take final
+possession of the Asteroid. The work of cutting
+loose from our moorings will, even then, occupy a
+certain while, but I suggest that we start skywards
+at eight p.m.</p>
+
+<p>“Now it is my duty to say that I offer a final
+opportunity to any one, if he has the least misgivings,
+to draw back; I shall think none the worse
+of him. We are sensible men, and we must for the
+last time look difficulties in the face ere we are
+committed beyond recall.”</p>
+
+<p>“There are no difficulties,” retorted Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Pardon me, my dear fellow, but that is nonsense.
+To begin with, we run the risk of our motive force
+failing us or going wrong, in which case we should
+fall back at ruinous speed upon the earth, and be
+either burned to cinders in its atmosphere or
+pulverised upon its surface. Then we have a
+struggle to wage against the attractive force of the
+sun, and I need not point out what sort of death
+will await us that way.</p>
+
+<p>“Supposing we get near to Venus, we have to
+encounter the fall upon its surface, which, with all
+our care, may be deadly. Once arrived, we may
+find its air unbreathable, and its heat too great for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>human life. Its people may capture us and deprive
+us of our machine, thus preventing us for ever from
+returning home; and they may even torture us and
+kill us. Then we have the terrors of the return
+journey, which are of a precisely similar kind to those
+of the outward, with the possible variation that we
+may find a lunatic asylum awaiting us in the place
+of an international welcome. These are the odds:
+ponder them for the last time.”</p>
+
+<p>“I have pondered them over and over again,” said
+Carysfort, “and for me they have no terrors.”</p>
+
+<p>“I object to no item in the Professor’s black list
+except the terrestrial lunatic asylum,” said Abercromby,
+“and we have only to avoid British territory,
+and, being true Britons, we shall be sure of a hearty
+welcome.”</p>
+
+<p>“To me the journey to Venus is but the prelude
+to a longer journey,” replied Clarence Radcliffe,
+“but, till my work is done, I shall not ask to die. I
+have risen superior to that, chiefly through the kindness
+of you, my brothers.”</p>
+
+<p>“Jackson, what have you to say?” said the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“Bless you, sir! I’ll just be after going where you
+go, and if the Lord brings us all safe back I’ll tell
+the folks at home that I’ve been and gone and had a
+real good time of it. But you must leave me the
+polishing-up of the machine, sir. You’ll do the steering,
+and I the scrubbing. When I laid my old
+mother to rest in Elton churchyard I buried the last
+who would miss me, and I thought as how I would
+like to go clear away, only you are taking me a bit
+farther than I reckoned.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Well done, honest Tom,” said Carysfort. “If every
+master had as good a helper as Carmichael has in
+you, there would be a little more sensible work
+carried out in this spoiled land of ours.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just one word, Professor,” put in Abercromby.
+“If things go all right, how long do you mean to stay
+away?”</p>
+
+<p>“Only a few months if Venus is not inhabited, two
+or three years if it is,” replied the Professor. “I have
+written out a full and concise account of our intentions
+and shall leave it behind me. I have also
+addressed a letter to the Home Secretary. Of course
+the secret of our discovery is carefully guarded, but
+I have told who we are and where we are going. I
+have left full instructions as to my property and this
+packet shall be posted as soon as you have all signed
+your names to it. Another shall be sent to the
+Mayor of Newcastle, and a third shall be left on the
+table. And now we had better sign, as we are all
+agreed.”</p>
+
+<p>This having been done, the two postal packets were
+sent off. Radcliffe asked that they should invoke
+the Divine blessing upon their enterprise, to which all
+consented, and then they silently left the house, and
+proceeded to the place, sheltered behind high walls,
+where the Asteroid was poised ready for its vast and
+thrilling flight.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby remarked that they had not as many
+to see them start as Columbus or Sir John Franklin
+had, to which fact the Professor yielded the most
+hearty and even cheerful assent.</p>
+
+<p>The final preparations took up a shorter time than
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>was expected, and at 7.30 p.m. on that cloudy July
+evening Carmichael took his post in the conning-tower;
+the others stood upon the outer balcony,
+Abercromby assuring the Professor that as soon as
+they had got outside the earth’s atmosphere he would
+button up his greatcoat and leisurely come in.</p>
+
+<p>“Farewell to England!” said the engineer simply.
+“May we find our country a little more open to
+common sense when we come back.”</p>
+
+<p>Jackson evidently thought that Mr. Frank would
+give them a colossal joke at the moment of starting,
+but perhaps, unknown to himself, the power to do so
+failed him at the last moment. He put his arm through
+Clarence Radcliffe’s and said, “Say something for me,
+old chap; I’m hanged if I can.”</p>
+
+<p>“May God bless all in the world who are in sorrow,
+and may we bring them back something to help
+them,” answered Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Start the car, Professor, or I shall make an ass of
+myself,” sung out Abercromby. “No, hold hard, please.
+Tom has got a last message for the old country.”</p>
+
+<p>“God save the King,” said Jackson, pulling off his
+cap.</p>
+
+<p>“Most correct and admirable,” replied Abercromby;
+“nothing could be less open to hostile criticism.
+Now, Professor, if Nelson were here he would tell us
+that every man’s duty was to fly. Go ahead, and
+just give us a peep of Northumbria before we finally
+vanish.”</p>
+
+<p>A moment more and Newbiggin, from the old
+church on the wave-worn promontory to the Eagle
+Rocks, lay many hundreds of feet below them.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">
+    CHAPTER IV
+    <br>
+    THE LUNAR PERIL
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Within a few minutes the travellers had
+entered the thick veil of the clouds, and were
+forced to beat a speedy retreat into the shelter of the
+upper deck. Rain poured down, there was a sharp
+flash of lightning followed by a rattling peal of
+thunder. Carmichael increased the speed, and soon
+the cloud region was traversed and they climbed
+higher and higher into the star-spangled night.
+Soon the lights at the entrance of the Tyne came
+into view, and a dull illumination to the west showed
+them the busy hive of Newcastle. Gradually it
+became impossible to make out even the largest
+objects originated by man, but the great grey landscape
+opened and widened; they could see the
+Cumberland Mountains, and the crescent moon, now
+wondrously brilliant, lit up the sea beyond.</p>
+
+<p>Presently England itself became a dark grey patch
+girt with the silvery sea, and then the countries of
+Europe almost took the form of a model map, only
+it wanted the daylight to illuminate it.</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael now insisted that the whole party
+should come within, and he did not need to employ
+arguments. Already they were choking and gasping
+and nearly benumbed with cold. Just as they
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>entered, Carysfort having hermetically sealed the
+partition, they saw a broad fan of light flash out
+upon the eastern horizon, and the sun rose and
+bathed the enormous circle of the earth with his rosy-tinted
+rays. Trailing belts of clouds hung over
+Russia and Eastern Siberia, but over India and mid-China
+the weather was resplendent.</p>
+
+<p>“There is Mount Everest,” said Carysfort, pointing
+to a snow-white hillock, as it looked to them, “nearly
+30,000 feet high, five miles and more. What would
+Major Everest have said, when he was measuring it
+by trigonometry in 1847, if he could have seen it as
+we see it!”</p>
+
+<p>“We are 170 miles already,” said Carmichael. “I
+am going to double speed, so prepare for a surprise.”</p>
+
+<p>Every minute now made a perceptible difference.
+At last the circle of the entire globe was seen, the
+heavens gradually turned from dark blue to black,
+the stars shone out, the sun’s rays began to blaze like
+a fiery corona, all grew silent and still, the faintest
+apparent motion ceased, the earth seemed every few
+minutes to shrink to a smaller circle, while the moon,
+which hung in space, appeared to grow in size and
+splendour.</p>
+
+<p>The awful spectacle daunted even the brave men
+who had dared everything to behold it. Even Abercromby
+and Carysfort averted their faces from the
+window. Radcliffe alone stood with folded arms in
+a state of abstraction.</p>
+
+<p>“I shall now quadruple the electric pressure,” said
+Carmichael; “the sooner we get used to these things
+the better.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p>
+
+<p>The Professor was just about to put his decision
+into practice when Radcliffe stopped him by suggesting
+that this might be a unique opportunity for
+solving the problem of the terrestrial polar regions.</p>
+
+<p>A powerful telescope was soon fixed into position
+and each in turn made full use of it. The result was
+not very satisfactory. The North Pole was so hidden
+in clouds and vapour that it was well-nigh impossible
+to form a verdict. With the South Pole it was
+different. They could see a ring of white mountains
+with Mounts Erebus and Terror clearly visible, but
+beyond was an antarctic continent with a greyish
+patch in the centre just at the Pole itself. But it
+gave them no evidence of being inhabited.</p>
+
+<p>The moon was shining to the left of them,
+considerably larger in size than it appears from the
+earth. Carysfort raised the question whether it was
+worth while to attempt a landing upon it. The
+question was decided in the negative. They would
+pass near enough to solve that problem of the outer
+or invisible side of the disk which is never seen by
+man.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor told them that they would cross the
+lunar orbit in two hours’ time, when they would pass
+it at a distance of about 11,500 miles.</p>
+
+<p>“I dare not risk our great enterprise in the attempt
+to alight upon a small world which the best science of
+our times has pronounced to be airless, waterless, and
+lifeless,” said the Professor. “To land upon a world
+without an atmosphere would be a most dangerous
+undertaking, and we could do no exploring when we
+got there, but would have to remain cooped up in our
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>machine. We could not sail over its surface, for we
+should have no atmosphere in which the fans could
+work. If we had made up our minds to go there, we
+would have faced the risks and prepared accordingly;
+but we have something far more important lying
+before us.”</p>
+
+<p>“I read in a book while at Oxford,” said Radcliffe,
+“that earth and moon should not be regarded as
+planet and satellite, but rather as two stars revolving
+around each other.”</p>
+
+<p>“Precisely so,” answered the Professor. “It is
+absurd to liken the moon to one of the satellites of
+Jupiter or Saturn. A planet of 90,000 miles in
+diameter may have five small worlds gravitating
+around him, but a world of less than 8000 miles
+cannot, strictly speaking, regard a world of 2200
+miles as a humble dependent.”</p>
+
+<p>“Was the moon ever a part of the earth, and did it
+fill the bed of the present Pacific Ocean before it was
+split asunder?” asked Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“My dear fellow, you announce the most astounding
+theories as though they were ordinary facts,” said
+the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course I do. I want to beat Radcliffe at
+astronomy, and to anticipate his speculations.”</p>
+
+<p>“I was not there to see,” replied Carmichael. “That
+there is something very peculiar about the relationships
+of earth and moon, different to other bodies in
+the solar system, I readily grant. Mars, for instance,
+being a small planet, has two microscopic satellites,
+but there is no satellite that bears any such proportion
+to its primary as the moon does. I hardly believe in
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>the disruptive theory; I am more disposed to think
+that the moon and the earth were always independent,
+and that perhaps the moon got caught by the earth’s
+attraction and was henceforth chained by it.”</p>
+
+<p>Jackson here appeared upon the scene and enquired
+if there were any orders for supper. Abercromby
+disputed the title and declared it must be breakfast
+as the sun was shining with unpleasant brilliancy.</p>
+
+<p>“When we are well clear of the moon we will
+certainly have a good square meal, but it is not worth
+while, for the sake of this, to come to a disastrous
+collision,” said Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>A cup of coffee and some biscuits were handed round
+to each, and then the whole party resorted to the
+windows. Speed was increased and the Asteroid
+made direct for the orbit of the moon, but carefully
+avoided a heading of the prow towards her. The
+circle of the lunar globe was becoming every few
+minutes wider till it greatly exceeded in dimensions
+the apparent size of the earth.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor drew out a large map of the lunar
+disk and they could see for themselves how accurate
+it was. Slowly, as it seemed to them, the great orb
+turned upon its axis, and, as the minimum distance
+was reached, the outer hemisphere gradually outspread
+itself. There was nothing notably different
+from the earthward side. There were the same chain
+of mountains, the same circular ramparts, the same
+extinct craters, the same desolate stony plains. The
+only difference that could be noticed, if any, was that
+the outer side of the moon bore less manifest traces
+of violent convulsion, the heights and depths were on
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>a slightly smaller scale. There was one large plain
+near the equator which might in earlier ages have
+been a fertile undulating country, or even the bed
+of an ocean.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, this finally disposes of the theory of existing
+lunar races,” said the engineer.</p>
+
+<p>“With our powerful instruments and looking
+through an airless void, we should see traces of
+human handiwork had there ever been any,” observed
+Radcliffe. “What an awful world, a veritable
+picture of hell. Wherever the sun’s rays fall direct
+there is insufferable heat; wherever you step out of
+them, only by a few yards, insufferable cold. Hell is
+the easiest place to find in all the universe.”</p>
+
+<p>“I have always thought so,” quietly answered
+Carysfort. “We do not know all the secrets of the
+black gulfs of space. Outside the Milky Way, for
+instance, in what astronomers call the ‘Coal Pit,’
+what is there?”</p>
+
+<p>“But all here is brilliant sunlight,” protested Abercromby.
+“Where are the black gulfs?”</p>
+
+<p>“The first begins outside the solar system,
+between our sun and Alpha Centauri, said to be the
+nearest of the fixed stars,” remarked the Professor.
+“When our sun had become a tiny star, and Alpha
+Centauri, though you rushed at it with the speed of
+light, kept you waiting for a three years’ journey
+before it even gave you a visible disk to look at,
+there would be time for days of darkness, and many
+of them. I am not a theologian, I am a pure
+scientific thinker, but I do not put all my thoughts
+on the table. I only give them when asked.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Come, I say, we shall be feeling ghastly if this
+subject goes on. Suppose, now that we are clear of
+that uncanny moon, we have a meal,” said Abercromby.
+“I am fast getting like the boy who, when
+his father at the parish tea told him he must eat for
+to-morrow as well as to-day, informed his dad that he
+had not done eating for yesterday yet!”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, my frivolous young man,” said the
+engineer, “Jackson will no doubt appease us, but do
+not be always putting serious subjects aside.”</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby was just going to acknowledge the
+engineer’s rebuke when he happened to look round
+and, finding a pretext for evading the necessity,
+suddenly called out, “Why the moon has slipped
+down right under our feet!”</p>
+
+<p>The Professor gave a startled cry, and dashed up
+the steps into the conning-tower.</p>
+
+<p>“What the deuce has happened?” said Abercromby,
+turning pale.</p>
+
+<p>“We are falling,” said the engineer.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">
+    CHAPTER V
+    <br>
+    THE METEORIC STORM
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>For a moment or two Carysfort and the others
+stood in tense silence. The Professor raised
+the electric pressure to the maximum, ten miles a
+second. He was only just in time—a minute more
+and no motive force could have availed against the
+lunar attraction.</p>
+
+<p>Even as it was Carmichael did not breathe freely
+when the distance increased until it became evident
+that the increase was multiplying itself in widening
+proportions.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, we had run ourselves into a ghastly hole,”
+said the engineer. “I wonder when the next will
+confront us?”</p>
+
+<p>“Some millions of miles onwards when we have
+our big tussle with the sun,” replied the Professor.
+“My plan will be to slow down somewhat till we cut
+the orbit of Venus, and then try to pursue our path
+along it, instead of crossing it; we shall travel slower
+than the planet and we can let it overtake us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where is Mercury?” asked Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Circling round the other side of the sun,”
+answered the Professor. “It will not add to our
+dangers, for it will not interpose its attraction to pull
+us sunwards for several weeks.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p>
+
+<p>As soon as the distance from the moon made any
+danger from that source negligible, the party sat
+down to their first regular meal in the dining-room.
+Conversation flowed freely now that the danger was
+passed. They spent the time in mapping out the
+programme of their life on the Asteroid before
+they should near Venus. They made an artificial
+chart of day and night, allotting sixteen hours to
+work and study, and eight hours to repose. Two
+were always to mount guard during the rest time;
+one to steer, the other to watch.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor advised that the first thing to be
+done was for him and the engineer to give the rest
+of the party full instructions as to the use of the
+machinery and the guidance of the machine. Every
+one would then be available and every hand ready in
+a moment of crisis. When off duty each was left
+free to pass his time exactly as he liked, though
+Carmichael insisted that all should take exercise at
+stated intervals, and Abercromby put in practice a
+series of gymnastics on a small scale, and used to
+make Radcliffe, of all people, take a prominent part
+in them. Chess was a source of pleasurable interest.
+All the party worked together in perfect harmony
+and brotherliness, except for one passing incident
+which produced a transient unpleasantness.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby one day when seated at lunch asked
+the Professor if he thought they would find Venus a
+feminine or a masculine world.</p>
+
+<p>“Nonsense!” said Carmichael, a little irritably, for
+his views about the fair sex were well known to the
+Cambridge men to be the reverse of complimentary.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>“There is no such thing as a feminine planet. The
+very idea is only mythology and legend. Of course
+Venus is supposed to be the planet of love, and Mars
+the planet of war, but that is all classical rubbish, you
+know.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course,” assented Carysfort; “but we shall
+have to keep a sharp look-out on this young man if
+by any luck the inhabitants of Venus were all or
+mostly women.”</p>
+
+<p>“Luck!” exclaimed the Professor. “Good heavens!
+I should start back to the earth at once. But I do
+really think, though I know Abercromby will bark at
+me, that a parson I once met spoke near the truth
+when he said it was easier to reach the heart of a
+man than the heart of a woman.”</p>
+
+<p>“You cannot reach any heart till you possess the
+key to it, and that you may, alas! sometimes mistake,”
+answered Radcliffe; adding hotly, “If this
+conversation is carried any further I shall leave the
+room.”</p>
+
+<p>“I vote the parson, whoever he was, a donkey,”
+said Abercromby, “and as he is not here the remark
+will have a soothing effect upon our agitated nerves.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let it drop, as we are not likely to agree,” replied
+the Professor. Radcliffe, however, quietly left the room.</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” said Carysfort, “there is no accounting for
+some people; we shall have two to look after when
+we get to this incomparable planet. Abercromby
+will fall in love with the first female savage he meets,
+unless she brings his courtship to an abrupt close,
+and Radcliffe—well, he will probably do the last
+thing that we expect he <i>will</i> do.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p>
+
+<p>This was the first and only time that the
+inhabitants of Venus were discussed on the romantic
+side; all agreeing that it would be best to postpone
+the question till they got there.</p>
+
+<p>But a tremendous excitement, and an acute
+danger, was at hand, which stopped all talk on any
+subject for a good while. When they were about
+eight millions of miles from the earth—about a third
+part of their journey, the engineer sighted with his
+telescope a large comet with a small nucleus, with a
+fiery train of meteorites spread out in sparkling
+streams, fan-shaped, and radiating in various directions.
+The object was but small, and at first it was
+not easy to trace the exact course which it was taking.
+The Professor thought it would pass some twenty
+thousand miles from them, and that they would be in
+no way affected by it. But as the hours went on the
+situation grew exceedingly grave, for it became
+evident that the cometary train might nearly, if not
+actually, cross their path. Moreover, the mass of
+burning meteors constantly grew in apparent size,
+and presented a fiery barrier actually looming before
+them.</p>
+
+<p>All the party were on the alert, and both the
+Professor and the engineer went to the conning-tower
+and took a united part in the steering.</p>
+
+<p>“Are we going to be set on fire, or what is to
+happen?” said Abercromby in a serious tone. “We
+seem to be heading straight for a volcanic eruption.”</p>
+
+<p>“The fire cannot reach us except by direct
+collision,” answered Radcliffe. “What I fear is that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>the meteorites will bombard us and damage the roof
+and sides of the Asteroid.”</p>
+
+<p>A little later and the danger approached still
+nearer. It was a veritable meteoric storm into which
+they seemed rushing with blind speed. The burning
+meteors did not, of course, in the void of space burn
+steadily, but only kindled when they came into
+collision with each other. Then outbursts of many
+coloured fires lighted up the gulf of space, some
+burning for a few minutes, others dying out in a heap
+of calcined ashes which almost immediately became
+invisible. Fortunately, they were able to avoid the
+full brunt of the storm, the nucleus of the comet
+passing at a considerable distance ahead of them,
+but they had to endure several nerve-shaking
+concussions.</p>
+
+<p>Once the Asteroid was struck in the prow and a
+small amount of damage done. Once a meteoric
+stone glanced obliquely from the roof, leaping into
+flames as it did so. The Asteroid was coated over
+with a fire-proof asbestos substance, and to this they
+largely owed their safety. Two masses showing up
+dark against the sun’s rays bore down upon them,
+but before they could reach them they struck one
+another and two dark bodies formed instantly one
+blazing mass; this resolved itself into a fiery
+mist which rotated rapidly upon its new-formed
+axis.</p>
+
+<p>All this while the Professor and the engineer stuck
+to their posts with white set faces, for they well
+knew the awfulness of the peril. When it was over,
+and the heavens had resumed their wonted tranquillity,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>they left the conning-tower and joined the others
+upon the upper deck.</p>
+
+<p>“We have been almost wrecked,” said Carysfort.
+“Every moment I thought we were going to be
+smashed up. I repeated two little prayers my
+mother taught me, keeping my hand on the
+machinery all the time.”</p>
+
+<p>“That is just the right combination,” said Radcliffe.
+“Work as if all depended upon yourself; pray as if
+all depended upon Another.”</p>
+
+<p>“You saw a world created, I suppose,” said
+Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>“What in the name of all that is astounding do
+you mean?” said Abercromby, staring at him.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, my friend, when those two meteors collided
+and formed one fiery mass, that is how the thing is
+done,” answered the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe then said: “You know these matters
+better than I do, gentlemen, but have we not seen a
+way in which science, which tells us that the sun will
+die and the earth be a cold corpse, may be right
+in the abstract but wrong in fact. Suppose a much
+larger mass of meteors falls into the sun, might he
+not renew his youth and the other planets theirs?”</p>
+
+<p>“When the Arab vows perpetual fidelity to his
+ladylove in the Eastern song he swears to be true</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Till the stars grow old,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Till the sun grows cold,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Till the leaves of the Judgment book unfold.”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The remark was Abercromby’s, who thought it
+more cheerful to sing it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe, ignoring the poetic interpolation, went on:
+“Is it not feasible that the world may be ended
+some day by a sudden accession to the sun’s heat
+through collision of the sun with an extinct star, or
+the invasion of the solar system by a fire mist, and
+that afterwards may come a new order of things?”</p>
+
+<p>“‘Death is the gate of life,’ so the proverb runs,”
+put in the engineer.</p>
+
+<p>“I do not dispute the possibility of these and
+similar theories proving true,” said Carmichael
+slowly. “That human affairs may be wound up by
+a blow from outer space is a proposition to which
+any thinking man will agree; but don’t be in a hurry
+to try to make science square with the Bible—watch,
+wait, gather facts, and patiently build up your
+conclusions about them. Solomon and the Roman
+Pliny, the Eastern king and the classical gentleman,
+had one great merit, they <i>observed</i>. Parsons and
+scientists are always apt to rush to conclusions, one
+pretty nearly as much as the other. The theories of
+to-day may be the laughing-stock of to-morrow, but
+the patient labour of to-day may be the heritage of
+to-morrow. I have now preached two lay sermons,
+Radcliffe, one to you, the other to myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then, Professor, you must be feeling pretty well
+used up,” said Abercromby. “Suppose we have a cup
+of tea. Wellington is not in it, for he never fought a
+comet in mid-skies and preached twice afterwards.”</p>
+
+<p>Tom, with a grin upon his honest face, put the
+tea-things on the table and announced with immaculate
+gravity, “Tea is ready, gentlemen.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">
+    CHAPTER VI
+    <br>
+    INTO THE BLACK GULF
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The peril from the solar attraction did not prove
+as great as they had feared. Carmichael had
+chosen the most favourable moment for leaving the
+earth, when Venus would be travelling directly
+towards them, and would interpose as a shield
+between them and the sun.</p>
+
+<p>Before the new orbit was reached they slackened
+their speed, and that things were going well was
+soon evident by the planet appearing beneath them
+as a gradually brightening star in the depths of
+space. Many anxious hours and many elaborate
+mathematical calculations had to be spent and taken
+before the Professor and the engineer felt able to
+communicate reassuring news. Not till they had
+got within five millions of miles from Venus did they
+feel that the solar peril might be regarded as over.</p>
+
+<p>All the members of the party, except Carmichael,
+seemed to enjoy a rebound of confidence and hope,
+but the Professor remained anxious and abstracted.
+He told them repeatedly that the peril they had
+feared was past, and that they might reach Venus
+in safety—at least with no greater danger than the
+earth if they were returning to it—but this did not
+enlighten them as to the real cause of his concern.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>If they asked him more closely he returned only
+evasive answers.</p>
+
+<p>One day he called the engineer aside and they had
+a long private talk. It lasted more than an hour.
+At length the two came out of the cabin and went
+back to the dining-room, where Abercromby was
+trying to solve a chess problem.</p>
+
+<p>“Is anything gone queer?” he said to the Professor.
+“Tell us; we can stand it. Is the machine
+giving out, or what is the trouble?”</p>
+
+<p>“If you want to find a wife in Venus, and Radcliffe
+a mission, I fear you will both be disappointed.
+For myself, I am too disgusted and sick at heart to go
+into the matter. We have run the most awful risks,
+and for what? to be rewarded at the last with polar
+ice and worse than tropical furnaces. In all probability
+there are no inhabitants of Venus—at least
+none that are human.”</p>
+
+<p>“But, my dear and respected Professor, how have
+you found out these agreeable facts at five millions
+of miles distance?” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael did not answer. Radcliffe fixed an
+appealing look at Carysfort, who at once took up the
+subject.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, gentlemen, I suppose it is about time we
+told you. I always feared it might be so, but we
+hoped it would not be. Now our fears are convictions.”</p>
+
+<p>“And our hopes have taken a run round the stars
+to keep themselves warm,” said Abercromby. “Now
+I will not talk nonsense again till you have said
+your say.”</p>
+
+<p>“The truth is that those astronomers are right who
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>thought that Venus revolved round the sun with such
+an inclination of its axis that the sun was always in
+the same place, according to latitude; that there were
+practically no seasons or alternations of day and
+night, but that while one side of the planet was
+always lighted, the other was always dark. Now
+you can judge what that means in the long run.
+Half the planet is locked in perpetual ice-bound
+cold, worse than any of our Arctic winters, while the
+other has a sun always pouring down light and heat
+upon it, twice as much as the earth receives and that
+every day and all day long.”</p>
+
+<p>“But surely, even then it must make an enormous
+difference what height the sun occupies in the sky?”
+said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“That is the only hope,” replied Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, then, let us steer for the North Pole of the
+planet and alight near to the boundary between sunshine
+and shadow. At least we know that there is
+an atmosphere.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, and a very dense one as regards depth;
+perhaps five hundred miles or more,” said the Professor,
+at length breaking his silence. “But although
+we shall certainly do what Radcliffe suggests, for
+it is the only possible course to take, I can hold out
+little hope of any result. The chief danger to be
+dreaded is storm and tempest, electrical and cyclonic
+disturbances caused by the meeting of opposing
+currents of heated and cold air. If we can surmount
+this, we can make our way cautiously over the lighted
+surface until the heat shall drive us back.”</p>
+
+<p>“There is another very serious trouble,” said the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>engineer. “We had hoped that, as we drew near to
+Venus, we should be able to take careful observations
+of its features as we did in the case of the moon, and
+could have carried much further had it been necessary;
+but, as we shall approach Venus on its darkened
+side, we shall see practically nothing till we get there.
+A pleasant landing that will be.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is obvious that we ought not to, and must not,
+alight upon the planet without seeing where we are,”
+said Carmichael. “When we reach the atmosphere
+we must throw out the searchlights, but this will be
+a dangerous operation.”</p>
+
+<p>“It will set all the dogs barking, you mean,” remarked
+Abercromby. “But seriously, Professor, do
+you think it is all up with us?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not as to our safety perhaps, but as to the
+success of our enterprise. What good will it be to
+reach a world of fire and desolation?”</p>
+
+<p>Before Venus actually crossed the path of the sun
+they did their best to take whatever observations
+were possible. But vast belts of clouds hid the
+lighted surface, screening its actual wonders from
+their view.</p>
+
+<p>“We have verified Herschel’s opinion that Venus
+has an extremely dense atmosphere,” said Radcliffe.
+“I wonder whether we shall presently verify Schroeter’s
+that its mountains are twenty miles in height.”</p>
+
+<p>“My dear Radcliffe, Herschel is quite antiquated;
+and as for the other Johnnie you referred to, he
+is nearly as ancient as Julius Cæsar,” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“But there is this to be noted,” remarked the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>engineer, “that the foreign astronomers of a past day
+could often use their telescopes in a brilliant sky,
+like Italy, for instance, whereas in England the most
+perfect and up-to-date instruments are apt to be put
+out of use by constant bad weather. Give me an
+old-fashioned telescope and I will make something of
+it if there be only a clear sky. Moreover, I think in
+the olden days men turned more attention to the
+physical side of astronomy than they do now.”</p>
+
+<p>“As to the supposed stupendous mountains in
+Venus, we shall soon find out all about it if we are
+not knocked to pieces,” said the Professor; “but I will
+point out that the highest earthly mountains are
+really ten miles high, because they ought to be
+measured, not as we see them, but from the ocean
+bed itself. As to Venus, astronomers have noticed
+certain slight roughnesses on the edge of the crescent,
+when it appears to us crescent in shape, and
+these may indicate the tops of mountains caught by
+the sun’s rays.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a great nuisance that Venus is not on the
+outer side of the earth instead of on the sunward,” said
+Carysfort. “As the matter stands, when she is
+furthest off she appears as a full moon, when she
+is nearest she is only a crescent. Add to this, that
+she recedes but a short distance from the sun, and
+is therefore only a morning and evening star.”</p>
+
+<p>So they chatted on while the gulf which separated
+them from their goal grew less and less. When they
+retired to rest they were only three millions of miles
+away.</p>
+
+<p>Meeting at the breakfast-table next morning, the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>Professor was asked when he thought the journey
+would be over.</p>
+
+<p>His answer was in about sixty hours; he was
+gradually reducing the inherent speed, and when the
+time drew near for the actual descent he would pull
+against it by increasing the repulsive force of the
+engines.</p>
+
+<p>Their supply of air, which had been manufactured
+by chemical process, had worked perfectly, the inner
+temperature of the Asteroid being always at a
+moderate level.</p>
+
+<p>As the hours advanced they all noticed a dimness
+spreading over the heavens; this was caused by the
+disk of Venus gradually encroaching upon that of
+the sun. The diminution of the solar light was at
+first not unpleasing, but when at last it faded out
+altogether and an intense darkness supervened, relieved
+only by the stars, the travellers knew by
+instinct that they were nearing their last and their
+greatest peril. By lunch-time the size of Venus
+had become very enlarged, but, unhappily, they could
+see no feature nor landscape, they could only tell
+where the planet was by the increasing eclipse of the
+stars upon the floor of the heavens.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby wanted them to cut this short, for it
+was getting on his nerves.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly, and more slowly still, they felt their way
+down and down into the black gulf.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor and the engineer never left their
+posts, but only took hurried mouthfuls of refreshment
+which Jackson brought to them. Poor Jackson was
+shivering with alarm, which he tried to conceal under
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>a fussy attention to his duties. Even his polishing
+and scrubbing failed to soothe him.</p>
+
+<p>Frank Abercromby was in a perpetual fidget, now
+and then asking what the dickens was going to
+happen, and sometimes making use of unclassical
+language. Radcliffe stood beside the windows silent,
+but his face was deadly pale.</p>
+
+<p>When the black globe beneath them covered the
+whole depth of the sky, Carmichael began to set in
+motion the repelling power.</p>
+
+<p>It was a terribly anxious crisis, for if he used it too
+much he might be actually retreating from his destination,
+if too little, they might be dashed to pieces.</p>
+
+<p>“You had better go down on your knees, Radcliffe,”
+said Carmichael, “and do for us what is more
+becoming in you perhaps than in me.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe prayed earnestly and simply that at this
+awful moment help might be given them, that if they
+had been presumptuous it was for the good of their
+fellow-men, not for their own advancement.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly as he rose from his knees Abercromby
+shouted, almost crazy with excitement, “Come here,
+all of you. What is this going on down yonder?”</p>
+
+<p>A dull red illumination appeared, of no great size,
+but they could not tell how vast it might be in reality.</p>
+
+<p>“It is a volcano, glowing in the atmosphere of
+Venus, near to the Pole,” said Carmichael. “Now we
+know to what point to steer.”</p>
+
+<p>Not long after, though minutes seemed ages, a slight
+rise of temperature became noticeable.</p>
+
+<p>“We are in the atmosphere,” said Carysfort.
+“Start the fans.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p>
+
+<p>“They can be set going from within,” exclaimed
+Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>The levers were turned and the fan wheels were
+seen to revolve, though very feebly. Half the peril
+was over, as far as the descent was concerned, for they
+had now the means of using their machine as an airship.
+They steered in a diagonal line towards the
+burning mountain, and, keeping exactly at the same
+height, they made use of the summit to guide them
+as to their level of altitude. A few moments more
+and a line of brilliant light appeared on the horizon.
+They were on the North Pole of Venus, four miles
+from its surface.</p>
+
+<p>In front spread an apparently boundless ocean,
+encumbered with blocks of bluish and purple-white
+ice, which of course tended every mile southwards to
+become smaller and smaller, while, to the north, they
+were crystallised into vast masses thrown up into the
+most weird and fantastic shapes. The great sun of
+Venus, twice as large as the terrestrial sun, flamed in
+rosy splendour upon the southern horizon. The sea
+was restless and agitated and a keen wind was
+blowing. The sky was laden with fleecy clouds of
+wild and stormy appearance. They were at a vast
+height, higher even than the Asteroid.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, gentlemen,” said the Professor, “we have
+faced the greatest hazard ever dared by man, and we
+look upon what the mortal eyes of humanity have
+never seen. Now let us take courage and face the
+problems of the future, resolved that, come what may,
+we will do our duty.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">
+    CHAPTER VII
+    <br>
+    THE NORTHERN ISLAND
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Carmichael lowered somewhat the height
+of the Asteroid in a gradual diagonal, till they
+were only at a moderate altitude, so as to be able
+to observe anything of interest at reasonably close
+quarters. The first thing to be done was to ascertain
+whether the air of Venus was suited to human beings
+from another world.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, the stormy commotion had its seat in
+the higher regions of the atmosphere, at least on that
+occasion, so that finding more reposeful conditions
+nearer to the surface, the Professor advised that the
+experiment should be tried.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe stepped forward to one of the large
+windows and was about to unfasten when Carysfort
+shouted out, “Hold, man! are you mad? Do you
+suppose that we want a whole blizzard of untried air
+let loose upon us? Allow Carmichael to manage this
+business.”</p>
+
+<p>Poor Radcliffe stepped back aghast, while Abercromby
+laughed. The Professor, with a smile, moved
+to one of the side walls and took down a case of
+books, which revealed a small round panel about as
+large as a crown piece. He motioned them to stand
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>clear, and then he touched a spring and the panel
+flew open.</p>
+
+<p>“Bravo!” said Frank; “you have foreseen every
+blessed contrivance that we shall want.”</p>
+
+<p>“I only hope I have,” said he. “Now, you fellows,
+just take a sniff and see how you like it.”</p>
+
+<p>A thin, crisp current of air, slightly perfumed and
+perfectly delicious, penetrated slowly through the
+room. The panel was left open for ten minutes, till
+the Professor, quite reassured, told them that they
+might enjoy an even larger dose than Radcliffe would
+have given them—they could venture out upon the
+balcony. With a hop and a skip Abercromby was
+in the open air within a few seconds, though he used
+most unparliamentary language, for the first thing he
+nearly did in Venus was to lose his hat, he only just
+contrived to catch it in time, or, as he said, it would
+have been the first gift that the earth would have
+bestowed upon a new planet.</p>
+
+<p>“The waves are not much higher than our own
+waves, though they seem to show a great swell and
+current,” said the engineer.</p>
+
+<p>“The reason is,” replied the Professor, “that Venus
+having no moon, and the sun’s attraction making up
+for it, the tides here will be somewhat like the terrestrial.”</p>
+
+<p>For two hours they sped on to the south, the sun
+slowly rising in the sky but the heat not increasing
+to any great or serious extent. The ice-packs had
+of course disappeared, but the wide open sea stretched
+before them with its fresh and turbulent waves. At
+the end of the two hours a great and startling
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>discovery set all their hearts wildly beating with hope.
+On the southern horizon appeared a line of high
+cliffs rising straight out of the water, whether they
+betokened island or continent they could not tell.</p>
+
+<p>As the Asteroid drew nearer—for they increased
+their rate of speed—they saw with some regret that
+the cliffs presented no possibility of anchorage or
+landing-place. Not that this mattered to them, for
+an airship was quite free and independent of any
+naval convenience, but it made it most improbable
+that they would find an inhabited country.</p>
+
+<p>Directly they had soared above the cliffs a cry
+of delight escaped them: they were in a crater-like
+land. A lake shone in the centre, while the country,
+thickly wooded in places and interspread with
+luxuriant meadow, sloped upwards to a chain of
+hills about twenty miles away to the south. Westwards
+they could trace the curving line of the elevated
+coast, but eastwards it was not so easy to tell how far
+the land extended.</p>
+
+<p>“Thank God! At last! at last!” exclaimed Radcliffe
+fervently. “We will be content with what we
+have.”</p>
+
+<p>“The best attitude in which to look for more,”
+said the Professor quietly. “There are no traces of
+human beings, civilised or savage, but the locality
+will suit perfectly for a few days of rest and quiet
+explorations.”</p>
+
+<p>“Could we only know there <i>was</i> a city on Venus,”
+remarked Carysfort, “I should scarcely like to drop
+down upon it the very first moment. Better to get
+acclimatised.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p>
+
+<p>The Asteroid was steered to the south side of the
+lake, which was long and narrow. The Professor
+prudently selected a little hilltop looking down upon
+the lake, but sprinkled with trees and carpeted with
+rich, soft, mossy grass. Upon this the Asteroid
+carefully descended. It only required the grappling
+irons to be fixed in the ground and a lashing of ropes
+to the stems of two adjacent trees, and then a reasonably
+secure site would have been gained. It was
+rather a twilight land, for the sun was hidden behind
+the hills, but this was a relief and not a disadvantage.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing they did was to sit down to a quiet
+meal, which they partook of in the machine, for
+Carmichael would not hear of any out-of-door picnic.
+He insisted that no excursion should be taken till
+they had had some hours of sleep, and they were all
+nearly exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor and Jackson stepped down and
+attended to the safe securing of the machine, and
+then they had, in turns, the longest repose they had
+ever enjoyed since leaving their own world.</p>
+
+<p>When they met the next morning and were breakfasting,
+the first thing Abercromby wanted to hear
+was the programme for the day.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, gentlemen,” said the Professor, “I will just
+say one word on a certain subject, and then leave
+it to your good sense and hold my peace. God—for
+I believe in God—has brought us here after a frightful
+voyage across space, and perils both at either end,
+and occasionally in the midst, enough to have sent
+weaker men stark mad. Don’t let us, by any rashness
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>or indiscretion, throw away all our advantages
+and perhaps our lives. They belong to the human
+race, not to ourselves. We want to live to return
+and to tell what we have seen. The peril of the air
+is past, but danger lurks in the fruits and flowers,
+in the water, in the soil, and also among the people,
+if there are any. Columbus was in no such danger
+ever, for, though all around him was new and strange,
+he was still on his own planet. Touch no food
+till some little time has passed, but live on our own
+earthly supplies, which will last us several months
+at the least. Taste no water till I have chemically
+analysed it. Do not indulge in dangerous climbing.
+Do not straggle away from the machine—at least,
+alone—and always carry your revolvers with you, so
+that you can use them as signals if you need them,
+not for defence. I should not say half as much as
+this were we in the wildest part of Central Africa.
+But here, in Venus, we are just like new-born children
+with all our experience to make as we go along, and
+all the learning of earth cannot directly help us,
+except in guiding our common sense. Now I have
+said my say. I am pleading for my brothers on the
+earth, for whom we have done and risked all this.”</p>
+
+<p>“I agree with everything you say,” replied Carysfort,
+“and will practise it. I suppose Cromwell would
+tell us, were he alive, to trust in God and keep our
+eyes open, which will be more important here than
+keeping our powder dry.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will go about in a bath-chair if it is to benefit
+<ins id='cor_052' title='Original: umanity'>humanity</ins>,” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Very well,” said the Professor, just a tiny bit
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>cross; “I take that remark to mean that you won’t be
+a donkey. Now let us change the subject.”</p>
+
+<p>They discussed at a considerable length what they
+should first set about. It was decided that two should
+be left behind on guard, and that a rocket should be
+sent up in the event of danger requiring the others
+to return. The travellers should be absent not
+more than three hours, they should walk to the
+western end of the lake and strike the cliffs at the
+angle of the shore so as to gain some idea of the
+coast-line away to the southern hills. In the rare
+event of some terrible danger overtaking them, the
+Asteroid should be brought to them, to scatter
+enemies, or to rescue from peril. The Professor
+would fire off a signal rocket himself. Their guns
+were not, on this occasion, to be used as signals, as
+they might want them for other purposes. Carysfort
+and Jackson consented to remain behind, and gave
+their word not to move out of sight of the machine,
+while one of them was always to be within it.</p>
+
+<p>Then the ladder was let down and the party trod
+the soil of Venus for the first time.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">
+    CHAPTER VIII
+    <br>
+    FIRST EXPLORATIONS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The mossy grass upon which they stepped was
+of a pale pink colour, indescribably beautiful,
+while the leaves of the trees were of various tints,
+though the prevailing colour was a greenish red. Here
+and there were trees purely green in foliage as on the
+earth, but these were rather the exception. Of shrub
+and thicket there was no great profusion, so that even
+in the woods they could have made their way easily;
+but they thought it more prudent to skirt the open
+shores of the lake. Flowers were very scanty, and
+such as there were did not exhibit either variety or
+comeliness; but, as the Professor remarked, they were
+practically in the Arctic circle of Venus and not
+in any tropical region. The whole landscape seemed
+very still, for the fierce wind had either died down
+or was pursuing its course in the upper regions of the
+mighty atmosphere of Venus. The clouds were grand
+beyond description, but they did not threaten any
+outburst of bad weather. The sky was of a paler
+blue than the earthly sky, and the trailing cloud-belts
+soared to a much loftier height. Presently they
+caught sight of several large birds whirling at a vast
+distance above them; they seemed to be of great size
+with wide-extended wings. It was not easy to judge
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>of their colour, but they had bills of formidable
+length; they were soaring away to the plateau of
+heights that bounded the south, and appeared to be
+settling upon them.</p>
+
+<p>“This is the first specimen of life we have seen,
+Professor,” said Radcliffe; “may it prove the herald
+of that which is nobler and better.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not a trace of it at present,” replied Carmichael;
+“not a footprint upon the ground, not a mark upon
+the trees.”</p>
+
+<p>“But I do not see how beings resembling us could
+get here,” answered Radcliffe, “unless this turns out
+to be the northern end of a great continent. There
+is not a place where a ship of any sort or size could
+disembark anybody. What climber, even if he were
+a monkey, could mount those stupendous cliffs?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, now,” said Abercromby, “suppose we have
+a little chat over probabilities. Don’t you think that it
+is possible by scientific inference to reason a little as
+to the people in this planet?”</p>
+
+<p>“How do you propose to start?” said the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“Is it not a great point, to begin with, that the
+gravitation force of Venus is the same as ours?
+On Mars, they tell us, we should be cutting capers
+every time we put a foot to the ground, while on
+Jupiter we should be crushed into the very soil and
+turned into mincemeat.”</p>
+
+<p>“True enough,” said the Professor. “This certainly
+makes it easier for Venus to be inhabited.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then, again, Venus is younger than the earth,
+having been evolved from the sun at a later time.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>May we not argue, then, that we should find its
+civilised races much less advanced than our own?”</p>
+
+<p>“My dear fellow, your argument bristles over with
+guesswork. It is not by any means certain that
+Laplace’s theory about planetary evolution is right,
+but if it be correct it may prove too much, for we
+may have arrived here centuries before human life is
+to begin; and lastly, you cannot argue from one
+world to another as to the rate at which man advances.
+Human progress has always been spiral,
+never in a straight line.”</p>
+
+<p>“There is nothing, so far as I can see, to make life
+impossible even to us,” observed Radcliffe, “much
+less to races born and bred upon the planet.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t be too sure,” said Carmichael. “How would
+you propose to eat if we had no supplies of our own?
+I have not seen a single fruit as yet, whether wholesome
+or the opposite.”</p>
+
+<p>“Look, look, a waterfall!” cried Abercromby,
+and sure enough, a stream came foaming over a
+rocky ledge and poured its waters into the lake.</p>
+
+<p>“Lovely, is it not?” he said to Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes! I suppose so,” answered Radcliffe, gazing
+at it abstractedly.</p>
+
+<p>“Come along, we have seen cascades and falls in
+our own country,” said the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>They climbed a small hill at the head of the waterfall,
+at the summit of which they looked down upon
+a deeper and thicker belt of forest. Just before
+entering it they saw some white bones lying bleaching
+upon the ground; the Professor ran to them and
+picking up one of the largest very carefully examined
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>it. He said it must have belonged to a large animal
+which he should judge to have been comparatively
+harmless, but whether it had died or been torn in
+pieces it was difficult to say.</p>
+
+<p>So much time had now elapsed that it was judged
+advisable not to proceed further, but to return to the
+Asteroid, and then take a longer excursion the next
+time and continue the same line of exploration. The
+homeward journey was uneventful till they had come
+within about half a mile, when they were startled
+by a gunshot which reverberated right across to the
+southern hills.</p>
+
+<p>“Good gracious! what is the matter?” said Abercromby.
+“That must be Carysfort. I always tell him
+his gun goes off even when he is asleep.”</p>
+
+<p>The Professor looked vexed, for he did not want
+any sport in Venus; he was no sportsman himself,
+and he was afraid of attracting dangerous animals.
+However, when they got in sight of the machine
+they found that Jackson was the culprit, for he coolly
+told them he had shot a beast in order to cook him
+for dinner.</p>
+
+<p>“What the dickens did you do it for?” said Abercromby.
+“The Professor has said he will not take any
+food off this blessed world, unless the natives ask him
+in to afternoon tea.”</p>
+
+<p>“Now, sir, don’t be hard; this ’ere is equal to real
+cooked sucking-pig; you would want to eat him to
+the tail if he had one.” All the party laughed
+heartily. The first slaughtered victim on Venus was
+a spindle-shaped animal with short stuck-up ears
+long nose, and fawn-coloured skin.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Well, he is pretty enough, but I shall stick to my
+resolve,” said the Professor. So they supped upon
+terrestrial food after all; but, the next morning,
+Abercromby broke in upon them with the alarming
+intelligence that a savage must have been prowling
+around the machine, for he had come upon the
+dying embers of a fire and the beast had been
+nearly all devoured. It turned out that the devourer
+was Jackson, so he had his first Venusian meat in
+defiance of orders!</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>The next day at breakfast there was a rather keen
+dispute amongst the party as to their future plans.
+Radcliffe and Abercromby wanted to start the
+machine, soar over the mountains, and at once decide
+whether human beings were discoverable or not. But,
+as the engineer had not yet taken a walk in their
+present neighbourhood, the Professor gave the casting
+vote in favour of remaining one more day and finishing
+the exploration of the country. Accordingly the
+engineer, accompanied by Abercromby and Radcliffe,
+set out soon after the meal was finished, while the
+Professor and his servant stayed behind.</p>
+
+<p>It was not till about six o’clock that the travellers
+came back. They had met with no special adventures
+till they had reached some caves about half a
+mile beyond the cascade. There they had been set
+upon by a wild beast of a most ferocious character,
+and, had they not been all close together and well
+armed, they would have come off badly. It took
+several shots from Carysfort’s gun before the animal
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>was killed. It had surprised Abercromby first,
+knocked him down, torn his waistcoat, and had fixed
+its teeth in his shirt, and might have disabled him
+but for the coat and belt which he was wearing and
+for the speedy arrival of the others; with a supreme
+effort Abercromby managed to thrust a knapsack
+into the creature’s jaws, and, before it had been able
+to eject this and grind its way through to his flesh,
+Carysfort had shot it. The animal was something of
+the nature of a wolf, though there were many differences.
+They got back to the Asteroid in a rather
+excited state. Abercromby had spoiled a suit of
+clothes and had lost his knapsack. There were, of
+course, relays of clothing in the hold of the Asteroid,
+for they had taken care to be amply provided with
+all necessary things.</p>
+
+<p>The engineer was naturally the hero of the occasion,
+though he modestly disclaimed all praise.
+Poor Frank had had such a shaking that it was
+decided to spend yet another day quietly and to put
+off the final start until the morrow.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">
+    CHAPTER IX
+    <br>
+    ACROSS THE CENTRAL OCEAN
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Early the next day, after they had breakfasted,
+Abercromby having assured them, with
+unnecessary vehemence, that he was as “fit as a
+fiddle,” they decided to resume the direct exploration
+of the planet. They did not doubt that the result of
+a twelve hours’ voyage in the machine with the high
+rate of speed which they had at their command
+would settle the question whether Venus was inhabited
+or not; Carmichael himself thought so, as
+was natural, for he could not have anticipated the setback
+which awaited them.</p>
+
+<p>At nine o’clock they started. The Asteroid rose
+to a height of several hundred feet, and, in a few
+minutes, it had crossed the fertile valley and had
+begun to mount higher and higher so as to clear the
+southern mountains. These were not of any considerable
+elevation, indeed, from the contour of the
+land their real height was much less than their
+apparent. But when the summit of the ridge had
+been gained both Abercromby and Carysfort broke
+out into a simultaneous volley of unclassical language.</p>
+
+<p>The land came to an abrupt end, and before them
+stretched away a shoreless ocean.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span></p>
+
+<p>To say the party were surprised would be to employ
+too mild a term, they were absolutely thunderstruck.
+They decided, however, to push on. There
+was nothing to be gained by a return to the island.
+They had now explored it sufficiently to be sure
+there were no human inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>“I cannot yet believe that this island is the only
+dry land upon the whole surface of the planet,” said
+Radcliffe. “A world all ocean with only one island
+seems unthinkable.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes! I expect there is more land,” replied the
+Professor, “but we have yet to discover whether it is
+suited to human life. Every mile we travel now is
+leading us on to the hotter regions of Venus, where
+that terrible sun will of necessity climb higher and
+higher into the sky and pour down more and more
+torrid rays. But we must face it.”</p>
+
+<p>On they went at ever-increasing speed, for, over the
+level surface of the sea, there was no need to slacken.
+The solitude was appalling, not a sail anywhere, only
+a few flying-fishes, and, far up in the air, near to the
+fleecy belts of clouds, whirling flights of birds too
+remote to be properly studied. And still the sun
+rose higher and higher, till he would soon be overhead,
+yet the heat did not increase to any degree
+that might have been expected. But the clouds
+increased till they formed a dazzling silvery canopy
+moderating rather than concealing the light of the
+sun; moreover, as Carysfort pointed out, they were
+cutting the air at such tremendous speed that the
+exhilarating contact with the atmosphere would of
+itself render the increase of temperature bearable.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p>
+
+<p>Several hours passed away amid strained attention
+and snatches of talk.</p>
+
+<p>“Surely, Professor,” said Abercromby, “when we
+got our peep at the lighted side of Venus we caught
+a glimpse of a large southern continent, and also of
+a whitish-looking point at the southern pole.”</p>
+
+<p>“Our glimpse was more tantalising than instructive,”
+he answered, “and my mind was so taken
+up with the perils of the steering that I did not use
+my telescope as frequently as I ought.”</p>
+
+<p>“I read in a book which I brought with me,” said
+Radcliffe, “that the southern horn of the crescent,
+that is, the south pole of Venus, is constantly to be
+seen blunted, as though some lofty mountain existed
+there which caught the solar rays, and it has been
+said that this may be even twenty-seven earth miles
+in height.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know to what you allude,” replied Carmichael.
+“As far back as 1643 irregularities on the planet’s
+surface (when it appeared as a crescent) were noted
+by Fontana at Naples. Since then astronomers of
+several European countries have seen the same
+thing. Van Ertborn, a Belgian, in 1876, saw more
+than once a point of light in the neighbourhood of
+the southern pole, which he thought to be the sunshine
+striking a high peak, while the valleys around
+lay in shadow.”</p>
+
+<p>“As to the enormous height ascribed to the mountain,”
+observed Carysfort, “there is no doubt some
+error and perhaps a gross exaggeration, but, if there
+be any corresponding reality at all, we may look out
+for something inexpressibly grand when we approach
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>the southern pole. I see here an advantage and a
+drawback: it will be the means of enabling us to behold
+our own earth, which, of course, is perpetually
+hidden from the inner side of the planet; but on the
+other hand, who but some Robinson Crusoe, monarch
+of all he surveys, could live on the top of a mountain
+of such proportions? I fear this weighs heavily
+in the scale against our finding human beings.”</p>
+
+<p>“I never realised I was an ungrateful beggar till
+this moment,” said Abercromby, “but I have positively
+forgotten that such a planet as the earth exists.
+I wonder I did so, as my generous uncle is upon its
+surface now, thinking me out in Australia, or else
+gone to the dogs; anyway, he is blessing his stars
+that he got rid of me with so little fuss. You
+managed it admirably, Professor. No luckless wastrel
+ever dropped out more neatly than I did; I might
+have cheated even the police.”</p>
+
+<p>“We all got off with very little trouble,” said
+Carysfort. “Had we been Frenchmen or Germans it
+would have been harder, but England permits any of
+her sons to vanish quietly, except Tommy Atkins of
+course, and <i>him</i> she usually allows to starve.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, well, we are in Venus now and we need not
+bother over our poor stupid world,” said Abercromby;
+“besides, we are going back to enlighten it, you know.”</p>
+
+<p>“Land ahead, and not an island this time,” cried
+Radcliffe; and, behold, a vast range of lofty mountains
+could be discerned, about fifty miles away,
+showing clearly against a bank of clouds.</p>
+
+<p>“Well done, old chap,” replied Abercromby. “While
+we were rating the old world, you, like George
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>Canning, have called into existence a new world to
+redress its balance.”</p>
+
+<p>“And what are we going to find upon yonder
+continent when we get there?” asked the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“Women and men, angels and devils,” replied Frank
+in an elevated tone. “Which are which you, Radcliffe,
+shall decide. I’m going below to fetch a new telescope.
+That beast I had to fight has, I believe,
+swallowed my old one. I forgot that when Carysfort
+slew him I might have recovered the instrument, but
+it would take time to go back across the equator and
+fetch it.”</p>
+
+<p>The speed of the Asteroid had again to be greatly
+reduced, and a long interval elapsed ere they reached
+the summits of the mountains, which formed the
+outer edge of a vast and dreary plateau destitute
+of every species of life, animal or vegetable.</p>
+
+<p>As there was no need for them to make a home
+upon these bleak uplands, they held on upon their
+southern track. For many miles they saw this
+desert region beneath them, with its sombre-hued
+pinnacles and rock masses and its dull red areas
+of comparatively level ground. But at last their
+perseverance was to be rewarded. Gradually the
+nature of the soil changed from utter barrenness
+to richness, though for a long while the richness was
+but comparative rather than absolute. Trees began
+to appear, at first singly, then in groups, and finally
+in dense masses of brilliantly tinted woodland; the
+ground sloped downwards, though by no such abrupt
+transition as had been the case in the northern
+island. Presently the country began to open out,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>and, by degrees, one of the grandest landscapes upon
+which mortal eyes had ever looked became unveiled
+to view—a fertile and fruitful continent with majestic
+streams and smaller lakes, grand waterfalls and undulating
+hills. One thing alone was wanting—the
+presence of humanity. Another and a still higher
+mountain-chain with serrated peaks rose to the south,
+but it must have been at least two hundred miles
+distant. Beyond them, at all events, the final problem
+lay, for the whole contour of the landscape
+negatived the idea that mountains of such elevation
+could be instantly succeeded by the ocean without
+any intervening belt of land.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you think of it, Professor?” said the
+engineer.</p>
+
+<p>“It is just the northern island over again, except
+on a grander scale,” replied Carmichael. “I begin to
+realise that our stay in Venus will be very short.
+When we have once reached the pole and proved
+whether the high polar mountain is a myth or a
+reality the game will be up.”</p>
+
+<p>“But surely,” interposed Radcliffe, “the question
+cannot be settled by travelling in a straight line
+north to south. Ought we not to go <i>round</i> the
+lighted side of the planet as well as going <i>down</i> it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly we ought,” answered Carmichael, “if this
+were only a vessel or an airship; but with our resources
+at command it will be much easier, and also
+safer, to rise to such a height as will embrace the
+whole hemisphere, and then, when it lies as a model
+map beneath us, to find out whether there is any
+further land, and drop down straight towards it.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Pity, perhaps, we did not do this at the first,”
+said Abercromby. “We should then have saved
+ourselves a few disappointments at least.”</p>
+
+<p>“No,” answered the Professor. “I will put up
+with the disappointments. It was very desirable to
+come to close quarters with the soil and the products
+of Venus.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, here seems a suitable spot for an anchorage,”
+said Carysfort, pointing to a sequestered glade near
+the banks of a large river; “suppose we fix upon
+it and settle ourselves.”</p>
+
+<p>The Asteroid glided down till it rested upon a
+grassy mound at an elevation of about thirty feet
+above the river bank. The usual precautions to
+ensure the safety of the machine were then taken,
+and while Jackson prepared the tea, the rest stood
+watching the rapid current as it sped past them in
+a south-westerly direction.</p>
+
+<p>They were so dead-tired that tea and supper were
+blended into one, and then Abercromby having
+undertaken to mount guard, the others gladly succumbed
+to their drowsiness and fell asleep.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">
+    CHAPTER X
+    <br>
+    WHEN THE RAIN MIST LIFTED
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The Professor had just rubbed his eyes in the
+first moments of waking consciousness, when he
+heard a yell resound through the machine, but of an
+unmistakably earthly type. The next moment he had
+sprung to his feet, thrust on an overcoat, and was up
+the stairs into the dining-room. Carysfort and the
+others had emerged with equal speed; Jackson,
+indeed, with more zeal than conventionality, appeared
+in his night-shirt.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby was standing, ghastly pale, his hair
+erect, every muscle and limb shaking, and pointing
+to the window. A huge, man-like creature, with
+reeking jaws, porcupine-like bristles, and one enormous
+eye in the middle of his forehead, had clambered
+up the stairway and was tearing at the smooth
+surface of the glass with claw-like hands. With a
+cry of horror Carysfort rushed to fetch his gun, but,
+finding the way to the stair-ladder barred, he stopped
+and hesitated. As if to make matters worse, two
+other creatures, equally hideous and furious, flung out
+their arms and sought to clasp the Asteroid in their
+foul clutches. Carmichael at once made for the
+conning-tower and started the machine in an upward
+flight. The irons tore and creaked, but of course
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>gave way after a minute, while the Asteroid rose
+over the tree tops, a hundred feet from the
+ground. With a hideous yell the gorilla creatures
+let go and were hurled downwards, not to the ground
+but into the waters of the river. They evidently
+had no idea of swimming, for, after a brief struggle,
+they were swept away by the current.</p>
+
+<p>“A pretty appetiser we have had for breakfast,”
+grumbled Frank Abercromby. “Darwin’s missing
+link was not in it.”</p>
+
+<p>“How on earth did the monsters first appear?”
+asked Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“My friend, you must say in future ‘How on
+Venus,’” replied Abercromby. “Well, I had better
+cry ‘peccavi,’ as the Indian governor did when he
+wrote ‘I have Scinde.’ I was just going to fall
+asleep at my post, when that strange and most attractive
+Johnnie came and looked reproachfully at
+me. But I wonder I did not go stark staring mad
+on the spot.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where are we to venture the machine now?”
+asked Radcliffe, who looked very white though he
+had said nothing.</p>
+
+<p>“We will keep this side of the river at all events,”
+said the Professor. They chose another less restricted
+camping-place, the anchors were made fast,
+and the party alighted to be quite certain the coast
+was clear. Radcliffe declared that he heard certain
+gobblings and chucklings emanating from the
+thickets hard by, and the others, after attentively
+listening, believed he was right. They resolved,
+therefore, to make but a very short stay, in fact,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>only just sufficient to take their meal. Even Abercromby
+disclaimed the thought of an out-of-door
+picnic, and therefore they had breakfast in the
+dining-room and drew in the stair-ladder as a precaution.</p>
+
+<p>“What concerns me is the thought that those
+creatures are the real inhabitants of Venus,” remarked
+Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“God forbid!” said Radcliffe fervently. “I cannot
+and will not think so until I am obliged.”</p>
+
+<p>“If <i>that</i> is evolution illustrated,” remarked Abercromby,
+“it would have made Darwin himself orthodox.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am by no means disposed to reject evolution,”
+replied Radcliffe, “because the Creator could work in
+and through evolution, even if man be descended
+from a protoplasm as well as from a monkey. All I
+ask for is that God’s hand should guide the process
+all through the countless ages. Not that I consider
+Darwin’s theory proved. I only say that if it ever
+comes to be, it would not shake my faith.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t be too liberal and concessive, my dear
+fellow,” said the Professor, “though the advice may
+sound queer as coming from me. Evolution is <i>a</i>
+theory, not <i>the</i> theory. To make it account for all
+the facts of creation is to take up one of those short
+and easy cuts which are as great a nuisance to true
+science as to anything else. I regard evolution as
+one of the helpful working forces of the universe.
+I believe that the original types of animal life were
+fewer than the existing types. But when I have said
+that, I no more believe that all life came from a jelly-fish
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>than I believe that every species was distinctly
+and separately created. People always think that
+nature is uniform in its ways, while we shall have
+to learn that it is not. As to the inhabitants of
+Venus being represented by those creatures, my mind
+turns sick at the very thought. However, we must
+face facts, but we will not rush at facts.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I did not rush at the monster, I waited for
+fresh light on the situation, and you brought it me,
+Professor,” said Abercromby. “I should never be
+eating this breakfast had I taken a short and easy
+road to knowledge by going out and shaking hands
+with him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I think we will start,” said the Professor,
+“when you have done eating, Abercromby.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; we will have a good day’s aerial exploration
+to blow the nightmare off,” remarked the
+engineer.</p>
+
+<p>They travelled at least a hundred miles over the
+fair and diversified land before they had accomplished
+more than half the distance to the southern
+mountains. Once Radcliffe declared that there were
+some houses perched upon an eminence to the west,
+but a careful survey proved that they were only
+high rocks of white colour shining in the sun’s rays
+above the forest land. As some doubt was still felt,
+they shaped their course towards them, for it did not
+take them many miles out of their way.</p>
+
+<p>It proved to be a tableland of grey-white rocks,
+several hundred feet above the plain. Here the
+Asteroid alighted and it was resolved to rest for the
+night, for the place appeared fairly inaccessible to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>wild beasts, and if any such were to appear, they
+could be easily seen before they touched the Asteroid.
+But there were no traces of wild beasts, though some
+richly plumed birds made the air melodious with their
+song for a few minutes. Jackson was preparing the
+supper, and all except Radcliffe were within. Radcliffe
+was out on the plateau, wrapped in his thoughts,
+as Abercromby told them, as well as in his greatcoat.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I wish the dear fellow would not express
+them in that everlasting tune,” said the engineer;
+“he has been well on for a quarter of an hour, and it
+rather gets on my nerves.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is one of the melodies those fiddlers were
+playing at Cullercoats,” remarked the Professor,
+“‘Love launched a fairy boat,’ I believe.”</p>
+
+<p>“The prettiest song I ever heard, that, and ‘All in
+the hush of twilight,’” said Abercromby; “but alas
+and alack! there is no maiden to sing with me,
+though we are in the Love planet itself.”</p>
+
+<p>“No! that is quite true,” replied the Professor
+dryly.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe came in, happily unconscious of the late
+topic of criticism.</p>
+
+<p>They took their places at the supper-table, when
+one of the most startling interruptions that had ever
+yet tried their nerves broke in upon the meal.</p>
+
+<p>Overhead they heard a loud noise followed by
+a wailing cry. It seemed to come from the north,
+to attain to a piercing intensity, and then to die
+away southwards into tremulous silence.</p>
+
+<p>“What the deuce is that?” shouted Abercromby;
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>and, before the others could stop him, he had opened
+the door, and, regardless of the absence of the steps,
+had bounded out upon the plateau. There they saw
+him throwing his arms to and fro, and wildly gesticulating
+to them the other side of the windows. They
+could see he was in no danger, but mad with eagerness
+and excitement.</p>
+
+<p>The whole party sprang to their feet and were by
+his side in two minutes. They looked in the
+direction in which he was wildly pointing, and saw
+a huge greyish thing, with outspread fans, whirling
+away to the mountain heights and then vanishing
+behind them.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor, after a moment’s dead silence, said:
+“This is very serious; let us come within.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why very serious?” asked the engineer, when
+they were again at the supper-table.</p>
+
+<p>“Because it means one of two things, either of
+which will greatly affect us. It is either a huge
+primeval monster, or a flying machine like our own,
+in so far as it is an airship.”</p>
+
+<p>“And why are either of these things so grave after
+all?” said Abercromby. “If that affair yonder were an
+airship, your heart ought to be glad, Professor; if
+a monster, it has the right to be sorry, your heart
+I mean; but why alarmed?”</p>
+
+<p>“If it be a monster, Abercromby, we have come to
+Venus too soon to find intelligent human life. Such
+creatures could hardly co-exist with man in a world
+which, for practical purposes, has but so little accommodation.
+If it be an airship, then we are going to
+meet a race incapable of being either terrified by us,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>or even much astonished by us, who can meet us on
+equal terms, man to man, but may be armed millions
+against armed units. Now you understand what I
+fear, and why I fear it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Take it easy, Professor, we may astonish the
+niggers after all; but I <i>must</i> say I want to see them,
+even if it be only possible for them to astonish <i>me</i>.
+We will sing them a song or two before we die,
+Professor.”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>The night was far from being a restful one under
+such circumstances. Two were placed on guard, to
+relieve each other every three hours. On the next
+day they found it impossible to start, as a thin, penetrating
+rain descended, the first they had experienced
+upon Venus. It continued, without cessation, for
+several hours, while the whole valley lay enwrapped
+in a silvery mist. The Asteroid afforded them a
+secure asylum, but, in their state of eager excitement,
+the time passed very slowly.</p>
+
+<p>At last, soon after they had had their lunch, the mist
+began to disperse and the sun shone out in splendour.
+The air was much fresher and cooler; had they not
+been so naturally impatient to push on, they would
+have taken a walk, at least along the ridge of the
+plateau. But they were in no mood to do this—they
+were hunting for niggers, as Abercromby elegantly
+phrased it, and as nobody else overheard him,
+it did not much matter.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor ordered the start at about 3 p.m. by
+their watches. The Asteroid was set at fairly high
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>speed, and soon reached the slopes of the mountains.
+A few miles to the west they saw a huge gap or defile,
+and towards this they steered. A great wall of
+precipitous rock shelved downwards in the direction
+in which they had come, but, to the south, a pass
+extended of varying breadth, sometimes almost too
+narrow for the whole of them to walk abreast.</p>
+
+<p>The Asteroid was therefore in a rather awkward
+position; they could descend if they liked and make
+the journey on foot, but, in such a place, it seemed too
+hazardous to deprive themselves of the aid of their
+machine. They decided therefore to rise higher, and
+to follow the course of the pass, but at a safe elevation
+above it. In a few minutes the pass ended, they
+came out over a grassy upland height, but, unfortunately,
+the rain mist had now taken up its position
+to the south of them, and though there was evidently
+a grand landscape prospect, it was, for the present,
+completely wiped out.</p>
+
+<p>A clump of lofty trees reared their heads a few
+hundred yards away, and to these they steered, coming
+to an anchorage beneath them. The party gladly
+took shelter in the dining-room, for they began to be
+positively chilly, doubtless owing to the peculiar
+state of the atmosphere, perhaps, even, to their restless
+nerves.</p>
+
+<p>Neither cold nor rain could deter Clarence Radcliffe
+from venturing to the end of the clump of trees
+where the ground sloped suddenly downwards. He
+saw the mist begin to uncoil and lift itself; slowly the
+outlines grew clearer and more distinct. Feature
+after feature of a country, rich in its loveliness,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>disclosed themselves. High hills were interspersed
+with park-like glades; a lake of superb dimensions
+appeared, glittering in the sunshine, into which two
+majestic rivers poured their rapid waters. In the
+midst was a large island, and in the centre rose an
+object that sent the blood tingling through his veins—a
+colossal palace fortress or temple, with four graceful
+pinnacles each glittering with a different hue of
+colour—while beyond the lake was a greater sight still,
+at which, after a glance of fascinated admiration, he
+turned away, his eyes dim with tears. “O that one
+had been here to see it with me, but it was not to
+be. Her eyes behold a landscape with which even
+this cannot compare. If I could but know she was
+looking at me now, I should be more brave to do
+what perhaps lies before me. But I know she would
+wish me to do it, and I <i>will</i>.”</p>
+
+<p>Then he turned and went back to the Asteroid.
+They were all in the dining-room making preparations
+to start for a walk, as the weather was clearing.
+But all stood petrified at the expression on his face.</p>
+
+<p>“Gentlemen,” he said, “I have chanced to see
+what you should all have seen with me. I owe you
+an apology. Come at once.”</p>
+
+<p>They rushed out to the edge of the great precipice
+and stopped, absolutely incapable for the moment
+either of speech or action. The vast plain was
+dotted with houses and palaces, each standing in its
+grove and garden, while up the sides of the two
+southern hills that sloped towards the lake shore
+stretched the outlines of a great city, its domes,
+towers, and pinnacles shining in the light of a sun
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>more splendid than the sun of India, yet tempered
+in its rays by the white-robed circle of the sky.</p>
+
+<p>The object of the expedition was accomplished;
+before them lay the life, the civilisation, and the glory
+of the planet Venus.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">
+    CHAPTER XI
+    <br>
+    THE CITY AND ITS WELCOME
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“My friends,” began Carmichael in an almost
+trembling voice, “there is no need for me to
+tell you that the supreme hour has come at last. All
+that we have dared and anything we may have
+suffered has led up to this, and we may put it behind
+us. Before us now lies the solemn duty of doing the
+right thing for two worlds and so acting that we shall
+not make our return home impossible, for if we do
+we only benefit ourselves. Now the first thing to
+face is the initial peril, the greatest as well as the
+nearest. A glance suffices to show us that force is
+out of the question, and that we cannot play the part
+of demi-gods even if we wished to. How, then, shall
+we best and most wisely disclose ourselves to those
+people, who of course cannot speak a word of any
+language with which we are familiar, whose manners
+are as unknown to us as their weapons, and who
+may even have totally different ideas as to both
+justice and mercy from any terrestrial races.”</p>
+
+<p>“You state a big problem, Professor,” replied
+Carysfort, “but I think it will conduce to simplify it
+if we decide first of all whether we shall boldly
+venture into their midst or approach them in deferential
+guise.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Stick to our good old machine, that is my advice,”
+said Abercromby; “if they have artillery or other
+contrivances to blow us up they can the more easily
+destroy us piecemeal if we take a walking tour and
+present ourselves as solitary wayfarers.”</p>
+
+<p>“That cannot be thought of,” said Carmichael.
+“The choice lies between soaring towards the city in
+the air, or pitching quite near to it and keeping
+close to the Asteroid.”</p>
+
+<p>“A thought occurs to me,” said Radcliffe, “that it
+might not be a bad plan to entrench ourselves where
+we are, but not to leave them to find us out, which
+would be cowardice, but to signal to them and make
+them send a deputation to us. This would force
+them to show whether they meant to be friendly or
+hostile.”</p>
+
+<p>“Excellent, capital!” said Frank Abercromby.
+“But what signals do you propose?”</p>
+
+<p>“The rockets,” answered Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“I think the idea is feasible and also wise,” said
+the Professor thoughtfully. “Its chief merit lies in
+this, that but a small number can come to us in this
+elevated place, whereas if we went to the city we
+should have the whole multitude upon our hands.
+The going to the city or encamping near to it might
+well suggest to them hostilities, whereas our signalling
+to them could not be regarded in such a light.”</p>
+
+<p>The decision having been taken, it only remained
+for them to put it into execution, and this they resolved
+to do at once. Having seen to their arms
+and ammunition, the rocket apparatus was placed in
+readiness, and the first rocket was discharged by
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>the Professor. It rose into the sky with a loud
+explosion, and the fiery train must have been visible
+to every part of the city. A few minutes later a
+second rocket was discharged and after that a third.</p>
+
+<p>“These must suffice,” said he; “we must not waste
+our supply.”</p>
+
+<p>Some little time elapsed during which the party
+closely examined every part of the scene before them
+with the help of their telescopes. They were too far
+off to make out the inhabitants, but they could gain
+clear information as to the houses. The architecture
+was somewhat Oriental in character, though Radcliffe
+thought that it bore a resemblance to the accounts
+given of ancient Mexico and Peru in the histories of
+Prescott. There were broad streets and squares
+with fountains and gardens in the midst; the larger
+houses were of very imposing aspect. There seemed
+no evidence of squalor or poverty anywhere, but of
+affluence and repose. In fact, <i>repose</i> was one of the
+prevailing features.</p>
+
+<p>It was a veritable garden city or pleasure city;
+there was neither hurry nor tumult. They noted
+also an utter absence of fortification or military
+defence. Either the Venusians had no enemies on
+their planet who could molest them, or they had
+concealed weapons and resources that rendered
+visible precautions needless.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly they all noticed a small object rise up
+like a bird upon the wing from the terrace of a huge
+palace on the top of the highest hill. It was evidently
+coming towards them, and that rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>“An airship I declare,” cried Abercromby. “That,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>then, was the object that gave us such a fright the
+other evening.”</p>
+
+<p>The flying vessel came nearer and nearer; it was
+more graceful and ethereal than the Asteroid, though
+the machinery by which it was propelled was much
+the same in character. It had no outer balcony, nor
+did it seem to carry any weapons. It slowed down
+within a few yards of them, and then a click was
+heard, a panelled door flew open, and two beings
+alighted, evidently a man and a woman. They were
+about the same height as average terrestrials; they
+had a pale complexion with a slight yellowish tinge;
+their dress was simple, a flowing classical-like drapery
+with a girdle of crimson. They wore upon their
+heads tiaras of gold, while the woman’s head was
+adorned with a coronet. Each carried in the hand
+a small tube of green-coloured metal.</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael, motioning to the others to stand back,
+while keeping his hand upon his revolver in case of
+need, stepped forward, bowing and smiling, and
+making every demonstration of peace and goodwill.
+The two Venusians did not reciprocate his advances;
+their whole bearing was haughty and aloof.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor spoke a few words, and tried the
+expedient of leading forward each of his companions
+and presenting them.</p>
+
+<p>The strangers conversed rapidly with each other in
+a very musical and harmonious language. The man
+was rather eager and excited, the woman haughty
+and stern. Suddenly she raised the tube in her hand
+and pointed it at the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe sprang forward and interposed to shield
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>him, guessing the deadly intent. At this she lowered
+the weapon and said a few words to her companion.
+He nodded, and she pointed the green metal tube
+not at them but at a tall tree a little to the right; a
+faint flash followed, and suddenly the tree stood
+blasted before them as by a stroke of lightning. A
+cry broke from the party and all drew their revolvers;
+but Radcliffe spoke an earnest word and, taking his
+own weapon, he laid it upon the ground. This was
+understood, and the two Venusians replaced their
+metal tubes in their girdles.</p>
+
+<p>They paused a moment, then they made signs to
+Radcliffe to approach them. The man took the hand
+he stretched out and grasped it; the woman would
+not, but her lips parted into the semblance of a smile
+which at least denoted a relaxing of enmity. Struck
+by a thought, the Professor hurried to fetch a large
+map of the solar system with all the planets and
+their orbits clearly marked. Radcliffe held this out
+to the Venusians, who took it and examined it with
+the greatest interest, making frequent comments one
+to the other.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby, who would have made his fortune on
+the stage, then went through a pantomimic performance
+to describe the purpose of the expedition and
+the course which it had taken. The Venusians looked
+on, till the man grew impatient and the woman more
+and more scornful.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Radcliffe pointed to the map, and described
+with his pencil the journey of the Asteroid
+from the earth to Venus. He took a sheet of white
+paper and drew sketches of Venus as a planet and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>of the Asteroid approaching her. The Venusians
+were now intensely interested, and even pressed him
+by signs to tell them more. He went on for another
+quarter of an hour, till they signified that they had
+heard enough. They did not condescend to take
+further notice of the others, but shook hands with
+him, this time both of them, pointed once and again
+in the direction of their city, stepped into their
+machine, and instantly took to flight, returning in
+the same direction as that in which they had come.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>“A queer business this,” said Abercromby. “You
+were evidently in high esteem, Radcliffe, old man;
+that amiable female meant to put daylight through us,
+as the Americans say, if you had not curried favour.”</p>
+
+<p>“Abercromby, don’t be jealous,” said Carysfort;
+“some other Venusian maid will fall in love with you
+if you have a little patience and do not expect to
+take a whole planet by storm.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not a bit jealous,” said Abercromby, “only
+Radcliffe captivated both the jokers, and did not
+leave us even the man.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, he saved all our lives, except at the expense
+of a deed which would have aroused the whole world
+against us,” replied the Professor. “But we must now
+decide, and quickly, upon what is to be done next.”</p>
+
+<p>“Follow them to the city, as they pointed the way
+to it,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“I think we had better do so,” answered Carmichael;
+“their gestures certainly wore the aspect of
+invitation, if not of command.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p>
+
+<p>“I scarcely think we are very sure of a friendly
+reception,” observed the engineer, “and yet if we stay
+here, they will hunt us out, or capture us by main
+force.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where is Jackson?” asked Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>“Down in the store-room,” said Abercromby sarcastically.
+“When the Venusians got ready their shots
+he bethought himself that the kettle wanted watching.
+My old grandfather, who used to dine on board
+ship with Charlie Napier and the other paladins of
+the ‘roaring fifties,’ once heard a naval captain tell a
+story of how a black cook ran down into the stoke-hole
+as soon as the French or the Russians commenced
+firing. Well, the officer hauled him up on
+deck and rated him for a cowardly rascal. The
+nigger was equal to the occasion. ‘Good heart,
+massa!’ he said; ‘good heart! bad legs, massa,
+bad legs! Legs run away with the heart!’”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael laughed, and then the whole party got
+inside the Asteroid, and the engines being set in
+motion, they rose high into the air and winged a
+straight flight to the great city.</p>
+
+<p>As a measure of prudence, the Professor raised the
+altitude of the Asteroid a mile above the ground,
+and shaped his course for the terraced building on
+the hill. They could see vast multitudes pouring out
+of the houses and standing, pointing with upraised
+arms to the machine, and watching intently its every
+movement.</p>
+
+<p>At last the great palace lay below them, and they
+slowly descended till they alighted upon the ground
+in the courtyard. Hardly had they done so when
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>excited crowds of men and women came rushing
+forth.</p>
+
+<p>In a moment, before the travellers had had time
+to give explanations by signs, they were seized by
+furious hands, their weapons struck from them, and
+they would soon have been torn in pieces had not
+two officials, in gorgeous attire, thrust their way
+forward and spoken some words in a high and
+authoritative tone. Then the crowd fell back, still
+uttering such cries of rage and fury that they expected
+each moment would be their last. But the
+officers of the court kept their authority, and
+Carmichael, Carysfort, Abercromby, and Radcliffe
+were led into an adjoining room, where their hands
+were tightly bound, and they were bidden to follow.
+They were then dragged along a number of passages
+till they arrived at last before a door which, on being
+opened, led into a small quadrangle open to the sky,
+with a few shrubs and flowers growing in the centre,
+and several rooms opening into it, one large, the
+others small. Then the officers released them from
+their fetters and immediately departed.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>The first thing the ill-fated travellers did when the
+door closed upon them was to count their numbers,
+and then they made the startling discovery that there
+was one missing.</p>
+
+<p>“Where is Jackson?” asked the Professor, in a
+transport of alarm.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t trouble about him,” said Carysfort; “he is
+safe in the machine.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Good heavens! How came we to leave him?”
+said the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“He is better off than we are,” remarked Carysfort;
+“he has the means of escape, while we are
+trapped.”</p>
+
+<p>“I suppose the next event will be the lord high
+executioner,” muttered Abercromby. “Why were we
+such idiots as not to stick to the Asteroid?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, it is done now,” replied Carmichael; “but
+remember that with their weapons, of which we have
+had a sample already, they could have not only
+destroyed us but wrecked the Asteroid as well. A
+mob hammering at the windows could soon have
+effected an entrance. But if I <i>did</i> lose my head for
+a minute, I can only ask your forgiveness. As to
+poor Jackson, he is free to do what we did not or
+could not do, and I think he will have had sense
+enough to get away and loyalty enough not to go
+away altogether. Anyway, God alone can protect
+us now.”</p>
+
+<p>“I, who have the least interest in living,” said
+Radcliffe, “beg you all not to give up hope. Just
+consider, even if the Venusians had come down upon
+London and smashed the dome of St. Paul’s, English
+justice would not kill them without full enquiry, and
+all the scientists in the world would clamour for their
+lives to learn what secrets they had to tell. So it will
+be with us, depend upon it; we shall be allowed to
+live, though I fear we shall never be allowed to return.
+For your sakes, and for the world’s sake, I am
+deeply sorry, though personally I would prefer to
+live here till the call comes to go where the wicked
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>cease from troubling and where the weary are at
+rest.”</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby was just about to expatiate on the
+better prospects they might have had in Mars when
+the door opened, and some men appeared bearing
+food and drink upon a large platter. This done,
+they retired, without a word, though it would have
+been of little use to have attempted conversation.</p>
+
+<p>“I believe we shall be kept alive till we have
+learned their blessed language,” muttered Abercromby;
+“and we had better assume at once that
+it takes as long to learn it as Chinese. Meantime
+we can grow fat at the Government expense. I
+wonder who bosses the show here, whether king,
+queen, president, or council of elders. Also whether
+Free-trade or Protection is in the ascendant?”</p>
+
+<p>But poor Abercromby’s jokes fell very flat upon
+the weary and dispirited men, who ate their meal
+and then stretched themselves upon the none too
+luxurious couches provided for them and fell asleep,
+wishing they could wake up to hear the waves beat
+upon Northumbria’s shore in their Cullercoats lodging
+or in the lonely house at Newbiggin.</p>
+
+<p>Two days passed in the same miserable uncertainty.
+Three times during each day they were waited on by
+silent attendants; their food was of the nature of
+dough cakes, and their drink was of a light kind of
+fruity wine, very palatable but somewhat disposed to
+bring on a state of drowsiness if they partook too
+freely of it.</p>
+
+<p>They were at full liberty to promenade the courtyard,
+and to wander in and out of the adjoining
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>rooms. They scarcely ever caught sounds from the
+outside world, except, now and again, the singing of
+birds.</p>
+
+<p>But one day, just after they had risen, they heard
+Abercromby calling them from the parlour or dining-room
+in tones hoarse with excitement. He was
+holding in his hand a number of sheets of paper.</p>
+
+<p>“Come here, all of you, and solve this riddle for
+me. I want you to prove to my own private satisfaction
+that I am neither mad nor drunk.”</p>
+
+<p>“What have you got there?” said Carysfort.
+“Why! bless my stars! this is some of our manuscript
+paper from the Asteroid. Where did you
+find it?”</p>
+
+<p>“On the table here, staring me in the face.”</p>
+
+<p>The Professor took up the sheets, scanned them
+very carefully, and then said, “This is an alphabet of
+the Venusian language, and here are lists of Venusian
+words and phrases. Now we see that Radcliffe’s theory
+is quite correct. This is our first lesson in the language,
+and it will no doubt be followed by many others.
+It is clear now that our lives are safe, till we are
+able to render a complete account of our unlucky
+selves, and perhaps afterwards, if we give satisfaction.”</p>
+
+<p>“That is all very well so far as it goes, Professor,”
+replied Abercromby, “and it is a great convenience
+and a skilful piece of work. But one thing seems
+for a moment to have escaped your notice.”</p>
+
+<p>“What is that?” asked Carmichael quickly.</p>
+
+<p>“Where the dickens does the English come from
+and who holds the chair of terrestrial languages in
+this planet’s university?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Forgive me, Abercromby; for the moment I was
+so taken up with the personal aspect of this discovery
+that I forgot the more amazing side of it.
+Now am I utterly thunderstruck, and have not a
+word to say.”</p>
+
+<p>“Of all the things that have befallen us since we
+left the earth this transcends every one of them,”
+replied the engineer.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe ventured the remark that the Venusians
+must have taken possession of the Asteroid and
+stolen the paper, or else poor Jackson must have
+been compelled to give it up.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor admitted that this was quite possible,
+but it did not <ins id='cor_088' title='Original: eludicate'>elucidate</ins> the amazing problem of how
+English could be known in Venus.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor sat with his head buried in his hands.
+Radcliffe took up the paper and scrutinised each of
+the English words.</p>
+
+<p>“There are but three suppositions,” remarked
+Carmichael at length. “One, that some Englishman
+or American has forestalled us. This, I think, is absurd;
+the very attitude of the people is opposed to
+it. Another, that the Venusians possess powers
+unknown to man and can master other forms of
+speech at will. But, if that were so, they might talk
+to us at once. There is one theory more—pure and
+absolute miracle—the act of God. On this I am too
+reverent by nature to offer any criticism. I confess
+myself to have received as astounding a shock to my
+intellect as our casualty has dealt to our liberty and
+our hopes.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">
+    CHAPTER XII
+    <br>
+    NEEDFUL PREPARATIONS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>As they had all suspected, a change soon came
+over the situation; they had a task set them
+to do, and this was to learn the language of the
+country.</p>
+
+<p>Every day both men and women came to their
+prison to give them instructions, which they carried
+on by signs, by pictures, by every conceivable
+method. They submitted with the best grace they
+could, although they could not tell to what this
+education process was destined to lead, whether to
+life or to death. Carmichael was at a disadvantage,
+for he had never developed an aptitude for learning
+languages, and it was said that he had got through
+his “Little Go” at Cambridge with considerable
+difficulty, as his laurels were gained in another field.
+The engineer was a man of many tongues, as he had
+travelled much, both in Mexico and South America.
+Abercromby always spoke of himself as a hopeless
+dunce, but it was often noticed that he found the
+way to learn whatever he really wished to learn. As
+to Clarence Radcliffe, he threw his whole soul into
+the work—a process which on this occasion stood
+him in good stead, as, in ordinary cases, languages
+were not his strong point.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p>
+
+<p>The mystery of the English writing was not solved.
+Radcliffe persisted in thinking that the two people
+who had visited them on the hillside were the authors
+of it. There was some plausibility in this, for they
+may have meant it as a return for the trouble he had
+taken with them over the diagrams and the solar-system
+map. But plausible as the suggested motive
+might be, it did not explain how they could have
+carried it out.</p>
+
+<p>When a little progress had been made Carmichael
+one day showed the papers to some who had come
+to teach them. He was surprised to find that they
+evinced little or no curiosity or astonishment. The
+reason, however, soon appeared. They thought that
+the prisoners had written the words for themselves,
+and it was the presence of their own words, not of the
+English words, that they specially noted. When the
+Professor understood this, Carysfort earnestly advised
+him to let the matter drop, for in their helpless
+position indiscreet disclosures or even questions might
+get them all into trouble. They would soon find out
+for themselves what powers the wise men of the
+planet really had. “Besides,” he said, “I am convinced
+by a minute study of the letters that they
+were never written by one to whom our language
+was familiar; their shape is quite stilted and foreign.”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael was satisfied now that they had not
+been forestalled by some traveller from earth.</p>
+
+<p>They early made discovery of the name by which
+Venus was known to its own people. Venusian was
+not a pleasing term, and did not sound so well as
+Atalantan. The planet was called Atalanta, which
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>meant “the flowery land.” As there was but one
+nation, one empire, dwelling upon it, Atalanta was
+the name given to both the country and its metropolis.
+The beautiful vale in which the city stood
+with the great lake from whose shores its steep
+ascents took their rise was Meloria; the broad
+spreading high hills bounding the vale to the north
+were the Keraunian Mountains, so called from an
+ancient king of Atalanta who had saved the life of
+the child of one of the noblest of his subjects, while
+climbing their heights, at the expense of his own.</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael was told that his supposition of a high
+mountain near the southern pole was correct. It
+was a peaked mountain called Aptaura, and was
+twenty miles above the sea-level, the highest point
+on the planet.</p>
+
+<p>The earth was known to the Atalantans as Karamandra,
+“Queen of the cold night”; Mercury, which
+was the only planet visible from the lighted hemisphere,
+was called Araminta, the bright flashing;
+while the sun was Asti, the furnace, though he had
+other titles connected with the Atalantan religion.</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael saw that it was useless to seek any
+information as to what was going to happen to them,
+nor would his teachers tell much about their politics
+or customs. The travellers even suspected that any
+questions they put were noted down. Radcliffe got
+on the best, as he only made enquiries about their
+beliefs, and on this point they were willing, as far as
+he was concerned, to be a little more communicative,
+though it is to be feared that he was not greatly
+encouraged by what they told him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p>
+
+<p>On the other hand, the Atalantans put very few
+questions themselves and these only of a harmless
+sort. It was evident that they had no intention of
+treachery, but how much of what the travellers said
+was reported elsewhere, the latter could not be
+equally certain.</p>
+
+<p>One evening the party were seated in their parlour,
+when Abercromby asked the Professor to tell them
+what he had been able to glean as to Atalantan
+matters.</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” replied Carmichael, “my supply of talk is
+but scanty, but it may while away the time to piece
+it together. I have ascertained that there exists no
+variety of race upon the planet; that these people
+have been settled here for a couple of thousand years
+at least; that they are descended from a pair, pretty
+much after the Bible account of Adam and Eve, only
+much more recent in time; that they were originally
+patriarchal in government, but that gradually the
+kingly power grew and grew until it became what it
+is now, a sort of benevolent autocracy rather resembling
+that of the ancient Incas of Peru. The
+growth of the race has been exceedingly slow compared
+with that of earthly races, but I have an
+opinion that this is largely due to the deliberate will
+of the people themselves, who know that they have
+but a small available territory for the comfortable
+support of life in a civilised form. Towns and cities
+do not exist, nor distinct villages. There is but the
+giant capital and scattered and independent country
+houses. There is an extension of the land southwards
+forming a peninsula called Anactorium; the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>land then ends near the south pole with the giant
+mountain Aptaura, on which is situated an observatory
+for the study of the heavenly bodies, our earth
+included.</p>
+
+<p>“Off the south-western coast is a large island called
+Melandria inhabited by a somewhat more hardy
+population, of which island the princess Melanitis is
+said to be very fond.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Carysfort, you take up the cudgels, and tell
+us what your supply of knowledge is.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not very much,” muttered the engineer. “These
+folk have found out how to steer airships about two
+hundred years ago, and it seems they use them for
+all purposes of travel. This is why, except in Melandria,
+there are few roads and fewer vehicles. Before
+the airship came in they used palanquins and litter-travelling
+for the aristocracy, while the rest of the
+people walked. The aristocracy consist of those
+only who have done deeds of kindness or valour,
+such as the Royal House may think worthy of
+wearing the crimson sash, the tiara, and the coronet;
+their children inherit their honours till they do anything
+disgraceful and then the title lapses.</p>
+
+<p>“Sir Thomas More and Gulliver ought to have
+lived in this land before writing their terrestrial
+books.”</p>
+
+<p>“How are the people fed?” asked Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Everybody grows his own produce and makes
+his own furniture and clothes,” said Carysfort. “All
+the central and northern lands are the free property
+of the state. Anybody can take what he wants if
+he has the energy to go there. If he has not, then
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>he must have a poorer house and wear shabbier
+clothes.”</p>
+
+<p>“How do they elect the king?”</p>
+
+<p>“The crown descends from sire to son, or from
+sire to daughter, for one hundred years, then the
+nobility meet in conclave and elect the worthiest man
+or woman of their number. If they cannot agree,
+the reigning sovereign may hold the throne till
+death; but this has only happened twice.”</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Abercromby, tell us your discoveries,” said
+Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>“The king has two daughters, Melanitis and
+Mexitli,” he answered; “the former will be queen
+on her father’s death, and he is a very old man.</p>
+
+<p>“I am afraid after all, Professor, you are much to
+be commiserated that you did not go to Mars. It is
+a feminine world, Professor, in the worst of all senses,
+that men appear to be in a position of distinct
+inferiority. They do all the work, and what the
+others do I have not clearly learned at present, but
+when I know I will tell you. So far as I can find
+out, their rule is decently benevolent, but I shudder
+to think of the exceptions. I suppose it will all
+figure out right; if it doesn’t we shan’t be here to see.”</p>
+
+<p>“I believe you are humbugging,” laughed Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>“I will tell you a pathetic story,” continued Abercromby.
+“I happened to ask one of the most recent
+damsels who came here to complete my studies if
+the princesses were good-looking. She got in such a
+rage that I asked her what the dickens she meant by
+it. As she failed to understand me, my words soothed
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>her, and then with the airs of all the queens from
+Semiramis to Victoria, she demanded by what right
+a Karamandran barbarian from outer space presumed
+to ask such a thing respecting the two fairy pillars
+upon which Atalanta would one day rest. She told
+me I was only fit to herd with mangas, and I told
+her she was enough to make a cat laugh like Charlie’s
+Aunt, but I spoke in English, of course.”</p>
+
+<p>“What is a manga?” asked Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“I fear it is one of those dear monkeys that made
+me howl and wake the Professor, but I am not sure.</p>
+
+<p>“I think we will agree not to ask Radcliffe what
+he has found out, for we are hardly in a fit mood for
+serious talk, and I don’t think he wants to tell us,”
+continued Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“No, not to-night,” said Radcliffe. “I told Frank
+that I was afraid they worshipped the sun, and he
+consoled me by saying they would not think of
+worshipping the moon, because Venus had not got
+one.”</p>
+
+<p>As Radcliffe himself laughed the whole party saw
+no harm in doing the same.</p>
+
+<p>Three days later a most remarkable event occurred.
+This was nothing less than the arrival of Jackson,
+with his hands fettered, it is true, but the guards told
+them they might release him at once.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, Tom, old friend and comrade, I am glad to
+see you,” said Carmichael warmly.</p>
+
+<p>“More glad than I am to see myself,” answered
+Jackson. “I don’t know how I can bear to tell you
+all that has happened.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was not your fault,” said his master kindly.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>“Let us hear the worst at once—the machine has
+been taken away or destroyed.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not so bad as all that, sir; it is put under lock
+and key and strongly guarded. When I saw you
+made prisoner I thought I would set the engines
+going, soar up, and play a game in the sky which
+would frighten them, but I never got the chance;
+they swarmed in, knocked me down, after I had sent
+some of them down, bound me hands and feet, and
+fastened me to one of the couches in the dining-room.
+Then they began poking their blessed noses
+into every nook and corner, and there I was swearing
+and cussing and not able to do nothing to stop
+them.</p>
+
+<p>“Presently they takes me and opens my mouth
+and puts something in that sends me straight off
+asleep for the next twenty hours. When I wakes
+up some low-looking fellows were standing over me
+and feeling me about, and I put out my tongue in
+case it was a doctor. Well, they brought me food
+and drink, and I was that mad hungry and thirsty
+I cleared the plate and mug, I can tell you, and then
+off I went to sleep again, and this was pretty much
+how I was treated till this morning, when they took
+me out of the machine and brought me to you.
+They had moved the machine with me in it while I
+was unconscious.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did they teach you to speak their language?”
+asked the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“Not they, sir. They didn’t think me up to it, I
+suppose.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, they have taken no end of pains to teach
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>us,” said Abercromby, and he told Jackson the extraordinary
+incident of the English words.</p>
+
+<p>“I believe I can make that out, sir,” said Jackson.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor looked amazed, but he only said,
+“If you can, Tom, you will take quite a load off my
+brains.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was one of their monkey tricks they played on
+me, depend on it, sir. When I got my senses
+back, I saw one of the rascals holding sheets of our
+manuscript paper in his hand. I believe he just went
+and mesmerised me, and got me to say and do all he
+wanted. Of course, if they were after teaching you
+their lingo, they would start much the quicker by
+helping you to put their work into our letters, and
+I am sure that was how they did it; they made me
+say and write the English alphabet when they had
+got me like wax in their hands and I had no power
+to fight them. But if I did you a good turn, sir, I’ll
+forgive them.”</p>
+
+<p>“Now we have got the key at last,” says Carysfort.
+“We need not trouble any more about it.”</p>
+
+<p>The next morning Cleito, the commandant of the
+palace guard, entered their parlour and said to them:
+“Four days from now, strangers from Karamandra,
+and you will stand before the Royal House in the
+Hall of Audience and of Perfect Justice, and you will
+reply to the questions put to you by the king and
+by the princesses his daughters, and as your answers
+shall be good or evil in their sight, so shall your
+destiny be.”</p>
+
+<p>“It has come at last,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">
+    CHAPTER XIII
+    <br>
+    THE FIRST ORDEAL
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Four days later, at nine o’clock by their earthly
+time, the men from Karamandra were bidden
+to follow their escort of guards. Their hands were
+fastened by a light chain which afforded some
+facilities for movement, and they were led in single
+file between a double row of armed men to the
+terrace upon which they had so rashly alighted. At
+the south end stood a splendid building approached
+by a noble portico. Into this they entered, and
+passing along a magnificent vestibule, the door of
+a pillared hall was thrown open and they found
+themselves led up the centre of a vast dome-shaped
+building with tiers of seats on either side, one rising
+above the other, and filled to overflowing with a
+countless sea of human faces, the expressions of
+most being set and stern in their hostility. On the
+central dais were two semicircular rows of elegant
+and carved seats evidently for the highest in rank,
+while in front were three thrones with gorgeous
+canopies, the central occupied by a most majestic-looking
+old man and those on either side by his
+daughters Melanitis and Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>They were both extremely beautiful with the pale
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>tint that so characterised the daughters of Atalanta,
+but there was a difference between them, especially
+in manner and bearing. The elder, the Queen
+designate, was much more humble than her sister—we
+might almost say timid and ill at ease. The
+younger was haughty, overbearing, and dominating,
+and yet with a sullen expression as though she had
+not the power to do all she wished. She fixed a
+supercilious glance at the terrestrial party, looking
+from one to the other, but taking not the least notice
+of one more than the other.</p>
+
+<p>But Melanitis had no sooner looked on the faces
+of Abercromby and Radcliffe, who stood the nearest
+to her, than she uttered a faint cry as though
+stricken, her features became rigid, and she clutched
+at the arms of her throne for support.</p>
+
+<p>The King turned to her and said, “Child of my
+heart, what aileth thee?”</p>
+
+<p>“Only a solar faintness, my lord,” she replied.
+The King ordered one of the fan-bearers to minister
+to her.</p>
+
+<p>The incident passed with little notice. Radcliffe
+did not see it, for his eyes were fixed upon the King,
+who was a grand specimen of dignified old age.
+Abercromby saw it, and a puzzled grin (not very
+wise under the circumstances) overspread his countenance.</p>
+
+<p>“King of Atalanta, pride and ornament of thine
+ancient house,” said the deep voice of a white-robed
+official of the palace, “and you, princesses, pillars of
+the kingdom, fairest jewels set in the midst of the
+motherland, you see these strangers who have, by
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>an unparalleled daring, crossed the myriad depths of
+space and thrust themselves in the midst of us.
+Their machine is controlled by a power we do not
+possess and whose secrets they alone know. But
+they themselves are weak and helpless as others, and
+it is for you to declare whether it best accords with
+the well-being of Atalanta that they live or die. Let
+justice and mercy each have their rightful place, yet
+by all means remember that this is an event that may
+leave lasting traces upon us, and as we act now so
+may we be compelled to act hereafter. For the first
+time since He came who passed from us on His way
+to Karamandra, no being, whether mortal or immortal,
+has ever visited us who did not previously
+belong to us. We have lived under the silence of
+the stars, and as each generation has gone to the
+Mansions of the Blest or to the Realm of the Endless
+Shadow they have walked in the wisdom of their
+fathers. But now it may be that some fuller opportunity
+may be granted to us, if we act wisely and
+well.”</p>
+
+<p>The King leaned forward, and addressing Carmichael
+said, “Are you from Karamandra and also
+your companions?”</p>
+
+<p>“We are,” said the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“Did the king of your world send you on a mission
+to us?”</p>
+
+<p>“There is no king of Karamandra; our world is
+peopled on both sides of its surface with nations,
+races, and tribes in varying degrees of culture and
+resources, but independent, though some are linked
+together by bonds and alliances.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p>
+
+<p>“How many people live in your world?”</p>
+
+<p>“About twelve hundred millions.”</p>
+
+<p>An exclamation of horror echoed round the
+hall.</p>
+
+<p>“How long have they dwelt upon its surface?”</p>
+
+<p>“We have different theories on the subject,” said
+Carmichael, with a sly look at Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“If your world has many kings, which of them
+sent you?”</p>
+
+<p>“None; we came of our own selves.”</p>
+
+<p>There was a murmur of amazement.</p>
+
+<p>“Who, then, discovered the secret of how to journey
+from one world to another?”</p>
+
+<p>“I did, and also my companion here,” pointing to
+Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“When did you discover it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Many months ago.”</p>
+
+<p>“Will you tell it to us?”</p>
+
+<p>“That depends upon how you treat us.”</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli started to her feet. “Let the insolent
+barbarian say no more, for the land cannot endure
+his words. His own Sovereign would cast him out;
+much more shall not the sacred Majesty of Atalanta?”
+Then, pointing at Radcliffe, she said, “If my father
+wills I will question <i>him</i>, for he it is who saved the
+life of my cousin Mayana from the murderous intent
+of these men.”</p>
+
+<p>The King nodded acquiescence. The woman’s
+questions were less academic.</p>
+
+<p>“Why did you come here?”</p>
+
+<p>“My companions had no other object than to
+benefit their fellows by increasing their own
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>knowledge. They made choice of this planet because less
+was known about it than of those worlds that lie in
+an orbit exterior to our own. Being of the same
+size with our own world, my leader naturally hoped
+to find those upon its surface with whom he could
+hold intelligent converse, and both receive and impart
+useful knowledge.”</p>
+
+<p>“We require no teaching from outer space,” answered
+Mexitli, “though there are some in this hall
+disloyal enough to think so.”</p>
+
+<p>“The God of Heaven does not give even to every
+Atalantan equal gifts with every other, and yet there
+may be little things in which the highest may receive
+a helping hand from the lowest. I know the misery
+and unrest of my own world, and yet the God of
+Heaven has cared for it. Most gladly will I explain
+these things in public or in private if I may be
+suffered to do so.”</p>
+
+<p>“You would be better advised first to look out for
+your own personal safety, that is the present consideration.
+You and yours do not seem to understand
+that you have committed more than one
+atrocious crime since you invaded our borders.
+Then, too, the demeanour of your companions has
+been most insolent, as though they expected to be
+welcomed with honours in a land which neither
+knew of them nor desired them. As for you individually,
+I might perhaps advise the King my
+father to show you a measure of favour, but the
+time has not come yet. You have leave to satisfy
+my curiosity on one point. How did the God of
+Heaven show His care for Karamandra?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p>
+
+<p>“By sending His only Son, the Prince of Heaven,
+to save them by turning their hearts back again to
+Himself.”</p>
+
+<p>A violent movement of surprise pervaded the hall;
+strange to say, Melanitis did not show the agitation
+displayed by the rest, but remained outwardly
+calm.</p>
+
+<p>“I thought so,” answered the King. “Our best
+traditions led us to think it would be as you say.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good gracious! we are going to have a battle-royal
+about religion,” muttered Carysfort to the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“And how did your world act towards Him when
+He came to them?” asked Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe stood speechless for a moment, his voice
+choked; a tear trickled down his face.</p>
+
+<p>“I should not wonder if they killed Him,” interposed
+Melanitis.</p>
+
+<p>Exclamations of horror and astonishment broke
+from all sides.</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli shrugged her shoulders with a look of
+disgust. She signed to Radcliffe to proceed and
+said imperiously, “Speak the truth—is this horrible
+thing true?”</p>
+
+<p>“It is true,” answered Radcliffe in a whisper that
+sent a thrill through every heart in the hall. “I would
+have died in His stead had I been there, and yet I do
+not know: one who professed to love Him said as
+much and then basely deserted Him; so might I.”</p>
+
+<p>“How is it that your world exists after doing
+this?”</p>
+
+<p>“God is Love,” replied Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p>
+
+<p>There was a moment’s tense silence, then the
+princess said, “Did <i>anything</i> happen?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; the offer of pardon was sent all over the
+world, for God forgave the world, for the death of the
+Prince made full amends for all the wrong that men
+had done. The divine justice was satisfied. He who
+had been slain came into that world for the very
+purpose that He might lay down His life for it.
+He came as man in lowly guise, enduring all the
+sorrows of our life, and those who slew Him did not
+know what they were doing. That is why forgiveness
+was possible for them. <i>Now</i> the Prince has re-entered
+upon His heavenly and immortal life, but He
+will come again and take possession of His rightful
+inheritance, our own world.”</p>
+
+<p>“How long ago did these things happen?” asked
+the King.</p>
+
+<p>“Nearly twenty centuries by our reckoning.”</p>
+
+<p>“And have your people, the human race, returned
+to the divine allegiance?”</p>
+
+<p>“Many have done so out of each generation, but
+many have not.”</p>
+
+<p>“<i>You</i> have done so, I suppose? Your speech, methinks,
+implies it.”</p>
+
+<p>“I have,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“I am too shocked and horrified to pursue this talk
+much further,” interrupted Mexitli. “It is evident that
+<i>our</i> world is guiltless, while as for yours,”—and she
+finished the sentence with a gesture—“such people
+can be only plague-spots amongst us. Still, you have
+told me the truth. Is it to be conceived after this,
+that even <i>you</i> came here to teach us?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p>
+
+<p>“God made use of the very men who had helped
+to slay His Son to go out and in many cases successfully
+to carry the story of peace all over the world.
+It may be that He will give even to me a work to do
+here.”</p>
+
+<p>“Your life has first to be decided upon, and next
+your liberty,” was the cold reply. “We shall have to
+deliberate over these amazing things. You can now
+sit upon yonder seat. Of course you have been
+severely tried. I would confer with the man who
+stood next to you. Come forward, fellow, and answer
+my questions. What brought <i>you</i> here—science or
+religion?” The words were pronounced with a fine
+contempt.</p>
+
+<p>“Neither,” said Abercromby; “something as good
+as either, possibly better—to help my brother who has
+just spoken to bear his life sorrow.”</p>
+
+<p>“The sins of his people, I suppose.”</p>
+
+<p>“That, doubtless, but also another. He loved
+a woman on his own world, and made her his wife.
+They were estranged, and before the quarrel could be
+made up she was killed by an accident in a river; he
+was not with her at the time. <i>I</i> persuaded him into
+coming with us, as the best chance of saving his reason.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did he love her so much?”</p>
+
+<p>“I know not how love prevails in <i>this</i> planet, but if
+all there exists of it were put together it would about
+equal the love he had to her.”</p>
+
+<p>“You are not required to pry into such matters.
+Are you his relation?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I am his friend. That is a stronger bond in
+most cases.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p>
+
+<p>Mexitli bit her lip in evident vexation. The King
+betrayed a faint smile.</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis sat perfectly rigid, her face deadly white,
+her hands tightly clasped, her eyes fixed upon Radcliffe,
+who kept his face bent upon the ground.
+Mexitli darted a swift glance at her sister, her expression
+as she did so was inscrutable. At last she
+said to Abercromby, “Let us leave this matter. Do
+the people in your own world know of the secret by
+which you have come to ours?”</p>
+
+<p>“I decline to answer your question,” answered
+Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“This is absolute defiance, and will only bring you
+all into worse trouble. You <i>must</i> have intelligence
+to comprehend how greatly this matter will concern
+us.”</p>
+
+<p>“When you tell us what you are proposing to do
+to us, we may perhaps give you the information; till
+then I am silent until my leader bids me to speak.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will make you speak,” said Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>“Who are barbarians <i>now</i>?” retorted Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Let me entreat you to use moderation and
+courtesy, Frank,” said Radcliffe, putting a warning
+hand upon his arm. “Lady of Atalanta, I ask and
+beg of you this grace, that you will give us time to
+consider what the answer shall be.”</p>
+
+<p>“No one knows of our secret,” interposed Carmichael.
+“We are wholly at your mercy.”</p>
+
+<p>“Is this true?” asked the princess of Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” replied Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Then it shall be considered in your favour, only I
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>shall remember that one of you at least spoke insolently
+to my face, in the central seat of authority in
+our motherland.”</p>
+
+<p>“My decided vote is given for their lives,” said
+Melanitis.</p>
+
+<p>“If you wanted to spare them you could have
+scarcely spoken a more ill-advised thing,” her sister
+answered. “By this act of public utterance you
+force me to speak myself, and I decide for the death
+of all of them and the immediate destruction of
+their machine, with this one exception, that, according
+to the clemency of our laws, I would allow Radcliffe
+a year’s respite under certain proper restrictions. But
+as our voices are thus divided, it is for the King, my
+father, to speak.”</p>
+
+<p>“People of Atalanta,” said Malchon, “we have
+heard to-day such things as would tax the wisdom of
+the wisest amongst us to decide, whether those who
+have stood on trial before us ought or ought not to
+die. Only on one point is the way made plain. The
+man called Radcliffe can be respited for a year, that
+we may confer with him about many things and test
+and prove him. As to the rest, I dislike the thought
+of putting them to death, if it can be avoided with
+safety. I propose that they be kept in durance for a
+short number of days, and be fully told the charges
+of ill-doing which have been brought against them.
+They can carefully ponder their reply to these
+charges, and make it publicly in our presence. Also
+they must give us a brief account of all their movements
+since they reached our world. I bid them
+good speed till the day of final examination comes,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>and if they behave in a suitable manner, I hold out a
+reasonable prospect for their safety.”</p>
+
+<p>With these words the assembly rose up, and the
+men from earth were led back to their courtyard
+prison.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">
+    CHAPTER XIV
+    <br>
+    THE SECOND ORDEAL
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>“We shall have a few things to talk over,” was
+Abercromby’s first ejaculation when they
+found themselves alone. “I hope to goodness, Professor,
+you will give us A1 marks for our respective
+contributions to the drama.”</p>
+
+<p>“I think you all did admirably, both those who
+spoke and those who held their tongues,” answered
+the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“They were a queer trio,” observed the engineer,
+with a chuckle. “I don’t suppose old King Malchon
+is allowed by his two daughters very much more
+power than the House of Commons allows to the
+kings of England—he reigns but he does not
+govern.”</p>
+
+<p>“I was once told of a parish up in the north, sir,”
+put in Tom, “where the parson, his wife, and his
+daughters were in charge, and the folks said as
+how they were under the thumb of the Rector, the
+Director, and the Misdirector!”</p>
+
+<p>“Not bad that, Tom,” said Carysfort; “but,
+seriously, I <i>can’t</i> make out the elder princess. The
+younger is quite understandable though not agreeable.
+She would cut our heads off, if she could,
+though I have a notion she would like to cut off her
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>sister’s also. Take my word for it, this country is
+run in for civil war when poor old Malchon dies.
+Two queens at a time means business in this
+case.”</p>
+
+<p>“Aye! I believe it,” said the Professor; “but there
+is something else I should much like to fathom.
+Why did Melanitis seem struck in a heap, as they
+say, directly she caught sight of us?”</p>
+
+<p>“Easy of explanation, my dear Professor: she fell
+in love either with me or with Clarence at first sight.
+At first I thought I was in it, but I incline to think
+it was Clarence.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe had gone to his room and was fast asleep,
+so the others could talk apart from him.</p>
+
+<p>“I wish he could get a wife, sir,” said Tom; “<i>that</i>
+would make him happy again better than anything.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll see what I can do,” replied Abercromby hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>“A word before you begin,” dryly remarked the
+Professor. “We must be extremely careful what
+we are about. I do not want to be pessimistic, but I
+foresee nothing but trouble ahead. That the elder
+princess is in love with one of us, presumably
+Radcliffe, I do not deny: it is the only explanation of
+her conduct. But to us it spells disaster either way.
+He must obviously do one of two things—accept or
+reject. If he responds to her advances, the whole of
+Atalanta will be up in arms, saying that we outer
+barbarians have dared to aspire to the King’s
+daughter.”</p>
+
+<p>“We need hardly consider that,” observed the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>engineer. “Radcliffe will remain true to the memories
+of the past.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, then, if he does, he will repel her, and this,
+I myself think, to be the more probable. Then he
+will make Melanitis his implacable enemy.”</p>
+
+<p>“But he must do one or the other,” said Abercromby.
+“For his own sake I hope he will open his
+campaign quickly.”</p>
+
+<p>“We shall all lose our heads if he does, and the
+expedition will be wrecked,” answered Carmichael
+somewhat angrily. “I do beseech you, Abercromby,
+use your best influence with him for his own sake
+and ours. We are in a desperate position as it is; do
+not make it worse by importing women into it.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is not even as though we had Melanitis only,”
+protested the engineer, “we have her implacable
+sister also to deal with. Just imagine what a rage
+she will be in if she should once suspect. Radcliffe
+might, with equal safety, make love to <i>her</i>. Every
+hatred and prejudice that can riot in a human heart
+would be set on fire.”</p>
+
+<p>“I have a pet theory that she would rather like it—I
+mean if Radcliffe made love to Melanitis. Suppose
+his doing so led to her being set aside, then
+Mexitli would be queen herself.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very ingenious, my dear fellow, but the ladies do
+not usually walk along the lines we intellectually
+trace out for them. You may be right, but it is far
+too desperate a game to play. Remember we have
+death still in front of us, and that even if we are
+spared, it may be only conditionally.”</p>
+
+<p>The conversation then dropped, Abercromby having
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>promised that he would not endanger them by any
+imprudence.</p>
+
+<p>The next day they were furnished with a list of
+the charges made against them. The chief of these
+were that they had come to Venus at all, on a private
+enterprise not authorised by their own people, which
+left them free to do any damage or injury to the
+realm. Another was that they had drawn their
+weapons upon Mayana and her husband, when she
+had given proof that she did not mean to kill them,
+by only destroying a tree. Another, that they had
+dared to alight upon the terrace of the royal palace,
+and a last charge was a general accusation of insolence
+and defiance to the Royal House and its
+representatives.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe was told he need not reply to the charge
+of drawing weapons, nor to that of disrespectful
+speech, as on those charges he was acquitted.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally the prisoners talked the whole matter
+carefully over and arranged their several lines of
+defence. Carysfort, who could speak the language
+better than Carmichael, would be the spokesman,
+and, though he was a plain, blunt man, his good sense
+and shrewdness would be likely to be of service to
+them. Abercromby was implored not to speak, and,
+after some trouble, he consented. Tom could not
+say a word in Atalantan, but he promised to speak
+in English if a sentence was passed.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe kept his thoughts to himself, and would
+not tell the others what he meant to do.</p>
+
+<p>They were not called upon to undergo any period
+of prolonged suspense, for the summons came on the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>fourth morning after their return to prison, to stand
+once again in the Hall of Perfect Justice. Every
+available inch of standing-ground was occupied, and
+it took a considerable time before the accused could
+be led to their places immediately in front of the
+triple throne. So far as appearance went, the
+assembly was somewhat less hostile in demeanour
+than on the first occasion when they had confronted
+it. The preliminaries took up but little time.</p>
+
+<p>Another official of the palace read the several
+terms of the indictment, and then Malchon the King
+rose from his seat and said, “Men of Karamandra,
+ye have heard the charges brought against you, all of
+which are more or less serious and deadly. But we
+hope that time and reflection have enabled you to
+frame such answers as shall satisfy us that we do no
+wrong to our people and our authority if we permit
+you to live.”</p>
+
+<p>Carysfort then stood up. He gave a plain and
+straightforward account of how the discovery had
+been made, and also the principles upon which it
+was based. He told them that they had come as
+private individuals; first, because the people of his
+own world were utterly sceptical of the possibility of
+such an attempt, and, had they disclosed it before
+starting, they would have either been ridiculed or
+else prevented, for one nation was jealous of any
+advantage gained over another; next, it was for the
+good of Atalanta that the people of his world should
+not make it the object of their ambition and rapacity.
+After briefly recapitulating their researches in the
+northern parts of Venus, he then went on to explain
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>that they had drawn their weapons in a moment of
+overwhelming panic, just as the Atalantans would
+have done had they been in like circumstances. As to
+alighting on the palace terrace, they had followed the
+course taken by the two Atalantans who had visited
+them in the airship; that these had even pointed in
+the direction of the city as though inviting them; and
+they had chosen the terrace because it was the highest
+spot, the most accessible for their machine, and they
+had supposed that it would be the more easy and
+convenient to address a special deputation of persons,
+and to appeal to them by signs and even to invite
+them to enter and inspect their machine. As to
+their conduct, they must be allowed to plead total
+ignorance of the modes of thought of the Atalantan
+people; they felt it neither compatible with their
+honour nor even their safety to assume an abject
+and crestfallen attitude; they were brave men, as was
+proved by the myriad dangers they had so boldly
+endured in crossing twenty-four million miles of
+space; they asked only that they might meet brothers
+at the end of their long journey, and not judges and
+executioners.</p>
+
+<p>Malchon showed evident pleasure at this reply of
+the engineer, and was about to speak when Radcliffe
+stood up and made earnest request to say a few
+words. Leave being granted, he said, “I wish in
+the name of truth and justice to take upon myself
+the full load of responsibility for what seems to have
+been a serious act of wrong on our part. It was <i>I</i>
+who gave counsel to my friends to steer direct for the
+city and for the palace, due, as I now perceive, to an
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>erroneous interpretation of the signs which the two
+notables of Atalanta made to us. They were referring,
+of course, to their own movements, and not to
+ours. Forgive me if you will, but, if not, on my head
+let the penalty rest.”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis looked up quickly and met the glance of
+Radcliffe with an expression of such yearning intensity
+that he turned away almost with a shudder.
+Then she said to the King, “Spare them, my lord;
+no one in their world knows their secret, no one can
+therefore come hither to injure us.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will never consent to spare them altogether,”
+said Mexitli, “unless they are willing to teach their
+secret to us, and even then they must lie under the
+sentence of death for at least a year, so that if they
+commit offences against our laws it may be at
+once carried out. As to Radcliffe, I pardon him.
+This is the utmost limit of concession to which I
+will go.”</p>
+
+<p>“So shall it be,” replied Malchon. “Your lives
+are justly forfeited to our laws, and we therefore
+pass conditional sentence upon you, with the
+exception of him to whom my daughter, at her
+cousin’s most earnest entreaty, has given the full
+grace of clemency. But this may be earned by the
+rest, if at the end of a year they show themselves
+worthy. They need not be kept in prison beyond a
+day or two, provided they are willing to promise in
+writing an assent to certain rules and restrictions
+which shall be appointed. Radcliffe may go where
+he likes, but he will not probably wish to be
+separated from his companions. As to their
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>machine, it will be kept by us as the property of our
+Royal House. It shall not be injured nor destroyed.
+The goods and instruments which it contains shall be
+returned to its late owner. Whether the machine be
+again entrusted to them will depend upon their own
+conduct or upon circumstances. I may send them
+back again to their own world under penalty of death
+to them or to any other persons who shall follow in
+their enterprise, or I may require them to spend their
+lives here. I shall adopt the course which seems
+most desirable as time and their own behaviour may
+dictate.”</p>
+
+<p>Just as the King was about to dismiss the
+audience Frank said to the engineer—</p>
+
+<p>“I wish old King Cole had been a little more
+definite.”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis gave him a warning glance, but unluckily
+he went on—</p>
+
+<p>“The Johnnie talks like a diplomatist who has left
+his mind behind him in the cloak-room.”</p>
+
+<p>“Be quiet, can’t you!” grumbled Carysfort. “You
+will give the whole show away in a minute.”</p>
+
+<p>These idioms were unknown to Mexitli, but the
+sound of Frank’s voice was enough of itself.</p>
+
+<p>“<i>You</i> will remain in a prison <i>alone</i> for two months,”
+she said. “This will give you time to repent of the
+insult you offered to me four days ago.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe made a movement to throw himself at
+the princess’s feet, but Melanitis, not quite guessing
+his intent, grasped him by the arm and drew him
+back.</p>
+
+<p>“I was but about to sue for the pardon of my friend,”
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>he said. Mexitli turned quickly round and said with
+a smile—</p>
+
+<p>“You had better not, it may only make matters
+worse. I might call <i>you</i> to account for seeking to
+alter a royal decision, but I give you grace this once
+for your ignorance of our customs. You had best
+rejoin your people; they are being led from the
+hall.”</p>
+
+<p>There was nothing further to be done, and he
+obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Abercromby had to bid his comrades farewell
+at the palace entrance. He looked very downcast
+and dispirited, for his sentence had come upon him
+as a bolt from the blue. They were equally vexed
+and distressed on his account. Tom asked his master
+if he might not use his fists this once just to keep his
+hand in, but Carmichael happily succeeded in pacifying
+him.</p>
+
+<p>“The best part of the news is that we have now a
+sporting chance of getting out of this hole,” remarked
+Carysfort when they had bidden poor Frank good-bye.</p>
+
+<p>“You mean ultimate permission to return to the
+earth?” asked the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“I shall not return,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Beware of Melanitis,” remarked Carmichael dryly.</p>
+
+<p>“I do not fear her just because I have no love to
+give her, my love is dead and buried; if it is anywhere
+it is in the little country churchyard near Chipping
+Norton, where my honoured father-in-law lies buried
+by the side of his only child who was my wife.”</p>
+
+<p>“We are in Venus,” remarked the Professor.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>“Don’t think me unfeeling, but it is a far cry to
+Chipping Norton.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, it is a far cry to Chipping Norton,” murmured
+Radcliffe. “I sometimes feel I could get hold of any
+Atalantan woman and ask her if she understood. I
+could even tell Mexitli all about it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Better tell Melanitis and cut a rather intricate
+knot,” answered Carmichael in a dry tone.</p>
+
+<p>“I think I shall. It will end a ghastly farce, and
+if she sends me to the stake itself, well, so much the
+better.”</p>
+
+<p>The next day the ordinances, with which they were
+to be bound, were served to them. They were few in
+number and simple enough, as far as words could go,
+but it had yet to be seen how their practical working
+would tend to render life pleasant or hard. No
+difference was made between them, except that Abercromby
+had to await his release from prison. They
+were to remain in the city under the eyes of the
+court, to live in the house which would be provided
+for them, to wear their own terrestrial dress, so as to
+be distinguished from the people, not to go away
+from the city further than a prescribed distance,
+except by permission, to place themselves at the
+royal service to render any help that might be
+required, and, except Radcliffe, to come up for final
+sentence at the expiry of a year.</p>
+
+<p>These terms were of course very vague and indefinite.
+They naturally presented an earnest petition,
+that, in consideration of all that they had risked and
+suffered, they might be allowed to travel to the
+southern pole of the planet, and this they were at
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>once informed would be readily granted after a few
+weeks’ interval, when the season of heavy rains was
+past. They were further told that they might freely
+move in and out among the people, and both
+give and receive information to and from all
+classes.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">
+    CHAPTER XV
+    <br>
+    A TALE AT A SUPPER PARTY
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Two days after they had given their assent to
+the terms laid upon them they were removed
+from the place of durance and conducted by Cleito
+and Arniphon, the two officers of the King’s guard,
+to a house in the lower part of the city standing in a
+shaded plantation of trees a few hundred yards off the
+Avenue of Ascent, as it was called, which led from
+the lake shore to the palace. The house was of
+simple construction, with a verandah and balconies
+adorned with climbing plants to screen from the heat
+of the sun; it was two-storied, as were most of the
+houses in Atalanta, the guest-rooms below, the
+sleeping-rooms above. They had, of course, Tom to
+wait upon them, but as he knew no more of Atalantan
+ways of life than they did themselves, his services
+were not of much use. Every one in the land—every
+man at least—had to provide for himself and make
+his house self-supporting, unless he belonged to the
+aristocracy, among whom the relation of master and
+servant still survived in a modified sort of way.
+Consequently the Professor, though a temporary and
+unwilling citizen of a great city, could not get a
+single person to help him, unless it were some one
+who had fallen into disgrace.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p>
+
+<p>The Atalantans, it is true, helped one another in
+all cases of illness or difficulty or as an expression
+of private friendship; but the terrestrials, though
+objects of unbounded curiosity, were treated as quite
+beyond the pale, especially by the women, who would
+no more have thought of coming to their house than
+to a cave of wild beasts.</p>
+
+<p>Consequently, they were for a time almost in
+danger of being starved. They were allowed, it is true,
+to have their earthly supplies from the machine, but
+this could only be temporary at best, and they were far
+from wishful to strip the Asteroid bare, for they did
+not know what future use they might have for them.
+The King now and again sent them gifts from the
+palace, but these were not so often edible as their
+needs required. Tom once tried to sell some of the
+King’s gifts for food, but fortunately for his life he
+could not make himself understood, the Atalantan
+to whom he offered them declining with profuse
+politeness.</p>
+
+<p>“I pointed to my mouth half a dozen times,” protested
+Tom. “Even a bloomin’ Frenchman, if I had
+been in Paris, would have known I wanted a mutton
+chop, but that donkey only made me a bow.”</p>
+
+<p>“We shall have to eat grass yet, old fellow,” said
+Carysfort, “as though we were donkeys ourselves.”</p>
+
+<p>It may well be imagined that the position of their
+comrade Abercromby gave them the most acute
+uneasiness. Twice a day they were permitted to
+hear from him, and he used to write a sentence in
+English. As he was not allowed to make any
+allusion to his own position, he tried to keep up his
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>spirits and theirs by sending them burlesque mottoes
+and maxims, which at least proved that he was very
+much alive. They were such as these:—</p>
+
+<p>“Henry the Eighth and King Malchon should
+have changed planets for the good of their wives.”</p>
+
+<p>“Is an eclipse of the sun ever produced in these
+skies by an airship with a happy man sitting alone in
+the middle of it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Gladstone would have altered the Home Rule
+Bill had he been here,” etc. etc.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe, however, felt certain that poor Abercromby
+was far less jocose than he represented himself.
+He would have been very much more alarmed
+if he had known that every word he had written was
+sent in copy to the palace, even the English writing
+being imitated. Cleito gave him a warning intimation
+coupled with the strange remark that the
+Princess Melanitis nearly shook with laughing when
+she saw the paper. Naturally puzzled, he told Carmichael
+about it.</p>
+
+<p>“I should think,” said the Professor, who had very
+obvious reasons for what he said, “that this is only
+another proof that she is quite as unfeeling as her
+sister. Perhaps she guesses the import of his
+remarks, and chuckles over his useless complaints
+and sarcasms. You remember that she did not give
+you the least help when you made your brave but
+vain appeal.”</p>
+
+<p>“I suppose it is so,” replied he in a wearied
+tone. “I shall not trouble to find out why she
+laughed.”</p>
+
+<p>A day or two after this it chanced that Radcliffe
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>was walking by himself along the promenade by the
+lake, which reminded him strangely of some of his
+holiday haunts in old England. Groups of people
+were seated under the trees talking in languid tones,
+or else listening to some female singers, who, with
+quaint-looking instruments and rich, mellow voices,
+were singing the praises of the motherland. This
+was a very trite subject and pretty well worn, but the
+people seemed always to awake to interest at it.
+As he drew near he heard—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“Sing me the praise of the Land of Light,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Where the Lord of the sky looks down</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">On the hill and the meadow resplendently bright</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Reflecting his glory and crown.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Creation holds not a world so fair</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">With its sky-piercing hills and its far-spreading air.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“Its people are happy, their faces serene,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Untroubled their lives pass along.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The work of their hands gives them all things I ween,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The fruit of their toil is a song.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Yet fain would we know, when its beauties we miss,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Shall the spirit-clear eyes look on fairer than this?</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“Enough, for such questions unanswered must be,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Let not each generation complain;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">If life must end in uncertainty,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Let us sing in the absence of pain.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Since the half of our world is so wondrously fair</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Why should we grieve if the other be drear?”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Radcliffe felt strongly impelled to stand up and
+address them, but his courage failed him just at the
+critical moment. There was something in those faces
+so absolutely self-satisfied, so serenely proud, that it
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>seemed harder to appeal to them than to the fiercest
+and most hostile mob.</p>
+
+<p>“I see you are much interested, stranger, in one of
+our popular melodies,” said an Atalantan, who had
+been watching him closely.</p>
+
+<p>“I wish I could be one of you, even the lowliest,
+that I might fully know your ways of thought.
+How can I possibly be of any use to you until
+I do?”</p>
+
+<p>The stranger smiled. “Well, as a means to that
+end, instead of listening to poetry that I at least
+have heard many hundreds of times, you shall come
+home to our mansion, which is close by, and sup
+with us. We may be able to regale you with better
+music and song, and you may tell us something of
+your own planet. My wife is Mayana, the cousin
+of the princesses, and we owe you no small debt of
+gratitude.”</p>
+
+<p>In a half-dazed condition Radcliffe went in through
+the noble portico and into the mansion; there he
+was led up to Mayana and her younger sister Minya,
+who unbent themselves, and gave him a warm greeting.
+Supper of fruits and iced drinks was laid upon
+a side table, and the Atalantan gentleman served it
+to the others, not permitting Radcliffe to serve, as he
+was a guest.</p>
+
+<p>Conversation flowed freely.</p>
+
+<p>He told them of the journey across space and of
+their feelings when they drew near to the city. Again
+he was profusely thanked for having averted death
+and misery, but his efforts to exculpate the others
+were not as successful as he had hoped.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p>
+
+<p>The conversation turned upon the court, and
+Radcliffe sang the praises of the King in no sparing
+terms. Cleophon, Mayana’s husband, smiled and
+asked why he did not say a word in honour of the
+two princesses.</p>
+
+<p>“Because I am afraid,” he answered. He thought
+they would laugh at him, but they did not.</p>
+
+<p>“There is no serious reason for feeling this,” said
+Mayana; “you are high in favour, and may rise
+higher yet. But naturally we Atalantans prefer to
+be ruled by one of our own sex, though we all love
+and sympathise with the poor dear old King.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why does he look somewhat sad?” Radcliffe
+ventured to ask.</p>
+
+<p>“Cleophon, tell the story; our attendants have
+been requisitioned at the palace, so we are quite by
+ourselves,” said Mayana.</p>
+
+<p>“It is a strange tale,” he began. “Years ago the
+Princess Melanitis was the joy and brightness of
+her father’s heart; she was very high-spirited, an
+Atalantan of the Atalantans, and looked upon as
+the most able ruler who would ever sit upon our
+throne. She was stricken down by solar fever, and
+reduced to the very point of death. The King, distracted
+with grief, went to the Temple of the Sun
+on the lake-island yonder; he prayed all night to
+the God of Heaven, and, in his despair, he used
+words quite contrary to all justice and moderation.
+‘Let her recover,’ he said, ‘though she be a shame to
+me and to my house; let her recover, though she live
+to break my heart and the hearts of all my people.’
+The high priest told him that his prayer would be
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>answered, but he would live to rue the day that it
+was. When he returned to the palace the princess
+<i>had</i> recovered. She awoke from the very stupor of
+death. She stretched out her arms to him, but when
+she saw him she uttered a cry of horror that will
+not be forgotten by those that heard it. Her senses
+returned, and yet they did not return. She could
+not speak her own tongue; she did not know
+the meaning of anything that she saw; she did not
+know her way about the city or even the palace.
+She was infinitely more helpless than you were when
+you were made prisoner by the crowd.”</p>
+
+<p>“How dreadful!” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Malchon recognised his rashness and bowed
+bravely to it. He summoned the wisest men of the
+land, for wisdom seems one of the few things that
+we men can claim as our own.”</p>
+
+<p>“<i>Some</i> wisdom,” corrected Mayana.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I have a king’s word for it. But this is no
+jesting matter. She had to be taught everything
+from the very beginning. Gradually her mind came
+back, but her memory of the past never came back;
+she knew nothing of her former life except as she
+was told. But there is a stranger thing still. When
+she was again made fit to assume the duties of her
+princely station, she seemed to have lost all interest in
+them; she was just as clever as before, but her cleverness
+seemed so very different. She took up with
+science, especially astronomy. She was always paying
+visits to Aptaura, and would spend hours in the study
+of the heavens, of your planet, and of the outer planets.
+Even her opinions on religion were different; nothing
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>would induce her to pay her devotions in the Temple
+of the Sun. She took a great interest in the old bygone
+faith of Atalanta, when men prayed to the God
+of Heaven directly, and she gathered all the knowledge
+attainable as to the visit of the mysterious
+Divine Prince who, as you had the courage to tell us,
+was cruelly put to death by the inhuman savages in
+your own world, when He had come to die for them.
+Never within living memory was any audience so
+stirred as when you gave your straight answer to
+those awful questions put to you by her sister. My
+advice to you is to cultivate the friendship of
+Melanitis, and to answer all her enquiries about
+Karamandra and its people. You might even do
+something to chase the clouds from her brow.”</p>
+
+<p>“There have been cases in my own world of
+people who have been sun-stricken turning totally
+different afterwards,” said Radcliffe, who sat wrapped
+in thought; “an honest man has been known to
+steal and to commit the worst of crimes.”</p>
+
+<p>“I do not wonder,” put in Minya, “that she never
+worships in the Temple; her father has never once
+entered it again.”</p>
+
+<p>“What are her relations with her sister? I would
+not ask so grave a question, but for fear lest I may
+do the princess an injury by increasing her interest
+in things foreign to this planet.”</p>
+
+<p>“Pray have no fear on that ground,” replied
+Mayana. “So utterly has Melanitis ceased even to
+care to rule that Mexitli has it all her own way.
+Nothing but the will of the King induces Melanitis
+to be even considered Queen-Elect, and I have a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>secret opinion, based on some words Mexitli dropped
+to me, that, directly the King dies, there will be no
+conflict between them, for Melanitis will resign her
+claims. They were bitter enemies once, but they are
+friendly enough now, though only those are aware of
+it who are behind the scenes. But in my inmost
+heart I a little despise my elder cousin.”</p>
+
+<p>“A former King of Atalanta gave up the crown,”
+murmured Cleophon.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, but he was a <i>man</i>,” said Mayana; “you will
+not find a <i>queen</i> doing so.”</p>
+
+<p>“I take my corrections as I take my exercise—philosophically,”
+answered Cleophon.</p>
+
+<p>“You are the best of your sex,” replied Mayana;
+“I have no fault to find with you.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe rose, and bidding his host and hostess
+farewell, took his departure after Minya had sung in
+her beautiful voice two or three patriotic songs,
+“How Keraunion died for his friend,” “Make the
+best of half a world,” “One only nation.”</p>
+
+<p>“The Prince died in Karamandra for His enemies,”
+remarked Mayana thoughtfully; “I suppose that
+was better. But we never treated Him like that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Lady,” said Radcliffe, “are there not slights that
+are injuries more painful than death?”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps there are. You doubtless accuse us in
+the days of old for letting Him depart without a
+welcome, because our pride could not understand
+His humility. Well, if we were wrong, we have been
+punished, for we have had no one to teach us ever
+since.”</p>
+
+<p>“I labour under the triple disadvantage of being a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>Karamandran, a man, and, at every step I take, under
+the shadow of death, but I will tell you all I know,
+and all He taught in my own world.”</p>
+
+<p>Mayana coloured slightly, but the intense earnestness
+of the speaker disarmed her. “You can if you
+like,” she said; “I will see you again and you shall
+talk to us. But Melanitis is the one most certain to
+take up with these new ideas.”</p>
+
+<p>“You must be very careful what you do,” observed
+Cleophon. “You will have bitter prejudices to overcome.
+We are not a teachable people, we think we
+know all things, and where we admit our ignorance,
+we withhold our interest.”</p>
+
+<p>“At least this is a house full of friends and you
+are welcome,” said Mayana, and with these words in
+his ears Clarence Radcliffe turned away to enter the
+palace avenue, and then to the little dwelling in the
+light blue plantation which was supposed to be their
+home. For a moment his sense of utter loneliness
+was almost overwhelming. He wished himself anywhere,
+even facing again the perils of space.</p>
+
+<p>Home! Where was it? All places and even all
+planets seemed alike. The shadow of an airship
+passed overhead and uttered its peculiar wailing cry.
+This gave him the explanation of their startling surprise,
+and also something to think about.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">
+    CHAPTER XVI
+    <br>
+    MALCHON’S GOSPEL
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The Professor and the engineer had not had
+a very pleasant time. With their companion
+in prison and no longer able to enliven them with his
+rattling talk, with all their future hopes clouded,
+separated from their machine, and compelled to work
+at the most common details of existence, it was no
+wonder that they grew somewhat disheartened and
+sad. When they went out they found themselves
+shunned if not actively disliked, and though they
+went in fear of no <i>bodily</i> peril, it really seemed as if
+the whole population had decided to let them
+severely alone and to do nothing to help them.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was always in a condition of latent hostility,
+and it was well that he could not speak the native
+language, considering the number of times he swore
+in Anglo-Saxon. The very boys and girls in the
+streets and promenades would sometimes hurl opprobrious
+epithets at each member of the party; once
+a child struck Radcliffe as he was passing by; but
+this was going too far, and the offending youngster
+would have been severely punished if Radcliffe had
+not gone to the palace himself and interceded. This
+act was much talked about in the city, but it did not
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>have the effect that might have been hoped, although
+he ended the hostility of one family.</p>
+
+<p>One day, being seriously uneasy at this state of
+things, he went to crave an audience of the Princess
+Mexitli herself. She received him urbanely enough,
+but his pleading for the others was the reverse of
+successful.</p>
+
+<p>“You all had no right to come here,” she said,
+“and you must put up with what you receive. All I
+can promise is that when the man Abercromby is set
+free, which I will not allow till his time of punishment
+has expired, then you shall all travel in your
+airship to see the wonders of the southern pole. We
+shall probably go with you; it will suit the time
+when we make our annual progress thither. This will
+be a pleasure to you all, and to that you may look
+forward. And now I have a command to lay upon
+you. Will you take us over and explain to us the
+different parts of the Asteroid?”</p>
+
+<p>“Whenever your Highness shall direct.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then come with me now. This is the hour when
+we usually take our interval of sleep. But it will be
+all the better, as fewer eyes will be upon us.”</p>
+
+<p>In a little time the two princesses, each accompanied
+by an attendant, repaired to that part of the
+terrace-square on which the Asteroid was fixed.
+Radcliffe conducted them all over it, explaining the
+meaning of the different objects, and gave a full
+account of the mechanism and of the newly discovered
+force by which it had been propelled in
+space. He had never felt more free since he had
+alighted upon the planet; he could forget now that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>those whom he was addressing could send him by a
+word to a doom of terror, he felt rather like a lecturer
+demonstrating to a small class of pupils.</p>
+
+<p>The princesses seemed highly delighted with what
+they had seen, and declared that they would certainly
+travel in it. Among the last objects which
+they noticed was a book lying open upon one of the
+cabin tables. It was a New Testament. Melanitis
+took it up, turned over a few pages, and said to Radcliffe,
+“Why should you not turn this book into
+Atalantan? We have no print like this, but we have
+means of reproducing copies of our exquisite public
+handwriting. I could furnish you with helpers.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe started violently. “Do you know what
+that book is?” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“How should we, when we speak only our
+own language?” said Mexitli, with some tartness.
+“But let me tell you, I will allow no book from
+another planet to be circulated among the people,
+unless it be, in my opinion, useful, and not unsettling
+to their minds.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is the life and teaching of the Saviour Prince,
+and an account of how those who were faithful to
+Him carried on His work after His ascension,” replied
+Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Indeed!” said the princess, much astonished.
+“Well, you may translate it for us if you like. My
+father the King takes a great interest in all such
+deep subjects. But only a small part can be suitable
+for <i>our</i> world, I should say.”</p>
+
+<p>“Leave it to me, I will arrange everything for you,”
+said Melanitis quickly.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span></p>
+
+<p>“I insist upon having my voice in the matter,”
+Mexitli struck in. “This is too serious for even my
+sister to take wholly upon herself. However, religion
+is about the only thing I should be at all willing to
+accept from outside, because we have practically
+none of it ourselves. Sun-worship is ridiculous, but
+it is perhaps good enough for uncultured minds.”</p>
+
+<p>“Do the people treat the sun as a divinity, or
+as only the noblest representation of God in the
+visible creation?”</p>
+
+<p>“You must ask the philosophers about that. It
+is no duty of us princesses to go about and discover
+how much or how little the people believe. But
+come, the heat is too great here for such serious
+talk; we will return. Set about your book, and
+work at it till the rain-mist season is over, and
+then bring it to us.”</p>
+
+<p>The very next day two of the King’s scribes came
+to their house, much to the astonishment of both
+Carmichael and Carysfort. When Tom was informed,
+he said he could not see why they should
+pull the old Book about; what was good enough for
+Moses was good enough for him. The Professor had
+to break it to him that Moses had not been connected
+with either the English or Atalantan versions.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe worked hour after hour dictating and
+receiving hints in return, until the Gospel of St.
+Luke and the Acts of the Apostles had been rendered
+into very decent Atalantan speech, though,
+of course, there was a great lack of elegance and
+finish.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p>
+
+<p>While thus engaged the rain-mist season came on
+in its full intensity. The land was deluged with
+dew and moisture, fog and rime. The weather was
+distinctly chilly. Many of the people took occasion
+to pass the time in rest and sleep, and there was a
+succession of something like terrestrial mornings
+and evenings, according as the mist increased or
+diminished.</p>
+
+<p>Towards the end of the period the King sent for
+Radcliffe and had a long conversation with him. He
+praised his diligence, and said that he would do all
+in his power to further his wishes. But he advised
+him as a friend not to be too hasty in setting himself
+up as a teacher of the people. It would be
+better to induce the Atalantans to teach themselves.
+“You desire to incline my people to become disciples
+of Jesus Christ, as you terrestrials appear to call
+Him. Of course, this is but natural, for every disciple,
+worthy of the name, seeks to enlist other disciples
+for the teacher whom he admires. My poor
+Melanitis seems much disposed to enter into your
+plans, and you cannot do better than work through
+her. My other daughter will have probably greater
+influence than she, when I am gone to the Mansions
+of the Blest, and you have done well to conciliate
+her in every way that your conscience allows. I
+have not much direct power; it may be that Mexitli
+is impatient for my too prolonged life to end. I
+blame her not; but I would give much to be sure
+that my darling Melanitis loves me as she did in the
+olden days. But a truce to this, though sometimes I
+feel I can talk more freely to you than to my own
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>people. We are swathed in forms and ceremonies,
+in pride and social prejudice, and I long to be able
+to converse freely, even with a stranger.”</p>
+
+<p>“Would your Majesty tell me the story I have
+desired so much to know: how, and under what circumstances,
+He, who is the Master whom I serve,
+came to Atalanta?”</p>
+
+<p>The King paused a moment. Then, inviting
+Radcliffe to be seated, he said, “This is the pith of
+a sad and shameful story, the most disgraceful in the
+whole history of my race. My people lived in much
+the same place as now, though on the northern shores
+of the lake of Meloria. Atalanta was not built as
+a city. We were but few in number then, about
+twenty thousand maybe. A stranger of noble and
+gracious aspect came over the Keraunian Hills. We
+had suffered much from sickness and calamity, flood
+and fire. He came and nursed our sick back to life;
+He taught us many useful things; He benefited us in
+every possible way; He did menial services for us;
+but He told us that He was the Son of the Mighty
+God, and that, if we put our trust in Him, He would
+make us noble and happy and wise while we lived,
+and then take us to His own Home beyond the stars
+where we should be His angels and serve Him for ever.
+But the people of Atalanta would not accept Him;
+they believed that He came from some other planet,
+but not that He was the Prince of Heaven. He gave
+them many proofs of His divine greatness, but very
+few accepted Him or became His disciples. This
+went on for some time, and at last the men of
+Atalanta got exasperated; they accused Him of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>saying that they were sinners against God, whereas
+they committed no crimes but were just and upright.
+At last they arrested Him, and the Council of Elders,
+for we had no kings and queens then, sentenced Him
+to work for Atalanta by building a road over the
+Keraunian Hills. He toiled at this work for a whole
+year, some of those who loved Him working with
+Him.</p>
+
+<p>“At last this cursed road was built, and when it was
+finished they said, ‘We will not hurt You nor ill-treat
+You; we bid You depart and leave us in peace.’
+Then He said, ‘I am going to Karamandra to suffer
+there for the sins of its people and to proclaim to
+them the true way of salvation. But as for you, ye
+shall increase and wax mighty, and have great riches
+and prosperity, and dwell for many centuries unmolested
+and unvisited. Ye shall mourn during those
+days that ye have no sure knowledge of eternal
+things, but no knowledge shall be given you till the
+hour comes that, as a people, ye shall humble yourselves.
+And in the end of the ages I will come again,
+first to the guiltier world and then to this which
+is less guilty, and from both take to Myself an elect
+assembly of those who are My true disciples. Meantime
+love and serve one another, as I have served
+you, and the work which I go to do upon Karamandra
+shall avail for this world also. Believe in
+Me and My words, and wait, be the time never so
+long, for the Return of the Light which you now
+despise.’</p>
+
+<p>“Then He went away, and was seen no more. This
+is the sum of what I have to tell you, my friend;
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>seek to make the best use of it that you can, and go
+forward wisely and prudently.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe encountered Melanitis as he left the
+King’s private cabinet. She smiled upon him, but
+her eyes showed that she had been weeping intensely.
+He more than suspected that she must have known
+of what had passed, but he did not question her.</p>
+
+<p>That same evening Radcliffe was wending his way
+to the house as well as he could; the mist had lifted
+somewhat, but showed evident signs of swooping
+down again. He had just turned into the Grand
+Avenue when a voice was heard from behind a tree,
+“Will you oblige, sir, by telling me the way to
+Professor Carmichael’s house?”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe stopped aghast! Here was some one in
+Venus accosting him in English! For a moment he
+stood petrified, then a hand was laid on his shoulder.
+It was Frank Abercromby!</p>
+
+<p>The latest joke had pretty well used him up. He
+was more like a scarecrow than a man.</p>
+
+<p>“What have they been doing to you?” said Radcliffe,
+his growing admiration of things Atalantan
+sinking down to zero.</p>
+
+<p>“Teaching me to love princesses. But come, old
+man, will there be a good meat tea ready for us when
+we get back?”</p>
+
+<p>“The Professor and the engineer and Tom scarcely
+know how to live. We have had to grow our own
+vegetables and fruits, and Tom, the other day, found
+he had planted some the wrong end uppermost.”</p>
+
+<p>“Everything seems upside down in this beastly
+planet. Whatever did we come here for? Why didn’t
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>we pull up half-way and start back? How are the
+boss and the engineer going to manage?”</p>
+
+<p>“We shall be allowed to travel in the Asteroid to
+the southern pole when the weather changes.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s something. I shall vote for going further.”</p>
+
+<p>“But we shall not be allowed to go alone.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not <i>alone</i>!” shrieked Frank.</p>
+
+<p>“No; the princesses are going with us.”</p>
+
+<p>“The deuce they are! And did you invite them?”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly not: they invited themselves.”</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby swore steadily. “Well, we can drop
+one at either pole and then make off for earth. I
+am sick of the whole business. So are the others
+too, I fancy.”</p>
+
+<p>They walked on silent. Then Abercromby said,
+“How are you getting on about Melanitis?”</p>
+
+<p>“I love her as a sister.”</p>
+
+<p>“Does she love you as a brother?”</p>
+
+<p>“Look here, Frank, all frivolity must end. I am
+going to give the New Testament to Atalanta; the
+Royal House have practically settled it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Take care they don’t practically settle you.”</p>
+
+<p>“I believe this whole nation is on the eve of a
+change.”</p>
+
+<p>“Great Scott!” was all that Abercromby could say.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">
+    CHAPTER XVII
+    <br>
+    THE PERILS OF CROSS CURRENTS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Fortunately for himself, Abercromby had
+a very cheerful temperament, and the presence
+and society of his friends soon dissipated his gloom.
+He was reticent as to his experiences in the prison,
+but it did not seem that he had been treated with
+any positive cruelty, but rather with neglect.</p>
+
+<p>The warders seldom showed themselves, and he
+was left to his own melancholy reflections, his chief
+suffering consisting in the scantiness of the food
+given to him.</p>
+
+<p>The party sat down to their rather sorry meal
+and then retired to rest, which he especially
+needed.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, as it seemed to offer a prospect of
+fine weather, Radcliffe went with Abercromby for a
+long walk. They penetrated to the west end of the
+city, ascending a hill, from whence they enjoyed a
+fine view over the Lake and its island, with the dome-shaped
+Temple glittering in the sun. Then they
+plunged into a forest glade, where they met but very
+few people, most of whom saluted them with at least
+a semblance of courtesy; and then they rested in a
+kind of secluded dell, where they found themselves
+altogether alone. They had not, however, been
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>there many minutes before they noticed an ominous
+fading of the light, and soon the rain mist was upon
+them. Fortunately a few hundreds of yards away
+stood a low-roofed house in a clearing surrounded by
+a garden in no very good state of order. They took
+refuge in an out-building, but they had to retreat
+into the innermost recess before they could find a
+rain-proof spot. The wall formed only a thin partition,
+and they could hear the noise of a rather
+animated conversation going on within. Not wishing
+to be surprised as eavesdroppers, they knocked
+loudly at the wall, and the next moment there was a
+sudden hush, a sound of footsteps, a door suddenly
+opened, and two men appeared.</p>
+
+<p>The taller of the two uttered a sharp cry, but
+instantly held out his heavy hand to welcome them.
+“Come in, my lords,” he said; “you are just as
+welcome as if you belonged to this down-trodden
+world of ours, and may help to lift us up if you are
+willing.”</p>
+
+<p>He led them into a sort of back kitchen where
+some food was being prepared, though its perfume
+was scarcely inviting. There were half a dozen to a
+dozen persons present, all men, for a wonder.</p>
+
+<p>“Brother Parmenton,” said the tall man, “these
+new-comers need no introduction. They are two of
+the terrestrials. Praise the Sun God for hiding his
+august face awhile, or else they had not come here
+for shelter.”</p>
+
+<p>“Are the men in your planet masters or slaves?”
+asked the worthy who was addressed as Parmenton.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Both,” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Do they rule their women folk or do their women
+folk rule them?”</p>
+
+<p>“That depends upon circumstances,” said Abercromby.
+“I fancy our world is getting rather like
+yours.”</p>
+
+<p>“Will you help us to make our world what you
+imply yours was in days past?”</p>
+
+<p>“What mean you by that?”</p>
+
+<p>“Help us—the people—to be men and not slaves.”</p>
+
+<p>“And what are we to do, and are you going to do
+for the other people?”</p>
+
+<p>“Fencing with words is not good when men are
+determined.”</p>
+
+<p>“And still less when the ladies are.”</p>
+
+<p>“True; therefore we intend to practise deeds and
+not words.”</p>
+
+<p>“We have waited centuries before doing so,” cried
+Mauro Katakalon, a rough-looking Atalantan who
+at least enjoyed the luxury of two names.</p>
+
+<p>“Look here, Clarence,” said Abercromby; “what
+the dickens does all this mean? Are we going to
+run our necks into a social revolution? If so, I beg
+leave to back out.”</p>
+
+<p>“My masters,” said Radcliffe earnestly, “the beasts
+of the field will ride over you until you become true
+disciples of the God of Heaven. He alone can make
+any one free.”</p>
+
+<p>A shout of derisive laughter greeted his words.
+“That is the man who has come here to preach
+a new religion,” said Medon, a third member of the
+party. “No use in him, he is one of the palace
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>slaves; talk to the other. The tyrant put him in
+prison for two months. He will listen to reason.”</p>
+
+<p>“We have, as strangers, nothing to do with your
+politics, whether social or domestic,” said Abercromby
+hotly, “and having barely saved our lives we do not
+mean to place them in peril again. If there is to be
+a war of sexes, or any other war, on this amiable
+planet, you must fight your own game. <i>We</i> are not
+going to be mixed up in it.”</p>
+
+<p>“You do not hesitate to turn our religion upside
+down,” said Parmenton angrily, “and Mexitli is quite
+content you should, in order to crush by your help
+the one venerated leader we have left. When she
+has done that, <i>your</i> turn will come next.”</p>
+
+<p>“I shall obey my conscience and do my duty,”
+answered Radcliffe firmly. “My Master Christ shall
+be the true King of Atalanta.”</p>
+
+<p>“Say that again,” shouted Medon, “and you shall
+pay dearly for it. Go and preach your wretched
+religion in Atalanta city, and see how you fare at the
+hands of every honest citizen.”</p>
+
+<p>“Take my advice,” said Mauro Katakalon, “listen
+to Melanitis; <i>she</i> sympathises with our wrongs and
+would redress them if she could. She is nearly as
+much a woman of your world as if she had come
+from there. She is dead opposed to our whole
+social system, and would make every Atalantan
+equal.”</p>
+
+<p>“She is a Christian,” said Parmenton vehemently,
+“and equally opposed to us in faith. But I would
+forgive her even that, for she would let us have a
+taste of freedom. As for you,” he continued, pointing
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>to Abercromby, “you have been covered with indelible
+disgrace through having been in prison, and
+you can only escape it by joining us in founding a
+new social order. In a very short time Atalanta will
+be free, and Mexitli hung on a gibbet in front of the
+Temple at whose worship she has mocked.”</p>
+
+<p>“This talk has lasted long enough,” said Radcliffe
+sternly. “We are no better than other men; we
+have not, I think, been accorded the hospitality that
+was due to us; but, for all that, we take Atalanta as
+we find it, and utterly renounce all unholy and sanguinary
+deeds. Allow us to pass, if you please; if
+not, we shall resort to force. Wherever we go we
+are watched, and if we were detained, <i>you</i> would
+answer for it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let them go,” grumbled Medon, “we are better
+without them. We shall have a nobler leader than
+they, and a trained force to support him.”</p>
+
+<p>When they found themselves in the open air
+Abercromby gave himself a shake, like a dog coming
+out of the water. Radcliffe remarked: “They all
+seem to harp upon the change which has come over
+Melanitis, though I suspect it has been greatly exaggerated
+by credulous report.”</p>
+
+<p>“Possibly,” said Abercromby. “How long is it
+since her illness and her extraordinary recovery, the
+unlucky result of Malchon’s rash prayer?”</p>
+
+<p>“Seven years,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“The years of Venus, I suppose. Just oblige a
+duffer by telling him how long it takes Venus to
+rotate round the sun?”</p>
+
+<p>“Two hundred and twenty-four days, I believe.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p>
+
+<p>Abercromby turned his head very sharply; they
+had just come in view of the Lake and the Temple.
+Radcliffe did not notice that his companion had gone
+white to the lips.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>When they reached home they found the Professor
+and the others in rather a flutter of excitement.
+“We have had a visitor,” said Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“Male or female?” asked Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Male, of course; no other would come unless to
+shoot us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who was it?” enquired Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Lydon.”</p>
+
+<p>“And who the dickens is Lydon?” said Abercromby.
+“Don’t dole us out our information by
+instalments.”</p>
+
+<p>“The high priest of the Sun,” answered the Professor.
+“He came with two attendant priests, clad
+in gorgeous robes and with full ceremony and state.
+He remained about an hour, talking over all matters
+of interesting information.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, and more than that,” observed Carysfort.
+“He told us that there would be a great festival of
+the Sun on the first regular day of the sunny season,
+and he hoped we would honour it by our presence.
+He also told us that the archives of the Temple contained
+documents of priceless importance, written by
+those who lived near to the time of the event in
+which Radcliffe is specially interested. He will
+show them to Radcliffe if he will pay a visit to
+the island.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span></p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe and Abercromby exchanged significant
+glances.</p>
+
+<p>“Did he express his views as to any social or
+domestic matters connected with the well-being of
+the commonwealth?” enquired Abercromby, who
+seldom used elegant phraseology except when he
+was joking.</p>
+
+<p>“I do not think he is at all friendly to much that
+now goes on,” observed the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“Then may I suggest that we do not accept his
+hospitality till after the festival is over?” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“I would not make a foe of him,” observed the
+engineer.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe went out by himself and took his way to
+Mayana’s house. He failed to see her, but Minya
+granted him an interview, and before he was aware
+of it she had put to him a string of questions the full
+drift of which he did not quite clearly understand.
+But he answered her as explicitly as he could, and
+she then said that he ought on no account to visit the
+Temple, it would be as much as his life was worth
+to do so; he must not ask any reasons but be led
+entirely by her advice, which was given in all good
+faith.</p>
+
+<p>When he got home he found that Abercromby had
+been doing his best to persuade the others that
+Lydon was not to be trusted, despite all the treasures
+which he might have at disposal to show them. Tom
+was not altogether of his way of thinking; he was
+apparently anxious to see the old conjurer’s bag of
+tricks, as he elegantly expressed it. The Professor
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>and the engineer were not moved so much by literary
+instincts or general curiosity as by a desire not to
+provoke any more hostilities.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby said: “You are all of you as credulous
+as the Cambridge freshman who was disinclined to
+subscribe to his college boat, but as he took in whatever
+we told him, we said one day, ‘Tearle, you ought
+to be ashamed. The Vice-Chancellor was running
+along the tow-path in flannels this afternoon, bawling
+out, “Well rowed, Trinity!”’ that fetched him quite,
+and he gave us a guinea on the strength of it.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe had come in, and his appearance suggested
+to Tom a new argument. “Don’t you think
+that as Mr. Radcliffe wants to be a missionary to
+these ’ere savages the priests had better take him in
+hand in their college so as to give him points?”</p>
+
+<p>“My dear Tom,” said Abercromby, when he had
+finished laughing, “Mr. Radcliffe hardly wants to be
+coached in paganism.”</p>
+
+<p>“Bless you all!” said Tom, “I’m a fool. I thought
+they were Christians, just for a minute.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">
+    CHAPTER XVIII
+    <br>
+    THE FESTIVAL OF PANACLA
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The first day of the month Panacla, meaning
+“the forth-shining,” had now commenced, when
+the rain mist was supposed to have finished its
+mission in Southern Atalanta.</p>
+
+<p>The Vale of Meloria was bathed in the most
+exquisite light, mellowed and tempered by the snow-white
+clouds that trailed along the sky at an immeasurable
+altitude.</p>
+
+<p>A large crowd of people had gathered by the Lake
+shore watching the island that lay nearly in front of
+the great city. At the foot of the Grand Avenue a
+line of palace guards was posted, the meaning of
+whose presence was not at first quite clear to the
+terrestrial party. Cleito smiled significantly when
+the Professor enquired if the procession would approach
+the palace. “Wait and see,” was all he said.</p>
+
+<p>At last a flash of light leaped from one of the
+pinnacles of the island Temple. Some of the people
+kneeled down as though to pay their devotions.
+Others did not, but stood scornfully erect.</p>
+
+<p>Soon a cry arose and hands were pointed towards
+the Lake. A barge gaily painted, propelled by a
+number of oarsmen, was gliding rapidly towards
+a landing-stage, a quarter of a mile to the east.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>Two other barges followed, one having a superb
+gilded canopy. The occupants of these landed and
+were received with adoration by a kneeling crowd.
+Then a procession was formed. The vanguard consisted
+of a troop of young children in pure white
+with coral-coloured fillets in their hair, holding in
+their hands white wands of sharp-pointed metal.
+These formed a semicircle, grouping themselves into
+a guard of honour; then came a band of players
+beating some oval-shaped instruments and raising a
+weird intonation. Following them was a woman
+robed as a priestess. She sang with rich, penetrating
+voice—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“O Lord of Light! O Lord of Light!</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Filling the land with glory bright,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Thine enemy retires&#x2060;<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>&#x2060;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Into the darkness whence he came,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Awed by thy majesty and fame,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Cowed by thy burning fires.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“While Atalanta shall endure</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Thy worship shall stand fast and sure,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">All its proud foes defy;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Though thou mayest veil thy glorious head,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Thou comest forth to smite with dread</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Each impious enemy.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Hail, Asti! Potentate and King,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Receive the worship that we bring.”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> The rain mist.</p></div>
+
+<p>As she passed by she was followed by the priests
+of the Temple, each carrying golden spears. Then
+came a canopy under which an altar was borne, with
+a solar disk at each corner and a larger one in the
+centre. Behind came a litter borne upon the
+shoulders of four tall and powerful men, and reclining
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>upon it was the high priest Lydon. The
+procession halted. The litter-bearers laid their
+burden down. Lydon stepped forth. He placed
+the altar in position; he kindled the central disk,
+which revolved with a fiery radiation. Then he
+turned to the crowd, most of whose members had
+now kneeled down. His eyes fell upon the Professor
+and his party, who stood somewhat uncomfortably
+prominent. He shot them a keen glance. Then he
+said: “Men of Karamandra, there are those who
+brand you as barbarians; the priesthood knows no
+such distinction. Come ye, offer incense to the Sun
+God, the first of all invited to draw nigh.” So saying
+he placed the vessel of incense in the hands of
+Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>“I must go through this farce, I suppose,” said
+Carmichael, “though I should be ashamed for my
+Cambridge friends to see me. It is only a form.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, of course,” assented Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“You shall <i>not</i>!” exclaimed Clarence Radcliffe,
+and he struck the vessel out of the Professor’s hand.
+For an instant there was an awful silence. Every
+one stood in paralysed astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>“This may be my last moment,” exclaimed Radcliffe.
+“You may tear me in pieces, but I will offer
+no incense, except the incense of my heart, to Him
+who is not the material sun, but the Sun of Righteousness.”</p>
+
+<p>“Silence, blasphemer!” shouted Lydon, hoarse
+with rage. “What ho! guards and champions of
+our ancestral faith, take this son of Karamandra,
+who has insulted us and our god, and remove
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>him to the sacred island. There he shall be
+taught how to frame his words and acts with discretion.”</p>
+
+<p>Before they could seize Radcliffe, Abercromby and
+Jackson had felled the two nearest to the ground,
+and grasping their companion they endeavoured to
+pull him away. The crowd was in the wildest commotion,
+some cursing him for his sacrilege, others
+applauding the act. Some urged on the priests to
+secure the prisoner, others cried, “Long live the
+palace and the throne. Down with the traitors!”</p>
+
+<p>In the midst of the turmoil Radcliffe had mounted
+on a seat, and addressing his voice to those nearest,
+he said, “People of Atalanta! How long will you
+worship that which is only a furnace of molten fire,
+fit emblem of punishment and of woe? What
+would the sun do for you if the God who placed it
+there were to cause its light to fail? Would not this
+side of the world be even as the other? I set before
+you Him who is greater than all things which He
+hath made—eternal, immortal, invisible. He can
+guide you to the Mansions of the Blest, into which
+all who love Him are safely gathered,”—here Radcliffe’s
+voice broke a little. “Atalantans! worship
+God. He has given you all things, even the very
+powers with which you neglect Him.”</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Mayana herself, heading a detachment
+of the palace attendants and wearing the red
+coronet as a symbol of authority, thrust herself
+forward, followed by Cleophon and Minya. “Begone,
+Lydon!” she said. “Go back to your island and
+deem yourself fortunate that you are allowed to dwell
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>there. All your plots are known. This is the last
+time that you shall ever issue forth with your rebellious
+rabble to delude and incite the people.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will go,” said Lydon in a voice inarticulate for
+rage, “but the cup of your iniquities and that of
+Mexitli is running over. I—or rather the Sun God—shall
+be avenged.”</p>
+
+<p>“Behold the powerlessness of your god, for his
+face is about to be hidden!” shouted Radcliffe. And
+as he spoke the rain mist gathered and veiled the
+fair landscape. Shrieks of terror and despair, intermingled
+with laughter and mockery, came from
+different parts of the crowd. Radcliffe suddenly
+heard a cry from Abercromby. He started to ascertain
+the cause. As he did so he felt a violent shock,
+and all consciousness left him.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>“Where am I?” said Radcliffe when he had somewhat
+regained his senses. He was in a luxuriously
+furnished room. Melanitis was bending over him,
+supporting his head upon her arm. “I have been
+dreaming that I was in Wales, going up the Portmadoc
+Road to Pont Aberglaslyn Pass with Lilian.
+But what nonsense am I talking, and in English
+too!” he added, correcting himself. “Lady, I did
+not know you were there. Has my speech been
+wandering? I could have declared I heard some one
+singing to me an old English song, which we—my
+wife and I—used to sing together.”</p>
+
+<p>“You will be always true to her, will you not?”
+said the princess.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Unto death and beyond it,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Did you ever stay with her and her father the
+year before you were married at a town called
+Tenby?” asked Melanitis.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe started up on the coach, his face rigid
+with amazement. “Yes, the happiest time in all my
+life, except one,” he added. “But how—<i>how</i> did you
+know it?”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis smiled. “I know a good many things,”
+she said.</p>
+
+<p>“Is second-sight understood in this planet?”</p>
+
+<p>“No; and if it were I should not practise any
+such arts.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have you ever visited my world in your
+dreams?”</p>
+
+<p>“Dreams are of little account, except day dreams.
+But a truce to this. I want you to realise two
+things. One is that I perfectly sympathise with you
+in your life sorrow. Another is, that God may
+provide you a way out of it sooner perhaps than
+you think.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe was about to answer when the door
+opened and King Malchon entered. The old man,
+who looked worn and haggard, took the seat which
+Melanitis had vacated, and said, “I rejoice that you
+are recovering, my son. My daughter here has
+given you all the resources of her medical skill, and
+has gradually nursed you back to life. A great debt
+is it that you owe to her. But we all owe a debt to
+you hardly less great. Your conduct three days ago
+helped us to frustrate for the present the designs
+of our enemy.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p>
+
+<p>“God be thanked for that. But what happened
+to me?”</p>
+
+<p>“You were struck upon the head by a club hurled
+by one of the traitors in order to silence you,” said
+the King. “He would have repeated the blow had
+not the fire-tube which Mayana held in her hand
+smitten him. There was a conflict between the
+loyalists among the people and the rebels, and several
+lives were lost. No such thing has happened among
+us for generations. The rebels were compelled to
+retreat to their island and its temple fortress. Mexitli
+and Melanitis both urged me to carry it by assault
+and to put its colony to death, but I shrink from
+such bloodshed as would result. I have forbidden,
+however, any similar festival being held again.”</p>
+
+<p>“Has the lady Mayana or any member of her
+house been injured?”</p>
+
+<p>“None; for the good Cleito arrived with the guards
+just in time.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where are my companions?”</p>
+
+<p>“Lodged within the palace. I shall not allow
+them to be outcasts any more.”</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the day was spent by Radcliffe in the
+society, now of the King, now of Abercromby, now
+of Melanitis. They all helped to make the hours
+pass pleasantly. Only when he was alone did he
+ponder in his mind the extraordinary knowledge
+which Melanitis so evidently possessed. And when
+the Professor came in to see him he told him about
+it and he asked his opinion: “The simplest imaginable,
+my dear fellow. You have been delirious, and
+she has overheard you talk.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p>
+
+<p>“But why is she so solicitous that I shall always be
+true to the memory of my lost love?”</p>
+
+<p>“I do not pretend to fathom women, but perhaps
+she has heard rumours that affected herself, and she
+naturally wishes by your help to give the lie direct to
+them.”</p>
+
+<p>“But she says that God will, sooner than I think,
+make a way for me to end my sorrow.”</p>
+
+<p>“I see more than one explanation of her pious
+desire, my dear Radcliffe, but I won’t pursue the
+subject.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where is Mexitli?”</p>
+
+<p>“Absent on state business.”</p>
+
+<p>“Is she resentful for what I did?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not in the least. She is hugely delighted. The
+danger does not lie with her. Be very careful of the
+other one.”</p>
+
+<p>“Abercromby says the opposite.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then chum with the King. <i>He</i> is safe enough.”</p>
+
+<p>Before they retired to rest, Mayana entered,
+asking to know how the sick patient was. She
+offered to sing him one of the sweetest songs of
+Atalanta. It was entitled “Little Queen of the
+Night.” She took up a harp-shaped instrument, and
+seating herself by the side of Melanitis, sang—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“When the birds shall homeward fly</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And the sunlight shall descend</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Where Aptaura rears on high</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">His steep rampart to defend.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Is there any light beyond</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">As I face the frost-bound field,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Do the stars with eyes so fond</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Their sweet magic influence wield?</div>
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“Aye! the brightest and the best</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Of the starry host above,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">From the east unto the west,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Looketh down with glance of love.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">’Tis the little Queen of Night,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That surveys the cold drear waste,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Yet her self-forgetful light</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Whispers: ‘Hasten, traveller, haste.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“‘O be not further led</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">By fond foolish thoughts of me,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">For I shine upon the dead</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">In my helpless sympathy.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Turn your face towards a light</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That is nobler far than mine,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And the little Queen of Night</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Will not grieve nor yet repine.’”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Beautiful, beautiful!” said Radcliffe. “And that
+little Queen of Night is my world that only shines on
+the cold dead hemisphere of Venus.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">
+    CHAPTER XIX
+    <br>
+    AN AERIAL VOYAGE WITH DIVERS EXPERIENCES
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>A week later they made their start for the southern
+pole. Mexitli was to lead the expedition as far
+as the island of Melandria; her return would depend
+upon news from the city.</p>
+
+<p>“The first thing we shall have to consider,” said
+Abercromby, “is to find room in our blessed machine
+for the whole multitude of maidens who are keen
+upon coming with us. <i>We</i> shall have to tidy up, of
+course.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t trouble yourself, my dear man,” said Carmichael.
+“The engineer consents to stay at home,
+and Jackson will stay with him. We three will go
+and sleep in the store-room, while the cabins and
+the dining-room can be allotted to the people for
+whose coming you are so naturally zealous.”</p>
+
+<p>In fact, the machine was at the travellers’ disposal
+now, and they spent several days in upholstering it
+according to Atalantan taste. It was about a week
+before all was ready for the start, and by then the
+weather had finally cleared and the heat was rather
+severe.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe had been indeed nursed back to life and
+health by Melanitis. Abercromby’s attitude to her
+was rather curious. He was always most courteous
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>and deferential, save in one point, that he constantly
+talked in English to Radcliffe when she was present,
+and often contrived, even in the midst of a conversation
+that seemed to be jocose, to make allusions to
+the past life-sorrow of his friend. He would endeavour
+to throw them together as much as possible,
+and keep himself in the background. All this was
+not only puzzling but irritating to the Professor, who
+seldom spoke to Melanitis except when courtesy
+required, for he not only disliked her but feared exceedingly
+as to what was going to happen. One
+day, when they were on the eve of departure, he
+remarked to Abercromby: “The thing that beats
+me is to understand how a woman of Mexitli’s
+character can be blind to what is so patent—that her
+sister, and one whom she must regard as a barbarian,
+are very much in love. At first it was all on the
+woman’s part, but now I am convinced that Radcliffe
+is himself yielding, at least so far as this, that he
+gives to Melanitis the second place in his heart. The
+princess hopes, no doubt, in time to win the first,
+though she is too wise to hurry matters. But all
+this must be clear to Mexitli, and why does she not
+show her hand?”</p>
+
+<p>“You told me yourself that there is no accounting
+for the ways of women or their inward logic,” said
+Abercromby, “but I am going to ask <i>you</i> a question.
+Is Melanitis in the least degree afraid of what her
+sister might do to her?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not in the least, so far as I can see, and this is
+the queerest part of it all. But do <i>you</i> yourself,
+Abercromby, trust Melanitis?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Perfectly.”</p>
+
+<p>“Do you, not as a rival of course, but in the way
+of brotherly affection, love her?”</p>
+
+<p>“I love Radcliffe more.”</p>
+
+<p>“Because you have known him longer?”</p>
+
+<p>“For that and other reasons.”</p>
+
+<p>“I believe you know more than you choose to
+say.”</p>
+
+<p>“I want you not to think me a lunatic before it is
+necessary.”</p>
+
+<p>Mayana, Minya, and Cleophon remained behind
+in the palace to assist the King in the event of
+dangers or difficulties.</p>
+
+<p>The two princesses were to accompany the expedition,
+and were (it was distinctly declared) to lead
+it in every sense of the word. Several aerial vessels
+were to follow in their wake. Malchon, however,
+was haunted by an uneasy thought, and one day he
+said to Radcliffe in Mexitli’s presence: “You leave
+behind two of your number as hostages for your
+return and our own airships will follow you. I
+trust you fully, my son, and I am beginning to trust
+your friend Abercromby, but your leader is a man of
+science and thinks naturally more of his people than
+of me and mine. I know the capabilities of your
+machine and that it could, in a few minutes, leave us
+for ever. Will you promise me, in the name of Jesus
+Christ, that you will not do this but be faithful to the
+trust I repose in you and bring the princesses safe
+back to the palace?”</p>
+
+<p>“I will do this and also more. We shall not take
+our terrestrial weapons but leave them behind in
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>your safe custody. Let the princesses take their
+own weapons, and it is we who shall be at their
+mercy, not they at ours.”</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli took both the hands of Radcliffe in hers
+and pressed them.</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael was not altogether pleased with this
+arrangement. He indignantly denied that he had
+ever contemplated “doing a bolt,” as Abercromby
+phrased it, but he was rather perplexed to know
+what might happen to them if by chance they put
+their guests in a bad temper.</p>
+
+<p>On the first day of the new month—Antarana, meaning
+“the greater heat”—the party took possession
+of the Asteroid; the King, accompanied by his
+guards, councillors, and attendants, amongst whom
+Carysfort and Jackson were present, came to bid
+them farewell. Jackson, forgetting it was Venus,
+took off his hat by way of respect, but the sun soon
+caused him to discover his mistake. Mayana and
+her sister were affectionately embraced by Mexitli,
+who whispered in their ears some warning words
+that evidently had Lydon for their chief object, as his
+name was heard.</p>
+
+<p>The dining-room window was thrown open, and
+the balcony fixed in its place, so that the fresh air
+might penetrate to every part of the machine. The
+Professor went to the conning-tower and set the
+engines in motion. He was rather vexed that Minola,
+Mexitli’s maid of honour, stood by his side, silent,
+but noting everything that was done. The others
+gathered on the balcony watching the landscape
+beneath them. They were all in the gayest mood,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>more like frolicsome children than people who, even
+then, held, or were held by, the powers of death.
+Mexitli quite threw off her haughtiness and seemed
+thoroughly to enjoy herself, and to want all the rest
+to do the same. To Abercromby alone she was
+still a trifle distant, but the latter was so perfectly
+respectful that it soon disarmed her.</p>
+
+<p>“I say, old man,” began Abercromby to Radcliffe,
+“I wonder what the Proctor would say to me now.
+I once ran him half round Cambridge, but I should
+have drawn the line at an airship. Have you heard
+at Oxford the song of the Proctor? It is deeply
+pathetic, but not quite applicable to this side of Venus.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“Every proctor has his bull-dog,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Man of doughty might,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">When he sallies forth in full tog</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">’Mid the shades of night.”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>“Is that poetry you are reciting?” said Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, a song of Cambridge, the town where I
+passed my examinations—no, no, where I pursued
+my studies.”</p>
+
+<p>“Please sing it to me in Atalantan.”</p>
+
+<p>“How the deuce am I to do it?” said Abercromby.
+“Do give me a tip.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe promptly said—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“When the bold-faced idler flies</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">From the work he ought to do,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Man and beast, with vengeful cries,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Through the streets the knave pursue.”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>“How interesting!” said Mexitli. “I <i>should</i> like
+to see it.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p>
+
+<p>All this time Melanitis had been in a condition of
+explosive laughter.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Asteroid had been passing above
+the south side of the great city and then away over
+the gap between the two hills. The country seemed
+to grow every mile more beautiful—forest and
+meadow, waterfall and bubbling stream, with houses
+of quaint architecture, both small and great, perched
+on eminences, surrounded by groves and gardens,
+while a level causeway led from the south of the
+capital through the environs, stretching far away
+into the distance, curving in a south-westerly direction.
+Every now and again an airship passed them
+on its way to the city.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby narrated with much animation the
+story of the aerial monster whose cry of wailing had
+so suddenly disturbed their encampment.</p>
+
+<p>The face of Melanitis grew grave. “It was the
+ship of death,” she said; “a prisoner condemned by
+us was taken to the dark hemisphere to die.”</p>
+
+<p>“How was he killed?” asked Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“He perished in the cold night,” said Mexitli in a
+rather hard tone. “He was a spy of the priests, who
+sought to stir up disaffection. When the ship of
+death sighted the polar terrors, it was lowered to the
+frozen ice-field; the man was turned adrift with the
+customary words, ‘Unworthy of the glories of the
+day, worthy of the terrors of the night.’ The task
+accomplished, the ship returns and awaits its next
+hapless passenger.”</p>
+
+<p>“Would that have been <i>our</i> doom, princess?”</p>
+
+<p>“It might have been; it very nearly was. By the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>by, you seriously transgressed our laws in haranguing
+the people in a place of public resort, as you did on
+the occasion of that absurd festival. But, of course,
+you were on our side, so you won’t hear any more
+about it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Are open-air addresses contrary to the laws of
+Atalanta?” asked Radcliffe in a rather pained
+tone.</p>
+
+<p>“I can alter the laws if needs be,” said Mexitli;
+“but you must seek my permission before you adopt
+any such method again. I will give you plenty of
+other means of carrying out your plans. You see,
+any address to the people savours of sedition, as it
+has been always used for that end; but perhaps I
+shall let you have your wish in due time.”</p>
+
+<p>“Look! The sea! the sea!” cried Abercromby.
+“I am as excited as old Xenophon’s Greeks. An
+airship would have settled their job much more
+quickly. He would not have had to write so much
+Greek, and I might not have been ‘plucked’ in consequence.”</p>
+
+<p>“Leave these old-world allusions and look at this
+glorious sight,” said Mexitli; “there is the coast-line
+of our grand continent, and away, beyond the horizon,
+is Melandria.”</p>
+
+<p>“This is much more like a terrestrial view, is it
+not?” said Abercromby to Melanitis.</p>
+
+<p>“Much more like,” she replied.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe darted upon her a swift look of uttermost
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>“The observatory on Aptaura is a famous place for
+seeing Karamandra,” she said.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Very excellent indeed,” remarked Abercromby in
+a somewhat inscrutable tone.</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli pointed to a colony of houses overlooking
+a forest that extended nearly down to the shore. “We
+will picnic there,” she said. “Minola, tell the pilot of
+our good vessel to direct it to the point which I
+indicate.”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael obeyed with a docility rather novel to
+him, and they came to an anchor on a meadow-green
+lawn of smooth grass only a few feet elevated above
+the water’s edge. A venerable Atalantan matron,
+leaning upon the arms of her son and nephew, came
+forward from the terrace of the house nearest to the
+sea and made a profound obeisance to the princesses.</p>
+
+<p>“Carmichael,” said Melanitis, “be so good as to
+guard the Asteroid while we picnic here, we shall not
+be long.”</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby looked rather indignant, but at last
+broke out into a laugh.</p>
+
+<p>“Come, Professor, don’t elope to China; no, of
+course, I mean to Atalanta. Write your notes and
+edit your experiences. Be a Cambridge don, and
+dream you are sending me down.”</p>
+
+<p>“Eat some lunch will be more likely,” grumbled
+the Professor. “I have taken the precaution to bring
+a decent pile of sandwiches with me; I only regret
+they were not made even in Germany.”</p>
+
+<p>The statuesque Minola sat down close to the entrance
+to the machine; she began to read one of the
+manuscripts which Radcliffe had finished. The Professor
+had his lunch all to himself, watching his silent
+duenna with feelings far from satisfactory, for the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>maiden had always one of the green tubes at hand,
+and seemed quite ready to use it.</p>
+
+<p>The aged woman’s name was Amarilla; she had
+lived all her life in this lonely corner of the empire,
+supporting herself by the work of her son’s hands
+and her own. They had made a little paradise of
+this rough shore-line. She was deeply versed in the
+religious philosophy of her country in its ancient
+form, and had always lived in hope that she might,
+as she phrased it, “hear the silence of the skies
+broken.” During the picnic conversation flowed
+apace; Amarilla besought the strangers to tell her
+of their own world and of its people, of their religion,
+their laws, their arts, their government.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe and Abercromby obeyed; the princesses
+sat motionless and silent, taking in every word.</p>
+
+<p>Their principal topic, however, was the history of
+the Christian religion in Karamandra and the desperate
+struggle it had waged with its pagan foes.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe told the story of Polycarp, of Cyprian,
+and of Perpetua and Felicitas, at which his hearers
+were intensely moved.</p>
+
+<p>“You will never have these obstacles in Atalanta,”
+said Amarilla, “but you will have others, chiefly the
+invincible unwillingness of the people to bestir themselves,
+to awake from the dreaming of centuries, and
+from the pride which makes them believe that everything
+in the Flowery Land is perfect and can never
+be altered except for the worse. My rulers command
+me in all things but one: they let me give the
+allegiance of my soul to the King of Heaven and to
+the exiled Prince.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Mother, I allow you to speak quite freely, but
+tell me in return, are you quite sure that the
+allegiance of which you speak will never conflict
+with the allegiance to the throne?”</p>
+
+<p>“Try it, princess, when you are queen, and you
+will find that the more your people love God the
+better will they serve you. And as for you,
+strangers, go forth and spread <ins id='cor_165' title='Original: eyerywhere'>everywhere</ins> the things
+which God has done for your world, and pray to
+Him that He may yet do equal things for ours.”</p>
+
+<p>Both the princesses took a fond farewell, and then
+they returned to the Asteroid.</p>
+
+<p>While the Professor resumed his duties as steersman,
+the party once more discussed subjects of
+literary interest, as the machine pursued its short
+aerial journey to the island.</p>
+
+<p>“One of the prettiest samples of our national
+poetry,” said Mexitli, “is the lyrical invocation to the
+Sun God. I omit the part which is abominably
+idolatrous, but the prelude, where Asti vaunts his
+own greatness, is at least geographical—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">My power doth fence the realm of polar snows,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">My rays smite kindling, high Aptaura’s pile,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Mine is the light that on Meloria glows,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And mine the twilight in Melandria’s isle.”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Abercromby had been making his first attempt at
+Atalantan poetry by trying to turn “All in the
+hush of twilight” into Atalantan verse. He was
+fairly successful, though Mexitli told him he must
+study for a year before he could do real justice in
+their own poetry to a lovely lyric in another
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>language. All agreed, however, that though not
+suitable to Central Atalanta, where the sun was not
+on the horizon, it would be sure to take the fancy of
+the Melandrians, for they always had to live in a twilight
+land, and loved it so much, that they would like
+to be in the hush of the twilight from end to end of
+their planetary year.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">
+    CHAPTER XX
+    <br>
+    THE ISLAND OF TWILIGHT
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The spin over the sea about thirty miles in
+length, through a swift current of bracing air,
+was soon accomplished. The heights of the great
+island quickly towered before them. Melandria had
+a more terrestrial look: there were bays and roadsteads,
+where many ships might have lain at anchor.
+But of these there were none; all communication
+with the mainland was through the air. A large
+town lay along the sea border, with a long esplanade
+and something like earthly roads, and highways led
+out from it into the interior. The island was at
+least one hundred miles in circuit; its greatest
+breadth was about twenty miles, narrowing to a long
+trailing peninsula, not much wooded, but covered
+with open moorlands, while the glowing orb of the
+sun on the horizon lit up the whole landscape with
+a sunset splendour. In the middle of the island was
+a high-peaked hill, from the summit of which a
+dazzling spot of white snow could be discerned to
+the south.</p>
+
+<p>“There is Aptaura, the boundary line between two
+hemispheres, close to the southern pole, and twenty
+miles in height,” said Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>They anchored on the top of the peak. Near to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>the top, in a sheltered hollow, lay a beautiful country
+house, the residence of the governor of Melandria,
+whose name was Andron. He only held office
+during the King’s lifetime. He was a very learned
+man, and he rejoiced at the opportunity of conversing
+with the Professor and his companions. So
+the party at once repaired to the house, where a
+sumptuous meal was provided. The expression
+must not be taken in too terrestrial a sense, for, in
+Atalanta, the actual amount of drink and still more
+of food would hardly, as regards quantity, have
+sufficed a child from the other planet. The native
+foods and drinks were practically medicines of a
+very palatable order, and were all intended to have
+a direct influence upon the bodily frame. The more
+exquisite the delicacy the more dangerous it would
+be to indulge too freely in it. Carmichael looked
+with astonishment at Radcliffe, supping on a small
+plate of some high-coloured substance and a slender
+goblet of pale rose-tinted liquid.</p>
+
+<p>The guests, however, had all the more leisure at
+their disposal for talk. The Professor, for their
+own good, told them many interesting facts about
+the earth and its ways, while Radcliffe plied others
+with questions as to the planet on which he had
+resolved to spend his remaining years of life. Andron
+was much interested in astronomy, and told the
+terrestrials all the main facts which the Atalantans
+had found out about the solar system.</p>
+
+<p>Mercury and the earth were, of course, the planets
+best known to them, and he made the sage remark
+that astronomers would do better to put up with the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>trouble of the sunlight and study Mercury as a
+morning star rather than face what he considered
+to be the far greater difficulties of going to the
+frozen hemisphere and looking at it so low down on
+the horizon.</p>
+
+<p>“Do you think Mercury is inhabited?” asked
+Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly not,” answered Andron. “Mercury
+is only a repetition of our own planet with polar
+terrors on one side and a sun about three times
+larger than our sun. All our vegetation would be
+withered, and there would be but half the space
+which we have on which it could grow. Even this
+presupposes that its surface is all land, whereas it is
+probably a sea of fire and molten metal.”</p>
+
+<p>After this learned talk about the stars, to which
+Carmichael added the surprising news that there
+were two planets beyond the orbit of Saturn which
+the Atalantans had not discovered, the converse
+took a more religious turn. Andron and his wife
+Ayacatil were delighted to have given to them a
+copy in manuscript of St. Luke’s Gospel and the
+Acts. Andron promised that many copies should
+be circulated in the island. He asked Radcliffe a
+rather remarkable question: if the abominations committed
+upon the earth were wholly and entirely the
+work of mankind, or whether there were occult
+powers of evil acting upon them from without?
+When Radcliffe spoke of the teaching of Christianity
+upon this dark subject, Andron and Ayacatil both
+expressed the opinion that it was no use to deny
+that the Atalantans were more free from crimes of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>violence and mere insensate wickedness—in fact, that
+it was hardly possible to find people who ever did
+wickedness that was contrary to their own interests.
+Sins there were, and plenty, in Atalanta, but there
+was always a reason for them; there was nothing
+extravagant or maniacal, nothing uncontrolled or
+uncontrollable.</p>
+
+<p>“Surely then,” said Radcliffe, “as Atalanta has
+been left all these ages to work out its destiny on
+the side of good, so likewise it has been left
+unmolested on the side of the powers of evil. I do
+not believe there are such powers in this planet.
+This would account for the whole course of divine
+treatment which Providence has adopted towards
+it.”</p>
+
+<p>“This appears to me very just reasoning,” said
+Ayacatil; “we breathe a purer atmosphere in this
+planet, and therefore a large number of spiritual and
+moral maladies are cut off.”</p>
+
+<p>“But that makes us wholly responsible for those
+that remain,” remarked Mexitli. “However, I mean
+to look facts in the face and study all that God has
+taught the other planet, and see what light the
+teaching can throw upon this.”</p>
+
+<p>The Professor was about to lead the discussion
+back to the heavenly bodies, when Abercromby
+asked if they might enjoy some more of the national
+poetry of Atalanta and its melodies.</p>
+
+<p>Ayacatil pressed Mexitli to honour them with an
+example of her own artistic powers.</p>
+
+<p>The princess consented, and sang some stanzas of
+the grand lyric—</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p>
+
+
+<h3 id="HOW_KERAUNION_DIED">
+  “HOW KERAUNION DIED”
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Sing me a tale of the days gone by,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Of the days that were brave and bold,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Ere the minstrel charmed with his minstrelsy,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">But love wrought deeds untold;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">When to love and to succour was all our pride,—</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">In the days when King Keraunion died.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">The clouds had gathered all over the hills,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And Asti had hidden His glorious face,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The rain mist had flowed o’er the trembling rills,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And faster the clouds did race</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">To the trysting-place whither their squadrons ride,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">On the night when King Keraunion died!</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">A subject had served him right faithful and true,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Had stood ’mid the trustiest round his throne,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And the sky of the monarch was cloudless and blue,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And all Atalanta he called his own.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Ah! how can <i>we</i> tell how events shall betide</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">When we hear of the way that Keraunion died?</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">For the sky of the subject was draped in gloom,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And his head was bowed in a sore distress,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And life had become as the fearsome tomb,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">A drear and a pitiless wilderness.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">His only child had strayed from his side</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">On the mountain path where Keraunion died.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">The King set forth alone. He wrought</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">’Mid the gathering darkness the truant to seek.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">A courtier the tidings of anguish brought,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And he gave the advice of the timid and weak:</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">“For what would become of the land,” he cried,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">“If boldness he urged, and Keraunion died?”</div>
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">The King spurned the counsel, and threaded his way.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Unconscious of pain, and of peril sore,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">He came to the place where the maiden lay,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And safe to the summit her frail form bore.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Now who would have thought in that moment of pride</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That the hour was come when Keraunion died?</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">A bird of prey, with ravenous beak,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Struck at the child brought back to life;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">But there, on the edge of that yawning deep,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The rescuer fought it in doubtful strife.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">So the maid sped swift to her father’s side,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">But the fight was over—Keraunion died.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">The King fought on with fast ebbing life,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Driven to the verge of the beetling rock;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The monster watched every turn of the strife,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And drove in his last relentless shock.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">From the dizzy height of the mountain side</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Keraunion was hurled—and Keraunion died.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>A murmur of admiration pervaded the company.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, let us adjourn to the lawn,” said the royal
+songstress, “and have a little more talk upon serious
+subjects. We are all in the mood, I fancy.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">
+    CHAPTER XXI
+    <br>
+    THE PEAK OF APTAURA
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>They spent five days in the island before setting
+out for Aptaura. During this time Melanitis
+and Radcliffe explored in all directions; they roamed
+the woods and the glens, they sat by the waterfalls,
+they paid friendly visits to the chief people of the
+town, enjoying themselves to the utmost. It was as
+though they had made an unwritten compact that
+this was to be a holiday interlude. The princess
+gave him a fund of information about the Atalantan
+people, and taught him many things it was most
+necessary to know. Carmichael enjoyed society in
+his own way, and certainly won the hearts of the
+learned.</p>
+
+<p>Just before they started, an airship arrived from
+the mainland flying the red pennant of the palace.
+It bore several letters, only one of which need detain
+us. There was a sealed despatch from Mayana,
+which evidently caused Mexitli a measure of care,
+for she knitted her brows as she read it. But she did
+not divulge the contents, beyond assuring her guests
+that they had no cause for fear.</p>
+
+<p>There was a letter from Carysfort merely telling of
+his literary work, but making scantiest allusion to
+anything else; the Professor read it to the others and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>then put it in his pocket. But there was a letter
+from Tom which sent the whole party into such
+convulsions of laughter that it is to be wondered that
+they were not all of them ill. The example of the
+others proved contagious—to Melanitis, at least, for
+she could hardly retain her seat without holding on to
+it. The letter, however, was so hilariously engrossing
+that the terrestrials scarce noticed the princess’s
+condition.</p>
+
+<p>It was to Carmichael, and is worth quoting entire.</p>
+
+
+
+<p class="p2">
+  <span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">“<span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Professor</span>,</span>
+</p>
+
+<p style="text-indent: 3.0em">“Pardon the liberty I am taking, but <ins id='cor_174' title='Original: hought'>I thought</ins>
+you would like to know how we are all doing. First,
+I’ll just say that I like old King Malchon better and
+better. He is the dearest old genelman that ever I
+see. He took me for a walk round the terraces,
+leaning on my arm, and I never had no King, dook,
+nor baron to show me such honour yet.</p>
+
+<p>“I sang him one of the hymns Mr. Radcliffe likes
+which he used to have at his church.</p>
+
+<p>“Mrs. Cleophon (I forget her Christian name) does
+the bigger half of his business for him, and a real
+lady she is.</p>
+
+<p>“Miss Melanitis is sure to look after dear Mr. Radcliffe,
+and to see that he doesn’t walk the dark side
+of the south pole without his greatcoat. Would you
+just tell him that he said he was going to learn Miss
+Mexitli the art of playing chess? if he do, as soon as
+she has learned the moves, he must be sure to let her
+win some of the games.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t go in for politics, but it’s myself that
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>thinks there will be a job on with them priests, for I
+fancy, and Mrs. Cleophon thinks so too, that that old
+rascal Lydon is after some mischief. But if the Lord
+will, the queens will be coming back soon, and they
+will finish his bother.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, about Mr. Carysfort. He is writing a big
+book on Venus for the other world, and he means to
+give it to the Vice-Chancellor. He is also going to
+write to Mr. Chamberlain, the German Emperor, and
+the Prime Minister, though I think there will be a
+new one before we get back.</p>
+
+<p>“Hoping this will find you well, as it leaves us
+at present,</p>
+
+<p class="right"><span style="margin-right: 11.0em;">“I am,</span></p>
+
+<p class="right"><span style="margin-right: 2.0em;">“Your humble servant,</span></p>
+
+<p class="right">  “<span class="smcap">Tom</span>.”</p>
+
+
+<p class="p2">Soon the heights of Melandria faded in the twilight
+of the low red sun. They held on their way to
+the mainland, which they now perceived to be but a
+narrow neck of country tapering off to a point. The
+other ocean came in sight, and at last, where the land
+ended in a magnificent headland, against which the
+waters beat with tempestuous fury, stood a lonely
+house surrounded with high walls and rocky ramparts,
+to protect it from the fury of the southern
+sea.</p>
+
+<p>“These are the last Atalantans except upon Aptaura,”
+said Mexitli. “We will salute them and
+hasten on.” This they did from a height of about
+five hundred feet.</p>
+
+<p>Across the straits rose the warden of the frozen
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>pole, the giant Aptaura, his snow-white crest gilded
+by the rays of the ice-bound sun, his mighty granite
+mass rising sheer out of the deep. The peak seemed
+utterly inaccessible to mortal enterprise, and so indeed
+it was till the era of the airship.</p>
+
+<p>Higher, and yet higher, they ascended, till the
+summit was scaled at last, twenty miles in perpendicular
+height. There, protected by a rampart of
+rock, nestled the Observatory, a low-roofed building
+with several giant reflectors, telescope shaped, pointed
+towards the sky.</p>
+
+<p>To the south were the frozen ice-fields, wrapped in
+polar darkness; the air was piercingly keen, the
+stars shone out in the black sky, and, near the horizon,
+behold, one bright, greenish-red star of incomparable
+richness and brilliance, a small glittering moon.</p>
+
+<p>“There is your world,” said Mexitli, pointing to it.</p>
+
+<p>It was the earth.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">
+    CHAPTER XXII
+    <br>
+    THE GREAT MYSTERY
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The staff at the Observatory consisted of three
+men of science with their servants. They were
+elderly men who had devoted their lives to the study
+of the heavens in this region of awful isolation and
+loneliness—the highest spot by far in the whole
+planet. Melanitis had been there several times, but
+Mexitli only upon one former occasion. Both the
+princesses spoke the kindest words of greeting to the
+brave colony of scientific recluses, and introduced the
+visitors from earth.</p>
+
+<p>But though the Professor and his two companions
+were wonderfully struck with the grandeur of the
+mountain and the incomparable view, they quickly
+saw that there was little astronomical knowledge for
+them to learn that they did not already know from
+the more favourable view-point of their own world.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe was also greatly astonished to find that
+the Atalantan knowledge of the earth extended only
+to its larger physical outlines—the continents, peninsulas,
+and islands; but they scarcely knew more
+of the earth than we do of Mars, and not nearly as
+much as we know of the moon. The earth was a far
+lovelier object in the sky of Venus, from Aptaura,
+than Venus is in our sky, but it was an almost
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>impossible task for any Atalantan, unless helped by
+the palace, to get there to see it. In fact, Malchon
+supported his astronomers out of his own private
+liberality, and men of learning assisted him in so
+doing.</p>
+
+<p>Many weeks would be required for study and
+observations before any solid results could be attained,
+and Mercury was far more easily observed
+from the lighted hemisphere.</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli therefore declared that she could not stay
+more than one night, and she contented herself with
+viewing the heavens from the interior of the Asteroid;
+the cold of open-air research was appalling, and she
+naturally avoided it. The next day they re-entered
+the region of light, Melanitis promising that Radcliffe
+should come with her to the summit another
+time.</p>
+
+<p>They landed at the southern end of the continent,
+and put up for a day or two at the castellated house
+overlooking the glorious sea, along the shore of which
+they had several excursions. Recreation of the most
+bracing type was to be obtained here.</p>
+
+<p>But an astounding event was at hand.</p>
+
+<p>The owner of the house was a brave and hardy
+landowner named Carminon, who, with his wife
+Mexilla, were great favourites of the court, to whose
+couriers they had rendered many a service. They
+had saved the lives of more than one occupant of a
+damaged or storm-tossed airship. On the last
+evening of their stay Mexilla expressed a wish to
+hear some of the melodies of Karamandra, and
+Radcliffe sang several hymns in English, and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>Abercromby gave them a taste of patriotic songs. But
+Mexilla wanted a Karamandran love song, and would
+not be put off with anything else.</p>
+
+<p>“Come, old man, you must fire away,” said Abercromby;
+“you have not to preach to-morrow, so you
+won’t mind getting a trifle hoarse.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe used to sing in earlier days an old-world
+song called “Solitude,” which had been quite the
+rage in its time, though long superseded by a different
+style; so he began—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“It is not that my lot is low</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That makes the silent tears to flow,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">It is not grief that makes me mourn,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">I weep that I am all alone.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The woods and winds with sullen wail</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Tell out the same unvarying tale.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“I would not be a leaf to die</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">With none to think nor care for me,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Yet in my dreams a form I view</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That thinks on me and loves me too.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">I start—but then the vision’s flown;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">I wake—and I am all alone!”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Radcliffe rather wailed than sang the last lines.
+Mexilla, though not understanding the words, was
+intensely moved, and even Mexitli turned away her
+head to hide her feelings.</p>
+
+<p>But upon Melanitis the song had a deeper and
+a more poignant effect—she started to her feet,
+advanced a step towards him, and sank in a collapsed
+heap upon the floor.</p>
+
+<p>“What have I done!” he cried in alarm and
+distraction.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p>
+
+<p>“It is but a faintness, do not be distressed,” said
+Mexitli calmly, and raising Melanitis she, with the
+aid of Abercromby, carried her from the room.
+Some anxious time elapsed, and then Abercromby
+re-entered.</p>
+
+<p>“Come quickly to the Asteroid,” he said. “Melanitis
+is all right, but I must have a very serious talk
+with you, the most serious we have ever had.”</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby led the way to the dining-room, which
+they had all to themselves.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, Clarence,” he said, “pull yourself together
+and be calm. Answer me truly and clearly—is your
+heart loyal to the memory of your wife, or have you
+succumbed to a later influence?”</p>
+
+<p>“Absolutely loyal unto death, and beyond it to the
+Mansions of the Blest,” he answered.</p>
+
+<p>“Then you do not desire to marry Melanitis?”</p>
+
+<p>“Never; my love for her deepens, but it never
+overtakes the love for her that is gone, for that also
+grows fonder and fonder.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very good. This will simplify matters much.
+By the by, you could <i>not</i> have married Melanitis had
+you wished.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why?”</p>
+
+<p>“Because you are married already.”</p>
+
+<p>“I <i>was</i>.”</p>
+
+<p>“You <i>are</i>.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe stared at Abercromby in dazed astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby went on: “Suppose your love for
+your wife had faded, you could only have married
+again when she was dead.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span></p>
+
+<p>“She <i>is</i> dead,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“She is <i>not</i> dead.”</p>
+
+<p>The words rang out like a clarion note.</p>
+
+<p>“What madness is this? I saw the inquest on
+her dead body rescued from the Welsh river. I accompanied
+the poor remains to the little churchyard
+under the Cotswolds. My own voice (how I did it
+God only knows) read the service over her to save her
+stricken father. And now you tell me she is alive!”</p>
+
+<p>“It is true,” answered Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Where?” scornfully.</p>
+
+<p>“In Atalanta. Melanitis will restore her to you in
+ten days, perhaps less.”</p>
+
+<p>“You are fooling, Abercromby.”</p>
+
+<p>“I love you too well for that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then there has been sorcery and witchcraft.”</p>
+
+<p>“None whatever; no such arts are practised here.
+You speculated truly the other day that the devil is
+limited to our own luckless planet.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have the Atalantans visited the earth in one of
+their machines?”</p>
+
+<p>“They lack the means of setting it going. The
+motive force is not existent in Venus.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have they stolen the Asteroid?”</p>
+
+<p>“They would not have known how to steer it
+beyond their own atmosphere.”</p>
+
+<p>“Am I to see her in the spirit or in the flesh?”</p>
+
+<p>“In the flesh.”</p>
+
+<p>“Is she changed?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, yes! But forgive me if I say that <i>I</i> consider
+she is changed for the better.”</p>
+
+<p>“Do you know how it has been done?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Perfectly.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who told you?”</p>
+
+<p>“I found it out for myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“As you hope for salvation at the last, will you
+pledge me that you are speaking the truth?”</p>
+
+<p>“Absolutely, literally, entirely.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe was staggered.</p>
+
+<p>“Scepticism dies hard in a despairing breast,” he
+went on. “Can you give me any tangible proof
+beyond your own word? Excuse me, Frank, my all
+is at stake.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes! I can give you one proof at any rate. How
+came the knowledge of the English alphabet to
+Atalanta?”</p>
+
+<p>“Jackson told us he was hypnotised.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nonsense! Jackson thinks so, but I know better.
+<i>Your wife wrote out that paper with her own hands.</i>
+Jackson was put to sleep, or rather tempted to put
+himself to sleep by going too deeply into his cups.
+But this was done to rob the machine, not to study
+English. Your wife wrote the paper in a disguised
+hand.”</p>
+
+<p>“How do you know that?”</p>
+
+<p>“<i>Because she told me so herself.</i>”</p>
+
+<p>Again Radcliffe fairly winced, like a man receiving
+a blow.</p>
+
+<p>“Have you had intercourse and converse with her
+all the time you have been in Atalanta?”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly not, considering I was in gaol.”</p>
+
+<p>“When did you first do so?”</p>
+
+<p>“After that row in Parmenton’s house—quite
+recently therefore.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Where did you see her?”</p>
+
+<p>“In the palace.”</p>
+
+<p>“Does Melanitis know her?”</p>
+
+<p>“Intimately.”</p>
+
+<p>“She hates her, of course?”</p>
+
+<p>“On the contrary, she has a very good opinion of
+her.”</p>
+
+<p>“Does Mexitli know of all this?”</p>
+
+<p>“Fully, and is very pleased.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is stupendous,” said Radcliffe. “Can you tell
+me what the Professor thinks?”</p>
+
+<p>“That you made an ass of yourself this evening.
+Further than this he knows nothing. He is even
+more nonplussed than you are.”</p>
+
+<p>“You <i>can</i> tell me the whole secret, I suppose?”</p>
+
+<p>“I could, but I shan’t.”</p>
+
+<p>“Because of Melanitis?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, because of the King. Your only peril lies
+there. But the worst that can happen is this—that
+you and your wife may be packed off back to the
+earth. If you are, I will remain to carry on your
+work.”</p>
+
+<p>“What!”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing more nor less.”</p>
+
+<p>“Once more, I beseech you to tell me.”</p>
+
+<p>“I <i>dare</i> not and I <i>ought</i> not, and therefore I <i>will</i>
+not; you <i>can</i> wait ten days, man!”</p>
+
+<p>At that moment Minola appeared, and said:
+“Your excellencies are summoned to attend upon
+the Lady Mexitli; she is in sore distress.”</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby started. “Well, Clarence, it <i>may</i> be
+that the mine is to be exploded now; if so, better
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>perhaps for you. But muster all your courage and
+prepare for a stunning shock.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe drew himself up. “Can you tell me what
+has happened?” he said to Minola.</p>
+
+<p>“I may not answer questions, though I would
+gladly if I might,” she replied.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment they reached the door of the
+house. Mexilla was supporting both the princesses,
+who were in a state of indescribable agitation.
+Carmichael was calm, but his face wore a very stern
+expression.</p>
+
+<p>“Ladies, we crave permission to know what is the
+matter,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Atalanta is in revolt,” said Mexitli. “The
+priest party, aided by the traitors Parmenton,
+Mauro, and Medon, have surrounded the palace.
+All is lost.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, that shall never be,” said Radcliffe. “We
+will put all our power at your disposal, display the
+scarlet banner and fight under it by your side.”</p>
+
+<p>“By George! I thought he was a missionary!”
+said Abercromby. “But no matter, I shall not mind
+a fight, if it comes to that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Will you stand by us?” asked Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>“Unto death,” said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“If we win, you shall be the highest noble in
+Atalanta,” she cried. “I will give to your companions
+an absolute pardon, and raise them all to the
+ranks of my nobility.”</p>
+
+<p>A cheer broke from the Atalantans present; such
+a scene of enthusiasm followed as was rarely witnessed
+on Venus. Melanitis kept very much in the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>background, though she spoke kind words to each
+and all, but Mexitli went and shook hands with
+every one, even with the Professor and Abercromby,
+a thing she had never done before.</p>
+
+<p>Orders were given to start at once. Carmichael,
+who was dead-tired, had to make a rush for the
+conning-tower.</p>
+
+<p>“We are in for a regular deuce of a row,” said
+Abercromby. “I have seen it coming for a long
+time. It will clear the air, at all events. I want a
+good square talk with you, Professor.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then you can’t have it. I have to run this
+machine at breakneck speed back to Atalanta, and
+heaven only knows what will happen to us when we
+get there.”</p>
+
+<p>The princess sent an imperious message that the
+Professor must give up his steering-seat to Minola
+and come and take part in her council. This he
+flatly refused to do, at which Mexitli took great
+offence, threatening that “under these circumstances
+to disobey was death.” “We shall all die by breaking
+our necks if that girl takes the steering; she is
+totally unused to it.” Minola looked very resentful,
+and even laid her hand upon her weapon; but Radcliffe
+quieted her by soothing words, and, after some
+trouble, Mexitli owned that perhaps it was better
+that this particular machine should be steered by
+those who had made it.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby whispered to Radcliffe, “Your affair
+is not on just now, old man; perhaps it is as well.
+We must settle old Lydon’s bother first, then your
+turn shall come.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span></p>
+
+<p>The council was harmonious enough, for Mexitli
+did all, or nearly all, of the talking. She decided
+that they must make a forced flight to Atalanta and
+observe from the air all that was going on.</p>
+
+<p>Not even Radcliffe could induce her to tell them
+how the trouble had begun; this she was resolved to
+keep to herself. All they learned was that the rebels
+had got possession of the lower part of the city, had
+burned Mayana’s mansion to the ground, and had
+then surrounded the palace hill. All the adherents
+of the priesthood of the Sun had taken up arms, and
+they had been joined by a large number of the lowest
+of the populace. The rebels had resolved on a
+complete revolution, both in the religious and in the
+social life of Atalanta.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>The restless energy of Mexitli disdained to take
+any repose. The Professor grumbled that if the
+devil had been at their heels they could not have
+gone very much faster, but, as Abercromby remarked,
+since Radcliffe had ruled him out of all possession in
+Venus, it was the princess who would have to drive
+them instead.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">
+    CHAPTER XXIII
+    <br>
+    LYDON’S REVOLT
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Sooner than they had expected, much to the
+delight of Mexitli, the well-known outline of the
+Keraunian hills appeared on the northern horizon.
+The Asteroid halted a mile above the city of
+Atalanta.</p>
+
+<p>“Have we your permission, lady, to alight first
+upon the palace terrace?” asked Abercromby in a
+tone of solemn irony.</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli coloured, but said: “You are pleased to be
+caustic, but I suppose you have the right. When we
+have taken our observations, do so, and you shall go
+unpunished.”</p>
+
+<p>From the upper part of the Asteroid they stepped
+upon the balcony and noticed the great commotion
+in progress below. Up the Avenue of Ascent a troop
+of armed men were advancing to reinforce their
+comrades, who were encamped on the ridges of the
+palace height. The sunlight glinted upon a forest
+of spears and lances.</p>
+
+<p>“They have only their primitive weapons,” said
+Melanitis. “They have been deprived of the use
+of the tubes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let me strike the first blow, and from the sky,”
+said Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span></p>
+
+<p>She pointed her green metal in a diagonal line
+in the direction of the enemy. Minola did the same.
+Flash after flash was sent downwards, but no apparent
+effect followed.</p>
+
+<p>“The range is too distant,” said Melanitis. “We
+must descend lower.”</p>
+
+<p>Slowly the Asteroid dropped by the action of the
+fans. Then at the distance of a quarter of a mile
+the firing was recommenced. Several were seen to
+stagger and fall; others, unable through the dazzling
+sunlight to locate their aerial foes, took to their
+heels.</p>
+
+<p>“That is Lydon,” shouted Abercromby. “He is
+rallying them and urging them to return.”</p>
+
+<p>Minola instantly levelled the green tube, but before
+it could be discharged a blinding flash broke from
+the building at the angle of the terrace parapet. A
+pyramid of fire shot into the sky; the Asteroid
+itself was rocked by the air currents, and they were
+nearly thrown off their feet. A deafening roar followed,
+and a thick column of yellow vapour hid
+everything for a few minutes.</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli clung to Radcliffe with a convulsive grasp;
+then she wrung her hands in agony. Minola gave
+way to a burst of tears and crying.</p>
+
+<p>“Tell us what has happened,” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“We will be with you to the last,” exclaimed
+Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“I know it,” she replied, “but it may well mean
+that you will perish along with us. That building
+which has been wrecked is the arsenal; it contains
+all the materials for the manufacture of our weapons
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>of defence. Many weeks must pass before we could
+possibly provide new material. It is now a conflict
+of force against a handful—ourselves and our friends,
+who will be quite defenceless, and who may be either
+starved out or stormed out.”</p>
+
+<p>“Send an airship to Melandria—the people are
+all faithful there,” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Well thought of,” replied Melanitis.</p>
+
+<p>“It can be done,” said Mexitli, “but they can
+bring us but scanty supplies.”</p>
+
+<p>“How many times could you fire the weapons you
+are carrying with you?”</p>
+
+<p>“About twenty times, each of us.”</p>
+
+<p>“What has been done with our own weapons and
+ammunition? All this could be used. It would
+be better than the weapons of the rebels,” said
+Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“You shall each of you be put in trust with it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Head for the palace, Carmichael,” Abercromby
+called out.</p>
+
+<p>In a few minutes they were on the terrace, where
+the palace guards were drawn up to repel any
+assault. But none such had been attempted. The
+enemy had been satisfied with their master-stroke,
+and fully believed that the day was won.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Carysfort and Jackson came forth with
+pale but resolute faces.</p>
+
+<p>“The King is in his cabinet; he is on his knees
+praying, sir,” said Tom. “I told him to do it by
+signs, and then I took off my jacket and my waistcoat
+to let him feel easy that I was ready for the
+other business.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p>
+
+<p>“This palace shall be your abode, Mayana, if we
+only triumph,” said Mexitli, embracing her. “Do
+not despair. Our brave friends are going to help
+us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Suppose we go straight for the rascals just when
+they think we are hiding,” said Tom. “Rush ’em all at
+once; that’s my ticket. Old Lydon is below. I peeped
+over and saw his ugly old head. He is jabbering
+away, either to the sun or else to his men, only a few
+hundred yards off. Just say the word, Professor, and
+I’ll give him one in the nose, and that will end all the
+trouble.”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis, half laughing, turned to Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“Go to the room above the Hall of Perfect Justice.
+Minola will direct you. There are your weapons;
+they are all safely deposited.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hold steady, Tom,” cried Carmichael. “Do you
+think you can run at all those savages unarmed and
+alone? Wait, and don’t be a fool; we can’t let you
+throw yourself away like that.”</p>
+
+<p>Tom swore, but obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime a sharp conflict was going on in the
+Avenue. Missiles were hurled from the house-tops,
+chiefly by the women and children, upon the enemy
+below, and many were killed or disabled. Parmenton
+and his fellows set fire to one of the houses, and it
+was soon a heap of smoking ruins. The inmates
+sallied out, and, aided by their friends and kinsmen,
+pressed severely upon the rear of the attacking force.
+The arms taken from the Asteroid were quickly in the
+hands of the royal party, who needed very little teaching
+how to use them with deadly effect. The sharp
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>cracking reports echoed around, and, with every one,
+some enemy was laid low. Then King Malchon
+came forth.</p>
+
+<p>“My daughters, I will seek to imitate the nobleness
+of Keraunion. I will lead the sallying party
+myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“Do not think of it,” said Melanitis, seeking to
+draw him back. “It is the King’s duty to direct
+others to fight.” But Malchon would not be dissuaded.
+He set his foot on the rocky steps. “My
+guards, follow me; let us deliver our city from these
+misguided traitors. God is with us; it is for Him
+we are fighting, not for our own glory only.
+Forward!”</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli called to Mayana and her sister to stand
+behind the parapet and cover their friends by an incessant
+discharge. At first this was easy enough,
+and many a foe was laid in the dust; but, as the two
+parties joined in actual conflict, they scarcely dared
+to keep it up for fear of hitting the King and his
+guards.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby, Carysfort, and Radcliffe were soon
+in the fight, but Tom was the most reckless of the
+whole party. He had often heard Abercromby tell
+the story of Admiral Napier saying to the sailors on
+the eve of starting for the Baltic: “Lads, sharpen
+your cutlasses and make ready.” So he kept on
+shouting this and other watchwords, interlarding
+them with less classical language. He ran full-tilt
+at the line of spears, wrenched one out of the hand
+of its holder, and ran him through the body with it.
+Cleito was by his side in a moment, and the guards
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>forced their way by sheer physical strength, and beat
+back the advancing line.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe was in the most imminent danger. Lydon
+saw him and marked him out for vengeance. He
+made unlimited promises to any who would bring
+him dead or alive. He was seized by Mauro Katakalon,
+and though he struck out with all his might,
+he felt his strength giving way. He was in full view
+of Mexitli, who was holding one of the Professor’s
+pistols. In an agony of supplication Melanitis besought
+her to fire. Mexitli’s hand trembled as she
+did so; the bullet struck the gilded armour of Mauro
+and penetrated his shoulder. More furious than
+ever, the burly giant seized the waist of Radcliffe
+and dragged him along the ground. Some one slipped
+a revolver into the hand of Melanitis. She leaned
+over the parapet, there was a sharp report, Mauro
+Katakalon relaxed his hold; he was killed instantly.
+A cheer went up, it put new life into the hearts of
+the defenders.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe, no sooner free, ran to the help of Tom,
+who was sore pressed, for he was in the grasp of
+three or four assailants. One of these was Lydon
+himself; he saw the day was lost, for by this time
+the population from the upper part of the city had
+issued forth against him. Malchon had scattered the
+foes in front, and all that remained was to overpower
+the retinue in immediate attendance upon the high
+priest. Abercromby and Carysfort had performed
+prodigies, and were beside the King warding off
+blows on all hands.</p>
+
+<p>Lydon, by a last effort, had led a furious charge
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>upon the division of the guards in which Cleito and
+Radcliffe were posted. They were in full view of
+their friends on the terrace, who encouraged them by
+voice and gesture. The ammunition, however, was
+giving out, Mayana and Minya having been too
+prodigal in their use of it, though they stoutly
+declared that every shot had told.</p>
+
+<p>Lydon dashed his way to where the King was
+posted and hurled a lance at his head. The weapon
+was struck aside by Tom in full flight, but his own
+spear was splintered in doing so. In a moment he
+and his foes were struggling together upon the
+ground. Radcliffe, not able to intervene, shouted to
+Arniphon, Cleito’s colleague, who came running up
+with a dozen guards. But the King’s personal danger
+was so imminent that he could spare no time for anything
+else, and closed in a desperate conflict with
+Lydon. The priest’s attendants were dispersed like
+chaff, and Lydon, after fighting like a mad dog, as
+Abercromby said, for another five minutes, was at
+last overpowered and manacled. The fate of their
+leader, along with that of Parmenton and Medon,
+who were captured likewise, practically ended the
+conflict.</p>
+
+<p>The King was deadly pale and exhausted.
+Abercromby and Radcliffe held him up by each arm
+and assisted him to mount the steps, which were
+stained with blood and cumbered by the bodies of
+the fallen.</p>
+
+<p>“Nearly one-half of the guards are dead,” said
+Malchon in a tone of deep grief.</p>
+
+<p>“Your throne has been saved,” said Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p>
+
+<p>“But was I worthy of it?” said Malchon in a
+saddened voice.</p>
+
+<p>All Atalanta was hushed that night. Few households
+were there that had not to mourn their dead.
+There were no boisterous rejoicings over the victory,
+as would have been the case on the earth, though
+there was an inward satisfaction none the less deep.
+In the palace all was gratitude and harmony.
+Every one had reason to congratulate every one else
+on having done something for Atalanta.</p>
+
+<p>Upon the travellers every mark of affection which
+gratitude could lavish was bestowed. The original
+sentence was cancelled; they were all enrolled in the
+highest ranks of the nobility.</p>
+
+<p>“This will enable us each to marry,” said Frank
+to the Professor. “There is scarce a female in
+Atalanta who will not be proud of you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Many thanks, Abercromby, and assist me all you
+can to realise the splendour of my privilege. I am
+just going to calculate when the earth will reach its
+nearest point to Venus.”</p>
+
+<p>“There are three matters pending before you
+start, Professor: one is to find poor Tom, the other
+to assist at the trial and execution of Lydon, the
+third to make Radcliffe happy.”</p>
+
+<p>“We will take them in order, if we are allowed,”
+answered Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>That night a supper party was held in the palace.
+The King sat at the head of the table, one of his
+daughters on either side. Mexitli was radiant with
+delight, Melanitis dignified and outwardly calm.
+The feeling was almost too intense for words. The
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>flattery and ceremony, so characteristic of Atalanta,
+was well-nigh absent. Tongues were at last unloosed,
+when Malchon rose and said—</p>
+
+<p>“Through the mercy of heaven we are delivered
+from the most heart-breaking danger that has ever
+menaced us or our people. Soon we shall be called
+upon to pass sentence upon such of the ringleaders
+as are in our power. But to-night let all thoughts
+of vengeance be laid aside. I would suggest that
+each of our friends from the sister planet be invited
+to solicit from us some token of our gratitude. You,
+Carmichael, who are the leader of the expedition,
+tell us what is your chief desire.”</p>
+
+<p>“Permission to return to our own planet and to
+communicate to our people whatever knowledge we
+have acquired here which will be good and useful for
+them.”</p>
+
+<p>“I echo the same wish,” said the engineer.</p>
+
+<p>A murmur of disappointment made itself audible.</p>
+
+<p>“Think not that we are ungrateful,” Carysfort went
+on, “but know that our sole object in coming was to
+enlarge the knowledge of our brothers in Karamandra.
+But I would, if permission be granted us to return,
+leave everything which we have brought with us in
+the Asteroid, except what is absolutely necessary for
+our journey, behind for the use of the King and his
+people.”</p>
+
+<p>“I grant you the permission to return, if when
+the moment which our astronomers deem the right
+one shall come, you still adhere to your resolutions.”</p>
+
+<p>“I request permission to preach the religion of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>Jesus Christ by speech and writing in Atalanta,” said
+Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“You have been fully tested, my son,” said Malchon.
+“I and the princesses have long since resolved
+to assist you.”</p>
+
+<p>“As for me,” replied Abercromby in a rather
+breezy tone, “I have got to love this world. I hated
+it at one time, but I like it now, so I should be glad
+if you would let me stay. There is one other thing.
+I spoke rudely to the Princess Mexitli in this very
+hall, and I beg her pardon here and now. I was
+savage and forgot myself, and I really thought she
+meant to kill the whole lot of us.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am afraid I did, so I will hold you quite excused,”
+answered Mexitli; “and I am glad indeed to
+hear that you mean to stay with us.”</p>
+
+<p>Had a thunderbolt descended at their feet, the
+Professor and engineer could not have been more
+astounded. They had not the remotest idea that
+Abercromby was not returning with them.</p>
+
+<p>“He must be stark mad,” said Carysfort to the
+Professor—“spend his life in Venus indeed! Depend
+upon it there is some girl in the background.”</p>
+
+<p>“No there is not—I stay for Radcliffe and his
+wife,” replied Abercromby quickly.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s done it! I knew it would be so!” gasped
+Carmichael. “Radcliffe is going to marry the lady
+with the letter M. after all.” These remarks were
+whispered in English.</p>
+
+<p>“There is one thing I much regret,” resumed Malchon,
+“and that is the loss of the faithful servant of
+our friends. The rebels either slew him or carried
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>him away. He was a good man and a brave, and
+search must be ordered everywhere to ascertain his
+fate.”</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the time passed pleasantly enough with
+interludes of music and song. When the guests rose
+it was four hours after the banquet had begun. The
+poor Professor very nearly dropped asleep at the
+supper table. Time was little reckoned in Atalanta.
+The terrestrials could hardly tear themselves away
+from the hand-clasps which greeted them on every
+side. Even then both Radcliffe and Abercromby
+had to stay yet another hour to talk over what steps
+should be taken to obliterate the traces of the revolt
+and to make the best use of the victory. At last
+Mayana said to Cleophon—</p>
+
+<p>“Unless you let these poor dears go and secure
+a period of sleep we shall be responsible for killing
+both of them. I won’t even sing them a song. Turn
+them out of the room. Do you agree to this,
+princess?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” replied Mexitli; “I am somewhat inclined
+to sleep myself. We have all done a good day’s
+work, I think.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">
+    CHAPTER XXIV
+    <br>
+    THE DENUNCIATION AND THE RETRIBUTION
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Radcliffe awoke the next morning with a
+dull feeling of anxiety oppressing him. The
+thrilling episodes of the fight, the loss of Tom, the
+decision of Abercromby, all these had, for a while,
+driven away the dominant thought of his heart, but
+with the first moment of quiet leisure it returned with
+unabated intensity.</p>
+
+<p>Lilian was in the palace, and yet he could not
+see her nor obtain tidings of her. Dismissing the
+attendants who waited on him (for he already tasted
+the luxuries of the Atalantan nobility), he sought
+and obtained an interview with Melanitis.</p>
+
+<p>“Even now,” he said, “I do not fully know your
+customs, and in these trying circumstances I may
+be guilty of a great social mistake; but I entreat
+you to tell me when this suspense will be over and
+my wife restored to me, whom I have so long looked
+upon as dead.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will do all I can to hasten your wishes,” she
+answered, “for I desire it no less than you do; but
+there are two things that must come first—the trial
+of Lydon and his fellow-traitors, and the burial of
+the honoured dead according to the customs of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>Atalanta. The trial will be held to-morrow; for
+the King’s sake it will be hastened, for his health
+makes Mexitli very anxious, while the burial of the
+honoured dead will follow very quickly. You will
+never forget the sight so long as you live.”</p>
+
+<p>“Permit me to render to you my grateful and
+loving thanks for the act of yours which saved my
+life. Not even the healing of my sorrow which you
+have promised to me can efface the recollection that
+I owe my life to you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Mexitli did just what I did, but her anxiety lest
+she should do you hurt prevented her from doing it
+effectually. I had no such fear, because I am
+more practised. Surely to save a fellow-creature’s
+life is what any human being would be proud
+to do.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe stood silent. How <i>could</i> she be more
+practised in the use of a Karamandran weapon?
+Was there not also a measure of coldness in her
+tone? Not to be wondered at, he thought. As he
+stood hesitating she cut the knot herself.</p>
+
+<p>“I have much to occupy me to-day,” she said, “so
+you will excuse my detaining you further.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have I given unwitting offence?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not in the least—how could you?”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe left the apartment. As he did so, he
+encountered Frank in very earnest conversation with
+Mexitli and Mayana. They smiled on him, but he
+went on to the terrace and walked about wrapped in
+thought. Cleophon was there, watching the ruins
+of the tower of the arsenal, and Minya, his sister-in-law,
+was with him. They greeted Radcliffe warmly,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>and had a long talk over the recent explosion and
+the tactics of the rebels which had brought it about.
+Suddenly two ideas struck Radcliffe all at once, and
+he said—</p>
+
+<p>“Was any one killed by the explosion?”</p>
+
+<p>“Two of the guards standing as sentries,” answered
+Cleophon.</p>
+
+<p>“How many prisoners are there in the palace?”</p>
+
+<p>“Lydon and his associates,” replied Minya.
+“Three men, that is to say. There are no women
+prisoners. We did all the killing and they did the
+sinning, and they are, and will yet be, doing the
+suffering.”</p>
+
+<p>“That is an admirable assortment of parts,” answered
+Cleophon dryly, “and methinks our excellent
+friend and colleague is quite satisfied with it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perfectly satisfied, since there are no ladies imprisoned,”
+said Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>Minya gave utterance to a ringing laugh.</p>
+
+<p>“You will soon be one of us in every thought and
+feeling,” she said.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime Abercromby had persuaded Carmichael
+and the engineer to lay their writing aside
+and to come for a walk with him. The others agreeing,
+they went to a sheltered garden attached to the
+palace on the southern slope of the mount, and
+Abercromby gave them a startling piece of information.</p>
+
+<p>“I have had a talk with Lydon himself,” he said.
+“Our interview was hardly amicable, for he cursed
+me at least a dozen times, but I wormed a state
+secret out of him, which has led me to advise
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>Mexitli and her intimate friends not to make the
+approaching trial public, but to try him in the King’s
+private apartment, with only selected witnesses—ourselves,
+of course.”</p>
+
+<p>“You are a pretty fellow,” said the engineer;
+“Mexitli hardly wants coaching up in these medieval
+ideas. I thought you were an Englishman, but I am
+afraid your prolonged residence in the Love Star has
+not improved you.”</p>
+
+<p>“As Lydon is certain to be put to death, it will
+not make any difference to him.”</p>
+
+<p>“That Mexitli will finish his goose, as the
+Americans express it, I don’t doubt,” said Carysfort;
+“but I tell you plainly I do not like this sort of
+thing.”</p>
+
+<p>“He used violent language and threats that he
+would say that which would stagger the whole kingdom,
+and pay Malchon out for all he owed him.
+Could I do less than tell Mexitli of this? She is
+not going to stop his tongue, she only wants the
+man in the street not to hear it, and then pass it on
+with amplifications.”</p>
+
+<p>“Has his death been settled on beforehand?”
+grunted the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“It won’t be nice according to European notions,
+I am afraid. To be quite candid, however, I have
+managed to change the manner of it. The princess
+and Mayana were for giving him a cup of tea, or
+something equivalent, for his next meal; but Melanitis
+begged hard that they would postpone their intention,
+and I joined in with her. Now I have got an idea
+that she will regret she did not let them have their
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>way. But be this as it may, or rather as it will, I did
+have just <i>one</i> shudder when Mexitli produced a small
+phial of amber-coloured liquid and showed it to
+Mayana. They seemed to be pretty well posted up in
+the Lucretia Borgia business, and I ventured the
+remark that I should have to take care how I behaved
+myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“I agree with you,” said Carysfort, “and I hope it
+may have the effect of making you reconsider a
+recent decision. What did they say?”</p>
+
+<p>“That it was for reptiles like Lydon to fear them,
+not for loyal hearts and true like me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Excellent for the time being,” answered Carmichael,
+“but what about the years to come?”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>At ten a.m. measured by earthly time, Malchon
+lay upon his sick couch in the private room of his
+palace, where more secret trials took place. By his
+side were Mexitli and Melanitis, while Mayana and
+Minya sat a little way apart. Radcliffe and Abercromby
+were next to the princesses, while Carmichael
+and Carysfort were placed nearest to Mayana and
+Minya.</p>
+
+<p>A very weary look was on the old King’s face; the
+recent events had sadly undermined his strength.
+Abercromby, strange to say, seemed the most
+agitated person in the whole company. Radcliffe
+was quiet and composed—a trifle bored, in fact. <i>His</i>
+thoughts were far away.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the tramp of footsteps was heard in the
+adjacent corridor, and the high priest was led in, his
+hands tightly bound behind him. Cleito and
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>Arniphon stood on either side of the prisoner. The face
+of Lydon was agitated by the stormiest passions, but
+he kept himself well controlled. His tall, majestic
+figure seemed to exercise a dominating force.</p>
+
+<p>“Mexitli, my daughter, matters are in your
+hand,” said Malchon. “I can take but a silent
+part. My days are numbered, and I would fain be
+at rest.”</p>
+
+<p>The princess turned to Radcliffe.</p>
+
+<p>“<i>You</i> shall indict him,” she said. “His deeds
+are notorious; you need but say a very few
+words.”</p>
+
+<p>With a strange mixture of dread foreboding, and
+yet of dignified responsibility, Radcliffe spoke:—</p>
+
+<p>“Lydon, high priest of Asti, to me has this task
+been assigned. It is, as the princess truly says, needless
+to dwell upon it at length. As the minister of a
+better and purer faith than yours, I will not (lest I
+should be thought to speak from self-interest) accuse
+you of idolatry and superstition, though I fear you
+have made a bad use of the religious influence you
+have so long exercised. I accuse you the rather of
+treason against the throne and the royal house of
+Atalanta, both by machinations in secret, and at last
+by an open outbreak of rebellion, whereby the
+King’s declining days have been embittered by
+strife and bloodshed, and many of his loyal subjects
+slain.”</p>
+
+<p>“You can now say that in private which you
+threatened to say in public,” said Mexitli. “You
+may freely speak, for this is the last time the opportunity
+will be granted.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span></p>
+
+<p>“I understand well the true nature of the words
+which have been spoken,” answered the high priest;
+“my heart fails me not, my courage does not shrink.
+When I <i>have</i> spoken, it is my enemies who will be
+covered with confusion and with shame, while <i>I</i>
+shall go to the doom appointed with the knowledge
+that the Sun God will not fail his servant in the hour
+of death.</p>
+
+<p>“Malchon, King of Atalanta, if indeed it be a King
+that thou art, seven years ago you wrestled in prayer
+for the life of your child Melanitis. You, kneeling
+in the Sun God’s Temple, didst presume to address
+another God than He, and didst utter words alike
+sacrilegious and evil. They were that this God of
+thine must needs grant thy request, and that thou
+wouldst be well content, provided only that Melanitis
+should recover, that she should bring sorrow upon
+thine own heart, and shame upon thy native land.
+Thy prayer has been heard, Malchon, and this day
+thou shalt know to the full what thou hast done.</p>
+
+<p>“She, whom thou dost <i>call</i> Melanitis, is a Karamandran
+at heart; she careth not for thee, nor for
+the interests of Atalanta. She is not the Melanitis
+thou didst love in the days of old, but one as different
+as these men who come from another world differ
+from the men and women of thine.”</p>
+
+<p>He paused. Throughout the apartment the silence
+was intense. Abercromby leaned eagerly forward; a
+puzzled look crept over the faces of the Professor
+and Carysfort. Not even yet did Clarence Radcliffe
+evince excitement or interest—he had heard the
+story before. Mexitli and Mayana remained impassive
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>and inscrutable; the King folded his weak hands
+with an air of weary resignation. Melanitis alone
+had turned very deadly white.</p>
+
+<p>“Courage, child, courage, all is forgiven,” whispered
+Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>“I see before me a little house,” pursued Lydon,
+“in a sheltered bay in Karamandra. The sun is
+shining upon the sea. In the small guest-room a
+man and a woman are standing; they are at variance
+one with another. The woman has ceased to love
+the man as she did but a few weeks ago, though she
+had promised to do so for ever. Verily <i>I</i> will be no
+judge between them!</p>
+
+<p>“I see before me a river with a boat making its
+way upstream. Two women are in it—both young,
+both handsome, as beauty is reckoned in their silly
+world. The face of one is flushed, excited, reckless;
+she takes the oar, not knowing properly how to use
+it. Soon a rock appears in mid-stream, there is a
+crash, the boat is overturned, both are caught in the
+eddying current. One barely saves her own humdrum
+life, the other sinks. As the waters pass over
+her and she is engulfed, her spirit perceives one by
+her side who bids her follow him to the Mansions
+of the Blest. Such is not her desire. ‘Clarence!
+Clarence!’ she cries, ‘I will go to no land where you
+are not. I would refuse even heaven for you!’ ‘Go,
+then, where thou shalt one day find him,’ is the
+solemn answer, ‘and tarry for him a long time, and
+tarry a still longer time for the home that I would
+have led thee to. Thou wouldst resist the will of
+thy Maker and defy His appointed hour; for thy
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>punishment thou shalt do so, and weep bitter tears.’
+A rush and a roar seemed to drown all her senses,
+and when her eyes opened she was a hapless stranger
+in a strange and wondrous land.</p>
+
+<p>“And now, Clarence Radcliffe, look around and
+behold thy wife. Thou hast filled Atalanta with thy
+whimpering complaints, perceiving not that it was
+thine own folly that set in motion this long train
+of evils. Behold her, I say, and rejoice, as best thou
+mayest, in the sight!”</p>
+
+<p>“Why have you torn open a bleeding wound?”
+said Radcliffe passionately. “Where is the Lilian
+that I once loved so well, whose memory I cherish
+still?”</p>
+
+<p>“Turn, fool, turn and see her; she is sufficiently
+betraying herself,” thundered Lydon. “There stands
+before you May Lilian Radcliffe, a Karamandran
+spirit in an Atalantan body!”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe advanced a step towards Melanitis; she
+stretched out her appealing hands, and burst forth in
+the words of Anglo-Saxon love, which Clarence had
+sent to her in the world across the sky—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">“One dearest vision flashed upon my way,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent2">Kindling the memories of Love’s sacred past;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That vision <i>now</i> is all my strength and stay,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent2">While yet the lingering hours of exile last!”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>With a wild cry Radcliffe clasped Melanitis in his
+arms.</p>
+
+<p>“Behold them!” shouted the deep voice of Lydon;
+“behold the two serpents of Karamandra! Each
+has found the other. Each stands prepared to wreck
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>a world that their ill-starred love may riot over its
+ruins!</p>
+
+<p>“O Malchon, understand the truth even in thy
+dotage! The child of thine heart was taken from
+thee seven years ago to dwell with Asti in his palace
+of solar glory, while into the vacant bodily tenement
+crept this <i>thing</i> from Karamandra, a cursed gift from
+a sin-stained planet.”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael and Carysfort had both risen, but they
+sank back in their seats with awestruck and blanched
+faces.</p>
+
+<p>A deep groan burst from the lips of Malchon.
+His head fell upon the couch. He said not a word.</p>
+
+<p>“Behold thy victory! hireling of a new religion,”
+Lydon shouted in a voice of ever-increasing bitterness.
+“Take to thy arms this stranger to thee; see if there
+be any resemblance in her pale foreign face to the
+love of the long ago. Ha! ha! A new courtship shalt
+thou have in this land of ours, and two dialects in
+which to pursue it.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe found his tongue at last. With one arm
+encircling Melanitis, he confronted Lydon and waved
+him imperiously aside.</p>
+
+<p>“Had I found her with all her beauty marred and
+gone, had I visited her in the deepest dungeon, had
+I met with her an exile in a desert island, she would
+be (as indeed she is) the one and only queen of my
+heart. It <i>is</i> a harder and more severe trial than all
+these things, to look upon the foreign face, even
+though it be fairer than the very fairest of my own
+world. Yet love can rise superior to every hindrance,
+can overcome every obstacle, else it were vain to talk
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>of immortality. This is how I meet thy difficulties,
+this is how love prevails over thy logic.”</p>
+
+<p>“Thou hast finely spoken, O man of Karamandra,”
+jeered Lydon. “Thy rustic wife of old is now a
+princess, and a throne is a potent solace to the trials
+of a foreign face.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not when the wife sits upon a throne, and the
+husband is far beneath; not when she has power and
+he no power, save only to carry on his mission; not
+when she is great and he is small.”</p>
+
+<p>“A truce to this peddling matter,” answered Lydon
+sternly. “Once again I call upon you in the name
+of Asti my God, to renounce your impious design to
+change the faith of Atalanta. Do what you will with
+<i>me</i>, but let not the Sun God shine upon an apostate
+land.”</p>
+
+<p>“Had I but loved my Saviour as I loved my wife,
+we might, both at this moment, be fulfilling a lowly
+divine ministry in our own world; but <i>now</i> we will
+do the one thing left to us; we will walk hand in
+hand together, to be a help and a benefit to the
+world wherein we are.”</p>
+
+<p>“I give you my consent and my blessing,” murmured
+the King in a broken voice. “God and the
+Prince of Heaven shall be honoured and adored, and
+none else. And now, my son Radcliffe, the time will
+not be long for me. Soon, very soon, I shall go to
+the land of which He whom we once coldly banished
+told us, a land where the wicked cease from troubling,
+and where the weary are at rest.”</p>
+
+<p>“I have <i>one</i> thing more to do,” cried Lydon, in
+a voice hoarse with rage. “The Sun God has been
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>publicly repudiated here in my presence, and his
+wrath must now fall upon the blasphemer who has
+come amongst us. O Asti, strengthen me only this
+once that I thy unworthy servant may perform one
+last sacrifice in thy name!”</p>
+
+<p>Bowing forward, with a supreme effort he snapped
+his bonds, and in a bound was upon Clarence and
+Melanitis. But Malchon sprang from his couch and
+interposed his aged body as a shield. Something
+glittered in Lydon’s hand ere his arm could be
+arrested in its downward swoop. Malchon fell
+forward; he uttered one faint cry; they just caught
+the words, “Let the Prince be King,” and all was
+over.</p>
+
+<p>“A greater retribution has fallen,” shouted the
+high priest. “I swore to be avenged. Behold, all of
+you, the sacrificial knife; see, it is red, red to the
+hilt. Asti is honoured. Come, therefore—I wait my
+long-appointed doom; do your worst with me.
+Asti, I come! I come!”</p>
+
+<p>A sharp report echoed through the room. Lydon
+fell dead at his victim’s feet. Minola was risen,
+holding one of the pistols from the Asteroid in her
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>“He shut up my father in his Temple prison,”
+she said quietly. “He let him die of starvation,
+because he would not sacrifice to his idol. I
+place myself in Queen Mexitli’s hands. I have
+repaid.”</p>
+
+<p>“You need not be forgiven, dear, for there is nothing
+to forgive,” answered the Queen elect. “You have
+only completed the sacrifice. I had meant something
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>appallingly worse for him, but I thank you for having
+made it unnecessary.”</p>
+
+<p>Then she knelt down by her father’s side, and the
+tears fell fast. Presently she looked up and said—</p>
+
+<p>“Go, my friends, and take rest after all these
+horrors. You have nothing but a true friend in me.
+Cleito! Arniphon! take the body of that traitor
+and hurl it over the parapet of the terrace!”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">
+    CHAPTER XXV
+    <br>
+    THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>No words can adequately describe the emotions
+that prevailed in the great city when the news
+flew from mouth to mouth of the assassination of the
+King, followed by the almost immediate death of the
+murderer.</p>
+
+<p>Many scores of households were already bewailing
+their dead and making the usual elaborate preparations
+to honour their remains. And now the
+palace itself was drowned in lamentation also, and
+was face to face in addition with the problem of
+the succession.</p>
+
+<p>The latter point was very quickly settled. Fifty
+years had to pass before the nobility would have the
+right to raise one of their own order to the throne.
+Melanitis instantly wrote out a form of renunciation
+with her own hand, and placed herself entirely in
+Mexitli’s power. The latter took her aside, and
+said, in the presence of Radcliffe and of Abercromby—</p>
+
+<p>“Since you have so honourably kept your faith to
+me which you pledged two years ago, my first act as
+Queen shall be to associate you with me in the
+sovereignty.”</p>
+
+<p>“That I am firmly resolved to refuse,” she
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>answered. “I pray that your cousin Mayana be
+raised to the first place below the throne. Also that
+Clarence may be retained in the rank of nobility
+along with his comrades. All I ask for myself and
+for him further is, that you will permit us to live in
+some retired spot where it will be easy for us to
+devote ourselves to the work we desire to do.”</p>
+
+<p>“You shall rule the island of Melandria for me, as
+Andron’s term of office expires with my father’s
+death. You will not disappoint me in this, will you,
+Melanitis?”</p>
+
+<p>“You are more than good to me,” she answered,
+“and if you desire it, I will undertake this work.”</p>
+
+<p>“Now that I understand everything,” Mayana
+interposed, taking the hand of Melanitis, “I honour
+you as I never honoured you before, and I
+sympathise with you in those awful years of trial
+amongst us which you have so bravely spent.”</p>
+
+<p>“And you, Clarence,” said the Queen, “though
+you can have no direct power in the ruling of this
+land, will find your happiness in the love of your
+wife, in the fulfilment of your mission, and in the
+knowledge of the love which we all bear to you, for
+you are devoting your life to the good of your
+adopted country. You also, Abercromby, will have
+your share in that love, a share which will increase, as
+we see that you completely identify yourself with us.
+As for the other two, it is <i>their</i> fault if their share in
+our hearts’ affections be much less. To their own
+world they have decided to return, and it is doubtless
+well, for to it they evidently belong. I shall have a
+serious talk with them when the fitting time arrives.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>Meanwhile, you will all remain in the palace
+with us.”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis and Clarence spent most of that day
+together. Their happiness was too great to be
+expressed in words. They sat in one of the recesses
+of the palace gardens looking towards the south, and
+each told the other what they had suffered in the
+long time of separation.</p>
+
+<p>“We will talk always in the dear English tongue,
+Clarence, when we are together. Atalantan has
+been to me a painfully acquired dialect. I do not
+speak it very much better than you.”</p>
+
+<p>“When did you first hear of our coming, dearest?”</p>
+
+<p>“I was standing on the palace terrace, and I saw
+the rockets soar into the sky. I knew it was something
+most unusual, and I myself urged Mayana and
+Cleophon (who were then visiting the palace) to
+go and investigate. The moment they brought back
+the report of their interview, I was certain, but,” she
+said with a shudder, “you were all of you close to
+death.”</p>
+
+<p>“I felt sure of it at the time, dearest.”</p>
+
+<p>“Mayana has often told me since that she can
+never bear to think about it. But is it possible that
+no suspicion of the truth about me ever reached you
+from any one?”</p>
+
+<p>“Never, Melanitis.”</p>
+
+<p>“You <i>must</i> drop that detestable name. I am
+Lilian. But how <i>did</i> you explain to yourself what
+Abercromby could have meant?”</p>
+
+<p>“By the pure miraculous power of God raising you
+from the dead.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Ah! Well, of course, that would account. And
+yet it was something not far short of it.”</p>
+
+<p>Then she asked Clarence to tell her all about his
+work after he had returned to Oxford, and all about
+the Professor and his companions.</p>
+
+<p>“The most trying part of it to me was when you
+and your people talked away in my presence, not
+knowing that I could understand you. Little did
+you know how much I agreed with many outspoken
+criticisms, though they were sometimes not very
+politely expressed. But that song about the proctor,
+and your Atalantising of it, nearly did for me altogether,
+and then—Tom’s letter!”</p>
+
+<p>“There is one thing I greatly desire to ask you.
+Was it true, as Parmenton asserted, that you in any
+way supported them in their designs upon the existing
+social order? He actually advised me to throw
+in my lot with you, and said that you were a Karamandran
+woman at heart. Could it have possibly
+been that he suspected the truth?”</p>
+
+<p>“Quite impossible. He only took advantage of
+some words which he once heard me say in the presence
+of Lydon, that I did not greatly admire the
+way in which the women ruled everything here.
+But, of course, I have the right of my sex to change
+my mind upon this or any other subject. Certainly,
+now that <i>you</i> have come, I must break altogether
+with any such ideas.”</p>
+
+<p>“I never ruled you in the other world,” chuckled
+he, “so I am scarcely likely ever to attempt doing it
+in this.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps you never went the right way to work.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>You were sadly wanting in tact; but you have made
+amends here, at all events, when you saved yourself
+and the others from an almost certain death on the
+day of the trial.”</p>
+
+<p>“What will be done with Medon and Parmenton?”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t ask me, Clarence. They will drop out.
+There will be no trial. Better would it be for them
+if I served them as I did Mauro Katakalon. You
+know that I saved the wretch Lydon himself, and
+how he requited it.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe shuddered. “I do not like these things.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nor do I, though I cannot now see <i>everything</i>
+through terrestrial spectacles.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did you know that Lydon was going to betray
+your secret?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not till the last moment. You and Frank were
+very wise in urging a private trial.”</p>
+
+<p>“I only did it because I fell in with his opinion; I
+did not know what was going to happen. But I am
+troubled about another matter. Can Clieto and Arniphon
+be depended on not to tell Lydon’s story broadcast?”</p>
+
+<p>“I shall leave that with the Queen; she will do
+what she thinks best for us. Do not be hard upon
+Mexitli or Mayana, or any others. There is much
+that ought to be corrected, but we must give them
+the fuller form of their own ancient faith, and that
+will work a change in many things.”</p>
+
+<p>“What was your feeling towards the King?”</p>
+
+<p>“Grief and regret. But I was quite powerless to
+act; it would have killed him to have learned the
+truth from <i>me</i>, even if he had believed it. Mexitli
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>must have bitterly hated the true Melanitis; but she
+gradually awoke to the fact that, whatever change
+had passed over me, it was sufficient to render me
+her passive instrument, and not her rival. Little by
+little her enmity turned to affection, and then when
+you came, though I had certain risks to run, I felt
+that I might some day tell her everything. On that
+night when you sang ‘Solitude,’ I betrayed myself so
+openly that Abercromby, who had already suspected
+the truth—for I knew he did by many little things—came
+to me and taxed me directly with it. Then
+I told Mexitli and Mayana. The Queen believed it;
+her cousin did not. Of course, the Queen saw in a
+moment that her succession to the throne was
+secured beyond hesitation; and so we all made a
+firm alliance, and I myself told Abercromby to pave
+the way towards your enlightenment. Now I think
+I have told you everything.”</p>
+
+<p>“What effect has your experience had upon the
+truth of the theory of re-incarnation?”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t trouble your dear head about that. One
+instance does not make a rule, especially when we
+can see, as here, such evident meaning and reason
+for it. It had not to do with the earth, but with
+Venus. I was not reborn, but conscious from the
+first of what had happened. Better, in one sense,
+had I not been, for no one knows, nor ever will
+know, but I who have gone through it, what it has
+cost me to be such an incarnated impostor. My
+journeys to Aptaura, etc., were not much dictated by
+love of astronomy, nor even for the sake of seeing
+the ‘Little Queen of the Night,’ about which there
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>was not much to learn from those wise men, or from
+their instruments, but chiefly to get away from
+people and talk English to myself, lest I should
+forget it entirely by the time you came.”</p>
+
+<p>“Was the real Melanitis older or younger than
+you when your change came.”</p>
+
+<p>“Older by some years, Clarence, but not very
+many.”</p>
+
+<p>“God help me,” said Radcliffe; “I hoped that it
+had been otherwise. I had hoped I might have had
+you a few years longer.”</p>
+
+<p>“You will have me as long as God wills, my
+dearest. We cannot tell beforehand any of these
+things; we have a work to do, and we shall be immortal
+till it is done.”</p>
+
+<p>“And afterwards,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, afterwards, in the Mansions of the Blest.
+You were very fond of that expression; it is curious
+that you pitched upon the favourite phrase of Venus—‘Antillie—intânie.’”</p>
+
+<p>That evening the Professor and Carysfort had
+a long conversation over the things which the lovers
+had been discussing, though in a different form.</p>
+
+<p>“I perfectly believe all I have heard, Carysfort,”
+he said; “I do not trouble over a magical key, if it
+perfectly fits a magical lock.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then you go in for stark miracles and supernaturalism,
+Carmichael,” said the engineer.</p>
+
+<p>“No, my friend, I, in this case, go in for unknown
+law, unknown factors, unknown powers. Whether
+they are miraculous or not, requires me to know
+vastly more about them than I am likely to, on this
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>side of the border. It is much more important to
+know whether a fact is true, than to know whether it
+is supernatural. I know <i>this</i> is true, for it clears up
+everything that has puzzled us from the first; on just
+the same principle, I accept the resurrection of
+Christ, because I cannot account for what happened
+afterwards except on such a ground.”</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, the King’s last wish that a search
+should be made for poor Tom had been carried out.
+He was searched for all over the city and the district,
+but no trace of him could anywhere be discovered.
+Meanwhile the agitation in Atalanta continued to
+increase, and at last a party of loyalists, more ardent
+than discreet, landed on the island from an airship,
+and proclaimed the Queen from the terraces of the
+Temple.</p>
+
+<p>They had found no one there, but Mexitli was not
+satisfied. She blamed them for going without a
+sufficient force, but she promised that, as soon as the
+King’s embalming had been completed, and that of
+the other illustrious dead, the Temple should be
+thoroughly overhauled and taken possession of in
+her name.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby ventured to ask the Queen as to what
+ceremonies would be performed at her coronation.
+She did not quite understand him, and accordingly
+he and Radcliffe gave her an account of the coronation
+of Queen Victoria and the ceremonies in Westminster
+Abbey. Her answer was that that lady was
+only a queen of one small country, and doubtless had
+many enemies who needed to be convinced that she
+was a true monarch; but that when a sovereign
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>governed an entire world, it only led to gossip and
+cavilling to have any ceremonies at all.</p>
+
+<p>“I put a star in my coronet,” she said, “and simply
+issue my orders, and that is all that is needed. Everybody
+understands; to disobey is to die. Medon and
+Parmenton have just found this out.”</p>
+
+<p>Two days later, Abercromby said to Radcliffe:
+“Where in the world are Cleito and Arniphon? I
+have missed them entirely. Have you a guess on
+the subject?”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps I have,” said Radcliffe. “Cleophon is
+installed in the one post, and Andron, when he comes
+from Melandria, is to have the other appointment.
+But it beats me entirely where the others are.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe happened to mention this to the Professor,
+who said shortly, “They are going to the earth with
+us in order to tell our terrestrial people what has
+happened to Mrs. Radcliffe.”</p>
+
+<p>“Are you joking, or is this really serious, Professor?”</p>
+
+<p>“Really serious for them, and an abominable nuisance
+for us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have you to take them in the Asteroid?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; I suppose it will be like the Indians whom
+Columbus took back with him to Spain, an advantage
+to prove that we are not impostors.”</p>
+
+<p>“But who the deuce contrived it?” asked Abercromby,
+“and what does it mean?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, they were determined to tell their story on
+Venus, and Mexitli thought it would make less commotion
+if they told it on the earth.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where are they now?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span></p>
+
+<p>“In gaol, poor beggars,” said Carysfort, “stewing
+in their own juice.”</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby burst out into a roar of laughter.
+“Well done, Mexitli! Catch a woman asleep
+indeed! I’m precious glad for Radcliffe’s sake and
+Lilian’s. Now their coast will be clear. Is not the
+Queen a duck?”</p>
+
+<p>“She is a beast,” retorted Carmichael. “Why
+should she cast her rascals on us?”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">
+    CHAPTER XXVI
+    <br>
+    THE FAREWELL OF AMALONA
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The hour arrived which every heart in Atalanta
+city had been awaiting with expectant sorrow—the
+hour when King Malchon and many hundreds of
+his people were to be carried to the Land of the
+Dead, beyond the Vale of Meloria, and there laid to
+rest under the shadows cast by a great amphitheatre
+of hills.</p>
+
+<p>Every house had brought forth its embalmed and
+elaborately preserved relic of mortality, and these
+were laid upon litters six abreast, each borne by four
+bearers in the open promenade between the Lake and
+the Avenue of Ascent. Each group was escorted by
+the members of the several houses to which the dead
+respectively belonged, while, in the intervals between
+each, bands of minstrels played melodies of plaintive
+pathos, or sang elegies commemorating the good
+deeds of the departed.</p>
+
+<p>Down the palace avenue moved the procession of
+the royal mourners. All walked on foot, the Queen
+and Mayana in their robes of violet—the Atalantan
+mourning hue—with all ornaments and coronets laid
+aside.</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis and Clarence walked together, for, in the
+eyes of the people, they were regarded as betrothed.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>Cleophon and Minya came next, while Abercromby,
+who had just donned the costume of Atalanta,
+walked sometimes with Cleophon, sometimes with the
+Professor and the engineer. The latter were of
+course in English clothes, feeling rather awkward
+and uncomfortable, while Abercromby said he felt
+like a dog running about between two planets.</p>
+
+<p>The procession itself comprised a large part of the
+population of Atalanta. There were consequently
+not many spectators, for none who sympathised in
+their hearts with the priestly faction would have
+dared to show themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Every few hundred yards they stopped and pronounced
+words in honour of the dead.</p>
+
+<p>A winding road had been constructed leading to
+the Pass of Amalona—the Bridge of the Tear, as
+it was called. This was five miles from the eastern
+end of the great city, the road turning from the
+shoulder of the Lake just where one of its two rivers
+flowed into it.</p>
+
+<p>The ascent of Amalona was severely trying; the
+sun of Venus looked down upon them.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe sank in a dead faint, but the Queen and
+Mayana revived him by a few drops of a pale blue
+liquid, the best known remedy for solar attacks. He
+then plodded on with grim earnestness. Melanitis
+watched him in keen anxiety. Several times the
+terrestrials were allowed to halt and take rest.</p>
+
+<p>At last the head of the Pass was gained, the hills
+receded into an amphitheatre, covered as far as the
+eye could reach with monuments of blue, pink, and
+purple stone. All were of one shape, an oval recess,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>in which the embalmed body was carefully laid,
+beneath an overarching canopy of metal and glass,
+which permitted the face to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>At the head of the Pass the royal party halted
+beside the effigy of Malchon. All the niches had
+been prepared beforehand, and nothing more was
+necessary than to place the embalmed bodies in the
+recesses made ready for them. On a vast pile of
+rock, about a quarter of a mile away, lay gigantic
+mounds (as they appeared) ranged in pyramidal
+form.</p>
+
+<p>At a signal from the Queen, Mayana came forward,
+and, pointing in the direction of these distant
+objects, said—</p>
+
+<p>“What is to be done with the dead who are not
+honoured but dishonoured?”</p>
+
+<p>“Let them be consumed out of sight,” answered
+Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>Mayana raised the green metal tube in her hand,
+and pointed it in the direction of the heaped-up
+plateau. Several flashes followed, and instantly
+sheets of flame burst from the mounds, spreading
+sunwards in a canopy of fire. The cremating process,
+under such a sun in the full radiance of his
+light, required but a few minutes. The flames fell,
+the smoke drifted away, the holocaust was completed.</p>
+
+<p>This weird and awful spectacle was followed by
+another of solemn impressiveness. The embalmed
+body of the King was slowly carried down into the
+peaceful shadow, and the remains laid in the appointed
+place. Tears filled the eyes of the Queen
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>and Mayana; the Queen leaned heavily on Radcliffe’s
+arm, and then she said—</p>
+
+<p>“From the place where we stand, a voice of
+average power would reach to most parts of the
+amphitheatre. You may address a word of consolation
+to us, if you are so minded.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe was very pale, but he stepped forward,
+and facing the assembly of the living and the vaster
+assembly of the dead, he began—</p>
+
+<p>“Dwellers in the flowery land, we are here to-day
+to honour the memory of a King who loved his
+people, and who fell a martyr to his duty, even as
+his ancestor King Keraunion did in the days of old.
+His last words were these: ‘Make the Prince King.’
+Will you obey the dying message of your monarch?
+You will perceive of whom he was speaking. Not
+of a competitor to our Queen’s throne, not of any
+ordinary mortal, but of the Divine Exile whom we,
+of Atalanta, served so ill in the days of the long ago.
+By the permission and help of the royal house, by
+the earnest wish of the martyr monarch himself, the
+Princess Melanitis and I are resolved to do what in
+us lies to publish to the Atalantan people the full
+contents of that message of peace which the Prince
+came to proclaim to the twin-worlds of Atalanta and
+of Karamandra. Lo! the way to the Mansions of
+the Blest is now obscure and uncertain, but the
+message which the Prince gave is clear and full of
+light. It shall be placed within the reach of all in
+the Queen’s empire, which is this world, who are
+ready to hear it; and then the Bridge of the Tear
+will become a portal and a pathway to a home in the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>Mansions of the Blest, where death can never make
+an inroad, and where, as the God of Heaven has
+promised—all tears shall be wiped from off all
+faces.”</p>
+
+<p>“Father most beloved! King most untiring for
+the people’s good! I bid you farewell,” said Mexitli,
+adding, “This is the most hopeful day that ever a sad
+heart beheld on the Bridge of the Tear.”</p>
+
+<p>Mayana advanced with the heart-shaped instrument—the
+antilla; she struck a few tuneful notes,
+and then the whole assembled throng commenced
+the indescribably touching and awe-inspiring chant—</p>
+
+
+<h3 id="THE_FAREWELL_OF_AMALONA">
+  THE FAREWELL OF AMALONA
+</h3>
+
+
+<h3 id="I">
+  I
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Why have we come from the city bright?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Why have we toiled ’neath the torrid light?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Why have we climbed the irksome hill,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Leaving the bower and the cool sweet rill?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">This is the last that our love can do</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">For the hearts that we honour as loyal and true.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3 id="II">
+  II
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">What are our hopes on this tearful day?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Trembling and weak, for a sad heart’s stay.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">How can they rise from this death-strewn vale?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Or snatch from the skies an enlightening tale?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Yet poor as they are, like the shadows that fly,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">We will cleave to them, cling to them, till we die!</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3 id="III">
+  III
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">What is the grief that rules our heart?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">’Tis the cry of the world that will bid us depart.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Fain would we linger and fain would we stay,</div>
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>      <div class="verse indent0">’Tis duty, not pleasure that calls us away.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Soon we must enter life’s tumult again,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Let the smile on the face hide the grief and the pain.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3 id="IV">
+  IV
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Why do we gaze on the future unknown?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Or look to the past for the joys that have flown?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">One is all drear with <i>you</i> gone from our side,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">One is all sad with Time’s onsweeping tide.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Only the Present lies full in our power,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Guarding each brief opportunity’s hour.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3 id="V">
+  V
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Can it be true that in days gone by</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The Prince came down from His throne on high,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Amongst us the banner of love unfurled,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And laboured in vain for our new-born world?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That we gave Him scant welcome and bade Him depart?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">That this is the problem of each aching heart?</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3 id="VI">
+  VI
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Why have the years and the centuries sped</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">O’er the world of the living, the vale of the dead?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Vainly we turn to the silent skies</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">To seek a response to our sympathies.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Whether sun shall illumine, or rain mist fall,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">What answer comes down to each questioning call?</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3 id="VII">
+  VII
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">All through the darkness that broods from afar</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Our frail human love shines, a twinkling star;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Often and often ’tis quenched in night,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Ever it struggles towards hope and light;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Age after age it sends forth its sad cry,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">“Give me my sure immortality.”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span></p>
+
+
+<h3 id="VIII">
+  VIII
+</h3>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Ye honoured dead, farewell! farewell! We greet you</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">In trembling hope that we shall one day meet you!</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>As the last notes died away the whole multitude
+bowed with their faces to the ground; then, rising,
+they lifted up their hands, and the cry, “Farewell!
+farewell!” rang out in its long echoes to the furthest
+recesses of the hills.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">
+    CHAPTER XXVII
+    <br>
+    THE SACRED MANUSCRIPT AND THE PRICE
+    PAID FOR IT
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Both the Professor and the engineer, although
+they were hardy men—the latter especially—were
+completely knocked up by the physical ordeal
+through which they had passed. They regretted
+that they had not adopted the native dress, for that
+would have helped them not a little. In fact, they
+had a very narrow escape of a serious illness. Several
+of the Atalantans themselves were stricken. Radcliffe
+and Melanitis had each to nurse the other.
+Abercromby went about much as usual, owing to his
+being so brimful of dash and energy. He was
+followed by rather amused smiles from many, who
+were quite strangers to such un-Atalantan activities.</p>
+
+<p>One day he broke in, somewhat unceremoniously,
+upon the Queen and the Princess Mayana, who were
+sitting, or rather reclining, propped up upon their
+couches, talking over state affairs at considerable
+intervals and pauses.</p>
+
+<p>“I want your royal leave to land on the priest’s
+island,” he said, “and to explore the Temple and its
+treasures. Radcliffe is most anxious to know if any
+documents of a religious character are hidden away
+there.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span></p>
+
+<p>“What does he expect to find?” asked Mayana.</p>
+
+<p>Abercromby felt some difficulty in stating the
+case; then he said, “He thinks it possible that the
+late King’s information which he gave to him may
+have been based upon an actual writing of those
+who were disciples of Christ or even of Christ
+Himself.”</p>
+
+<p>“This is incredible,” answered the Queen. “I am
+aware my father thought that so it might be, but
+I think he was grossly deceived by those who are
+now proved to have been traitors and rebels.”</p>
+
+<p>“Lydon paid a visit to our house and repeated a
+story to that effect,” replied Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, do you believe he spoke the truth?” answered
+the Queen. “If he did, it was probably on
+the only occasion in his life.”</p>
+
+<p>Mayana laughed. “It was a mere bait held out
+to kidnap you.”</p>
+
+<p>“My own opinion entirely,” replied the Queen.
+“Now as to your wish, I am ready to grant it, but I
+would urge you to be wise. Whatever you discover
+you must bring to me that I may see it first, as is
+but just, and you must take great care that you go
+with a force to protect you. There has been no sign
+of life upon the island, but some survivors of the
+rebels may be in lurking.”</p>
+
+<p>“Smoke has been seen rising from the Temple,”
+put in Minola, who was reading on a low seat by the
+Queen’s side in close attendance upon her.</p>
+
+<p>“All the more reason to put it out at once,” said
+Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, you may try,” said the Queen, smiling,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>“but be very cautious for your own sake as well as
+for ours. Radcliffe and Melanitis may go too, but
+you must take several of the palace guards, well
+armed. Cleophon will see to this.”</p>
+
+<p>“I pray of you to allow <i>me</i> to go,” put in Minola.</p>
+
+<p>“If you wish to, dear,” replied the Queen; “but be
+careful all of you. It will be one of the queerest
+enterprises you ever sought to carry out.”</p>
+
+<p>The Professor and Carysfort were almost equally
+interested in the adventure, and they obtained permission
+to take part in it.</p>
+
+<p>The next day the whole party left the palace after
+the noontide meal. They were carried in palanquins
+down the Avenue of Ascent to the Lake side, where
+they found six guards told off to accompany them
+under the command of Cleophon. The guards carried
+their swords, but Melanitis and Minola had each
+the tube of green metal. They had to proceed a
+short distance to the landing-stage, where a sort of
+pier projected out several hundreds of yards into the
+Lake. At the end of this embanked causeway a large
+punt-shaped boat was in readiness sufficient to
+embark the entire party.</p>
+
+<p>In the sky, just over the island, hovered two airships
+sent by the Queen, whose pilots were ordered
+to keep close in touch with them, so as to be able to
+intervene in case of any emergency.</p>
+
+<p>They were more than an hour reaching the island,
+though the rowers were experts at the oar. The
+island was about a mile in circumference, planted
+with groves of noble trees of pale pink foliage for
+the most part, here and there variegated with patches
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>of light green. In the centre rose the Temple—massive,
+square-shaped, with its four minaret towers
+at the corners, and a shrine of rich decorative art
+and brilliant colouring in the centre.</p>
+
+<p>Minola, as the Queen’s personal representative, was
+bidden to land first; the others followed. The guards
+ranged up on the pebbly shore. The rowers were
+directed to remain by the boat, which was firmly
+secured to a metallic pillar fixed in the ground.</p>
+
+<p>They saw no trace of life; all seemed perfectly
+still. The heat was great, but not overpowering, as
+a light mist somewhat draped the face of the sun.</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis counselled that before approaching the
+Temple they should explore the wood. She and
+Clarence entered the shady grove and went across
+the island by a well-defined beaten track till they
+reached the opposite shore, from whence a fine view
+could be obtained of the Keraunian hills. He told
+her of how he had first seen through the mist the
+outlines of the Temple and the towers of the city, and
+how the anxious consultation had been held which
+had led to the signalling by the rockets. She remarked
+that, under the actual circumstances, it was
+the best thing they could have done, for, had they
+come direct to the city, certain and swift death would
+have awaited them.</p>
+
+<p>“Where are all the others?” said she, turning
+round. “They will think we have accidentally run
+away.”</p>
+
+<p>“No; we have run away by design, not by accident,”
+replied Clarence. “We can tell the truth, as
+they are not here to listen.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Well, that is nice. I see you are the same
+naughty boy that you were on the earth.”</p>
+
+<p>Clarence had no time to rebut the accusation, for a
+sudden cry was heard, and Abercromby was seen
+running towards them, white as a ghost.</p>
+
+<p>“What is the matter?” said Radcliffe, alarmed.</p>
+
+<p>“I have just roused up some inmates of old Lydon’s
+menagerie. There is a cave of huge serpents hard
+by here, and they have made me run for my life.”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis drew her green tube and held it in
+readiness. A minute later voices were heard, and
+Carysfort and the Professor came in sight. They
+stopped aghast, for a sinuous and silvery form, with
+huge convolutions, detached itself from a large tree
+and confronted them, uttering piercing hissings that
+more resembled sobbing cries. Melanitis and Minola,
+who had hastened to rejoin her, discharged the
+lightning fluid full in the face of the monster, which
+collapsed in a heap upon the ground.</p>
+
+<p>“This is the first serpent we have seen in Venus,”
+said the Professor. “I wonder if it be poisonous.”</p>
+
+<p>“They are very rare,” replied Minola, “only dwelling
+in the wildest parts of the continent to the north
+and the east of the city. This has been brought
+here for a purpose.”</p>
+
+<p>“Something ghastly, I expect,” said the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>“I think so,” answered Minola.</p>
+
+<p>Cleophon and the guards now came up. They
+had seen two other similar reptiles, but of smaller
+size, and their weapons and numbers had soon scared
+them into the thicket.</p>
+
+<p>Under these circumstances they decided to leave
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>the woods and to ascend the steps of the Temple.
+This they did, and found the gilded door which gave
+entrance to the great courtyard. No sooner had
+they entered than they stopped in astonished surprise.</p>
+
+<p>A priest of the Sun, in his gaudy robes, was
+standing in front of the altar, from whence the smoke
+of a recent sacrifice was ascending. His tall, gaunt
+form exhibited no sign of fear. Slowly his gaze
+travelled round the whole group, but the result was
+only a flush of deepening hatred upon his face.</p>
+
+<p>“In the Queen’s name, I bid you surrender and
+throw yourself upon the royal clemency,” said Radcliffe,
+stepping forward.</p>
+
+<p>“Be careful, Clarence, be careful,” said Melanitis
+appealingly.</p>
+
+<p>Another step she was by his side, her arm outstretched
+with levelled weapon towards the foe, who
+broke into a taunting laugh.</p>
+
+<p>“Asti shall yet be avenged on you and yours,” he
+cried. “You have slain the high priest by entrapping
+him, and after a pretended trial, which you dared
+not hold in the light of day, you have murdered
+him in cold blood, because he accidentally slew the
+incapable monarch who was the slave of his own
+children.”</p>
+
+<p>“This is Talmon, he who put my father to the
+torture,” cried Minola. “Your day has come, as it
+came just now to your chief.”</p>
+
+<p>She pointed her green tube.</p>
+
+<p>“A moment,” interposed Cleophon, arresting Minola’s
+hand. “Do you admit or deny the charge,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>fellow? Was it through you that the brave Marcon
+perished?”</p>
+
+<p>Not a word did the priest say. The sudden accusation
+of Minola paralysed him.</p>
+
+<p>In an instant the deed was done.</p>
+
+<p>All opposition seemed to have ended with the fate
+of Asti’s solitary worshipper. The party, entering
+the inner shrine, found it quite empty and deserted.
+There was a circular aperture in the roof to let the
+sacrificial fumes ascend, and a huge silver-coloured
+altar beneath.</p>
+
+<p>“Have animal sacrifices ever been offered here?”
+asked Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>“They have,” said Minola.</p>
+
+<p>“Anything worse?”</p>
+
+<p>“God knows; there was nothing that Lydon might
+not do,” she answered.</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis had been examining some mural paintings
+upon the northern wall, when she all at once
+stopped and stood perfectly rigid.</p>
+
+<p>“Come here, all of you,” she said in both English
+and Atalantan.</p>
+
+<p>They hastened towards her. “Put your ear to the
+wall, Clarence; do you not hear somebody calling?”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe did so. “Good heavens! it is an English
+voice,” he cried. “It is saying, ‘Help me! help me!
+for Christ’s sake!’”</p>
+
+<p>“So it is,” Abercromby almost shouted, “and I
+know whose it is, by George! It’s Tom, as I’m a
+living man!”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael began to shout, “Tom! Tom! steady,
+Tom; we are coming to save you!”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Buck up, old man! Where are you?” sang out
+Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis pointed out to them that their best chance
+was to go outside the shrine of the Temple and
+search for some underground passage.</p>
+
+<p>“My lady,” said Minola, “I must best know the
+secret ways of these reptiles. I have been dragged
+here and almost done to death.”</p>
+
+<p>“We put ourselves in your hands, dear,” said
+Melanitis.</p>
+
+<p>Minola struck one of the panels of the walls after
+taking a careful note of it. The panel flew back
+and disclosed a winding stairway.</p>
+
+<p>“Be very careful, my lords, all of you,” said Minola.
+“Follow me—I will descend first.”</p>
+
+<p>The brave girl went in front, the others followed.
+About twenty steps revealed a dark passage with a
+glimmering of light at the end. Entering this they
+heard the cries much plainer.</p>
+
+<p>“Christ save me! Let me see a face of man before
+I die.”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael dashed forward; he turned a corner,
+the passage opened into a little room, with a slit for
+window and for ventilation, and a stone floor.</p>
+
+<p>On the floor, his hands and feet closely fettered,
+his face emaciated from hunger and thirst, lay a
+prisoner. It was Jackson.</p>
+
+<p>The moment he saw them he made a violent effort
+to rise, but it proved hopeless; his head and limbs fell
+back. But a smile was upon his honest though
+tortured face as he turned towards his master.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, Tom, old fellow, what have these devils
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>been doing to you? We never imagined you were
+here. The last of them has been killed; you will be
+free in a few minutes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Aye, I shall be free, sir, but not as you think,”
+said Tom. “I’m going home, I am. The priests—they
+tried to make me give my Saviour up and
+worship their pagan idols instead—told them I’d die
+first. Then they played all their conjuring tricks on
+me, and they have done it by now.”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis knelt down by his side and laid his poor
+head upon her arm. “We hope to save you yet,
+Tom; but if not, you know the way home, don’t you,
+my poor fellow?”</p>
+
+<p>“Ay, if I had to walk it! I’d be a sight of years
+over it, and miss the harbour lights at the last, but
+Christ will just send a chariot to fetch me. He has
+done it all. It’s not my love to Him, it’s His love to
+me—that’s what they used to tell me over at the
+Methodist chapel I had got to lean on. But,” he
+went on with a puzzled look, “how <i>do</i> you come to
+speak English, Miss Melanitis?”</p>
+
+<p>“I have learned it, Tom, a good long time.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then you must have heard me a-cussin’ and a-swearin’
+pretty often, miss—and at your people, too.
+I have been a bad dog, miss, and in two worlds; but
+I have asked the Lord to forgive me, and I know He
+will, because He says so. ‘Whosoever’ is a big word,
+and it takes in me, you, and anybody else, miss.”</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis drew from her pocket a tiny phial and
+placed it to his lips. In a moment his vital powers
+flickered up.</p>
+
+<p>“I’d be singing you all the Glory Song if I was
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>strong enough,” he said. “I heard Torrey and
+Alexander do it when I was in Birmingham. It was
+my old mother who converted me though. She
+lived at Elton, and when I drove over Mr. Radcliffe
+to a meetin’ at the Rectory, I went to have a cup of
+tea at the cottage. ‘Tom,’ she used to say, ‘I’m soon
+going, my boy, but I’ll be there to meet you; promise
+me that you will be coming. You won’t disappoint
+me, Tom?’ Now I’m going to her, Miss Melanitis,
+and I wishes Mr. Radcliffe and you all the blessin’
+the Lord can give you.”</p>
+
+<p>Minola kneeled down and gently placed another
+Atalantan cordial to his lips. But this time there
+was no hopeful result.</p>
+
+<p>“He is dying,” said Radcliffe. “You are a martyr,
+Tom, and you are going to be crowned.”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s Christ and my old mother I want to see, sir.
+I’m not good enough for crowns.”</p>
+
+<p>He stretched out his lacerated hands to Carmichael.
+“Good-bye, best master I ever had except Jesus.
+You must all come—I want to see you all up yonder.
+They told me—Methodist chapel—not my love to
+Him—but—but, His love to me, that will carry all the
+way. Mother! mother! your happy son!” And he
+yielded up his last breath like a child going to sleep.</p>
+
+<p>Professor Carmichael, the tears trickling down his
+cheeks, rose up and said to Cleophon, “Will you
+intercede for me to Queen Mexitli, that the dead
+body of this my friend and comrade may be embalmed
+and lie beneath the Pass of Amalona?”</p>
+
+<p>“It shall be honoured as though it were one of our
+own illustrious dead,” said Cleophon. “Mayana, my
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span>wife, will have more than enough influence to procure
+this.”</p>
+
+<p>The guards were summoned, and the dead body
+was placed upon a hastily improvised litter and
+carried down the Temple steps to the boat. Just as
+they reached it, a piece of paper dropped from the
+pocket of poor Tom’s waistcoat.</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe snatched up the paper, and at once cried
+out, “I must return to the Temple; there <i>are</i> documents
+after all.”</p>
+
+<p>He handed the scrap (which was crumpled and
+very hard to decipher) to Carmichael, who read out
+these words: “If any of you come to find me, remove
+green flagstone under altar. Lydon has hidden
+papers there—the devil will do you some mischief
+there, be careful, go armed—Tom.”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael read this again very carefully, and
+explained it to the Atalantans as well as he could.
+All agreed that they must undertake the search in
+united force, except that the rowers must be left to
+guard Tom’s remains in the boat, lest any further
+outrage should be attempted.</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis suggested that they should proceed at
+once to forcibly remove the altar, which work did not
+detain them as long to accomplish as they had expected.</p>
+
+<p>The lifting up of the great stone, however, required
+the labours of nearly the whole party. Below
+was a cavernous recess. Minola lighted a small lamp,
+and held in her other hand her deadly weapon.
+There were about a dozen rough steps to the bottom,
+but they were protected by a small handrail.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p>
+
+<p>Clarence, despite the warnings of Melanitis, went
+down first. No sooner had he reached the floor than
+they all uttered a cry, which was at once followed by
+a fierce roar and the sound of a desperate scuffle.
+Pinning him against the damp wall was a beast of
+large size, standing upright, tearing at his shoulders
+with its claws.</p>
+
+<p>Minola dared not fire at such close quarters with
+the lightning fluid; it would have meant almost
+certain death to Radcliffe as well. Melanitis had
+one of the Asteroid pistols, and this she discharged.
+The bullet wounded the animal severely, but did not
+actually kill it. It rolled upon the floor, dragging
+Radcliffe down with it in its fall. All that she could
+do was to wait while the combatants wrestled, until
+the beast was uppermost, and could present a target.
+With a desperate effort Radcliffe succeeded, by
+grasping its neck, in beating the creature back from
+his face, and then Melanitis got in her second shot
+with the other undischarged barrel. This struck the
+creature in the head; it bounded back and fell
+lifeless.</p>
+
+<p>The Professor and the engineer held their companion
+in their arms and assisted him to rise. His
+dress was torn almost to tatters, and he had been
+lacerated in both shoulders by the creature’s talons.
+He could only, with great pain and difficulty, make
+them understand that he had seen a small metallic
+case in a recess by the wall, in the attempt to reach
+which the beast had leaped upon him.</p>
+
+<p>It was a sad party that made their way to the boat
+with the dead body of poor Jackson and the wounded
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span>form of Radcliffe. Minola carefully examined the
+wounds, and gave assurance that they were not dangerous;
+but they were troublesome, and would disable
+him for a little time.</p>
+
+<p>Melanitis tended him with the most loving care.
+They were all glad to find themselves safe in the
+shelter and amid the comforts of the palace.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">
+    CHAPTER XXVIII
+    <br>
+    THE MESSAGE FROM THE OBSERVATORY
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>The Queen listened with deep interest to the
+account which the party gave her of their sad
+adventures in the island. She acceded at once to
+the Professor’s wishes with regard to the burial of
+his faithful servant. Five days later the embalmed
+body of Tom was conveyed to the amphitheatre
+below the Pass of Amalona, and was laid there to
+rest amid the grief and regret of all the members of
+the palace. The Queen had a monument in the
+English style erected over him, and words of esteem
+and affection were inscribed in both languages.</p>
+
+<p>The English part of the inscription ran thus:—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">To the Memory of Thomas Jackson,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent4">Faithful servant to the great</div>
+      <div class="verse indent4">Terrestrial Expedition of the</div>
+      <div class="verse indent4">Twentieth Christian Century.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<blockquote><p class="right"><span style="margin-left: 1.0em;">
+He suffered martyrdom in the heathen temple for refusing
+to offer sacrifice on the altar of the Sun God.</span></p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent4">“To him that overcometh</div>
+      <div class="verse indent6">A crown of life shall be;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent4">He with the King of Glory</div>
+      <div class="verse indent6">Shall reign eternally.”</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The verse was repeated in Atalantan poetry,
+written by the Queen herself.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span></p>
+
+<p>Abercromby asked that the Temple might be
+destroyed, while Radcliffe wished it to be converted
+into the first building for definite Christian worship
+in Atalanta.</p>
+
+<p>Mayana urged, however, that, as a standing monument
+of rebellion and of treason, it ought to be
+burned to the ground. The four towers were
+spared for their artistic beauty. On the site of
+the Temple itself it was decided to erect a palace
+for the Queen and her colleague, while Mexitli gave
+Radcliffe permission to have a building erected in
+the upper part of the city for Christian worship and
+teaching as soon as matters were ripe for so decisive
+a step.</p>
+
+<p>One day, shortly after his recovery, Minola was
+standing on the upper parapet of the terrace, looking
+fixedly at the blackened ruins of the Temple. Radcliffe
+asked her where Marcon had been laid to rest;
+he had looked for his monument, but had not
+found it.</p>
+
+<p>“My father has suffered the last outrage which
+can wound the heart of an Atalantan,” she replied.
+“After they had put him to death, Lydon had his
+body cremated upon his idolatrous altar. I wish I
+could know for certain whether he was actually dead
+when they cremated him.</p>
+
+<p>“When I was left desolate the Queen took me
+into her service, and I have had my home with her
+ever since. My father was a steadfast loyalist, and
+disdained the overtures that were made to him to
+win the pretended independence they offered, and
+that was why he suffered what he did. But I have
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span>repaid.” Then she said abruptly, “Would your
+religion approve my killing Lydon?”</p>
+
+<p>“Your slaying a man who was in the condition of
+a wild beast, loose among people practically defenceless,
+was quite blameless. He would have killed
+Melanitis had you not killed him. Your slaying of
+Talmon is less excusable, for I am of opinion that
+the Queen ought to have tried him in the usual way,
+and he would certainly have been condemned for
+high treason.”</p>
+
+<p>“The Queen said as much to me. I love the new
+religion, or, as some call it, the old one, very much,
+and read your manuscripts as fast as they appear;
+but I have read far enough to understand that Christ
+was not only a Saviour but a Master—at least in your
+world, and I suppose it ought to be so in this. I
+wonder whether He could so change me as to make
+it possible for me to cease to hate those men? Perhaps
+Marcon himself, in the Mansions of the Blest,
+would wish me to do so.”</p>
+
+<p>The conversation was ended by the appearance of
+Mayana, who took Radcliffe aside, as she had something
+of importance to communicate.</p>
+
+<p>“The box has been opened which nearly cost you
+your life to obtain, and the Queen and I have carefully
+perused its contents. It contains an ancient scroll
+(not very legible, I must confess) which simply repeats,
+in almost identical words, the narrative which King
+Malchon, who had learned it by heart, evidently
+related to you. It closes with the parting message
+of the Prince to our people, while on the other side
+are some extracts, written by His disciples, two of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span>whose names are given—Calchon and Ixtilon—quoting
+certain sayings of their Master. These sayings are
+almost a transcript of those which are found in the
+book given to your own world, so that we have
+a strong proof of the authenticity both of them and
+of yours. He evidently gave to your world certain
+maxims of truth about God and duty which He had
+before given to us; and, indeed, if His teaching was
+divine, as I believe it was, there was no need for
+originality or change.”</p>
+
+<p>Radcliffe went to the Queen’s apartment, where he
+found Melanitis turning the sentences into English
+as the Queen dictated them to her.</p>
+
+<p>“A very few days’ labour will suffice to translate
+the whole manuscript,” said the Queen. “Let your
+companions take a translation of it to their own
+world, and let our own version be circulated all over
+our empire. I will have the Prince’s last appeal to be
+engraved on a tablet and set up in a public place,
+say, on the promenade by the Lake shore, where that
+hateful procession was paraded.”</p>
+
+<p>It was several days after this that Carmichael and
+the engineer received an urgent summons to attend
+upon the Queen in her cabinet room. The time
+was gone by when such an announcement aroused
+fear and alarm. They had not a more sincere friend
+in Atalanta except Melanitis, if indeed she were an
+exception, for, try as they would, they could hardly
+conceal a certain feeling of uncanny repulsion when
+in her presence.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless it was with great curiosity that they
+obeyed a more than usually categorical citation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p>
+
+<p>When they got in, a select conclave was assembled.
+Around the canopied throne sat Radcliffe and Melanitis,
+Abercromby, Cleophon, and Mayana and her
+younger sister, while Minola was on her usual seat,
+close beneath the throne, bending over a map of the
+heavens, which she was intently studying.</p>
+
+<p>“I give you greeting, my friends,” said Mexitli,
+a little ceremoniously. “A messenger has arrived
+from the Observatory on Aptaura, informing us, in
+reply to our recent enquiry, that your world will be
+in correct alignment with ours on the twentieth day
+of the month Cayamarca—that is, fifty-five days from
+now. We notify this to you, as it would be well for
+you to start on your great journey home five days
+before that date.”</p>
+
+<p>There was deep silence. Melanitis took Radcliffe’s
+hand in hers. Abercromby fixed his eyes on the
+ground a trifle awkwardly. Then Carmichael said—</p>
+
+<p>“Have we permission from your Majesty to
+depart?”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly, after you have agreed to certain conditions
+which we have been carefully considering. Do
+you still wish to leave us?”</p>
+
+<p>“We have a duty to perform to our brothers whom
+we have left behind,” said Carmichael.</p>
+
+<p>“Very good; so shall it be. Now these are the
+conditions: You must give us in writing an exact
+account of your secret; you must either promise to
+reveal it to none of your race, or, if you prefer it, you
+must plainly tell them that it will be certain death
+for any Karamandran to come to our world as you
+did, or in any other way. If you yourselves choose
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span>to return to us you may do so, but even this on condition
+only that you thenceforward live amongst us
+and return no more. This you may do if you desire
+it, and you shall resume the privileges of nobility
+which my father gave you.</p>
+
+<p>“These conditions may seem hard, but I have to
+think for the good of my people. I have asked
+Clarence to tell me plainly all about his world,
+promising beforehand that nothing he revealed shall
+be used to your own injury. Melanitis is now able to
+confirm all he says, and Abercromby also, and they
+have told me the whole truth in the minutest particulars.
+Knowing it, I have decided to cut off for ever all
+personal communication until God shall otherwise ordain.
+But I grant you leave to take with you in the
+Asteroid products of our world of every sort, that
+your people may benefit by our music, our poetry,
+our arts, and even our fruits and flowers. In return,
+you will leave with us all the contents of the Asteroid
+which are not indispensable for your safety, and you
+may freely replace them by anything of Atalanta you
+may wish to bear away.</p>
+
+<p>“Fifty days from now you will set out from the
+palace, and we will journey with you to Aptaura, from
+whence you will wing your final flight.”</p>
+
+<p>“We agree to all these conditions fully and faithfully,”
+answered the Professor and the engineer.</p>
+
+<p>“As to Cleito and Arniphon, it is essential for the
+happiness of our beloved sister, that, as they have
+refused to promise silence as to her secret of identity,
+they must pay the penalty. They have chosen to be
+more loyal to the late King than he was to himself,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>and therefore I had decided, with great reluctance,
+that they must die, though by a painless death of
+sleep. But Melanitis made a powerful appeal to me,
+and it seemed more just to take advantage of a position
+so unique, and to let them go back with you to
+the earth. They will be good and faithful servants
+to you, and, furthermore, will absolutely prove to
+your brother scientists the truth of your history. It
+will enable me to spare their lives, and yet to help
+and to benefit <i>you</i>. Of course, I do not force them
+upon you, but the only alternative must be what
+I have said.”</p>
+
+<p>“We accept, of course,” said Carmichael. “But
+there is one question I would ask of your majesty—Will
+you permit us to make a strong endeavour to
+induce our brother Abercromby to reconsider his
+decision?”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly, make all the effort you can; but I
+think if two planets have a tussle over him, I know
+which will be the victor,” said the Queen, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>“You will stay with us, won’t you?” said Minya
+pleadingly.</p>
+
+<p>“I shall have a bad quarter of an hour with the
+Professor,” replied Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p>Now that the end was in sight, every one worked
+with indefatigable industry. The Professor and the
+engineer were inflexibly resolved to go; it was no use
+denying that they did not, and never probably
+would, feel they could make a home in Atalanta. It
+was not the world for them, nor did the voice of
+duty call them to put up with it. But they took an
+immediate resolve to leave behind them a legacy of
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span>useful knowledge to the Atalantans; everything—books,
+instruments, tools, seeds, down to the piano and
+the chessboard, were made over to the palace and its
+occupants. Carmichael took the trouble to write a
+number of short essays on various social and political
+subjects, while Carysfort explained a great many
+mechanical and industrial arts.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile a religious revolution was beginning to
+spread over the empire. The New Testament was
+rapidly finding its way into the homes of the people,
+though here and there opposition and even hostility
+were manifested.</p>
+
+<p>The movement was, of course, purely elastic and
+invertebrate as yet; the time for the setting up of
+institutions and stated worship had not yet come,
+and the Professor told Radcliffe that then his troubles
+would begin. He had better enjoy the literary, poetic,
+and romantic epoch as long as he could.</p>
+
+<p>The Queen and Mayana did not take an openly
+active part, but all their influence was thrown into
+the scale. The only point in which Mexitli was disinclined
+to show sympathy was the haranguing of the
+people in open-air assemblies; this was an absolute
+anomaly in the country, except in days of sedition and
+revolution.</p>
+
+<p>At last, after several attempts which had not been
+very successful, Radcliffe yielded to the Queen’s
+earnestly expressed wishes, all the more readily
+because she did not enforce them by arbitrary power.
+Melanitis, moreover, came to the rescue by a very
+ingenious suggestion. Poetry was constantly sung and
+recited in the public promenades: why should not the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span>flower of English hymns he turned into Atalantan
+verse and adapted, sometimes to the music of one
+world, sometimes to that of another?</p>
+
+<p>This proved a notable success; in every district the
+idea was acclaimed with enthusiasm. The Queen
+was so delighted that she promised to take a personal
+share in the composition of both music and verse.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, to cite but one instance, an ancient hymn to
+the Sun God was modelled in a new setting:—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Look not to me, but turn to Him who set</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">My throne above your far extending sky;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">He, my Creator, never will forget</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">To listen to His humblest creature’s cry.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Unseen, He rules the Mansions of the Blest,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The Sun of worlds more glorious and more great,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">From whence the Prince came down to give you rest,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And soon will make you heirs of His estate.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Let not the viceroy intercept the King,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Nor yet the creature vaunt an arrogant claim;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Look to the throne from whence all mercies spring,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And seek them in the banished Exile’s Name.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>“I tell you what it is, Radcliffe,” said the Professor;
+“thanks to a marvellous conjuncture of events, you
+are walking on roses just now in your missionary
+crusade, but the thorns will come, and will have to
+come. I don’t know much about these matters, but
+you are running ahead too fast. I shall not be here
+to see it, but allow me as a friend, who has a different
+mission to fulfil, just to observe that if Christ is ever
+to be King of Atalanta in any sense intelligible at
+present to me, He will have to be an Atalantan
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>Christ. Let these queer people, who are more after
+your taste than mine, go their own way and walk in
+their own customs; let the Queen be the despot she
+really is, despite all her smiles; let her rulers and
+workers rule and work for the bodies of their
+subjects, and do you be satisfied, and your remarkable
+consort also, with looking after their souls.
+Don’t touch anything else, stick to doctrines for the
+present. You had better give them a poetic version
+of the Athanasian Creed than ask them to substitute
+crimson for sky-blue, and so on. Don’t think
+me blasphemous, you will find there is sense in
+what I say, though I am not an interplanetary
+parson.”</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael also made one effort, and only one, to
+induce Abercromby to return with him.</p>
+
+<p>“Radcliffe can do without you, for he has got
+Melanitis. Melanitis can even more easily do without
+you, for she has got <i>him</i>. I don’t think you are
+quite cut out for a missionary, for I believe you
+would ask the last surviving sun worshipper in
+Venus why the deuce he wasn’t a Christian. Mexitli
+doesn’t want you to give her a helping hand in
+politics, and, if I were you, I would not offer it.
+Now, Abercromby, just use your imagination for
+a minute. Can’t you see yourself looking up at
+the sky and wishing you could get a peep at the old
+Asteroid? It will be too late then, Abercromby.”</p>
+
+<p>“But, Professor, I’m beastly sorry, as Gilbert Rice
+said to me when I had to go down, but really—there,
+it is no use making a fuss. It had better come out.
+I’ve been and gone and done it.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p>
+
+<p>“What am I to understand by this?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, I have popped the question to Mayana’s
+dear little sister Minya, you know—we are awfully
+sweet. We shall be up to the level of Melanitis and
+Clarence if we only try. We mean to. So now I will
+retort your accusation as to my unclassical language,
+and ask, ‘Where the deuce do <i>you</i> come in,
+Professor?’”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-night, Abercromby, I’m off to bed,” said
+Carmichael.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>There were two subjects that greatly interested
+both the Professor and the Atalantan court. One
+was the exploration of the eastern side of the
+continent, the other the far more daring problem of
+interplanetary communication.</p>
+
+<p>Carmichael and Carysfort went in the Asteroid on
+their own account on a journey of about 350 miles
+from the vale of Meloria to the eastern coast-line.
+So fully were the terrestrials now trusted that they
+were left to travel by themselves, with the understanding
+that they would return to Atalanta in a
+fortnight’s time. Neither Radcliffe nor Abercromby
+accompanied them, the latter saying that they would
+have plenty of opportunities for exploring all the
+habitable parts of Venus.</p>
+
+<p>“That is nonsense,” replied the Professor. “You
+cannot even wait till my back is turned for beginning
+your love-making with Minya. Clarence, I
+admit, has some arrearages to make up.”</p>
+
+<p>Cleito and Arniphon accompanied Carmichael
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span>and the engineer, for they were now counted as
+terrestrials.</p>
+
+<p>The other matter, that of interplanetary signalling,
+greatly exercised the minds of all the learned in the
+empire. Andron, the ex-governor of Melandria, who
+was in constant touch with the recluses on Aptaura,
+begged that the Queen would allow the travellers to
+earth to spend a few days in the island. Leave was
+granted, and it was settled that on the first day of
+the month Cayamarca the start from the city should
+be made.</p>
+
+<p>The travellers returned from their eastward explorations.
+They had found the scenery very rich and
+beautiful, and they had stayed at several country
+houses in the first hundred miles of the journey.
+The coast scenery had been very grand, though they
+once encountered a severe storm.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">
+    CHAPTER XXIX
+    <br>
+    THE FEAST OF FAREWELL
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>On the first day of the new Atalantan month a
+great banquet was held in the hall of the
+palace which was long remembered in Atalanta and
+called the Feast of Farewell. All the notables of
+both the court and the city were present by the
+Queen’s invitation.</p>
+
+<p>The Queen and the princess-elect, Mayana, sat
+each upon their throned and canopied couches at the
+head of the hall, with Melanitis and Radcliffe on
+the right hand and Abercromby and Minya on the
+left. Below them the Professor and the engineer
+occupied the seats reserved for distinguished guests.</p>
+
+<p>Ranged around the hall were the guards and
+attendants who waited upon the guests, led by
+Cleophon, who was resplendent in the dress and
+accoutrements of his new position.</p>
+
+<p>The little tables in front of each, richly inlaid with
+precious metals and carved with quaint design, were
+laden with the choicest delicacies of Atalanta and
+with slender goblets of tinted liquids. Festoons of
+flowers in every hue sparkled and glistened upon the
+walls. Panels were slid to and fro to admit streams
+of radiant sunlight to gild various parts of the banquet-room.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span></p>
+
+<p>From other parts, usually those that were left in
+shadow, there came siren strains of the most bewitching
+music, now rising, now falling, now ascending
+to a volume of sound, now dying away in a
+distant harmony. When any speaker rose to speak
+there was an instant hush. Poetry and song were
+frequently introduced; on that occasion terrestrial
+melodies were loudly in demand, particularly those
+of the more romantic type. Abercromby and Radcliffe
+had brought some such in the Asteroid for the
+benefit of the former, as the latter could not play,
+and had not much capacity as a songster. One was
+the Invitation Song, and another a religious ballad,
+“I will give you rest.” Melanitis had turned both of
+these into Atalantan verse, and they were both sung
+to a number of instruments, and produced a deep
+impression upon the audience.</p>
+
+<p>“Love launched a fairy boat” was a song beyond
+the power of Radcliffe and Melanitis to sing—the
+memories were too heart-searching for them; but the
+music was played, and, from the very fact that it was
+so different from the weird and Oriental-like compositions
+of Atalanta, it excited the more surprise
+and interest. The national airs of the different
+European countries were performed, but these, for
+the most part, were less popular.</p>
+
+<p>After all this had lasted awhile the Queen rose
+from her throne and addressed the vast assembly.</p>
+
+<p>“Friends and notables of the Flowery Land, it
+has been customary from time to time, especially
+before setting out for our southern progresses, for
+the princes of Atalanta to gather the chiefs of their
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span>people together. Never within the memory of the
+oldest here present have we had an occasion parallel
+to this, either by reason of the shadows of the
+past or the extraordinary circumstances of the
+present.”</p>
+
+<p>The Queen then detailed the late insurrection,
+paid a warm tribute to the loyalty which had saved
+her throne, extolled the goodness and the benevolence
+of the late King, and asserted her own desire
+to follow in his steps and to try to do for her people
+what he had done.</p>
+
+<p>Then she said: “My sister Melanitis has long
+desired to be relieved of the highest cares of state,
+and, by her own act of free choice, has besought me
+to associate her cousin rather than herself in the
+direct and central rule of our empire. She will,
+therefore, occupy the less onerous post of ruler of
+our island of Melandria, by whose people she has
+for a long time been greatly beloved. Her betrothal
+to him whom we once called the stranger from
+Karamandra, but who is now, for the great services
+which he has rendered to us, enrolled in the highest
+circle of our nobility, has been recently announced to
+you, and ere they take up their residence in the
+island their union by marriage will have been
+formally ratified by us. It will take place after this
+assembly has been dispersed, in the presence of the
+usual chosen witnesses.”</p>
+
+<p>Neither Radcliffe nor Melanitis had been told that
+matters were quite so imminent, and they exchanged
+glances. Abercromby managed to slip a piece of
+paper into Radcliffe’s hand. “Thought I would get
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span>all your business over at once, old chap. I fixed it
+up before the meeting. Don’t turn this into poetry,
+please!”</p>
+
+<p>“Most earnestly do I desire that the blessing of
+Heaven may rest upon them,” said the Queen, “and
+upon their efforts to do my people good. I wish all
+to know that I publicly sanction these efforts, and
+that I allow the Christian philosophy to be taught in
+Atalanta both by speech and writing, with this one
+exception, that I shall not allow, for some time to
+come, the holding of assemblies in the promenades
+and open fields, but only in buildings appointed for
+the purpose, and, of course, in private dwellings.
+But this prohibition does not apply to the island
+unless my sister enforces it there by her own act.
+The Prince Consort of Melandria (for so will his
+title be henceforward expressed) will, I am sure,
+yield an implicit obedience to the one restriction
+I think good to place upon him.</p>
+
+<p>“The Festival of the Sun is for ever abolished.
+It may be that in the future some pageant in a
+Christian form may be sanctioned, but neither I nor
+he are at all desirous of doing this. I am imposing
+no faith upon Atalanta, whether old or new. I
+am in substantial agreement with the Christian
+religion in most parts wherein it supplements ours,
+and the Princess Mayana holds the same attitude as
+myself.</p>
+
+<p>“I think it will be for the good of the people that
+the new spiritual movement should win its way.
+Further, you all know that my friend Abercromby
+has asked my cousin Minya to be his wife. At this
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span>also we shall greatly rejoice, and for his services,
+which have been likewise great, he too shall be
+counted amongst the highest in the land. As for
+the three other members of the expedition, the two
+men who were its actual leaders, being eminent men
+of science amongst their people, are soon to leave us
+and to return to their own world, but I will send
+greeting through them to the ruler of their particular
+country, the island of Britain, telling him how much
+I regret that his people are, for the most part, so
+evil that I cannot permit any direct intercourse
+between them and my own subjects.</p>
+
+<p>“The servant of the expedition, one Jackson by
+name, has been cruelly martyred by the priests in the
+Temple, to my very deep regret, for he was a good
+man and fought nobly for us in the hour of the great
+rebellion. He lies beneath the bridge of Amalona,
+honoured amongst the illustrious dead. He it was
+who, by his wisdom and sagacity, guided Prince
+Claretson of Melandria to the place where the sacred
+manuscript, which will no doubt be added to the
+terrestrial Bible, was discovered, in the securing of
+which my sister and the prince had a terrible struggle
+with a wild beast.</p>
+
+<p>“I have no more to add, notables and friends.
+For the first time I greet you as your mother and
+Queen, and my chief regret this day is, that we are so
+soon to lose two whom we should have been glad to
+see always with us.”</p>
+
+<p>The banquet was prolonged to a very late hour.
+Music and song, poetry and recitation, were constantly
+recurring. There was a short patriotic ode,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span>entitled “The Saluting of the Banner,” which was
+always sung on state occasions—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Wave the banner high,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Loyal hearts reply,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">The throne of Atalanta shall endure;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Aided from above,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Rooted in our love,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">What is more triumphantly secure?</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">In its shelter we rejoice,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And sing with grateful voice</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">To those whose love protects us every day;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Wide the scarlet banner flings</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Its all-protecting wings,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">O’er the happy land that owns its peaceful sway.</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Before the guests dispersed, little Minya, who
+had perhaps the sweetest voice in the court circle,
+sang one of the most touching of the half-romantic,
+half-religious lyrics of Atalanta, called “Waiting for
+the Light.”</p>
+
+<p>All the company rose to their feet when the first
+plaintive notes were struck.</p>
+
+<p>It was a song specially hated by the idolatrous
+party, but dear to the hearts of others, and now very
+welcome to the Royalists, both for religious and
+political reasons:—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+  <div class="poetry">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Waiting for the light on the distant hills,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Whence we bade farewell to the Traveller unknown,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">He who came to tend us and heal us of our ills,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Ere He took His journey, friendless and alone.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Did we understand Him in His lowly guise?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Did our glad hearts open to the wisdom that He taught?</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Rather did we wonder in a dull surprise,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Could it be divinity these gracious marvels wrought?</div>
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span>    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">We were always waiting further proof to see,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Closing our proud minds to the proofs already given;</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Now we stand all friendless in our agony,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Waiting for a light that can only come from Heaven.</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Ages now have sped since the sad and shameful day,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">When we drove Him from us with a cold good-bye,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">O’er Keraunea’s hills He took His weary way,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Leaving us to mourn and to wander till we die!</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">Waiting, we are turning questioning eyes to Heaven,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">As we stand bewildered in the maze of life.</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Shall the hour relieve us when the clouds are riven,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">And a heavenly message end our mental strife?</div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <div class="verse indent0">We may <i>seem</i> contented in the Flowery Land,</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">’Neath the skies all sunlit—never draped in night—</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Yet an aching heart tries in vain to understand</div>
+      <div class="verse indent0">Why the ages leave us waiting for the light!</div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The echoes died away amid a wailing chant which,
+from every part of the hall, rose, swelled, and faded.
+In deep silence each guest defiled past the canopied
+throne, inclined with a deep reverence to the Queen
+and the princesses, and then left the hall.</p>
+
+<p>“I could not have stood much more of that,” said
+the engineer. “Never in my life have I had such an
+experience as this evening. I wonder whether these
+queer people can be screwed up to put their feelings
+into real future practice?”</p>
+
+<p>“The dons would have felt rather funny if this
+had been a Gaudy,” remarked the Professor. “Radcliffe
+will have all his work well cut out. I should
+like to take a peep in here, say, ten years hence.”</p>
+
+<p>“Now, my prince, there is one more job in hand
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span>to-night before we retire to rest,” said Abercromby.
+“Step this way and get married, please.”</p>
+
+<p>“Martin Luther wanted one of his friends to attend
+that he might be sure that he was married after all,”
+answered Radcliffe. “Which is it with me? I never
+felt so bewildered in all my life. Anyway, I have
+got Melanitis.”</p>
+
+<p>“That is the chief thing, my noble prince. The
+clear air of bracing Melandria will set you right on
+all side topics. Come along, there is the Queen
+calling to you. She will be wanting to know what
+the dickens you are keeping them all waiting for.”</p>
+
+<p>The ceremony was of the simplest kind. They
+knelt before Mexitli, and she joined their hands
+together. When they rose up Abercromby said, “<i>My</i>
+state ceremony will be a little more complicated,
+but then <i>I</i> shall be doing it for the first time. You
+<i>have</i> paid all the necessary fees, so now you can
+skiddadle; there is neither bellringer, clerk, nor parson,
+except your own august self. Farewell for the
+present, and be better children than you were at
+Barmouth.”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>The next morning all was astir in the palace. For
+the last time the Asteroid lay fixed in position
+upon the terrace square. At the morning meal
+a feeling of sadness hung over the party, which
+not even the gay sallies of Abercromby could fully
+dispel. The Professor and the engineer made short
+speeches full of good sense and kindly expression.
+They then took a farewell of the Princess Mayana,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span>who was compelled, from reasons of state business,
+to remain behind. All the others were to journey
+with their friends as far as they could.</p>
+
+<p>At ten o’clock by terrestrial time the engines were
+set going, and the Asteroid winged its aerial flight
+from Atalanta city. Nearly the whole population had
+gathered in the streets and promenades, and cheer
+after cheer of greeting was sent up. In order to
+please her departing guests, the Queen ordered that
+a somewhat different route to Melandria should be
+taken. This time they sped across in a due westerly
+direction, not veering southwards till they had got to
+a distance of about fifty miles from the city. Villas
+and country houses continued to approach and to
+recede beneath them, and at last, after crossing a line
+of hills, the waters of the great western ocean came in
+sight.</p>
+
+<p>The northern end of Melandria could just be
+observed on the distant horizon, and on a spur of
+ground that projected some way into the sea they
+caught sight of a tall building with a graceful tower,
+several hundred feet in height. At first the Professor
+and engineer thought it was a lighthouse.</p>
+
+<p>“Nay,” replied Mexitli, “this is a signalling station
+from whence, by flashes of light, messages are conveyed
+to and from the Observatory on Aptaura.
+Most usually, these messages consist of a statement
+of supplies sent to, or received by, the astronomers,
+but sometimes news of scientific interest is conveyed.
+If you all had but only come by way of the southern
+pole we should have heard of you at once, and then
+perhaps——”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span></p>
+
+<p>“We might not have got into so much mischief,”
+supplied the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>The Queen laughed. “I see your conscience is still
+sensitive, Carmichael.”</p>
+
+<p>“What are they signalling to us?” cried Minya.
+“Why I do believe——” she finished the sentence
+with an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>“I can read the code,” said Melanitis. “Look! it
+runs: ‘Why not signal from Aptaura to Karamandra?’”</p>
+
+<p>“A nice suggestion,” said the Queen. “Who has
+made it, I wonder? Some one who wanted me to
+receive it in a roundabout way.”</p>
+
+<p>They held on, above the waves which were
+agitated by a grand swell and current, and soon the
+heights of the twilight island rose before them,
+and, an hour later, they had reached the Peak, as it
+was called, and were in the house of Andron.</p>
+
+<p>“Andron, this is rather hard upon you,” said
+Melanitis in a kindly tone. “I won’t tell you you are
+relieved of your post, for who want to be relieved
+when they love their work? I will tell you instead,
+that you are to be promoted to another and a higher
+post at the palace itself.”</p>
+
+<p>“I feel deeply grateful for all the kind recognition
+which any services of mine rendered to my country
+have already received,” said Andron; “and the chief
+thing that gives me pleasure now is to have the
+honour of inviting you and the prince to remain
+under my roof till the day when you are formally
+installed in my place.”</p>
+
+<p>The party were soon partaking of hospitality upon
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span>the lawn of the house, with its fine view over the
+southern sea, and the splendid crescent-shaped esplanade
+of houses that lined the bay.</p>
+
+<p>Conversation took, as before, a scientific turn, and
+the ex-governor of Melandria was directly asked by
+the Professor to state his views as to the possibility
+of interplanetary signalling. He told him what a
+stir had been made upon the earth by the mere
+rumour of a message from Mars, as the supposed
+outbreak of recent light on that planet had been
+called.</p>
+
+<p>“We know little about Mars,” answered Andron,
+“much less than you probably do, which may well be,
+seeing that we are more than sixty millions of miles
+from it. I see no reason to think that remote and
+snowbound planet has, at least now, any inhabitants.
+But it has always struck me that communication
+might some day be established between Atalanta
+and your world, which is sometimes only twenty-four
+millions of miles apart, only our planet is so
+awkwardly situated as regards yours that, when we
+are nearest to you, you can only see us as a thin
+extended crescent. But, as you before told me, our
+giant Aptaura can be discerned in your telescopic
+vision as a tiny sparkling point, due, of course, to
+the sun’s rays impinging upon its top. I have always
+thought that a signal might be conveyed to you from
+us, and if so, as you have learned our language, an
+alphabet could be constructed.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did <i>you</i> convey a suggestion to me from Aptaura
+this very morning, Andron?” said the Queen, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, he did,” replied Ayacatil; “he was afraid
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span>that if he ventured it too directly you would veto
+him at once.”</p>
+
+<p>“Have you really any suggestions to make?” said
+the Queen.</p>
+
+<p>“As the sun’s rays strike the peak of Aptaura
+with almost overwhelming power,” answered Andron,
+“I cannot see why they might not be focussed in a
+powerful reflector, and a beam shot skywards in the
+direction of Karamandra. If they can only see our
+signal, much will be gained. They might afterwards
+transmit one of their own from a Karamandran
+mountain peak, and, though their hills are much
+smaller, yet their world, appearing as a full circle to
+us, could more easily be observed by us.”</p>
+
+<p>“But there is something more than this matter
+which we have been considering,” said Ayacatil. “If,
+which God forbid, any accident should happen to
+your machine in space, the whole fruit of your researches
+would be lost. I advise that your manuscripts
+be sealed up in a fire-proof cylinder which, in
+a last extremity, could be thrown out, and it would
+of necessity fall into the attraction of your world.”</p>
+
+<p>“Admirable!” said Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p>“We have prepared such a contrivance,” answered
+Andron, “and it will give us much pleasure to present
+you with it.”</p>
+
+<p>The cylinder was duly inspected, and all agreed
+that it should be sealed up when they reached
+Aptaura.</p>
+
+<p>The next two days Clarence and Frank spent
+largely in the society of the friends they were so
+soon to lose.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span></p>
+
+<p>The Queen and Melanitis spent most of their
+time together, and it was noted by many how
+serenely happy the princess looked.</p>
+
+<p>And then came the day when the whole party
+stood upon the mighty mountain peak of Venus.
+They were facing the cold hemisphere of the south.
+The green-red star, the “little queen of the night,”
+shone upon them. Towards it, in a few minutes, the
+prow of the Asteroid would be turned.</p>
+
+<p>Mexitli held out both her hands to Carmichael
+and to Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>“Farewell,” she said; “we met in hostility, we part
+in friendship. My best wishes for you, for your
+nation, for the teeming millions of the human races;
+may they learn to appreciate more and more what
+their Divine Prince and Saviour has done for them.
+We are infinitely the better for your sojourning
+amongst us. You broke our laws at the first only
+through ignorance, as I now gladly admit, and your
+conduct since has been irreproachable.”</p>
+
+<p>“May your Majesty enjoy a long and glorious
+reign,” said the Professor. “May all that the Prince
+of Melandria and Abercromby carry out here be
+a blessing both to them and to you. Perhaps it was
+our fault that we have not enjoyed ourselves from
+the first as we might have done. Once more I thank
+you for your kindness. To my dying day I shall
+never forget Atalanta.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-bye, Queen,” said Carysfort. “A plain
+Englishman always has ten times more to say than
+he knows how to express in words.”</p>
+
+<p>“I understand,” replied Mexitli.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Tell the Vice-Chancellor,” said Frank, “I think
+I could pass if I went back to Cambridge now. I
+know Atalantan if I don’t know much more Greek.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-bye,” said Radcliffe; “when you happen
+to run over to Oxford, just give my love to old
+Prebendary Seaton. I fear I did not visit in his
+parish quite as much as I should; tell him that I
+have a large parish now.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-bye all,” said Melanitis. “My prayers will
+go with you. When we meet again there will be no
+parting.” Then she put her hand into Radcliffe’s.</p>
+
+<p>“Good-bye,” said Minya. “Tell the English
+ladies the names of the four English songs which
+we like best.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-bye, Professor and Engineer,” said Abercromby.
+“I ... there, it’s not a bit of use, I’m
+stuck.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t attempt it, man,” said Carmichael as he
+entered the Asteroid. “Come along, Carysfort, it’s
+really time we were off. Here is the MS. cylinder.
+We won’t forget <i>that</i>. Start the engines.”</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p>
+
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXX">
+    <i>POSTSCRIPT</i>
+    <br>
+    CHAPTER XXX
+    <br>
+    THE MYSTERY THAT WAS UNSOLVED
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>I think that it only remains for us—Maurice
+Sheldon, Fellow of Trinity, and Gilbert Rice,
+Tutor and Lecturer of the same—to say briefly
+how we came in possession of the most amazing
+narrative ever written by man.</p>
+
+<p>We have put it together and carefully compiled it
+from the manuscripts of our friends—Professor Carmichael,
+Mr. Frank Abercromby, Mr. John Herbert
+Carysfort, and the Rev. Clarence Radcliffe, of St.
+Boniface College, Oxford, and curate of St. Dunstane,
+then and for some time under Prebendary Seaton.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Rice and myself, after an unusually hard term
+of work, took a reading party to Bude, in North
+Cornwall. They and we had a very enjoyable time
+in a comfortable farmhouse on the cliffs, a mile out
+of Bude, in a quiet country district called Upper
+Lynstone. After the junior members of our party
+had dispersed, I suggested that a walking tour would
+make a capital wind-up to a very happy vacation.</p>
+
+<p>We struck camp, therefore, went down the coast to
+Boscastle and Tintagel, where we explored the
+wonderfully interesting neighbourhood, and then we
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span>trained from Camelford to Wadebridge. We were
+to make Newquay our objective point, and we
+started at about two o’clock from our hotel at
+Wadebridge, having had our luggage sent on to the
+Headland Hotel at Newquay.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was far from propitious, and when
+we got out upon St. Breock’s downs, a mile distant
+from Wadebridge, we thought a heavy thunderstorm
+was coming on, and we sheltered for a time at a toll-house
+placed at a fork of the roads. We decided,
+after all, to push on, and, when we had reached a
+most desolate stretch of moorland, we were appalled
+by a sudden blaze of light from a murky mass of
+clouds, which was instantly followed, not by a peal
+of thunder, but by a resounding concussion, which
+made the very road heave under our feet, and nearly
+overturned us both into a ditch.</p>
+
+<p>When we recovered our senses, we saw that a huge
+aerolite had fallen upon the moor close by, only a
+hundred yards from the road. It had split in two,
+and the fragments lay rent asunder and sending up
+vapour and steam. But our attention was instantly
+riveted by a conical cylinder of greyish-coloured
+metal still partly attached to the smaller of the two
+fragments.</p>
+
+<p>The thing was so evidently of artificial make, and
+had so plainly fallen, in connection with the aerolite,
+from the sky, that we were hardly able to control
+ourselves for excitement and agitation. Perhaps I
+was the more impulsive of the two, for I made
+several foolish attempts to secure the strange object,
+but only burned the skin of my hands in doing so.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span></p>
+
+<p>Several occupants of farms lying within a mile
+of the shock came running up in due course. We
+explained what had happened, and prevailed, by the
+persuasive argument of a coin, on one of the sturdiest
+of them, to procure a vehicle from the nearest available
+place, which, unfortunately for us, was as far
+off as St. Columb Major. However, before assistance
+arrived, the cylinder had cooled sufficiently to enable
+us to hoist it into the vehicle and to drive away with
+it to the little roadside hotel at St. Columb, where
+we sat up all night. With a hammer and chisel
+we managed to break the thing open, and a roll
+of manuscripts tumbled out.</p>
+
+<p>We felt like men on the brink of a great discovery,
+and so truly we were; for the manuscripts were
+nothing more nor less than the astounding narratives
+which we have here pieced together and present to
+the public.</p>
+
+<p>The letters which our friends had despatched from
+Newbiggin, in Northumberland, had been published
+in the Press, and had caused a sensational flutter at
+the time. But few had given full credence to the
+story, and some had even set it down as a hoax. At
+the same time, the utter disappearance of four persons
+well known at Cambridge and at Oxford was a thing
+in itself that needed accounting for. Whatever explanation
+was then given, it remains to be seen what
+attitude the public in general, and the scientific
+public in particular, will now adopt when they read
+and study the foregoing narrative. Whether men
+are convinced or no, it is our duty to clear up all
+mysteries which so very personally affect our friends,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span>and this we have now done by letting them speak for
+themselves.</p>
+
+<p>There is no hope whatever that we shall ever see
+them again, and there are only two theories to be
+entertained of the fate of Professor Carmichael and
+the engineer and of the two peculiar persons who
+had the misfortune to be compelled to be their
+fellow-travellers.</p>
+
+<p>One is, that they came to grief in space. If that
+be so, there can, I fear, be little doubt how it happened.
+They could not have fallen into the sun, as
+they once so much dreaded, because if so the cylinder
+would have perished with them. Rather do we
+believe they were struck in the void of space (probably
+not far from the earth) by a meteorite, which
+wrecked the machine by the shock of direct collision.</p>
+
+<p>The two bodies would then be fused together into
+one burning mass, and would fall upon the earth
+by virtue of the terrestrial attraction. The only
+explanation we can give as to how the cylinder
+could have escaped is, that, in the last moment
+of agony and suspense, Carmichael must have thrown
+it out into space; then, after the collision, it would
+naturally fall upon the huge meteorite as the nearest
+attracting body and be carried along with it.</p>
+
+<p>One other theory presents itself: that the catastrophe
+happened nearer to Venus, that the Asteroid
+was not fatally damaged, that the cylinder was cast
+adrift, and that the travellers, after an awful struggle
+with death, returned to Venus, and are now living in
+it as their adopted country.</p>
+
+<p>One very curious circumstance has been noted
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span>from an Italian Observatory. Professor Rossini and
+his two assistants were attentively watching Venus
+early on the morning of a day of exceptionally fine
+weather in August. They noticed tiny sparklets
+of light emitted from the summit of the high mountain
+on the southern horn of the crescent. These
+lights continued flashing for nearly a quarter of an
+hour, and it is at least a remarkable coincidence
+that the number of flashes, which were carefully
+counted by Professor Rossini, exactly correspond to
+the letters in the names of Carmichael and Carysfort.</p>
+
+<p>Can we dare to deduce any theory of hope from
+this? The planet has been kept under close observation,
+but nothing has been noted since.</p>
+
+<p class="right">(Signed)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="smcap">Maurice Sheldon.</span></p>
+<p class="right"><span class="smcap"><span style="margin-right: 2.25em;">Gilbert Rice.</span></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center f08">BRIGHTON</p>
+<p class="center f08">H. AND C. TREACHER</p>
+<p class="center f08">PRINTERS</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter"></div><div class="transnote">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_note">
+    Transcriber’s note:
+  </h2>
+
+
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>Obvious errors in punctuation have been silently corrected in this
+version, but minor inconsistencies and archaic forms have been retained
+as printed. Typos in proper names have been silently corrected.
+The footnote has been slightly moved to better fit the ebook format.</p>
+
+<p>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p>
+
+<p>The following alterations have been made:</p>
+
+<p><a href='#cor_052'>On page 052:</a> umanity <i>to</i> humanity<br>
+“I will go about in a bath-chair if it is to benefit humanity,” said
+Abercromby.</p>
+
+<p><a href='#cor_088'>On page 088:</a> eludicate <i>to</i> elucidate<br>
+The Professor admitted that this was quite possible, but it did not
+elucidate the amazing problem of how English could be known in Venus.</p>
+
+
+<p><a href='#cor_165'>On page 165:</a> eyerywhere <i>to</i> everywhere<br>
+And as for you, strangers, go forth and spread everywhere the things
+which God has done for your world,</p>
+
+<p><a href='#cor_174'>On page 174:</a> hought <i>to</i> I thought<br>
+“Pardon the liberty I am taking, but I thought you would like to know
+how we are all doing.</p>
+</blockquote>
+</div>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79051 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/79051-h/images/cover.jpg b/79051-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..346fdd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/79051-h/images/cover.jpg
author	www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org>	2026-07-08 14:03:41 -0700
committer	www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org>	2026-07-08 14:03:41 -0700
commit	933af73aaef37cfc9b9c330c2f04c71478fd5bb4 (patch)
tree	2d42cf91db848a894d588f500329775554520f7b /79051-h