a journey in other worlds-第34章

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outside　has　fallen　several　degrees　since　we　entered；　though；　from
the　time　taken；　I　should　not　say　that　the　sudden　change　would　be
one　of　temperature。〃
　　　
Just　then　they　saw　a　number　of　birds；　which　had　been　resting　in　a
clump　of　trees；　take　flight　suddenly；　but　they　fell　to　the　ground
before　they　had　risen　far；　and　were　dashed　to　pieces。　　In　another
moment　the　trees　began　to　bend　and　sway　before　the　storm；　and　as
they　gazed；　the　colour　of　the　leaves　turned　from　green　and　purple
to　orange　and　red。　　The　wind　blew　off　many　of　these；　and　they
were　carried　along　by　the　gusts；　or　fluttered　to　the　ground；
which　was　soon　strewed　with　them。　　It　was　a　typical　autumnal
scene。　　Presently　the　wind　shifted；　and　this　was　followed　by　a
cold　shower　of　rain。
　　　
〃I　think　the　worst　is　over；〃　said　Bearwarden。　　〃The　Sailor's
Guide　says：

　　　　　　　　　　　'When　the　rain's　before　the　wind；
　　　　　　　　　　　　Halliards；　sheets；　and　braces　mind；
　　　　　　　　　　　　When　the　wind's　before　the　rain；
　　　　　　　　　　　　Soon　you　can　make　sail　again。'

Doubtless　that　will　hold　good　here。〃

This　proved　to　be　correct；　and；　after　a　repetition　of　the
precautions　they　had　taken　on　their　arrival　on　the　planet　in
regard　to　the　inhalability　of　the　air；　they　again　sallied　forth。　
They　left　their　magazine　shot…guns；　taking　instead　the
double…barrelled　kind；　on　account　of　the　rapidity　with　which　this
enabled　them　to　fire　the　second　barrel　after　the　first；　and　threw
away　the　water　that　had　collected　in　the　bucket；　out　of　respect
to　the　spirit's　warning。　　They　noticed　a　pungent　odour；　and
decided　to　remain　on　high　ground；　since　they　had　observed　that
the　birds；　in　their　effort　to　escape；　had　flown　almost　vertically
into　the　air。　　On　reaching　the　grove　in　which　they　had　seen　the
storm；　they　found　their　table　and　everything　on　it　exactly　as
they　had　left　it。　　Bearwarden　threw　out　the　brandy　peaches　on　the
ground；　exclaiming　that　it　was　a　shame　to　lose　such　good
preserves；　and　they　proceeded　on　their　walk。　　They　passed
hundreds　of　dead　birds；　and　on　reaching　the　edge　of　the　toadstool
valley　were　not　a　little　surprised　to　find　that　every　toadstool
had　disappeared。
　　　
〃I　wonder；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃if　there　can　be　any　connection
between　the　phenomenon　of　the　disappearance　of　those　toadstools
and　the　death　of　the　birds？　　We　could　easily　discover　it　if　they
had　eaten　them；　or　if　in　any　other　way　the　plants　could　have
entered　their　bodies；　but　I　see　no　way　in　which　that　can　have
happened。〃

Resolving　to　investigate　carefully　any　other　fungi　they　might
see；　they　resumed　their　march。　　The　cold；　distant…looking　sun；
apparently　about　the　size　of　an　orange；　was　near　the　horizon。　
Saturn's　rotation　on　its　axis　occupying　only　ten　hours　and
fourteen　minutes；　being　but　a　few　minutes　longer　than　Jupiter's；
they　knew　it　would　soon　be　night。　　Finding　a　place　on　a　range　of
hills　sheltered　by　rocks　and　a　clump　of　trees　of　the　evergreen
species；　they　arranged　themselves　as　comfortably　as　possible；　ate
some　of　the　sandwiches　they　had　brought；　lighted　their　pipes；　and
watched　the　dying　day。　　Here　were　no　fire…flies　to　light　the
darkening　minutes；　nor　singing　flowers　to　lull　them　to　sleep　with
their　song　but　six　of　the　eight　moons；　each　at　a　different　phase；
and　with　varied　brightness；　bathed　the　landscape　in　their　pale；
cold　rays；　while　far　above　them；　like　a　huge　rainbow；　stretched
the　great　rings　in　effulgent　sheets；　reaching　thousands　of　miles
into　space；　and　flooded　everything　with　their　silvery　light。
　　　
〃How　poor　a　place　compared　with　this；〃　they　thought　to
themselves；　〃is　our　world！〃　and　Ayrault　wished　that　his　soul　was
already　free；　while　the　dead　leaves　rustling　in　the　gentle
breeze；　and　the　nightwinds；　sighing　among　the　trees；　seemed　to
echo　his　thought。　　Far　above　their　heads；　and　in　the　vastness　of
space；　the　well…known　stars　and　constellations；　notwithstanding
the　enormous　distance　they　had　now　come；　looked　absolutely
unchanged；　and　seemed　to　them　emblematic　of　tranquillity　and
eternal　repose。　　The　days　were　changed　by　their　shortness；　and　by
the　apparent　loss　of　power　in　the　sun；　and　the　nights；　as　if　in
compensation；　were　magnificently　illuminated　by　the　numerous
moons　and　splendid　rings；　though　neither　rings　nor　satellites
shone　with　as　strong　a　light　as　the　terrestrial　moon。　　But　in
nothing　outside　of　the　solar　system　was　there　any　change；　and
could　AEneas's　Palinurus；　or　one　of　Philip　of　Macedon's
shepherds；　be　brought　to　life　here；　he　would　see　exactly　the　same
stars　in　the　same　positions；　and；　did　he　not　know　of　his　own
death　or　of　the　lapse　of　time；　he　might　suppose；　so　far　as　the
heavens　were　affected；　that　he　had　but　fallen　asleep；　or　had　just
closed　his　eyes。
　　　
〃I　have　always　regretted；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃that　I　was　not　born　a
thousand　years　later。〃
　　　
〃Were　it　not；〃　added　Ayrault；　〃that　our　earth　is　the　vestibule　to
space；　and　for　the　opportunities　it　opens；　I　should　rather　never
have　lived；　for　life　in　itself　is　unsatisfying。〃
　　　
〃You　fellows　are　too　indefinite　and　abstract　for　me；〃　said
Bearwarden。　　〃I　like　something　tangible　and　concrete。　　The
utilitarianism　of　the　twentieth　century；　by　which　I　live；
paradoxical　though　it　may　seem；　would　be　out　of　place　in　space；
unless　we　can　colonize　the　other　planets；　and　improve　their
arrangements　and　axes。〃
　　　
Mixed　with　Ayrault's　philosophical　and　metaphysical　thoughts　were
the　memories　of　his　sweetheart　at　Vassar；　and　he　longed；　more
than　his　companions；　for　the　spirit's　return；　that　he　might　ask
him　if　perchance　he　could　tell　him　aught　of　her；　and　whether　her
thoughts　were　then　of　him。
　　　
Finally；　worn　out　by　the　fatigue　and　excitement　of　the　day；　they
set　the　protection…wires；　more　from　force　of　habit　than　because
they　feared　molestation　and；　rolling　themselves　in　their
blanketsfor　the　night　was　coldwere　soon　fast　asleep；
Ayrault's　last　thought　having　been　of　his　fiancee；　Cortlandt's　of
the　question　he　wished　to　ask　the　spirit；　and　Bearwarden's　of　the
progress　of　his　Company　in　the　work　of　straightening　the
terrestrial　axis。　　Thus　they　slept　seven　hundred　and　ninety
million　miles　beyond　their　earth's　orbit；　and　more　than　eight
hundred　million　from　the　place　where　the　earth　was　then。　　While
they　lay　unconscious；　the　clouds　above　them　froze；　and　before
morning　there　was　a　fall　of　snow　that　covered　the　ground　and　them
as　they　lay　upon　it。　　Soon　three　white　mounds　were　all　that
marked　their　presence；　and　the　cranes　and　eagles；　rising　from
their　roosts　in　response　to　the　coming　day；　looked　unconcernedly
at　all　that　was　human　that　they　had　ever　seen。　　Finally；　wakened
by　the　resounding　cries　of　these　birds；　Bearwarden　and　Cortlandt
arose；　and　meeting　Ayrault；　who　had　already　risen；　mistook　the
snowy　form　before　them　for　the　spirit；　and　thinking　the　dead
bishop　had　revisited　them；　they　were　preparing　to　welcome　him；
and　to　propound　the　questions　they　had　formulated；　when　Ayrault's
familiar　voice　showed　them　their　mistake。
　　　
〃Seeing　your　white　figures；〃　said　he；　〃rise　apparently　in
response　to　those　loud　calls；　reminded　me　of　what　the　spirit　told
us　of　the　last　day；　and　of　the　awakening　and　resurrection　of　the
dead。〃
　　　
The　scene　was　indeed　weird。　　The　east；　already　streaked　with　the
rays　of　the　rising　far…away　sun；　and　the　pale　moons　nearing　the
horizon　in　the　west；　seemed　connected　by　the　huge　bow　of　light。　
The　snow　on　the　dark　evergreens　produced　a　contrast　of　colour；
while　the　other　trees　raised　their　almost　bare　and　whitened
branches　against　the　sky；　as　though　in　supplication　to　the
mysterious　rings；　which　cast　their　light　upon　them　and　on　the
ground。　　As　they　gazed；　however；　the　rings　became　grey；　the　moons
disappeared；　and　another　day　began。　　Feeling　sure　the　snow　must
have　cleared　the　air　of　any　deleterious　substances　it　contained
the　day　before；　they　descended　into　the　neighbouring　valley；
which；　having　a　southerly　exposure；　was　warm　in　comparison　with
the　hills。　　As　they　walked　they　disturbed　a　number　of　small
rodents；　which　quickly　ran　away　and　disappeared　in　their　holes。
　　　
〃Though　we　have　seen　none　of　the　huge　creatures　here；〃　said
Cortlandt；　〃that　were　so　plentiful　on　Jupiter；　these　burrowers
belong　to　a　distinctly　higher　scale　than　those　we　found　there；
from　which　I　take　it　we　may　infer　that　the　evolution　of　the
animal　kingdom　has　advanced　further　on　this　planet　than　on
Jupiter；　which　is　just　what　we　have　a　right　to　expect；　for
Saturn；　in　addition　to　being　the　smaller　and　therefore　more
matured　of　the　two；　has　doubtless　had　a　longer　individual
existence；　being　the　farther　from　the　sun。〃
　　　
Notwithstanding　the　cold　of　the　night；　the　flowers；　especially
the　lilies；　were　as　beautiful　as　ever；　which　surprised　them　not　a
little；　until；　on　examining　them　closely；　they　found　that　the
stems　and　veins　in　the　leaves　were　fluted；　and　therefore　elastic；
so　that；　should　the　sap　freeze；　it　could　expand　without　bursting
the　cells；　thereby　enabling　the　flowers　to　withstand　a　short
frost。　　They　noticed　that　many　of　the　curiously　shaped　birds　they
saw　at　a　distance　from　time　to　time　were　able　to　move　with　great
rapidity　along　the　ground；　and　had　about　concluded　that　they　must
have　four　legs；　being　similar　to　winged　squirrels；　when　a　long；
low　quadruped；　about　twenty…five　feet　from　nostrils　to　tail；
which　they　were　endeavouring　to　stalk；　suddenly　spread　two　pairs
of　wings；　flapping　the　four　at　once；　and　then　soared　off　at　great
speed。
　　　
〃I　hope　we　can　get　one　of　those；　or　at　least　his　photograph；〃
said　Cortlandt。
　　　
〃If　they　go　in　pairs；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃we　may　find　the
companion　near。〃
　　　
At　that　moment　another　great　winged　lizard；　considerably　larger
than　the　first；　rose　with　a　snort；　not　twenty　yards　on　their
left。　　Cortlandt；　who　was　a　good　shot　with　a　gun　at　short　range；
immediately　raised　his　twelve…bore　and　fired　both　barrels　at　the
monster；　but　the　double…B　shots　had　no　more　disabling　effect　than
if　they　had　been　number　eights。　　They；　however；　excited　the
creature's　ire；　for；　sweeping　around　quickly；　it　made　straight
for　Cortlandt；　breathing　at　him　when　near；　and　almost
overpowering　the　three　men　with　the　malodorous；　poisonous　cloud
it　exhaled。　　Instantly　Bearwarden　fired　several　revolver　bullets
down　its　throat；　while　Ayrault　pulled　both　barrels　almost
simultaneously；　with　the　muzzles　but　a　few　inches　from　its　side。　
In　this　case　the　initial　velocity　of　the　heavy　buckshot　was　so
great；　and　they　were　still　so　close　together；　that　they
penetrated　the　leathery　hide；　tearing　a　large　hole。　　With　a　roar
the　wounded　monster　beat　a　retreat；　first　almost　prostrating　them
with　another　blast　of　its　awful　breath。
　　　
〃It　would　take　a　stronger　light　than　we　get　here；〃　said
Bearwarden；　〃to　impress　a　negative　through　that　haze。　　I　think；〃
he　continued；　〃I　know　a　trick　that　will　do　the　business；　if　we
see　any　more　of　these　dragons。〃　　Saying　which；　he　withdrew　the
cartridges　from　his　gun；　and　with　his　hunting…knife　cut　the　tough
paper　shell　nearly　through　between　the　wads　separating　the　powder
from　the　shot；　drawing　his　knife　entirely　around。
　　　
〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃when　I　fire　those；　the　entire　forward　end　of　the
cartridge　will　go　out；　keeping　the　fifteen　buckshot　to