a journey in other worlds-第15部分

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political　or　geological　changes　on　earth；　the　face　of　this　dead
satellite；　on　account　of　the　absence　of　air　and　water　and
consequent　erosion；　has　remained　unchanged　for　bygone　ages；　as　it
doubtless　will　for　many　more。
　　　
They　closely　watched　the　Callisto's　course。　　At　first　it　did　not
seem　to　deflect　from　a　straight　line；　and　they　stood　ready　to
turn　on　the　apergetic　force　again；　when　the　car　very　slowly　began
to　show　the　effect　of　the　moon's　near　pull；　but　not　till　they　had
so　far　passed　it　that　the　dark　side　was　towards　them　were　they
heading　straight　for　Jupiter。　　Then　they　again　turned　on　full
power　and　got　a　send…off　shove　on　the　moon　and　earth　combined；
which　increased　their　speed　so　rapidly　that　they　felt　they　could
soon　shut　off　the　current　altogether　and　save　their　supply。
　　　
〃We　must　be　ready　to　watch　the　signals　from　the　arctic　circle；〃
said　Bearwarden。　　〃At　midnight；　if　the　calculations　are　finished；
the　result　will　be　flashed　by　the　searchlight。〃　　It　was　then　ten
minutes　to　twelve；　and　the　earth　was　already　over　four　hundred
thousand　miles　away。　　Focusing　their　glasses　upon　the　region　near
the　north　pole；　which；　being　turned　from　the　sun；　was　towards
them　and　in　darkness；　they　waited。
　　　
〃In　this　blaze　of　sunlight；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃I　am　afraid　we　can
see　nothing。〃
　　　
Fortunately；　at　this　moment　the　Callisto　entered　the　moon's
tapering　shadow。
　　　
〃This；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃is　good　luck。　　We　could　of　course　have
gone　into　the　shadow；　but　to　change　our　course　would　have　delayed
us；　and　we　might　have　lost　part　of　the　chance　of　increasing　our
speed。〃
　　　
〃There　will　be　no　danger　from；　meteors　or　sub…satellites　here；〃
said　Bearwarden；　〃for　anything　revolving　about　the　moon　at　this
distance　would　be　caught　by　the　earth。〃
　　　
The　sun　had　apparently　set　behind　the　moon；　and　they　were
eclipsed。　　The　stars　shone　with　the　utmost　splendour　against　the
dead…black　sky；　and　the　earth　appeared　as　a　large　crescent；　still
considerably　larger　than　the　satellite　to　which　they　were
accustomed。　　Exactly　at　midnight　a　faint　phosphorescent　light；
like　that　of　a　glow…worm；　appeared　in　the　region　of　Greenland　on
the　planet　they　had　left。　　It　gradually　increased　its　strength
till　it　shone　like　a　long　white　beam　projected　from　a　lighthouse；
and　in　this　they　beheld　the　work　of　the　greatest　search…light
ever　made　by　man；　receiving　for　a　few　moments　all　the　electricity
generated　by　the　available　dynamos　at　Niagara　and　the　Bay　of
Fundy；　the　steam　engines；　and　other　sources　of　power　in　the
northern　hemisphere。　　The　beam　lasted　with　growing　intensity　for
one　minute；　it　then　spelled　out　with　clean…cut　intervals；
according　to　the　Cable　Code：　　〃23@　no'　6〃。　　The　southern
hemisphere　pumps　are　now　raising　and　storing　water　at　full　blast。　
We　have　already　begun　to　lower　the　Arctic　Ocean。〃
　　　
〃Victory！〃　shouted　Bearwarden；　in　an　ecstasy　of　delight。　　〃Nearly
half　a　degree　in　six　months；　with　but　one　pole　working。　　If　we
can　add　at　this　rate　each　time　to　the　speed　of　straightening　
already　acquired；　we　can　reverse　our　engines　in　five　years；　and
in　five　more　the　earth　will　be　at　rest　and　right。〃
　　　
〃Look！〃　said　Ayrault；　〃they　are　sending　something　else。〃　　The
flashes　came　in　rapid　succession；　reaching　far　into　space。　　With
their　glasses　fixed　upon　them；　they　made　out　these　sentences：　
〃Our　telescopes；　in　whatever　part　of　the　earth　was　turned　towards
you；　have　followed　you　since　you　started；　and　did　not　lose　sight
of　you　till　you　entered　the　moon's　shadow。　　On　your　present
course　you　will　be　in　darkness　till　12。16；　when　we　shall　see　you
again。〃
　　　
On　receiving　this　last　earthly　message；　the　travellers　sprang　to
their　searchlight；　and；　using　its　full　power；　telegraphed　back
the　following：　　〃Many　thanks　to　you　for　good　news　about　earth；
and　to　Secretary　Deepwaters　for　lending　us　the　navy。　　Result　of
work　most　glorious。　　Remember　us　to　everybody。　　Shadow's　edge
approaching。〃
　　　
This　was　read　by　the　men　in　the　great　observatories；　who
evidently　telephoned　to　the　arctic　Signal　Light　immediately；　for
it　flashed　back：　　〃Got　your　message　perfectly。　　Wish　you　greatest
luck。　　The　T。　A。　S。　Co。　has　decked　the　Callisto's　pedestal　with
flowers；　and　has　ordered　a　tablet　set　up　on　the　site　to
commemorate　your　celestial　journey。〃
　　　
At　that　moment　the　shadow　swept　by；　and　they　were　in　the　full
blaze　of　cloudless　day。　　The　change　was　so　great　that　for　a
moment　they　were　obliged　to　close　their　eyes。　　The　polished　sides
of　the　Callisto　shone　so　brightly　that　they　knew　they　were　easily
seen。　　The　power　temporarily　diverted　in　sending　them　the　message
then　returned　to　the　work　of　draining　the　Arctic　Ocean；　which；　as
the　north　pole　was　now　returning　to　the　sun；　was　the　thing　to　do；
and　the　travellers　resumed　their　study　of　the　heavenly　bodies。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　II。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SPACE　AND　MARS。

Never　before　had　the　travellers　observed　the　stars　and　planets
under　such　favourable　conditions。　　No　air　or　clouds　intervened；
and　as　the　Callisto　did　not　revolve　on　its　axis　there　was　no
necessity　for　changing　the　direction　of　the　glasses。　　After　an
hour　of　this　interesting　work；　however；　as　it　was　already　late　at
the　longitude　they　had　left　on　earth；　and　as　they　knew　they　had
many　days　in　space　before　them；　they　prepared　to　go　to　bed。　　When
ready；　they　had　only　to　pull　down　the　shades；　for；　as　apergy　was
not　applied　to　them；　but　only　to　the　Callisto；　they　still　looked
upon　the　floor　as　down；　and　closed　the　heavy　curtains　to　have
night　or　darkness。　　They　found　that　the　side　of　the　Callisto
turned　constantly　towards　the　sun　was　becoming　very　warm；　the
double…toughened　glass　windows　making　it　like　a　greenhouse；　but
they　consoled　themselves　with　the　thought　that　the　sun's　power　on
them　was　hourly　becoming　less；　and　they　felt　sure　the　double
walls　and　thick　upholstery　would　protect　them　almost　anywhere
within　the　solar　system　from　the　intense　cold　of　space。　　　　

〃We　could　easily　have　arranged；〃　said　Ayrault；　for　night　and　day
on　alternate　sides　of　the　Callisto　by　having　strips　of　metal
arranged　spirally　on　the　outside　as　on　the　end　of　an　arrow。　
These　would　have　started　us　turning　as　slowly　as　we　like；　since
we　passed　through　the　atmosphere　at　a　comparatively　low　rate　of
speed。〃
　　　
〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃the　motion；　however　slow；　would
have　made　us　dizzy。　　It　would　be　confusing　to　see　the　heavens
turning　about　us；　and　it　would　interfere　with　using　the　glasses。〃
　　　
The　base　and　one　side　of　the　Callisto　had　constant　sunshine；
while　the　other　side　and　the　dome　were　in　the　blackest　night。　
This　dome；　on　account　of　its　shape；　sky　windows；　and　the
completeness　with　which　it　could　be　isolated；　was　an　ideal
observatory；　and　there　was　seldom　a　time　during　their　waking
hours　for　the　rest　of　the　journey　when　it　was　not　occupied　by
one；　two；　or　all　the　observers。
　　　
〃There　is　something　marvellous；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃about　the
condition　of　space。　　Its　absolute　cold　is　appalling；　apparently
because　there　is　nothing　to　absorb　heat；　yet　we　find　the　base　of
this　material　projectile　uncomfortably　warm；　though；　should　we
expose　a　thermometer　in　the　shade　in　front；　we　know　it　would　show
a　temperature　of　three　hundred　to　four　hundred　degrees　below
zerowere　the　instrument　capable　of　recording　it。〃
　　　
Artificial　darkness　having　been　obtained；　the　travellers　were
soon　asleep；　Bearwarden's　dreams　being　regaled　with　thoughts　of
his　company's　triumph；　Ayrault's；　naturally；　with　visions　of
Sylvia；　while　Cortlandt　frequently　started　up；　thinking　he　had
already　made　some　great　astronomical　discovery。
　　　
About　9　A。　M。；　according　to　seventy…fifth　meridian　time；　the
explorers　awoke　feeling　greatly　refreshed。　　The　tank　in　which　the
liquefied　oxygen　was　kept　automatically　gave　off　its　gas　so
evenly　that　the　air　remained　normal；　while　the　lime　contained　in
cups　absorbed　the　carbon　dioxide　as　fast　as　they　exhaled　it。　
They　had　darkened　those　windows　through　which　the　sun　was
actually　pouring；　for；　on　account　of　the　emptiness　of　the
surrounding　ether　and　consequent　absence　of　diffusion　of　light；
nothing　but　the　inky　blackness　of　space　and　the　bright　stars
looked　in　at　the　rest。　　On　raising　the　shades　they　got　an　idea　of
their　speed。　　A　small　crescent；　smaller　than　the　familiar　moon；
accompanied　by　one　still　tinier；　was　all　that　could　be　seen　of
the　earth　and　its　satellite。
　　　
〃We　must；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃be　moving　at　the　rate　of　nearly　a
million　miles　an　hour；　from　the　way　we　have　travelled。〃
　　　
〃We　must　be　doing　fully　a　million；〃　replied　Cortlandt；　〃for　by
this　time　we　are　pretty　well　in　motion；　having　got　a　tremendous
start　when　so　near　the　moon；　with　it　and　the　earth　in　line。〃
　　　
By　steering　straight　for　Jupiter；　instead　of　for　the　place　it
would　occupy　ten　days　later；　they　knew　they　would　swing　past；　for
the　giant　planet；　being　in　rapid　motion；　would　advance；　but　they
did　not　object　to　this；　since　it　would　give　them　a　chance　to
examine　their　new　world　in　case　they　wished　to　do　so　before
alighting；　while；　if　they　preferred　to　land　at　once；　they　could
easily　change　their　course　by　means　of　the　moons；　the　fourth；
from　which　their　car　was　named；　being　the　one　that　they　knew
would　be　of　most　use。　　Their　tremendous　speed　showed　them　they
should　have　time　for　exploration　on　their　arrival；　and　that　they
would　reach　their　destination　sooner　than　they　had　expected。　　The
apergetic　force　being　applied；　as　we　have　seen；　only　to　the
Callisto；　just　as　power　in　starting　is　exerted　on　a　carriage　or
railway　car　and　only　through　it　to　the　passengers；　Ayrault　and
his　companions　had　no　unusual　sensation　except　loss　of　weight；
for；　when　they　were　so　far　from　the　earth；　its　attraction　was
very　slight；　and　no　other　planet　was　near　enough　to　take　its
place。　　After　breakfast；　wishing　to　reach　the　dome；　and　realizing
that　it　would　be　unnecessary　to　climb；　each　in　turn　gave　a　slight
spring　and　was　obliged　to　put　up　his　hands　to　avoid　striking　the
roof。　　In　the　cool　quiet　of　the　dark　dome　it　was　difficult　to
believe　that　only　twenty　feet　away　the　sun　was　shining　with　such
intensity　upon　the　metal　base　as　to　make　it　too　hot　on　t