a journey in other worlds-第22章

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what　it　is　like。　　The　absence　of　other　tracks　shows　that　his
confreres　leave　'Scissor…　jaw'　alone。〃
　　　
Keeping　a　sharp　lookout　in　all　directions；　they　resumed　their
march　along　the　third　side　of　the　square　which　was　to　bring　them
back　to　the　Callisto。　　Their　course　was　parallel　to　the　stream；
and　on　comparatively　high　ground。　　Cortlandt's　gun　did　good
service；　bringing　down　between　fifty　and　sixty　birds　that　usually
allowed　them　to　get　as　near　as　they　pleased；　and　often　seemed
unwilling　to　leave　their　branches。　　By　the　time　they　were　ready
for　luncheon　they　saw　it　would　be　dark　in　an　hour。　　As　the
rapidity　of　the　planet's　rotation　did　not　give　them　a　chance　to
become　tired；　they　concluded　not　to　pitch　their　camp；　but　to
resume　the　march　by　moonlight；　which　would　be　easy　in　the　high；
open　country　they　were　traversing。
　　　
While　in　quest　of　fire…wood；　they　came　upon　great　heaps　of　bones；
mostly　those　of　birds；　and　were　attracted　by　the　tall；
bell…shaped　flowers　growing　luxuriantly　in　their　midst。　　These
exhaled　a　most　delicious　perfume；　and　at　the　centre　of　each
flower　was　a　viscous　liquid；　the　colour　of　honey。
　　　
〃If　this　tastes　as　well　as　it　looks；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃it　will
come　in　well　for　dessert〃；　saying　which　he　thrust　his　finger　into
the　recesses　of　the　flower；　intending　to　taste　the　essence。　
Quietly；　but　like　a　flash；　the　flower　closed；　his　hand　being
nearly　caught　and　badly　scratched　by　the　long；　sharp　thorns　that
now　appeared　at　the　edges。
　　　
〃Ha！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃a　sensitive　and　you　may　almost　say　a
man…eating　plant。　　This　doubtless　has　been　the　fate　of　these
birds；　whose　bones　now　lie　bleaching　at　its　feet　after　they　have
nourished　its　lips　with　their　lives。　　No　doubt　the　plant　has　use
for　them　still；　since　their　skeletons　may　serve　to　fertilize　its
roots。〃
　　　
Wishing　to　investigate　further；　Bearwarden　placed　one　of　the
birds　they　had　shot　within　the　bell　of　another　flower；　which
immediately　contracted　with　such　force　that　they　saw　drops　of
blood　squeezed　out。　　After　some　minutes　the　flower　opened；　as
beautiful　as　ever；　and　discharged　an　oblong　ball　compressed　to
about　the　size　of　a　hen's　egg；　though　the　bird　that　was　placed
within　it　had　been　as　large　as　a　small　duck。　　Towards　evening
these　flowers　sent　up　their　most　beautiful　song；　to　hear　which
flocks　of　birds　came　from　far　and　near；　alighting　on　the　trees；
and　many　were　lured　to　death　by　the　siren　strains　and　the　honey。
　　　
Before　resuming　their　journey；　the　travellers　paid　a　parting
visit　to　the　bell…shaped　lilies　on　their　pyramids　of　bones。　　The
flowers　were　closed　for　the　night；　and　the　travellers　saw　by　the
moonlight　that　the　white　mounds　were　simply　alive　with
diamond…headed　snakes。　　These　coiled　themselves；　flattened　their
heads；　and　set　up　such　a　hissing　on　the　explorers'　approach　that
they　were　glad　to　retire；　and　leave　this　curious　contrast　of
hideousness　and　beauty　to　the　fire…flies　and　the　moons。　　Marching
along　in　Indian　file；　the　better　to　avoid　treading　on　the
writhing　serpents　that　strewed　the　ground；　they　kept　on　for　about
two　hours。　　They　frequently　passed　huge　heaps　or　mounds　of　bones；
evidently　the　remains　of　bears　or　other　large　animals。　　The
carnivorous　plants　growing　at　their　centre　were　often　like　hollow
trees；　and　might　easily　have　received　the　three　travellers　in　one
embrace。　　But　as　before；　the　mounds　were　alive　with　serpents　that
evidently　made　them　their　homes；　and　raised　an　angry　hiss
whenever　the　men　approached。
　　　
〃The　wonder　to　me；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃is；　that　these　snakes　do
not　protect　the　game；　by　keeping　it　from　the　life…devouring
plants。　　It　may　be　that　they　do　not　show　themselves　by　day　or
when　the　victims　are　near；　or　that　the　quadrupeds　on　which　these
plants　live　take　a　pleasure；　like　deer；　in　killing　them　by
jumping　with　all　four　feet　upon　their　backs　or　in　some　other　way；
and　after　that　are　entrapped　by　the　flowers。〃
　　　
Shortly　after　midnight　they　rested　for　a　half　hour；　but　the　dawn
found　them　trudging　along　steadily；　though　somewhat　wearily；　and
having　about　completed　the　third　side　of　their　square。　
Accordingly；　they　soon　made　a　right…angle　turn　to　the　left；　and
had　been　picking　their　way　over　the　rough　ground　for　nearly　two
hours；　with　the　sun　already　high　in　the　sky；　when　they　noticed　a
diminution　of　light。　　Glancing　up；　they　saw　that　one　of　the　moons
was　passing　across　the　sun；　and　that　they　were　on　the　eve　of　a
total　eclipse。
　　　
〃Since　all　but　the　fifth　moon；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃revolve　exactly
in　the　plane　of　Jupiter's　equator；　any　inhabitants　that　settle
there　will　become　accustomed　to　eclipses；　for　there　must　be　one
of　the　sun；　and　also　of　the　moons；　at　each　revolution；　or　about
forty…five　hundred　in　every　Jovian　year。　　The　reason　we　have　seen
none　before　is；　because　we　are　not　exactly　on　the　equator。〃
　　　
They　had　a　glimpse　of　the　coronal　streamers　as　the　last　portion
of　the　sun　was　covered；　and　all　the　other　phenomena　that　attend
an　eclipse　on　earth。　　For　a　few　minutes　there　was　a　total　return
to　night。　　The　twinkling　stars　and　other　moons　shone　tranquilly
in　the　sky；　and　even　the　noise　of　the　insects　ceased。　　Presently
the　edge　of　the　sun　that　had　been　first　obscured　reappeared；　and
then　Nature　went　through　the　phenomenon　of　an　accelerated　dawn。　
Without　awaiting　a　full　return　of　light；　the　travellers　proceeded
on　their　way；　and　had　gone　something　over　a　hundred　yards　when
Ayrault；　who　was　marching　second；　suddenly　grasped　Bearwarden；
who　was　in　front；　and　pointed　to　a　jet…black　mass　straight　ahead；
and　about　thirty　yards　from　a　pool　of　warm　water；　from　which　a
cloud　of　vapour　arose。　　The　top　of　the　head　was　about　seven　feet
high；　and　the　length　of　the　body　exceeded　thirty　feet。　　The　six
legs　looked　as　strong　as　steel　cables；　and　were　about　a　foot
through；　while　a　huge；　bony　proboscis　nine　feet　in　length
preceded　the　body。　　This　was　carried　horizontally　between　two　and
three　feet　from　the　ground。　　Presently　a　large　ground　sloth　came
to　the　pool　to　drink；　lapping　up　the　water　at　the　sides　that　had
partly　cooled。　　In　an　instant　the　black　armored　monster　rushed
down　the　slope　with　the　speed　of　a　nineteenth…century　locomotive；
and　seemed　about　as　formidable。　　The　sloth　turned　in　the
direction　of　the　sound；　and　for　a　moment　seemed　paralyzed　with
fear；　it　then　started　to　run；　but　it　was　too　late；　for　the　next
second　the　enormously　exaggerated　antfor　such　it　wasovertook
it。　　The　huge　mandible　shears　that　when　closed　had　formed　the
proboscis；　snapped　viciously；　taking　off　the　sloth's　legs　and
then　cutting　its　body　to　slivers。　　The　execution　was　finished　in
a　few　seconds；　and　the　ponderous　insect　carried　back　about　half
the　sloth　to　its　hiding…place；　where　it　leisurely　devoured　it。
　　　
〃This　reminds　me；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃of　the　old　lady　who　never
completed　her　preparations　for　turning　in　without　searching　for
burglars　under　the　bed。　　Finally　she　found　one；　and　exclaimed　in
delight；　'I've　been　looking　for　you　fifty　years；　and　at　last　you
are　here！'　　The　question　is；　now　that　we　have　found　our　burglar；
what　shall　we　do　with　him？〃
　　　
〃I　constantly　regret　not　having　a　rifle；〃　replied　Cortlandt；
〃though　it　is　doubtful　if　even　that　would　help　us　here。〃
　　　
〃Let　us　sit　down　and　wait；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃there　may　be　an
opening　soon。〃
　　　
Anon　a　woolly　rhinoceros；　resembling　the　Rhinoceros　tichorhinus
that　existed　contemporaneously　on　earth　with　the　mammoth；　came　to
drink　the　water　that　had　partly　cooled。　　It　was　itself　a
formidable…looking　beast；　but　in　an　instant　the　monster　again
rushed　from　concealment　with　the　same　tremendous　speed。　　The
rhinoceros　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　sound；　and；　lowering
its　head；　faced　the　foe。　　The　ant's　shears；　however；　passed
beneath　the　horn；　and；　fastening　upon　the　left　foreleg；　cut　it
off　with　a　loud　snap。
　　　
〃Now　is　our　chance；〃　exclaimed　Cortlandt；　〃we　may　kill　the　brute
before　he　is　through　with　the　rhinoceros。〃
　　　
〃Stop　a　bit；　doctor；〃　said　Bearwarden。　　〃We　have　a　good　record　so
far；　let　us　keep　up　our　reputation　for　being　sports。　　Wait　till
he　can　attend　to　us。〃
　　　
The　encounter　was　over　in　less　than　a　minute；　three　of　the
rhinoceros's　legs　being　taken　off；　and　the　head　almost　severed
from　the　body。　　Taking　up　the　legs　in　its　mandibles；　the
murderous　creature　was　returning　to　its　lair；　when；　with　the　cry
of　〃Now　for　the　fray！〃　　Bearwarden　aimed　beneath　the　body　and
blew　off　one　of　the　farther　armoured　legs；　from　the　inside。　
〃Shoot　off　the　legs　on　the　same　side；〃　he　counselled　Ayrault；
while　he　himself　kept　up　a　rapid　fire。　　Cortlandt　tried　to
disconcert　the　enemy　by　raining　duck…shot　on　its　scale…　protected
eyes；　while　the　two　rifles　tore　off　great　masses　of　the　horn　that
covered　the　enormously　powerful　legs。　　The　men　separated　as　they
retreated；　knowing　that　one　slash　of　the　great　shears　would　cut
their　three　bodies　in　halves　if　they　were　caught　together。　　The
monster　had　dropped　the　remains　of　the　rhinoceros　when　attacked；
and　made　for　the　hunters　at　its　top　speed；　which　was　somewhat
reduced　by　the　loss　of　one　leg。　　Before　it　came　within　cutting
distance；　however；　another　on　the　same　side　was　gone；　Ayrault
having　landed　a　bullet　on　a　spot　already　stripped　of　armour。　
After　this　the　men　had　no　difficulty　in　keeping　out　of　its　way；
though　it　still　moved　with　some　speed；　snipping　off　young　trees
in　its　path　like　grass。　　Finally；　having　blown　the　scales　from
one　eye；　the　travellers　sent　in　a　bullet　that　exploded　in　the
brain　and　ended　its　career。
　　　
〃This　has　been　by　all　odds　the　most　exciting　hunt　we　have　had；〃
said　Ayrault；　〃both　on　account　of　the　determined　nature　and　great
speed　of　the　attack；　and　the　almost　impossibility　of　finding　a
vulnerable　spot。〃
　　　
〃Anything　short　of　explosive　bullets；〃　added　Bearwarden；　〃would
have　been　powerless　against　this　beast；　for　the　armour　in　many
places　is　nearly　a　foot　thick。〃
　　　
〃This　is　also　the　most　extraordinary　as　well　as　most　dangerous
creature　with　which　we　have；　had　to　deal；〃　said　Cortlandt；
〃because　it　is　an　enormously　enlarged　insect；　with　all　the
inherent　ferocity　and　strength。　　It　is　almost　the　exact
counterpart　of　an　African　soldier…ant　magnified　many　hundred
thousand　times。　　I　wonder；〃　he　continued　thoughtfully；　〃if　our
latter…day　insects　may　not　be　the　deteriorated　（in　point　of　size）
descendants　of　the　monsters　of　mythology　and　geology；　for　nothing
could　be　a　more　terrible　or　ferocious　antagonist　than　many　of　our
well…known　insects；　if　sufficiently　enlarged。　　No　animal　now
alive　has　more　than　a　small　fraction　of　the　strength；　in
proportion　to　its　size；　of　the　minutest　spider　or　flea。　　It　may
be　that　through　lack　of　food；　difficulties　imposed　by　changing
climate；　and　the　necessity　of　burrowing　in　winter；　or　through
some　other　conditions　changed　from　what　they　were　accustomed　to；
their　size　has　been　reduced；　and　that　the　fire…flies；　huge　as
they　seemed；　are　a　step　in　advance　of　this　specimen　in　the　march
of　deterioration　or　involution；　which　will　end　by　making　them　as
insignificant　as　those　on　earth。　　These　ants　have　probably　come
into　the　woods　to　lay　their　eggs；　for；　from　the　behaviour　of　the
animals　we　watched　from　the　turtle；　there　must