a journey in other worlds-第35章

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cartridge　will　go　out；　keeping　the　fifteen　buckshot　together　like
a　slug；　and　with　such　penetration　that　it　will　go　through　a
two…inch　plank。　　It　is　a　trick　I　learned　from　hunters；　and；
unless　your　guns　are　choke…bore；　in　which　case　it　might　burst　the
barrel；　I　advise　you　to　follow　suit。〃
　　　
Finding　they　had　brought　straight…bored　guns；　they　arranged　their
cartridges　similarly；　and　set　out　in　the　direction　in　which　the
winged　lizards　or　dragons　had　gone。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IV。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　PROVIDENTIAL　INTERVENTION。

The　valley　narrowed　as　they　advanced；　the　banks　rising　gently　on
both　sides。　　Both　dragons　had　flown　straight　to　a　grove　of　tall；
spreading　trees。　　On　coming　near　to　this；　they　noticed　a　faint
smell　like　that　of　the　dragon；　and　also　like　the　trace　they　found
in　the　air　on　leaving　the　Callisto　the　day　before；　after　they　had
sought　safety　within　it。　　Soon　it　almost　knocked　them　down。
　　　
〃We　must　get　to　windward；〃　said　Cortlandt。　　〃I　already　feel
faint；　and　believe　those　dragons　could　kill　a　man　by　breathing　on
him。〃
　　　
Accordingly；　they　skirted　around　the　grove；　and　having　made　a
quarter　circlefor　they　did　not　wish　the　dragons　to　wind
themagain　drew　nearer。　　Tree　after　tree　was　passed；　and　finally
they　saw　an　open　space　twelve　or　fifteen　acres　in　area　at　the
centre　of　the　grove；　when　they　were　arrested　by　a　curious　sound
of　munching。　　Peering　among　the　trunks　of　the　huge　trees；　they
advanced　cautiously；　but　stopped　aghast。　　In　the　opening　were　at
least　a　hundred　dragons　devouring　the　toadstools　with　which　the
ground　was　covered。　　Many　of　them　were　thirty　to　forty　feet　long；
with　huge　and　terribly　long；　sharp　claws；　and　jaws　armed　with
gleaming　batteries　of　teeth。　　Though　they　had　evidently　lungs；
and　the　claws　and　mouth　of　an　animal；　they　reminded　the　observers
in　many　respects　of　insects　enormously　exaggerated；　for　their
wings；　composed　of　a　sort　of　transparent　scale；　were　small；　and
moved；　as　they　had　already　seen；　at　far　greater　speed　than　those
of　a　bird。　　Their　projecting　eyes　were　also　set　rigidly　in　their
heads　instead　of　turning；　and　consisted　of　a　number　of　flat
surfaces　or　facets；　like　a　fly's　eye；　so　that　they　could　see
backward　and　all　around；　each　facet　seeing　anything　the　rays　from
which　came　at　right　angles　to　its　surface。　　This　beautiful　grove
was　doubtless　their　feeding…ground；　and；　as　such；　was　likely　to
be　visited　by　many　more。　　Concluding　it　would　be　wise　to　let
their　wounded　game　escape；　the　three　men　were　about　to　retreat；
having　found　it　difficult　to　breathe　the　air　even　at　that
distance　from　the　monsters；　when　the　wounded　dragon　that　they　had
observed　moving　about　in　a　very　restless　manner；　and　evidently
suffering　a　good　deal　from　the　effect　of　its　wounds；　espied　them；
and；　with　a　roar　that　made　the　echoes　ring；　started　towards　them
slowly　along　the　ground；　followed　by　the　entire　herd；　the　nearer
of　which　now　also　saw　them。　　Seeing　that　their　lives　were　in
danger；　the　hunters　quickly　regained　the　open；　and　then　stretched
their　legs　against　the　wind。　　The　dragons　came　through　the　trees
on　the　ground；　and　then；　raising　themselves　by　their　wings；　the
whole　swarm；　snorting；　and　darkening　the　air　with　their　deadly
breath；　made　straight　for　the　men；　who　by　comparison　looked　like
Lilliputians。　　With　the　slug　from　his　right　barrel　Bearwarden
ended　the　wounded　dragon's　career　by　shooting　him　through　the
head；　and　with　his　left　laid　low　the　one　following。　　Ayrault　also
killed　two　huge　monsters；　and　Cortlandt　killed　one　and　wounded
another。　　Their　supply　of　prepared　cartridges　was　then　exhausted；
and　they　fell　back　on　their　revolvers　and　ineffective　spreading
shot。　　Resolved　to　sell　their　lives　dearly；　they　retreated；
keeping　their　backs　to　the　wind；　with　the　poisonous　dragons　in
front。　　But　the　breeze　was　very　slight；　and　they　were　being
rapidly　blinded　and　asphyxiated　by　the　loathsome　fumes；　and
deafened　by　the　hideous　roaring　and　snapping　of　the　dragons'
jaws。　　Realizing　that　they　could　not　much　longer　reply　to　the
diabolical　host　with　lead；　they　believed　their　last　hour　had
come；　when　the　ground　on　which　they　were　making　their　last　stand
shook；　there　was　a　rending　of　rocks　and　a　rush　of　imprisoned
steam　that　drowned　even　the　dragons'　roar；　and　they　were
separated　from　them　by　a　long　fissure　and　a　wall　of　smoke　and
vapour。　　Struggling　back　from　the　edge　of　the　chasm；　they　fell
upon　the　ground；　and　then　for　the　first　time　fully　realized　that
the　earthquake　had　saved　them；　for　the　dragons　could　not　come
across　the　opening；　and　would　not　venture　to　fly　through　the
smoke　and　steam。　　When　they　recovered　somewhat　from　the　shock；
they　cut　a　number　of　cartridges　in　the　same　way　that　they　had
prepared　those　that　had　done　them　such　good　service；　and　kept　one
barrel　of　each　gun　loaded　with　that　kind。
　　　
〃We　may　thank　Providence；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃for　that　escape。　　I
hope　we　shall　have　no　more　such　close　calls。〃
　　　
With　a　parting　glance　at　the　chasm　that　had　saved　their　lives；
and　from　which　a　cloud　still　arose；　they　turned　slightly　to　the
right　of　their　former　course　and　climbed　the　gently　rising　bank。　
When　near　the　top；　being　tired　of　their　exciting　experiences；
they　sat　down　to　rest。　　The　ground　all　about　them　was　covered
with　mushrooms；　white　on　top　and　pink　underneath。
　　　
〃This　is　a　wonderful　place　for　fungi；〃　said　Ayrault。　　〃Here；
doubtless；　we　shall　be　safe　from　the　dragons；　for　they　seemed　to
prefer　the　toadstools。〃　　As　he　lay　on　the　ground　he　watched　one
particular　mushroom　that　seemed　to　grow　before　his　eyes。　
Suddenly；　as　he　looked；　it　vanished。　　Dumfounded　at　this
unmistakable　manifestation　of　the　phenomenon　they　thought　they
had　seen　on　landing；　he　called　his　companions；　and；　choosing
another　mushroom；　the　three　watched　it　closely。　　Presently；
without　the　least　noise　or　commotion；　that　also　disappeared；
leaving　no　trace；　and　the　same　fate　befell　a　number　of　others。　
At　a　certain　point　of　their　development　they　vanished　as
completely　as　a　bubble　of　air　coming　to　the　surface　of　water；
except　that　they　caused　no　ripple；　leaving　merely　a　small
depression　where　they　had　stood。
　　　
〃Well；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃in　all　my　travels　I　never　have　seen
anything　like　this。　　If　I　were　at　a　sleight…of…hand　performance；
and　the　prestidigitateur；　after　doing　that；　asked　for　my　theory；
I　should　say；　'I　give　it　up。'　　How　is　it　with　you；　doctor？〃　he
asked；　addressing　Cortlandt。
　　　
〃There　must　be　an　explanation；〃　replied　Cortlandt；　〃only　we　do
not　know　the　natural　law　to　which　the　phenomenon　is　subject；
having　had　no　experience　with　it　on　earth。　　We　know　that　all
substances　can　be　converted　into　gases；　and　that　all　gases　can　be
reduced　to　liquids；　and　even　solids；　by　the　application　of
pressure　and　cold。　　If　there　is　any　way　by　which　the　visible
substance　of　these　fungi　can　be　converted　into　its　invisible
gases；　as　water　into　oxygen　and　hydrogen；　what　we　have　seen　can
be　logically　explained。　　Perhaps；　favoured　by　some　affinity　of
the　atmosphere；　its　constituent　parts　are　broken　up　and　become
gases　at　this　barometric　pressure　and　temperature。　　We　must　ask
the　spirit；　if　he　visits　us　again。〃
　　　
〃I　wish　he　would；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃there　are　lots　of　things　I
should　like　to　ask　him。〃
　　　
〃Presidents　of　corporations　and　other　chairmen；〃　said　Bearwarden；
〃are　not　usually　superstitious；　and　I；　of　course；　take　no　stock
in　the　supernatural；　but　somehow　I　have　a　well…formed　idea　that
our　friend　the　bishop；　with　the　great　power　of　his　mind　over
matter；　had　a　hand　in　that　earthquake。　　He　seems　to　have　an
exalted　idea　of　our　importance；　and　may　be　exerting　himself　to
make　things　pleasant。〃
　　　
At　this　point　the　sun　sank　below　the　horizon；　and　they　found
themselves　confronted　with　night。
　　　
〃Dear；　dear！〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃and　we　haven't　a　crumb　to　eat。　
I'll　stand　the　drinks　and　the　pipes；〃　he　continued；　passing
around　his　ubiquitous　flask　and　tobacco…pouch。
　　　
〃If　I　played　such　pranks　with　my　interior　on　earth；〃　said
Cortlandt；　helping　himself　to　both；　〃as　I　do　on　this　planet；　it
would　give　me　no　end　of　trouble；　but　here　I　seem　to　have　the
digestion　of　an　ostrich。〃
　　　
So　they　sat　and　smoked　for　an　hour；　till　the　stars　twinkled　and
the　rings　shone　in　their　glory。
　　
　〃Well；〃　said　Ayrault；　finally；　〃since　we　have　nothing　but
motions　to　lay　on　the　table；　I　move　we　adjourn。〃
　　　
〃The　only　motion　I　shall　make；〃　said　Cortlandt；　who　was　already
undressed；　〃will　be　that　of　getting　into　bed；〃　saying　which；　he
rolled　himself　in　his　blanket　and　soon　was　fast　asleep。
　　　
Having　decided　that；　on　account　of　the　proximity　of　the　dragons；
a　man　must　in　any　event　be　on　the　watch；　they　did　not　set　the
protection…wires。　　From　the　shortness　of　the　nights；　they　divided
them　into　only　two　watches　of　from　two　hours　to　two　and　a　half
each；　so　that；　even　when　constant　watch　duty　was　necessary；　each
man　had　one　full　night's　sleep　in　three。　　On　this　occasion
Ayrault　and　Cortlandt　were　the　watchers；　Cortlandt　having　the
morning　and　Ayrault　the　evening　watch。　　Many　curious　quadruped
birds；　about　the　size　of　large　bears；　and　similar　in　shape；
having　bear…shaped　heads；　and　several　creatures　that　looked　like
the　dragons；　flew　about　them　in　the　moonlight；　but　neither
watcher　fired　a　shot；　as　the　creatures　showed　no　desire　to　make
an　attack。　　All　these　species　seemed　to　belong　to　the　owl　or　bat
tribe；　for　they　roamed　abroad　at　night。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　V。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AYRAULT'S　VISION。

When　Ayrault's　watch　was　ended；　he　roused　Cortlandt；　who　took　his
place；　and　feeling　a　desire　for　solitude　and　for　a　last　long　look
at　the　earth；　he　crossed　the　top　of　the　ridge　on　the　slope　of
which　they　had　camped；　and　lay　down　on　the　farther　side。　　The
South　wind　in　the　upper　air　rushed　along　in　the　mighty　whirl；
occasionally　carrying　filmy　clouds　across　the　faces　of　the　moons；
but　about　Ayrault　all　was　still；　and　he　felt　a　quiet　and　serene
repose。　　He　had　every　intention　of　remaining　awake；　and　was
pondering　on　the　steadfastness　of　the　human　heart　and　the
constancy　of　love；　when　his　meditations　began　to　wander；　and；
with　his　last　thoughts　on　Sylvia；　he　fell　asleep。　　Not　a　branch
moved；　nor　did　a　leaf　fall；　yet　before　Ayrault's；　sleeping　eyes　a
strange　scene　was　enacted。　　A　figure　in　white　came　near　and　stood
before　him；　and　he　recognized　in　it　one　Violet　Slade；　a　very
attractive　girl　to　whom　he　had　been　attentive　in　his　college
days。　　She　was　at　that　time　just　eighteen；　and　people　believed
that　she　loved　him；　but　for　some　reason；　he　knew　not　why；　he　had
not　proposed。
　　　
〃I　thought　you　had　died；〃　he　said；　as　she　gazed　at　him；　〃but　you
are　now　looking　better　than　ever。〃
　　　
〃From　the　world's　point　of　view　I　AM　dead；〃　she　replied。　　〃I　died
and　was　buried。　　It　is　therefore　permissible　that　I　should　show
you　the　truth。　　You　never　believed　I　loved　you。　　I　have　wished
earnestly　to　see　you；　and　to　have　you　know　that　I　did。〃
　　　
〃I　did　you　an　injustice；〃　Ayrault　answered；　perceiving　all　that
was　in　her　heart。　　〃Could　mortals　but　see　as　spirits　do；　there
would　be　no　misunderstandings。〃
　　　
〃I　am　so　glad　to　see　you；〃　she　continued；　〃an