a journey in other worlds-第38章

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it；　and　the　thoughtful　look　was　strongest　in　the　beautiful　grey
eyes；　which　were　more　serious　than　of　yore。　　Ayrault　stood
riveted　to　the　spot　and　gazed。　　〃I　could　have　been　happy　with
her；〃　he　mused；　and　to　think　she　is　no　more！〃

As　drops　fell　from　the　ice；　tears　rose　to　his　eyes。

　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。　　　　　　。

〃What　a　pretty　girl！〃　said　Bearwarden　to　Cortlandt；　as　they　came
upon　it　later　in　the　day。　　〃The　face　seems　etched　or　imprinted　by
some　peculiar　form　of　freezing　far　within　the　ice。〃
　　
The　next　morning　they　again　set　out；　and　so　tramped；　hunted；　and
investigated　with　varying　success　for　ten　Saturnian　days。　　They
found　that　in　the　animal　and　plant　forms　of　life　Nature　had
often；　by　some　seeming　accident；　struck　out　in　a　course　very
different　from　any　on　the　earth。　　Many　of　the　animals　were　bipeds
and　tripeds；　the　latter　arranged　in　tandem；　the　last　leg　being
evidently　an　enormously　developed　tail；　by　which　the　creature
propelled　itself　as　with　a　spring。　　The　quadrupeds　had　also
sometimes　wings；　and　their　bones　were　hollow；　like　those　of
birds。　　Whether　this　great　motive　and　lifting　power　was　the
result　of　the　planet's　size　and　the　power　of　gravitation；　or
whether　some　creatures　had　in　addition　the　power　of　developing　a
degree　of　apergetic　repulsion　to　offset　it；　as　they　suspected　in
the　case　of　the　boa…constrictor　that　fell　upon　Cortlandt　on
Jupiter；　they　could　not　absolutely　ascertain。　　Life　was　far　less
prolific　on　Saturn　than　on　Jupiter；　doubtless　as　a　result　of　its
greater　distance　from　the　sun；　and　of　its　extremes　of　climate；
almost　all　organic　life　being　driven　to　the　latitudes　near　the
equator。　　There　were；　as　on　Jupiter；　many　variations　from　the
forms　of　life　to　which　they　were　accustomed；　and　adaptations　to
the　conditions　in　which　they　found　themselves；　but；　with　the
exception　of　the　strange　manifestations　of　spirit　life；　they
found　the　workings　of　the　fundamental　laws　the　same。　　Often　when
they　woke　at　night　the　air　was　luminous；　and　they　were　convinced
that　if　they　remained　there　long　enough　it　would　be　easy　to
devise　some　telegraphic　code　of　light…flashes　by　which　they　could
communicate　with　the　spirit　world；　and　so　get　ideas　from　the　host
of　spirits　that　had　already　solved　the　problem　of　life　and　death；
but　who　were　not　as　yet　sufficiently　developed　to　be　able　to
return　to　the　earth。　　One　day　they　stopped　to　investigate　what
they　had　supposed　to　be　an　optical　illusion。　　They　observed　that
leaves　and　other　light　substances　floated　several　inches　above
the　surface　of　the　water　in　the　pools。　　On　coming　to　the　edge　and
making　tests；　they　found　a　light　liquid；　as　invisible　as　air；
superimposed　upon　the　water；　with　sufficient　buoyancy　to　sustain
dry　wood　and　also　some　forms　of　life。　　They　also　observed　that
insects　coming　close　to　the　surface　and　apparently　inhaling　it；
rapidly　increased　in　size　and　weight；　from　which　they　concluded
it　must　throw　off　nitrogen；　carbon；　or　some　other　nourishment　in
the　form　of　gas。　　The　depth　upon　the　water　was　unaffected　by
rain；　which　passed　through　it；　but　depended　rather　on　the
condition　of　the　atmosphere；　from　which　it　was　evidently
condensed。　　There　seemed　also　to　be　a　relation　between　the　amount
of　this　liquid　and　the　activity　of　the　spirits。　　Finally；　when
their　ammunition　showed　signs　of　running　low；　they　decided　to
return　to　the　Callisto；　go　in　it　to　the　other　side　of　the　planet；
and　resume　their　investigations　there。　　Accordingly；　they　set　out
to　retrace　their　steps；　returning　by　a　course　a　few　miles　to　one
side　of　the　way　they　had　come；　and　making　the　cave　their
objective　point。　　Arriving　there　one　evening　about　sunset；　they
pitched　their　camp。　　The　cave　was　sheltered　and　comfortable；　and
they　made　preparation　for　passing　the　night。
　　　
〃I　shall　be　sorry；〃　said　Ayrault；　as　they　sat　near　their　fire；
〃to　leave　this　place　without　again　seeing　the　bishop。　　He　said　we
could　impress　him　anywhere；　but　it　may　be　more　difficult　to　do
that　at　the　antipodes　than　here。〃
　　
〃It　does　seem；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃as　though　we　should　be　missing
it　in　not　seeing　him　again；　if　that　is　possible。　　Nothing　but　a
poison…storm　brought　him　the　first　time；　and　it　is　not　certain
that　even　in　such　an　emergency　would　he　come　again　uncalled。〃
　　
〃I　think；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃as　none　of　the　spirits　here　are
malevolent；　they　would　warn　us　of　danger　if　they　could。　　The
bishop's　spirit　seems　to　have　been　the　only　one　with　sufficiently
developed　power　to　reappear　as　a　man。　　I　therefore　suggest　that
to…morrow　we　try　to　make　him　feel　our　thought　and　bring　him　to
us。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VII。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SPIRIT'S　SECOND　VISIT。

　　　
Accordingly；　the　next　morning　they　concentrated　their　minds
simultaneously　on　the　spirit；　wishing　with　all　their　strength
that　he　should　reappear。
　　　
〃Whether　he　be　far　or　near；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃he　must　feel　that；
for　we　are　using　the　entire　force　of　our
minds。〃
　　　
Shadows　began　to　form；　and　dancing　prismatic　colours　appeared；
but　as　yet　there　was　no　sign　of　the　deceased　bishop；　when
suddenly　he　took　shape　among　them；　his　appearance　and
disappearance　being　much　like　that　of　stereopticon　views　on　the
sheet　before　a　lantern。　　He　held　himself　erect；　and　his
thoughtful；　dignified　face　had　the　same　calm　expression　it　had
worn　before。
　　　
〃We　attracted　your　attention；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃in　the　way　you　said
we　might；　because　we　longed　so　to　see　you。〃
　　　
〃Yes；〃　added　Bearwarden　and　Cortlandt；　〃we　felt　we　MUST　see　you
again。〃
　　　
〃I　am　always　at　your　service；〃　replied　the　spirit；　〃and　will
answer　your　questions。　　With　regard　to　my　visibility　and
invisibility〃he　continued；　with　a　smile；　〃for　I　will　not　wait
for　you　to　ask　the　explanation　of　what　is　in　your　mindsit　is
very　simple。　　A　man's　soul　can　never　die；　a　manifestation　of　the
soul　is　the　spirit；　this　has　entity；　consciousness；　and　will；　and
these　also　live　forever。　　As　in　the　natural　or　material　life；　as
I　shall　call　it；　will　affects　the　material　first。　　Thus；　a　child
has　power　to　move　its　hand　or　a　material　object；　as　a　toy；　before
it　can　become　the　medium　in　a　psychological　seance。　　So　it　is
here。　　Before　becoming　visible　to　your　eyes；　I；　by　my　will；　draw
certain　material　substances　in　the　form　of　gases　from　the　ground；
water；　or　air　around　me。　　These　take　any　shape　I　wishnot
necessarily　that　of　man；　though　it　is　more　natural　to　appear　as
we　did　on　earthand　may　absorb　a　portion　of　light；　and　so　be
able　to　cast　a　shadow　or　break　up　the　white　rays　into　prismatic
colours；　or　they　may　be　wholly　invisible。　　By　an　effort　of　the
will；　then；　I　combine　and　condense　these　gaseswhich　consist
principally　of　oxygen；　hydrogen；　nitrogen；　and　carboninto
flesh；　blood；　water；　or　anything　else。　　You　have　already　learned
on　earth　that；　by　the　application　of　heat；　every　solid　and　every
liquid　substance；　which　is　solid　or　liquid　simply　because　of　the
temperature　at　which　you　find　it；　can　be　expanded　into　gas　or
gases；　and　that　by　cold　and　pressure　every　gas　can　be　reduced　to
a　liquid　or　a　solid。　　On　earth　the　state　of　a　substance；　whether
solid；　liquid；　or　gaseous；　depends　simply　upon　those　two
conditions。　　Here　neither　thermal　nor　barometric　changes　are
required；　for；　by　mastering　the　new　natural　laws　that　at　death
become　patent　to　our　senses；　we　have　all　the　necessary　control。　
It　requires　but　an　effort　of　my　will　to　be　almost　instantly
clothed　in　human　form；　and　but　another　effort　to　rearrange　the
molecules　in　such　a　way　as　to　make　the　envelope　visible。　　Some
who　have　been　dead　longer；　or　had　a　greater　natural　aptitude　than
I；　have　advanced　further；　and　all　are　learning；　but　the
difference　in　the　rate　at　which　spirits　acquire　control　of
previously　unknown　natural　laws　varies　far　more　than　among
individuals　on　earth。
　　　
〃These　forms　of　organic　life　do　not　disintegrate　till　after
death；　here　in　the　natural　state　they　break　down　and　dissolve
into　their　structural　elements　in　full　bloom；　as　was　done　by　the
fungi。　　The　poisonous　element　in　the　deadly　gust；　against　which　I
warned　you；　came　from　the　gaseous　ingredients　of　toadstools；
which　but　seldom；　and　then　only　when　the　atmosphere　has　the
greatest　affinity　for　them；　dissolve　automatically；　producing　a
death…spreading　wave；　against　which　your　meteorological
instruments　in　future　can　warn　you。　　The　slight　fall　you　noticed
in　temperature　was　because　the　specific　heat　of　these　gases　is
high；　and　to　become　gas　while　in　the　solid　state　they　had　to
withdraw　some　warmth　from　the　air。　　The　fatal　breath　of　the
winged　lizardsor　dragons；　as　you　call　themresults　from　the
same　cause；　the　action　of　their　digestion　breaking　up　the　fungus；
which　does　not　kill　them；　because　they　exhale　the　poisonous　part
in　gaseous　form　with　their　breath。　　The　mushrooms　dissolve　more
easily；　the　natural　separation　that　takes　place　as　they　reach　a
certain　stage　in　their　development　being　precipitated　by
concussion　or　shock。
　　　
〃Having　seen　that；　as　on　earth；　we　gain　control　of　the　material
first；　our　acquisitiveness　then　extends　to　a　better　understanding
and　appreciation　of　our　new　senses；　and　we　are　continually
finding　new　objects　of　beauty；　and　new　beauties　in　things　we
supposed　we　already　understood。　　We　were　accustomed　on　earth　to
the　marvellous　variety　that　Nature　produced　from　apparently
simple　means　and　presented　to　our　very　limited　senses；　here　there
is　an　indescribably　greater　variety　to　be　examined　by　vastly
keener　senses。　　The　souls　in　hell　have　an　equally　keen　but
distorted　counterpart　of　our　senses；　so　that　they　see　in　a
magnified　form　everything　vile　in　themselves　and　in　each　other。　
To　their　senses　only　the　ugly　and　hateful　side　is　visible；　so
that　the　beauty　and　perfume　of　a　flower　are　to　them　as　loathsome
as　the　appearance　and　fumes　of　a　toadstool。　　As　evolution　and　the
tendency　of　everything　to　perpetuate　itself　and　intensify　its
peculiarities　are　invariable　throughout　the　universe；　these
unhappy　souls　and　ourselves　seem　destined　to　diverge　more　and
more　as　time　goes　on；　and　while　we　constantly　become　happier　as
our　capacity　for　happiness　increases；　their　sharpening　senses
will　give　them　a　worse　and　worse　idea　of　each　other；　till　their
mutual　repugnance　will　know　no　bounds；　and　of　everything
concerning　which　they　obtain　knowledge　through　their　senses。　
Thus　these　poor　creatures　seem　to　be　the　victims　of　circumstances
and　the　unalterable　laws　of　fate；　and　were　there　such　a　thing　as
death；　their　misery　would　unquestionably　finally　break　their
hearts。　　That　there　will　be　final　forgiveness　for　the　condemned；
has　long　been　a　human　hope；　but　as　yet　they　have　experienced
none；　and　there　is　no　analogy　for　it　in　Nature。
　　　
〃But　while　you　have　still　your　earthly　bodies　and　the
opportunities　they　give　you　of　serving　God；　you　need　not　be
concerned　about　hell；　no　one　on　earth；　knowing　how　things　really
are；　would　ever　again　forsake　His　ways。　　The　earthly　state　is　the
most　precious　opportunity　of　securing　that　for　which　a　man　would
give　his　all。　　Even　from　the　most　worldly　point　of　view；　a　man　is
an　unspeakable　fool　not　to　improve　his　talents　and　do　good。　　What
would　those　in　sheol　not　give　now　for　but　one