DuringtheirsojournonJupitertheyhadhadbutlittleexperiencewiththetremendouswindsthattheyknew,fromreasonandobservation,mustrageinitsatmosphere。Theynowheardthemwhistlingovertheirheads,and,notwithstandingtheprotectionaffordedbythesidesofthecanon,occasionallyreceivedagustthatmadetheCallistoswerve。Theykeptonsteadily,however,tillsunset,atwhichtimeitbecameverydarkonaccountofthehighbanks,whichroseassteeplyasthePalisadesontheHudsontoaheightofnearlyathousandfeet。
Findingasmallislandneartheeasternbank,theyweregladtosecuretheCallistothereforthenight,belowthereachofthewinds,whichthey,stillheardsingingloudlybutwithamusicalnoteinwhatseemedtothemlikethesky。
\"Itisincomprehensibletome。\"saidAyrault,astheysatatdinner,\"howthesun,atadistanceoffourhundredandeighty—threemillionmiles,canraisetheamountofwaterwehaveherepassingus,andcomparedwithwhichthedischargeofthegreatestriveronearthwouldbeinsignificant,tosaynothingofthestreamweascendedbeforereachingthis。\"
\"Wemustremember,\"repliedCortlandt,\"thatmanyoftheconditionsaredifferentherefromthosethatexistonearth。Weknowthatsomeofthestreamsarewarm,andevenhot,andthatthetemperatureofDeepwatersBay,anddoubtlessthatoftheoceanalso,isconsiderablyhigherthanours。Thiswouldfacilitateevaporation。Thedensityoftheatmosphereandthetremendouswinds,ofwhichIsuspectwemayseemorelater,mustalsohelpthesunverymuchinitsworkofraisingvapour。Butthemostpotentfactorisundoubtedlythevastsizeofthebasinthattheseriversdrain。\"
\"Thegreatspeedatwhichtheatmosphericcurrentsmove,\"saidBearwarden,\"coupledwiththecomparativelownessofthemountainchainsandtheslightobstructiontheyoffertotheirpassage,mustdistributetherainverythoroughly,notwithstandingthegreatunbrokenareaofthecontinents。TherecanbenosuchstateofthingshereasexistsinthewesternpartofSouthAmerica,wheretheAndesaresohighthatanyeast—boundclouds,incrossingthem,areshovedupsofarintoacoldregionthatallmoisturetheymayhavebroughtfromthePacificiscondensedintorain,withwhichpartsofthewesternslopearedeluged,whilecloudsfromtheAtlantichavecomesofartheyhavealreadydispersedtheirmoisture,inconsequenceofwhichtheregionjusteastoftheAndesgetslittleifanyrain。Itisbadforacontinenttohaveitshighmountainsneartheoceanfromwhichitshouldgetitsrain,andgoodforittohavethemsetwellback。\"
\"Ishouldnotbesurprised,\"saidCortlandt,\"ifwesawanotherwaterfallto—morrow,thoughnotintheshapeofrain。Inthehourbeforewestoppedwebegantoseerapidsandprotrudingrocks。Thatmeansthatwearecomingtoapartofthechannelthatiscomparativelynew,sincetheolderpartshavehadtimetowearsmooth。Itakeit,then,thatwearenearthefootofaretreatingcascade,whichwemayhopesoontosee。ThatisexactlytheorderinwhichwefoundsmoothwaterandrapidsinriverNo。1,whichwehavenamedtheHarlem。\"
Afterthis,notbeingtired,theyusedtheremainingdarkhoursforrecordingtheirrecentadventures。
CHAPTERXII。
HILLSANDVALLEYS。
Withthefirstlighttheyresumedtheirjourney,andanhouraftersettingouttheysighted,asCortlandthadpredicted,anothercloudofvapour。Thefall——forsuchitprovedtobe——wasmorebeautifulthantheother,for,thoughthevolumeofwaterwasnotsogreat,itfellatoneleap,withoutabreak,andatthesametremendousspeed,adistanceofmorethanathousandfeet。Thecanonrangwiththeechoes,whilethesprayflewinsheetsagainstthesmooth,glistening,sandstonewalls。Insteadofcomingfromariver,asthefirstfallhad,thispouredatoncefromtherockylip,abouttwomilesacross,ofalakethatwaselevenhundredfeetabovethesurgingmassinthevalebelow。
\"Itisathousandpities,\"saidBearwarden,\"thatthiscataracthasgotsonearitssource;for,attheratethesestreamsmustcut,thisoneinafewhundredyears,unlesssomethingisdonetopreventit,willhavewornbacktothelake,andthengood—byetothefalls,whichwillbecomeaseriesofrapids。Perhapsthefirsteffectwillbemerelytoreducebyafewfeettheheightofthefalls,inwhichcasetheywillremaininpracticallythesameplace。\"
Abouttheshoresofthislaketheysawrhinoceroseswithlongthickwool,andherdsofcreaturesthatmuchresembledbuffaloes。
\"Idonotsee,\"saidBearwarden,\"whytheidenticalspeciesshouldnotexistherethattillrecently,inageologicalsense,inhabitedtheearth。Theclimateandallotherconditionsarepracticallythesameonbothplanets,exceptatriflingdifferenceinweight,towhichterrestrialswouldsoonadaptthemselves。Weknowbyspectroscopicanalysisthathydrogen,iron,magnesium,andallourbest—knownsubstancesexistinthesun,andeventhestars,whiletheearthcontainseverythingwehavefoundinmeteorites。Thenwhymakeanexceptionoflife,insteadofsupposingthatatcorrespondingperiodsofdevelopmentthesamelivingformsinhabitall？ItwouldbeassumingtheeternalsterilizationofthefunctionsofNaturetosupposethatourearthistheonlybodythatcanproducethem。\"
\"Theworldoforganiclifeissomuchmorecomplex,\"repliedCortlandt,\"thanthatofthecrystal,thatitrequiresgreatcontinuity。Sofarwecertainlyhaveseennomen,oranythinglikethem,notevensomuchasamonkey,thoughIsuppose,accordingtoyourreasoning,Jupiterhasnotadvancedfarenoughtoproduceeventhat。\"
\"Exactly,\"repliedBearwarden,\"foritwillrequirevastperiods;
and,accordingtomybelief,atleasthalftheearth\'stimeofhabitabilityhadpassedbeforemanappeared。ButweseeJupiterisadmirablysuitedforthosewhohavebeendevelopedsomewhereelse,anditwouldbeanawfulshameifweallowedittolieunimprovedtillitproducesappreciativeinhabitantsofitsown,forwefindmoretoadmireinonehalf—hourthanitsentirepresentpopulationduringitslifetime。Yet,howmagnificentthisworldis,andhowsuperiorinitsnaturalstatetoours！
Themountainoushornsofthesecrescent—shapedcontinentsprotectthemandtheoceantheyenclosefromthecoldpolarmarinecurrents,andinameasurefromtheicywinds;whiletheelevatedcountryonthehornsneartheequatormightbeaGardenofEden,oridealresort。Tobesure,thecontinentsmightsupportalargerpopulation,ifmorebrokenup,notwithstandingtheadvantageresultingfromthecomparativelylowmountainsalongthecoasts,andtheusefulwinds。Agreatersubdivisionoflandandwater,moregreatislandsconnectedbyisthmuses,andmoremediterraneansjoinedbystraits,wouldbeafurtheradvantagetocommerce;butwiththesourcesofpowerathand,theresistlesswindsandwater—power,muchincreasedineffectivenessbytheirweight,thegreattideswhenseveralmoonsareonthesameside,oroppositethesun,internalheatnearthesurface,andabundantcoal—supplydoubtlessalreadyformedandalsonearthesurface,suchsmallalterationscouldbemadeveryeasily,andwouldservemerelytopreventourbecomingrusty。
\"AsJupiter\'sdistancefromthesunvariesfrom506,563,000milesatapheliontoonly460,013,000atperihelion,thisdifference,inconnectionwitheventheslightinclinationoftheaxis,mustmakeaslightchangeinseasons,butastheinclinationispracticallynothing,almosttheentirechangeresultsfromthedifferenceindistance。Thismeansthattheriseorfallintemperatureisgeneraloneverydegreeoflatitude,allbeingwarmedsimultaneously,moreorless,astheplanetapproachesordepartsfromthesun。ItmeansalsothataboutthesameconditionsthatSecretaryDeepwaterssuggestedasdesirablefortheearth,prevailhere,andthatJupiterrepresents,therefore,abouttheacmeofclimatenaturallyprovided。Onaccountofitsrapidrotationandvastsize,thewindshaveatornado\'sstrength,buttheyarenothingatthisdistancefromthesuntowhattheywouldbeifaplanetwithitspresentrateofrotationandsizewerewhereVenusoreventheearthis。Ineitherofthesepositionsnolandlifewithwhichweareacquaintedcouldliveonthesurface;fortheslopeoftheatmosphericisobars——i。
e。,thelinesofequalbarometricpressurethatproducewindbybecomingtiltedthroughunequalexpansion,afterwhichtheair,asitwere,flowsdown—hill——wouldbetoogreat。Theascendingcurrentsabouttheequatorwouldalso,ofcourse,bevastlystrengthened;sothatweseeawisedispensationofProvidenceinplacingthelargeplanets,whichalsorotatesorapidly,atagreatdistancefromthesun,whichisthefatherofallwinds,rotationalone,howeverrapid,beingunabletoproducethem。\"
TheyfoundthislakewasaboutsixtimesthesizeofLakeSuperior,andthatseverallargeandsmallstreamsranintoitsupperend。Thesehadtheirsourcesinsmallerlakesthatwereatslightlyhigherelevations。Thoughtheairwascool,thesunshonebrightly,whilethegroundwascoveredwithflowersresemblingthoseofthenorthernclimesonearth,ofallshapesandlines。Twiceadaythesesentuptheirsong,andtreeswerecoveredwithbuds,andthebirdstwitteredgaily。Thestreamsmurmuredandbubbled,andallthingsremindedthetravellersofearlymorninginspring。
\"Ifanythingcouldreconcileme,\"saidBearwarden,\"toexchangemyactiveutilitarianlifeforarusticpoeticalexistence,itwouldbethisplace,foritisfarmorebeautifulthananythingI
haveseenonearth。ItneedsbutaMaudMullerandafewcowstocompletethepicture,sinceNaturegivesusavisionofeternalpeaceandrepose。\"
SomehowthementionofMaudMuller,andthedelicateandrefinedflowers,whoseperfumeheinhaled,broughtupthoughtsthatwereneverfarbelowthesurfaceinAyrault\'smind。\"Theplaceisheavenlyenough,\"saidhe,\"tomakeonewishtoliveandremainhereforever,buttomeitwouldbeHamletwithHamletleftout。\"
\"Ah！poorchap,\"saidCortlandt,\"youareinlove,butyouarenottobepitied,forthoughthethrustsattheheartaresharp,theymaybethesweetestthatmortalsknow。\"
ThefollowingmorningtheyreluctantlyleftthepicturesqueshoresofLakeSerenity,withtheirbeautifultintsandfoliage,andresumedthejourney,toexploreanumberofislandsintheoceaninthewest,whichwererecordedontheirnegatives。
Ascendingtorarefiedair,theysawgreatchainsofmountains,whichtheyimaginedranparalleltothecoast,risingtoconsiderablealtitudesintheeast。Thetopsofallglistenedwithamantleofsnowinthesunlight,whilebetweentheridgestheysawdarkerandevidentlyfertilevalleys。Theypassed,movingnorthwest,overlargeandsmalllakes,allevidentlypartofthesamegreatsystem,andcontinuedtosweepalongforseveraldayswithabeautifulpanorama,asvaryingasakaleidoscope,spreadbeneaththeireyes。Theyobservedthatthecharacterofthecountrygraduallychanged。Thesymmetricallyroundedmountainsandhillsbegantoshowangles,whilegreatslabsofrockweresplitfromthefaces。Thesidesalsobecamelessvertical,andtherewasanaccumulationofdetritalfragmentsabouttheirbases。Theseheapsoffracturedstonehadinsomecasesbeguntodisintegrateandformsoil,onwhichtherewasascantgrowthofvegetation;butthesidesandsummits,whosejaggednessincreasedwiththeirheight,wereabsolutelybare。
\"Here,\"saidCortlandt,\"wehaveunmistakableevidenceoffrostandiceaction。Thenextinterestingquestionis,Howrecentlyhasdenudationoccurred？Theabsenceofplantlifeattheexposedplaces,\"hecontinued,asiflecturingtoaclass,\"canbeaccountedforhere,asnearertheequator,bytheviolenceofthewind;butIgreatlydoubtwhetherwaterwillnowfreezeinthislatitudeatanyseasonoftheyear,for,evenshouldtheNorthernhemisphere\'sveryinsignificantwintercoincidewiththeplanet\'saphelion,thenecessarydropfromthepresenttemperaturewouldbetoogreattobeatallprobable。If,then,itisgrantedthaticedoesnotformherenow,notwithstandingthefactthatithasdoneso,themostplausibleconclusionisthattheinclinationofJupiter\'saxisisautomaticallychanging,asweknowtheearth\'shasoftendone。Therebeingnothingincompatibleinthisviewwiththeevidenceathand,wecansafelyassumeitcorrectforthetimebeingatleast。Whenfarthersouth,youremember,wefoundnotraceoficeaction,notwithstandingthecomparativeslownesswithwhichwedecidedthattheridgesinthecrusthadbeenupheavedonaccountoftheresistingpowerofgravity,and,asIseenow,alsoonaccountofJupiter\'sgreatmass,whichmustpreventitslosingitsheatanythinglikeasfastastheearthhas,inwhichIthinkalsowehavetheexplanationofthecomparativelylowelevationofthemountainsthatwefoundwecouldnotaccountforbythepowerofgravitationalone。[2]Fromthefactthattheexposedsurfacefarthersouthmustbeold,onaccountoftheslowupheavalandtheslightweartowhichitisexposed,abouttheonlywearingagentbeingthewind,whichwouldbepowerlesstoeraseice—scratches,especiallysince,onaccountofgravity\'spower,itcannot,likeourdesertwinds,carrymuchsand——which,asweknow,hascutawaythebaseoftheSphinx——Ithinkitislogicaltoconcludethat,thoughJupiter\'saxisischangingnaturallyastheearth\'shasbeen,ithasnevervariedasmuchastwenty—threeandahalfdegrees,andcertainlytonothingliketheextenttowhichweseeVenusandUranustiltedto—day。\"
[2]Itiswellknownthatmountainchainsarebutridgesorfoldingsinthecrustupheavedastheinteriorcoolsandshrinks。
Thisisprovedbyreasonandbyexperimentswithviscousclayorothermaterialplaceduponasheetofstretchedrubber,whichisafterwardsallowedtocontract,whereupontheanaloguesofmountainridgesarethrownup。
\"Ifollowyou,\"saidBearwarden,\"anddonotseehowwecouldarriveatanythingelse。FromJupiter\'slowspecificgravity,weighingbutlittlemorethananequalbulkofwater,Ishouldsaytheinteriormustbeveryhot,orelseiscomposedoflightmaterial,forthecrust\'ssurface,orthepartwesee,isevidentlyaboutasdenseaswhatwehaveonearth。Thesethingshavepuzzledmeagooddeal,andIhavebeenwonderingifJupitermaynothavebeenformedbeforetheearthandthesmallerplanets。\"
\"Thediscrepanciesbetweeneventhebestauthorities,\"repliedCortlandt,\"showthatasyetbutlittlehasbeendiscoveredfromtheearthconcerningJupiter\'srealcondition。Thetwotheoriesthattrytoaccountforitsgenesisaretheringtheoryandthenebulous。Weknowthatthesunisconstantlyemittingvastvolumesofheatandlight,andthat,withtheexceptionoftheheatresultingfromtheimpactoffallingmeteors,itreceivesnonefromoutside,theprincipalsourcebeingthetremendousfrictionandpressurebetweenthecoolingandshrinkingstratawithinthegreatmassofthesunitself。Aseemingparadoxthereforecomesinhere,whichmustbeconsidered:Ifthesunwerecomposedentirelyofgas,itwouldforatimecontinuetogrowhotter;butthesunisincessantlyradiatinglightandheat,andconsequentlybecomingsmaller。Thereforethefartherbackwegothehotterwefindthesun,andalsothelarger,till,insteadofhavingadiameterofeighthundredandeightythousandmiles,itfilledthespacenowoccupiedbytheentiresolarsystem。
Hereiswherethetwotheoriesstart。Accordingtothefirst,therevolvingnebulousmassthrewoffaringthatbecametheplanetNeptune,afterwardsanotherthatcontainedthematerialforUranus,andsoon,thelightestsubstanceinthesunbeingthrownofffirst,bywhichtheyaccountedforthelightnessofthefourgreatplanets,andfinallyMars,theearth,andthesmalldenseplanetsnearthesun。TheadvocatesofthistheorypointedtoSaturn\'sringsasanillustrationofthebirthofaplanet,or,rather,inthatcaseasatellite。Accordingtothis,themajorplanetshavehadafarlongerseparateexistencethantheminor,whichwouldaccountfortheirbeingsoadvancednotwithstandingtheirsize。Thistheorymayagaincomeintogeneralacceptance,butforthepresentithasbeendiscreditedbythenebulous。Accordingtothissecondtheory,atthetimethesunfilledallthespaceinsideofNeptune\'s,orbit,orextendedevenfarther,severalcentresofcondensationwereformedwithinthenebulous,gaseousmass。Thegreatestcentrebecamethesun,andtheothers,largeandsmall,theplanets,which——asaresultofthespiralmotionofthewhole,suchasisnowgoingonbeforeoureyesinthegreatnebulaeoffifty—oneM。Canuinvenaticorum,andmanyothers——begantorevolveaboutthegreatestcentralbodyofgas。Astheseparatemassescooled,theyshrank,andtheirsurfacesorextremeedges,whichatfirstwerecontiguous,begantorecede,whichrecessionisstillgoingonwithsomerapidityonthepartofthesun,forwemaybesureitsdiameterdiminishesasitsdensityincreases。Accordingtoeithertheory,asIseeit,themajorplanets,onaccountoftheirdistancefromthecentralmass,havehadlongerseparateexistencesthantheminor,andarethereforemoreadvancedthantheywouldbehadallbeenformedatthesametime。
\"Thistheoryexplainsthepracticaluniformityinthechemicalcompositionofallmembersofthissystembyassumingthattheywereallonceapartofthesamebody,andyoumaysaybrothersandsistersofthesun,insteadofitsoffspring。Italsomakessizetheonlyfactordeterminingtemperatureanddensity,butofcoursemodifiedbyage,sinceotherwiseJupiterwouldhaveafarlessdevelopedcrustthanthatwithwhichwefindit。Ihavealwaysconsideredtheperiodfromthemoltenconditiontothatwithacrustascomparativelyshort,whichstandstoreason,forradiationhasthennocheck;andtheperiodfromtheformationofthecrust,whichactsasablanket,tothedeathofaplanet,asverylong。IhavenotfoundthisviewclearlysetforthinanyofthebooksIhaveread,butitseemstomethesimplestandmostnaturalexplanation。Now,grantedthatthesolarsystemwasonceanebula,onwhichIthinkeveryonewillagree——thesameforcesthatchangeditintoasystemofsunandplanetsmustbeatworkonfifty—oneM。Canumvenaticorum,Andromeda,andninety—
nineM。Virginis,andmustinevitablychangethemtosuns,eachwithdoubtlessasystemofplanets。
\"If,then,theconditionofanebulaorstardependssimplyonitssize,itisreasonabletosupposethatAndromeda,Sirius,andallthevastbodieswesee,werecreatedatthesametimeasoursystem,whichinvolvesthenecessityofonegeneralandsimultaneouscreationday。ButasSirius,withitsdiameteroftwelvemillionmiles,mustbelargerthansomeofthenebulaewillbewhenequallycondensed,wemustsupposeratherthatnebulaeareformingandcomingintotheconditionofbrightanddeadstars,muchasapplesorpearsonafruittreeareconstantlygrowinganddeveloping,sothattheMosaicdescriptionofthecreationwouldprobablyapplyinpointoftimeonlytooursystem,orperhapstoourglobe,thoughtherestwilldoubtlesspassthroughpreciselythesamestages。This,Ithink,Iwillpublish,onourreturn,astheCortlandtastronomicaldoctrine,asthemostrationalIhaveseendevised,andonethatIthinkwemaysafelybelieve,until,perhaps,throughincreasedknowledge,itcanbedisproved。\"
Aftertheycrossedalineofhillsthatranatrightanglestotheircoursetheyfoundthecountrymorerolling。Allstreamsandwater—coursesflowedintheirdirection,whiletheiraneroidshowedthemthattheyweregraduallydescending。Whentheyweremovingalongnearthesurfaceoftheground,adeliciousandrefinedperfumeexhaledbytheblueandwhiteflowers,thathadbeengrowingsmallerastheyjourneyednorthward,frequentlyreachedtheirnostrils。ToCortlandtandBearwardenitwasmerelythescentofaflower,buttoAyraultitrecalledmentalpicturesofSylviawearingvioletsandliliesthathehadgivenher。HeknewthatthegreatesttelescopesonearthcouldnotrevealtheCallistomovingaboutinJupiter\'ssunshine,asevenapointoflight,atthatdistance,and,notwithstandingCortlandt\'slearningandBearwarden\'sjoviality,hefeltattimesextremelylonely。
Theysweptalongsteadilyforfiftyhours,havingbrightsunnydaysandbeautifullymoonlitnights。Theypassedoverfinelyroundedhillsandvalleysandwell—wateredplains。Astheyapproachedtheoceananditslevelthetemperaturerose,andtherewasmoremoistureintheair。Theplantsandflowersalsoincreasedinsize,againresemblingsomewhatthelargespeciestheyhadseenneartheequator。
\"Thiswouldbetheplacetolive,\"saidBearwarden,lookingatironmountains,silver,copper,andleadformations,primevalforests,richprairies,andregionsevidentlyunderlaidwithcoalandpetroleum,nottomentionhugebedsofaluminumclay,andothernaturalresources,thatmadehismaterialisticmouthwater。
\"Itwouldbejoyanddelighttodevelopindustrieshere,withnosnowavalanchestoclogyourrailroads,oricyblizzardstoparalyzework,norweatherthatblightsyouwithsun—strokesandfevers。Onourreturntotheearthwemustorganizeacompanytorunregularinterplanetarylines。Wecouldstartonthisglobeallthatisbestonourown。Thinkwhatboundlesspossibilitiesmaybebeforethehumanraceonthisplanet,whichonaccountofitsvastsizewillbeinitsprimewhenourinsignificantearthiscoldanddeadandnolongercapableofsupportinglife！ThinkalsooftheindescribableblessingtothecongestedcommunitiesofEuropeandAmerica,tofindanunlimitedoutlethere！Marsisalreadypastitsprime,andVenusscarcelyhabitable,butinJupiterwehaveanewpromisedland,comparedwithwhichourearthisapygmy,orbutlittlemorethanmicroscopic。\"
\"Isee,\"saidAyrault,\"thatthepossibilitiesherehavenolimit;butIdonotseehowyoucancompareittothepromisedland,since,tillweundertookthisjourney,noonehadeventhoughtofJupiterasahabitableplace。\"
\"ItracetheDivinepromise,\"repliedBearwarden,\"inwhatyoudescribedtousonearthasman\'sinnatelonginganddesiretorise,andinthefactthattheAlmightyhasgiventheraceunboundedexpansivenessinverylimitedspace。ThiswouldlooktomeasthereturnofmantothegardenofEdenthroughintellectualdevelopment,forhereeverymancansitunderhisownvineandfig—tree。\"
\"Itseemstome,\"saidCortlandt,\"thatnoparadiseorheavendescribedinanythingbuttheBiblecompareswiththis。
AccordingtoVirgil\'sdescription,thejoysonthebanksofhisriverLethemusthavebeenmostsadanddreary,thegeneralidlenessandmonotonyapparentlybeingbrokenonlybywrestlingmatchesbetweenthechildren,whilethereststrolledaboutwithlaurelwreathsorrestedintheshade。ThepilotPalinurus,whohadbeendrownedbyfallingoverboardwhileasleep,butwhobeforethathadpresumablydonehisduty,didnotseemespeciallyhappy;whiletheharsh,resentfuldispositionevidentlyremainedunsoftened,forDidobecamelikeacliffofMarpesianmarblewhenAEneasaskedtobeforgiven,thoughhehaddoubtlessconsideredhimselfindutyboundtoleaveher,havingbeentwicecommandedtodosobyMercury,themessengerofJove。She,liketherest,seemstohavehadnooccupation,whiletheconsciencesoffewappeartohavebeensufficientlycleartoenablethemtoenjoyunbrokenrest。\"
\"Theidlenessinthespirit—landofallprofanewriters,\"addedBearwarden,\"hasoftensurprisedmetoo。ThoughIhavealwaysrecommendedacertainamountofrecreationformystaff——infact,morethanIhavegenerallyhadmyself——anexcessofitbecomesabore。Ithinkthatallrealprogresscomesthroughthoroughwork。Whyshouldweassumethatprogressceasesatdeath？I
believeintheversethatsays,\'Welearnhereonearththosethingstheknowledgeofwhichisperfectedinheaven。\'\"
\"Accordingtothat,\"saidCortlandt,\"youwillsomedaybesettingtheaxisofheavenright,forinordertodoworktheremustbeworktobedone——anecessarycorollarytowhichisthatheavenisstillimperfect。\"
\"No,\"saidBearwarden,bristlingupatthewayCortlandtsometimesreceivedhisspeeches,\"itmeanssimplythatitsdevelopment,thoughperfectsofarasitgoes,maynotbefinished,andthatwemaybethemeans,asonearth,ofhelpingitalong。\"
\"Theconditionsconstitutingheaven,\"saidAyrault,\"maybeasfixedasthelawsofNature,thoughtheproductsofthoseconditionsmight,itseemstome,stillbeformingandsubjecttomodificationthereby。Thereductioadabsurduwouldofcourseapplyifwesupposedtheworkofcreationabsolutelyfinished。\"
CHAPTERXIII。
NORTH—POLARDISCOVERIES。
Twodayslater,onthewesternhorizon,theybeheldtheocean。
Manyofthestreamswhosesourcestheyhadseenwhentheycrossedthedividefromthelakebasin,andwhosecoursestheyhadfollowed,werenowriversamilewide,withthetideebbingandrisingwithinthemmanyhundredsofmilesfromtheirmouths。
Whentheyreachedtheshorelinetheyfoundthewavesbreaking,asonearth,uponthesands,butwiththisdifference:theyhadbeforenotedthesmallnessoftheundulationscomparedwiththestrengthofthewind,theresultofthewater\'sweight。Thesewavesnowremindedthemofthebehaviourofmercury,orofmeltedleadwhenstirredonearth,bytherapiditywithwhichthecrestsdropped。Thoughthewindwasblowinganon—shoregale,therewasbutlittlecombing,andwhentherewasanyitlastedbutasecond。Theoneeffortofthecrestsandwavesseemedtobetoremainatrest,or,ifstirredinspiteofthemselves,tosubside。
Whenoverthesurfaceoftheocean,thevoyagersrosetoaheightofthirtythousandmetres,andaftertwenty—fourhours\'
travellingsaw,atadistanceofabouttwohundredmiles,whatlookedlikeanothercontinent,butwhichtheyknewmustbeanisland。Onfindingthemselvesaboveit,theyrosestillhighertoobtainaviewofitsoutlinesandcompareitsshapewiththatoftheislandsinthephotographstheyhadhadtimetodevelop。
Thelengthranfromsoutheasttonorthwest。Thoughcrossedbylatitudeforty,andnotwithstandingJupiter\'sdistancefromthesun,thesouthernsidehadaveryluxuriantvegetationthatwasalmostsemi—tropical。Thistheyaccountedforbyitstotalimmunityfromcold,thedensityoftheairatsea—level,andthewarmmoistbreezesitreceivedfromthetepidocean。TheclimatewasaboutthesameasthatoftheRivieraorofFloridainwinter,andtherewas,ofcourse,noparchingsummer。
\"Thisshowsme,\"saidBearwarden,\"thatacountry\'sclimatedependslessontheamountofheatitreceivesfromthesunthanontheamountitretains;proofofwhichwehaveinthetopsoftheHimalayasperpetuallycoveredwithsnow,andsnow—cappedmountainsontheveryequator,wheretheygetthemostdirectrays,andwherethoserayshavebutlittleairtopenetrate。Itshowsthatthepresenceofasubstantialatmosphereisasnecessaryapartofthecalculationinpracticeasthesunitself。Iaminclinedtothinkthat,withtheconstanteffectoftheinternalheatonitsoceansandatmosphere,Jupitercouldgetalongwithagooddeallesssolarheatthanitreceives,inproofofwhichIexpecttofindthepolesthemselvesquitecomfortable。
Thereasontheinternalheatissolittletakenintoaccountonearthisbecause,fromthethicknessofthecrust,itcannotmakeitselffelt;foriftheearthwereaschilledthroughasice,thepeopleonthesurfacewouldnotfeelthedifference。\"
AJovianweek\'sexplorationsdisclosedthefactthatthoughtheisland\'sgeneraloutlineswerefairlyregular,ithaddeep—waterharbours,greatrivers,andland—lockedgulfsandbays,someofwhichpenetratedmanyhundredmilesintotheinterior。Italsoshowedthattheisland\'slengthwasaboutsixthousandmiles,anditsbreadthaboutthreethousand,andthatithadthereforeaboutthesuperficialareaofAsia。Theyfoundnotraceofthegreatmonstersthathadbeensonumerousonthemainland,thoughtherewereplentyofsmallerandgentle—lookingcreatures,amongthemanimalswhosebuildwasmuchlikethatoftheprehistorichorse,withundevelopedtoesoneachsideofthehoof,whichinthemodernterrestrialhorsehavedisappeared,thehoofbeinginrealitybutarounded—offmiddlefinger。
\"Itiswonderful,\"saidBearwarden,\"howcomparativelynarrowabodyofwatercankeepdifferentspeciesentirelyseparate。
TheislandofSumatra,forinstance,isinhabitedbymarsupialsbelongingtothedistinctAustraliantype,inwhichthefemale,asinthekangaroo,carriestheslightlydevelopedyounginapouch;whiletheMalaypeninsula,joinedtothemainland,hasallthehighlydevelopedanimalsofAsiaandtheconnectedlandoftheEasternhemisphere,thenarrowMalaccaStraitbeingallthathaskeptmarsupialsandmammalsapart,thoughtheseparatingpowerhasbeenincreasedbytherapidcurrentsettingthrough。
Thishasdecreasedthechanceofcreaturescarriedtoseaondrift—woodoruprootedtreesgettingsafelyovertosuchadegreethatapparentlynonehavesurvived;for,hadtheydoneso,wemaybecertainthatthemammals,withtheadvantagetheiryounghaveoverthemarsupials,wouldsoonhaverunthemout,themarsupialsbeingtheolderandthelessperfectformoflifeofthetwo。\"
Beforeleavingthebeautifulsea—girtregionbeneaththem,Cortlandtproposedthatitbenamedaftertheirhost,whichBearwardenseconded,whereupontheyentereditasAyraultIslandonthecharts。Afterthistheyrosetoagreatheight,andflewswiftlyoverthreethousandmilesofoceantilltheycametoanotherislandnotquiteaslargeasthefirst。Itwasfourthousandfivehundredmileslongbysomethinglessthanthreethousandwide,andwasthereforeaboutthesizeofAfrica。Ithadseveralhighrangesofmountainsandanumberofgreatriversandfineharbours,whilemurmuring,bubblingbrooksflowedthroughitsforestglades。Therewereactivevolcanoesalongthenortherncoast,andtheblue,crimson,andpurplelinesintheluxuriantfoliagewerethemostbeautifultheyhadeverseen。
\"Ipropose,\"saidBearwarden,\"thatwechristenthisSylvialand。\"
ThisCortlandtimmediatelyseconded,anditwassoenteredonthecharts。
\"Thesetwoislands,\"saidBearwarden,\"maybecomethecentresofcivilization。Withflyingmachinesandcablestocarrypassengersandinformation,andshipsofgreatdisplacementfortheinterchangeofcommodities,thereisnolimittotheirpossibledevelopment。Theabsenceoflargewaveswillalsobeveryfavourabletosea—spiders,whichwillbeabletorunattremendousspeeds。TheconstancyintheeruptionsofthevolcanoeswillofferagreatfieldtoJovianinventors,whowillunquestionablybeabletoutilizetheirheatfortheproductionofsteamorelectricity,tosaynothingofaninexhaustiblesupplyofvaluablechemicals。Theymaycontainthemeansofproducingsomeforceentirelydifferentfromapergy,andassuperiortoelectricityasthatistosteam。Ourearthlyvolcanoeshavebeenputtoslightaccountbecauseofthelongintervalsbetweeneruptions。\"
AfterleavingSylvialandtheywentwestwardtotheeasternofthetwocrescentcontinents。Itwasseparatedfromtheislandbyaboutsixthousandmilesofocean,andhadlesswidththanthewestern,havingabouttheproportionsofathree—daycrescent,whilethewesternhadtheshapeofthemoonwhenfourorfivedaysold。Theyfoundtheheightofthemountainsandplateaussomewhatlessthanontheeasterncontinent,butnogreatdifferenceinotherrespects,exceptthat,astheywenttowardsthepole,thevegetationbecamemorelikethatofScotlandoranorthtemperateregionthananytheyhadseen。Onreachinglatitudefiftytheyagaincameoutovertheoceantoinvestigatethespeckledconditiontheyhadobservedthere。TheyfoundavastarchipelagocoveringasgreatanareaasthewholePacificOcean。TheislandsvariedfromthesizeofBorneoandMadagascartothatofSicilyandCorsica,whilesomecontainedbutafewsquaremiles。Thesurfaceofthearchipelagowasaboutequallydividedbetweenlandandwater。
\"Itwouldtakegoodnavigationoranelaboratesystemoflight—houses,\"saidBearwarden,\"foracaptaintofindtheshortestcoursethroughthesegroups。\"
Theislandswerecoveredwithshadetreesmuchresemblingthoseonearth,andtheleavesonmanywereturningyellowandred,forthishemisphere\'sautumnhadalreadybegun。
\"TheJoviantrees,\"saidCortlandt,\"canneverceasetobear,thoughthechangeofseasonsisevidentlyabletoturntheircolour,perhapsbymerelyripeningthem。Whenaripeleaffallsoff,itsplaceisdoubtlesssoontakenbyabud,forgerminationandfructificationgoonsidebyside。\"
Beforeleaving,theydecidedtonamethisTwentiethCenturyArchipelago,sincesomuchoftheknowledgeappertainingtoithadbeenacquiredintheirownday。Atlatitudesixtythenorthernarmsofthetwocontinentscamewithinfifteenhundredmilesofeachother。Theeasternextensionwassplitlikethetailofafish,thegreatbayformedtherebybeingfilledwithislands,whichalsoextendedabouthalfofthedistanceacross。
Thewesternextremityshelvedverygradually,thesand—barsrunningoutformilesjustbelowthesurfaceofthewater。