\"Ifoundthesamething,\"saidBearwarden,\"butsaidnothing,forfearIshouldnotbebelieved。Inadditiontogoingblind,foramomentIalmostforgotwhatIwastryingtodo。\"
Changingtheircourseslightly,theywenttowardsarangeofhills,inthehopeoffindingrockyorsandysoil,inordertotestthesounds,andascertainiftheywouldceaseorvary。
Havingascendedafewhundredfeet,theysatdownnearsometreestorest,themusicalhumcontinuingmeanwhileunchanged。Thegroundwasstrewnwithlargecolouredcrystals,apparentlyrubies,sapphires,andemeralds,aboutthesizeofhens\'eggs,andalsolargesheetsofisinglass。Pickinguponeofthelatter,Ayraultexaminedit。Pointsoflightandshadekeptformingonitssurface,fromwhichringsradiatedlikethecirclesspreadinginalldirectionsfromaplaceinstillwateratwhichapebbleisthrown。Hecalledhiscompanions,andthethreeexaminedit。Theisinglasswasabouttenincheslongbyeightacross,andcontainedbutfewimpurities。Inadditiontothespreadingrings,curiousformswerecontinuallytakingshapeanddissolving。
\"Thisismoreinteresting,\"saidBearwarden,\"thansoundingshellsatthesea—shore。Wemustmakeanoteofitasanotherthingtostudy。\"
Theythenspreadtheirhandkerchiefsonamoundofearth,soastomakeatable,andbeganexaminingthegems。
\"Doesitnotseemtoyou,\"askedAyrault,afewminuteslater,addressinghiscompanions,\"asthoughwewerenotalone？Ihavethoughtmanytimestherewassomeone——orperhapsseveralpersons——herebesidesourselves。\"
\"Thesameideahasoccurredtome,\"repliedCortlandt。\"Iwasconvinced,amomentago,thatashadowcrossedthepageonwhichIwastakingnotes。Canitbethereareobjectsaboutuswecannotsee？Weknowtherearevibrationsofbothlightandsoundthatdonotaffectoursenses。Iwishwehadbroughtthemagneticeye;perchancethatmighttellus。\"
\"Anythingsufficientlydensetocastashadow,\"saidAyrault,\"shouldbeseen,sinceitwouldalsobeabletomakeanimageonourretinas。Ibelieveanyimpressionswearereceivingareproducedthroughourminds,asifsomeonewerethinkingveryintentlyaboutus,andthatneitherthemagneticeyenorasensitiveplatecouldrevealanything。\"
Theythenreturnedtothestudyoftheisinglass,whichtheywereabletosplitintoextremelythinsheets。Suddenlyacloudpassedoverthetable,andalmostimmediatelydisappeared,andthenasharpenedpencilwithwhichAyraulthadbeenwritingbegantotraceonasheetofpaper,inanevenhand,andwithaslightfrictionalsound。
\"Stop！\"saidBearwarden;\"letuseachforhimselfdescribeinwritingwhathehasseen。\"
Inamomenttheyhaddonethis,andthencomparednotes。Ineachcasethevisionwasthesame。Thentheylookedatthewritingmadebytheinvisiblehand。\"AbsorptaestmorsinVictoria,\"itran。
\"Gentlemen,beganBearwarden,asifaddressingameeting,\"thiscannotbecoincidence;weareundoubtedlyandunquestionablyinthepresenceofaspiritorofseveralspirits。ThattheyunderstandLatin,wesee;and,fromwhattheysay,theymayhaveknowndeath。Timemayshowwhethertheyhavebeenterrestrialslikeourselves。Thoughtheconditionsoflifeheremightmakeusdelirious,itisscarcelypossiblethatdifferenttemperamentslikeoursshouldbeaffectedinsopreciselythesameway;
besides,inthiswritingwehavetangibleproof。\"
\"Itisperfectlyreasonable,\"saidAyrault,\"toconcludeitwasaspirit,ifwemayassumethatspiritshavethepowertomovethepencil,whichisamaterialobject。Nobodydoubtsnowadaysthatafterdeathweliveagain;thatbeingthecase,wemustadmitthatwelivesomewhere。Space,asItakeit,canbenoobstacletoaspirit;therefore,whysupposetheyremainonearth？\"
\"Thisisawonderfulplace,\"saidCortlandt。\"Wehavealreadyseenenoughtoconvinceusoftheexistenceofmanyunknownlaws。
Iwishthespiritwouldrevealitselfinsomeotherway。\"
Ashefinishedspeaking,theraysofthedistantandcold—lookingsunweresplit,andthecoloursofthespectrumdanceduponthelinencloth,asifobtainedbyaprism。Inastonishment,theyroseandlookedcloselyatthetable,whensuddenlyashadowthatnoonerecognizedashisownappeareduponthecover。Tracingittoitssource,theireyesmetthoseofanoldmanwithawhiterobeandbeardandalookofgreatintelligenceonhiscalmface。
Theyknewhehadnotbeeninthelittlegrovethirtysecondsbefore,andasthiswassurroundedbyopencountrytherewasnoplacefromwhichhecouldhavecome。
CHAPTERII。
THESPIRIT\'SFIRSTVISIT。
\"Greetingsandcongratulations,\"hesaid。\"Manhassteadfastlystriventorise,andweseetheresultsinyou。\"
\"Ihavealwaysbelievedintheexistenceofspirits,\"saidCortlandt,\"butneverexpectedtoseeonewithmynaturaleyes。\"
\"Andyouneverwill,initsspiritualstate,\"repliedtheshade,\"unlessyousupplementsightwithreason。Aspirithasmerelyexistence,entity,andwill,andisentirelyinvisibletoyoureyes。\"
\"Howisit,then,thatweseeandhearyou？\"askedCortlandt。
\"Areyouaman,oraspectrethatisabletoaffectoursenses？\"
\"IWASaman,\"repliedthespirit,\"andIhavegivenmyselfvisibleandtangibleformtowarnyouofdanger。MycolleaguesandIwatchedyouwhenyouleftthecylinderandwhenyoushotthebirds,and,seeingyourdoomintheair,havebeentryingtocommunicatewithyou。\"
\"Whatwerethestrangeshadowsandprismaticcoloursthatkeptpassingacrossourtable？\"askedBearwarden。
\"Theyweretheobstructionsandrefractionsoflightcausedbyspiritstryingtotakeshape,\"repliedtheshade。
\"Doyoumindouraskingyouquestions？\"saidCortlandt。
\"No,\"repliedtheirvisitor。\"IfIcan,Iwillanswerthem。\"
\"Then,\"saidCortlandt,\"howisitthat,oftheseveralspiritsthattriedtobecomeembodied,weseebutone,namely,you？\"
\"That,\"saidtheshade,\"isbecausenonaturallawisbroken。Onearthonemancanlearnahandicraftbetterinafewdaysthananotherinamonth,whilesomecansolvewitheaseamathematicalproblemthatotherscouldnevergrasp。Soitishere。PerhapsI
wasinafavourableframeofmindondying,fortheso—calledsupernaturalalwaysinterestedmeonearth,orIhadanaturalaptitudeforthesethings;forsoonafterdeathIwasabletoaffectthesensesofthefriendsIhadleft。\"
\"Arewetounderstand,then,\"askedCortlandt,\"thatthereasonmoreofourdeparteddonotreappeartousisbecausetheycannot？\"
\"Precisely,\"repliedtheshade。\"Butthoughthepercentageofthosethatcanreturnandreappearonearthissmall,theirnumberisfairlylarge。Historyhasmanycases。WeknowthattheprophetSamuelraisedthewitchofEndoratthebehestofSaul;thatMosesandEliasbecamevisibleinthetransfiguration;
andthatafterhiscrucifixionandburialChristreturnedtohisdisciples,andwasseenandheardbymanyothers。\"
\"How,\"askedBearwardendeferentially,\"doyouoccupyyourtime？\"
\"Time,repliedthespirit,\"hasnotthesamesignificancetousthatithastoyou。Youknowthatwhiletheearthrotatesintwenty—fourhours,thisplanettakesbutaboutten;andthesunturnsonitsownaxisbutonceinaterrestrialmonth;whiletheyearsoftheplanetsvaryfromlessthanthreemonthsforMercurytoNeptune\'sonehundredandsixty—fouryears。Beinginsensibletoheatandcold,darknessandlight,wehavenomorechangingseasons,neitheristhereanynight。Whenamandies,\"hecontinuedwithsolemnity,\"hecomesatonceintotheenjoymentofsensesvastlykeenerthananybepossessedbefore。Oureyes——ifsuchtheycanbecalled——arebothmicroscopesandtelescopes,thechangeinfocusbeingeffectedasinstantaneouslyasthought,enablingustoperceivethesmallestmicrobeordisease—germ,andtoseetheplanetsthatrevolveaboutthestars。Thestepofaflyistousasaudibleasthetrampofaregiment,whilewehearthemechanicalandchemicalactionofasnake\'spoisononthebloodofanypoorcreaturebitten,asplainlyasthewavesontheshore。Wealsohaveachemicalandelectricalsense,showinguswhateffectdifferentsubstanceswillhaveononeanother,andwhatchangestoexpectintheweather。Themostcomplexandsubtleofoursenses,however,isasortofsecondsightthatwecallintuitionorprescience,whichwearestillstudyingtoperfectandunderstand。Withoureyescloseditrevealstousapproachingastronomicalandotherbodies,orwhatishappeningontheothersideoftheplanet,andenablesustoviewthefutureasyoudothepast。Theeyesofallbutthehighestangelsrequiresomelight,andcanbedazzledbyanexcess;butthisattributeofdivinitynothingcanobscure,anditisthesensethatwillfirstenableustoknowGod。Bymeansofthesenewandsharpenedfaculties,which,likechildren,wearecontinuallylearningtousetobetteradvantage,weconstantlyincreaseourknowledge,andthisisnexttoourgreatesthappiness。\"
\"Isthereanylimit,\"askedBearwarden,\"tohumanprogressontheearth？\"
\"Practicallynone,\"repliedthespirit。\"ProgressdependslargelyonyourcommandoftheforcesofNature。Atpresentyourprincipalsourcesofpowerarefood,fuel,electricity,theheatoftheinterioroftheearth,wind,andtide。Fromthefirsttwoyoucannotexpectmuchmorethannow,butfromtheinternalheateverywhereavailable,tradewinds,andfallingwater,asatNiagara,andfromtides,youcanobtainpoweralmostwithoutlimit。Werethisall,however,yourprogresswouldbeslow;buttheEternal,realizingtheshortnessofyourlives,hasgivenyoupowerwithwhichtorendtheglobe。Youhavetheactionofalluncombinedchemicals,atmosphericelectricity,theexcessorfrothofwhichyounowseeinthunderstorms,andtheelectricityandmagnetismofyourownbodies。Thereisalsomolecularandsympatheticvibration,bywhichJoshuanotunderstandinglylevelledthewallsofJericho;andthepowerofyourmindsovermatter,butlittlemoredevelopednowthanwhenImovedinthefleshupontheearth。Byloweringlargequantitiesofhigh—poweredexplosivestothedeepestpartsoftheoceanbed,andexplodingthemthere,youcanproducechasmsthroughwhichsomewaterwillbeforcedtowardstheheatedinteriorbytheenormouspressureofitsownweight。Atacomparativelyslightdepthitwillbeconvertedintosteamandproduceanearthquake。
Thiswillsoenlargeyourchasm,thatagreatvolumeofwaterwillrushintothered—hotinterior,whichwillcauseaseriesofsuchterrificeruptionsthatlargeislandswillbeupheaved。Bythereductionoftheheatofthatpartoftheinteriortherewillalsobeashrinkage,which,inconnectionwiththeexplosions,willcausetheearth\'ssolidcrusttobethrownupinfoldstillwholecontinentsappear。Someofthewaterdisplacedbythenewlandwillalso,asaresultofthecooling,beablepermanentlytopenetratefarther,therebydecreasingbythatmuchtheamountofwaterintheoceans,sothatthetide—levelinyourexistingseaportswillbebutslightlychanged。Byperseveringinthiswork,youwillbecomesoskilledthatitwillbepossibletoevokelandofwhateverkindyouwish,atanyplace;andbyhavinghightable—landattheequator,slopingoffintolowplainstowardsnorthandsouth,andmaintainingvolcanoesineruptionatthepolestothrowoutheatandstartwarmoceancurrents,itwillbepossible,inconnectionwiththechangeyouarenowmakingintheaxis,torendertheconditionsoflifesoeasythattheearthwillsupportafarlargernumberofsouls。
\"Withthepowersatyourdisposalyoucanalsoalterandimproveexistingcontinents,andtherebystillfurtherincreasethenumberofthechildrenofmen。Perhapswithmildclimate,fertilesoil,anddecreasedstruggleforexistence,manwilldevelophisspiritualside。
\"Finally,youhaveapergy,oneofthehighestforces,foritputsyoualmostonaplanewithangels,andwithityouhavealreadyvisitedJupiterandSaturn。Itwasimpossiblethatmanshouldremainchainedtotheearthduringtheentirelifeofhisrace,likeaninferioranimaloramineral,lowereveninfreedomofbodythanbirds。Heretoforeyouhave,asIhavesaid,seenbutonesideinmanyworkingsofNature,asifyouhaddiscoveredeithernegativeorpositiveelectricity,butnotboth;forgravitationandapergyareasinseparablycombinedintherestoftheuniverseasthosetwo,separatedtemporarilyonearththatthediscoveryoftheutilizationofonewiththeothermightserveasanincentivetoyourminds。YousawitinNatureonJupiterinthecaseofseveralcreatures,suspectingitintheboa—constrictorandWill—o\'—the—wispandjelly—fish,andhavestandingillustrationsofitinalltailedcomets——luminosityinthecaseoflargebodiesbeingonemanifestation——intheringsofthisplanet,andinthemolecularmotionandporosityofallgases,liquids,andsolidsonearth;sincewhatelseisitthatkeepsthemoleculesapart,heatservingmerelytoincreaseitspower？Godmademaninhisownimage;doesitnotstandtoreasonthathewillallowhimtocontinuetobecomemoreandmorelikehimself？WouldhebegrudgehimthepowertomovemountainsthroughtheintelligentapplicationofNature\'slaws,whenhehimselfsaidtheymightbemovedbyfaith？Sofaryouhavebeencontenttousethemechanicalpowerofwater,itsmomentumordeadweightmerely;toattainamuchhighercivilization,youmustbreakitupchemicallyanduseitsconstituentgases。\"
\"How,\"askedBearwarden,\"canthisbedone？\"
\"Forcesuperheatedsteam,\"repliedthespirit,\"throughanintenselyheatedsubstance,asyounowdoinmakingwater—gas——preferablyplatinumheatedbyelectricity——applyanapergeticshock,andtheoxygenandhydrogenwillseparatelikeoilandwater,theoxygenbeingsomuchtheheavier。Leadthemindifferentdirectionsasfastasthewaterisdecomposed——sinceotherwisetheywouldreunite——andyoursupplyofpowerwillbeinexhaustible。\"
\"Willyounotstayanddinewithus？\"askedAyrault。\"Whileinthefleshyoumustbesubjecttoitslaws,andmustneedfoodtomaintainyourstrength,likeourselves。\"
\"Itwillgivemegreatpleasure,\"repliedthespirit,\"totarrywithyou,andoncemoretotasteearthlyfood,butmostofalltohavetheblessedjoyofbeingofservicetoyou。Here,allbeingimmaterialspirits,nophysicalinjurycanbefallanyofus;andsincenoonewantsanythingthatanyoneelsecangive,wehavenoopportunityofdoinganythingforeachother。Youseeweneithereatnorsleep,neithercananyofusagainknowphysicalpainordeath,norcanwecomfortoneanother,foreveryoneknowsthetruthabouthimselfandeveryoneelse,andwereadoneanother\'sthoughtsasanopenbook。\"
\"Doyou,\"askedBearwarden,\"noteatatall？
\"Weabsorbvitalityinasense,\"repliedthespirit。\"Asthesuncombinescertainsubstancesintofoodformortals,italsoproducesmolecularvibrationandchargestheairwithmagnetismandelectricity,whichweabsorbwithouteffort。Infact,thereisafaintpleasureintheabsorptionofthisstrength,when,inmagneticdisturbances,thereisanunusualamountofimmortalfood。Shouldwetrytoresistit,therewouldeventuallybeagreaterpressurewithoutthanwithin,andweshouldassimilateinvoluntarily。Wearepartoftheintangibleuniverse,andcanfeelnohungerthatisnotinstantlyappeased,neithercanweevermoreknowthirst。\"
\"Why,\"askedCortlandtreverently,\"didtheangelwiththeswordofflamedriveAdamfromtheTreeofLife,sincewithhissoulhehadreceivedthatwhichcouldneverdie？\"
\"ThatwaspartofthemercyofGod,\"theshadereplied;\"forimmortalitycouldbeenjoyedbutmeagrelyonearth,wherenaturallimitationsaresoabrupt。Andknowthis,yewhoaresomethingofchemists,thathadAdameatenofthatsubstancecalledfruit,hewouldhavelivedinthefleshtothisday,andwouldhavebeenofallmenthemostunhappy。\"
\"WilltheFountainofYoutheverbediscovered？\"askedCortlandt。
\"Thatsubstancesexist,\"repliedthespirit,\"thatrenderitimpossibleforthegermsofoldageanddecaytolodgeinthebody,Iknow;infact,itwouldbeabreakinthecontinuityandbalanceofNaturedidtheynot;butIbelievetheirdiscoverywillbecoincidentwithChrist\'ssecondvisibleadventonearth。
Youare,however,onlyontheshoreoftheoceanofknowledge,and,bycontinuingtoadvanceingeometricratio,willsoonbeabletoretainyourmortalbodiestilltheaveragelongevityexceedsMethuselah\'s;but,exceptformoreopportunitiesofdoinggood,orsettingalongerexampletoyourfellowsbyyourlives,wherewouldbethegain？
\"InowseehowwhatappearedtomewhileIlivedonearthinsignificantincidents,weretheactsofGod,andthatwhatI
thoughtinjusticeormisfortunewasbutevidenceofhiswisdomandlove;forweknowthatnotasparrowfallethwithoutGod,andthatthehairsofourheadsarenumbered。Everyactofkindnessorunselfishnessonmypart,also,standsoutlikeagoldenletterorawhitestone,andgivesmeunspeakablecomfort。Atthelastjudgment,andineternityfollowing,weshallhaveverydifferentbutjustasrealbodiesasthosethatwepossessedintheflesh。Thedeadatthelasttrumpwillriseclothedinthem,andatthattimethesoulsinparadisewillreceivethemalso。\"
\"Iwonder,\"thoughtAyrault,\"onwhichhandweshallbeplacedinthatlastday。\"
\"Theclassificationisnowgoingon,\"saidthespirit,answeringhisthought,\"andIknowthatinthefinaljudgmenteachindividualwillrangehimselfautomaticallyonhisproperside。\"
\"Dotellme,\"saidAyrault,\"howyouwereabletoanswermythought。\"
\"Iseethevibrationsofthegreymatterofyourbrainasplainlyasthemovementsofyourlips\";infact,Iseethethoughtsintheembryonicstatetakingshape。\"
Whentheirmealwasreadytheysatdown,Ayraultplacingthespiritonhisright,withCortlandtonhisleft,andhavingBearwardenopposite。Onthisoccasiontheirchiefhadgiventhemaparticularlygooddinner,butthespirittookonlyasliceofmeatandaglassofclaret。
\"Won\'tyoutellusthestoryofyourlife,\"saidAyraulttothespirit,\"andyourexperiencessinceyourdeath？Theywouldbeoftremendousinteresttous。\"
\"IwasabishopinoneoftheAtlanticStates,\"repliedthespiritgravely,\"anddiedshortlybeforethecivilwar。Peoplecamefromothercitiestohearmysermons,andthebiographicalwritershavehonouredmymemorybysayingthatIwasagreatman。
IwascontemporaneouswithDanielWebsterandHenryClay。
ShortlyafterIreachedthreescoreandten,accordingtoearthlyyears,IcaughtwhatIconsideredonlyaslightcold,forIhadalwayshadgoodhealth,butitbecamepneumonia。Myfriends,children,andgrandchildrencametoseeme,andallseemedgoingwell,when,withoutwarning,myphysiciantoldmeIhadbutafewhourstolive。Icouldscarcelybelievemyears;andthough,asaChurchman,Ihadministeredtoothersandhadalwaystriedtoleadagoodlife,Iwasgreatlyshocked。IsuddenlyrememberedallthethingsIhadleftundoneandallthethingsIintendedtodo,andtheoldsaying,\'Hellispavedwithgoodintentions,\'
crossedmymindveryforcibly。InlessthananhourIsawthephysicianwasright;Igrewweakerandmypulsefluttered,butmymindremainedclear。IprayedtomyCreatorwithallmysoul,\'O
sparemealittle,thatImayrecovermystrength,beforeIgohence,andbenomoreseen。\'Asifforananswer,thethoughtcrossedmybrain,\'Setthinehouseinorder,forthoushaltnotlive,butdie。\'Ithencalledmychildrenandmadedispositionofsuchofmypropertyandpersonaleffectsaswerenotcoveredbymywill。Ialsogavetoeachtheadvicethatmyexperiencehadshownmeheorsheneeded。Thencameanotherwaveofremorseandregret,andagainanintenselongingtopray;butalongwiththethoughtofsinsandneglecteddutiescamealsothememoryofthehonesteffortsIhadmadetoobeymyconscience,andthesewerelikeriftsofsunshineduringastorm。Thesethoughts,andtheblessedpromisesofreligionIhadsooftenpreachedinthechurchesofmydiocese,wereanindescribablecomfort,andsavedmefromthedepthsofblankdespair。Finallymybreathingbecamelaboured,Ihadsharpspasmsofpain,andmypulsealmoststopped。IfeltthatIwasdying,andmysightgrewdim。Thecrisisandclimaxoflifewereathand。\'Oh！\'Ithought,withthephilosophersandsages,\'isittothisendIlived？Theflowerappears,brieflybloomsamidtroubloustoil,andisgone;
mybodyreturnstoitsprimordialdust,andmyworksareburiedinoblivion。Thepathsoflifeandgloryleadbuttothegrave。\'
Mysoulwasfilledwithconflictingthoughts,andforamomentevenmyfaithseemedatalowebb。Icouldhearmychildren\'sstifledsobs,andmydarlingwifeshedsilenttears。Thethoughtofpartingfromthemgavemethebitterestwrench。WithmyfleetingbreathIgaspedthesewords,\'ThatmercyIshowedothers,thatshowthoume。\'Thedarkenedroomgrewdarker,andafterthatIdied。InmysleepIseemedtodream。Allaboutwererefinedandheavenlyflowers,whilethemostdelightfulsoundsandperfumesfilledtheair。Graduallythevisionbecamemoredistinct,andIexperiencedanindescribablefeelingofpeaceandrepose。IpassedthroughfieldsandscenesIhadneverseenbefore,whileeveryplacewasfilledwithanall—pervadinglight。SometimesIseemedtobemilesinair;countlesssunsandtheirplanetsshone,anddazzledmyeyes,whilenobird—of—paradisewasashappyorfreeasI。GraduallyitcametomethatIwasawake,andthatitwasnodream。ThenIrememberedmylastmoments,andperceivedthatIhaddied。Deathhadbroughtfreedom,myworkinthefleshwasended,Iwasindeedalive。
\"\'ODeath,whereisthysting？OGrave,whereisthyvictory？\'
InmydyingmomentsIhadforgottenwhatIhadsooftenpreached——\'Thoufool,thatwhichthousowestisnotquickenedexceptitdie。\'Inamomentmylifelaybeforemelikeavalleyoranopenpage。AllalongitspathsandwaysidesIsawthelittleseedsofwordanddeedthatIhadsownextendingandbearingfruitforeverforgoodorevil。Ithensawthingsastheywere,andrealizedthefaultinessofmyformerconclusions,basedastheyhadbeenontheincompleteknowledgeobtainedthroughembryonicsenses。IalsosawtheDivinepurposeinlifeasthedesigninapieceoftapestry,whereasbeforeIhadseenbutthewrongside。Itisnottillwehavelostthelifeinthefleshthatwerealizeitsdignityandvalue,foreveryhourgivesusopportunitiesofhelpingorelevatingsomehumanbeing——itmaybeourselves——ofdoingsomethinginHisservice。
\"Nowthattimeispast,thebooksareclosed,andwecandonothingfurtherourselvestoalterourstatusforeternity,howevermuchwemaywishto。Itisonthisaccount,andnotmerelytosaveyoufromdeath,whichinitselfisnothing,thatI
nowtellyoutoruntotheCallisto,sealthedoorshermetically,andcomenotforthtillasuddenrushofairthatyouwillseeonthetreeshaspassed。Agustinwhichevenbirdsdropdead,iftheyareunabletoescape,willbeherewhenyoureachsafety。
Donotdelaytotakethisfood,andeatnoneofitwhenyoureturn,foritwillbefilledwithpoisonousgerms。\"
\"Howcanwefindyou？\"askedAyrault,graspinghishand。\"Youmustnotleaveustillweknowhowwecanseeyouagain。\"
\"Thinkhardandsteadfastlyofme,youthree,\"repliedthespirit,\"ifyouwantme,andIshallfeelyourthought\";sayingwhich,hevanishedbeforetheireyes,andthethreefriendsrantotheCallisto。
CHAPTERIII。
DOUBTSANDPHILOSOPHY。
Onreachingit,theyclimbedtheladderleadingtothesecond—storyopening,andenteringthroughthis,theyclosedthedoor,screwingittightlyinplace。
\"Now,\"saidCortlandt,\"wecanseewhatchanges,ifany,thiswonderfulgustwilleffect。\"
\"Hemadenostricturesonoursenses,suchastheyare,\"saidBearwarden,\"butimpliedthatevolutionwouldbecarriedmuchfurtherinus,fromwhichIsupposewemayinferthatithasnotyetgonefar。Iwishwehadrecorkedthosebrandypeaches,fornowtheywillbefilledwithpoisonousgerms。Iwonderifourshadyfriendcouldnottellusofanantisepticwithwhichtheymightbetreated？\"
\"Thosefellows,\"thoughtAyrault,whohadclimbedtothedome,fromwhichhehadanextendedview,\"wouldjeeratanangel,whilethedeferencetheyshowedthespiritseems,asusual,tohavebeenmerelysuperficial。\"
\"Letusnote,\"saidCortlandt,\"thatthespiritthermometeroutsidehasfallenseveraldegreessinceweentered,though,fromthetimetaken,Ishouldnotsaythatthesuddenchangewouldbeoneoftemperature。\"
Justthentheysawanumberofbirds,whichhadbeenrestinginaclumpoftrees,takeflightsuddenly;buttheyfelltothegroundbeforetheyhadrisenfar,andweredashedtopieces。Inanothermomentthetreesbegantobendandswaybeforethestorm;andastheygazed,thecolouroftheleavesturnedfromgreenandpurpletoorangeandred。Thewindblewoffmanyofthese,andtheywerecarriedalongbythegusts,orflutteredtotheground,whichwassoonstrewedwiththem。Itwasatypicalautumnalscene。Presentlythewindshifted,andthiswasfollowedbyacoldshowerofrain。
\"Ithinktheworstisover,\"saidBearwarden。\"TheSailor\'sGuidesays:
\'Whentherain\'sbeforethewind,Halliards,sheets,andbracesmind;
Whenthewind\'sbeforetherain,Soonyoucanmakesailagain。\'
Doubtlessthatwillholdgoodhere。\"
Thisprovedtobecorrect;and,afterarepetitionoftheprecautionstheyhadtakenontheirarrivalontheplanetinregardtotheinhalabilityoftheair,theyagainsalliedforth。
Theylefttheirmagazineshot—guns,takinginsteadthedouble—barrelledkind,onaccountoftherapiditywithwhichthisenabledthemtofirethesecondbarrelafterthefirst,andthrewawaythewaterthathadcollectedinthebucket,outofrespecttothespirit\'swarning。Theynoticedapungentodour,anddecidedtoremainonhighground,sincetheyhadobservedthatthebirds,intheirefforttoescape,hadflownalmostverticallyintotheair。Onreachingthegroveinwhichtheyhadseenthestorm,theyfoundtheirtableandeverythingonitexactlyastheyhadleftit。Bearwardenthrewoutthebrandypeachesontheground,exclaimingthatitwasashametolosesuchgoodpreserves,andtheyproceededontheirwalk。Theypassedhundredsofdeadbirds,andonreachingtheedgeofthetoadstoolvalleywerenotalittlesurprisedtofindthateverytoadstoolhaddisappeared。
\"Iwonder,\"saidthedoctor,\"iftherecanbeanyconnectionbetweenthephenomenonofthedisappearanceofthosetoadstoolsandthedeathofthebirds？Wecouldeasilydiscoveritiftheyhadeatenthem,orifinanyotherwaytheplantscouldhaveenteredtheirbodies;butIseenowayinwhichthatcanhavehappened。\"
Resolvingtoinvestigatecarefullyanyotherfungitheymightsee,theyresumedtheirmarch。Thecold,distant—lookingsun,apparentlyaboutthesizeofanorange,wasnearthehorizon。
Saturn\'srotationonitsaxisoccupyingonlytenhoursandfourteenminutes,beingbutafewminuteslongerthanJupiter\'s,theyknewitwouldsoonbenight。Findingaplaceonarangeofhillsshelteredbyrocksandaclumpoftreesoftheevergreenspecies,theyarrangedthemselvesascomfortablyaspossible,atesomeofthesandwichestheyhadbrought,lightedtheirpipes,andwatchedthedyingday。Herewerenofire—fliestolightthedarkeningminutes,norsingingflowerstolullthemtosleepwiththeirsongbutsixoftheeightmoons,eachatadifferentphase,andwithvariedbrightness,bathedthelandscapeintheirpale,coldrays;whilefarabovethem,likeahugerainbow,stretchedthegreatringsineffulgentsheets,reachingthousandsofmilesintospace,andfloodedeverythingwiththeirsilverylight。
\"Howpooraplacecomparedwiththis,\"theythoughttothemselves,\"isourworld！\"andAyraultwishedthathissoulwasalreadyfree;whilethedeadleavesrustlinginthegentlebreeze,andthenightwinds,sighingamongthetrees,seemedtoechohisthought。Farabovetheirheads,andinthevastnessofspace,thewell—knownstarsandconstellations,notwithstandingtheenormousdistancetheyhadnowcome,lookedabsolutelyunchanged,andseemedtothememblematicoftranquillityandeternalrepose。Thedayswerechangedbytheirshortness,andbytheapparentlossofpowerinthesun;andthenights,asifincompensation,weremagnificentlyilluminatedbythenumerousmoonsandsplendidrings,thoughneitherringsnorsatellitesshonewithasstrongalightastheterrestrialmoon。Butinnothingoutsideofthesolarsystemwasthereanychange;andcouldAEneas\'sPalinurus,oroneofPhilipofMacedon\'sshepherds,bebroughttolifehere,hewouldseeexactlythesamestarsinthesamepositions;and,didhenotknowofhisowndeathorofthelapseoftime,hemightsuppose,sofarastheheavenswereaffected,thathehadbutfallenasleep,orhadjustclosedhiseyes。
\"Ihavealwaysregretted,\"saidCortlandt,\"thatIwasnotbornathousandyearslater。\"
\"Wereitnot,\"addedAyrault,\"thatourearthisthevestibuletospace,andfortheopportunitiesitopens,Ishouldratherneverhavelived,forlifeinitselfisunsatisfying。\"
\"Youfellowsaretooindefiniteandabstractforme,\"saidBearwarden。\"Ilikesomethingtangibleandconcrete。Theutilitarianismofthetwentiethcentury,bywhichIlive,paradoxicalthoughitmayseem,wouldbeoutofplaceinspace,unlesswecancolonizetheotherplanets,andimprovetheirarrangementsandaxes。\"
MixedwithAyrault\'sphilosophicalandmetaphysicalthoughtswerethememoriesofhissweetheartatVassar,andhelonged,morethanhiscompanions,forthespirit\'sreturn,thathemightaskhimifperchancehecouldtellhimaughtofher,andwhetherherthoughtswerethenofhim。
Finally,wornoutbythefatigueandexcitementoftheday,theysettheprotection—wires,morefromforceofhabitthanbecausetheyfearedmolestationand,rollingthemselvesintheirblankets——forthenightwascold——weresoonfastasleep;
Ayrault\'slastthoughthavingbeenofhisfiancee,Cortlandt\'softhequestionhewishedtoaskthespirit,andBearwarden\'softheprogressofhisCompanyintheworkofstraighteningtheterrestrialaxis。Thustheysleptsevenhundredandninetymillionmilesbeyondtheirearth\'sorbit,andmorethaneighthundredmillionfromtheplacewheretheearthwasthen。Whiletheylayunconscious,thecloudsabovethemfroze,andbeforemorningtherewasafallofsnowthatcoveredthegroundandthemastheylayuponit。Soonthreewhitemoundswereallthatmarkedtheirpresence,andthecranesandeagles,risingfromtheirroostsinresponsetothecomingday,lookedunconcernedlyatallthatwashumanthattheyhadeverseen。Finally,wakenedbytheresoundingcriesofthesebirds,BearwardenandCortlandtarose,andmeetingAyrault,whohadalreadyrisen,mistookthesnowyformbeforethemforthespirit,andthinkingthedeadbishophadrevisitedthem,theywerepreparingtowelcomehim,andtopropoundthequestionstheyhadformulated,whenAyrault\'sfamiliarvoiceshowedthemtheirmistake。
\"Seeingyourwhitefigures,\"saidhe,\"riseapparentlyinresponsetothoseloudcalls,remindedmeofwhatthespirittoldusofthelastday,andoftheawakeningandresurrectionofthedead。\"
Thescenewasindeedweird。Theeast,alreadystreakedwiththeraysoftherisingfar—awaysun,andthepalemoonsnearingthehorizoninthewest,seemedconnectedbythehugebowoflight。
Thesnowonthedarkevergreensproducedacontrastofcolour,whiletheothertreesraisedtheiralmostbareandwhitenedbranchesagainstthesky,asthoughinsupplicationtothemysteriousrings,whichcasttheirlightuponthemandontheground。Astheygazed,however,theringsbecamegrey,themoonsdisappeared,andanotherdaybegan。Feelingsurethesnowmusthaveclearedtheairofanydeleterioussubstancesitcontainedthedaybefore,theydescendedintotheneighbouringvalley,which,havingasoutherlyexposure,waswarmincomparisonwiththehills。Astheywalkedtheydisturbedanumberofsmallrodents,whichquicklyranawayanddisappearedintheirholes。
\"Thoughwehaveseennoneofthehugecreatureshere,\"saidCortlandt,\"thatweresoplentifulonJupiter,theseburrowersbelongtoadistinctlyhigherscalethanthosewefoundthere,fromwhichItakeitwemayinferthattheevolutionoftheanimalkingdomhasadvancedfurtheronthisplanetthanonJupiter,whichisjustwhatwehavearighttoexpect;forSaturn,inadditiontobeingthesmallerandthereforemorematuredofthetwo,hasdoubtlesshadalongerindividualexistence,beingthefartherfromthesun。\"
Notwithstandingthecoldofthenight,theflowers,especiallythelilies,wereasbeautifulasever,whichsurprisedthemnotalittle,until,onexaminingthemclosely,theyfoundthatthestemsandveinsintheleaveswerefluted,andthereforeelastic,sothat,shouldthesapfreeze,itcouldexpandwithoutburstingthecells,therebyenablingtheflowerstowithstandashortfrost。Theynoticedthatmanyofthecuriouslyshapedbirdstheysawatadistancefromtimetotimewereabletomovewithgreatrapidityalongtheground,andhadaboutconcludedthattheymusthavefourlegs,beingsimilartowingedsquirrels,whenalong,lowquadruped,abouttwenty—fivefeetfromnostrilstotail,whichtheywereendeavouringtostalk,suddenlyspreadtwopairsofwings,flappingthefouratonce,andthensoaredoffatgreatspeed。
\"Ihopewecangetoneofthose,oratleasthisphotograph,\"
saidCortlandt。
\"Iftheygoinpairs,\"saidBearwarden,\"wemayfindthecompanionnear。\"
Atthatmomentanothergreatwingedlizard,considerablylargerthanthefirst,rosewithasnort,nottwentyyardsontheirleft。Cortlandt,whowasagoodshotwithagunatshortrange,immediatelyraisedhistwelve—boreandfiredbothbarrelsatthemonster;butthedouble—Bshotshadnomoredisablingeffectthaniftheyhadbeennumbereights。They,however,excitedthecreature\'sire;for,sweepingaroundquickly,itmadestraightforCortlandt,breathingathimwhennear,andalmostoverpoweringthethreemenwiththemalodorous,poisonousclouditexhaled。InstantlyBearwardenfiredseveralrevolverbulletsdownitsthroat,whileAyraultpulledbothbarrelsalmostsimultaneously,withthemuzzlesbutafewinchesfromitsside。
Inthiscasetheinitialvelocityoftheheavybuckshotwassogreat,andtheywerestillsoclosetogether,thattheypenetratedtheleatheryhide,tearingalargehole。Witharoarthewoundedmonsterbeataretreat,firstalmostprostratingthemwithanotherblastofitsawfulbreath。
\"Itwouldtakeastrongerlightthanwegethere,\"saidBearwarden,\"toimpressanegativethroughthathaze。Ithink,\"
hecontinued,\"Iknowatrickthatwilldothebusiness,ifweseeanymoreofthesedragons。\"Sayingwhich,hewithdrewthecartridgesfromhisgun,andwithhishunting—knifecutthetoughpapershellnearlythroughbetweenthewadsseparatingthepowderfromtheshot,drawinghisknifeentirelyaround。
\"Now,\"saidhe,\"whenIfirethose,theentireforwardendofthecartridgewillgoout,keepingthefifteenbuckshottogetherlikeaslug,andwithsuchpenetrationthatitwillgothroughatwo—inchplank。ItisatrickIlearnedfromhunters,and,unlessyourgunsarechoke—bore,inwhichcaseitmightburstthebarrel,Iadviseyoutofollowsuit。\"