第8章

Withoutawaitingafullreturnoflight,thetravellersproceededontheirway,andhadgonesomethingoverahundredyardswhenAyrault,whowasmarchingsecond,suddenlygraspedBearwarden,whowasinfront,andpointedtoajet—blackmassstraightahead,andaboutthirtyyardsfromapoolofwarmwater,fromwhichacloudofvapourarose。Thetopoftheheadwasaboutsevenfeethigh,andthelengthofthebodyexceededthirtyfeet。Thesixlegslookedasstrongassteelcables,andwereaboutafootthrough,whileahuge,bonyproboscisninefeetinlengthprecededthebody。Thiswascarriedhorizontallybetweentwoandthreefeetfromtheground。Presentlyalargegroundslothcametothepooltodrink,lappingupthewateratthesidesthathadpartlycooled。Inaninstanttheblackarmoredmonsterrusheddowntheslopewiththespeedofanineteenth—centurylocomotive,andseemedaboutasformidable。Theslothturnedinthedirectionofthesound,andforamomentseemedparalyzedwithfear;itthenstartedtorun,butitwastoolate,forthenextsecondtheenormouslyexaggeratedant——forsuchitwas——overtookit。Thehugemandibleshearsthatwhenclosedhadformedtheproboscis,snappedviciously,takingoffthesloth"slegsandthencuttingitsbodytoslivers。Theexecutionwasfinishedinafewseconds,andtheponderousinsectcarriedbackabouthalftheslothtoitshiding—place,whereitleisurelydevouredit。

"Thisremindsme,"saidBearwarden,"oftheoldladywhonevercompletedherpreparationsforturninginwithoutsearchingforburglarsunderthebed。Finallyshefoundone,andexclaimedindelight,"I"vebeenlookingforyoufiftyyears,andatlastyouarehere！"Thequestionis,nowthatwehavefoundourburglar,whatshallwedowithhim？"

"Iconstantlyregretnothavingarifle,"repliedCortlandt,"thoughitisdoubtfulifeventhatwouldhelpushere。"

"Letussitdownandwait,"saidAyrault;"theremaybeanopeningsoon。"

Anonawoollyrhinoceros,resemblingtheRhinocerostichorhinusthatexistedcontemporaneouslyonearthwiththemammoth,cametodrinkthewaterthathadpartlycooled。Itwasitselfaformidable—lookingbeast,butinaninstantthemonsteragainrushedfromconcealmentwiththesametremendousspeed。Therhinocerosturnedinthedirectionofthesound,and,loweringitshead,facedthefoe。Theant"sshears,however,passedbeneaththehorn,and,fasteningupontheleftforeleg,cutitoffwithaloudsnap。

"Nowisourchance,"exclaimedCortlandt;"wemaykillthebrutebeforeheisthroughwiththerhinoceros。"

"Stopabit,doctor,"saidBearwarden。"Wehaveagoodrecordsofar;letuskeepupourreputationforbeingsports。Waittillhecanattendtous。"

Theencounterwasoverinlessthanaminute,threeoftherhinoceros"slegsbeingtakenoff,andtheheadalmostseveredfromthebody。Takingupthelegsinitsmandibles,themurderouscreaturewasreturningtoitslair,when,withthecryof"Nowforthefray！"Bearwardenaimedbeneaththebodyandblewoffoneofthefartherarmouredlegs,fromtheinside。

"Shootoffthelegsonthesameside,"hecounselledAyrault,whilehehimselfkeptuparapidfire。Cortlandttriedtodisconcerttheenemybyrainingduck—shotonitsscale—protectedeyes,whilethetworiflestoreoffgreatmassesofthehornthatcoveredtheenormouslypowerfullegs。Themenseparatedastheyretreated,knowingthatoneslashofthegreatshearswouldcuttheirthreebodiesinhalvesiftheywerecaughttogether。Themonsterhaddroppedtheremainsoftherhinoceroswhenattacked,andmadeforthehuntersatitstopspeed,whichwassomewhatreducedbythelossofoneleg。Beforeitcamewithincuttingdistance,however,anotheronthesamesidewasgone,Ayraulthavinglandedabulletonaspotalreadystrippedofarmour。

Afterthisthemenhadnodifficultyinkeepingoutofitsway,thoughitstillmovedwithsomespeed,snippingoffyoungtreesinitspathlikegrass。Finally,havingblownthescalesfromoneeye,thetravellerssentinabulletthatexplodedinthebrainandendeditscareer。

"Thishasbeenbyalloddsthemostexcitinghuntwehavehad,"

saidAyrault,"bothonaccountofthedeterminednatureandgreatspeedoftheattack,andthealmostimpossibilityoffindingavulnerablespot。"

"Anythingshortofexplosivebullets,"addedBearwarden,"wouldhavebeenpowerlessagainstthisbeast,forthearmourinmanyplacesisnearlyafootthick。"

"Thisisalsothemostextraordinaryaswellasmostdangerouscreaturewithwhichwehave,hadtodeal,"saidCortlandt,"becauseitisanenormouslyenlargedinsect,withalltheinherentferocityandstrength。ItisalmosttheexactcounterpartofanAfricansoldier—antmagnifiedmanyhundredthousandtimes。Iwonder,"hecontinuedthoughtfully,"ifourlatter—dayinsectsmaynotbethedeteriorated（inpointofsize）

descendantsofthemonstersofmythologyandgeology,fornothingcouldbeamoreterribleorferociousantagonistthanmanyofourwell—knowninsects,ifsufficientlyenlarged。Noanimalnowalivehasmorethanasmallfractionofthestrength,inproportiontoitssize,oftheminutestspiderorflea。Itmaybethatthroughlackoffood,difficultiesimposedbychangingclimate,andthenecessityofburrowinginwinter,orthroughsomeotherconditionschangedfromwhattheywereaccustomedto,theirsizehasbeenreduced,andthatthefire—flies,hugeastheyseemed,areastepinadvanceofthisspecimeninthemarchofdeteriorationorinvolution,whichwillendbymakingthemasinsignificantasthoseonearth。Theseantshaveprobablycomeintothewoodstolaytheireggs,for,fromthebehaviouroftheanimalswewatchedfromtheturtle,theremusthavebeenseveral;

orperhapsawarisinprogressbetweenthoseofadifferentcolour,asonearth,inwhichcasethewoodsmaybefullofthem。

Doubtlessthereasontheturtleseemedsounconcernedatthegeneraluneasinessoftheanimalswasbecauseheknewhecouldmakehimselfinvulnerabletothemarauderbysimplyclosinghisshell,andwewereunmolestedbecauseitdidnotoccurtotheantthatanysoft—shelledcreaturescouldbeontheturtle"sback。"

"Ithink,"saidBearwarden,"itwillbethepartofwisdomtoreturntotheCallisto,anddotherestofourexploringonJupiterfromasafeheight;for,thoughwesucceededindisablingthisbeauty,itwaslargelythroughluck,andhadwenotdonesoweshouldprobablyhaveprovidedabonboucheforourdeceasedfriend,insteadofstandingathisgrave。"

Accordinglytheyproceeded,andweredelighted,afewminuteslater,toseethesunlightreflectedfromtheprojectile"spolishedroof。

CHAPTERX。

CHANGINGLANDSCAPES。

OnreachingtheCallisto,Ayraultworkedthelockhehadhadplacedonthelowerdoor,which,toavoidcarryingakey,wasopenedbyacombination。Thecar"sinteriorwasexactlyastheyhadleftit,andtheyweregladtobeinitagain。

"Now,"saidBearwarden,"wecanhaveasoundandundisturbedsleep,whichiswhatIwantmorethananythingelse。Noprowlerscantroubleushere,andweshallnotneedtheprotection—wires。"

Theythenopenedawindowineachside——forthelargeglassplates,admittingthesunwhenclosed,madetheCallistoratherwarm——andplacedastoutwirenettingwithinthemtokeepoutbirdsandbats,andthen,thoughitwasbutlittlepastnoon,gotintotheircomfortablebedsandsleptninehoursatastretch。

Theirstrongmetalhousewassecurelyatrest,receivingthesunlightandsheddingtherainanddewasitmighthavedoneonearth。Nowindsorstorms,lightningsorfloods,couldtroubleit,whilethemultiformedmonstersofantiquityandmythologyrestoredinlife,withwhichtheterrestrialshadbeenthrownintosuchclosecontact,roamedaboutitspolishedwalls。Noteventhefiercestcouldaffectthem,andtheywouldbutseethemselvesreflectedinanyvainassaults。Thedomedsymmetricalcylinderstoodthereasamonumenttohumaningenuityandskill,andthetravellers"lastthoughtastheyfellasleepwas,"Manisreallylordofcreation。"

Thefollowingdayataboutnoontheyawoke,andhadabathinthewarmpool。Theysawthearmouredmassofthegreatantevidentlyundisturbed,whilethebodiesofitsvictimswerealreadyshiningskeletons,andraisedasmallcairnofstonesinmemoryofthestruggletheyhadhadthere。

"WeshouldnamethisplaceKentucky,"saidBearwarden,"foritisindeedadarkandbloodyground,"and,seeingtheaptnessoftheappellation,theyentereditsoontheircharts。WhileAyraultgotthebatteriesinshapeforresumingwork。Bearwardenpreparedasubstantialbreakfast。Thisconsistedofoatmealandcreamkepthermeticallysealedinglass,adishofroastgrouse,coffee,pilotbread,abottleofSauterne,andanotherofRhinewine。

"Thisisthelastmealweshalltakehereabouts,"saidtheircook,astheypliedtheirknivesandforksbeneaththetrees,"sohereisatoasttoouradventures,andtoallthegamewehavekilled。"Theydrainedtheirglassesindrinkingthis,afterwhichBearwardenregaledthemwiththelatestconcert—hallsongwhichhehadathistongue"send。

Aboutanhourbeforedarktheyre—enteredtheirprojectile,and,asamarkofrespecttotheirlittleship,namedthegreatbranchofthecontinentonwhichtheyhadalightedCallistoPoint。Theythengotunderway。ThebatterieshadtodevelopalmosttheirmaximumpowertoovercomeJupiter"sattraction;buttheywereequaltothetask,andtheCallistowassoonintheair。

Directingtheirapergytothemountainstowardstheinteriorofthecontinent,andapplyingrepulsiontoanyridgeorhilloverwhichtheypassed,therebyeasingtheworkofthebatteriesengagedinsupportingtheCallisto,theyweresoonsweepingalongatseventy—fivetoonehundredmilesanhour。Bykeepingtheprojectilejuststronglyenoughchargedtoneutralizegravitation,theyremainedforthemostpartwithintwohundredfeetoftheground,seldomrisingtoanaltitudeofmorethanamile,andwerethereforeabletokeepthewindowsatthesidesopenandsoobtainanunobstructedview。If,however,atanytimetheyfeltoppressedbyJupiter"shighbarometricpressure,andpreferredtheterrestrialconditions,theyhadbuttorisetillthebarometerfelltothirty。Then,ifanobjectofinterestrecalledthemtosea—level,theycouldkeeptheCallisto"sinsidepressureatwhattheyfoundontheJovianmountains,byscrewingupthewindows。Onaccountofthedistanceofsixty—fourthousandmilesfromJupiter"sequatortothepole,theycalculatedthatgoingatthespeedofahundredmilesanhour,nightandday,itwouldtakethemtwenty—fiveterrestrialdaystoreachthepoleevenfromlatitudetwodegreesatwhichtheystarted。Buttheyknewthat,ifpressedfortime,theycouldriseabovethelimitsoftheatmosphere,andmovewithplanetaryspeed;while,iftheywishedastilleasiermethodofpursuingtheirobservation,theyhadbuttoremainpoisedbetweenthesunandJupiter,beyondthelatter"supperair,andphotographormapitasitrevolvedbeforethem。

Bysunsettheyhadgoneahundredmiles。Wishingtopushalong,theyclosedthewindows,rosehighertoavoidanymountain—topsthatmightbeinvisibleinthemoonlight,andincreasedtheirspeed。Theairmadeagentlehummingsoundastheyshotthroughit,andtowardsmorningtheysawseveralbrightpointsoflightinwhichtheyrecognized,bytheaidoftheirglasses,sheetsofflameandtorrentsofmoltenglowinglava,burstingatintervalsorpouringsteadilyfromseveralvolcanoes。Fromthistheyconcludedtheywereagainnearanocean,sincevolcanoesneedthepresenceofalargebodyofwatertoprovidesteamfortheireruptions。

Withtherisingsuntheyfoundthesceneofthedaybeforeentirelychanged。Theywereovertheshoreofavastoceanthatextendedtotheleftasfarastheycouldsee,fortherangeofvisionoftenexceededthepowerofsight。Thecoast—lineranalmostduenorthandsouth,whilethevolcanoesthatdottedit,andthathadbeenluminousduringthenight,nowrevealedtheirnatureonlybylinesofsmokeandvapours。Theywerestruckbytheboldnessandabruptnessofthescenery。Themountainsandcliffshadbeenbutlittlecutdownbywaterandfrostaction,andseemedinthefullvigouroftheiryouth,whichwaswhatthetravellershadarighttoexpectonaglobethatwasstillcoolingandshrinking,andconsequentlythrowingupridgesintheshapeofmountainsfarmorerapidlythanaplanetasmaturedandquiescentastheearth。TheabsenceoflakesalsoshowedthemthattherehadbeennoGlacialperiod,inthelatitudestheywerecrossing,foraverylongtime。

"Wecanaccountfortheabsenceofice—actionandscratches,"

saidCortlandt,"inoneoftwoways。Eithertheproximityoftheinternalheattothesurfacepreventswaterfromfreezinginalllatitudes,orJupiter"saxishasalwaysbeenverynearlyperpendiculartoitsorbit,andconsequentlythethermometerhasneverbeenmuchbelowthirty—twodegreesFahrenheit;for,attheconsiderabledistancewearenowfromthesun,itiseasytoconceivethat,withtheaxismuchinclined,theremightbecoldweather,duringtheNorthernhemisphere"swinter,thatwouldlastforaboutsixofouryears,evenasneartheequatorasthis。

Thesubstantiationofanice—capatthepolewilldisprovethefirsthypothesis;forwhatwetookforicebeforealightingmayhavebeenbutbanksofcloud,since,havingbeenintheplaneoftheplanet"sequatoratthetime,wehadnaturallybutaveryobliqueviewofthepoles;whiletheabsenceofglacialscratchesshows,Itakeit,thatthoughtheaxismayhavebeenagooddealmoreinclinedthanatpresent,ithasnot,atalleventssinceJupiter"sPalaeozoicperiod,beenasmuchsoasthatofUranusorVenus。ThelandonJupiter,correspondingtotheLaurentianHillsonearth,mustevenherehaveappearedatsoremoteaperiodthatthefirstsurfaceitshowedmustlongsincehavebeenwornaway,andthereforeanyimpressionsitreceivedhavealsobeenerased。

"Comparingthislandwiththephotographswetookfromspace,I

shouldsayitistheeasternofthetwocrescent—shapedcontinentswefoundapparentlyfacingeachother。TheirpresentformItaketobeonlytheskeletonoutlineofwhattheywillbeatthenextperiodofJupiter"sdevelopment。Theywill,I

predict,becomemorelikehalfmoonsthancrescents,thoughtheprofilemaybemuchindentedbygulfsandbays,theirsuperficialareabeinggreatlyincreased,andtheinterveningoceancorrespondinglynarrowed。WeknowthatNorthAmericahadaverydifferentshapeduringtheCretaceousoreventheMiddleTertiaryperiodfromwhatithasnow,andthattheGulfofMexicoextendedupthevalleyoftheMississippiasfarastheOhio,bythepresenceofagreatcoralreefintheOhioRivernearCincinnati。

WeknowalsothatFloridaandtheSoutheasternAtlanticStatesareaveryrecentadditiontothecontinent,whilethepampasoftheArgentineRepublichave,inageologicalsense,butjustbeenupheavedfromthesea,bythefactthattheriversareallonthesurface,nothavinghadtimetocutdowntheirchannelsbelowthesurroundingcountry。Bysimilarreasoning,weknowthatthecanonoftheColoradoisaveryoldregion,thoughtheprecipitatenessofitsbanksisduetotheabsenceofrain,foralocalwater—supplywouldcutbackthebanks,havingmosteffectwheretheyweresteepest,sinceatthosepointsitwouldmovewiththegreatestspeed。Thusthemajesticcanonowesitsexistencetotwothings:thelengthoftimetheriverhasbeenatwork,andthefactthatthewaterflowingthroughitcomesfromanotherregionwhere,ofcourse,thereisrain,andthatitismerelyintransit,andsoaffectsonlythebedonwhichitmoves。

Grantingthatthisistheeasternofthetwocontinentsweobserved,itevidentlycorrespondsmoreinshapetotheEasternhemisphereonearththantotheNewWorld,bothofwhicharesetfacingoneanother,sincebothdraintowardstheAtlanticOcean。

Buttheanalogyhereholdsalso,forthepastoutlinesoftheEasternhemispheredifferedradicallyfromwhattheyarenow。

TheMediterraneanSeawasformerlyoffargreaterextentthanweseeitto—day,andcoverednearlythewholeofnorthernAfricaandtheoldupheavedsea—bottomthatweseeintheDesertofSahara。Muchofthisgreatdesert,asweknow,hasaconsiderableelevation,thoughpartofitisstillbelowtheleveloftheMediterranean。

"Perhapsamorestrikingproofofthisthanaretheremainsoffishesandmarinelifethatarefoundthere,isthedearthofnaturalharboursandindentationsinAfrica"snortherncoast,whilejustopposite,insouthernEurope,thereareanynumber;

whichshowsthatnotenoughtimehaselapsedsinceAfrica"supheavalforliquidorcongealedwatertoproducethem。ManyofEurope"sbestharbours,andBoston"s,inourcountry,havebeendugoutbyslowice—actionintheoft—recurringGlacialperiods。

TheBlackandCaspianSeaswerelargerthanwenowfindthem;

whiletheAdriaticextendedmuchfartherintothecontinent,coveringmostofthecountrynowinthevalleyofthePo。InEuropethelandhas,ofcourse,risenalso,butsoslowlythattherivershavebeenabletokeeptheirchannelscutdown;proofoftheirabilitytoperformwhichfeatweseewhenanancientriverpassesthrougharidgeofhillsormountains。Theriverhaddoubtlessbeentherelongbeforethemountainsbegantorise,buttheirelevationwassogradualthattherateoftheriver"scuttingdownequalledorexceededtheircomingup;proofofwhichwehaveinthepatentfactthattheancientriver"scourseremainsunchanged,andisatrightanglestothemountainchain。

FromallofwhichweseethattheEasternhemisphere"screscenthollow——ofwhich,Itakeit,theMediterranean,Black,andCaspianSeadepressionsaretheremains——hasbeengraduallyfilledin,bytheelevationofthesea"sbottom,andtheextensionofdeltasfromthedetritalmatterbroughtfromthehighinteriorofthecontinentsbytherivers,orbythecombinedactionofthetwo。Now,sincetheGulfofMexicohasbeenconstantlygrowingsmaller,andtheMediterraneanisbeinginvadedbytheland,Ireasonthatsimilarcauseswillproducelikeeffectshere,andgivetoeachcontinentanareafargreaterthanourentireglobe。Thestormyoceanwebeholdinthewest,whichcorrespondstoourAtlantic,thoughitisfarmoreofamareclausuminthegeographicalsense,isalsodestinedtobecomeacalmandplacidinlandsea。Thereare,ofcourse,modificationsofandcheckstothelawstendingtoincreasethelandarea。Englandwasformerlyjoinedtothecontinent,thelandconnectingthetwohavingbeenratherwashedawaybythewavesandgreattidesthanbyanysinkingoftheEnglishChannel"sbottom,thewholeofwhichiscomparativelyshallow。

AnothercaseofthiskindisseeninCapeCodandtheislandsofMartha"sVineyardandNantucket,allofwhicharewashingawaysorapidlythattheywouldprobablydisappearbeforethenextGlacialperiod,werewenotengagedinpreventingitsrecurrence。

Thesedetachedislandsandsand—barsonceformedonelargeisland,whichatastillearliertimeundoubtedlywasjoinedtothemainland。Thesandsformingthedetachedmassesareinagreatprocessionalmarchtowardstheequator,butitistheresultsimplyofwindsandwaves,therebeingnoindicationofsubsidence。AlongthecoastofNewJerseyweseedenudationandsinkinggoingontogether,thewell—knownSUNKENFORESTbeinganinstanceofthelatter。TheborderofthecontinentproperalsoextendsmanymilesundertheoceanbeforereachingtheedgeoftheAtlanticbasin。Volcaniceruptionssometimesdemolishpartsofheadlandsandislands,thoughtheserecompenseusintheamountofmaterialbroughttothesurface,andintheincreaseddistancetheyenablewatertopenetratebyrelievingtheinteriorofpartofitsheat,foranylandtheymaydestroy。"

CHAPTERXI。

AJOVIANNIAGARA。

Fourdayslater,aftercrossingaridgeofmountainsthatthepressureontheaneroidbarometershowedtobeaboutthirty—twothousandfeethigh,andastretchofflatcountryafewmilesinwidth,theycametoagreatarmofthesea。Itwasaboutthirtymileswideatitsmouth,whichwasnarrowedliketheneckofabottle,andfartherinlandwasoveronehundredmilesacross,andthoughtheirglasses,theclearair,andtheplanet"ssizeenabledthemtoseenearlyfivehundredmiles,theycouldnotfinditsend。Intheshallowwateralongitsshores,andontheislandsrisingbutafewfeetabovethewaves,theysawallkindsofamphibiansandsea—monsters。Manyofthesewerealmosttheexactreproductioninlifeofthegiantplesiosaurs,dinosaurs,andelasmosaurs,whoseremainsarepreservedinthemuseumsonearth。Thereptilianbodiesoftheelasmosaurs,seventy—fivefeetinlength,withtheforkedtongues,distendedjawsandfangsofasnake,wereeasilytakenfortheoftendescribedbutprobablymythicalsea—serpent,aspartiallycoiledtheyoccasionallyraisedtheirheadstwelveorfifteenfeet。

"Maninhisnaturalstate,"saidCortlandt,"wouldhavebutsmallchanceofsurvivinglongamongsuchneighbours。Buckland,I

think,onceindulgedinthejeud"espritofsupposinganichthyosaurlecturingonthehumanskull。"Youwillatonceperceive,"saidthelecturer,"thattheskullbeforeusbelongedtooneofthelowerorderofanimals。Theteethareveryinsignificant,thepowerofthejawstrifling,andaltogetheritseemswonderfulhowthecreaturecouldhaveprocuredfood。"

Armedwithmodernweapons,andinthismachine,weare,ofcourse,superiortothemostpowerfulmonster;butitisnotlikelythat,hadmanbeensosurroundedduringthewholeofhisevolution,hecouldhavereachedhispresentplane。"

Notwithstandingthestrikingsimilarityofthesecreaturestotheirterrestrialcounterpartsthatexistedonearthduringitscorrespondingperiod,thereweresomeinterestingmodifications。

Theorgansoflocomotionintheamphibiansweremoredeveloped,whiletheeyesofallwerelarger,theformerbeingofcoursenecessitatedbythepowerofgravity,andthelatterbythegreaterdistancefromthesun。

"TheadaptabilityandeconomyofNature,"saidCortlandt,"havealwaysamazedme。InthetotalblacknessoftheKentuckyMammothCave,whereeyeswouldbeofnousetothefishes,ourcommonmotherhasgiventhemnone;whileifthereisanylight,thoughnotasmuchasweareaccustomedto,shemaybedependedupontorisetotheoccasionbyincreasingthesizeofthepupilandthepoweroftheeye。Inthedevelopmentoftheambulatorymusclesweagainseeherhandiwork,probablybroughtaboutthroughthe"survivalofthefittest。"Thefishesandthosewhollyimmersedneednoincreaseinpower,for,thoughtheyweighmorethantheywouldonearth,theweightofthewatertheydisplaceisincreasedatthesameratealso,andtheirbuoyancyremainsunchanged。Ifthedevelopmentoflifeheresocloselyfollowsitslinesonearth,withtheexceptionofcomparativelyslightmodifications,whichareexactlywhat,hadwestoppedtothink,weshouldhaveexpectedtofind,maywenotreasonablyaskwhethershewillnotcontinueontheselines,andintimeproducebeingslikeourselves,butwithmorepowerfulmusclesandeyescapableofseeingclearlywithlesslight？Reasoningbyanalogy,wecancometonootherconclusion,unlesstheiradventisanticipatedbythearrivalofready—madecolonistsfromthemoreadvancedearth,likeourselves。Inthatcaseman,bypursuingthesamedestructivemethodsthathehaspursuedinregardtomanyotherspecies,mayexterminatetheinterveninglinks,andsoarrestevolution。"

BeforeleavingDeepwatersBaytheysecuredapailofitswater,whichtheyfound,onexamination,containedafarlargerpercentageofsaltandsolidmaterialthantheoceansonearth,whileathermometerthattheyimmediatelyimmersedinitsoonregisteredeighty—fivedegreesFahrenheit;bothofwhichdiscoveriesconfirmedtheminwhattheyalreadyknew,namely,thatJupiterhadadvancedcomparativelylittlefromtheconditioninwhichthewateronthesurfaceishot,inwhichstatetheearthoncewas。

Theyweresoonbeyondtheestuaryatwhichtheyhadstoppedtostudytheformsoflifeandtomakethistest,andkeptonduenorthforseveraldays,occasionallyrisingabovetheair。Astheirfamiliaritywiththeirsurroundingsincreased,theymadenotesofseveralthings。Themountainscoveredfarmoreterritoryattheirbasesthantheterrestrialmountains,andtheywereinplacesveryruggedandshowedvastyawningchasms。Theywerealsowoodedfartheruptheirsides,andborebutlittlesnow;butsofarthetravellershadnotfoundthemmuchhigherthanthoseonearth,thegreatestaltitudebeingthethirty—twothousandfeetsouthofDeepwatersBay,andoneotherridgethatwasfortythousand;sothat,comparedwiththesizeoftheplanetanditscontinents,theyseemedquitesmall,andthecontinentsthemselveswerecomparativelylevel。Theyalsonotedthatspraywasblowninvastsheets,tilltheoceanformileswaswhiteasmilk。Thewindoftenattainedtornadostrength,andthewholesurfaceofthewater,aboutwhatseemedtobethestormcentre,frequentlymovedwithrapidityintheformoffoam。Yet,notwithstandingthis,thewaveswereneveraslargeasthosetowhichtheywereaccustomedonearth。Thistheyaccountedforveryeasilybythefactthat,whilewaterweighed2。55timesasmuchasonearth,thepressureofairwasbutlittlemorethanhalfasmuchagain,andconsequentlyitseffectonallbuttheverysurfaceoftheheavyliquidwascomparativelyslight。

"Gravityisausefulfactorhere,"observedCortlandt,astheymadeanoteofthis;"for,inadditiontogivingimmunityfromwaves,itismosteffectiveincheckingtheelevationofhighmountainsortable—landsinthehighlatitudes,whichweshalldoubtlessfindsufficientlycool,orevencold,whileintropicalregions,whichmightotherwisebetoohot,itinterfereswiththemleast,onaccountofbeingpartlyneutralizedbytherapidrotationwithwhichallfourofthemajorplanetsareblessed。"

Atsunrisethefollowingmorningtheysawtheywereapproachinganothergreatarmofthesea。Itwasoverathousandmileswideatitsmouth,and,hadnotthephotographsshowedthecontrary,theywouldhavethoughttheCallistohadreachedthenorthernendofthecontinent。Itextendedintothelandfifteenthousandmiles,and,onaccountoftheshapeofitsmouth,theycalleditFunnelBay。Risingtoaheight,theyflewacross,andcametoagreattable—landpeninsula,withachainofmountainsoneitherside。Thesouthernrangewassomethingover,andthenorthernsomethinglessthan,fivethousandfeetinheight,whilethetable—landbetweenslopedalmostimperceptiblytowardsthemiddle,inwhich,astheyexpected,theyfoundarivercomparedtowhichtheMississippiortheAmazonwouldbebutabrook。InhonourofthePresidentoftheTerrestrialAxisStraighteningCompany,theycalledthisgreatprojection,whichaveragedaboutfourthousandmilesacrossbytwelvethousandmileslong,BearwardenPeninsula。Theyalreadynoticedachangeinclimate;

thefernsandpalmsbecamefewer,andweresucceededbypines,whiletheairwasalsoagooddealcooler,whichwaseasilyaccountedforbytheiraltitude——thoughevenatthatheightitwasconsiderablydenserthanatsea—levelonearth——andbythefactthattheywerealreadynearlatitudethirty。

Theexposedpointsontheplateau,asalsothesummitsofthefirstmountainstheyhadseenbeforealighting,weredevoidofvegetation,scarcelysomuchasabladeofgrassbeingvisible。

Sincetheycouldnotaccountforthisbycold,theyconcludedthatthemostprobableexplanationlayinthetremendoushurricanesthat,producedbytheplanet"srapidrotation,frequentlysweptalongitssurface,liketheearth"strade—winds,butwithfarmoreviolence。Onreachingthenortherncoastofthepeninsulatheyincreasedtheirelevationandchangedtheircoursetonortheast,notcaringtoremainlongoverthegreatbodyofwater,whichtheynamedCortlandtBay。Thethousandsofmilesoffoamfastflewbeneaththem,thefirstthingattractingtheirattentionbeingachangeintheocean"scolour。IntheeasternshoreofCortlandtBaytheysoonobservedthemouthofariver,tenmilesacross,fromwhichthistintedwaterissuedinaflood。Onaccountofitscolour,whichremindedthemofastreamtheyknewsowell,theychristenedittheHarlem。

Believingthatanexpeditionupitsvalleymightrevealsomethingofinterest,theybegantheascent,remainingatanelevationofafewhundredfeet。Foraboutthreehundredmilestheyfollowedthisriver,whichhadbutfewbends,whileitssidesbecamemoreandmoreprecipitous,tillitflowedthroughacanonfourandahalfmilesacross。ThoughtheyknewfromthewidediscolorationofCortlandtBaythatthevolumeofwaterdischargedwastremendous,thestreamseldommovedatarateofmorethanfivemilesanhour,andforatimewasfreefromrocksandrapids,fromwhichtheyconcludedthatitmustbeverydeep。Halfanhourlatertheysawacloudofsteamormist,whichexpanded,andalmostobscuredtheskyastheyapproached。Nexttheyheardasoundlikedistantthunder,whichtheytookfortheprolongederuptionofsomegiantcrater,thoughtheyhadnotexpectedtofindonesofartowardstheinteriorofthecontinent。Presentlyitbecameonecontinuousroar,theechointhecanon,whosewallswereatthisplaceoversixhundredfeethigh,beingsimplydeafening,sothattheneardischargeoftheheaviestartillerywouldhavebeencompletelydrowned。

"Onewouldthinktheendoftheworldwasapproaching！"shoutedCortlandtthroughhishands。

"Look！"Bearwardenroaredback,"thewindisscatteringthemist。"

Ashespoke,thevapourycurtainwasdrawnaside,revealingawaterfallofsuchvastproportionsastodwarfcompletelyanythingtheyhadeverseenorevenimagined。Asomewhatopenhorseshoelip,threeandahalfmilesstraightacrossandoverfourmilesfollowingthelineofthecurve,dischargedasheetofwaterfortyfeetthickattheedgeintoanabysssixhundredfeetbelow。Twoislandsonthebrinkdividedthissheetofliquidintothreenearlyequalparts,whilemyriadsofrainbowshoveredinthecloudsofspray。Twothingsespeciallystrucktheobservers:thewatermadebutlittlecurveorsweeponpassingovertheedge,andthenrusheddowntotheabyssatalmostlightningspeed,shiveringitselftoinfinitesimalparticlesonstrikinganyrockorprojectionattheside。Itsbehaviourwas,ofcourse,duetoitsweight,andtothefactthatonJupiterbodiesfall40。98feetthefirstsecond,insteadofsixteenfeet,asonearth,andatcorrespondinglyincreasingspeed。

Findingthattheywerebeingrapidlydazedandstunnedbythenoise,thetravellerscausedtheCallistotoriserapidly,andweresoonsurveyingthesuperbsightfromaconsiderableelevation。Theirmindscouldgraspbutslowlythefullmeaningandtitanicpowerofwhattheysaw,andnoteventhevastfallsintheirnearnesscouldmaketheirsignificanceclear。Herewasasheetofwaterthreeandahalfmileswide,averagingfortyfeetindepth,movingatarapidratetowardsasheerfallofsixhundredfeet。Theyfelt,astheygazedatit,thatthepowerofthatwaterfallwouldturnbackwardeveryengineanddynamoontheearth,anditseemedasifitmightalmostputoutthefiresofthesun。Yetitwasbutanillustrationoftheactionofthesolarorbexertedonavastareaofocean,thevapourintheformofrainbeingafterwardsturnedintothesecomparativelynarrowlimitsbythetopographyofthecontinent。Comparedwiththis,Niagara,withitsdescentoflessthantwohundredfeet,anditsrelativelysmallflowofwater,wouldbebutarivulet,oratbestarapidstream。Reluctantlyleavingthefascinatingspectacle,theypursuedtheirexplorationalongtheriverabovethefalls。Forthefirstfewmilesthesurfaceofthewaterwasnearthatoftheland;therewereoccasionalrapids,butfewrocks,andthefoamingtorrentmovedatgreatspeed,theredsandstonebanksoftheriverbeingaspolishedasthoughtheyhadbeenwaxed。Afterawhiletheobstructionsdisappeared,butthewatercontinuedtorushandsurgealongataspeedoftenortwelvemilesanhour,sothatitwouldbeeasilynavigableonlyforlogsorobjectsmovinginonedirection。Thesurfaceoftheriverwassoononanaveragefiftyfeetbelowtheedgeofthebanks,thisdepressionbeingoneresultofthewater"srapidmotionandweight,whichfacilitatedthecarvingofitschannel。

Whentheyhadfolloweduptheriveraboutsixtymilestowardsitssourcetheycameuponwhatatfirsthadtheappearanceofanocean。Theyknew,however,fromitselevation,andthefloodcomingfromit,thatthewatermustbefresh,astheysoonfounditwas。Thislakewasaboutthreehundredmileswide,andstretchedfromnortheasttosouthwest。Therewasrollinglandwithhillsaboutitsshores,andthefoliageonthebankswasabeautifulshadeofbluishpurpleinsteadoftheterrestrialubiquitousgreen。

Whennearthegreatlake"supperend,theypassedthemouthofariverontheirleftside,which,fromitsvolume,theyconcludedmustbetheprincipalsource,andthereforetheydeterminedtotraceit。Theyfoundittobeamostbeautifulstream,averagingtwoandahalfmilesinwidth,evidentlyverydeep,andwithafull,steadycurrent。Afterproceedingforseveralhours,theyfoundthatthegeneralplaciditygrewless,thesmoothsurfaceoccasionallybecameruffledbyprojectingrocksandrapids,andthebanksrosetillthevoyagersagainfoundthemselvesinaravineorcanon。