第9章

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。