第11章

"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。"