第16章

"Letusnowturntothebrightpicture——thesoulthathasweatheredthestormsoflifeandhasreachedthehavenofrest。

Thestruggles,temptations,andtrialsovercome,havedonetheirworkofrefiningwitharapiditythatcouldnothavebeenequalledinanyotherway,andthough,perhaps,veryimperfectstill,thejourneyiseveron。Therewardistenfold,yetinproportiontowhatthissoulhasdone,forweknowthattheservantwhobestusedhistentalentswasmaderulerovertencities,whilehethatincreasedhisfivetalentsbyfivereceivedfive;andtheSaviourinwhomhetrusted,bywhoseaidhemadehisfight,standsreadytoreceivehim,saying,"EnterthouintothejoyofthyLord。"

"Asthedark,earthlybackgroundrecedes,thecloudsbreakandthegloriouslightappears,thecontrastheighteningtheever—unfoldingandincreasingdelights,whichareasgreatastherecipientshavepowertoenjoy,sincetheserighteoussoulsreceivetheirrewardsinproportiontotheweightofthecrossesthattheyhaveborneintherightspirit。ThesesoulsareajoytotheirCreator,andaretheheirsofHiminheaven。Theceaseless,sleeplessactivitythatmustobtaininbothparadiseandhades,andthatmustmaketheheartsofthegodlessgrowfaintatthecontemplation,isalsoaboundlesspromisetothosewhohaveHimwhoisallinall。

"WhereisnowthySaviour？whereisnowthyGod？theunjustmanhasaskedinhisheartwhenhesawhisjustneighbourstrugglingandunsuccessful。Boththerighteousandtheunrighteousmanaredead。TheonehasfoundhisSaviour,theotherisyearlylosingGod。Whatisthesufferingofthepresentmomentarytime,easedasitisbyGod"smercyandpresence,comparedwiththegloriesthatawaitus？Whatwoulditbeifourlivesherewerefilledwithnothingelse,asyeknowthatyourlabourisnotvainintheLord？Timeandeternity——thefiniteandtheinfinite。Deathwas,indeed,adeliverer,andthesunsetofthebodyisthesunriseofthesoul。"

Thepriestheldhimselferectasasoldierwhiledeliveringthissermon,makingthegreatcathedralringwithhisearnestandsolemnvoice,whileAyrault,asaspirit,sawhowabsolutelyhemeantandbelievedeverywordthathesaid。

Nearlyallthemembersofthecongregationweremoved——somemore,somelessthantheyappeared。Afterthebenedictiontheyrapidlydispersed,carryingintheirheartsthegermshehadsown;butwhetherthesewouldbearfruitorwither,timealonecouldshow。

AyraulthadnoticedSylvia"sfatherandmotherinchurch,butSylviaherselfwasnotthere,andhewasdistressedtothinkshemightbeill。

"Why,"ponderedAyrault,"amIsounhappy？Iwasbaptized,confirmed,andhavetakenthesacrament。Ihavealwayshadanunshakenfaith,and,thoughoftenunsuccessful,havestriventoobeymyconscience。ThespiritsalsoonSaturnkeptsayingI

shouldbehappy。Now,didthismeanitwasincumbentuponmetorejoice,becauseofsomeblessingIalreadyhad,anddidnotappreciate,ordidtheirprescienceshowthemsomeprospectivehappinessIwastoenjoy？ThevisionsalsoofViolet,theangel,andthelily,whichIbelieved,andstillbelieve,werenomereemptyfancies,shouldhavegivenmethemostunspeakablejoy。Itmaybeamistaketoapplyearthlylogictoheavenlythings,butthefundamentallawsofsciencecannotchange。

"WhyamIsounhappy？"hecontinued,returningtohisoriginalquestion。"Thevisionsgavepromiseofspecialgrace,perhapssomespecialfavour。True,myprayertoseeSylviawasheard,but,consideringthesacrifice,thishasbeennoblessing。Therequestcannothavebeenwronginitself,andasforthemanner,therewasnoarroganceinmyheart。Iaskedasamortal,asamanofbutfiniteunderstanding,forwhatconcernedmemost。

Why,ohwhy,sowretched？"

CHAPTERXIV。

HICILLEJACET。

Atdaybreakthethunder—showerpassedoff,butwasfollowedbyacold,drenchingrain。SupposingAyraulthadremainedintheCallisto,BearwardenandCortlandtdidnotfeelanxious,and,notwishingtobewetthrough,remainedinthecave,keepingupagoodfirewiththewoodtheyhadcollected。Towardseveningacoldwindcameup,and,thinkingthismightcleartheair,theyventuredout,but,findingthegroundsaturated,andthattherainwasagainbeginningtofall,theyreturnedtoshelter,preparedadinnerofcannedmeat,andmadethemselvesascomfortableaspossibleforthenight。

"Iamsurprised,"saidCortlandt,"thatDickdidnottrytoreturntous,sincehehadthemackintoshes。"

"Idaresayhedidtry,"repliedBearwarden,"butfindingthecourseinundated,andknowingweshouldnotneedthemackintoshesifweremainedundercover,decidedtoputback。TheCallistois,ofcourse,assafeasachurch。"

"Ihope,"saidCortlandt,"noharmhascometohimontheway。

Itwillbeaweightoffmymindtoseehimsafelywithus。"

"Shouldhenotturnupinthemorning,"repliedBearwarden,"wemustbeginasearchforhimbrightandearly。"

Makingupthefireasneartheentranceofthecaveastheycouldfindadryplace,sothatAyraultshouldseeitifheattemptedtoreturnduringthenight,theypiledonwood,andtalkedoftheirrecentexperiences。

"HoweverunwillingIwas,"saidCortlandt,"tobelievemysenses,whichIfeltweremisleadingme,Icannolongerdoubttherealityofthatspiritbishop,orthetruthofwhatbesays。

Whenyoulookatthequestiondispassionately,itiswhatyoumightlogicallyexpect。Inmydesiretodisprovewhatistoussupernatural,Itriedtocreatementallyasystemthatwouldbeasubstitutefortheonehedescribed,butcouldevolvenothingthatsoperfectlyfilledtherequirements,orthatwassosimple。

Nothingseemsmorenaturalthanthatman,havingbeenevolvedfromstone,shouldcontinuehisascenttillhediscardsmaterialaltogether。Themetamorphismismorestrikinginthefirstchangethaninthesecond。Grantedthatthesoulisimmaterial,andthatitleavesthebodyafterdeath,whatistheretokeepitonearth？Gravitationcannotaffectit。Whatismorelikelythanthatitisleftbehindbytheearthinitsorbit,orthatitcontinuesitsforwardmotion,butinastraightline,till,reachingthepathsofthegreaterplanets,itisdrawntothembysomeaffinityorattractionthattheearthdoesnotpossess,andthatthesoulsheldinthatmannerremainhereonprobation,developinglikeyounganimalsorchildren,till,bygraduallyacquiredpower,resultingfromtheirwills,theyareabletoriseagainintospace,torevisittheearth,andintimetoexploretheuniverse？Itmighteasilycomeaboutthat,bysomeexplainablesympathy,theinfantgoodsoulsaredrawntothisplanet,whilethecondemnedpassontoCassandra,whichholdsthembysomepropertypeculiartoitself,untilperhapsthey,too,byvirtueoftheirwills,acquirenewpower,unlessinvolutionsetsinandtheylosewhattheyhave。Thesimplicityofthethingiswhatsurprisesmenow,andthatforagesphilosophershavebeenrackingtheirbrainswitheveryconceivablefancy,when,bysimplyextendingandfollowingnaturallaws,theycoulddiscernthewhole。"

"Itistheoldstory,"saidBearwarden,"ofColumbusandtheegg。

Schopenhouerandhispredecessorsappeartohavetriedeveryideabuttherightone,andevenDarwinandHuxleyfellshortintheirreasoning,becausetheytriedtoobtainmoreorlessthanfourbyputtingtwowithtwo。"

Thustheysatandtalkedwhilethenightworeon。Neitherthoughtofsleeping,hopingallthewhilethatAyraultmightwalkinashehadthenightbefore。

Atlastthedawnbegantotinttheeast,andthegrowinglightshowedthemthatthestormhadpassed。TheupperstrataofSaturn"satmospherebeingfilledwithinfinitesimalparticlesofdust,asaresultofitsnumerousvolcanoes,theconditionswerehighlyfavourabletobeautifulsunrisesandsunsets。Sooncolouredstreaksextendedfarintothesky,andthoughtheyknewthatwhenthesun"sdiscappeareditwouldseemsmall,itfilledthealmostboundlesseasternhorizonwiththemostvariegatedandgorgeoushues。

Turningawayfromthewelcomesight——fortheirmindswereillatease——theyfoundthelightstrongenoughfortheirsearchtobegin。Writingonasheetofpaper,inalargehand,"HavegonetotheCallistotolookforyou;shallafterwardsreturnhere,"

theypinnedthisinaconspicuousplaceandsetoutduewest,keepingaboutahundredyardsapart。Thegroundwaswetandslippery,butoverheadallwasclear,andthesunsoonshonebrightly。Lookingtorightandleft,andoccasionallyshoutinganddischargingtheirrevolvers,theywentonforhalfanhour。

"Ihavehistracks,"calledBearwarden,andCortlandthastenedtojoinhim。

Inthesoftground,sureenough,theysawAyrault"sfootprints,and,fromthedistancebetweenthem,concludedthathemusthavebeenrunningorwalkingveryfast;buttherainhadwasheddowntheedgesoftheincision。Thetrailascendedagentleslope,wheretheylostit;butonreachingthesummittheysawitagainwiththefeettogether,asthoughAyraulthadpaused,andaboutitweremanyotherimpressionswiththefeetturnedin,asifthewalkersorstandershadsurroundedAyrault,whowasinthecentre。

"Ihope,"saidCortlandt,"thesearenothingmorethanthefootprintswehaveseenformedaboutourselves。"

"See,"saidBearwarden,"Dick"strailgoeson,andtheothersvanish。TheycannothavebeenmadebysavagesorIndians,fortheyseemtohavehadweightonlywhilestanding。"

Theythenresumedtheirmarch,firingarevolvershotatintervalsofaminute。Suddenlytheycameuponatall,straighttree,uprootedbythewindandlyingdiagonallyacrosstheirpath。Followingwiththeireyesthedirectioninwhichitlay,theysawalarge,hollowtrunk,withthebarkstrippedoff,andcharredasifstruckbylightning。Obligedtopassnearthisbytheuprootedtree—whosethicktrunk,upheldbythebranchesatthehead,layraisedabouttwofeetfromtheground——bothsearchersgaveastart,andstoodstillasifpetrified。Insidethegreattrunktheysawahead,and,onlookingmoreclosely,descriedAyrault"sbody。Graspingitbythearms,theydrewitout。Thefacewaspaleandthelimbswerestiff。InstantlyCortlandtunfastenedthecollar,whileBearwardenappliedaflasktothelips。Buttheysoonfoundthattheireffortswerevain。

"Thespirit！"ejaculatedCortlandt。"Dickmaybeinatrance,inwhichcasehecanhelpus。Letuswillhardandlong。"

Accordingly,theythrewthemselvesontheirfaces,closingtheireyes,thatnothingmightdistracttheirconcentration。Minutes,whichseemedlikeages,passed,andtherewasnoresponse。

"Now,"saidBearwarden,"willtogether,hard。"

Suddenlythestillnesswasbrokenbythespirit"svoice,whichsaid:

"Ifeltmorethanonemindcalling,buttheeffectwassoslightIthoughtfirstIwasmistaken。Iwillhelpyouinwhatyouwant,fortheyoungmanisnotdead,neitherisheinjured。"

Sayingwhich,hestretchedhimselfuponAyrault,workedhislungsartificially,andwilledwithanintensitytheobserverscouldfeelwheretheystood。QuicklythecolourreturnedtoAyrault"scheeks,andwiththespirit"sassistancehesatupandleanedagainstthetreethathadprotectedhimfromthestorm。

"Yourpromisewasrealized,"hesaid,addressingthespirit。"I

haveseenwhatIshallneverforget,andlesttheanguish——thevisionofwhichIsaw——cometrue,letusreturntotheearth,andnotleaveittillIhavetastedinrealitythejoysthatinthespiritIseemedtohavemissed。Ihaveoftenlongedinthislifetobeinthespirit,butneverknewwhatlongingwas,tillI

experienceditasaspirit,tobeoncemoreintheflesh。"

"YouseethemercyofGod,"saidthespirit,"innotordinarilyallowingthespiritsofthedepartedtorevisitearthuntiltheyareprepared——thatis,untiltheyaresufficientlyadvancedtogothereunaided——bywhichtimetheyhavecometounderstandthewisdomofGod"slaws。Inyourcasethelimitinglawswerepartiallysuspended,sothatyouwereabletoreturnatonce,withmanyofthefacultiesandsensesofspirits,butwithouttheiraccumulatedexperience。Itspeakswellforyourstateofpreparationthat,withouthavinghadthosedisguisedblessings,illnessormisfortune,youwerenotutterlycrushedbywhatyousawwhentemporarilyreleased。Whileinthetranceyouwerenotinhell,butexperiencedthefeelingsthatallmortalswouldifallowedtoreturnimmediately。Thusnolovercanreturntoearthtillhisfianceehasjoinedhimhere,ortill,perceivingthebenevolenceofGod"sways,heisnotdistressedatwhathesees,andhasthecompanionshipofahostofkindredspirits。

"Thespiritsyousawinthecemeterywereindeedinhell,buthadbecomesufficientlydevelopedtorevisittheearth,thoughdoingsodidnotrelievetheirdistress;forneitherthedevelopmentoftheirsenses,whichintensifiestheircapacityforremorseandregret,northeirinvestigationsintoGod"sboundlessmercies,whichtheyhavedeliberatelythrownaway,cancomfortthem。

"SomeofyourancestorsareonCassandra,andothersareinpurgatoryhere。Thoughafewfaintlyfeltyourprayer,nonewereabletoreturnandanswerbesidetheirgraves。ItwasatyourrequestandprayerthatHefreedyourspirit,butyouseehowunhappyitmadeyou。"

"Isee,"repliedAyrault,"thatnomanshouldwishtoanticipatetheworkingsoftheAlmighty,althoughIhavebeenunspeakablyblessedinthatHemadeanexception——ifImaysocallit——inmyfavour,since,inadditiontorevealingtheresponsibilitiesoflife,ithasshownmetheinestimablevalueandloyaltyofwoman"slove。Ifear,however,thatmyreturntoearthgreatlydistressedthewatereroftheflowersyoushowedme。"

"Shealreadysleeps,"repliedthespirit,"andIhavecomfortedherbyadreaminwhichsheseesthatyouarewell。"

"Whenshallwestart？"askedBearwarden。

"Assoonasyoucangetready,"repliedAyrault。"Iwouldnotriskrunningshortofenoughcurrenttogeneratetheapergyneededtogetusback。IdaresaywhenIhavebeenonearthafewyears,andhavedonesomethingforthegoodofmysoul——which,asItakeit,canbeaccomplishedaswellbyadvancingscienceasinanyotherway——IshallpineforanotherjourneyinspaceasInowdotoreturn。"

"HowIwishIwereengaged,"saidBearwarden,glancingatCortlandt,andoverjoyedatAyrault"srecovery。

Accordingly,theyresumedtheirmarchinthedirectioninwhichtheyhadbeengoingwhentheyfoundAyrault,andweresoonbesidetheCallisto。Cortlandtworkedthecombinationlockofthelowerentrance,throughwhichtheycrawled。Goingtothesecondstory,theyopenedalargewindowandletdownaladder,onwhichthespiritascendedattheirinvitation。

BearwardenandAyraultimmediatelysetaboutcombiningthechemicalsthatweretoproducetheforcenecessarytorepelthemfromSaturn。Bubblesofhydrogenweregivenofffromtheleadandzincplates,andtheviscousprimarybatteriesquicklyhadthewirespassingthroughavacuumatawhiteheat。

"Iseeyouarenearlyreadytostart,"saidthespirit,"soI

mustsayfarewell。"

"Willyounotcomewithus？"askedAyrault。

"No,"repliedthespirit。"Idonotwishtobeawayaslongasitwilltakeyoutoreachtheearth。TheCallisto"satmospherecouldnotabsorbmybody,sothat,shouldIleaveyoubeforeyourarrival,youwouldbeburdenedwithacorpse。Imayvisityouinthespirit,thoughthedesireandeffortforcommunionwithspirits,tobeofmostgood,mustneedscomefromtheearth。Erelong,myintuitiontellsme,weshallmeetagain。

"Thevisionofyourowngrave,"hecontinued,addressingCortlandt,"maynotcometrueformanyyears,buthoweverlongyourlivesmaybe,accordingtoearthlyreckoning,rememberthatwhentheyarepasttheywillseemtohavebeenhardlymorethanamoment,fortheyarethepersonificationoffrailtyandevanescence。"

Hehelduphishandsandblessedthem;andthenrepeating,"Farewellandahappyreturn！"descendedashehadcomeup。

Theairwasfilledwithmistyshadows,andthepulsatinghearts,luminousbrains,andcentresofspiritualactivityquiveredwithmotion。Theysurroundedtheincarnatespiritofthebishopandsetupthesoft,musicalhumthetravellershadheardsooftensincetheirarrivalonSaturn。

"Inowunderstand,"thoughtAyrault,"whythespiritsImetkeptrepeatingthatIshouldbehappy。TheyperceivedIwastobetranslated,andthoughtheydoubtlessknewwhatsufferingitwouldcause,theyalsoknewIshouldbeawakenedtoasenseofgreatrealities,ofwhichIunderstoodbutlittle。"

Theydrewuptheladderandturnedonthecurrent,andtheCallistoslowlybegantorise,whilethethreefriendscrowdedthewindow。

"Good—bye！"calledthespirit"spleasantvoice,towhichthemenrepliedinchorus。

Thesunhadsetonthesurfaceoftheplanetwhiletheymadetheirpreparations;butastheCallistorosehigher,itseemedtoriseagain,makingthesidesoftheircarshinelikesilver,and,carefullyclosingthetwoopenwindows,theywatchedthefast—recedingworld,somanytimeslargerandmoremagnificentthantheirown。

CHAPTERXV。

MOTHEREARTH。

"Thereissomethingsad,"saidCortlandt,"abouttheendofeverything,butIammoresorrytoleaveSaturnthanIhaveeverbeenintakingleaveofanyotherplace。"

Whenbeyondthelimitsoftheatmospheretheyappliedthefullcurrent,andweresoononcemorecleavingtheetheratcometaryspeed,theirmotiontowardsthesunbeingaidedbythatgreatbodyitself。

Theyquicklypassedbeyondtheouteredgeofthevastsilveryrings,andthencrossedoneafteranothertheorbitsofthemoons,fromthelastofwhich,Iapetus,theyobtainedtheirfinalcourseinthedirectionoftheearth。Theyhadanacutefeelingofhomesicknessforthemysteriousplanetonwhich,whileyetmortal,theyhadfoundparadise,andhadcommunedwithspiritsasnomodernmeneverdid。

Withoutdeviatingfromtheiralmoststraightline,theypassedwithinamillionmilesofJupiter,whichhadgainedinitssmallerorbitonSaturn,andafewdayslatercrossedthetrackofMars。

Astheearthhadcompletednearlyhalfarevolutioninitsorbitsincetheirdeparture,theyhereturnedsomewhattotherightbyattractingtheruddyplanet,inordertoavoidpassingtoonearthesun。

"Onsomefutureexpedition,"saidAyrault,"andwhenwehaveasupplyofblueglasses,wecantakeatriptoVenus,ifwecanfindapossibleseasoninheryear。Comparedwiththisjourney,itwouldbeonlylikegoingroundtheblock。"

Twodayslatertheyhadroundedthesun,andlaidtheircourseinpursuitoftheearth。

Thattheastronomersinthedarkhemispherewereattheirpostsandsawthem,wasevident;forabrilliantbeamoflightagainflashedforth,thistimefromapointalittlesouthofthearcticcircle,andaftershiningoneminute,telegraphedthismessage:"Rejoicedtoseeyouagain。Hopeallarewell。"

Sincetheywerenotsufficientlynearthemoon"sshadow,theydirectedtheirlight—beamintotheirown,whichtrailedoffononeside,andanswered:"Allwell,thankyou。Havewonderfulthingstorelate。"

Themenatthetelescopesthen,asbefore,readthemessage,andtelephonedthelightthisnextquestion:"Whenareyoucomingdown,thatwemaynotifythenewspapers？"

"Wewishonemoresightoftheearthfromthisheight,bydaylight。Wearenowswingingtogetbetweenitandthesun。"

"WehaveerectedamonumentinVanCortlandtPark,andengraveduponit,"AtthisplaceJamesBearwarden,HenryChelmsfordCortlandt,andRichardRokebyAyraultleftearth,December21,A。

D。2000,tovisitJupiter。""

"Addtoit,"Theyreturnedonthe10thofthefollowingJune。""

SoontheCallistocamenearlybetweentheearthandthesun,whentheastronomerscouldseeitonlythroughdarkenedglasses,anditappearedalmostasacrescent。Thesightthetravellersthenbeheldwassuperb。Itwasabout11A。M。inLondon,andEuropewasspreadbeforethemlikeamap。Allitspeninsulasandislands,enclosedblueseas,andbayscameoutinclearrelief。

GraduallyRussia,Germany,France,theBritishIsles,andSpainmovedtowardsthehorizon,asingrandprocession,andatthesametimetheWesternhemisphereappeared。Thehourofdayatthelongitudeabovewhichtheyhungwasaboutthesameaswhentheysetout,butthesunshonefarmoredirectlyupontheNorthernhemispherethanthen,andinsteadofbleakDecember,thiswastheleafymonthofJune。

Theywereloathtoendthelovelyscene,andwouldfainhaveremainedwheretheywerewhiletheearthrevolvedagain;but,rememberingthattheirfriendsmustbythistimebewaiting,theyshutofftherepulsionfromtheearth。

"Weneednotapplytheapergytotheearthuntilquitenear,"

saidAyrault,"sinceagreatpartofthetopspeedwillbetakenoffbytheresistanceoftheatmosphere,especiallyaswegoinbasefirst。Wehaveonlytokeepasufficientlystrongrepulsiononthedometopreventourturningover,andtoseethatourspeedisnotgreatenoughtoheatthecar。"

Whenaboutfiftymilesfromthesurfacetheyfelttheexpectedcheck,andconcludedtheyhadreachedtheupperlimitsoftheatmosphere。Andthisincreased,notwithstandingthedecreaseintheirspeed,showinghowquicklytheairbecamedense。

WhenaboutamilefromtheearththeyhadtheCallistowellinhand,andallowedittodescendslowly。Thegroundwasalreadyblackwithpeople,who,havinglearnedwheretheCallistowastotouch,hadhastenedtoVanCortlandtPark。

"Iamoverjoyedtoseeyou,"saidSylvia,whensheandAyraultmet。"Ihadthemostdreadfulpresentimentthatsomethinghadgonewrongwithyou。OneafternoonandeveningIwassoperplexed,andduringthenighthadaseriesofnightmaresthatI

shallneverforget。Ireallybelievedyouwerenearme,butyournatureseemedtohavechanged,for,insteadofitsmakingmehappy,Iwasfrightfullydistressed。ThenextdayIwasveryill,andunabletogetup;butduringthemorningIfellasleepandhadanotherdream,whichwasintenselyrealisticandmademebelieve——yes,convincedme——thatyouwerewell。AfterthatdreamIsoonrecovered;butoh,theanguishofthefirst！"

Ayraultdidnottellherthenthathehadbeennearher,andofhisunspeakablesuffering,ofwhichhershadbeenbuttheecho。

Threeweekslateraclergymantiedtheknotthatwastounitethemforever。

WhileSylviaandAyraultwerestandinguptoreceivethecongratulationsoftheirfriends,Bearwarden,inshakinghishand,said:

"Remember,wehavebeentoneitherUranus,norNeptune,norCassandra,whichmaybeasinterestingasanythingwehaveseen。

Shouldyouwanttotakeanothertrip,countmeasyourhumbleservant。"AndCortlandt,followingbehindhim,saidthesamething。

Shortlyafterthis,Sylviawentup—stairstochangeherdress,andwhenshecamedownsheandAyraultsetoutontheirjourneytogetherthroughlife,amidachorusofcheersandashowerofrice。

CortlandtthenreturnedtohisdepartmentatWashington,andBearwardenresumedhisdutieswiththeTerrestrialAxisStraighteningCompany,inthepresidentialchair。