a journey in other worlds-第19章
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it flashed back： 〃Got your message perfectly。 Wish you greatest
luck。 The T。 A。 S。 Co。 has decked the Callisto's pedestal with
flowers； and has ordered a tablet set up on the site to
commemorate your celestial journey。〃
At that moment the shadow swept by； and they were in the full
blaze of cloudless day。 The change was so great that for a
moment they were obliged to close their eyes。 The polished sides
of the Callisto shone so brightly that they knew they were easily
seen。 The power temporarily diverted in sending them the message
then returned to the work of draining the Arctic Ocean； which； as
the north pole was now returning to the sun； was the thing to do；
and the travellers resumed their study of the heavenly bodies。
CHAPTER II。
SPACE AND MARS。
Never before had the travellers observed the stars and planets
under such favourable conditions。 No air or clouds intervened；
and as the Callisto did not revolve on its axis there was no
necessity for changing the direction of the glasses。 After an
hour of this interesting work； however； as it was already late at
the longitude they had left on earth； and as they knew they had
many days in space before them； they prepared to go to bed。 When
ready； they had only to pull down the shades； for； as apergy was
not applied to them； but only to the Callisto； they still looked
upon the floor as down； and closed the heavy curtains to have
night or darkness。 They found that the side of the Callisto
turned constantly towards the sun was becoming very warm； the
double…toughened glass windows making it like a greenhouse； but
they consoled themselves with the thought that the sun's power on
them was hourly becoming less； and they felt sure the double
walls and thick upholstery would protect them almost anywhere
within the solar system from the intense cold of space。
〃We could easily have arranged；〃 said Ayrault； for night and day
on alternate sides of the Callisto by having strips of metal
arranged spirally on the outside as on the end of an arrow。
These would have started us turning as slowly as we like； since
we passed through the atmosphere at a comparatively low rate of
speed。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃the motion； however slow； would
have made us dizzy。 It would be confusing to see the heavens
turning about us； and it would interfere with using the glasses。〃
The base and one side of the Callisto had constant sunshine；
while the other side and the dome were in the blackest night。
This dome； on account of its shape； sky windows； and the
completeness with which it could be isolated； was an ideal
observatory； and there was seldom a time during their waking
hours for the rest of the journey when it was not occupied by
one； two； or all the observers。
〃There is something marvellous；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃about the
condition of space。 Its absolute cold is appalling； apparently
because there is nothing to absorb heat； yet we find the base of
this material projectile uncomfortably warm； though； should we
expose a thermometer in the shade in front； we know it would show
a temperature of three hundred to four hundred degrees below
zerowere the instrument capable of recording it。〃
Artificial darkness having been obtained； the travellers were
soon asleep； Bearwarden's dreams being regaled with thoughts of
his company's triumph； Ayrault's； naturally； with visions of
Sylvia； while Cortlandt frequently started up； thinking he had
already made some great astronomical discovery。
About 9 A。 M。； according to seventy…fifth meridian time； the
explorers awoke feeling greatly refreshed。 The tank in which the
liquefied oxygen was kept automatically gave off its gas so
evenly that the air remained normal； while the lime contained in
cups absorbed the carbon dioxide as fast as they exhaled it。
They had darkened those windows through which the sun was
actually pouring； for； on account of the emptiness of the
surrounding ether and consequent absence of diffusion of light；
nothing but the inky blackness of space and the bright stars
looked in at the rest。 On raising the shades they got an idea of
their speed。 A small crescent； smaller than the familiar moon；
accompanied by one still tinier； was all that could be seen of
the earth and its satellite。
〃We must；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃be moving at the rate of nearly a
million miles an hour； from the way we have travelled。〃
〃We must be doing fully a million；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃for by
this time we are pretty well in motion； having got a tremendous
start when so near the moon； with it and the earth in line。〃
By steering straight for Jupiter； instead of for the place it
would occupy ten days later； they knew they would swing past； for
the giant planet； being in rapid motion； would advance； but they
did not object to this； since it would give them a chance to
examine their new world in case they wished to do so before
alighting； while； if they preferred to land at once； they could
easily change their course by means of the moons； the fourth；
from which their car was named； being the one that they knew
would be of most use。 Their tremendous speed showed them they
should have time for exploration on their arrival； and that they
would reach their destination sooner than they had expected。 The
apergetic force being applied； as we have seen； only to the
Callisto； just as power in starting is exerted on a carriage or
railway car and only through it to the passengers； Ayrault and
his companions had no unusual sensation except loss of weight；
for； when they were so far from the earth； its attraction was
very slight； and no other planet was near enough to take its
place。 After breakfast； wishing to reach the dome； and realizing
that it would be unnecessary to climb； each in turn gave a slight
spring and was obliged to put up his hands to avoid striking the
roof。 In the cool quiet of the dark dome it was difficult to
believe that only twenty feet away the sun was shining with such
intensity upon the metal base as to make it too hot on the inside
to touch without gloves。
The first thing that attracted their attention was the size and
brilliance of Mars。 Although this red planet was over forty
million miles from the earth when they started； they calculated
that it was less than thirty million miles from them now； or five
millions nearer than it had ever been to them before。 This
reduction in distance； and the clearness of the void through
which they saw it； made it a splendid sight； its disk showing
clearly。 From hour to hour its size and brightness increased；
till towards evening it looked like a small； full moon； the sun
shining squarely upon it。 They calculated that on the course
they were moving they should pass about nine hundred thousand
miles to the right or behind it； since it was moving towards
their left。 They were interested to see what effect the mass of
Mars would have on the Callisto； and saw here a chance of still
further increasing their speed。 Notwithstanding its tremendous
rate； they expected to see the Callisto swerve from its straight
line and move towards Mars； whose orbital speed of nine hundred
miles a minute they thought would take it out of the Callisto's
way； so that no actual collision would occur even if their
air…ship were left to her own devices。
Towards evening they noticed through their glasses that several
apparently island peaks in the southern hemisphere； which was
turned towards them； became white； from which they concluded that
a snow…storm was in progress。 The south polar region was also
markedly glaciated； though the icecap was not as extensive as
either of those at the poles of the earth。
〃As the Martian winters must be fully as severe as ours；〃 said
Cortlandt； 〃on account of their length； the planet's distance
from the sun； and the twenty…seven and a half degrees inclination
of its axis； we can account for the smallness of its ice…caps
only by the fact that its oceans cover but one fourth of its
surface instead of three quarters； as on the earth； and there is
consequently a sm
