a journey in other worlds-第23章
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a result of that planet's size being considerably less than the
usual load carried by the Roman soldier。〃
〃I do not imagine；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃we should long be troubled
by gravitation without our apergetic outfits even on Jupiter；
for； though our weight will be more than doubled； we can take off
one quarter of the whole by remaining near the equator； their
rapid rotation having apparently been given providentially to all
the large planets。 Nature will adapt herself to this change； as
to all others； very readily。 Although the reclamation of the
vast areas of the North American Arctic Archipelago； Alaska；
Siberia； and Antarctic Wilkes Land； from the death…grip of the
ice in which they have been held will relieve the pressure of
population for another century； at the end of that time it will
surely be felt again； it is therefore a consolation to feel that
the mighty planets Jupiter and Saturn； which we are coming to
look upon as our heritage； will not crush the life out of any
human beings by their own weight that may alight upon them。〃
Before going to bed that evening they decided to be up early the
next day； to study Jupiter； which was already a brilliant object。
The following morning； on awakening； they went at once to their
observatory； and found that Jupiter's disk was plainly visible to
the naked eye； and before night it seemed as large as the full
moon。
They then prepared to check the Callisto's headlong speed； which
Jupiter's attraction was beginning to increase。 When about two
million miles from the great planet； which was considerably on
their left； they espied Callisto ahead and slightly on their
right； as Deepwaters had calculated it would be。 Applying a mild
repulsion to thiswhich was itself quite a world； with its
diameter of over three thousand miles； though evidently as cold
and dead as the earth's old moonthey retarded their forward
rush； knowing that the resulting motion towards Jupiter would be
helped by the giant's pull。 Wishing to be in good condition for
their landing； they divided the remainder of the night into
watches； two going to sleep at a time； the man on duty standing
by to control the course and to get photographic negatives； on
which； when they were developed； they found two crescent…shaped
continents； a speckled region； and a number of islands。 By 7 A。
M。； according to Eastern standard time； they were but fifty
thousand miles from Jupiter's surface； the gigantic globe filling
nearly one side of the sky。 In preparation for a sally； they got
their guns and accoutrements ready； and then gave a parting
glance at the car。 Their charge of electricity for developing
the repulsion seemed scarcely touched； and they had still an
abundant supply of oxygen and provisions。 The barometer
registered twenty…nine inches； showing that they had not lost
much air in the numerous openings of the vestibule。 The pressure
was about what would be found at an altitude of a few hundred
feet； part of the rarefaction being no doubt due to the fact that
they did not close the windows until at a considerable height
above Van Cortlandt Park。
They saw they should alight in a longitude on which the sun had
just risen； the rocky tops of the great mountains shining like
helmets in its rays。 Soon they felt a sharp checking of their
forward motion； and saw； from the changed appearance of the stars
and the sun； that they had entered the atmosphere of their new
home。
Not even did Columbus； standing at the prow of the Santa Maria；
with the New World before him； feel the exultation and delight
experienced by these latter…day explorers of the twenty…first
century。 Their first adventures on landing the reader already
knows。
CHAPTER V。
EXPLORATION AND EXCITEMENT。
When they awoke； the flowers were singing with the volume of a
cathedral organ； the chant rising from all around them； and the
sun was already above the horizon。 Finding a deep natural
spring； in which the water was at about blood…heat； they prepared
for breakfast by taking a bath； and then found they had brought
nothing to eat。
〃It was stupid of us not to think of it；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃yet
it will be too much out of our way to return to the Callisto。〃
〃We have two rifles and a gun；〃 said Ayrault； 〃and have also
plenty of water； and wood for a fire。 All we need is game。〃
〃The old excuse； that it has been already shot out； cannot hold
here；〃 said Cortlandt。
〃Seeing that we have neither wings nor pneumatic legs； and not
knowing the advantage given us by our rifles；〃 added Bearwarden；
〃it should not be shy either。 So far；〃 he continued； 〃we have
seen nothing edible； though just now we should not be too
particular； but near a spring like this that kind must exist。〃
〃The question is；〃 said the professor； 〃whether the game like
warm water。 If we can follow this stream till it has been on the
surface for some time； or till it spreads out； we shall doubtless
find a huntsman's paradise。〃
〃A bright idea；〃 said Bearwarden。 〃Let's have our guns ready；
and； as old Deepwaters would say； keep our weather eye open。〃
The stream flowed off in a southeasterly direction； so that by
following it they went towards the volcanoes。
〃It is hard to realize；〃 said the professor； 〃that those
mountains must be several hundred miles away； for the reason that
they are almost entirely above the horizon。 This apparent
flatness and wide range of vision is of course the result of
Jupiter's vast size。 With sufficiently keen sight； or aided by a
good glass； there is no reason why one should not see at least
five hundred miles； with but a slight elevation。〃
〃It is surprising；〃 said Ayrault； 〃that in what is evidently
Jupiter's Carboniferous period the atmosphere should be so clear。
Our idea has been that at that time on earth the air was heavy
and dense。〃
〃So it was； and doubtless is here；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃but you
must remember that both those qualities would be given it by
carbonic…acid gas； which is entirely invisible and transparent。
No gas that would be likely to remain in the air would interfere
with sight； water vapour is the only thing that could； and though
the crust of this planet； even near the surface； is still hot；
the sun being so distant； the vapour would not be； raised much。
By avoiding low places near hot springs； we shall doubtless have
very nearly as clear an atmosphere as on earth。 What does
surprise me is the ease with which we breathe。 I can account for
it only by supposing that； the Carboniferous period being already
well advanced； most of the carbonic acid is already locked up in
the forests or in Jupiter's coal…beds。〃
〃How； asked Bearwarden； 〃do you account for the 'great red spot'
that appeared here in 1878； lasted several years； and then
gradually faded？ It was taken as unmistakable evidence that
Jupiter's atmosphere was filled with impenetrable banks of cloud。
In fact； you remember many of the old books said we had probably
never seen the surface。〃
〃That has puzzled me very much；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃but I never
believed the explanation then given was correct。 The
Carboniferous period is essentially one of great forest growth；
so there would be nothing out of the way in supposing the spot；
notwithstanding its length of twenty…seven thousand miles and its
breadth of eight thousand miles； to have been forest。 It
occurred in what would correspond to the temperate region on
earth。 Now； though the axis of this planet is practically
straight； the winds of course change their direction； and so the
temperature does vary from day to day。 What is more probable
than that； owing perhaps to a prolonged norther or cold spell； a
long strip of forest lying near the frost line was brought a few
degrees below it； so that the leaves changed their colours as
they do on earth？ It would； it seems to me； be enough to give
the surface a distinct colour； and the fact that the spot's
greatest length was east and west； or along the lines of
latitude； so that the whole of that region might have been
exposed to the s
