a journey in other worlds-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which there are enormous numbers； instead of winged insects； of
which I have seen none； one being perhaps the natural result of
the other。 The flowers have become singers by long practice； or
else； those that were most musical having had the best chance to
reproduce； we have a neat illustration of the 'survival of the
fittest。' The sound is doubtless produced by a shrinking of the
fibres as the sun withdraws its heat； in which case we may expect
another song at sunrise； when the same result will be effected by
their expanding。〃
Searching for a camping…place in which to pass the coming hours；
they saw lights flitting about like will…o'…the…wisps； but
brighter and intermittent。
〃They seem to be as bright as sixteen…candle…power lamps； but the
light is yellower； and appears to emanate from a comparatively
large surface； certainly nine or ten inches square；〃 said the
doctor。
They soon gave up the chase； however； for the lights were
continually moving and frequently went out。 While groping in the
growing darkness； they came upon a brown object about the size of
a small dog and close to the ground。 It flew off with a humming
insect sound； and as it did so it showed the brilliant
phosphorescent glow they had observed。
〃That is a good…sized fire…fly；〃 said Bearwarden。 〃Evidently the
insects here are on the same scale as everything else。 They are
like the fire…flies in Cuba； which the Cubans are said to put
into a glass box and get light enough from to read by。 Here they
would need only one； if it could be induced to give its light
continuously。〃
Having found an open space on high ground； they sat down； and
Bearwarden struck his repeater； which； for convenience； had been
arranged for Jupiter time； dividing the day into ten hours；
beginning at noon； midnight being therefore five o'clock。
〃Twenty minutes past four；〃 said he； 〃which would correspond to
about a quarter to eleven on earth。 As the sun rises at
half…past seven； it will be dark about three hours； for the time
between dawn and daylight will； of course； be as short as that we
have just experienced between sunset and night。〃
〃If we stay here long；〃 said the doctor； 〃I suppose we shall
become accustomed； like sailors； to taking our four； or in this
case five； hours on duty； and five hours off。〃
〃Or；〃 added Ayrault； 〃we can sleep ten consecutive hours and take
the next ten for exploring and hunting； having the sun for one
half the time and the moons for the other。〃
Bearwarden and Cortlandt now rolled themselves in their blankets
and were soon asleep； while Ayrault； whose turn it was to watch
till the moons rosefor they had not yet enough confidence in
their new domain to sleep in darkness simultaneouslyleaned his
back against a rock and lighted his pipe。 In the distance he saw
the torrents of fiery lava from the volcanoes reflected in the
sky； and faintly heard their thunderous crashes； while the
fire…flies twinkled unconcernedly in the hollow； and the night
winds swayed the fernlike branches。 Then he gazed at the earth；
which； but little above the horizon； shone with a faint but
steady ray； and his mind's eye ran beyond his natural vision
while he pictured to himself the girl of his heart； wishing that
by some communion of spirits he might convey his thoughts to her；
and receive hers。 It was now the first week of January on earth。
He could almost see her house and the snow…clad trees in the
park； and knew that at that hour she was dressing for dinner； and
hoped and believed that he was in her heart。 While he thus
mused； one moon after another rose； each at a different phase；
till three were at once in the sky。 Adjusting the electric
protection… wires that were to paralyze any creature that
attempted to come within the circle； and would arouse them by
ringing a bell； he knocked the ashes from his pipe； rolled
himself in a blanket； and was soon asleep beside his friends。
CHAPTER II。
ANTECEDENTAL。
〃Come in！〃 sounded a voice； as Dr。 Cortlandt and Dick Ayrault
tapped at the door of the President of the Terrestrial Axis
Straightening Company's private office on the morning of the 21st
of June； A。 D。 2000。 Col。 Bearwarden sat at his capacious desk；
the shadows passing over his face as April clouds flit across the
sun。 He was a handsome man； and young for the important post he
filledbeing scarcely fortya graduate of West Point； with
great executive ability； and a wonderful engineer。 〃Sit down；
chappies；〃 said he； 〃we have still a half hour before I begin to
read the report I am to make to the stockholders and
representatives of all the governments； which is now ready。 I
know YOU smoke；〃 passing a box of Havanas to the professor。
Prof。 Cortlandt； LL。 D。； United States Government expert；
appointed to examine the company's calculations； was about fifty；
with a high forehead； greyish hair； and quick； grey eyes； a
geologist and astronomer； and altogether as able a man； in his
own way； as Col。 Bearwarden in his。 Richard Ayrault； a large
stockholder and one of the honorary vice…presidents in the
company； was about thirty； a university man； by nature a
scientist； and engaged to one of the prettiest society girls； who
was then a student at Vassar； in the beautiful town of
Poughkeepsie。
〃Knowing the way you carry things in your mind； and the
difficulty of rattling you；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃we have dropped in
on our way to hear the speech that I would not miss for a
fortune。 Let us know if we bother you。〃
〃Impossible； dear boy；〃 replied the president genially。 〃Since I
survived your official investigations； I think I deserve some of
your attention informally。〃
〃Here are my final examinations；〃 said Cortlandt； handing
Bearwarden a roll of papers。 〃I have been over all your figures；
and testify to their accuracy in the appendix I have added。〃
So they sat and chatted about the enterprise that interested
Cortlandt and Ayrault almost as much as Bearwarden himself。 As
the clock struck eleven； the president of the company put on his
hat； and； saying au revoir to his friends； crossed the street to
the Opera House； in which he was to read a report that would be
copied in all the great journals and heard over thousands of
miles of wire in every part of the globe。 When he arrived； the
vast building was already filled with a distinguished company；
representing the greatest intelligence； wealth； and powers of the
world。 Bearwarden went in by the stage entrance； exchanging
greetings as he did so with officers of the company and directors
who had come to hear him。 Cortlandt and Ayrault entered by the
regular door； the former going to the Government representatives'
box； the latter to join his fiancee； Sylvia Preston； who was
there with her mother。 Bearwarden had a roll of manuscript at
hand； but so well did he know his speech that he scarcely glanced
at it。 After being introduced by the chairman of the meeting；
and seeing that his audience was all attention； he began； holding
himself erect； his clear； powerful voice making every part of the
building ring。
CHAPTER III。
PRESIDENT BEARWARDEN'S SPEECH。
〃To the Bondholders and Stockholders of the Terrestrial Axis
Straightening Company and Representatives of Earthly Governments。
〃GENTLEMEN： You know that the objects of this company are； to
straighten the axis of the earth； to combine the extreme heat of
summer with the intense cold of winter and produce a uniform
temperature for each degree of latitude the year round。 At
present the earth's axisthat is； the line passing through its
centre and the two polesis inclined to the ecliptic about
twenty…three and a half degrees。 Our summer is produced by the
northern hemisphere's leaning at that angle towards the sun； and
our winter by its turning that much from it。 In one case the
sun's rays are caused to shine more perpendicularly； and in the
other more obliquely。 This wabbling； like that of a top； is the
sole cause of the seasons； since； owing to the eccentricity of
our orbit； the
