a journey in other worlds-第30章
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exhaled a most delicious perfume； and at the centre of each
flower was a viscous liquid； the colour of honey。
〃If this tastes as well as it looks；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃it will
come in well for dessert〃； saying which he thrust his finger into
the recesses of the flower； intending to taste the essence。
Quietly； but like a flash； the flower closed； his hand being
nearly caught and badly scratched by the long； sharp thorns that
now appeared at the edges。
〃Ha！〃 he exclaimed； 〃a sensitive and you may almost say a
man…eating plant。 This doubtless has been the fate of these
birds； whose bones now lie bleaching at its feet after they have
nourished its lips with their lives。 No doubt the plant has use
for them still； since their skeletons may serve to fertilize its
roots。〃
Wishing to investigate further； Bearwarden placed one of the
birds they had shot within the bell of another flower； which
immediately contracted with such force that they saw drops of
blood squeezed out。 After some minutes the flower opened； as
beautiful as ever； and discharged an oblong ball compressed to
about the size of a hen's egg； though the bird that was placed
within it had been as large as a small duck。 Towards evening
these flowers sent up their most beautiful song； to hear which
flocks of birds came from far and near； alighting on the trees；
and many were lured to death by the siren strains and the honey。
Before resuming their journey； the travellers paid a parting
visit to the bell…shaped lilies on their pyramids of bones。 The
flowers were closed for the night； and the travellers saw by the
moonlight that the white mounds were simply alive with
diamond…headed snakes。 These coiled themselves； flattened their
heads； and set up such a hissing on the explorers' approach that
they were glad to retire； and leave this curious contrast of
hideousness and beauty to the fire…flies and the moons。 Marching
along in Indian file； the better to avoid treading on the
writhing serpents that strewed the ground； they kept on for about
two hours。 They frequently passed huge heaps or mounds of bones；
evidently the remains of bears or other large animals。 The
carnivorous plants growing at their centre were often like hollow
trees； and might easily have received the three travellers in one
embrace。 But as before； the mounds were alive with serpents that
evidently made them their homes； and raised an angry hiss
whenever the men approached。
〃The wonder to me；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃is； that these snakes do
not protect the game； by keeping it from the life…devouring
plants。 It may be that they do not show themselves by day or
when the victims are near； or that the quadrupeds on which these
plants live take a pleasure； like deer； in killing them by
jumping with all four feet upon their backs or in some other way；
and after that are entrapped by the flowers。〃
Shortly after midnight they rested for a half hour； but the dawn
found them trudging along steadily； though somewhat wearily； and
having about completed the third side of their square。
Accordingly； they soon made a right…angle turn to the left； and
had been picking their way over the rough ground for nearly two
hours； with the sun already high in the sky； when they noticed a
diminution of light。 Glancing up； they saw that one of the moons
was passing across the sun； and that they were on the eve of a
total eclipse。
〃Since all but the fifth moon；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃revolve exactly
in the plane of Jupiter's equator； any inhabitants that settle
there will become accustomed to eclipses； for there must be one
of the sun； and also of the moons； at each revolution； or about
forty…five hundred in every Jovian year。 The reason we have seen
none before is； because we are not exactly on the equator。〃
They had a glimpse of the coronal streamers as the last portion
of the sun was covered； and all the other phenomena that attend
an eclipse on earth。 For a few minutes there was a total return
to night。 The twinkling stars and other moons shone tranquilly
in the sky； and even the noise of the insects ceased。 Presently
the edge of the sun that had been first obscured reappeared； and
then Nature went through the phenomenon of an accelerated dawn。
Without awaiting a full return of light； the travellers proceeded
on their way； and had gone something over a hundred yards when
Ayrault； who was marching second； suddenly grasped Bearwarden；
who was in front； and pointed to a jet…black mass straight ahead；
and about thirty yards from a pool of warm water； from which a
cloud of vapour arose。 The top of the head was about seven feet
high； and the length of the body exceeded thirty feet。 The six
legs looked as strong as steel cables； and were about a foot
through； while a huge； bony proboscis nine feet in length
preceded the body。 This was carried horizontally between two and
three feet from the ground。 Presently a large ground sloth came
to the pool to drink； lapping up the water at the sides that had
partly cooled。 In an instant the black armored monster rushed
down the slope with the speed of a nineteenth…century locomotive；
and seemed about as formidable。 The sloth turned in the
direction of the sound； and for a moment seemed paralyzed with
fear； it then started to run； but it was too late； for the next
second the enormously exaggerated antfor such it wasovertook
it。 The huge mandible shears that when closed had formed the
proboscis； snapped viciously； taking off the sloth's legs and
then cutting its body to slivers。 The execution was finished in
a few seconds； and the ponderous insect carried back about half
the sloth to its hiding…place； where it leisurely devoured it。
〃This reminds me；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃of the old lady who never
completed her preparations for turning in without searching for
burglars under the bed。 Finally she found one； and exclaimed in
delight； 'I've been looking for you fifty years； and at last you
are here！' The question is； now that we have found our burglar；
what shall we do with him？〃
〃I constantly regret not having a rifle；〃 replied Cortlandt；
〃though it is doubtful if even that would help us here。〃
〃Let us sit down and wait；〃 said Ayrault； 〃there may be an
opening soon。〃
Anon a woolly rhinoceros； resembling the Rhinoceros tichorhinus
that existed contemporaneously on earth with the mammoth； came to
drink the water that had partly cooled。 It was itself a
formidable…looking beast； but in an instant the monster again
rushed from concealment with the same tremendous speed。 The
rhinoceros turned in the direction of the sound； and； lowering
its head； faced the foe。 The ant's shears； however； passed
beneath the horn； and； fastening upon the left foreleg； cut it
off with a loud snap。
〃Now is our chance；〃 exclaimed Cortlandt； 〃we may kill the brute
before he is through with the rhinoceros。〃
〃Stop a bit； doctor；〃 said Bearwarden。 〃We have a good record so
far； let us keep up our reputation for being sports。 Wait till
he can attend to us。〃
The encounter was over in less than a minute； three of the
rhinoceros's legs being taken off； and the head almost severed
from the body。 Taking up the legs in its mandibles； the
murderous creature was returning to its lair； when； with the cry
of 〃Now for the fray！〃 Bearwarden aimed beneath the body and
blew off one of the farther armoured legs； from the inside。
〃Shoot off the legs on the same side；〃 he counselled Ayrault；
while he himself kept up a rapid fire。 Cortlandt tried to
disconcert the enemy by raining duck…shot on its scale… protected
eyes； while the two rifles tore off great masses of the horn that
covered the enormously powerful legs。 The men separated as they
retreated； knowing that one slash of the great shears would cut
their three bodies in halves if they were caught together。 The
monster had dropped the remains of the rhinoceros when attacked；
and made for the hunters at its top speed； which was somewhat
reduced by the loss of one leg。 Before it came within cutting
distance； however； another on the same side was gone； Ayrault
having landed a bullet on
