a journey in other worlds-第31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！
distance； however； another on the same side was gone； Ayrault
having landed a bullet on a spot already stripped of armour。
After this the men had no difficulty in keeping out of its way；
though it still moved with some speed； snipping off young trees
in its path like grass。 Finally； having blown the scales from
one eye； the travellers sent in a bullet that exploded in the
brain and ended its career。
〃This has been by all odds the most exciting hunt we have had；〃
said Ayrault； 〃both on account of the determined nature and great
speed of the attack； and the almost impossibility of finding a
vulnerable spot。〃
〃Anything short of explosive bullets；〃 added Bearwarden； 〃would
have been powerless against this beast； for the armour in many
places is nearly a foot thick。〃
〃This is also the most extraordinary as well as most dangerous
creature with which we have； had to deal；〃 said Cortlandt；
〃because it is an enormously enlarged insect； with all the
inherent ferocity and strength。 It is almost the exact
counterpart of an African soldier…ant magnified many hundred
thousand times。 I wonder；〃 he continued thoughtfully； 〃if our
latter…day insects may not be the deteriorated （in point of size）
descendants of the monsters of mythology and geology； for nothing
could be a more terrible or ferocious antagonist than many of our
well…known insects； if sufficiently enlarged。 No animal now
alive has more than a small fraction of the strength； in
proportion to its size； of the minutest spider or flea。 It may
be that through lack of food； difficulties imposed by changing
climate； and the necessity of burrowing in winter； or through
some other conditions changed from what they were accustomed to；
their size has been reduced； and that the fire…flies； huge as
they seemed； are a step in advance of this specimen in the march
of deterioration or involution； which will end by making them as
insignificant as those on earth。 These ants have probably come
into the woods to lay their eggs； for； from the behaviour of the
animals we watched from the turtle； there must have been several；
or perhaps a war is in progress between those of a different
colour； as on earth； in which case the woods may be full of them。
Doubtless the reason the turtle seemed so unconcerned at the
general uneasiness of the animals was because he knew he could
make himself invulnerable to the marauder by simply closing his
shell； and we were unmolested because it did not occur to the ant
that any soft…shelled creatures could be on the turtle's back。〃
〃I think；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃it will be the part of wisdom to
return to the Callisto； and do the rest of our exploring on
Jupiter from a safe height； for； though we succeeded in disabling
this beauty； it was largely through luck； and had we not done so
we should probably have provided a bon bouche for our deceased
friend； instead of standing at his grave。〃
Accordingly they proceeded； and were delighted； a few minutes
later； to see the sunlight reflected from the projectile's
polished roof。
CHAPTER X。
CHANGING LANDSCAPES。
On reaching the Callisto； Ayrault worked the lock he had had
placed on the lower door； which； to avoid carrying a key； was
opened by a combination。 The car's interior was exactly as they
had left it； and they were glad to be in it again。
〃Now；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃we can have a sound and
undisturbed sleep； which is what I want more than
anything else。 No prowlers can trouble us here； and we
shall not need the protection…wires。〃
They then opened a window in each sidefor the large glass
plates； admitting the sun when closed； made the Callisto rather
warmand placed a stout wire netting within them to keep out
birds and bats； and then； though it was but little past noon； got
into their comfortable beds and slept nine hours at a stretch。
Their strong metal house was securely at rest； receiving the
sunlight and shedding the rain and dew as it might have done on
earth。 No winds or storms； lightnings or floods； could trouble
it； while the multiformed monsters of antiquity and mythology
restored in life； with which the terrestrials had been thrown
into such close contact； roamed about its polished walls。 Not
even the fiercest could affect them； and they would but see
themselves reflected in any vain assaults。 The domed symmetrical
cylinder stood there as a monument to human ingenuity and skill；
and the travellers' last thought as they fell asleep was； 〃Man is
really lord of creation。〃
The following day at about noon they awoke； and had a bath in the
warm pool。 They saw the armoured mass of the great ant evidently
undisturbed； while the bodies of its victims were already shining
skeletons； and raised a small cairn of stones in memory of the
struggle they had had there。
〃We should name this place Kentucky；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃for it is
indeed a dark and bloody ground；〃 and； seeing the aptness of the
appellation； they entered it so on their charts。 While Ayrault
got the batteries in shape for resuming work。 Bearwarden
prepared a substantial breakfast。 This consisted of oatmeal and
cream kept hermetically sealed in glass； a dish of roast grouse；
coffee； pilot bread； a bottle of Sauterne； and another of Rhine
wine。
〃This is the last meal we shall take hereabouts；〃 said their
cook； as they plied their knives and forks beneath the trees； 〃so
here is a toast to our adventures； and to all the game we have
killed。〃 They drained their glasses in drinking this； after
which Bearwarden regaled them with the latest concert…hall song
which he had at his tongue's end。
About an hour before dark they re…entered their projectile； and；
as a mark of respect to their little ship； named the great branch
of the continent on which they had alighted Callisto Point。 They
then got under way。 The batteries had to develop almost their
maximum power to overcome Jupiter's attraction； but they were
equal to the task； and the Callisto was soon in the air。
Directing their apergy to the mountains towards the interior of
the continent； and applying repulsion to any ridge or hill over
which they passed； thereby easing the work of the batteries
engaged in supporting the Callisto； they were soon sweeping along
at seventy…five to one hundred miles an hour。 By keeping the
projectile just strongly enough charged to neutralize
gravitation； they remained for the most part within two hundred
feet of the ground； seldom rising to an altitude of more than a
mile； and were therefore able to keep the windows at the sides
open and so obtain an unobstructed view。 If； however； at any
time they felt oppressed by Jupiter's high barometric pressure；
and preferred the terrestrial conditions； they had but to rise
till the barometer fell to thirty。 Then； if an object of
interest recalled them to sea…level； they could keep the
Callisto's inside pressure at what they found on the Jovian
mountains； by screwing up the windows。 On account of the
distance of sixty…four thousand miles from Jupiter's equator to
the pole； they calculated that going at the speed of a hundred
miles an hour； night and day； it would take them twenty…five
terrestrial days to reach the pole even from latitude two degrees
at which they started。 But they knew that； if pressed for time；
they could rise above the limits of the atmosphere； and move with
planetary speed； while； if they wished a still easier method of
pursuing their observation； they had but to remain poised between
the sun and Jupiter； beyond the latter's upper air； and
photograph or map it as it revolved before them。
By sunset they had gone a hundred miles。 Wishing to push along；
they closed the windows； rose higher to avoid any mountain…tops
that might be invisible in the moonlight； and increased their
speed。 The air made a gentle humming sound as they shot through
it； and towards morning they saw several bright points of light
in which they recognized； by the aid of their glasses； sheets of
flame and torrents of molten glowing lava； bursting at intervals
or pouring steadily from several volcanoes。
