a journey in other worlds-第38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！
it along。〃
〃The conditions constituting heaven；〃 said Ayrault； 〃may be as
fixed as the laws of Nature； though the products of those
conditions might； it seems to me； still be forming and subject to
modification thereby。 The reductio ad absurdu would of course
apply if we supposed the work of creation absolutely finished。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
NORTH…POLAR DISCOVERIES。
Two days later； on the western horizon； they beheld the ocean。
Many of the streams whose sources they had seen when they crossed
the divide from the lake basin； and whose courses they had
followed； were now rivers a mile wide； with the tide ebbing and
rising within them many hundreds of miles from their mouths。
When they reached the shore line they found the waves breaking；
as on earth； upon the sands； but with this difference： they had
before noted the smallness of the undulations compared with the
strength of the wind； the result of the water's weight。 These
waves now reminded them of the behaviour of mercury； or of melted
lead when stirred on earth； by the rapidity with which the crests
dropped。 Though the wind was blowing an on…shore gale； there was
but little combing； and when there was any it lasted but a
second。 The one effort of the crests and waves seemed to be to
remain at rest； or； if stirred in spite of themselves； to
subside。
When over the surface of the ocean； the voyagers rose to a height
of thirty thousand metres； and after twenty… four hours'
travelling saw； at a distance of about two hundred miles； what
looked like another continent； but which they knew must be an
island。 On finding themselves above it； they rose still higher
to obtain a view of its outlines and compare its shape with that
of the islands in the photographs they had had time to develop。
The length ran from southeast to northwest。 Though crossed by
latitude forty； and notwithstanding Jupiter's distance from the
sun； the southern side had a very luxuriant vegetation that was
almost semi…tropical。 This they accounted for by its total
immunity from cold； the density of the air at sea…level； and the
warm moist breezes it received from the tepid ocean。 The climate
was about the same as that of the Riviera or of Florida in
winter； and there was； of course； no parching summer。
〃This shows me；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that a country's climate
depends less on the amount of heat it receives from the sun than
on the amount it retains； proof of which we have in the tops of
the Himalayas perpetually covered with snow； and snow…capped
mountains on the very equator； where they get the most direct
rays； and where those rays have but little air to penetrate。 It
shows that the presence of a substantial atmosphere is as
necessary a part of the calculation in practice as the sun
itself。 I am inclined to think that； with the constant effect of
the internal heat on its oceans and atmosphere； Jupiter could get
along with a good deal less solar heat than it receives； in proof
of which I expect to find the poles themselves quite comfortable。
The reason the internal heat is so little taken into account on
earth is because； from the thickness of the crust； it cannot make
itself felt； for if the earth were as chilled through as ice； the
people on the surface would not feel the difference。〃
A Jovian week's explorations disclosed the fact that though the
island's general outlines were fairly regular； it had deep…water
harbours； great rivers； and land…locked gulfs and bays； some of
which penetrated many hundred miles into the interior。 It also
showed that the island's length was about six thousand miles； and
its breadth about three thousand； and that it had therefore about
the superficial area of Asia。 They found no trace of the great
monsters that had been so numerous on the mainland； though there
were plenty of smaller and gentle…looking creatures； among them
animals whose build was much like that of the prehistoric horse；
with undeveloped toes on each side of the hoof； which in the
modern terrestrial horse have disappeared； the hoof being in
reality but a rounded…off middle finger。
〃It is wonderful；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃how comparatively narrow
a body of water can keep different species entirely separate。
The island of Sumatra； for instance； is inhabited by marsupials
belonging to the distinct Australian type； in which the female；
as in the kangaroo； carries the slightly developed young in a
pouch； while the Malay peninsula； joined to the mainland； has all
the highly developed animals of Asia and the connected land of
the Eastern hemisphere； the narrow Malacca Strait being all that
has kept marsupials and mammals apart； though the separating
power has been increased by the rapid current setting through。
This has decreased the chance of creatures carried to sea on
drift…wood or uprooted trees getting safely over to such a degree
that apparently none have survived； for； had they done so； we may
be certain that the mammals； with the advantage their young have
over the marsupials； would soon have run them out； the marsupials
being the older and the less perfect form of life of the two。〃
Before leaving the beautiful sea…girt region beneath them；
Cortlandt proposed that it be named after their host； which
Bearwarden seconded； whereupon they entered it as Ayrault Island
on the charts。 After this they rose to a great height； and flew
swiftly over three thousand miles of ocean till they came to
another island not quite as large as the first。 It was four
thousand five hundred miles long by something less than three
thousand wide； and was therefore about the size of Africa。 It
had several high ranges of mountains and a number of great rivers
and fine harbours； while murmuring； bubbling brooks flowed
through its forest glades。 There were active volcanoes along the
northern coast； and the blue； crimson； and purple lines in the
luxuriant foliage were the most beautiful they had ever seen。
〃I propose；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that we christen this Sylvialand。〃
This Cortlandt immediately seconded； and it was so entered on the
charts。
〃These two islands；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃may become the centres of
civilization。 With flying machines and cables to carry
passengers and information； and ships of great displacement for
the interchange of commodities； there is no limit to their
possible development。 The absence of large waves will also be
very favourable to sea…spiders； which will be able to run at
tremendous speeds。 The constancy in the eruptions of the
volcanoes will offer a great field to Jovian inventors； who will
unquestionably be able to utilize their heat for the production
of steam or electricity； to say nothing of an inexhaustible
supply of valuable chemicals。 They may contain the means of
producing some force entirely different from apergy； and as
superior to electricity as that is to steam。 Our earthly
volcanoes have been put to slight account because of the long
intervals between eruptions。〃
After leaving Sylvialand they went westward to the eastern of the
two crescent continents。 It was separated from the island by
about six thousand miles of ocean； and had less width than the
western； having about the proportions of a three…day crescent；
while the western had the shape of the moon when four or five
days old。 They found the height of the mountains and plateaus
somewhat less than on the eastern continent； but no great
difference in other respects； except that； as they went towards
the pole； the vegetation became more like that of Scotland or a
north temperate region than any they had seen。 On reaching
latitude fifty they again came out over the ocean to investigate
the speckled condition they had observed there。 They found a
vast archipelago covering as great an area as the whole Pacific
Ocean。 The islands varied from the size of Borneo and Madagascar
to that of Sicily and Corsica； while some contained but a few
square miles。 The surface of the archipelago was about equally
divided between land and water。
〃It would take good navigation or an elaborate system of
light…houses；〃
