a journey in other worlds-第42章
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eminence； was convinced that they consisted of sheets of liquid。
Now； it should be obvious that no liquid could maintain itself
here for a minute； for it would either fall upon the planet as a
crushing hail； or； if dependent for its shape on its own
tenacity； it would break if formed of the toughest steel； on
account of the tremendous weight。 Any number of theories have
been advanced by any number of men； but in weight we have the
rub。 No one has ever shown how these innumerable fragments
maintain themselves at a height of but a few thousand miles above
Saturn； withstanding the giant's gravitation…pull。 Their rate of
revolution； though rapid； does not seem fast enough to sustain
them。 Neither have I ever seen it explained why the small
fragments do not fall upon the large ones； though many
astronomers have pictured the composition of these rings as we
find they exist。 Nor do we know why the molecules of a gas are
driven farther apart by heat； while their activity is also
increased； though if this activity were revolution about one
another to develop the centrifugal； it would not need to be as
strong then as when they are cold and nearer together。 There may
be explanations； but I have found none in any of the literature I
have read。 It seems to me that all this leads to but one
conclusion； viz。： apergy is the constant and visible companion of
gravitation； on these great planets Jupiter and Saturn； perhaps
on account of some peculiar influence they possess； and also in
comets； in the case of large masses； while on earth it appears
naturally only among moleculesthose of gases and every other
substance。〃
〃I should go a step further；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃and say our earth
has the peculiarity； since it does not possess the influence
necessary to generate naturally a great or even considerable
development of apergy。 The electricity of thunderstorms；
northern lights； and other forces seems to be produced freely；
but as regards apergy our planet's natural productiveness appears
to be small。〃
The omnipresent luminosity continued； but the glow was scarcely
bright enough to be perceived from the earth。
〃I believe； however；〃 said Bearwarden； referring to this； 〃that
whenever a satellite passes near these fragments； preferably when
it enters the planet's shadow； since that will remove its own
light； it will create such activity among them as to make the
luminosity visible to the large telescopes or gelatine plates on
earth。〃
〃Now；〃 said Ayrault； 〃that we have evolved enough theories to
keep astronomers busy for some time； if they attempt to discuss
them； I suggest that we alight and leave the abstract for the
concrete。〃
Whereupon they passed through the inner ring and rapidly sank to
the ground。
BOOK III。
CHAPTER I。
SATURN。
Landing on a place about ten degrees north of the equator； so
that they might obtain a good view of the great ringssince ON
the line only the thin edge would be visiblethey opened a
port…hole with the same caution they had exercised on Jupiter。
Again there was a rush of air； showing that the pressure without
was greater than that within； but on this occasion the barometer
stopped at thirty…eight； from which they calculated that the
pressure was nineteen pounds to the square inch on their bodies；
instead of fifteen as at sea…level on earth。 This difference was
so slight that they scarcely felt it。 They also discarded the
apergetic outfits that had been so useful on Jupiter； as
unnecessary here。 The air was an icy blast； and though they
quickly closed the opening； the interior of the Callisto was
considerably chilled。
〃We shall want our winter clothes；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃it might be
more comfortable for us exactly on the equator； though the scene
at night will be far finer here； if we can stand the climate。
Doubtless it will also be warmer soon； for the sun has but just
risen。〃
〃I suspect this is merely one of the cold waves that rush towards
the equator at this season； which corresponds to about the 10th
of our September；〃 replied Cortlandt。 〃The poles of Saturn must
be intensely cold during its long winter of fourteen and three
quarter years； for； the axis being inclined twenty…seven degrees
from the perpendicular of its orbit； the pole turned from the sun
is more shut off from its heat than ours； and in addition to this
the mean distancemore than eight hundred and eighty million
milesis very great。 Since the chemical composition of the air
we have inhaled has not troubled our lungs； it is fair to suppose
we shall have no difficulty in breathing。〃
Having dressed themselves more warmly； and seen by a thermometer
they had placed outside that the temperature was thirty…eight
degrees Fahrenheit； which had seemed very cold compared with the
warmth inside the Callisto； they again opened the port…hole； this
time leaving it open longer。 What they had felt before was
evidently merely a sudden gust； for the air was now comparatively
calm。
Finding that the doctor's prediction as to the suitability of the
air to their lungs was correct； they ventured out； closing the
door as they went。
Expecting； as on Jupiter； to find principally vertebrates of the
reptile and bird order； they carried guns and cartridges loaded
with buckshot and No。 1； trusting for solid…ball projectiles to
their revolvers； which they shoved into their belts。 They also
took test… tubes for experiments on the Saturnian bacilli。
Hanging a bucket under the pipe leading from the roof； to catch
any rain that might fallfor they remembered the scarcity of
drinking…water on Jupiterthey set out in a southwesterly
direction。
Walking along； they noticed on all sides tall lilies immaculately
pure in their whiteness； and mushrooms and toadstools nearly a
foot high； the former having a delicious flavour and extreme
freshness； as though only an hour old。 They had seen no animal
life； or even sign of it； and were wondering at its dearth； when
suddenly two large white birds rose directly in front of them。
Like thought； Bearwarden and Ayrault had their guns up； snapping
the thumb…pieces over 〃safe〃 and pulling the triggers almost
simultaneously。 Bearwarden； having double buckshot； killed his
bird at the first fire； but Ayrault； having only No。 1； had to
give his the second barrel； almost all damage in both cases being
in the head。 On coming close to their victims they found them to
measure twelve feet from tip to tip； and to have a tremendous
thickness of feathers and down。
〃From the looks of these beauties；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃I should
say they probably inhabited a pretty cold place。〃
〃They are doubtless northern birds；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that have
just come south。 It is easy to believe that the depth to which
the temperature may fall in the upper air of this planet must be
something startling。〃
As they turned from the cranes； to which species the birds seemed
to belong； they became mute with astonishment。 Every mushroom
had disappeared； but the toadstools still remained。
〃Is it possible we did not see them？〃 gasped Ayrault。
〃We must inadvertently have walked some distance since we saw
them；〃 said Cortlandt。
〃They were what I looked forward to for lunch；〃 exclaimed
Bearwarden。
They were greatly perplexed。 The mushrooms were all about them
when they shot the birds； which still lay where they had fallen。
〃We must be very absent…minded；〃 said the doctor； 〃or perchance
our brains are affected by the air。 We must analyze it to see if
it contains our own proportion of oxygen and nitrogen。 There was
a good deal of carbonic…acid gas on Jupiter； but that would
hardly confuse our senses。 The strange thing is； that we all
seem to have been impressed the same way。〃
Concluding that they must have been mistaken； they continued on
their journey。
All about they heard a curious humming； as that of bees； or like
the murmuring of prayers in a resonant cathedral。 Thinking it
was the wind in the great trees that grew singly around them；
they paid
