a journey in other worlds-第47章
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Bearwarden。 〃I like something tangible and concrete。 The
utilitarianism of the twentieth century； by which I live；
paradoxical though it may seem； would be out of place in space；
unless we can colonize the other planets； and improve their
arrangements and axes。〃
Mixed with Ayrault's philosophical and metaphysical thoughts were
the memories of his sweetheart at Vassar； and he longed； more
than his companions； for the spirit's return； that he might ask
him if perchance he could tell him aught of her； and whether her
thoughts were then of him。
Finally； worn out by the fatigue and excitement of the day； they
set the protection…wires； more from force of habit than because
they feared molestation and； rolling themselves in their
blanketsfor the night was coldwere soon fast asleep；
Ayrault's last thought having been of his fiancee； Cortlandt's of
the question he wished to ask the spirit； and Bearwarden's of the
progress of his Company in the work of straightening the
terrestrial axis。 Thus they slept seven hundred and ninety
million miles beyond their earth's orbit； and more than eight
hundred million from the place where the earth was then。 While
they lay unconscious； the clouds above them froze； and before
morning there was a fall of snow that covered the ground and them
as they lay upon it。 Soon three white mounds were all that
marked their presence； and the cranes and eagles； rising from
their roosts in response to the coming day； looked unconcernedly
at all that was human that they had ever seen。 Finally； wakened
by the resounding cries of these birds； Bearwarden and Cortlandt
arose； and meeting Ayrault； who had already risen； mistook the
snowy form before them for the spirit； and thinking the dead
bishop had revisited them； they were preparing to welcome him；
and to propound the questions they had formulated； when Ayrault's
familiar voice showed them their mistake。
〃Seeing your white figures；〃 said he； 〃rise apparently in
response to those loud calls； reminded me of what the spirit told
us of the last day； and of the awakening and resurrection of the
dead。〃
The scene was indeed weird。 The east； already streaked with the
rays of the rising far…away sun； and the pale moons nearing the
horizon in the west； seemed connected by the huge bow of light。
The snow on the dark evergreens produced a contrast of colour；
while the other trees raised their almost bare and whitened
branches against the sky； as though in supplication to the
mysterious rings； which cast their light upon them and on the
ground。 As they gazed； however； the rings became grey； the moons
disappeared； and another day began。 Feeling sure the snow must
have cleared the air of any deleterious substances it contained
the day before； they descended into the neighbouring valley；
which； having a southerly exposure； was warm in comparison with
the hills。 As they walked they disturbed a number of small
rodents； which quickly ran away and disappeared in their holes。
〃Though we have seen none of the huge creatures here；〃 said
Cortlandt； 〃that were so plentiful on Jupiter； these burrowers
belong to a distinctly higher scale than those we found there；
from which I take it we may infer that the evolution of the
animal kingdom has advanced further on this planet than on
Jupiter； which is just what we have a right to expect； for
Saturn； in addition to being the smaller and therefore more
matured of the two； has doubtless had a longer individual
existence； being the farther from the sun。〃
Notwithstanding the cold of the night； the flowers； especially
the lilies； were as beautiful as ever； which surprised them not a
little； until； on examining them closely； they found that the
stems and veins in the leaves were fluted； and therefore elastic；
so that； should the sap freeze； it could expand without bursting
the cells； thereby enabling the flowers to withstand a short
frost。 They noticed that many of the curiously shaped birds they
saw at a distance from time to time were able to move with great
rapidity along the ground； and had about concluded that they must
have four legs； being similar to winged squirrels； when a long；
low quadruped； about twenty…five feet from nostrils to tail；
which they were endeavouring to stalk； suddenly spread two pairs
of wings； flapping the four at once； and then soared off at great
speed。
〃I hope we can get one of those； or at least his photograph；〃
said Cortlandt。
〃If they go in pairs；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃we may find the
companion near。〃
At that moment another great winged lizard； considerably larger
than the first； rose with a snort； not twenty yards on their
left。 Cortlandt； who was a good shot with a gun at short range；
immediately raised his twelve…bore and fired both barrels at the
monster； but the double…B shots had no more disabling effect than
if they had been number eights。 They； however； excited the
creature's ire； for； sweeping around quickly； it made straight
for Cortlandt； breathing at him when near； and almost
overpowering the three men with the malodorous； poisonous cloud
it exhaled。 Instantly Bearwarden fired several revolver bullets
down its throat； while Ayrault pulled both barrels almost
simultaneously； with the muzzles but a few inches from its side。
In this case the initial velocity of the heavy buckshot was so
great； and they were still so close together； that they
penetrated the leathery hide； tearing a large hole。 With a roar
the wounded monster beat a retreat； first almost prostrating them
with another blast of its awful breath。
〃It would take a stronger light than we get here；〃 said
Bearwarden； 〃to impress a negative through that haze。 I think；〃
he continued； 〃I know a trick that will do the business； if we
see any more of these dragons。〃 Saying which； he withdrew the
cartridges from his gun； and with his hunting…knife cut the tough
paper shell nearly through between the wads separating the powder
from the shot； drawing his knife entirely around。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃when I fire those； the entire forward end of the
cartridge will go out； keeping the fifteen buckshot together like
a slug； and with such penetration that it will go through a
two…inch plank。 It is a trick I learned from hunters； and；
unless your guns are choke…bore； in which case it might burst the
barrel； I advise you to follow suit。〃
Finding they had brought straight…bored guns； they arranged their
cartridges similarly； and set out in the direction in which the
winged lizards or dragons had gone。
CHAPTER IV。
A PROVIDENTIAL INTERVENTION。
The valley narrowed as they advanced； the banks rising gently on
both sides。 Both dragons had flown straight to a grove of tall；
spreading trees。 On coming near to this； they noticed a faint
smell like that of the dragon； and also like the trace they found
in the air on leaving the Callisto the day before； after they had
sought safety within it。 Soon it almost knocked them down。
〃We must get to windward；〃 said Cortlandt。 〃I already feel
faint； and believe those dragons could kill a man by breathing on
him。〃
Accordingly； they skirted around the grove； and having made a
quarter circlefor they did not wish the dragons to wind
themagain drew nearer。 Tree after tree was passed； and finally
they saw an open space twelve or fifteen acres in area at the
centre of the grove； when they were arrested by a curious sound
of munching。 Peering among the trunks of the huge trees； they
advanced cautiously； but stopped aghast。 In the opening were at
least a hundred dragons devouring the toadstools with which the
ground was covered。 Many of them were thirty to forty feet long；
with huge and terribly long； sharp claws； and jaws armed with
gleaming batteries of teeth。 Though they had evidently lungs；
and the claws and mouth of an animal； they reminded the observers
in many respects of insects enormously exaggerated； for their
wings； composed of a sort of transparent scale； were small； and
moved； as they had already seen； at far greater speed than those
of a bird。 Their projecting eyes
