a journey in other worlds-第49章
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pondering on the steadfastness of the human heart and the
constancy of love； when his meditations began to wander； and；
with his last thoughts on Sylvia； he fell asleep。 Not a branch
moved； nor did a leaf fall； yet before Ayrault's； sleeping eyes a
strange scene was enacted。 A figure in white came near and stood
before him； and he recognized in it one Violet Slade； a very
attractive girl to whom he had been attentive in his college
days。 She was at that time just eighteen； and people believed
that she loved him； but for some reason； he knew not why； he had
not proposed。
〃I thought you had died；〃 he said； as she gazed at him； 〃but you
are now looking better than ever。〃
〃From the world's point of view I AM dead；〃 she replied。 〃I died
and was buried。 It is therefore permissible that I should show
you the truth。 You never believed I loved you。 I have wished
earnestly to see you； and to have you know that I did。〃
〃I did you an injustice；〃 Ayrault answered； perceiving all that
was in her heart。 〃Could mortals but see as spirits do； there
would be no misunderstandings。〃
〃I am so glad to see you；〃 she continued； 〃and to know you are
well。 Had you not come here； we could probably not have met
until after your death； for I shall not be sufficiently advanced
to return to earth for a long time； though my greatest solace
while there was my religion； which is all that brought me here。
We； however； know that as our capacity for true happiness
increases we shall be happier； and that after the resurrection
there will be no more tears。 Farewell；〃 she whispered； while her
eyes were filled with love。
Ayrault's sleep was then undisturbed for some time； when suddenly
an angel； wreathed in light； appeared before him and spoke these
words： 〃He that walked with Adam and talked with Moses has sent
me to guard you while you sleep。 No plague or fever； wild beast
or earthquake； can molest you； for you are equally protected from
the most powerful monster and the most insidious disease…germ。
'Blessed is the man whose offences are covered and whose sins are
forgiven。' Sleep on； therefore； and be refreshed； for the body
must have rest。〃
〃A man may rest indeed；〃 replied Ayrault； 〃when he has a guardian
angel。 I had the most unbounded faith in your existence before I
saw you； and believe and know that you or others have often
shielded me from danger and saved my life。 Why am I worthy of so
much care？〃
〃'Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty；'〃 answered the angel； and
thereupon he became invisible； a diffused light taking his place。
Shortly afterwards this paled and completely vanished。
〃Not only am I in paradise；〃 thought Ayrault； 〃I believe I am
also in the seventh heaven。 Would I might hear such words
again！〃
A group of lilies then appeared before the sleeper's eyes。 In
the midst was one lily far larger than the rest； and of a
dazzling white。 This spoke in a gentle voice； but with the tones
of a trombone：
〃Thy thoughts and acts are a pleasure to me。 Thou hast raised no
idols within thy heart； and thy faith is as incense before me。
Thy name is now in the Book of Life。 Continue as thou hast
begun； and thou shalt live and reign forever。〃
Hereupon the earth shook； and Ayrault was awakened。 Great
boulders were rolling and crashing down the slope about him；
while the dawn was already in the east。
〃My mortal eyes and senses are keener here while I sleep than
when I wake；〃 he thought； as he looked about him； 〃for spirits；
unable to affect me while waking； have made themselves felt in my
more sensitive state while I was asleep。 Nevertheless； this is
none other but the house of God； and this is the gate of heaven。
〃The boulders were still in motion when I opened my eyes；〃 he
mused； 〃can it be that there is hereabouts such a flower as in my
dreams I seemed to see？〃 and looking beyond where his head had
lain； he beheld the identical lily surrounded by the group that
his closed eyes had already seen。 Thereupon he uncovered his
head and departed quickly。 Crossing the divide； he descended to
camp； where he found Cortlandt in deep thought。
〃I cannot get over the dreams；〃 said the doctor； 〃I had in the
first part of the night。 Notwithstanding yesterday's excitement
and fatigue； my sleep was most disturbed； and I was visited by
visions of my wife； who died long ago。 She warned me against
skepticism； and seemed much distressed at my present spiritual
state。〃
〃I；〃 said Bearwarden； who had been out early； and had succeeded
in bringing in half a dozen birds； 〃was so disturbed I could not
sleep。 It seemed to me as though half the men I have ever known
came and warned me against agnosticism and my materialistic
tendencies。 They kept repeating； 'You are losing the reality for
the shadow。'〃
〃I am convinced；〃 said Ayrault； 〃that they were not altogether
dreams； or； if dreams indeed； that they were superinduced by a
higher will。 We know that angels have often appeared to men in
the past。 May it not be that； as our appreciativeness increases；
these communications will recur？〃 Thereupon he related his own
experiences。
〃The thing that surprised me；〃 said Cortlandt； as they finished
breakfast； 〃was the extraordinary realism of the scene。 We must
see if our visions return on anything but an empty stomach。〃
CHAPTER VI。
A GREAT VOID AND A GREAT LONGING。
Resuming their march； the travellers proceeded along the
circumference of a circle having a radius of about three miles；
with the Callisto in the centre。 In crossing soft places they
observed foot…prints forming in the earth all around them。 The
impressions were of all sizes； and ceased when they reached
rising or hard ground； only to reappear in the swamps； regulating
their speed by that of the travellers。 The three men were greatly
surprised at this。
〃You may observe；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that the surface of the
impression is depressed as you watch it； as though by a weight；
and you can see； and even hear； the water being squeezed out；
though whatever is doing it is entirely invisible。 They must be
made by spirits sufficiently advanced to have weight； but not
advanced enough to make themselves visible。〃
Moved by a species of vandalism； Bearwarden raised his
twelve…bore； and fired an ordinary cartridge that he had not
prepared for the dragons； at the space directly over the nearest
forming prints。 There was a brilliant display of prismatic
colours； as in a rainbow； and though the impressions already made
remained； no new ones were formed。
〃Now you have done it！〃 said Cortlandt。 〃I hoped to be able to
investigate this further。〃
〃We shall doubtless see other and perhaps more wonderful things；〃
replied Bearwarden。 〃I must say this gives me an uncanny
feeling。〃
When they had completed a little over half their circle； they
came upon another of the groves with which Saturn seemed to
abound； at the edge of which； in a side…hill； was a cave； the
entrance of which was composed of rocky masses that had
apparently fallen together； the floor being but little higher
than the surface outside。 The arched roof of the vestibule was
rendered watertight by the soil that had formed upon it； which
again was overgrown by vines and bushes。
〃This；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃will be a good place to camp； for the
cave will protect us from dragons； unless they should take a
notion to breathe at us from the outside； and it will keep us dry
in case of rain。 To…morrow we can start with this as a centre；
and make another circuit。〃
〃We can explore Saturn on foot；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃and far more
thoroughly than Jupiter； on account of its comparative freedom
from monsters。 Not even the dragons can trouble us； unless we
meet them in large numbers。〃
Thereupon they set about getting fuel for their fire。 Besides
collecting some of the dead wood that was lying all about； they
split up a number of resinous pine and fir trees with explosive
bullets from their revolvers； so that soon they not o
