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had mistaken for a branch； fell upon Cortlandt； pinioning his
arms and bearing him to the ground。 Dropping their loads；
Bearwarden and Ayrault threw themselves upon the monster with
their hunting…knives with such vim that in a few seconds it beat
a hasty retreat； leaving； as it did so； a wake of phosphorescent
light。
〃Are you hurt？〃 asked Bearwarden； helping him up。
〃Not in the least；〃 replied Cortlandt。 〃What surprises me is
that I am not。 The weight of that boa…constrictor would be very
great on earth； and here I should think it would be simply
crushing。〃
Groping their way through the rapidly growing darkness； they
reached the raft without further adventure； and； once on the
lake； had plenty of light。 Two moons； one at three quarters and
the other full； shone brightly； while the water was alive with
gymnotuses and other luminous creatures。 Sitting and living upon
the cross…timbers； they looked up at the sky。 The Great Bear and
the north star had exactly the same relation to each other as
when seen from the earth； while the other constellations and the
Milky Way looked identically as when they had so often gazed at
them before； and some idea of the immensity of space was conveyed
to them。 Here was no change； though they had travelled three
hundred and eighty million miles； there was no more perceptible
difference than if they had not moved a foot。 Perhaps； they
thought； to the telescopesif there are anyamong the stars；
the sun was seen to be accompanied by two small； dark companions；
for Jupiter and Saturn might be visible； or perhaps it seemed
merely as a slightly variable star； in years when sun…spots were
numerous； or as the larger planets in their revolutions
occasionally intercepted a part of its light。 As they floated
along they noticed a number of what they took to be
Will…o'…the…wisps。 Several of these great globules of pale flame
hovered about them in the air； near the surface of the water； and
anon they rose till they hung above the trees； apparently having
no forward or horizontal motion except when taken by the gentle
breeze； merely sinking and rising。
〃How pretty they are！〃 said Cortlandt； as they watched them。
〃For bodies consisting of marsh gas； they hold together
wonderfully。〃
Presently one alighted on the water near them。 It was
considerably brighter than any glow…worm； and somewhat larger
than an arc lamp； being nearly three feet in diameter； it did not
emit much light； but would itself have been visible from a
considerable distance。 Cortlandt tried to touch it with a
raft…pole； but could not reach far enough。 Presently a large
fish approached it； swimming near the surface of the water。 When
it was close to the Jack…o'…lantern； or whatever it was； there
was a splash； the fish turned up its white under side； and； the
breeze being away from the raft； the fire…ball and its victim
slowly floated off together。 There were frequently a dozen of
these great globules in sight at once； rising and descending； the
observers noticing one peculiarity； viz。； that their brightness
increased as they rose； and decreased as they sank。
About two and a half hours after sunset； or midnight according to
Jupiter time； they fell asleep； but about an hour later Cortlandt
was awakened by a weight on his chest。 Starting up； he perceived
a huge white…faced bat； with its head but a few inches from his。
Its outstretched wings were about eight feet across； and it
fastened its sharp claws upon him。 Seizing it by the throat； he
struggled violently。 His companions； awakened by the noise；
quickly came to his rescue； grasping him just as he was in danger
of being dragged off the raft； and in another moment Bearwarden's
knife had entered the creature's spine。
〃This evidently belongs to the blood…sucking species；〃 said
Cortlandt。 〃I seem to be the target for all these beasts； and
henceforth shall keep my eyes open at night。〃
As day would break in but little over an hour； they decided to
remain awake； and they pushed the dead bat overboard； where it
was soon devoured by fishes。 A chill had come upon the air； and
the incessant noise of the forms of life about them had in a
measure ceased。
Cortlandt passed around a box of quinine as a preventive against
malaria； and again they lay back and looked at the stars。 The
most splendid sight in their sky now was Saturn。 At the
comparatively short distance this great planet was from them； it
cast a distinct shadow； its vast rings making it appear twice its
real size。 With the first glimmer of dawn； the fire…balls
descended to the surface of the water and disappeared within it；
their lights going out。 With a suddenness to which the explorers
were becoming accustomed； the sun burst upon them； rising as
perpendicularly as at the earth's equator； and more than twice as
fast； having first tinged the sky with the most brilliant hues。
The stream had left the forest and swamp； and was now flowing
through open country between high banks。 Pushing the raft
ashore； they stepped off on the sand； and； warming up the remains
of the mastodon's heart； ate a substantial breakfast。
While washing their knives in the stream preparatory to leaving
itfor they wished to return to the Callisto by completing the
circle they had begunthey noticed a huge flat jelly…fish in
shallow water。 It was so transparent that they could see the
sandy bottom through it。 As it seemed to be asleep； Bearwarden
stirred up the water around it and poked it with a stick。 The
jelly… fish first drew itself together till it touched the
surface of the water； being nearly round； then it slowly left the
stream and rose till it was wholly in the air； and；
notwithstanding the sunlight； it emitted a faint glow。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Bearwarden； 〃here we have one of our
Jack…o'…lanterns。 Let us see what it is going to do。〃
〃It is incomprehensible to me；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃how it maintains
itself； for it has neither wings nor visible means of support；
yet； as it was able to immerse itself in the stream； thereby
displacing a volume of liquid equivalent to its bulk； it must be
at least as heavy as water。〃
The jelly…fish remained poised in the air until directly above
them； when it began to descend。
〃Stand from under！〃 cried Bearwarden； stepping back。 〃I； for one；
should not care to be touched。〃
The great soft mass came directly over the spot on which they had
been standing； and stopped its descent about three feet from the
ground； parallel to which it was slowly carried by the wind。 A
few yards off； in the direction in which it was moving； lay a
long black snake asleep on the sand。 When directly over its
victim the jelly globule again sank till it touched the middle of
the reptile's back。 The serpent immediately coiled itself in a
knot； but was already dead。 The jellyfish did not swallow； but
completely surrounded its prey； and again rose in the air； with
the snake's black body clearly visible within it。
〃Our Will…o'…the…wisp is prettier by night than by day；〃 said
Bearwarden。 〃I suggest that we investigate this further。〃
〃How？〃 asked Cortlandt。
〃By destroying its life；〃 replied Bearwarden。 〃Give it one
barrel from your gun； doctor； and see if it can then defy
gravitation。〃
Accordingly Cortlandt took careful aim at the object； about
twenty…yards away； and fired。 The main portion of the jellyfish；
with the snake still in its embrace； sailed away； but many pounds
of jelly fell to the ground。 Most of this remained where it had
fallen； but a few of the larger pieces showed a faint luminosity
and rose again。
〃You cannot kill that which is simply a mass of protoplasm；〃 said
Cortlandt。 〃Doubtless each of those pieces will form a new
organism。 This proves that there are ramifications and
developments of life which we never dreamed of。〃
CHAPTER VII。
AN UNSEEN HUNTER。
They calculated that they had come ten or twelve miles from the
place at which they built the raft； while the damp salt breeze
blowing from the south showed them they were near the ocean。
Concluding that large bodies of water must be very much alike on
all planets； they decided to make for a range of hills due north
and a few miles off； and to complete the circuit of the square in
returning to the Callisto。 The soft wet sand was covered with
huge and curious tracks； doubtless made by creatures that had
come to the stream during the night to drink； and they noticed
with satisfaction as they set out that the fresher ones led off
in the direction in which they were going。 For practice； they
blew off the heads of the boa…constrictors as they hung from the
trees； and of the other huge snakes that moved along the ground；
with explosive bullets； in every thicket through which they
passed； knowing that the game； never having been shot at； would
not take fright at the noise。 Sometimes they came upon great
masses of snakes； intertwined and coiled like worms； in these
cases Cortlandt brought his gun into play； raking them with
duck…shot to his heart's content。 〃As the function of these
re