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in which the water on the surface is hot； in which state the
earth once was。
They were soon beyond the estuary at which they had stopped to
study the forms of life and to make this test； and kept on due
north for several days； occasionally rising above the air。 As
their familiarity with their surroundings increased； they made
notes of several things。 The mountains covered far more
territory at their bases than the terrestrial mountains； and they
were in places very rugged and showed vast yawning chasms。 They
were also wooded farther up their sides； and bore but little
snow； but so far the travellers had not found them much higher
than those on earth； the greatest altitude being the thirty…two
thousand feet south of Deepwaters Bay； and one other ridge that
was forty thousand； so that； compared with the size of the planet
and its continents； they seemed quite small； and the continents
themselves were comparatively level。 They also noted that spray
was blown in vast sheets； till the ocean for miles was white as
milk。 The wind often attained tornado strength； and the whole
surface of the water； about what seemed to be the storm centre；
frequently moved with rapidity in the form of foam。 Yet；
notwithstanding this； the waves were never as large as those to
which they were accustomed on earth。 This they accounted for
very easily by the fact that； while water weighed 2。55 times as
much as on earth； the pressure of air was but little more than
half as much again； and consequently its effect on all but the
very surface of the heavy liquid was comparatively slight。
〃Gravity is a useful factor here；〃 observed Cortlandt； as they
made a note of this； 〃for； in addition to giving immunity from
waves； it is most effective in checking the elevation of high
mountains or table…lands in the high latitudes； which we shall
doubtless find sufficiently cool； or even cold； while in tropical
regions； which might otherwise be too hot； it interferes with
them least； on account of being partly neutralized by the rapid
rotation with which all four of the major planets are blessed。〃
At sunrise the following morning they saw they were approaching
another great arm of the sea。 It was over a thousand miles wide
at its mouth； and； had not the photographs showed the contrary；
they would have thought the Callisto had reached the northern end
of the continent。 It extended into the land fifteen thousand
miles； and； on account of the shape of its mouth； they called it
Funnel Bay。 Rising to a height； they flew across； and came to a
great table…land peninsula； with a chain of mountains on either
side。 The southern range was something over； and the northern
something less than； five thousand feet in height； while the
table…land between sloped almost imperceptibly towards the
middle； in which； as they expected； they found a river compared
to which the Mississippi or the Amazon would be but a brook。 In
honour of the President of the Terrestrial Axis Straightening
Company； they called this great projection； which averaged about
four thousand miles across by twelve thousand miles long；
Bearwarden Peninsula。 They already noticed a change in climate；
the ferns and palms became fewer； and were succeeded by pines；
while the air was also a good deal cooler； which was easily
accounted for by their altitudethough even at that height it
was considerably denser than at sea… level on earthand by the
fact that they were already near latitude thirty。
The exposed points on the plateau； as also the summits of the
first mountains they had seen before alighting； were devoid of
vegetation； scarcely so much as a blade of grass being visible。
Since they could not account for this by cold； they concluded
that the most probable explanation lay in the tremendous
hurricanes that； produced by the planet's rapid rotation；
frequently swept along its surface； like the earth's trade…winds；
but with far more violence。 On reaching the northern coast of
the peninsula they increased their elevation and changed their
course to northeast； not caring to remain long over the great
body of water； which they named Cortlandt Bay。 The thousands of
miles of foam fast flew beneath them； the first thing attracting
their attention being a change in the ocean's colour。 In the
eastern shore of Cortlandt Bay they soon observed the mouth of a
river； ten miles across； from which this tinted water issued in a
flood。 On account of its colour； which reminded them of a stream
they knew so well； they christened it the Harlem。
Believing that an expedition up its valley might reveal something
of interest； they began the ascent； remaining at an elevation of
a few hundred feet。 For about three hundred miles they followed
this river； which had but few bends； while its sides became more
and more precipitous； till it flowed through a canon four and a
half miles across。 Though they knew from the wide discoloration
of Cortlandt Bay that the volume of water discharged was
tremendous； the stream seldom moved at a rate of more than five
miles an hour； and for a time was free from rocks and rapids；
from which they concluded that it must be very deep。 Half an
hour later they saw a cloud of steam or mist； which expanded； and
almost obscured the sky as they approached。 Next they heard a
sound like distant thunder； which they took for the prolonged
eruption of some giant crater； though they had not expected to
find one so far towards the interior of the continent。 Presently
it became one continuous roar； the echo in the canon； whose walls
were at this place over six hundred feet high； being simply
deafening； so that the near discharge of the heaviest artillery
would have been completely drowned。
〃One would think the end of the world was approaching！〃 shouted
Cortlandt through his hands。
〃Look！〃 Bearwarden roared back； 〃the wind is scattering the
mist。〃
As he spoke； the vapoury curtain was drawn aside； revealing a
waterfall of such vast proportions as to dwarf completely
anything they had ever seen or even imagined。 A somewhat open
horseshoe lip； three and a half miles straight across and over
four miles following the line of the curve； discharged a sheet of
water forty feet thick at the edge into an abyss six hundred feet
below。 Two islands on the brink divided this sheet of liquid
into three nearly equal parts； while myriads of rainbows hovered
in the clouds of spray。 Two things especially struck the
observers： the water made but little curve or sweep on passing
over the edge； and then rushed down to the abyss at almost
lightning speed； shivering itself to infinitesimal particles on
striking any rock or projection at the side。 Its behaviour was；
of course； due to its weight； and to the fact that on Jupiter
bodies fall 40。98 feet the first second； instead of sixteen feet；
as on earth； and at correspondingly increasing speed。
Finding that they were being rapidly dazed and stunned by the
noise； the travellers caused the Callisto to rise rapidly； and
were soon surveying the superb sight from a considerable
elevation。 Their minds could grasp but slowly the full meaning
and titanic power of what they saw； and not even the vast falls
in their nearness could make their significance clear。 Here was
a sheet of water three and a half miles wide； averaging forty
feet in depth； moving at a rapid rate towards a sheer fall of six
hundred feet。 They felt； as they gazed at it； that the power of
that waterfall would turn backward every engine and dynamo on the
earth； and it seemed as if it might almost put out the fires of
the sun。 Yet it was but an illustration of the action of the
solar orb exerted on a vast area of ocean； the vapour in the form
of rain being afterwards turned into these comparatively narrow
limits by the topography of the continent。 Compared with this；
Niagara； with its descent of less than two hundred feet； and its
relatively small flow of water； would be but a rivulet； or at
best a rapid stream。 Reluctantly leaving the fascinating
spectacle； they pursued their exploration along the river above
the falls。 For the first few miles the surface of the water was
near that of the land； there were occasional rapids； but few
rocks； and the foaming torrent moved at great speed； the red
sandstone banks of the river being as polished as though they had
been waxed。 After a while the obstructions disappeared； but the
water continued to rush and surge along at a speed of ten or
twelve miles an hour； so that it would be easily navigable only
for logs or objects moving in one direction。 The surface of the
river was soon on an average fifty feet below the edge of the
banks； this depression being one result of the water's rapid
motion and weight； which facilitated the carving of its channel。
When they had followed up the river about sixty miles towards its
source they came upon what at first had the appearance of an
ocean。 They knew； however； from its elevation； and the flood
coming from it； that the water must be fresh； as they soon found
it was。 This lake was about three hundred miles wide； and
stretched from northeast to southwest。