按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
brought freedom； my work in the flesh was ended； I was indeed
alive。
〃'O Death； where is thy sting？ O Grave； where is thy victory？'
In my dying moments I had forgotten what I had so often
preached'Thou fool； that which thou sowest is not quickened
except it die。' In a moment my life lay before me like a valley
or an open page。 All along its paths and waysides I saw the
little seeds of word and deed that I had sown extending and
bearing fruit forever for good or evil。 I then saw things as
they were； and realized the faultiness of my former conclusions；
based as they had been on the incomplete knowledge obtained
through embryonic senses。 I also saw the Divine purpose in life
as the design in a piece of tapestry； whereas before I had seen
but the wrong side。 It is not till we have lost the life in the
flesh that we realize its dignity and value； for every hour gives
us opportunities of helping or elevating some human being it
may be ourselvesof doing something in His service。
〃Now that time is past； the books are closed； and we can do
nothing further ourselves to alter our status for eternity；
however much we may wish to。 It is on this account； and not
merely to save you from death； which in itself is nothing； that I
now tell you to run to the Callisto； seal the doors hermetically；
and come not forth till a sudden rush of air that you will see on
the trees has passed。 A gust in which even birds drop dead； if
they are unable to escape； will be here when you reach safety。
Do not delay to take this food； and eat none of it when you
return； for it will be filled with poisonous germs。〃
〃How can we find you？ 〃 asked Ayrault； grasping his hand。 〃You
must not leave us till we know how we can see you again。〃
〃Think hard and steadfastly of me； you three；〃 replied the
spirit； 〃if you want me； and I shall feel your thought〃； saying
which； he vanished before their eyes； and the three friends ran
to the Callisto。
CHAPTER III。
DOUBTS AND PHILOSOPHY。
On reaching it； they climbed the ladder leading to the
second…story opening； and entering through this； they closed the
door； screwing it tightly in place。
〃Now；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃we can see what changes； if any； this
wonderful gust will effect。〃
〃He made no strictures on our senses； such as they are；〃 said
Bearwarden； 〃but implied that evolution would be carried much
further in us； from which I suppose we may infer that it has not
yet gone far。 I wish we had recorked those brandy peaches； for
now they will be filled with poisonous germs。 I wonder if our
shady friend could not tell us of an antiseptic with which they
might be treated？〃
〃Those fellows；〃 thought Ayrault； who had climbed to the dome；
from which he had an extended view； 〃would jeer at an angel；
while the deference they showed the spirit seems； as usual； to
have been merely superficial。〃
〃Let us note；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that the spirit thermometer
outside has fallen several degrees since we entered； though； from
the time taken； I should not say that the sudden change would be
one of temperature。〃
Just then they saw a number of birds； which had been resting in a
clump of trees； take flight suddenly； but they fell to the ground
before they had risen far； and were dashed to pieces。 In another
moment the trees began to bend and sway before the storm； and as
they gazed； the colour of the leaves turned from green and purple
to orange and red。 The wind blew off many of these； and they
were carried along by the gusts； or fluttered to the ground；
which was soon strewed with them。 It was a typical autumnal
scene。 Presently the wind shifted； and this was followed by a
cold shower of rain。
〃I think the worst is over；〃 said Bearwarden。 〃The Sailor's
Guide says：
'When the rain's before the wind；
Halliards； sheets； and braces mind；
When the wind's before the rain；
Soon you can make sail again。'
Doubtless that will hold good here。〃
This proved to be correct； and； after a repetition of the
precautions they had taken on their arrival on the planet in
regard to the inhalability of the air； they again sallied forth。
They left their magazine shot…guns； taking instead the
double…barrelled kind； on account of the rapidity with which this
enabled them to fire the second barrel after the first； and threw
away the water that had collected in the bucket； out of respect
to the spirit's warning。 They noticed a pungent odour； and
decided to remain on high ground； since they had observed that
the birds； in their effort to escape； had flown almost vertically
into the air。 On reaching the grove in which they had seen the
storm； they found their table and everything on it exactly as
they had left it。 Bearwarden threw out the brandy peaches on the
ground； exclaiming that it was a shame to lose such good
preserves； and they proceeded on their walk。 They passed
hundreds of dead birds； and on reaching the edge of the toadstool
valley were not a little surprised to find that every toadstool
had disappeared。
〃I wonder；〃 said the doctor； 〃if there can be any connection
between the phenomenon of the disappearance of those toadstools
and the death of the birds？ We could easily discover it if they
had eaten them； or if in any other way the plants could have
entered their bodies； but I see no way in which that can have
happened。〃
Resolving to investigate carefully any other fungi they might
see； they resumed their march。 The cold； distant…looking sun；
apparently about the size of an orange； was near the horizon。
Saturn's rotation on its axis occupying only ten hours and
fourteen minutes； being but a few minutes longer than Jupiter's；
they knew it would soon be night。 Finding a place on a range of
hills sheltered by rocks and a clump of trees of the evergreen
species； they arranged themselves as comfortably as possible； ate
some of the sandwiches they had brought； lighted their pipes； and
watched the dying day。 Here were no fire…flies to light the
darkening minutes； nor singing flowers to lull them to sleep with
their song but six of the eight moons； each at a different phase；
and with varied brightness； bathed the landscape in their pale；
cold rays； while far above them； like a huge rainbow； stretched
the great rings in effulgent sheets； reaching thousands of miles
into space； and flooded everything with their silvery light。
〃How poor a place compared with this；〃 they thought to
themselves； 〃is our world！〃 and Ayrault wished that his soul was
already free； while the dead leaves rustling in the gentle
breeze； and the nightwinds； sighing among the trees； seemed to
echo his thought。 Far above their heads； and in the vastness of
space； the well…known stars and constellations； notwithstanding
the enormous distance they had now come； looked absolutely
unchanged； and seemed to them emblematic of tranquillity and
eternal repose。 The days were changed by their shortness； and by
the apparent loss of power in the sun； and the nights； as if in
compensation； were magnificently illuminated by the numerous
moons and splendid rings； though neither rings nor satellites
shone with as strong a light as the terrestrial moon。 But in
nothing outside of the solar system was there any change； and
could AEneas's Palinurus； or one of Philip of Macedon's
shepherds； be brought to life here； he would see exactly the same
stars in the same positions； and； did he not know of his own
death or of the lapse of time； he might suppose； so far as the
heavens were affected； that he had but fallen asleep； or had just
closed his eyes。
〃I have always regretted；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that I was not born a
thousand years later。〃
〃Were it not；〃 added Ayrault； 〃that our earth is the vestibule to
space； and for the opportunities it opens； I should rather never
have lived； for life in itself is unsatisfying。〃
〃You fellows are too indefinite and abstract for me；〃 said
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 pl