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！
jaws。 Realizing that they could not much longer reply to the
diabolical host with lead； they believed their last hour had
come； when the ground on which they were making their last stand
shook； there was a rending of rocks and a rush of imprisoned
steam that drowned even the dragons' roar； and they were
separated from them by a long fissure and a wall of smoke and
vapour。 Struggling back from the edge of the chasm； they fell
upon the ground； and then for the first time fully realized that
the earthquake had saved them； for the dragons could not come
across the opening； and would not venture to fly through the
smoke and steam。 When they recovered somewhat from the shock；
they cut a number of cartridges in the same way that they had
prepared those that had done them such good service； and kept one
barrel of each gun loaded with that kind。
〃We may thank Providence；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃for that escape。 I
hope we shall have no more such close calls。〃
With a parting glance at the chasm that had saved their lives；
and from which a cloud still arose； they turned slightly to the
right of their former course and climbed the gently rising bank。
When near the top； being tired of their exciting experiences；
they sat down to rest。 The ground all about them was covered
with mushrooms； white on top and pink underneath。
〃This is a wonderful place for fungi；〃 said Ayrault。 〃Here；
doubtless； we shall be safe from the dragons； for they seemed to
prefer the toadstools。〃 As he lay on the ground he watched one
particular mushroom that seemed to grow before his eyes。
Suddenly； as he looked； it vanished。 Dumfounded at this
unmistakable manifestation of the phenomenon they thought they
had seen on landing； he called his companions； and； choosing
another mushroom； the three watched it closely。 Presently；
without the least noise or commotion； that also disappeared；
leaving no trace； and the same fate befell a number of others。
At a certain point of their development they vanished as
completely as a bubble of air coming to the surface of water；
except that they caused no ripple； leaving merely a small
depression where they had stood。
〃Well；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃in all my travels I never have seen
anything like this。 If I were at a sleight…of…hand performance；
and the prestidigitateur； after doing that； asked for my theory；
I should say； 'I give it up。' How is it with you； doctor？〃 he
asked； addressing Cortlandt。
〃There must be an explanation；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃only we do
not know the natural law to which the phenomenon is subject；
having had no experience with it on earth。 We know that all
substances can be converted into gases； and that all gases can be
reduced to liquids； and even solids； by the application of
pressure and cold。 If there is any way by which the visible
substance of these fungi can be converted into its invisible
gases； as water into oxygen and hydrogen； what we have seen can
be logically explained。 Perhaps； favoured by some affinity of
the atmosphere； its constituent parts are broken up and become
gases at this barometric pressure and temperature。 We must ask
the spirit； if he visits us again。〃
〃I wish he would；〃 said Ayrault； 〃there are lots of things I
should like to ask him。〃
〃Presidents of corporations and other chairmen；〃 said Bearwarden；
〃are not usually superstitious； and I； of course； take no stock
in the supernatural； but somehow I have a well…formed idea that
our friend the bishop； with the great power of his mind over
matter； had a hand in that earthquake。 He seems to have an
exalted idea of our importance； and may be exerting himself to
make things pleasant。〃
At this point the sun sank below the horizon； and they found
themselves confronted with night。
〃Dear； dear！〃 said Bearwarden； 〃and we haven't a crumb to eat。
I'll stand the drinks and the pipes；〃 he continued； passing
around his ubiquitous flask and tobacco…pouch。
〃If I played such pranks with my interior on earth；〃 said
Cortlandt； helping himself to both； 〃as I do on this planet； it
would give me no end of trouble； but here I seem to have the
digestion of an ostrich。〃
So they sat and smoked for an hour； till the stars twinkled and
the rings shone in their glory。
〃Well；〃 said Ayrault； finally； 〃since we have nothing but
motions to lay on the table； I move we adjourn。〃
〃The only motion I shall make；〃 said Cortlandt； who was already
undressed； 〃will be that of getting into bed；〃 saying which； he
rolled himself in his blanket and soon was fast asleep。
Having decided that； on account of the proximity of the dragons；
a man must in any event be on the watch； they did not set the
protection…wires。 From the shortness of the nights； they divided
them into only two watches of from two hours to two and a half
each； so that； even when constant watch duty was necessary； each
man had one full night's sleep in three。 On this occasion
Ayrault and Cortlandt were the watchers； Cortlandt having the
morning and Ayrault the evening watch。 Many curious quadruped
birds； about the size of large bears； and similar in shape；
having bear…shaped heads； and several creatures that looked like
the dragons； flew about them in the moonlight； but neither
watcher fired a shot； as the creatures showed no desire to make
an attack。 All these species seemed to belong to the owl or bat
tribe； for they roamed abroad at night。
CHAPTER V。
AYRAULT'S VISION。
When Ayrault's watch was ended； he roused Cortlandt； who took his
place； and feeling a desire for solitude and for a last long look
at the earth； he crossed the top of the ridge on the slope of
which they had camped； and lay down on the farther side。 The
South wind in the upper air rushed along in the mighty whirl；
occasionally carrying filmy clouds across the faces of the moons；
but about Ayrault all was still； and he felt a quiet and serene
repose。 He had every intention of remaining awake； and was
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