A Journey in Other Worlds [45]
on landing the reader already
knows.
CHAPTER V.
EXPLORATION AND EXCITEMENT.
When they awoke, the flowers were singing with the volume of a
cathedral organ, the chant rising from all around them, and the
sun was already above the horizon. Finding a deep natural
spring, in which the water was at about blood-heat, they prepared
for breakfast by taking a bath, and then found they had brought
nothing to eat.
"It was stupid of us not to think of it," said Bearwarden, "yet
it will be too much out of our way to return to the Callisto."
"We have two rifles and a gun," said Ayrault, "and have also
plenty of water, and wood for a fire. All we need is game."
"The old excuse, that it has been already shot out, cannot hold
here," said Cortlandt.
"Seeing that we have neither wings nor pneumatic legs, and not
knowing the advantage given us by our rifles," added Bearwarden,
"it should not be shy either. So far," he continued, "we have
seen nothing edible, though just now we should not be too
particular; but near a spring like this that kind must exist."
"The question is," said the professor, "whether the game like
warm water. If we can follow this stream till it has been on the
surface for some time, or till it spreads out, we shall doubtless
find a huntsman's paradise."
"A bright idea," said Bearwarden. "Let's have our guns ready,
and, as old Deepwaters would say, keep our weather eye open."
The stream flowed off in a southeasterly direction, so that by
following it they went towards the volcanoes.
"It is hard to realize," said the professor, "that those
mountains must be several hundred miles away, for the reason that
they are almost entirely above the horizon. This apparent
flatness and wide range of vision is of course the result of
Jupiter's vast size. With sufficiently keen sight, or aided by a
good glass, there is no reason why one should not see at least
five hundred miles, with but a slight elevation."
"It is surprising," said Ayrault, "that in what is evidently
Jupiter's Carboniferous period the atmosphere should be so clear.
Our idea has been that at that time on earth the air was heavy
and dense."
"So it was, and doubtless is here," replied Cortlandt; "but you
must remember that both those qualities would be given it by
carbonic-acid gas, which is entirely invisible and transparent.
No gas that would be likely to remain in the air would interfere
with sight; water vapour is the only thing that could; and though
the crust of this planet, even near the surface, is still hot,
the sun being so distant, the vapour would not be, raised much.
By avoiding low places near hot springs, we shall doubtless have
very nearly as clear an atmosphere as on earth. What does
surprise me is the ease with which we breathe. I can account for
it only by supposing that, the Carboniferous period being already
well advanced, most of the carbonic acid is already locked up in
the forests or in Jupiter's coal-beds."
"How, asked Bearwarden, "do you account for the 'great red spot'
that appeared here in 1878, lasted several years, and then
gradually faded? It was taken as unmistakable evidence that
Jupiter's atmosphere was filled with impenetrable banks of cloud.
In fact, you remember many of the old books said we had probably
never seen the surface."
"That has puzzled me very much," replied Cortlandt, "but I never
believed the explanation then given was correct. The
Carboniferous period is essentially one of great forest growth;
so there would be nothing out of the way in supposing the spot,
notwithstanding its length of twenty-seven thousand miles and its
breadth of eight thousand miles, to have been forest. It
occurred in what would correspond to the temperate region on
earth. Now, though the axis of this planet is practically
straight, the winds of course change their direction, and so the
temperature does vary from day to day. What is more probable
than
knows.
CHAPTER V.
EXPLORATION AND EXCITEMENT.
When they awoke, the flowers were singing with the volume of a
cathedral organ, the chant rising from all around them, and the
sun was already above the horizon. Finding a deep natural
spring, in which the water was at about blood-heat, they prepared
for breakfast by taking a bath, and then found they had brought
nothing to eat.
"It was stupid of us not to think of it," said Bearwarden, "yet
it will be too much out of our way to return to the Callisto."
"We have two rifles and a gun," said Ayrault, "and have also
plenty of water, and wood for a fire. All we need is game."
"The old excuse, that it has been already shot out, cannot hold
here," said Cortlandt.
"Seeing that we have neither wings nor pneumatic legs, and not
knowing the advantage given us by our rifles," added Bearwarden,
"it should not be shy either. So far," he continued, "we have
seen nothing edible, though just now we should not be too
particular; but near a spring like this that kind must exist."
"The question is," said the professor, "whether the game like
warm water. If we can follow this stream till it has been on the
surface for some time, or till it spreads out, we shall doubtless
find a huntsman's paradise."
"A bright idea," said Bearwarden. "Let's have our guns ready,
and, as old Deepwaters would say, keep our weather eye open."
The stream flowed off in a southeasterly direction, so that by
following it they went towards the volcanoes.
"It is hard to realize," said the professor, "that those
mountains must be several hundred miles away, for the reason that
they are almost entirely above the horizon. This apparent
flatness and wide range of vision is of course the result of
Jupiter's vast size. With sufficiently keen sight, or aided by a
good glass, there is no reason why one should not see at least
five hundred miles, with but a slight elevation."
"It is surprising," said Ayrault, "that in what is evidently
Jupiter's Carboniferous period the atmosphere should be so clear.
Our idea has been that at that time on earth the air was heavy
and dense."
"So it was, and doubtless is here," replied Cortlandt; "but you
must remember that both those qualities would be given it by
carbonic-acid gas, which is entirely invisible and transparent.
No gas that would be likely to remain in the air would interfere
with sight; water vapour is the only thing that could; and though
the crust of this planet, even near the surface, is still hot,
the sun being so distant, the vapour would not be, raised much.
By avoiding low places near hot springs, we shall doubtless have
very nearly as clear an atmosphere as on earth. What does
surprise me is the ease with which we breathe. I can account for
it only by supposing that, the Carboniferous period being already
well advanced, most of the carbonic acid is already locked up in
the forests or in Jupiter's coal-beds."
"How, asked Bearwarden, "do you account for the 'great red spot'
that appeared here in 1878, lasted several years, and then
gradually faded? It was taken as unmistakable evidence that
Jupiter's atmosphere was filled with impenetrable banks of cloud.
In fact, you remember many of the old books said we had probably
never seen the surface."
"That has puzzled me very much," replied Cortlandt, "but I never
believed the explanation then given was correct. The
Carboniferous period is essentially one of great forest growth;
so there would be nothing out of the way in supposing the spot,
notwithstanding its length of twenty-seven thousand miles and its
breadth of eight thousand miles, to have been forest. It
occurred in what would correspond to the temperate region on
earth. Now, though the axis of this planet is practically
straight, the winds of course change their direction, and so the
temperature does vary from day to day. What is more probable
than