A Journey in Other Worlds [50]
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
it--for they wished to return to the Callisto by completing the
circle they had begun--they 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
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
it--for they wished to return to the Callisto by completing the
circle they had begun--they 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