Withoutawaitingafullreturnoflight,thetravellersproceededontheirway,andhadgonesomethingoverahundredyardswhenAyrault,whowasmarchingsecond,suddenlygraspedBearwarden,whowasinfront,andpointedtoajet—blackmassstraightahead,andaboutthirtyyardsfromapoolofwarmwater,fromwhichacloudofvapourarose。Thetopoftheheadwasaboutsevenfeethigh,andthelengthofthebodyexceededthirtyfeet。Thesixlegslookedasstrongassteelcables,andwereaboutafootthrough,whileahuge,bonyproboscisninefeetinlengthprecededthebody。Thiswascarriedhorizontallybetweentwoandthreefeetfromtheground。Presentlyalargegroundslothcametothepooltodrink,lappingupthewateratthesidesthathadpartlycooled。Inaninstanttheblackarmoredmonsterrusheddowntheslopewiththespeedofanineteenth—centurylocomotive,andseemedaboutasformidable。Theslothturnedinthedirectionofthesound,andforamomentseemedparalyzedwithfear;itthenstartedtorun,butitwastoolate,forthenextsecondtheenormouslyexaggeratedant——forsuchitwas——overtookit。Thehugemandibleshearsthatwhenclosedhadformedtheproboscis,snappedviciously,takingoffthesloth\'slegsandthencuttingitsbodytoslivers。Theexecutionwasfinishedinafewseconds,andtheponderousinsectcarriedbackabouthalftheslothtoitshiding—place,whereitleisurelydevouredit。
\"Thisremindsme,\"saidBearwarden,\"oftheoldladywhonevercompletedherpreparationsforturninginwithoutsearchingforburglarsunderthebed。Finallyshefoundone,andexclaimedindelight,\'I\'vebeenlookingforyoufiftyyears,andatlastyouarehere！\'Thequestionis,nowthatwehavefoundourburglar,whatshallwedowithhim？\"
\"Iconstantlyregretnothavingarifle,\"repliedCortlandt,\"thoughitisdoubtfulifeventhatwouldhelpushere。\"
\"Letussitdownandwait,\"saidAyrault;\"theremaybeanopeningsoon。\"
Anonawoollyrhinoceros,resemblingtheRhinocerostichorhinusthatexistedcontemporaneouslyonearthwiththemammoth,cametodrinkthewaterthathadpartlycooled。Itwasitselfaformidable—lookingbeast,butinaninstantthemonsteragainrushedfromconcealmentwiththesametremendousspeed。Therhinocerosturnedinthedirectionofthesound,and,loweringitshead,facedthefoe。Theant\'sshears,however,passedbeneaththehorn,and,fasteningupontheleftforeleg,cutitoffwithaloudsnap。
\"Nowisourchance,\"exclaimedCortlandt;\"wemaykillthebrutebeforeheisthroughwiththerhinoceros。\"
\"Stopabit,doctor,\"saidBearwarden。\"Wehaveagoodrecordsofar;letuskeepupourreputationforbeingsports。Waittillhecanattendtous。\"
Theencounterwasoverinlessthanaminute,threeoftherhinoceros\'slegsbeingtakenoff,andtheheadalmostseveredfromthebody。Takingupthelegsinitsmandibles,themurderouscreaturewasreturningtoitslair,when,withthecryof\"Nowforthefray！\"Bearwardenaimedbeneaththebodyandblewoffoneofthefartherarmouredlegs,fromtheinside。
\"Shootoffthelegsonthesameside,\"hecounselledAyrault,whilehehimselfkeptuparapidfire。Cortlandttriedtodisconcerttheenemybyrainingduck—shotonitsscale—protectedeyes,whilethetworiflestoreoffgreatmassesofthehornthatcoveredtheenormouslypowerfullegs。Themenseparatedastheyretreated,knowingthatoneslashofthegreatshearswouldcuttheirthreebodiesinhalvesiftheywerecaughttogether。Themonsterhaddroppedtheremainsoftherhinoceroswhenattacked,andmadeforthehuntersatitstopspeed,whichwassomewhatreducedbythelossofoneleg。Beforeitcamewithincuttingdistance,however,anotheronthesamesidewasgone,Ayraulthavinglandedabulletonaspotalreadystrippedofarmour。
Afterthisthemenhadnodifficultyinkeepingoutofitsway,thoughitstillmovedwithsomespeed,snippingoffyoungtreesinitspathlikegrass。Finally,havingblownthescalesfromoneeye,thetravellerssentinabulletthatexplodedinthebrainandendeditscareer。
\"Thishasbeenbyalloddsthemostexcitinghuntwehavehad,\"
saidAyrault,\"bothonaccountofthedeterminednatureandgreatspeedoftheattack,andthealmostimpossibilityoffindingavulnerablespot。\"
\"Anythingshortofexplosivebullets,\"addedBearwarden,\"wouldhavebeenpowerlessagainstthisbeast,forthearmourinmanyplacesisnearlyafootthick。\"
\"Thisisalsothemostextraordinaryaswellasmostdangerouscreaturewithwhichwehave,hadtodeal,\"saidCortlandt,\"becauseitisanenormouslyenlargedinsect,withalltheinherentferocityandstrength。ItisalmosttheexactcounterpartofanAfricansoldier—antmagnifiedmanyhundredthousandtimes。Iwonder,\"hecontinuedthoughtfully,\"ifourlatter—dayinsectsmaynotbethedeteriorated（inpointofsize）
descendantsofthemonstersofmythologyandgeology,fornothingcouldbeamoreterribleorferociousantagonistthanmanyofourwell—knowninsects,ifsufficientlyenlarged。Noanimalnowalivehasmorethanasmallfractionofthestrength,inproportiontoitssize,oftheminutestspiderorflea。Itmaybethatthroughlackoffood,difficultiesimposedbychangingclimate,andthenecessityofburrowinginwinter,orthroughsomeotherconditionschangedfromwhattheywereaccustomedto,theirsizehasbeenreduced,andthatthefire—flies,hugeastheyseemed,areastepinadvanceofthisspecimeninthemarchofdeteriorationorinvolution,whichwillendbymakingthemasinsignificantasthoseonearth。Theseantshaveprobablycomeintothewoodstolaytheireggs,for,fromthebehaviouroftheanimalswewatchedfromtheturtle,theremusthavebeenseveral;
orperhapsawarisinprogressbetweenthoseofadifferentcolour,asonearth,inwhichcasethewoodsmaybefullofthem。
Doubtlessthereasontheturtleseemedsounconcernedatthegeneraluneasinessoftheanimalswasbecauseheknewhecouldmakehimselfinvulnerabletothemarauderbysimplyclosinghisshell,andwewereunmolestedbecauseitdidnotoccurtotheantthatanysoft—shelledcreaturescouldbeontheturtle\'sback。\"
\"Ithink,\"saidBearwarden,\"itwillbethepartofwisdomtoreturntotheCallisto,anddotherestofourexploringonJupiterfromasafeheight;for,thoughwesucceededindisablingthisbeauty,itwaslargelythroughluck,andhadwenotdonesoweshouldprobablyhaveprovidedabonboucheforourdeceasedfriend,insteadofstandingathisgrave。\"
Accordinglytheyproceeded,andweredelighted,afewminuteslater,toseethesunlightreflectedfromtheprojectile\'spolishedroof。
CHAPTERX。
CHANGINGLANDSCAPES。
OnreachingtheCallisto,Ayraultworkedthelockhehadhadplacedonthelowerdoor,which,toavoidcarryingakey,wasopenedbyacombination。Thecar\'sinteriorwasexactlyastheyhadleftit,andtheyweregladtobeinitagain。
\"Now,\"saidBearwarden,\"wecanhaveasoundandundisturbedsleep,whichiswhatIwantmorethananythingelse。Noprowlerscantroubleushere,andweshallnotneedtheprotection—wires。\"
Theythenopenedawindowineachside——forthelargeglassplates,admittingthesunwhenclosed,madetheCallistoratherwarm——andplacedastoutwirenettingwithinthemtokeepoutbirdsandbats,andthen,thoughitwasbutlittlepastnoon,gotintotheircomfortablebedsandsleptninehoursatastretch。
Theirstrongmetalhousewassecurelyatrest,receivingthesunlightandsheddingtherainanddewasitmighthavedoneonearth。Nowindsorstorms,lightningsorfloods,couldtroubleit,whilethemultiformedmonstersofantiquityandmythologyrestoredinlife,withwhichtheterrestrialshadbeenthrownintosuchclosecontact,roamedaboutitspolishedwalls。Noteventhefiercestcouldaffectthem,andtheywouldbutseethemselvesreflectedinanyvainassaults。Thedomedsymmetricalcylinderstoodthereasamonumenttohumaningenuityandskill,andthetravellers\'lastthoughtastheyfellasleepwas,\"Manisreallylordofcreation。\"
Thefollowingdayataboutnoontheyawoke,andhadabathinthewarmpool。Theysawthearmouredmassofthegreatantevidentlyundisturbed,whilethebodiesofitsvictimswerealreadyshiningskeletons,andraisedasmallcairnofstonesinmemoryofthestruggletheyhadhadthere。
\"WeshouldnamethisplaceKentucky,\"saidBearwarden,\"foritisindeedadarkandbloodyground,\"and,seeingtheaptnessoftheappellation,theyentereditsoontheircharts。WhileAyraultgotthebatteriesinshapeforresumingwork。Bearwardenpreparedasubstantialbreakfast。Thisconsistedofoatmealandcreamkepthermeticallysealedinglass,adishofroastgrouse,coffee,pilotbread,abottleofSauterne,andanotherofRhinewine。
\"Thisisthelastmealweshalltakehereabouts,\"saidtheircook,astheypliedtheirknivesandforksbeneaththetrees,\"sohereisatoasttoouradventures,andtoallthegamewehavekilled。\"Theydrainedtheirglassesindrinkingthis,afterwhichBearwardenregaledthemwiththelatestconcert—hallsongwhichhehadathistongue\'send。
Aboutanhourbeforedarktheyre—enteredtheirprojectile,and,asamarkofrespecttotheirlittleship,namedthegreatbranchofthecontinentonwhichtheyhadalightedCallistoPoint。Theythengotunderway。ThebatterieshadtodevelopalmosttheirmaximumpowertoovercomeJupiter\'sattraction;buttheywereequaltothetask,andtheCallistowassoonintheair。
Directingtheirapergytothemountainstowardstheinteriorofthecontinent,andapplyingrepulsiontoanyridgeorhilloverwhichtheypassed,therebyeasingtheworkofthebatteriesengagedinsupportingtheCallisto,theyweresoonsweepingalongatseventy—fivetoonehundredmilesanhour。Bykeepingtheprojectilejuststronglyenoughchargedtoneutralizegravitation,theyremainedforthemostpartwithintwohundredfeetoftheground,seldomrisingtoanaltitudeofmorethanamile,andwerethereforeabletokeepthewindowsatthesidesopenandsoobtainanunobstructedview。If,however,atanytimetheyfeltoppressedbyJupiter\'shighbarometricpressure,andpreferredtheterrestrialconditions,theyhadbuttorisetillthebarometerfelltothirty。Then,ifanobjectofinterestrecalledthemtosea—level,theycouldkeeptheCallisto\'sinsidepressureatwhattheyfoundontheJovianmountains,byscrewingupthewindows。Onaccountofthedistanceofsixty—fourthousandmilesfromJupiter\'sequatortothepole,theycalculatedthatgoingatthespeedofahundredmilesanhour,nightandday,itwouldtakethemtwenty—fiveterrestrialdaystoreachthepoleevenfromlatitudetwodegreesatwhichtheystarted。Buttheyknewthat,ifpressedfortime,theycouldriseabovethelimitsoftheatmosphere,andmovewithplanetaryspeed;while,iftheywishedastilleasiermethodofpursuingtheirobservation,theyhadbuttoremainpoisedbetweenthesunandJupiter,beyondthelatter\'supperair,andphotographormapitasitrevolvedbeforethem。
Bysunsettheyhadgoneahundredmiles。Wishingtopushalong,theyclosedthewindows,rosehighertoavoidanymountain—topsthatmightbeinvisibleinthemoonlight,andincreasedtheirspeed。Theairmadeagentlehummingsoundastheyshotthroughit,andtowardsmorningtheysawseveralbrightpointsoflightinwhichtheyrecognized,bytheaidoftheirglasses,sheetsofflameandtorrentsofmoltenglowinglava,burstingatintervalsorpouringsteadilyfromseveralvolcanoes。Fromthistheyconcludedtheywereagainnearanocean,sincevolcanoesneedthepresenceofalargebodyofwatertoprovidesteamfortheireruptions。
Withtherisingsuntheyfoundthesceneofthedaybeforeentirelychanged。Theywereovertheshoreofavastoceanthatextendedtotheleftasfarastheycouldsee,fortherangeofvisionoftenexceededthepowerofsight。Thecoast—lineranalmostduenorthandsouth,whilethevolcanoesthatdottedit,andthathadbeenluminousduringthenight,nowrevealedtheirnatureonlybylinesofsmokeandvapours。Theywerestruckbytheboldnessandabruptnessofthescenery。Themountainsandcliffshadbeenbutlittlecutdownbywaterandfrostaction,andseemedinthefullvigouroftheiryouth,whichwaswhatthetravellershadarighttoexpectonaglobethatwasstillcoolingandshrinking,andconsequentlythrowingupridgesintheshapeofmountainsfarmorerapidlythanaplanetasmaturedandquiescentastheearth。TheabsenceoflakesalsoshowedthemthattherehadbeennoGlacialperiod,inthelatitudestheywerecrossing,foraverylongtime。
\"Wecanaccountfortheabsenceofice—actionandscratches,\"
saidCortlandt,\"inoneoftwoways。Eithertheproximityoftheinternalheattothesurfacepreventswaterfromfreezinginalllatitudes,orJupiter\'saxishasalwaysbeenverynearlyperpendiculartoitsorbit,andconsequentlythethermometerhasneverbeenmuchbelowthirty—twodegreesFahrenheit;for,attheconsiderabledistancewearenowfromthesun,itiseasytoconceivethat,withtheaxismuchinclined,theremightbecoldweather,duringtheNorthernhemisphere\'swinter,thatwouldlastforaboutsixofouryears,evenasneartheequatorasthis。
Thesubstantiationofanice—capatthepolewilldisprovethefirsthypothesis;forwhatwetookforicebeforealightingmayhavebeenbutbanksofcloud,since,havingbeenintheplaneoftheplanet\'sequatoratthetime,wehadnaturallybutaveryobliqueviewofthepoles;whiletheabsenceofglacialscratchesshows,Itakeit,thatthoughtheaxismayhavebeenagooddealmoreinclinedthanatpresent,ithasnot,atalleventssinceJupiter\'sPalaeozoicperiod,beenasmuchsoasthatofUranusorVenus。ThelandonJupiter,correspondingtotheLaurentianHillsonearth,mustevenherehaveappearedatsoremoteaperiodthatthefirstsurfaceitshowedmustlongsincehavebeenwornaway,andthereforeanyimpressionsitreceivedhavealsobeenerased。
\"Comparingthislandwiththephotographswetookfromspace,I
shouldsayitistheeasternofthetwocrescent—shapedcontinentswefoundapparentlyfacingeachother。TheirpresentformItaketobeonlytheskeletonoutlineofwhattheywillbeatthenextperiodofJupiter\'sdevelopment。Theywill,I
predict,becomemorelikehalfmoonsthancrescents,thoughtheprofilemaybemuchindentedbygulfsandbays,theirsuperficialareabeinggreatlyincreased,andtheinterveningoceancorrespondinglynarrowed。WeknowthatNorthAmericahadaverydifferentshapeduringtheCretaceousoreventheMiddleTertiaryperiodfromwhatithasnow,andthattheGulfofMexicoextendedupthevalleyoftheMississippiasfarastheOhio,bythepresenceofagreatcoralreefintheOhioRivernearCincinnati。
WeknowalsothatFloridaandtheSoutheasternAtlanticStatesareaveryrecentadditiontothecontinent,whilethepampasoftheArgentineRepublichave,inageologicalsense,butjustbeenupheavedfromthesea,bythefactthattheriversareallonthesurface,nothavinghadtimetocutdowntheirchannelsbelowthesurroundingcountry。Bysimilarreasoning,weknowthatthecanonoftheColoradoisaveryoldregion,thoughtheprecipitatenessofitsbanksisduetotheabsenceofrain,foralocalwater—supplywouldcutbackthebanks,havingmosteffectwheretheyweresteepest,sinceatthosepointsitwouldmovewiththegreatestspeed。Thusthemajesticcanonowesitsexistencetotwothings:thelengthoftimetheriverhasbeenatwork,andthefactthatthewaterflowingthroughitcomesfromanotherregionwhere,ofcourse,thereisrain,andthatitismerelyintransit,andsoaffectsonlythebedonwhichitmoves。
Grantingthatthisistheeasternofthetwocontinentsweobserved,itevidentlycorrespondsmoreinshapetotheEasternhemisphereonearththantotheNewWorld,bothofwhicharesetfacingoneanother,sincebothdraintowardstheAtlanticOcean。
Buttheanalogyhereholdsalso,forthepastoutlinesoftheEasternhemispheredifferedradicallyfromwhattheyarenow。
TheMediterraneanSeawasformerlyoffargreaterextentthanweseeitto—day,andcoverednearlythewholeofnorthernAfricaandtheoldupheavedsea—bottomthatweseeintheDesertofSahara。Muchofthisgreatdesert,asweknow,hasaconsiderableelevation,thoughpartofitisstillbelowtheleveloftheMediterranean。
\"Perhapsamorestrikingproofofthisthanaretheremainsoffishesandmarinelifethatarefoundthere,isthedearthofnaturalharboursandindentationsinAfrica\'snortherncoast,whilejustopposite,insouthernEurope,thereareanynumber;
whichshowsthatnotenoughtimehaselapsedsinceAfrica\'supheavalforliquidorcongealedwatertoproducethem。ManyofEurope\'sbestharbours,andBoston\'s,inourcountry,havebeendugoutbyslowice—actionintheoft—recurringGlacialperiods。
TheBlackandCaspianSeaswerelargerthanwenowfindthem;
whiletheAdriaticextendedmuchfartherintothecontinent,coveringmostofthecountrynowinthevalleyofthePo。InEuropethelandhas,ofcourse,risenalso,butsoslowlythattherivershavebeenabletokeeptheirchannelscutdown;proofoftheirabilitytoperformwhichfeatweseewhenanancientriverpassesthrougharidgeofhillsormountains。Theriverhaddoubtlessbeentherelongbeforethemountainsbegantorise,buttheirelevationwassogradualthattherateoftheriver\'scuttingdownequalledorexceededtheircomingup;proofofwhichwehaveinthepatentfactthattheancientriver\'scourseremainsunchanged,andisatrightanglestothemountainchain。
FromallofwhichweseethattheEasternhemisphere\'screscenthollow——ofwhich,Itakeit,theMediterranean,Black,andCaspianSeadepressionsaretheremains——hasbeengraduallyfilledin,bytheelevationofthesea\'sbottom,andtheextensionofdeltasfromthedetritalmatterbroughtfromthehighinteriorofthecontinentsbytherivers,orbythecombinedactionofthetwo。Now,sincetheGulfofMexicohasbeenconstantlygrowingsmaller,andtheMediterraneanisbeinginvadedbytheland,Ireasonthatsimilarcauseswillproducelikeeffectshere,andgivetoeachcontinentanareafargreaterthanourentireglobe。Thestormyoceanwebeholdinthewest,whichcorrespondstoourAtlantic,thoughitisfarmoreofamareclausuminthegeographicalsense,isalsodestinedtobecomeacalmandplacidinlandsea。Thereare,ofcourse,modificationsofandcheckstothelawstendingtoincreasethelandarea。Englandwasformerlyjoinedtothecontinent,thelandconnectingthetwohavingbeenratherwashedawaybythewavesandgreattidesthanbyanysinkingoftheEnglishChannel\'sbottom,thewholeofwhichiscomparativelyshallow。
AnothercaseofthiskindisseeninCapeCodandtheislandsofMartha\'sVineyardandNantucket,allofwhicharewashingawaysorapidlythattheywouldprobablydisappearbeforethenextGlacialperiod,werewenotengagedinpreventingitsrecurrence。
Thesedetachedislandsandsand—barsonceformedonelargeisland,whichatastillearliertimeundoubtedlywasjoinedtothemainland。Thesandsformingthedetachedmassesareinagreatprocessionalmarchtowardstheequator,butitistheresultsimplyofwindsandwaves,therebeingnoindicationofsubsidence。AlongthecoastofNewJerseyweseedenudationandsinkinggoingontogether,thewell—knownSUNKENFORESTbeinganinstanceofthelatter。TheborderofthecontinentproperalsoextendsmanymilesundertheoceanbeforereachingtheedgeoftheAtlanticbasin。Volcaniceruptionssometimesdemolishpartsofheadlandsandislands,thoughtheserecompenseusintheamountofmaterialbroughttothesurface,andintheincreaseddistancetheyenablewatertopenetratebyrelievingtheinteriorofpartofitsheat,foranylandtheymaydestroy。\"
CHAPTERXI。
AJOVIANNIAGARA。
Fourdayslater,aftercrossingaridgeofmountainsthatthepressureontheaneroidbarometershowedtobeaboutthirty—twothousandfeethigh,andastretchofflatcountryafewmilesinwidth,theycametoagreatarmofthesea。Itwasaboutthirtymileswideatitsmouth,whichwasnarrowedliketheneckofabottle,andfartherinlandwasoveronehundredmilesacross,andthoughtheirglasses,theclearair,andtheplanet\'ssizeenabledthemtoseenearlyfivehundredmiles,theycouldnotfinditsend。Intheshallowwateralongitsshores,andontheislandsrisingbutafewfeetabovethewaves,theysawallkindsofamphibiansandsea—monsters。Manyofthesewerealmosttheexactreproductioninlifeofthegiantplesiosaurs,dinosaurs,andelasmosaurs,whoseremainsarepreservedinthemuseumsonearth。Thereptilianbodiesoftheelasmosaurs,seventy—fivefeetinlength,withtheforkedtongues,distendedjawsandfangsofasnake,wereeasilytakenfortheoftendescribedbutprobablymythicalsea—serpent,aspartiallycoiledtheyoccasionallyraisedtheirheadstwelveorfifteenfeet。
\"Maninhisnaturalstate,\"saidCortlandt,\"wouldhavebutsmallchanceofsurvivinglongamongsuchneighbours。Buckland,I
think,onceindulgedinthejeud\'espritofsupposinganichthyosaurlecturingonthehumanskull。\'Youwillatonceperceive,\'saidthelecturer,\'thattheskullbeforeusbelongedtooneofthelowerorderofanimals。Theteethareveryinsignificant,thepowerofthejawstrifling,andaltogetheritseemswonderfulhowthecreaturecouldhaveprocuredfood。\'
Armedwithmodernweapons,andinthismachine,weare,ofcourse,superiortothemostpowerfulmonster;butitisnotlikelythat,hadmanbeensosurroundedduringthewholeofhisevolution,hecouldhavereachedhispresentplane。\"
Notwithstandingthestrikingsimilarityofthesecreaturestotheirterrestrialcounterpartsthatexistedonearthduringitscorrespondingperiod,thereweresomeinterestingmodifications。
Theorgansoflocomotionintheamphibiansweremoredeveloped,whiletheeyesofallwerelarger,theformerbeingofcoursenecessitatedbythepowerofgravity,andthelatterbythegreaterdistancefromthesun。
\"TheadaptabilityandeconomyofNature,\"saidCortlandt,\"havealwaysamazedme。InthetotalblacknessoftheKentuckyMammothCave,whereeyeswouldbeofnousetothefishes,ourcommonmotherhasgiventhemnone;whileifthereisanylight,thoughnotasmuchasweareaccustomedto,shemaybedependedupontorisetotheoccasionbyincreasingthesizeofthepupilandthepoweroftheeye。Inthedevelopmentoftheambulatorymusclesweagainseeherhandiwork,probablybroughtaboutthroughthe\'survivalofthefittest。\'Thefishesandthosewhollyimmersedneednoincreaseinpower,for,thoughtheyweighmorethantheywouldonearth,theweightofthewatertheydisplaceisincreasedatthesameratealso,andtheirbuoyancyremainsunchanged。Ifthedevelopmentoflifeheresocloselyfollowsitslinesonearth,withtheexceptionofcomparativelyslightmodifications,whichareexactlywhat,hadwestoppedtothink,weshouldhaveexpectedtofind,maywenotreasonablyaskwhethershewillnotcontinueontheselines,andintimeproducebeingslikeourselves,butwithmorepowerfulmusclesandeyescapableofseeingclearlywithlesslight？Reasoningbyanalogy,wecancometonootherconclusion,unlesstheiradventisanticipatedbythearrivalofready—madecolonistsfromthemoreadvancedearth,likeourselves。Inthatcaseman,bypursuingthesamedestructivemethodsthathehaspursuedinregardtomanyotherspecies,mayexterminatetheinterveninglinks,andsoarrestevolution。\"
BeforeleavingDeepwatersBaytheysecuredapailofitswater,whichtheyfound,onexamination,containedafarlargerpercentageofsaltandsolidmaterialthantheoceansonearth,whileathermometerthattheyimmediatelyimmersedinitsoonregisteredeighty—fivedegreesFahrenheit;bothofwhichdiscoveriesconfirmedtheminwhattheyalreadyknew,namely,thatJupiterhadadvancedcomparativelylittlefromtheconditioninwhichthewateronthesurfaceishot,inwhichstatetheearthoncewas。
Theyweresoonbeyondtheestuaryatwhichtheyhadstoppedtostudytheformsoflifeandtomakethistest,andkeptonduenorthforseveraldays,occasionallyrisingabovetheair。Astheirfamiliaritywiththeirsurroundingsincreased,theymadenotesofseveralthings。Themountainscoveredfarmoreterritoryattheirbasesthantheterrestrialmountains,andtheywereinplacesveryruggedandshowedvastyawningchasms。Theywerealsowoodedfartheruptheirsides,andborebutlittlesnow;butsofarthetravellershadnotfoundthemmuchhigherthanthoseonearth,thegreatestaltitudebeingthethirty—twothousandfeetsouthofDeepwatersBay,andoneotherridgethatwasfortythousand;sothat,comparedwiththesizeoftheplanetanditscontinents,theyseemedquitesmall,andthecontinentsthemselveswerecomparativelylevel。Theyalsonotedthatspraywasblowninvastsheets,tilltheoceanformileswaswhiteasmilk。Thewindoftenattainedtornadostrength,andthewholesurfaceofthewater,aboutwhatseemedtobethestormcentre,frequentlymovedwithrapidityintheformoffoam。Yet,notwithstandingthis,thewaveswereneveraslargeasthosetowhichtheywereaccustomedonearth。Thistheyaccountedforveryeasilybythefactthat,whilewaterweighed2。55timesasmuchasonearth,thepressureofairwasbutlittlemorethanhalfasmuchagain,andconsequentlyitseffectonallbuttheverysurfaceoftheheavyliquidwascomparativelyslight。
\"Gravityisausefulfactorhere,\"observedCortlandt,astheymadeanoteofthis;\"for,inadditiontogivingimmunityfromwaves,itismosteffectiveincheckingtheelevationofhighmountainsortable—landsinthehighlatitudes,whichweshalldoubtlessfindsufficientlycool,orevencold,whileintropicalregions,whichmightotherwisebetoohot,itinterfereswiththemleast,onaccountofbeingpartlyneutralizedbytherapidrotationwithwhichallfourofthemajorplanetsareblessed。\"
Atsunrisethefollowingmorningtheysawtheywereapproachinganothergreatarmofthesea。Itwasoverathousandmileswideatitsmouth,and,hadnotthephotographsshowedthecontrary,theywouldhavethoughttheCallistohadreachedthenorthernendofthecontinent。Itextendedintothelandfifteenthousandmiles,and,onaccountoftheshapeofitsmouth,theycalleditFunnelBay。Risingtoaheight,theyflewacross,andcametoagreattable—landpeninsula,withachainofmountainsoneitherside。Thesouthernrangewassomethingover,andthenorthernsomethinglessthan,fivethousandfeetinheight,whilethetable—landbetweenslopedalmostimperceptiblytowardsthemiddle,inwhich,astheyexpected,theyfoundarivercomparedtowhichtheMississippiortheAmazonwouldbebutabrook。InhonourofthePresidentoftheTerrestrialAxisStraighteningCompany,theycalledthisgreatprojection,whichaveragedaboutfourthousandmilesacrossbytwelvethousandmileslong,BearwardenPeninsula。Theyalreadynoticedachangeinclimate;
thefernsandpalmsbecamefewer,andweresucceededbypines,whiletheairwasalsoagooddealcooler,whichwaseasilyaccountedforbytheiraltitude——thoughevenatthatheightitwasconsiderablydenserthanatsea—levelonearth——andbythefactthattheywerealreadynearlatitudethirty。
Theexposedpointsontheplateau,asalsothesummitsofthefirstmountainstheyhadseenbeforealighting,weredevoidofvegetation,scarcelysomuchasabladeofgrassbeingvisible。
Sincetheycouldnotaccountforthisbycold,theyconcludedthatthemostprobableexplanationlayinthetremendoushurricanesthat,producedbytheplanet\'srapidrotation,frequentlysweptalongitssurface,liketheearth\'strade—winds,butwithfarmoreviolence。Onreachingthenortherncoastofthepeninsulatheyincreasedtheirelevationandchangedtheircoursetonortheast,notcaringtoremainlongoverthegreatbodyofwater,whichtheynamedCortlandtBay。Thethousandsofmilesoffoamfastflewbeneaththem,thefirstthingattractingtheirattentionbeingachangeintheocean\'scolour。IntheeasternshoreofCortlandtBaytheysoonobservedthemouthofariver,tenmilesacross,fromwhichthistintedwaterissuedinaflood。Onaccountofitscolour,whichremindedthemofastreamtheyknewsowell,theychristenedittheHarlem。
Believingthatanexpeditionupitsvalleymightrevealsomethingofinterest,theybegantheascent,remainingatanelevationofafewhundredfeet。Foraboutthreehundredmilestheyfollowedthisriver,whichhadbutfewbends,whileitssidesbecamemoreandmoreprecipitous,tillitflowedthroughacanonfourandahalfmilesacross。ThoughtheyknewfromthewidediscolorationofCortlandtBaythatthevolumeofwaterdischargedwastremendous,thestreamseldommovedatarateofmorethanfivemilesanhour,andforatimewasfreefromrocksandrapids,fromwhichtheyconcludedthatitmustbeverydeep。Halfanhourlatertheysawacloudofsteamormist,whichexpanded,andalmostobscuredtheskyastheyapproached。Nexttheyheardasoundlikedistantthunder,whichtheytookfortheprolongederuptionofsomegiantcrater,thoughtheyhadnotexpectedtofindonesofartowardstheinteriorofthecontinent。Presentlyitbecameonecontinuousroar,theechointhecanon,whosewallswereatthisplaceoversixhundredfeethigh,beingsimplydeafening,sothattheneardischargeoftheheaviestartillerywouldhavebeencompletelydrowned。
\"Onewouldthinktheendoftheworldwasapproaching！\"shoutedCortlandtthroughhishands。
\"Look！\"Bearwardenroaredback,\"thewindisscatteringthemist。\"
Ashespoke,thevapourycurtainwasdrawnaside,revealingawaterfallofsuchvastproportionsastodwarfcompletelyanythingtheyhadeverseenorevenimagined。Asomewhatopenhorseshoelip,threeandahalfmilesstraightacrossandoverfourmilesfollowingthelineofthecurve,dischargedasheetofwaterfortyfeetthickattheedgeintoanabysssixhundredfeetbelow。Twoislandsonthebrinkdividedthissheetofliquidintothreenearlyequalparts,whilemyriadsofrainbowshoveredinthecloudsofspray。Twothingsespeciallystrucktheobservers:thewatermadebutlittlecurveorsweeponpassingovertheedge,andthenrusheddowntotheabyssatalmostlightningspeed,shiveringitselftoinfinitesimalparticlesonstrikinganyrockorprojectionattheside。Itsbehaviourwas,ofcourse,duetoitsweight,andtothefactthatonJupiterbodiesfall40。98feetthefirstsecond,insteadofsixteenfeet,asonearth,andatcorrespondinglyincreasingspeed。
Findingthattheywerebeingrapidlydazedandstunnedbythenoise,thetravellerscausedtheCallistotoriserapidly,andweresoonsurveyingthesuperbsightfromaconsiderableelevation。Theirmindscouldgraspbutslowlythefullmeaningandtitanicpowerofwhattheysaw,andnoteventhevastfallsintheirnearnesscouldmaketheirsignificanceclear。Herewasasheetofwaterthreeandahalfmileswide,averagingfortyfeetindepth,movingatarapidratetowardsasheerfallofsixhundredfeet。Theyfelt,astheygazedatit,thatthepowerofthatwaterfallwouldturnbackwardeveryengineanddynamoontheearth,anditseemedasifitmightalmostputoutthefiresofthesun。Yetitwasbutanillustrationoftheactionofthesolarorbexertedonavastareaofocean,thevapourintheformofrainbeingafterwardsturnedintothesecomparativelynarrowlimitsbythetopographyofthecontinent。Comparedwiththis,Niagara,withitsdescentoflessthantwohundredfeet,anditsrelativelysmallflowofwater,wouldbebutarivulet,oratbestarapidstream。Reluctantlyleavingthefascinatingspectacle,theypursuedtheirexplorationalongtheriverabovethefalls。Forthefirstfewmilesthesurfaceofthewaterwasnearthatoftheland;therewereoccasionalrapids,butfewrocks,andthefoamingtorrentmovedatgreatspeed,theredsandstonebanksoftheriverbeingaspolishedasthoughtheyhadbeenwaxed。Afterawhiletheobstructionsdisappeared,butthewatercontinuedtorushandsurgealongataspeedoftenortwelvemilesanhour,sothatitwouldbeeasilynavigableonlyforlogsorobjectsmovinginonedirection。Thesurfaceoftheriverwassoononanaveragefiftyfeetbelowtheedgeofthebanks,thisdepressionbeingoneresultofthewater\'srapidmotionandweight,whichfacilitatedthecarvingofitschannel。
Whentheyhadfolloweduptheriveraboutsixtymilestowardsitssourcetheycameuponwhatatfirsthadtheappearanceofanocean。Theyknew,however,fromitselevation,andthefloodcomingfromit,thatthewatermustbefresh,astheysoonfounditwas。Thislakewasaboutthreehundredmileswide,andstretchedfromnortheasttosouthwest。Therewasrollinglandwithhillsaboutitsshores,andthefoliageonthebankswasabeautifulshadeofbluishpurpleinsteadoftheterrestrialubiquitousgreen。
Whennearthegreatlake\'supperend,theypassedthemouthofariverontheirleftside,which,fromitsvolume,theyconcludedmustbetheprincipalsource,andthereforetheydeterminedtotraceit。Theyfoundittobeamostbeautifulstream,averagingtwoandahalfmilesinwidth,evidentlyverydeep,andwithafull,steadycurrent。Afterproceedingforseveralhours,theyfoundthatthegeneralplaciditygrewless,thesmoothsurfaceoccasionallybecameruffledbyprojectingrocksandrapids,andthebanksrosetillthevoyagersagainfoundthemselvesinaravineorcanon。