登陆注册
5302100000032

第32章 BOOK II.(8)

Asteroids........................................................

Jupiter.95528.........0.221.292.5540.9811/2Saturn..102917.........0.130.631.1518.5327Uranus.................0.181.410.9114.6102(?)Neptune..................0.2000.8814.2.....

-----------------------------------------------------------------"You see,"Ayrault explained,"on Jupiter we shall need our apergetic outfits to enable us to make long marches,while on Saturn they will not be necessary,the increase in our weight as a result of that planet's size being considerably less than the usual load carried by the Roman soldier.""I do not imagine,"said Cortlandt,"we should long be troubled by gravitation without our apergetic outfits even on Jupiter,for,though our weight will be more than doubled,we can take off one quarter of the whole by remaining near the equator,their rapid rotation having apparently been given providentially to all the large planets.Nature will adapt herself to this change,as to all others,very readily.Although the reclamation of the vast areas of the North American Arctic Archipelago,Alaska,Siberia,and Antarctic Wilkes Land,from the death-grip of the ice in which they have been held will relieve the pressure of population for another century,at the end of that time it will surely be felt again;it is therefore a consolation to feel that the mighty planets Jupiter and Saturn,which we are coming to look upon as our heritage,will not crush the life out of any human beings by their own weight that may alight upon them."Before going to bed that evening they decided to be up early the next day,to study Jupiter,which was already a brilliant object.

The following morning,on awakening,they went at once to their observatory,and found that Jupiter's disk was plainly visible to the naked eye,and before night it seemed as large as the full moon.

They then prepared to check the Callisto's headlong speed,which Jupiter's attraction was beginning to increase.When about two million miles from the great planet,which was considerably on their left,they espied Callisto ahead and slightly on their right,as Deepwaters had calculated it would be.Applying a mild repulsion to this--which was itself quite a world,with its diameter of over three thousand miles,though evidently as cold and dead as the earth's old moon--they retarded their forward rush,knowing that the resulting motion towards Jupiter would be helped by the giant's pull.Wishing to be in good condition for their landing,they divided the remainder of the night into watches,two going to sleep at a time,the man on duty standing by to control the course and to get photographic negatives,on which,when they were developed,they found two crescent-shaped continents,a speckled region,and a number of islands.By 7A.

M.,according to Eastern standard time,they were but fifty thousand miles from Jupiter's surface,the gigantic globe filling nearly one side of the sky.In preparation for a sally,they got their guns and accoutrements ready,and then gave a parting glance at the car.Their charge of electricity for developing the repulsion seemed scarcely touched,and they had still an abundant supply of oxygen and provisions.The barometer registered twenty-nine inches,showing that they had not lost much air in the numerous openings of the vestibule.The pressure was about what would be found at an altitude of a few hundred feet,part of the rarefaction being no doubt due to the fact that they did not close the windows until at a considerable height above Van Cortlandt Park.

They saw they should alight in a longitude on which the sun had just risen,the rocky tops of the great mountains shining like helmets in its rays.Soon they felt a sharp checking of their forward motion,and saw,from the changed appearance of the stars and the sun,that they had entered the atmosphere of their new home.

Not even did Columbus,standing at the prow of the Santa Maria,with the New World before him,feel the exultation and delight experienced by these latter-day explorers of the twenty-first century.Their first adventures 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.

同类推荐
  • 渠丘耳梦录

    渠丘耳梦录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 证道一贯真机易简录

    证道一贯真机易简录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大威仪请问

    大威仪请问

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • BLIX

    BLIX

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 证治准绳·幼科

    证治准绳·幼科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 地心游记(语文新课标课外必读第四辑)

    地心游记(语文新课标课外必读第四辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 重生之嫡女狂妃

    重生之嫡女狂妃

    她曾经是大周的一介民女,因为个性懦弱,识人不明,而被自己亲姐姐和外人合谋害死,重生后她想要自强自己,报仇雪恨,拿回自己应得的,然而不知怎的阴差阳错,做了众人膜拜的大周圣人,还被那个死都不愿意娶她的男人抢去做了王妃,不止姐妹陷害,宗族排挤,父母抛弃,还惹得诸臣弹劾,被废冷宫。也罢,她这个连六国江山都能窃取的她,还怕几道迂腐秀才的折子?她一定要名正言顺的拿回所有,本该属于自己的一切,做掌控天下的女人。
  • 天围

    天围

    一道天雷让神棍魏长宁穿越到道元大陆,灵气苏醒大时代来临,他是正统道门的宗主,却一路狂修成一统幽冥的大魔王。
  • 民间歌手

    民间歌手

    刚刚从乡上开会回来的村支书说,今年“五·一”劳动节期间,乡上要举办一次“劳动者之歌”歌王演唱大赛,全乡干部群众都可以报名参加。不仅如此,为了促进农村精神文明建设,让农村群众共享文化盛宴,乡上还明文规定,每个村至少要选派一名以上代表参加这次歌王大赛,这项工作要和村“两委”的年终考核挂钩,作为本年度的一个政绩工程来考评。据村支书在村民小组长会议上的说法,这次“劳动者之歌”歌王大赛,乡上的领导非常重视,目的是为了通过劳动者的歌声来体现全乡劳动人民的精神风貌。
  • 高血脂科学保健指南

    高血脂科学保健指南

    由于脂肪代谢或运转异常使血浆一种或多种脂质高于正常称为高脂血症,继发性多发生于代谢性紊乱疾病或与其他因素年龄、性别、季节、饮酒、吸烟、饮食、体力活动、精神紧张、情绪活动等有关。本书从症状分析入手,涉及中医治疗、药物治疗和饮食治疗,向广大读者介绍科学的预防和治疗高血脂的知识和方法,以增强人们自我保健的意识和能力,让健康掌握在自己手中。
  • 女侠夜明珠

    女侠夜明珠

    这年由温州到雁荡这条路上突然出了两个隐名侠盗,操着关西和四川口音,常时往来出没于温州、乐清、雁荡之间,各穿着一身黑衣,头戴面具,鬓间插着一朵红绒梅花,身手矫捷,动作如飞,曾于一日夜间往来上述三地,专偷大户,人不能近,一任用尽方法,派上许多名捕,休想动他一根毫毛!最厉害是,二人偷盗以前必在事主家中留下梅花标记,有时并还留书,写明须要何种珍物和多少金银,事主胆小,知不能抗,如照所说准备,放在房中或者天井以内,人全避开,还不至于伤人,多受损失。
  • 中国地理博览1

    中国地理博览1

    《中国地理博览(图文版)(套装全4卷)》全面展示中国自然地理知识,生动再现华夏大地的迷人风姿。浓缩中国地理之精华,行走中国,步入充满魔力的、震撼人心的地理秘境。为读者营造了一个感受中国自然无地理和人文环境的良好氛围。
  • 台湾特工头子投诚之后

    台湾特工头子投诚之后

    《参考消息》2002年3月26日周二专刊第九版报道:3月20日清晨六时许,台湾“高检署”大批检调人员兵分三路,同步查抄了台湾《壹周刊》总公司、承印该杂志的秋雨印刷厂及该刊记者谢忠良住处。原因是:将于当日出版的《壹周刊》根据负案在逃的“国安局”前出纳组长刘冠军提供的“极机密”材料,详细报道了该局的“奉天专案”和“当阳专案”,揭露了当局自1994年以来设置秘密经费支持情报活动及大搞“金钱外交”的黑幕。
  • 魔笔盖尔

    魔笔盖尔

    这是一本大幻想类的少儿故事,曾获辽宁省作家协会2005优秀儿童文学奖。书中描写一个叫云童的少年,把电视剧里的孙悟空从电视里唤了下来。孙悟空送给云童一个毫毛做的神奇魔笔,这支名为“盖尔”的魔笔在云童的手里发生了许多有趣的故事。打假、抓坏人、飞到遥过多的未来世界。想象的魅力给小读者带来充分的艺术享受。
  • 阿虎

    阿虎

    阿虎是杨柳从草堆边上捡回来的一条小狗。家里人心疼顾佳林在农村吃苦,他妈妈和姐姐带着锅巴、面条,还有煮好的五香鸡蛋,转了两趟车,坐了一夜火车,走了十里路,来到他下放的村庄。看到妈妈和姐姐,顾佳林别提有多高兴了!他们一起下放的杨柳、白梅、桑树、桃林、唐小凤他们家里都没有来过人,只有他妈、他姐来了,还带来了这么多好吃的东西。顾佳林把大伙儿喊在一起,分给一人一只五香鸡蛋。桑树腼腆地站在那里,手有点不好意思伸出来,顾佳林硬把鸡蛋塞到他的手上。桃林则不客气地接过鸡蛋就往嘴里塞,像猪八戒吃人参果,没尝到味道,已咽肚子里去了。