a journey in other worlds-第29部分

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Arranging　a　double　line　of　electric　wires　in　a　circle　about　the
mastodon　and　themselves；　they　sat　down　and　did　justice　to　the
meal；　with　appetites　that　might　have　dismayed　the　waiting　throng。　
Whenever　a　snake's　head　came　in　contact　with　one　wire；　while　his
tail　touched　the　other；　he　gave　a　spasmodic　leap　and　fell　back
dead。　　If　he　happened　to　fall　across　the　wires；　lie　immediately
began　to　sizzle；　a　cloud　of　smoke　arose；　and　lie　was　reduced　to
ashes。
　　　
〃Any　time　that　we　are　short　of　mastodon　or　other　good　game；〃　said
Ayrault；　〃we　need　not　hunger　if　we　are　not　above　grilled　snake。〃
　　　
All　laughed　at　this；　and　Bearwarden；　drawing　a　whiskey…flask　from
his　pocket；　passed　it　to　his　friends。
　　　
〃When　we　rig　our　fishing…tackle；〃　he　continued；　〃and　have　fresh
fish　for　dinner；　an　entree　of　rattlesnake；　roast　mastodon　for　the
piece　de　resistance；　and　begin　the　whole　with　turtle　soup　and
clams；　of　which　there　must　be　plenty　on　the　ocean　beach；　we　shall
want　to　stay　here　the　rest　of　our　lives。〃
　　　
〃I　suspect　we　shall　have　to；〃　replied　Ayrault　〃for　we　shall
become　so　like　Thanksgiving　turkeys　that　the　Callisto's　door　will
be　too　small　for　us。〃
　　　
While　they　sat　and　talked；　the　flowers　and　plants　about　them
softly　began　their　song；　and；　as　a　visual　accompaniment；　the
fire…flies　they　had　not　before　noticed　twinkled　through　the
forest。
　　　
〃My　goodness！　〃　exclaimed　Cortlandt；　〃how　time　goes　here！　　We
started　to　get　breakfast；　and　now　it's　growing　dark。〃
　　　
Hastily　cutting　some　thick　but　tender　slices　from　the　mastodon；
and　impaling　them　with　the　remains　of　the　heart　on　a　sharpened
stake；　they　took　up　the　wires；　and　the　battery　that　had　been
supplying　the　current；　and　retraced　their　steps　by　the　way　they
had　come。　　Their　rubber…lined　cowhide　boots　protected　them　from
all　but　the　largest　snakes；　and　as　these　were　for　the　most　part
already　enjoying　their　gorge；　they　trampled　with　impunity　on
those　that　remained　in　their　path。　　When　they　had　covered　about
half　the　distance　to　the　raft；　a　huge　boa…constrictor；　which　they
had　mistaken　for　a　branch；　fell　upon　Cortlandt；　pinioning　his
arms　and　bearing　him　to　the　ground。　　Dropping　their　loads；
Bearwarden　and　Ayrault　threw　themselves　upon　the　monster　with
their　hunting…knives　with　such　vim　that　in　a　few　seconds　it　beat
a　hasty　retreat；　leaving；　as　it　did　so；　a　wake　of　phosphorescent
light。
　　　
〃Are　you　hurt？〃　asked　Bearwarden；　helping　him　up。
　　　
〃Not　in　the　least；〃　replied　Cortlandt。　　〃What　surprises　me　is
that　I　am　not。　　The　weight　of　that　boa…constrictor　would　be　very
great　on　earth；　and　here　I　should　think　it　would　be　simply
crushing。〃
　　　
Groping　their　way　through　the　rapidly　growing　darkness；　they
reached　the　raft　without　further　adventure；　and；　once　on　the
lake；　had　plenty　of　light。　　Two　moons；　one　at　three　quarters　and
the　other　full；　shone　brightly；　while　the　water　was　alive　with
gymnotuses　and　other　luminous　creatures。　　Sitting　and　living　upon
the　cross…timbers；　they　looked　up　at　the　sky。　　The　Great　Bear　and
the　north　star　had　exactly　the　same　relation　to　each　other　as
when　seen　from　the　earth；　while　the　other　constellations　and　the
Milky　Way　looked　identically　as　when　they　had　so　often　gazed　at
them　before；　and　some　idea　of　the　immensity　of　space　was　conveyed
to　them。　　Here　was　no　change；　though　they　had　travelled　three
hundred　and　eighty　million　miles；　there　was　no　more　perceptible
difference　than　if　they　had　not　moved　a　foot。　　Perhaps；　they
thought；　to　the　telescopesif　there　are　anyamong　the　stars；
the　sun　was　seen　to　be　accompanied　by　two　small；　dark　companions；
for　Jupiter　and　Saturn　might　be　visible；　or　perhaps　it　seemed
merely　as　a　slightly　variable　star；　in　years　when　sun…spots　were
numerous；　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　re