HOMEWARD BOUND.
Palander's wounds were not serious: the bushman dressed the contused
limbs with herbs, and the worthy astronomer, sustained by his triumph,
was soon able to travel. Any exuberance on his part, however, was of
short duration, and he quickly became again engrossed in his world of
figures. He only now retained one of the registers, because it had been
thought prudent that Emery should take possession of the other. Under
the circumstances, Palander made the surrender with entire good-humour.
The operation of seeking a plain suitable for a base was now resumed.
On the 1st of April the march was somewhat retarded by wide marshes;
to these succeeded numerous pools, whose waters spread a pestilential
odour; but, by forming larger triangles, Colonel Everest and his
companions soon escaped the unhealthy region.
The whole party were in excellent spirits. Zorn and Emery often
congratulated themselves on the apparent concord that existed between
their chiefs. Zorn one day expressed his hope to his friend that when
they returned to Europe they would find that peace had been concluded
between England and Russia, so that they might remain as good friends
as they had been in Africa.
Emery replied that he acquiesced entirely in the hope: in days when
war is seldom long protracted they might be sanguine all would be
terminated by the date of their return.
Zorn had already understood from Emery that it was not his intention to
return immediately to the Cape, and expressed his hope that he might
introduce him to the observatory at Kiew. This proposal Emery expressed
his desire to embrace, and added that he should indulge the expectation
that Zorn would at some future time visit the Cape.
With these mutual assignations they made their plans for future
astronomical researches, ever reiterating their hopes that the war
would be at an end.
"Anyhow," observed Emery, "Russia and England will be at peace before
the Colonel and Strux; I have no trust in any reconciliation of theirs."
For themselves, they could only repeat their pledges of mutual
good-will.
Eleven days after the adventure with the chacmas, the little troop,
not far from the Zambesi Falls, arrived at a level plain several miles
in extent, and perfectly adapted for the establishment of a base. On
the edge of the plain rose a native village, composed of a few huts
containing a small number of inhabitants, who kindly received the
Europeans. Colonel Everest found the proximity of the natives very
opportune, since the measurement of the base would occupy a month, and
being without waggons, or any materials for an encampment, he would
have had no resource but to pass the time in the open air, with no
other shelter than that afforded by the foliage.
The astronomers took up their abode in the huts, which were quickly
appropriated for the use of their new occupants. Their requirements
were but small; their one thought was directed towards verifying their
calculations by measuring the last side of their last triangle.
The astronomers at once proceeded to their work. The trestles and
platinum rods were arranged with all the care that had been applied to
the earliest base. Nothing was neglected; all the conditions of the
atmosphere, and the variations of the thermometer, were taken into
account, and the Commission, without flagging, brought every energy to
bear upon their final operation.
The work, which lasted for five weeks, was completed on the 15th of
May. When the lengths obtained had been estimated and reduced to the
mean level of the sea at the temperature of 61° Fahrenheit, Palander
and Emery presented to their colleagues the following numbers:--
Toises.
New base actually measured 5075.25
The same base deduced trigonometrically from
the entire series 5075.11
-------
Difference between the calculation and the observation 14
Thus there was only a difference of less than 1/6 of a toise that is
to say, less than ten inches; yet the first base and the last were six
hundred miles apart.
When the meridian of France was measured from Dunkirk to Perpignan,
the difference between the base at Melun and that at Perpignan was
eleven inches. The agreement obtained by the Anglo-Russian Commission
was still more remarkable, and thus made the work accomplished in the
deserts of Africa, amid dangers of every kind, more perfect than any
previous geodetic operation.
The accuracy of this unprecedented result was greeted by the
astronomers with repeated cheers.
According to Palander's reductions, the value of a degree in this part
of the world was 57037 toises. This was within a toise, the same as
was found by Lacaille at the Cape in 1752: thus, at the interval of a
century, the French astronomer and the members of the Anglo-Russian
Commission had arrived at almost exactly the same result. To
deduce the value of the mètre, they would have to wait the issue of
the operations which were to be afterwards undertaken in the northern
hemisphere. This value was to be the 1/10000000 of the quadrant of the
terrestrial meridian. According to previous calculations, the quadrant,
taking the depression of the earth into account, comprised 10,000,856
mètres, which brought the exact length of the mètre to .013074 of a
toise, or 3 feet 0 inches 11.296 lines. Whether this was correct the
subsequent labours of the Commission would have to decide.
* * * * *
The astronomers had now entirely finished their task, and it only
remained for them to reach the mouth of the Zambesi, by following
inversely the route afterwards taken by Dr. Livingstone in his second
voyage from 1858 to 1864.
[Illustration: Descending the Zambesi.]
On the 25th of May, after a somewhat laborious journey across a country
intersected with rivers, they reached the Victoria Falls. These fine
cataracts fully justified their native name, which signifies "sounding
smoke." Sheets of water a mile wide, crowned with a double rainbow,
rushed from a height twice that of Niagara. Across the deep basalt
chasm the enormous torrent produced a roar like peal after peal of
thunder.
Below the cataract, where the river regained its calmness, the
steamboat, which had arrived a fortnight previously by an inferior
affluent of the Zambesi, awaited the astronomers, who soon took their
places on board.
There were two to be left behind. Mokoum and the pioneer stood on the
bank. In Mokoum the English were leaving, not only a devoted guide,
but one whom they might call a friend. Sir John was especially sorry
to part from him, and had offered to take him to Europe, and there
entertain him as long as he pleased to remain. But Mokoum had previous
engagements; in fact, he was to accompany Livingstone on the second
voyage which the brave traveller was about to undertake up the Zambesi,
and Mokoum was not a man to depart from his word. He was presented with
a substantial recompense, and, what he prized still more, the kind
assurances of regard of the Europeans, who acknowledged how much they
owed to him. As the steamer left the shore to take the current in the
middle of the river, Sir John's last gesture was to wave an adieu to
his associate.
[Illustration: Adieu to Mokoum.]
The descent of the great river, whose banks were dotted with numerous
villages, was soon accomplished. The natives, regarding with
superstitious admiration the smoking vessel as it moved by mysterious
mechanism, made no attempt to obstruct its progress.
[Illustration: The Natives regarded with superstitious admiration the
smoking vessel.]
On the 15th of June the Colonel and his companions arrived at
Quilimane, one of the principal towns at the mouth of the Zambesi.
Their first thought was to ask for news of the war. They found
that it had not yet come to a termination, and that Sebastopol was
still holding out against the allied armies. This was a disappointment
to the Europeans, now so united in one scientific object; but they
received the intelligence in silence, and prepared to start. An
Austrian merchant-vessel, "La Novara," was just setting out for Suez;
in that they resolved to take their passage.
Three days after, as they were on the point of embarking, the Colonel
assembled his colleagues, and in a calm voice reminded them how in the
last eighteen months they had together experienced many trials, and how
they had been rewarded by accomplishing a work which would call forth
the admiration of all scientific Europe. He could not refrain from
giving expression to his trust that they would feel themselves bound in
the common fellowship of a true alliance.
Strux bowed slightly, but did not interrupt the Colonel, who proceeded
to deplore the tidings of the continuation of warfare. When he referred
to the expected capitulation of Sebastopol, Strux indignantly rejected
the possibility of such an event, which no union of France and England,
he maintained, could ever effect.
There was, however, it was admitted on all hands, a propriety in the
Russians and English submitting to the national status of hostility.
The necessities of their position were thus clearly defined, and under
these conditions they embarked in company on board "La Novara."
In a few days they arrived at Suez. At the moment of separation Emery
grasped Zorn's hand, and said,--
"We are always friends, Michael!"
"Always and every where, William!" ejaculated Zorn; and with this
sentiment of mutual devotion they parted.
The Commission was dissolved.
THE END.
* * * * *
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A CAPITAL STORY
BY JULES VERNE,
_Author of "A Journey to the Centre of the Earth."_
FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON DIRECT
In 97 Hours, 20 Minutes,
AND A TRIP AROUND IT.
EIGHTY FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
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entire index to give a full idea of the number of interesting people
discussed and described here. Napoleon III., with the diamond eagle,
just before he sported the famous real one at Boulogne; George III.,
with his querulous ways; delightful Malibran; our own Hawthorne; Byron
the reckless; Count D'Orsay, still princely in his poverty; Thackeray
the rollicksome; Bulwer, Kean, Lady Blessington, Tom Hood, and scores
of others, for whose names even there is not room.
CRITICAL NOTICES.
"No more refreshing volumes could be carried into the country or to the
sea-shore, to fill up the niches of time which intervene between the
pleasures of the summer holidays."--_Boston Post._
"If this first volume is a fair specimen of his [the editor's] judgment
and skill, the series will prove first-class and popular, among lovers
of pure literature."--_Providence Press._
"A well-dressed book. In a light May suit, with a spring overcoat....
None more entertaining for the odd hours of leisure, and especially
for the after-dinner breathing-time of day has for a long time been
published.... We commend the book to the summer tourist who can be
content with anything better than a novel, and will condescend to be
amused."--_Worcester Gazette._
"Mr. Stoddard's work appears to be done well-nigh perfectly. There is
not a dull page in the book."--_N. Y. Evening Post._