SAILING SOUTH--THE WIND CEASES--OUR COAL EXHAUSTED--DRIFTING
ON AN UNKNOWN OCEAN--IN THE GRASP OF SOUTHBOUND
CURRENTS--DESPONDING--VISITED BY AN AIRSHIP--THEN A WHOLE
FLEET--AMONG FRIENDS--A MOST HIGHLY CULTIVATED PEOPLE--WE EMBARK FOR
ALTRURIA--AN AIR VOYAGE.
AS we again proceeded south, the weather became more and more
spring-like and the air more invigorating. The climate seemed to have
opposite effects on different temperaments. The more delicate and
refined were stimulated to greater vigor and endurance, while the most
powerful physically were stricken with a fever, attended by acute
pains. This reduced our small crew to a point where we were helpless.
Our coal was also exhausted. The light breezes which had enabled us to
utilize the sails, now ceased entirely and we lay becalmed.
For weeks the Ice King lay idly on the bosom of this most placid
ocean. So monotonous it became that even an Arctic gale would have been
a most agreeable diversion, by enabling us to move. With a supply of
fuel our chances of finding land would have been increased manifold. We
could have made some headway, notwithstanding the fact that we had at
this time only five persons able to render any efficient service. These
were Captain Ganoe, Battell, Huston, Mike Gallagher and myself. Pat
O'Brien and the two Norwegians, Lief and Eric, were scarcely able to
move around and the three sailors that had been left with us by Battell
while exploring the ice-field because they were not able to stand the
exposure, were now utterly helpless, and not expected to live from hour
to hour.
We had plenty of provisions for an indefinite period, and when these
were exhausted, the sea would furnish an unlimited supply of fish. Our
vessel was seaworthy and there was seemingly no possible danger of a
storm. And yet our condition was most depressing. The ocean currents
were drifting us slowly along towards the south and might eventually
bring us to land. But this hope, at best, was only a bare possibility.
These same currents might carry us into the ice-fields at the south
pole which in our present disabled condition, meant almost certain
destruction.
We dropped bottles into the sea containing dispatches, stating our
condition, and describing our location as nearly as possible. But the
chances were that these would never reach a people who would understand
their purport, and be able and willing to offer us any assistance. All
these considerations, added to the sickness of our most sturdy seamen,
had a most depressing effect, and every hour the outlook became more
hopeless.
With these gloomy forebodings, I had become discouraged indeed. I am
naturally hopeful, but now all hope seemed to be gone. As I look back
to this period I regard it as certainly the darkest of my life.
Early one morning I had gone upon the upper deck, hoping that the fresh
air might brace me up and revive my drooping energies. In my mind,
with my note book before me, I mentally reviewed the leading incidents
of our voyage on this unknown ocean. According to my reckoning we had
escaped from the ice on the 23d of September, sketched the island and
tower on the 24th, and on the 25th set sail as we supposed for the
north pole. Without having consciously changed our course, five days
later we found ourselves sailing south. We then under a full head of
steam changed our course to the northeast, and circumnavigated a large
expanse of sea surrounding the pole.
When we again attempted to cross this open sea we again found ourselves
sailing south. We landed on a barren island on the first of November.
In a few days we were becalmed, but in the grasp of a powerful current
which carried us steadily southward, and now on the 25th of December,
when Christmas festivities were the order of the day throughout the
Christian world, here we were on a broad ocean, drifting we knew not
whither. I never felt so utterly devoid of hope, but I was determined
to keep up courage.
We were in a most agreeable climate. The air was sweet and refreshing
and I thought if we could only find land, what a glorious discovery
we had made, and if we could convey the news to our own country, how
it would stimulate the latent energies of the whole people to find
some ready means of access to this inner world, and thus our perils
and privations might ultimately prove a blessing to mankind. But
why speculate? We were lost on an unknown ocean which seemed to be
boundless, and utterly unable to direct our movements. The thought
struck me with a chill.
Suddenly in the midst of my cogitations I was startled by a loud,
"Halloo!" It was certainly near at hand. I sprang to my feet and looked
around over the placid surface of the ocean. I could see for leagues
away in every direction, yet could not discover any living thing. I
then started to go below, thinking that perhaps Captain Ganoe had
called me. As I disappeared, the "Halloo!" was repeated in a somewhat
louder tone.
I met the Captain coming in search of me, and I told him what I had
heard. With an incredulous look on his face, he placed his hand on my
head and said:
"I fear my dear Jack that your brain has played a trick on you."
"That may be so," I said, "but let us go above and investigate before
we jump to conclusions."
He assented, and as we reached the deck, the "Halloo!" was repeated
in a much louder tone than before and this time, apparently directly
over our heads. We looked up and about one hundred feet above our
starboard quarter we beheld what, at first sight, appeared to be some
monster bird, with outspread wings slowly moving as if to maintain its
position. But a second glance revealed it to be some kind of an aerial
conveyance, with transparent sides, through which we could plainly see
two persons on board, who were watching us with intense interest.
"Well Jack, what do you think of it?" asked the Captain.
"I hardly know," I replied, "but this seeming monster bird is some kind
of a contrivance for navigating the air, and it has passengers on board
who evidently want to communicate with us."
Our colloquy was brought to a summary conclusion by one of our aerial
visitors addressing us in a strangely musical but unknown tongue. We
were astonished at the salutation, but we had had so many strange
experiences lately, that we did not lose our self possession, and
Captain Ganoe responded at once by inviting them to "Come on board."
They did not seem to understand, and after a moment's pause he beckoned
to them. They understood the gesture and after a short consultation,
their strange vessel began to circle around in a spiral and came to a
rest on deck, when a side door opened, and two of the finest looking
people I had ever seen stepped out and shook hands with us. They were
large, very fair and looked almost exactly alike.
One of them who seemed to be the leader, presented a paper which I
recognized as one of the dispatches which we had committed to the care
of the winds a few days after our escape from the ice. I was surprised
to see written below it, in strange characters, what seemed to be a
translation, and this was signed, "Mac," in a plain round hand. We
examined it closely, and handing it back, Captain Ganoe turned to me
and exclaimed:
"Thank God! English is understood by some people in this inner world.
This removes our greatest difficulty. We can get acquainted."
Our visitors seemed pleased when they saw that we recognized the
dispatch and the leader at once stepped to the larboard side of the
ship and waved a handkerchief. I now noticed for the first time that
two other airships hovered near, and one of them immediately responded
to the signal and came alongside. After a brief consultation with the
occupants, it began to circle around and ascend until it had attained a
great height, when it darted off at an amazing speed toward the west. I
had noticed that these aerial conveyances both ascended and descended,
by circling around in a spiral.
While this was going on, I took especial notice of our visitors. They
wore soft felt hats, slightly turned up at the side, with broad silver
bands. Their hair was parted in the middle and hung in ringlets to
their shoulders. They wore embroidered slippers, with silk stockings,
and pants that fastened just below the knee, attached to a loose
waist with a short skirt. Around the waist was a broad silken girdle,
fastened in front by a silver buckle, and tied behind in a bow, the
ends deeply fringed and hanging even with the bottom of the skirt.
Their necks were bare but encircled by a golden chain to which was
attached what seemed to be diamond set lockets, and at their girdles
they wore watches of magnificent workmanship.
While they were conferring with the occupants of the other airship,
Captain Ganoe said to me:
"These persons are surely women."
"And," added Battell, who had just come on deck, "What beauties! Where
did they come from?"
"They came through the air in yonder little vessel," said the Captain,
"and they seem to have been looking for us, as they have one of the
dispatches we sent out after we escaped from the ice; and more than
that, it has been translated into an unknown tongue, by some one who
signs the name of 'Mac.'"
"Then they are our saviors," said Battell.
"I certainly feel so," said the Captain, "and they have evidently made
up their minds to stay awhile, for some purpose."
"No doubt," replied Battell. "See! They are sending that other bird off
for help. They understand what they are about."
As the airship disappeared from view, our strange visitors returned to
where we were standing, and seeing Captain Battell, the leader advanced
and gracefully extended her hand. Her unaffected and cordial manner at
once placed us at ease.
They now manifested a disposition to examine the ship, and seemed by
their motions to confer with each other about it, pointing to the smoke
stacks, the sails and steering apparatus as if they were discussing the
motor power.
Observing their evident interest in these things, Captain Ganoe
suggested that Battell and myself should conduct them over the ship,
while he would attend to having a breakfast prepared that would be a
credit to the Ice King. Thus prompted, we motioned our visitors to
accompany us below, which they seemed pleased to do.
We took them through the engine room and pointed out such portions of
the machinery as we felt would interest them the most. We showed them
our liberal supply of scientific instruments, maps, charts, etc. I was
astonished at the keen interest they manifested in our large library.
We then led them into the presence of our sick sailors. Sympathy was
plainly depicted on their countenances as they passed from one to
another and cordially grasped their hands, frequently conferring with
each other in low tones, as if planning for their relief.
In the meantime, Mike Gallagher, who in our disabled condition was
nurse, cook and general factotum, had prepared an ample repast, in
which our guests participated with evident relish. While we were
enjoying our meal, I noticed that our visitors were observing me
closely, and then looking at the others, as if making a comparison and
mentally taking notes. When we had arisen from the table the one who
had presented the dispatch came up and pointed to the signature as if
to ask if it was mine. I nodded assent, and she took me by the hand and
drawing it through her arm, led off toward the deck and conducted me
directly to her airship.
I noticed now, for the first time, that the entrance was about thirty
inches above the deck, where it rested, and was approached by steps so
constructed that they dropped to their place when the door was opened.
We entered, and I found it to be a splendidly upholstered car, about
six feet wide by sixteen in length, coming to a sharp point at the bow,
while the stern was oval. I could see by a glance at its proportions,
that it was designed to dart through the air at a great speed. But I
had no time to take many notes of this small, but elaborately finished
vessel. The proprietor, so to speak, at once opened a little bookcase,
and handed me a small volume with a knowing smile on her face. To my
surprise, I found it to be a school history of the United States in
English, with a translation, presumably into her own language, printed
in parallel columns. She handed me several other volumes printed in
the same manner in both languages. Among these I noticed a grammar,
dictionary, small geography, a New Testament, hymn book and several
introductory works on the natural sciences.
She showed me a card on which was printed the English alphabet, that
had evidently never been used, and opposite each letter, a varying
number of characters, corresponding with the number of sounds which we
assign to each. I understood from this, that the people of this country
used phonetic characters.
I at once realized that she had the means of acquiring a knowledge of
our language, history, geography and science as taught in our common
schools. I surmised that this collection of school books, had been
brought to this country on the vessel that was lost near the barren
island on which we had stopped. It was just such a collection as might
be expected among sailors who were trying to obtain the rudiments of an
education, while employed on a whaler.
She had doubtless shown me these books as a means of letting me know
that our country and its language were not entirely unknown in her
country, and that she had contemplated making a study of these things.
We were soon joined by her comrade, Battell and Huston, and this unique
library of outer world school books was again exhibited, and while we
could not exchange a word, we soon felt that we were old acquaintances.
Our visitors were evidently highly cultured people, and while not
speaking our language, they certainly knew considerable about our
country, while we knew nothing about theirs.
I was a little surprised at the active interest taken in our guests by
Captain Battell, who was usually so reticent and retiring, and this
interest was plainly mutual. Although they were not able to converse,
they could understand each other, and spent their time strolling about
the ship and peering out over the calm waters of the ocean.
After the airship had been gone about eight hours, our guests began to
consult their watches and look intently toward the west. Soon a whole
fleet of airships came into view. In a few minutes the foremost one
separated from the others, circled around, and alighted upon our deck,
and one of the occupants stepped out, and as he did so exclaimed in
good English:
"Thank God, you are safe! How happy I am to welcome so many of my
countrymen into this world of Truth, Justice and Fraternity."
"And how happy are we," said Captain Ganoe, "to be welcomed by a fellow
countryman after our long voyage in these unknown waters. We have not
looked in the face of a fellow being for nearly two years, and we
welcome you to the deck of the Ice King, as the saviors of all that is
left of its once numerous crew."
The new comer threw his arms around the Captain's neck, and embraced
him as a mother would her long lost child, sobbing with sudden emotion
until we were all shedding tears in sympathy. Then leaving Captain
Ganoe he embraced each of us in turn.
"I never was so happy in my life," he exclaimed. "I hope you will
excuse me for thus giving way to my feelings. I had thought I would
never again look into the face of a single human being from my own
native land, and this meeting with so many overcomes me."
"No apologies are necessary," said Captain Ganoe. "We appreciate the
man who has feelings and is not ashamed to show them, while we could
not have any respect for the man who is destitute of feeling."
"Thank you," said the newcomer, "and now permit me to introduce myself.
My name is, or rather was, James MacNair, an American born Scotchman."
Captain Ganoe then introduced himself, Battell, Huston and myself.
MacNair in turn introduced our visitors as the twin sisters, Polaris
and Dione, of the Life Saving Service, and then continued:
"Ever since they discovered me, almost starved, on a desolate island
far to the north, these self devoted saviors of humanity, have kept an
especial lookout for stranded mariners from the frozen north. And since
they captured your little balloon with the dispatch I translated for
them, they have known that an entire crew had passed the ice barriers,
and they have been more than ever on the alert for an opportunity to
render assistance, and conduct you into a safe harbor. They feared that
you would be disabled by the almost perpetual calms on these waters,
and be carried to the southern verge by these ocean currents which seem
to carefully avoid the land. You see with all their watchfulness you
have been carried nearly to the equator without being discovered, and
you are now fully one thousand miles from land."
"It was indeed fortunate," said Captain Ganoe "that we continued to
commit dispatches to the care of the winds."
"That is true," said MacNair, "but it is more fortunate that you sent
up dispatches just when you did, for at that time, the sun begins to
heat the air at the southern verge and it rises to higher altitudes
and the air in the vicinity flows in to fill the vacuum. This produces
a current of air that flows south from the northern verge. It was
this breeze which occurs but once a year that brought your balloons
south. Had they been sent up at the beginning of the northern summer
they would have been carried south on the outside by your equinoctial
storms. This is my theory. It may not be a correct one but it satisfies
me."
"Whether correct or not," said Captain Ganoe, "we know by experience
that we had a northerly breeze for several days, which enabled us to
use our sails to some advantage. But this breeze soon ceased and as we
had no coal we were at the mercy of the ocean currents."
"Yes," said MacNair, "there is but little use for sails in this inner
world. But with plenty of coal you would have had no difficulty in
finding a safe harbor among a highly civilized people, in a country
where extremes of heat and cold, and violent storms are unknown."
MacNair's remarks were cut short by the appearance on the scene of
another magnificent woman who had evidently remained on the airship
which had brought him to our deck, and he added:
"And now permit me to introduce to you my wife, Iola, who wished to be
among the first to welcome you to this inner world."
"Glad to meet you," said Captain Ganoe, extending his hand, "and I hope
that you will have no reason to regret this addition to your circle of
so many of your husband's fellow countrymen."
"Thank you," said Iola, in good English, but with a peculiar accent.
"On behalf of our people, I take pleasure in extending to you a cordial
welcome to our home in Altruria, where we are making a special study of
everything we can get concerning the outer world."
"And happy are we," rejoined the Captain, "to be welcomed by a people
where our language is not entirely unknown. It will be so much easier
for us to get acquainted, and adapt ourselves to our new surroundings."
"In our district," said Iola, "you will find quite a number of people
who can converse in English. We are teaching it in our schools."
While this conversation was going on, Polaris had stepped to the side
of the ship and commenced signaling with a yellow silken flag to the
fleet of airships which hovered over us. Soon one of the largest, and
seemingly the most elaborately furnished, swerved around and alighted
upon the deck of the Ice King.
Seeing that our attention was attracted to this new movement started by
Polaris, MacNair said:
"That is our hospital or relief ship. Polaris has called them to the
assistance of your sick sailors."
"Thank God!" ejaculated Captain Ganoe, "for indeed the poor fellows
need the most careful attention. She and her comrades have placed us
under obligations for their kindness, that can never be repaid. I am
indeed most thankful to our new found friends."
"Why feel under such obligations to anyone?" asked Iola. "Polaris is
only doing her duty and so are her comrades. This is a duty which we
owe to each other, and you and your sailors will only receive that
which justly belongs to you."
"But are we not under obligations to those who assist us when in
trouble?" asked Captain Ganoe, "and should we not repay them for the
burdens we impose on them?"
"I do not quite understand you," said Iola. "You certainly are under
obligations to yourself to entertain feelings of grateful appreciation
toward those who assist you in getting out of a difficult and
distressing situation, as this feeling tends to make us all better
men and women, and hence more desirable members of the community. But
as to repaying others for their assistance, I cannot see how we could
do so unless we were to place them under similar environments, and we
certainly would not do that, simply for the purpose of securing an
opportunity to do for them what they did for us."
"And I do not understand you at all," said the Captain. "When people
help us, we are certainly under obligations to compensate them for
their assistance, with something more substantial than mere thanks."
"Then I will try to make my meaning clear," she said. "We all seek
happiness, but a well ordered mind cannot enjoy real happiness while
others are miserable. So in helping others into a condition where they
may be happy, we are working to establish and perpetuate conditions
that are essential to our own happiness. The act itself brings its own
reward. In order for a people to be happy, it is necessary for them
to do to others as they would have others do to them. This is one of
the most simple and obvious laws that govern our relations to each
other. It cannot be ignored without establishing conditions, under
the operations of which, misery would become the normal condition of
mankind, ourselves included."
"I begin to get a glimpse of your meaning," replied the Captain.
"The founder of our religion, inculcated the same principles in his
teachings which we call the 'Golden Rule,' but I have never before met
with such a practical, matter-of-fact application of it to all the
relations existing between the individual members of the human family.
It may be that among our people a few small circles, to some extent,
apply this rule of action to a chosen few, but it is never applied to
the people in general, except by some cranky individual, who in popular
esteem, is regarded as a fit subject for a lunatic asylum."
"It seems strange to us," said Iola, "that your people do not
universally apply this fundamental law, upon which human happiness
depends, in all their relations with each other. They must certainly
desire happiness and the most ordinary intelligence ought to incline
them to use the means by which they could secure happiness. But I
know from history that this law was entirely ignored by our ancestors
thousands of years ago. It was first taught as a religious tenet,
but for ages it has been accepted as a fundamental principle in our
civilization, and as a teacher of moral philosophy in our schools it
becomes my duty to inculcate these principles into the minds of the
children. The civilization which we have now, carries out in practice,
the fundamental, humanitarian principles to which the founders of our
old religious system gave expression. These teachings were in many
respects identical, even in language, with the teachings of Jesus and
the apostles as I find them recorded, in the copy of the New Testament
which was among the books that my husband, then a small boy, saved from
his father's ship which went to the bottom near the barren island where
he was discovered."
"This is indeed remarkable," said the Captain. "I had thought from the
tenor of your remarks that the apostles must have penetrated this inner
world and taught these doctrines, and that they had taken a better
hold on the minds of the people than they have in the outer world. I
see, however, that you claim an independent origin for your religious
system, yet you have the same fundamental doctrines. How is this?"
"Nothing strange about it," said Iola. "Truth is truth no matter where
it is found. All people, no matter where they live, have the same
faculties, and the same sources of knowledge are open to all alike.
All the religions of the world have had their origin in some form of
inspiration, and these religions have, in turn, left their impress
upon the civilizations of the world. Jesus, of the outer world, and
Krystus of the inner world, both inculcated the same fundamental
truths, which we have incorporated into our civilization, and now teach
in our schools as the fundamental natural laws which must regulate
human relations, before the race can attain to the one great object of
existence,--Happiness."
While this most interesting conversation was going on, Polaris,
Dione and MacNair were busy fitting up the Hospital ship and giving
directions by signals, to the fleet which hovered above us. Ropes were
attached to the bow of the Ice King, which connected with a number of
the largest airships. The design was apparent, by the preparations.
They intended to tow us to shore. But this was not all. Electrical
apparatus was placed on board and they evidently intended to use
electric motor power to set the machinery in motion. As soon as the
preparations were well on the way, MacNair broke in upon the discussion
by saying:
"Captain Ganoe, we are now ready to look after your afflicted sailors.
We want to attend to them, just as we would like to be attended to, if,
unfortunately, we were compelled to change places with them, and with
your permission we will take charge of them at once."
"You not only have my permission, but my heart felt thanks for the
interest you take in them. So now let us go below," and suiting the
action to the word, Captain Ganoe led the way and we all followed.
We found the ever active Mike, busy ministering to the wants of the
sick and keeping up the spirits of all by his inimitable Irish wit, in
which Pat O'Brien, notwithstanding his acute rheumatic pains joined
with a hearty good will. This buoyant Irish lad and the herculean
Irish sailor, had been the life of the expedition, when we were
imprisoned in the ice, and but for these typical sons of Erin, our
environments would have been much more gloomy. No matter how serious
the outlook might be, they brought out the comic and laughable side of
the picture by their mirth-provoking comments.
A half dozen persons from the Relief ship at once began their
examination into the condition of the sick, and Captain Ganoe, turning
to MacNair, asked: "Are these persons all physicians?"
"Well, yes, and no," replied he. "In the outer world you would
call them doctors but here they are nurses. These skilled hospital
attendants, understand all that has been discovered in regard to the
treatment of both mind and body."
"But what do they use?" asked the Captain. "I see no sign of medicines
and the usual hospital appliances."
"They need none," replied MacNair. "But this is something that must be
learned further on."
"Yes," interposed Iola. "You will doubtless find a very different
system of treating human weakness from that which I understand is
adopted in the outer world by the medical practitioners. In their
system of healing they depend exclusively upon external appliances and
ingredients, while we depend mainly upon arousing the internal powers
of mind and spirit, which alone can exercise any absolute control over
the human organism. Your system of treating the body is from without,
while ours is from within, directly opposite to it."
I did not at that time comprehend her meaning, neither did any of our
crew. Its depth was beyond our grasp and we found that indeed this was
something to be learned further on. But as she ceased speaking, Polaris
called her to one side, and after a brief consultation with the nurses
she said to Captain Ganoe:
"The nurses report that it will require an hour or more to get the
patients in proper condition for removal and that they want to be left
alone with them, and will let us know when they are ready."
With this, we all returned to the upper deck to await the pleasure
of the nurses. Captain Battell, who had been an intensely interested
listener, notwithstanding his retiring disposition, now moved to renew
the conversation by turning to MacNair and saying:
"My dear sir, did I understand you to say that the special business of
Polaris and Dione is to look out for those who may be lost at sea and
render assistance as occasion may require, and especially for such as
may drift in from the outer world? Where are your men, that women are
permitted to engage in these hazardous enterprises?"
"Nothing strange about that," said MacNair. "As you well know, the
women of the outer world take the lead in all humanitarian work,
because they are naturally more sensitive and sympathetic than men. The
women of this inner world are even more inclined to extend a helping
hand to the distressed, and they are not handicapped by usages which
restrict the influence of the woman of the outer world. Here, both
sexes are placed upon terms of absolute equality, and every individual
has an opportunity to find the place that is best suited to his or
her inclinations. Men are also engaged in this work, but the women
here, as in the outer world, are more sympathetic, and as there is
nothing to prevent it, they have carried their humanitarian work to
such perfection, that all the oppressive conditions which afflict
humanity have been wellnigh removed. To this, more than to all other
causes combined, do we attribute the existence of the ideal conditions
which you will find throughout this inner world. You certainly cannot
think that women are out of place when they are protecting their own
offspring?"
"Not that," said Battell. "I certainly esteem it most fortunate that we
have fallen into the hands of these humanity loving women, but it all
seems so strange. You have women commanding fleets in the air, and if
so, why not have them navigating the ocean and commanding your armies
and navies?"
"We have no armies and navies to destroy our offspring," interrupted
Iola. "We know nothing of these things except from our ancient
histories. When woman secured her true position in the world she
put an end to war by removing the vicious commercial, financial and
governmental systems that enabled one class of people to oppress
another. When greedy and domineering classes could no longer have
soldiers to do their bidding, poverty was abolished by securing to the
whole people equal access to the unlimited productive power of the
earth. The women demanded peace because it prevented the slaughter of
their offspring in useless wars, and in order to have peace it was
necessary to secure to all an equal opportunity to create wealth by
their labor."
"But I do not see," said Battell, "how equal rights to women would
prevent governmental injustice, with its consequent wars and bloodshed.
In the outer world, some of the most bloodthirsty rulers in the annals
of history have been women."
"And the same thing was true in the inner world," said Iola, "until
all women had secured their personal freedom from the domination of
man-made laws and prerogatives. When that time came, Mother-love
completed the work of human redemption. In time the women became a unit
for peace, and this thought was impressed upon their offspring and
these grew into maturity without any inclination to rule by violence,
and war was abolished. And the same love of offspring which put an end
to war and all its horrors, demanded the removal of the discriminations
which enabled the offspring of one woman to defraud and oppress the
offspring of another woman. It was the inspiration of Mother-love
which set the women to investigating the systems which enriched the
few at the expense of the many; and in defense of their children,
they united their efforts along peaceful lines to establish equitable
relations in all the affairs of life. The women of that day, were not
more intelligent than the men, but love for their offspring gave them a
deeper and more abiding sympathy for the oppressed, and this feeling,
if not crushed out by the iron heel of military power, will ultimately
save the people of any country from the consequences of inequitable
conditions."
"I believe you are right," said Battell, "but this does not explain to
me why women should lead in such a hazardous business as this in which
Polaris and Dione are engaged."
"It is because they desire to do so," said MacNair. "Polaris is a
sincere lover of humanity. She is a true womanly woman, and as such
takes pleasure in rendering assistance to all who are afflicted
or distressed. Besides, she is by education, inclination and long
experience, an expert in aerial navigation, and holds her position as
head of the Life Saving Service by virtue of her superior qualities."
"But," said Battell, "as head of a department, she might send her
subordinates and not take the hardest work on herself. It seems to me,
that she personally superintends everything, doing as much work as a
half dozen others ought to do."
"Polaris always leads," said MacNair. "Besides, in your case there were
especial reasons why she should personally lead the search. You were
exposed to peculiar dangers, and it was uncertain whether you had been
carried into the Oscan or Umbrian oceans, by the ocean currents. So,
to guard against possible failure, she did not trust entirely to the
patrols, but continued to circumnavigate the concave herself.
"But few persons could have kept up the incessant activity and
watchfulness that she and Dione have done ever since they captured your
dispatches. They were determined that you should not be carried into
the stormy waters of the south if persistent vigilance could prevent
it."
"Well, thank God, they were successful!" said Battell. "If we should
live a thousand years we could not pay them for their efforts in our
behalf."
"No thanks are required," again interrupted Iola. "Polaris has only
done her duty, and as to pay, she could hardly comprehend what you
mean by it. She doubtless felt that she was amply rewarded for all her
efforts when she succeeded in finding you. Success, in a praiseworthy
undertaking, is the only reward that any man or woman can afford to
work for. She has found you and therefore has her reward, while we
can enjoy the pleasure of providing you with the comforts of a home
and freedom from anxiety, toil and danger. You will only get what our
common mother nature has prepared alike for all her children, while
we have been especially benefited by the opportunity it has given
us of helping a brother in distress. If there is any difference, we
have more reasons to be thankful than you have, as we take pleasure
in contributing to the happiness of others. It is in very truth 'more
blessed to give than to receive.'"
"I am not an enthusiast," responded Battell, "but I am frank to admit
that I am carried away by the transcendent character of the sentiments
you express, in regard to our duties toward each other. But it seems to
me, that your grand ideal as to what human character ought to be, is
so far above our fallen human nature, that it can never be realized in
this life. Such a character was Jesus, the Savior of mankind as painted
by our religious teachers. But this character is so very much above the
human plane of development, that it would be regarded as sacrilegious
for anyone to attempt to be as pure, as noble and as holy as he is said
to have been."
"The great mass of our people," said Iola, "would not understand
your allusion to fallen human nature, and the Savior of mankind, but
I have read a number of your religious books, and from comparisons
with our own ancient history, have concluded that the Fall of Man and
his Redemption through the Cross are allegories which were intended
to teach a wonderful truth. But, be this as it may, the character of
Jesus, I regard as the only truly human character that I have met
with in the few outer world books that we have. The wonder is, that
this magnificent character has not been incorporated into all of
his professed followers. After two thousand years of preaching and
discipline, it is strange that you have not developed many of these
characters; even surpassing his exalted standard, especially as he told
his disciples that they might do greater things than he did."
"But," said Battell, "we are told that he was more than man. He was the
Son of God, sent upon earth from his Father's home in heaven, to save
fallen man."
"I am willing," was Iola's reply, "to admit all this, as I understand
it. We had similar characters in the olden time, who tried to save
their fellow beings from the low estate in which they lived. But a time
came when the effect of their teachings was to produce a multitude
of such characters, and then the entire people made one great bound
upward, and now we are all saviors whenever and wherever we find a
demand for our services in that capacity."
Battell looked his astonishment as he asked:
"Is this heaven? Am I to be brought into the presence of not one, but a
world full of these God-like characters?"
Iola smiled as she said in response:
"Yes, this is heaven provided you have heaven in you, the only place
where you will ever find it. And this God-like character whom you call
a Savior, is also in you, as it is in every other human being, just as
soon as you permit it to be developed. This spark of Divinity--this Son
of God--is latent in the human soul, and its efforts to make itself
felt, is the source of every noble, pure and holy impulse to elevate
our common humanity. Give the God that is in you a chance to develop,
and you will become like unto Jesus, a 'God manifest in the flesh.'"
"But how am I to develop this God-like character?" asked Battell.
"By becoming a savior of the race to the best of your ability,"
answered Iola. "You were taught that it was the mission of Jesus to
save the world. It is also your mission. He did his duty in his age
and generation, to elevate humanity, and it is your duty to make just
as much of an effort in your age and generation, to make the world
better for your having lived in it.
"You cannot afford to sit down as if you had nothing to do and 'cast
all your cares on Jesus.' You have no right to impose, even if it
were possible, any more burdens upon the 'meek and lowly carpenter of
Judea.' He did his duty, well and truly, and you ought to do yours.
You, in common with every other human being owe a debt to humanity, and
you must pay it by your efforts to save humanity--
From all its sins, its aches and pains
From all its multitude of woes,
You cannot be released from your share of the obligation to save the
world, by singing:
'Jesus paid it all, all the debt I owe.'"
"I acknowledge," said Battell, "the justice of your criticism as
applied to the churches of the outer world, but I am, or rather, I was,
a whaler, and they do not fit me. As a sailor, and as a whaler, I never
shirked any duty or danger, and I expected every other man to do his
duty. I think if I had been called upon to do the work of every other
man on shipboard, I would have objected to it most strenuously. On the
same principle, Jesus certainly has a clear case against every one of
his followers for neglect of duty."
"I did not expect you to take my criticism to yourself," said Iola,
"notwithstanding the fact that you referred to the religious system
of your country, as if it was your standard of faith and practice. I
only sought to impress upon your mind, the truths that, it seems to me,
the founder of your religion intended to teach. Those who took up the
work after him, seem to have entirely lost sight of the purpose and
spirit of his teachings. But here comes Polaris. She has something to
communicate."
Polaris came forward, and after a brief conference with Iola and
MacNair, she signaled the fleet, which began to maneuver, as if
aligning itself under orders, according to some well-defined plan,
while MacNair, addressing himself to Captain Ganoe, said:
"Polaris reports that the nurses are ready, and to guard against any
excitement that might disturb the patients, they want everyone to
embark on the airships except Mike, who will stay with the patients
on the Relief ship. Polaris will take Battell and Huston in the ship
with herself and sister, while Jack and yourself will take passage with
Iola and your humble servant. The rest of the fleet will tow the Ice
King into port, where you can remove your baggage at your leisure. She
will be taken up the Cocytas to Lake Byblis, where all will be safe
and under the charge of Pat O'Brien and Mike Gallagher. It will be a
convenient distance from the home we have prepared for you until you
have become familiar with the language, customs of the country, and so
forth."
"How far will it be?" asked the Captain.
"Only about 150 miles," replied MacNair, "which can easily be reached
by airship or electric car in half an hour."
"So quickly as that!" exclaimed Ganoe.
"Certainly. 300 miles an hour is nothing extraordinary."