wending its way upwards in a series of graceful circles. Like a bird,
too, she had at first enormous wings spread out to the air. But after a
time, as she gained the upper air, these were folded away, the upper
covering was replaced, and she became once more the great, egg-shaped
mass she had appeared when she had arrived beside the island. How,
afterwards, she continued to force her way upwards against the
attraction of the Earth, was King Ivanta's own secret. It was believed
that he had discovered a means of using the sun's more powerful
attractive force, and so controlling it as to make it do whatever he
required; but that was probably only a guess. What is certain is that
the whole structure continued to rise steadily and smoothly upwards,
till presently Gerald and Jack were called by Mr Armeath and the
engineer, Mr Monck, to come to a sort of periscope, from which they
could take their last look at the Earth.
They stepped forward and stared through the opening in startled wonder.
There, they saw our globe, looking like an enormous ball. The great
airship itself was perfectly steady, and appeared to be absolutely
motionless. Not a tremor was to be felt, and it seemed as though it was
the Earth which was receding from them at a rapid rate, not they from
the Earth. No longer, however, could they make out details upon its
surface; the distance was already too great. All they could distinguish
were the respective masses of land and water, broadly mapped and marked
out as they are upon a school globe representing the Earth. The side
they were looking at showed the New World--the great continents of North
and South America and the oceans surrounding them--and that was all.
Who shall attempt to describe their feelings, or guess their thoughts,
as they stood there gazing at this strange appearance of the planet upon
which they had lived all their lives? Probably they then for the first
time fully realised the actual nature of the risks they were running;
and it is more than likely that they were wondering whether they were
looking their last upon the Earth, as they watched it sinking silently
away into the immeasurable distance!
*CHAPTER VIII.*
*A NARROW ESCAPE.*
The first part of the time which followed upon the departure from the
Earth of the _Ivenia_ on her long journey through space was one of great
enjoyment to the two chums. The marvels and mysteries of the great
airship--or aerostat, as Mr Armeath preferred to call her--seemed to be
inexhaustible. 'Every day' the young people found something new and
strange, to puzzle over. Every time they moved about they came upon
some unexpected revelation of the wondrous inventions and contrivances
which it had been necessary to bring to perfection before the great
machine could start upon the adventurous journeys she had undertaken.
The above words, 'every day,' require an explanation. Of course, once
they were really out in 'the realms of starry space,' there were really
no alternations of day and night, for the sun shone upon them
continuously. But within the aerostat artificial nights, so to speak,
were produced by drawing huge screens across the semi-transparent outer
casing.
Mr Monck explained this to the young voyagers, giving them,
incidentally, a little lecture, as it were, in astronomy and general
science; and on this occasion he had as his auditors all four of the
young passengers--including, that is to say, the two cousins, Silas and
Freddy.
'I expect you all know,' he said, 'that out in what is called space,
where there is no atmosphere--no air--the sun's rays seem to have no
heat. The cold there is most intense--far greater than anything ever
experienced upon Earth. You feel the sun's rays warm on your globe
because they pass through the Earth's atmosphere, which acts like a lens
or magnifying-glass. Here the same effect is obtained by passing them
through the wonderful semi-transparent metal of which the outer shell of
the airship is composed. It is harder than the hardest steel, yet
almost transparent like glass, without being brittle, while it is far
lighter than aluminium. It was discovered by King Ivanta, and is called
"ivantium" after him. He found that when the sun's rays were passed
through it the result was exactly the same as when they pass through the
atmosphere of the Earth or of Mars. That is how it is we are so warm
and comfortable on board here. But for the discovery of that metal such
a journey as we are taking would be impossible. We should be frozen to
death.'
'Then there is no need to have day and night unless you like,' Freddy
observed, his blue eyes opening in surprise. He was a fair,
good-looking youngster, and a great favourite with Monck and the chums.
'No, my lad. But King Ivanta considers it best to keep up the same
habits as those you and his people are all accustomed to "at home;" for
Mars turns on its axis in about the same time as the Earth--namely,
twenty-four hours or thereabouts. That is to say, the average day on
Mars is just about the same length as the average day on the Earth.'
On many other occasions, when he had the time and opportunity, the
good-natured engineer 'trotted them round' and explained to the young
people, in similar fashion, the why and the wherefore of many of the
things that puzzled them--so far, that is, as he himself understood
them. But as to a great many, and those some of the most surprising, he
was obliged to confess his own entire ignorance.
'There are most essential secrets connected with the structure and
working of this remarkable "chariot of the skies" which no one but my
master understands, and he takes good care to keep them to himself,' he
declared. 'When you reach Mars, for instance, you will see there
numerous airships and flying-machines of many kinds. It has, indeed,
been much easier for the Martians to learn to build such contrivances
than for the dwellers upon the Earth, because, as I have before
mentioned, the air upon Mars is so much denser. But though you will see
many such things flying about, you will not see one that can compare
with this; not one that can venture out into space, or, indeed, very far
above the surface of the planet.'
Often Mr Armeath accompanied the young people, and listened with
interest to the engineer's explanations; for, scientist though he was,
he found he had almost as much to learn in their new surroundings as
they had.
Truly, the great airship was a wonder from every point of view. It may
assist readers to understand the stupendous scale upon which she had
been designed if it is explained that she was more than twice the size
of Britain's great warship the _Dreadnought_. But nothing less in bulk
would have been of any use if we consider the tremendous strength
required, and the accommodation necessary for the number of people she
carried--of whom there were between two and three thousand. In
addition, room had to be provided for enormous quantities of stores and
other equipment.
Another feature which illustrates the gigantic scale upon which
everything was carried out was to be found in the fact that a large
space was given up to ornamental gardens and conservatories. In these
were graceful, waving, palm-like trees, wondrous flowers and shrubs, and
trees growing delicious fruits, interspersed amongst fountains and
pleasant walks, with what appeared to be a sunny sky overhead. There
was even a sort of 'Zoo' or menagerie on board, in which were many very
curious animals which the new passengers had never seen or heard of
before. To these had now been added quite a collection of more familiar
creatures which King Ivanta had acquired during his stay upon Earth, and
was taking back for the edification of his subjects at home.
The chums were fond of wandering about in this miniature zoological
garden, looking at those creatures which were new to them, and studying
their ways and habits. Some were natives of Mars; these were mostly
small, for--as they soon learned from Monck--just as Mars was a smaller
globe than the Earth, so the animals generally were smaller in
proportion. But in this Zoo were specimens brought, as it appeared,
from the great planet Saturn, some of which were large and terrible
creatures.
It was with one of these that Gerald met with an unpleasant adventure
one day when they had been but a short time 'out.' He had strolled in
alone, in the early morning, as was now his almost constant habit, and
went towards the cage of a creature called by the Martians an _amalpi_.
Gerald was especially interested in it on account of its resemblance to
an immense unicorn. It was, indeed, something between that fabled
creature and a rhinoceros. It had a very long, straight, sharp horn
upon the frontal bone, and a body very much like a heavily-built
cart-horse, covered with skin almost as thick as that of an elephant.
It was a most savage, dangerous creature, and all attempts to tame it,
even in the smallest degree, had failed.
When Gerald walked up to its cage on this particular occasion he met
with a surprise, for the cage was empty and the barred gate was standing
ajar. Ere he had time to consider what this might mean he received a
second surprise. There was a loud, bellowing roar, and the next he knew
was that the creature itself was charging down upon him with lowered
head like a bull, the terrible, long, sharp horn pointed straight at
him.
For an instant the young fellow stood as if spell-bound; then, by a
happy flash of thought, he dashed into the empty cage and pulled the
gate to after him. It fastened, as he knew, automatically, with a huge
spring-catch. A moment later there was a frightful crash as the
ferocious animal ran full tilt at the bars, its long horn pushing
between them, and just failing to reach Gerald by some few inches.
For some time he had the novel experience of being a prisoner in the
great cage, while his enemy, furious with disappointment, charged again
and again at the bars. Such was the strength and determination of its
rushes that it seemed almost as if the bars must give way.
At last the noise of its bellowing brought some of the keepers upon the
scene. Then Gerald had an opportunity of learning more of the weapons
the Martians were armed with, and how they used them. Each keeper
carried in his hand one of the large wands or staves, with triple points
at the top, similar to those the soldiers had carried who had marched
Gerald as a prisoner before the 'Ogre' and his chief. Gerald had seen
similar wands many times since, but had never seen how they were used.
Nor was he, indeed, much the wiser now. All he saw was a slight flash
of very brilliant light which seemed to leap from the tridents towards
the great roaring animal, as it stood for a moment tossing its head and
stamping its feet ere charging down upon the rescue-party. But it never
started upon its rush, for, lo! it suddenly sank upon its knees and
rolled helplessly over upon the ground, where it lay quiet and still--a
big, inert mass.
The keepers opened the gate, and Gerald walked out, wondering greatly at
what he had seen, but unable to ask any questions, because he could not
speak their language.
Just then, however, Monck arrived upon the scene. He looked very grave
when informed what had occurred, and examined the lock with a perplexed
air and many dubious shakes of the head.
'What will they do with the dead _amalpi_?' Gerald asked, as he walked
away with the engineer.
'Put it back again. It is not dead; it will recover in a few hours, and
to-morrow will be as lively as ever,' was the answer. Then the speaker
went on to explain. 'Those tridents,' he said, alluding to the
three-pronged wands, 'are really a kind of electric gun, if I may use
the term. This weapon also--like so many of the Martians' greatest
discoveries--is the invention of our royal master, King Ivanta. He
tried for years to discover a weapon which would stun or paralyse and
not kill. He has a horror of bloodshed, and he set himself to devise a
weapon which should do away with the horrors of war by rendering killing
and maiming unnecessary. He found it at last in this weapon, which
simply paralyses the muscles for a certain time, without killing or
inflicting any permanent injury. People or animals--even the largest
and most ferocious creatures, as you have here seen--struck in this way
are merely rendered quite helpless for a time, so that you can bind
them, or do what you please with them.'
'Ah! like I was! I understand now!' cried Gerald. 'All I felt was a
slight prick, as if some one had hurt me with a needle, and immediately
I collapsed and rolled over, utterly unable to move, yet not
unconscious.'
Monck nodded thoughtfully. 'Ay, I remember,' said he.
'So do I,' said Gerald, in a tone which indicated that the remembrance
was a sore one. 'And that reminds me that you have never given me any
explanation as to why I was treated in that fashion! I frequently see
the chap I have to thank for it--who, I have been given to understand,
is a sort of king in his own country--and his confederate, the one I
called the Ogre. I know their names too--Agrando and Kazzaro. Whenever
they catch sight of me they glare at me as though they would like to eat
me!'
'Well, they got a precious good wigging from King Ivanta over that
affair before the whole Court,' Monck declared with a smile. 'So it is
not surprising that they do not exactly fall upon your neck and embrace
you.'
'But what was their object?' Gerald persisted.
Monck seemed to be ruminating. 'I cannot say with certainty; I can only
guess,' he answered thoughtfully. 'Agrando, you must know, is the ruler
of one of the last countries which Ivanta conquered and brought under
his sway. He reigned over a numerous and powerful nation, and there was
a long and bitter struggle ere Ivanta was completely successful.
Agrando did not like giving in, and I don't think he has become quite
reconciled to it even yet.'
'Was that why King Ivanta brought him with him--so that he might be able
to keep an eye on him?' asked Gerald shrewdly.
Monck laughed. 'Perhaps,' he said.
'Well, my impression is--and always has been--that the old ruffian
intended to keep me there as prisoner in secret, and carry me secretly
to his own country, and there exhibit me as a raree-show, or keep me as
a slave to wait on him, or some infamy of that sort.'
Monck looked puzzled. 'I hardly know what to say as to that,' he said
musingly. 'But I feel sure that you have no friend in him or his chief
councillor. I should keep clear of them if I were you. Have you any
other enemies, think you, on board?'
Gerald started. 'Why do you ask?' he queried.
'Because this little business of the _amalpi_ is a rather strange
affair. It looks to me as if it had been done on purpose. That lock
did not open itself, nor did the animal burst it open. It is not
injured in any way. Now, you are in the habit of going there regularly
in the early morning, are you not?'
'Yes, Mr Monck,' returned Gerald gravely. 'But I don't like to think
there is any one on board who hates me enough to plan such a wicked
thing! I know, of course, that the Zuanstrooms are anything but pleased
at the fact that King Ivanta invited us to come with you on this trip;
and Silas has behaved very strangely once or twice, just as if he were
jealous, or envious, or something. But still--I could not imagine they
would carry their dislike as far as that!'
'Well, to me it looks very much as though it had not been altogether an
accident,' Monck declared bluntly. 'So, take my advice, my lad, and
keep your eyes open; and if you get into any trouble, or suspect any
danger, do not hesitate to let me know at once.'
*CHAPTER IX.*
*ARMEATH'S SECRET.*
The weeks passed on, and still the _Ivenia_ continued on her tremendous
journey through space to meet the advancing planet Mars. She travelled
at a rate which would make the heads of young readers swim if it were
set down in figures. Yet she glided on so smoothly that those on board
might well have thought she was all the time standing motionless in one
place. How this was accomplished was one of those secrets which Monck
confessed himself unable to explain. And the same may here be said of
some other mysteries which puzzled Mr Armeath not a little. One was,
that there was a feeling of weight or gravity on board much the same as
upon the Earth. Another puzzle was, how was the supply of air kept
always pure and wholesome? These were among the things that Ivanta kept
to himself. The Earth sank away into the distance, gradually diminishing
in size till it became no larger to the view than the moon when it is
full. Then came a time when it looked like a rather large star of a
pale-bluish tint.
On board, the time passed, for the most part, pleasantly enough. There
was plenty to do--plenty of work and plenty of amusement. King Ivanta
was a ruler who believed in the policy of keeping his people busy in one
way or another. Every person on board was compelled to give a certain
amount of time each day to work or study of some kind; while a certain
interval was also set aside for recreations. The latter were of many
kinds. There were concerts--for the Martians seemed to be all fond of
music--games, somewhat after the style of football, tennis, and other
athletic sports; and, not least, military exercises, in which the
soldiers took part and contended for prizes. These--which the chums
always watched with the utmost interest--often took the form of actual
combats. Sometimes they were between two champions, sometimes between
parties of fifty or a hundred; and amongst the latter there were often
many 'slain' on both sides; but they always came to life a little later,
none the worse for the experience.
Then it was that the chums saw the use made of the shields borne by the
soldiers, which Gerald had first noticed when he had been a prisoner.
They were, as stated, transparent, and it now appeared that they were
used as a protection against the mysterious power of the 'tridents,' or
'electric guns.' Just as electricity will not pass through glass, so
the curious 'flash' from the tridents could not pass through these
shields. The heads, feet, and legs of the combatants, and some other
parts of their bodies, were also protected in similar fashion, so that
they appeared to be partly dressed in shining armour. They wore
helmets, breastplates, and leg and thigh pieces, which looked like
glass, yet were not brittle, and which, like the shields, were proof
against the power of the tridents.
Thus, a duel between two antagonists equipped in this manner resolved
itself, to a great extent, into a trial of skill in the use of the
shield. Through it each could see the other; and many were the feints
and stratagems resorted to by a practised fighter to get at his foe
behind his shield.
Every night King Ivanta held a levee or other Court function, which all
who were off duty were free to attend, and at which very curious
entertainments were sometimes provided.
Altogether there was no lack either of occupation or amusement during
the three months which the voyage lasted.
Gerald and Jack applied themselves assiduously to learn the Martian
language, and in this they were joined by Mr Armeath. Then, by way of
relaxation, they gained the king's permission to learn the mysteries and
use of the trident and shield. Monck fitted them out in suits of the
shining armour, and they practised under the instruction of one named
Aveena, a young noble of the Court. Thanks to his tuition, they became
so expert that they entered for contests before the king, and came off
victorious in more than one bout with others of their own age. Silas
Zuanstroom was one of those they each vanquished in turn; only with the
result, however, of increasing the coldness which had grown up between
the two parties of travellers from the Earth.
One day, Gerald met with yet another disagreeable adventure in the Zoo,
and again narrowly escaped a terrible death. This time it was a large
venomous serpent of vicious and aggressive disposition, which (again by
some 'accident') had got loose just about the time when Gerald, unarmed
and unsuspicious of danger, was taking his stroll round the cages.
Monck came upon him, a little later, clinging to the upper branches of a
tall palm-like tree, which the serpent was slowly climbing, bent on
reaching him.
This time the engineer reported the matter to the king, who sternly
ordered a strict inquiry with the object of finding out who was to
blame. But no evidence was forthcoming to show that the occurrence had
been other than an accident; and the affair ended in the punishment of
one of the keepers in charge for negligence.
But more exciting events were steadily preparing, and began to develop
as the voyage went on.
One morning the two chums were called into Armeath's private apartment,
where he was awaiting them with Monck. He explained that he had
received the king's permission to impart to them an important piece of
information. 'I am going to entrust you with a bit of a secret,' said
he, 'and I must ask you to regard it as confidential, and say nothing
about it to any one--particularly to the Zuanstrooms; which, of course,
includes the two lads. Doubtless you have wondered what it was which
induced King Ivanta to pay a second visit to our Earth. It is this,
that what we call precious stones do not exist naturally in Mars. None
were ever seen there until the king brought back a quantity after his
first visit.'
Gerald burst into an exclamation. 'Just what I guessed, sir,' he cried.
'I have had that idea in my mind for some time!'
'It was a shrewd guess, lad,' Monck observed. 'The fact is, that once
the Martians had set eyes on them they went almost mad over them, and
became clamorous for a larger supply to be brought, in order that those
who could afford it might be able to purchase some.
'Our gracious master, who is continually thinking what new thing he can
do to please his people, determined to pay a second visit to the Earth
specially to secure a large supply. Hence his taking up with
Zuanstroom, the "Diamond King." But Zuanstroom was not easy to arrange
with. When he learned the actual state of the case, he insisted, as a
part of the bargain, that my master should promise to bring him over to
Mars for a trip, and take him safely back. Nothing less would satisfy
him.'
'I see,' said Jack. 'And I suppose his diamonds are on board too--a
whole shipload of them, so to speak?'
'Exactly. The greatest load of treasure, I suppose, that has ever been
carried on any ship of the air or the sea.'
'But,' said Gerald, 'the Zuanstrooms know all this. Why mustn't we
speak to them about it?'
'Because, at this point, I come to my story,' Armeath said, with a
half-smile. 'For years I have been experimenting, trying to manufacture
precious stones artificially. At last I succeeded in getting diamonds
from a certain mineral; only to find, however, that the discovery was
almost valueless, because I could not get enough of the particular
mineral. I found out that there was some in the island we have been
living on, and that was the reason I went there to stay for a time.
When, however, I understood what King Ivanta wanted, I told him of my
experiments, showed him the results, and he was highly delighted. He
said it would be easier and cheaper to manufacture diamonds than to buy
them from the Diamond King on his own terms.'
'But how can that be done, sir, if the necessary material is so scarce?'
asked practical Jack.
'You shall hear. King Ivanta recognised the mineral, and declares that
there is plenty of it to be obtained from the planet Saturn. He saw
quantities of it when he was there!'
'Then we are to go to Saturn to obtain a supply; I suppose?' cried
Gerald, full of enthusiasm at the prospect of this new and unexpected
addition to their programme of adventure.
'That I cannot yet say,' replied Armeath. 'We must hear what the king
says.'
'But, sir,' exclaimed Jack, 'you would not think of leaving us
alone--stranded--upon a strange planet! Suppose you never came back!'