put in. 'Saturn, at the present time, is in the stage which the
scientists tell us the Earth was in, ages ago, when the great
antediluvian monsters existed. Those monsters--or similar ones--are
alive now on Saturn; and terrible creatures they are, I can assure you!
The _amalpi_--the unicorn-like animal which hunted you, Master
Gerald--is one which we managed to capture and bring back from Saturn.
But it is small and almost harmless compared with some of the animals
and reptiles we saw there! I do not think I would go there again, Mr
Armeath, of my own choice, even for the sake of bushels of diamonds!'
'If I go, it will not be exactly for the reason you suppose, my friend,'
returned Armeath. He spoke very gravely, and with a note of sadness in
his tone. 'Your king, in most things, has shown himself a very wise
monarch; but I think he has made a mistake in introducing jewels at all
amongst his subjects. Upon our globe they have always been the cause of
heartburning, envy, jealousy, and all kinds of evil passions. In too
many cases they have proved, as all of us know, a veritable curse, and
have led to crimes innumerable. But, for good or for evil, your master
has made certain promises, and arranged certain things with the Diamond
King. King Ivanta's people are all agog, waiting in clamorous
impatience for the cargo of jewels which we are taking to them. It is
too late now to alter that; but, look you! what if I prove to them that
jewels just as good can be made as cheaply as bits of glass? What will
be the consequence?'
'Nobody will want them,' Monck answered, laughing.
'Just so! And that, in my opinion, would be for the future benefit of
all the inhabitants of Mars! It is for that--and with that idea
alone--that I am ready to risk the danger of a trip to Saturn.'
'If that be so, then I am with you,' exclaimed the engineer. 'It is a
worthy object, and I will help you all I can! But to obtain the mineral
you want will be almost like undertaking over again the fabled labours
of Hercules, for the place where it exists is guarded by creatures more
formidable than the fabled Hydra, and more terrible than the worst of
the ancient dragons!'
*CHAPTER X.*
*CAPTURED BY A COMET.*
The _Ivenia_, the great Martian airship, sped onwards upon its wonderful
voyage for a period of nearly two months without anything occurring to
interrupt its continuous progress. Then, one night, there came a
startling interruption of its smooth, gliding flight through space--one
that nearly terminated it for good and all.
It so happened that the two chums were sitting up that night with Mr
Armeath in the conning-tower, a privilege but seldom accorded to any one
not actually engaged in the navigation of the ship. The officer in
charge, however, was one named Malanda, the one who had been in
attendance on the king when Gerald had saved his life. He it was who
had recognised the lad at the critical moment when he had been a
prisoner, and since that time he had treated him with marked kindness.
The conning-tower was a roomy apartment, very curiously constructed. It
could be raised or depressed by mechanical means, so that at some times
it projected above the outer surface of the ship, while at others it was
just level with it. In the former case there was a clear view in all
directions except immediately beneath; in the latter there was no direct
view save upwards; but the images of outside objects were then thrown on
to a screen, as in a camera-obscura.
Upon this eventful night the conning-tower had been raised, and the two
chums had been amusing themselves by peering through powerful telescopes
at the heavenly bodies around them.
It was truly a wonderful, a fascinating sight, and one which Gerald,
especially, was never tired of contemplating. The various
constellations blazed out with a vividness and beauty far exceeding
their appearance as seen through our atmosphere from the surface of the
Earth. Thanks to Malanda, the two lads had learned to distinguish the
planets from the far-more distant fixed stars. They knew that the
latter were at such tremendous distances that they 'didn't count,' as
Jack put it; the only ones they were likely to have anything to do with
being the planets, which, like our Earth, are always revolving round our
sun.
Of course, as they were going to visit Mars, they watched that orb
particularly; and they felt a special interest in noting how its
pinkish-red light increased in size and intensity as they drew nearer.
Next in interest came our Earth, which they had so recently left, whose
bluish light waned exactly in proportion as that of Mars waxed stronger.
Then there was beautiful Saturn, with its wondrous rings of light;
perhaps they were also to visit that mysterious orb, and learn what
those lustrous bands were composed of!
Besides these, there were plenty of curious things to watch and admire.
The planets had their moons in attendance upon them--some having two,
some as many as eight--all behaving as our own moon does--each, that is
to say, showing in turn as a thin crescent, a half-moon, a full-moon,
and so on; and the voyagers had watched these changes with interest
which never flagged. It seemed such a strange thing to think of:
several moons round one planet; one, perhaps, a new moon; and two or
three others near the full, all shining at the same time!
Now, it was while they were gazing at these beautiful sights that Jack
noticed a tiny speck of light which struck him as unfamiliar. He
mentioned it in an undertone to Gerald, who, just then, was
half-watching what was to be seen of Saturn, half-dreaming of what lay
beyond. Gerald pointed his telescope in the direction indicated, and
looked at the speck of light, but seeing nothing particular in its
appearance, turned his attention again to other objects.
Jack, however, was more observant. His acute, practical sense had told
him that here was something different from anything he had seen before.
He promptly recognised two or three very important points in connection
with it. One was that its light was different in colour from that of
anything else he could see. Another was that it was very unsteady, yet
it did not 'twinkle' as do the far-distant stars; and yet another was
that it was growing in intensity very quickly.
'Therefore,' said Jack to himself, 'I believe it must be comparatively
near, and coming towards us at a most tremendous rate.' Finally, he
drew Mr Armeath's attention to the phenomenon.
Armeath in turn pointed it out to Malanda, who had no sooner glanced at
it than he rushed across the floor of the chamber to some levers, which
he began to manipulate, at the same time setting a number of bells
ringing in various parts of the great aerostat. One of these, as it
afterwards appeared, rang out its urgent message in the
sleeping-apartment of the king, who roused at once from his slumber and
hurried to the conning-tower.
Before his arrival, however, the alarm bells had summoned others to the
place, and from their excited talk the chums quickly learnt the cause of
the excitement. For they had worked at the study of the Martian
language to such good purpose that by this time they could understand
most of what was said.
There were many confused exclamations, and much incoherent talk; but
amidst it all they heard again and again the cry, 'A comet! A comet!'
Just then Jack found the engineer Monck beside him, and he asked for
further information.
'I cannot tell you much about it now, my lad,' was the reply; 'but I
know that this is one of the gravest dangers of our voyage. Comets have
well been called "the spectres of space." The planets and their moons
move in certain well-defined orbits or tracks, and you know exactly
where you are likely to meet them and what to do if you wish to avoid
them. But comets seem to be controlled by no known law, and you never
can tell where you may encounter them. Compared with any of the planets,
they are, of course, small; but they are enormous compared with our
aerostat, and quite big enough to accomplish our destruction if one of
them ran against us. So you can understand that great care is necessary
when one is sighted.'
'These people seem very excited; do you think there is serious danger,
sir?' Gerald asked.
'No, no--a--at least, I hope not. But when a comet is anywhere near it
is always a relief when we are safely past it. You will see, however,
that all will quiet down when our royal master is here. He is the only
one, I believe, who really knows how to meet the danger.'
The words were scarcely spoken when they were verified by the king's
arrival. As his stately form strode into the chamber, a great hush fell
upon those assembled there, and, like magic, quiet and orderly procedure
took the place of what had looked very much like unreasoning panic.
He stood for a few moments gazing around to take in the situation, then
he looked at the advancing comet, which could now be plainly seen
without any telescope furiously rushing, at tremendous speed, seemingly
straight at the ship.
Flashes and bursts of light accompanied it like explosions of mighty
bombshells, lighting up the interior of the conning-tower as might
flashes of terrible lightning. Already it had grown from a tiny speck
of light to a ball of fire as large as our moon looks at the full; and
it was rapidly growing bigger and bigger.
Then Ivanta gave a series of orders in sharp, commanding tones, and some
of the crowd of officers went off to execute them. The doors of the
chamber were closed, and a moment later the conning-tower sank down, and
all became dark save for a fiery image which was now to be seen upon a
large screen. This gave a view of the comet as it would have appeared
if they had still been looking direct at it. From the apparent size of
a moon it had now grown to twice as large as our sun looks to us. Its
shape was no longer round, but was changing each second, the continual
explosions sending out irregular masses of fire upon all sides in turn.
Even as seen upon the screen it was an awful sight to look upon. It
seemed like some gigantic, fiery monster bent upon devouring them.
Armeath put a hand affectionately upon each of his wards. He could see
that the position of the aerostat was critical, and that they were all
in terrible danger. It was not a moment for talk or comment, but he
bent down and whispered a few words in the ears of the two lads. 'We
are in the hands of God, my boys,' he said devoutly. 'Such things as
these are but some of the smallest and most puny of His great works! If
He so wills it we shall pass the danger safely, and live to remember it
with admiration and wonder in place of fear!'
The fiery shape grew in size till it covered the whole screen, and in
intensity till, even as thus reflected, the light from it was almost
blinding. Then there came a close, stifling feeling, and the chamber
grew so hot as to become almost intolerable. They were conscious of
something which whizzed past them with a frightful roar. In a second it
was gone, and the heat and light grew perceptibly less.
'It has passed!' murmured Armeath; and he breathed a prayer of
thankfulness.
Monck, who had remained alongside them, gave a gasp of relief.
'That's the nearest brush we've ever had since I 've been on board!' he
muttered.
'Has it really gone? Are we safe now, do you think, sir?' Gerald asked
in a whisper. Both lads had held their breath at the critical moment.
Though they had shown no signs of panic, the strain had been pretty
severe, and they breathed more freely now.
'Yes, it has gone--shot past us like a flash. And now'----
Suddenly the aerostat gave a lurch, and then swerved from its course so
abruptly as almost to throw the voyagers off their feet. To them it
felt as if it had swung round in a great half-circle, and was now flying
along in the opposite direction to that in which they had been going.
It was the first time since leaving the Earth that the travellers had
experienced anything that could be called a jar or swerve; and they now
stared at one another in startled surprise.
What could it mean?
Ivanta's voice was heard issuing hurried orders, and his officers
hastened to execute them. Malanda crossed the floor to handle a lever
near to where Monck was standing.
'What is it, friend Malanda?' asked the engineer, in an anxious
undertone.
'We are caught in the attractive power of the comet,' was the answer,
'and it is pulling us along after it. Unless we can manage to fight
free, this ship will follow the comet through space as long as it may
continue to rush about on its erratic journey, which would probably mean
at least a thousand years!'
*CHAPTER XI.*
*'WELCOME TO MARS!'*
The minutes which followed Malanda's startling announcement were anxious
ones indeed for those of the voyagers who had heard it. The great
majority on board, however, were happily ignorant of what had happened,
and knew nothing about it till subsequently.
Even Armeath and his companions could not afterwards tell much more
about it than has been here set down, for the reason that Ivanta ordered
the conning-tower to be cleared of every one save two or three of his
officers. So they had to march out with the others; and of what went on
inside, or whether the aerostat was likely ever to struggle out of its
fearful position, they in the meanwhile knew nothing. For what seemed a
long, weary time they could only wait on in suspense while the issue was
being decided.
It was a good half-hour before the welcome news was brought to them that
the king had succeeded in getting his ship free from the comet's
sinister influence; and then no further particulars were vouchsafed.
How it had been done was again one of those secrets which Ivanta kept
strictly to himself. All that was made known was that the aerostat had
now resumed her voyage, and that, as it happened, no harm had been done.
A few days later, Gerald was seated in one of the large conservatories,
reading a book which he had borrowed. Both he and Jack could now read
the Martian language fairly well, and they found in the library on board
a new storehouse of wonders of the most fascinating description. Hearing
footsteps, he glanced up, and saw that Tom Clinch had come to seek him.
'Could I 'ave a wurd wi' you, Mr Gerald?' Clinch asked.
'Certainly, Tom. What's the trouble?'
'Well, Mr Gerald, it be like this. I've 'eerd--it's odd 'ow things do
get about--as we was nearly run down t'other night by a comet or some
such blamed foolishness.'
Gerald looked with surprise upon the weather-beaten features of the
faithful henchman, and with difficulty repressed a smile as he noted
their woe-begone expression.
'I don't know how you managed to learn so much, Tom,' he answered
quietly; 'but something of the kind did occur, I believe. Still, there
is no occasion for you to take it so seriously. The danger is past; and
they tell me it's not likely to happen again during the rest of our
journey.'
But Tom Clinch was not so easily comforted. He shook his head with a
dissatisfied grunt.
''Ow does they know?' he asked dubiously. 'They doan't keep a proper
lookout, Mr Gerald, that's what's the matter, else they 'd 'a sighted
this reckless galoot afore she got so near. They'd 'a seen as she
wurn't under proper control, an' they should 'a sounded the siren. Why
doan't they 'ave somebody perched on the top, outside, in a little sort
o' crow's-nest? They could 'ave a speakin'-tube to shout through if ye
like.'
'I 'm afraid it wouldn't answer; it would be rather uncomfortable--and,
um--well, a little cold for the man outside,' replied Gerald gravely,
though his eyes were twinkling. 'But is that all you wish to say?'
'Why, no, sir. Me an' Bob Reid, we've talked it over, an' we's agreed
t' offer t' run the look-out for 'em, turn an' turn about, if ye likes.
We's old sailors, an' we knows the ropes, an' we 'd keep a proper watch.
Seems t' me as the people aboord 'ere be mostly landlubbers, what ain't
got no nautical knollidge like.'
Gerald listened with a sympathetic air, for though he was naturally
vastly amused, Tom looked so very much in earnest that he had not the
heart to seem to ridicule his well-meant suggestion.
Promising, therefore, that he would make the generous offer known in the
proper quarter, he dismissed the old sailor, just as his chum Jack came
upon the scene.
Gerald did not notice at the moment that Jack looked serious too, and
proceeded to tell him, with a laugh, what Clinch had been saying.
'Fancy the two honest old worthies talking this over, and coming
sedately to me with such an offer!' said he. 'What an idea--that they
should have a lookout placed outside, where the temperature runs far
below that of liquid air! Jupiter!'
Then he noticed, for the first time, that his chum was also looking
troubled.
'Why, what's amiss?' he asked. 'You and Tom Clinch seem alike
to-day--you both remind me of the Knight of the Troubled Countenance.
You look as if you wanted cheering up. You should read this book I 've
got hold of; it would make you laugh.'
'What is it about?'
'It's written by some old Martian crank of an astronomer, and contains
his speculations upon the subject of the Earth. They call us, you know,
the evening star; for so our planet appears to them, just as Venus does
to us. Well, he is writing and speculating about their evening
star--that is, about our world--and he declares his conviction that it
cannot be inhabited by human beings like those living on Mars. He
argues that because the light from our Earth shines with a bluish tint,
therefore, if there are people on it, they must have blue skins. He
brings forward a lot of most convincing arguments to support this
theory, and winds up by declaring that if our world is really inhabited,
it can only be by a race of ape-like creatures, with blue skins and
bodies partly covered with green hair!'
'H'm! So much for some people's scientific theories. However, I 've
got something else to talk to you about just now. While you 've been
reading and dreaming, and going about with your head in the clouds'----
'Above the clouds, Jack--far, far above the clouds! Be practical, now.
Consider! Are we not far above the clouds?'
'Will you listen, you incorrigible dreamer?' exclaimed Jack impatiently.
'I want to tell you that I am afraid there is some fresh trouble brewing
in which those Zuanstrooms are mixed up. Two or three times lately I
have come upon their youngster, Freddy, wandering about in melancholy
fashion, and when I asked him why he was alone, he said, each time, that
they had sent him out because the "ugly old man" had come there to talk,
and he was in the way. Now, by "ugly old man" Freddy means the one you
called the Ogre--Kazzaro. The question naturally suggests itself, why
should there be secret conferences between that worthy and the Diamond
King?'
'Seems funny, doesn't it? Have you mentioned anything about it to our
guardian or Mr Monck?'
'Not yet. You see, I haven't anything definite to go upon. But I 'm
going to keep my eyes open, and I mean, if I can, to find out what it
really is that is going on between the Zuanstrooms and the crowd they've
become so thick with.'
'Well, I'll help you to keep an eye on them too. Neither Kazzaro nor Mr
Zuanstroom is any friend of ours; that we know. I do believe that if
they could have their way they would throw us off the ship, and leave us
to go whizzing about in space like a couple of little comets.'
However, time passed on without anything further occurring to strengthen
Jack's suspicions; and soon they were almost forgotten in the interest
and excitement which sprang up and grew from day to day as they neared
the end of the voyage.
The apparent size of Mars was visibly increasing each time they looked
at it, till at last it seemed to take up the whole of the firmament in
front of them. It was a wonderful, and in many ways an awe-inspiring,
sight. For, just as when they had been leaving the Earth it seemed to
be our globe which was travelling away from them--not they from the
Earth--so now Mars appeared to be coming towards them, and at a
frightful pace. Majestic, magnificent, inconceivably grand, it certainly
was; but there was something oppressive in its very grandeur, something
awful in its swift, silent approach, something terrible in its
overwhelming greatness.
Seas and continents began to show upon its surface, till the wondering
spectators could see the whole of one side laid out as on a gigantic
map. And there, plain to the eye, were the so-called 'canals,' those
curious constructions or formations which our earthly astronomers have
viewed through their telescopes and puzzled over for so many years, and
which are supposed to be artificial canals upon a gigantic scale.
At last, the _Ivenia_ entered the planet's atmosphere, through which
they had been viewing everything as through a faint-pinkish haze. Then
a great change took place in the outward appearance of the aerostat.
The upper covering was removed, the immense wings were spread, a
beautifully carved and decorated 'figurehead,' like the head of a
colossal bird, was run out at one end and a tail-like addition at the
other.
Monck led Mr Armeath and his companions out on to the upper deck.
'You may now safely venture into the open air,' he observed; 'for,
unknown to you, the air within the aerostat has been gradually changing,
and becoming denser. We are all, therefore, now acclimatised, and you
will feel no ill effects.'
As they looked through their glasses, the two lads uttered exclamations
of astonishment and admiration.
Below them could be seen an extensive city, built beside an arm of the
sea, which, instead of being blue, was of an ethereal, rosy tint. There
were towering palaces and noble buildings, vast embankments and
terraces, surrounded by beautiful gardens, amidst which could be
distinguished stately colonnades, winding streams, and glistening
fountains and cascades.
The _Ivenia_ swept downwards with a swift, gliding motion, in a series
of wide circles, like some giant bird poised on outstretched wings.
There was no vibration, no jar, no motion even of the wide-spreading
wings as she sank lightly and gracefully through the air.
And as she descended, the air below became filled with what at first had
the appearance of a great flight of birds.
Gerald asked what they were, and Monck bade him look again through his
glasses. Then he saw that what he had mistaken for distant birds were
in reality numbers of flying-machines mounting upwards to meet the
_Ivenia_.
A little later these smaller air-craft were swarming round the great
aerostat, the occupants uttering shouts and cries of joyous welcome to
their returning king. These flying-machines were of all shapes and
kinds, and they thronged round Ivanta's superb 'chariot of the skies' as
might a swarm of steamers, yachts, and other craft round a mighty
warship bearing our own king back to England's shores after a foreign
trip.
Finally, the wondrous structure landed easily and quietly upon the
ground in the midst of a vast crowd of people; and, as she came to rest,
King Ivanta stepped out from the conning-tower and showed himself to the
shouting throng.
Then, turning to Armeath and the others whom he had brought with him as
guests, he said, with a charming mixture of royal dignity and kindly
condescension, 'Welcome, my friends! Welcome to our world! Welcome to
Mars!'
*CHAPTER XII.*
*PRINCE ALONDRA.*
As King Ivanta spoke to his visitors the words 'Welcome to Mars!' there
came a rustling sound, and a strange figure, shining and glistening in
the sunlight, suddenly appeared on the deck beside him.
So rapidly had it arrived that the startled spectators scarcely saw more
than the sheen from its resplendent body before it was amongst them,
alighting with the grace and ease of a swallow close to the king, whom
it addressed in joyous, laughing accents, 'Welcome, father! welcome
home!'
Even King Ivanta was evidently taken by surprise, for at first he
scarcely seemed to understand this arrival any more than the strangers
from Earth did. The next moment, however, he had clasped the radiant
vision in his arms in a close embrace. Then he drew back and regarded
the youth--for such the figure was--critically. 'Why, Alondra, my son,'
said he, 'what is this surprise?'