a journey in other worlds-第53节

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cave；　and；　passing　through　the　grove　in　which　the　spirit　had　paid
them　his　second　visit；　went　slowly　to　the　top　of　the　hill　about
half　a　mile　off；　that　he　might　the　more　easily　gaze　at　the　faint
star　on　which　he　could　picture　Sylvia。
　　　
〃Ah！〃　he　said　to　himself；　on　reaching　the　summit；　〃I　will　stay
here　till　the　earth　rises　higher；　and　when　it　is　far　above　me　I
will　gaze　at　it　as　at　heaven。〃
　　　
Accordingly；　he　lay　down　with　his　head　on　a　mound　of　sod；　and
watched　the　familiar　planet。
　　　
〃We　were　born　too　soon；〃　he　soliloquized；　〃for　had　Sylvia　and　I
but　lived　in　the　spiritual　age　foretold　by　the　bishop；　we　might
have　held　communion；　while　now　our　spirits；　no　matter　how　much　in
love；　are　separated　absolutely　by　a　mere　matter　of　distance。　　It
is　a　mockery　to　see　Sylvia's　dwelling…place；　and　feel　that　she　is
beyond　my　vision。　　O　that；　in　the　absence　of　something　better；　my
poor　imperfect　eyes　could　be　transformed　into　those　of　an　eagle；
but　with　a　million　times　the　power！　for　though　I　know　that　with
these　senses　I　shall　see　the　resurrection；　and　hear　the　last
trump；　that　is　but　prospective；　while　now　is　the　time　I　long　for
sight。〃
　　　
On　the　plain　he　had　left　he　saw　his　friends'　camp…fire；　while　on
the　other　side　of　his　elevation　was　a　valley　in　which　the　insects
chirped　sharply；　and　through　which　ran　a　stream。　　Feeling　a
desire　for　solitude　and　to　be　as　far　removed　as　possible；　he
arose　and　descended　towards　the　water。　　Though　the　autumn；　where
they　found　themselves；　was　well　advanced；　this　night　was　warm；
and　the　rings　formed　a　great　arch　above　his　head。　　Near　the
stream　the　frogs　croaked　happily；　as　if　unmindful　of　the　long
very　long　Saturnian　winter；　for　though　they　were　removed　but
about　ten　degrees　from　the　equator；　the　sun　was　so　remote　and　the
axis　of　the　planet　so　inclined　that　it　was　unlikely　these
individual　frogs　would　see　another　summer；　though　they　might　live
again；　in　a　sense；　in　their　descendants。　　The　insects　also　would
soon　be　frozen　and　stiff；　and　the　tall；　graceful　lilies　that
still　clung　to　life　would　be　withered　and　dead。　　The　trees；　as　if
weeping　at　the　evanescence　of　the　life　around　them；　shed　their
leaves　at　the　faintest　breeze。　　These　fluttered　to　the　ground；
or；　falling　into　the　tranquil　stream；　were　carried　away　by　it；
and　passed　from　sight。　　Ayrault　stood　musing　and　regretting　the
necessity　of　such　general　death。　　〃But；〃　he　thought；　〃I　would
rather　die　than　lose　my　love；　for　then　I　should　have　had　the
taste　of　bliss　without　its　fulfilment；　and　should　be　worse　off
than　dead。　　Love　gilds　the　commonplace；　and　deifies　all　it
touches。　　Love　survives　the　winter；　and　in　my　present　frame　of
mind　I　should　prefer　earth　and　cold　with　it　to　heaven　and　spring。　
Oh；　why　is　my　soul　so　clogged　by　my　body？〃
　　　
A　pillar　of　stone　standing　near　him　was　suddenly　shattered；　and
the　bishop　stood　where　it　had　been。
　　
　〃Because；〃　said　the　spirit；　answering　his　thought；　〃it　has　not
yet　power　to　be　free。〃
　　　
〃Can　a　man's　soul　not　rise　till　his　body　is　dead？　asked　Ayrault。
　　　
The　spirit　hesitated。
　　　
〃Oh；　tell　me；〃　pleaded　Ayrault。　　〃If　I　could　see　the　girl　to　whom
I　am　engaged；　for　but　a　moment；　could　be　convinced　that　she　loves
me　still；　my　mind　would　be　at　rest。　　Free　my　soul　or　spirit；　or
whatever　it　is；　from　this　body；　that　I　may　traverse　intervening
space　and　be　with　her。〃
　　　
〃You　will　discover　the　way　for　yourself　in　time；〃　said　the　spirit。
　　　
〃I　know　I　shall　at　the　last　day；　in　the　resurrection；　when　I　am
no　longer　in　the　flesh。　　Then　I　shall　have　no　need　of　your　aid；
for　we；　know　that　in　the　resurrection　they　neither　marry　nor　are
given　in　marriage；　but　are　like　the　angels　of　God　in　heaven。　　It
is　while　I　am　mortal；　and　love　as　mortals　do；　that　I　wish　to　see
my　promised　bride。　　A　spirit　may　have　other　joys；　and　perhaps
higher；　but　you　who　have　lived　in　the　world　and　loved；　show　me
that　which　is　now　my　heart's　desire。　　You　have　shown　us　the　tomb
in　which　Cortlandt　will　lie　buried；　now　help　me　to　go　to　one　who
is　still　alive。〃
　　
〃I　pray　that　God　will　grant　you　this；〃　said　the　spirit；　〃and　make
me　His　instrument；　for　I　see　the　depth　of　your　distress。〃　　Saying
which；　he　vanished；　leaving　no　trace　in　his　departure　except　that
the　pillar　of　stone　returned　to　its　place。
　　
With　this　rather　vague　hope；　Ayrault　set　off　to　rejoin　his
companions；　for　he　felt　the　need　of　human　sympathy。　　Saturn's
rapid　rotation　had　brought　the　earth　almost　to　the　zenith；　the
little　point　shining　with　the　unmistakably　steady　ray　of　a
planet。　　Huge　bats　fluttered　about　him；　and　the　great
cloud…masses　swept　across　the　sky；　being　part　of　Saturn's
ceaseless　whirl。　　He　found　he　was　in　a　hypnotic　or　spiritualistic
state；　for　it　was　not　necessary　for　him　to　have　his　eyes　open　to
know　where　he　was。　　In　passing　one　of　the　pools　they　had　noticed；
he　observed　that　the　upper　and　previously　invisible　liquid　had
the　bright　colour　of　gold；　and　about　it　rested　a　group　of　figures
enveloped　in　light。
　　　
〃Why　do　you　look　so　sad？〃　they　asked。　　〃You　are　in　that　abode　of
departed　spirits　known　as　paradise；　and　should　be　happy。〃
　　　
〃I　suppose　I　should　be　happy；　were　I　here　as　you　are；　as　the
reward　of　merit；〃　he　replied。　　〃But　I　am　still　in　the　flesh；　and
as　such　am　subject　to　its　cares。〃
　　　
〃You　are　about　to　have　an　experience；〃　said　another　speaker。　
〃This　day　your　doubts　will　be　at　rest；　for　before　another　sunset
you　will　know　more　of　the　woman　you　love。〃
　　　
The　intensity　of　the　spiritualistic　influence　here　somewhat
weakened；　for　he　partially　lost　sight　of　the　luminous　figures；
and　could　no　longer　hear　what　they　said。　　His　heart　was　in　his
mouth　as　he　walked；　and　he　felt　like　a　man　about　to　set　out　on
his　honeymoon；　or　like　a　bride　who　knows　not　whether　to　laugh　or
to　cry。　　An　indescribable　exhilaration　was　constantly　present。
　　　
〃I　wonder；〃　thought　he；　〃if　a　caterpillar　has　these　sensations
before　becoming　a　butterfly？　　Though　I　return　to　the　rock　from
which　I　sprang；　I　believe　I　shall　be　with　Sylvia　to…day。〃
　　　
Footprints　formed　in　the　soft　ground　all　around　him；　and　the　air
was　filled　with　spots　of　phosphorescent　light　that　coincided　with
the　relative　positions　of　the　brains；　hearts；　and　eyes　of　human
beings。　　These　surrounded　and　often　preceded　him；　as　though
leading　him　on；　while　the　most　heavenly　anthems　filled　the　air
and　the　vault　of　the　sky。
　　　
〃I　believe；〃　he　thought；　with　bounding　heart；　〃that　I　shall　be
initiated　into　the　mysteries　of　space　this　night。〃
　　　
At　times　he　could　hear　even　the　words　of　the　choruses　ringing　in
his　ears；　though　at　others　he　thought　the　effect　was　altogether
in　his　mind。
　　　
〃Oh；　for　a　proof；〃　he　prayed；　〃that　no　sane　man　can　doubt！　　My
faith　is　implicit　in　the　bishop　and　the　vision；　and　I　feel　that
in　some　way　I　shall　return　to　earth　ere　the　close　of　another　day；
for　I　know　I　am　awake；　and　that　this　is　no　dream。〃
　　　
A　fire　burned　in　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　within　which　Bearwarden
and　Cortlandt　lay　sleeping。　　The　specks　of　mica　in　the　rocks
reflected　its　light；　but　in　addition　to　this　a　diffused
phosphorescence　filled　the　place；　and　the　large　sod…covered
stones　they　used　for　pillows　emitted　purple　and　dark　red　flames。
　　　
〃Is　that　you；　Dick？〃　asked　Bearwarden；　awaking　and　groping　about。　
〃We　built　up　the　fire　so　that　you　should　find　the　camp；　but　it
seems　to　have　gone　down。〃　　Saying　which；　he　struck　a　match；
whereupon　Ayrault　ceased　to　see　the　phosphorescence　or　bluish
light。　　At　that　moment　a　peal　of　thunder　awakened　Cortlandt；　who
sat　up　and　rubbed　his　eyes。
　　　
〃I　think；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃I　will　go　to　the　Callisto　and　get　our
mackintoshes　before　the　rain　sets　in。〃　　Whereupon　he　left　his
companions；　who　were　soon　again　fast　asleep。
　　　
The　sky　had　suddenly　become　filled　with　clouds；　and　Ayrault
hastened　towards　the　Callisto；　intending　to　remain　there；　if
necessary；　until　the　storm　was　over。　　For　about　twenty　minutes　he
hurried　on　through　the　growing　darkness；　stopping　once　on　high
ground　to　make　sure　of　his　bearings；　and　he　had　covered　more　than
half　the　distance　when　the　rain　came　on　in　a　flood；　accompanied
by　brilliant　lightning。　　Seeing　the　huge；　hollow　trunk　of　a
fallen　tree　near；　and　not　wishing　to　be　wet　through；　Ayrault
fired　several　solid　shots　from　his　revolver　into　the　cavity；　to
drive　out　any　wild　animals　there　might　be　inside；　and　then
hurriedly　crawled　in；　feet　first。　　He　next　drew　in　his　head；　and
was　congratulating　himself　on　his　snug　retreat；　when　the　sky
became　lurid　with　a　flash　of　lightning；　then　his　head　dropped
forward；　and　he　was　unconscious。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XI。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DREAMLAND　TO　SHADOWLAND。

As　Ayrault's　consciousness　returned；　he　fancied　he　heard　music。　
Though　distant；　it　was　distinct；　and　seemed　to　ring　from　the
ether　of　space。　　Occasionally　it　sounded　even　more　remote；　but　it
was　rhythmical　and　continuous；　inspiring　and　stirring　him　as
nothing　that　he　had　ever　heard　before。　　Finally；　it　was　overcome
by　the　more　vivid　impressions　upon　his　other　senses；　and　he　found
himself　walking　in　the　streets　of　his　native　city。　　It　was
spring；　and　the　trees　were　white　with　buds。　　The　long　shado