according to the fable； the crystal complained of its hard lot in
being unable to move； while the eagle could soar through the
upper air and see all the glories of the world； the bird replied；
'My life is but for a moment； while you； set in the rock； will
live forever； and will see the last sunrise that flashes upon the
earth。'
〃We know that Christ； while walking on the waves； did not sink；
and that he and Elijah were carried up into heaven。 What became
of their material bodies we cannot tell； but they were certainly
superior to the force of gravitation。 We have no reason to
believe that in miracles any natural law was broken； or even set
aside； but simply that some other law； whose workings we do not
understand； became operative and modified the law that otherwise
would have had things its own way。 In apergy we undoubtedly have
the counterpart of gravitation； which must exist； or Nature's
system of compensation is broken。 May we not believe that in
Christ's transfiguration on the mount； and in the appearance of
Moses and Elias with himdoubtless in the flesh； since otherwise
mortal eyes could not have seen themapergy came into play and
upheld them； that otherwise； and if no other modification had
intervened； they would have fallen to the ground； and that apergy
was； in other words； the working principle of those miracles？〃
〃May we not also believe；〃 added Cortlandt； 〃that in the
transfiguration Christ's companions took the substance of their
material bodiesthe oxygen； hydrogen； nitrogen； and carbonfrom
the air and the moisture it contained； for； though spiritual
bodies； be their activity magnetic or any other； could of course
pass the absolute cold and void of space without being affected；
no mortal body could； and that in the same manner Elijah's body
dissolved into air without the usual intervention of
decomposition； for we know that； though matter can easily change
its form； it can never be destroyed。〃
All assented to this； and Ayrault continued： 〃If apergy can
annul gravitation； I do not see why it should not do more； for to
annul it the repulsion of the earth that it produces must be as
great as its attraction； unless we suppose gravitation for the
time being to be suspended； but whether it is or not； does not
affect the result in this case； for； after the apergetic
repulsion is brought to the degree at which a body does not fall；
any increase in the current's strength will cause it to rise； and
in the case of electro…magnets we know that the attraction or
repulsion has practically no limit。 This will be of great
advantage to us；〃 he continued； 〃for if a projectile could move
away from the earth with no more rapid acceleration than that
with which it approaches； it would take too long to reach the
nearest planet； but the maximum repulsion being at the start by
reason of its proximity to the earthfor apergy； being the
counterpart of gravitation； is subject to Newton's and Kepler's
lawsthe acceleration of a body apergetically charged will be
greatest at first。 Two inclined planes may have the same fall；
but a ball will reach the bottom of one that is steepest near the
top in less time than on any other； because the maximum
acceleration is at the start。 We are all tired of being stuck to
this cosmical speck； with its monotonous ocean； leaden sky； and
single moon that is useless more than half the time； while its
size is so microscopic compared with the universe that we can
traverse its great circle in four days。 Its possibilities are
exhausted； and just as Greece became too small for the
civilization of the Greeks； and as reproduction is growth beyond
the individual； so it seems to me that the future glory of the
human race lies in exploring at least the solar system； without
waiting to become shades。〃
〃Should you propose to go to Mars or Venus？〃 asked Cortlandt。
〃No；〃 replied Ayrault； 〃we know all about Mars； it is but one
seventh the size of the earth； and as the axis is inclined more
than ours； it would be a less comfortable globe than this； while；
as our president here told us in his T。 A。 S。 Company's report；
the axis of Venus is inclined to such a degree that it would be
almost uninhabitable for us。 It would be as if colonists tried
to settle Greenland； or had come to North America during its
Glacial period。 Neither Venus nor Mars would be a good place
now。〃
〃Where should you propose to go？〃 asked Stillman。
〃To Jupiter； and； if possible； after that to Saturn；〃 replied
Ayrault； 〃the former's mean distance from the sun is 480；000；000
miles； but； as our president showed us； its axis is so nearly
straight that I think； with its internal warmth； there will be
nothing to fear from cold。 Though； on account of the planet's
vast size； objects on its surface weigh more than twice as much
as here； if I am able to reach it by means of apergy； the same
force will enable me to regulate my weight。 Will any one go with
me？〃
〃Splendid！〃 said Bearwarden。 〃If Mr。 Dumby； our vice…president；
will temporarily assume my office； nothing will give me greater
pleasure。〃
〃So will I go； if there is room for me；〃 said Cortlandt。 〃I will
at once resign my place as Government expert； and consider it the
grandest event of my life。〃
〃If I were not afraid of leaving Stillman here to his own
devices； I'd ask for a berth as well；〃 said Deepwaters。
〃I am afraid；〃 said Stillman； 〃if you take any more； you will be
overcrowded。〃
〃Modesty forbids his saying；〃 said Deepwaters； 〃that it wouldn't
do for the country to have all its eggs in one basket。〃
〃Are you not afraid you will find the surface hot； or even
molten？〃 asked Vice…President Dumby。 〃With its eighty…six
thousand five hundred mile diameter； the amount of original
internal heat must have been terrific。〃
〃No； said Cortlandt； 〃it cannot be molten； or even in the least
degree luminous； for； if it were； its satellites would be visible
when they enter its shadow； whereas they entirely disappear。〃
〃I do not believe Jupiter's surface is even perceptibly warm；〃
said Bearwarden。 〃We know that Algol； known to the ancients as
the 'Demon Star；' and several other variable stars； are
accompanied by a dark companion； with which they revolve about a
common centre； and which periodically obscures part of their
light。 Now； some of these non…luminaries are nearly as large as
our sun； and； of course； many hundred times the size of Jupiter。
If these bodies have lost enough heat to be invisible； Jupiter's
surface at least must be nearly cold。〃
〃In the phosphorescence of seawater；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃and in
other instances in Nature； we find light without heat； and we may
soon be able to produce it in the arts by oxidizing coal without
the intervention of the steam engine； but we never find any
considerable heat without light。〃
〃I am convinced；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that we shall find Jupiter
habitable for intelligent beings who have been developed on a
more advanced sphere than itself； though I do not believe it has
progressed far enough in its evolution to produce them。 I expect
to find it in its Palaeozoic or Mesozoic period； while over a
hundred years ago the English astronomer； Chambers； thought that
on Saturn there was good reason for suspecting the presence of
snow。〃
〃What sort of spaceship do you propose to have？〃 asked the
vice…president。
〃As you have to pass through but little air；〃 said Deepwaters； 〃I
should suggest a short…stroke cylinder of large diameter； with a
flat base and dome roof； composed of aluminum； or； still better；
of glucinum or beryllium as it is sometimes called； which is
twice as good a conductor of electricity as aluminum； four times
as strong； and is the lightest of all known metals； having a
specific gravity of only two； which last property will be of
great use to you； for of course the more weight you have to
propel the more apergetic repulsion you will have to develop。〃
〃I will get some drawing…paper I left outside in my trap；〃 said
Ayrault； 〃when with your ideas we may arrive at something
definite；〃 saying which； he left the room。
〃He seems very cynical in his ideas of life and the world in
general；〃 said Secretary Stillman； 〃for a man of his age； and one
that is engaged。〃
〃You see；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃his fiancee is not yet a senior；
being in the class of two thousand and one at Vassar； and so
cannot marry him for a year。 Not till next June can this sweet
girl graduate come forth with her mortar…board and sheepskin to
enlighten the world and make him happy。 That is； I suspect； one
reason why he proposed this trip。〃
CHAPTER VII。
HARD AT WORK。
In a few moments Ayrault returned with pencils； a pair of
compasses； and paper。
〃Let us see； in the first place；〃 said Deepwaters； 〃how long the
journey will take。 Since a stone falls 16。09 feet the first
second； and 64＋ feet the next； it is easy to calculate at what
rate your speed would increase with the repulsion twice that of
the ordinary traction。 But I think this would be too slow。 It
will be best to treble or quadruple the apergetic charge； which
can easily be done； in which case your speed will exceed the
muzzle…velocity of a projectile from a long…range gun； in a few
seconds。 As the earth's repulsion decreases； the attraction of
mars and Jupiter will increase； and； there being no resistance；
your gait will become more and more rapid till it is necessary to
reverse the charge to avoid being dashed to pieces or being
consumed like a falling star by the friction in passing through
Jupiter's atmosphere。 You can be on the safe side by checking
your speed in advance。 You must； of course； be careful to avoid
collisions with meteors and asteroids but if you do； they will be
of use to you； for by attracting or repelling them you can change
your course to suit yourself； and also theirs in inverse ratio to
their masses。 Jupiter's moons will be like head and stern lines
in enabling you to choose the part of the surface on which you
wish to land。 With apergy it is as essential to have some heavy
b