political or geological changes on earth； the face of this dead
satellite； on account of the absence of air and water and
consequent erosion； has remained unchanged for bygone ages； as it
doubtless will for many more。
They closely watched the Callisto's course。 At first it did not
seem to deflect from a straight line； and they stood ready to
turn on the apergetic force again； when the car very slowly began
to show the effect of the moon's near pull； but not till they had
so far passed it that the dark side was towards them were they
heading straight for Jupiter。 Then they again turned on full
power and got a send…off shove on the moon and earth combined；
which increased their speed so rapidly that they felt they could
soon shut off the current altogether and save their supply。
〃We must be ready to watch the signals from the arctic circle；〃
said Bearwarden。 〃At midnight； if the calculations are finished；
the result will be flashed by the searchlight。〃 It was then ten
minutes to twelve； and the earth was already over four hundred
thousand miles away。 Focusing their glasses upon the region near
the north pole； which； being turned from the sun； was towards
them and in darkness； they waited。
〃In this blaze of sunlight；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃I am afraid we can
see nothing。〃
Fortunately； at this moment the Callisto entered the moon's
tapering shadow。
〃This；〃 said Ayrault； 〃is good luck。 We could of course have
gone into the shadow； but to change our course would have delayed
us； and we might have lost part of the chance of increasing our
speed。〃
〃There will be no danger from； meteors or sub…satellites here；〃
said Bearwarden； 〃for anything revolving about the moon at this
distance would be caught by the earth。〃
The sun had apparently set behind the moon； and they were
eclipsed。 The stars shone with the utmost splendour against the
dead…black sky； and the earth appeared as a large crescent； still
considerably larger than the satellite to which they were
accustomed。 Exactly at midnight a faint phosphorescent light；
like that of a glow…worm； appeared in the region of Greenland on
the planet they had left。 It gradually increased its strength
till it shone like a long white beam projected from a lighthouse；
and in this they beheld the work of the greatest search…light
ever made by man； receiving for a few moments all the electricity
generated by the available dynamos at Niagara and the Bay of
Fundy； the steam engines； and other sources of power in the
northern hemisphere。 The beam lasted with growing intensity for
one minute； it then spelled out with clean…cut intervals；
according to the Cable Code： 〃23@ no' 6〃。 The southern
hemisphere pumps are now raising and storing water at full blast。
We have already begun to lower the Arctic Ocean。〃
〃Victory！〃 shouted Bearwarden； in an ecstasy of delight。 〃Nearly
half a degree in six months； with but one pole working。 If we
can add at this rate each time to the speed of straightening
already acquired； we can reverse our engines in five years； and
in five more the earth will be at rest and right。〃
〃Look！〃 said Ayrault； 〃they are sending something else。〃 The
flashes came in rapid succession； reaching far into space。 With
their glasses fixed upon them； they made out these sentences：
〃Our telescopes； in whatever part of the earth was turned towards
you； have followed you since you started； and did not lose sight
of you till you entered the moon's shadow。 On your present
course you will be in darkness till 12。16； when we shall see you
again。〃
On receiving this last earthly message； the travellers sprang to
their searchlight； and； using its full power； telegraphed back
the following： 〃Many thanks to you for good news about earth；
and to Secretary Deepwaters for lending us the navy。 Result of
work most glorious。 Remember us to everybody。 Shadow's edge
approaching。〃
This was read by the men in the great observatories； who
evidently telephoned to the arctic Signal Light immediately； for
it flashed back： 〃Got your message perfectly。 Wish you greatest
luck。 The T。 A。 S。 Co。 has decked the Callisto's pedestal with
flowers； and has ordered a tablet set up on the site to
commemorate your celestial journey。〃
At that moment the shadow swept by； and they were in the full
blaze of cloudless day。 The change was so great that for a
moment they were obliged to close their eyes。 The polished sides
of the Callisto shone so brightly that they knew they were easily
seen。 The power temporarily diverted in sending them the message
then returned to the work of draining the Arctic Ocean； which； as
the north pole was now returning to the sun； was the thing to do；
and the travellers resumed their study of the heavenly bodies。
CHAPTER II。
SPACE AND MARS。
Never before had the travellers observed the stars and planets
under such favourable conditions。 No air or clouds intervened；
and as the Callisto did not revolve on its axis there was no
necessity for changing the direction of the glasses。 After an
hour of this interesting work； however； as it was already late at
the longitude they had left on earth； and as they knew they had
many days in space before them； they prepared to go to bed。 When
ready； they had only to pull down the shades； for； as apergy was
not applied to them； but only to the Callisto； they still looked
upon the floor as down； and closed the heavy curtains to have
night or darkness。 They found that the side of the Callisto
turned constantly towards the sun was becoming very warm； the
double…toughened glass windows making it like a greenhouse； but
they consoled themselves with the thought that the sun's power on
them was hourly becoming less； and they felt sure the double
walls and thick upholstery would protect them almost anywhere
within the solar system from the intense cold of space。
〃We could easily have arranged；〃 said Ayrault； for night and day
on alternate sides of the Callisto by having strips of metal
arranged spirally on the outside as on the end of an arrow。
These would have started us turning as slowly as we like； since
we passed through the atmosphere at a comparatively low rate of
speed。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃the motion； however slow； would
have made us dizzy。 It would be confusing to see the heavens
turning about us； and it would interfere with using the glasses。〃
The base and one side of the Callisto had constant sunshine；
while the other side and the dome were in the blackest night。
This dome； on account of its shape； sky windows； and the
completeness with which it could be isolated； was an ideal
observatory； and there was seldom a time during their waking
hours for the rest of the journey when it was not occupied by
one； two； or all the observers。
〃There is something marvellous；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃about the
condition of space。 Its absolute cold is appalling； apparently
because there is nothing to absorb heat； yet we find the base of
this material projectile uncomfortably warm； though； should we
expose a thermometer in the shade in front； we know it would show
a temperature of three hundred to four hundred degrees below
zerowere the instrument capable of recording it。〃
Artificial darkness having been obtained； the travellers were
soon asleep； Bearwarden's dreams being regaled with thoughts of
his company's triumph； Ayrault's； naturally； with visions of
Sylvia； while Cortlandt frequently started up； thinking he had
already made some great astronomical discovery。
About 9 A。 M。； according to seventy…fifth meridian time； the
explorers awoke feeling greatly refreshed。 The tank in which the
liquefied oxygen was kept automatically gave off its gas so
evenly that the air remained normal； while the lime contained in
cups absorbed the carbon dioxide as fast as they exhaled it。
They had darkened those windows through which the sun was
actually pouring； for； on account of the emptiness of the
surrounding ether and consequent absence of diffusion of light；
nothing but the inky blackness of space and the bright stars
looked in at the rest。 On raising the shades they got an idea of
their speed。 A small crescent； smaller than the familiar moon；
accompanied by one still tinier； was all that could be seen of
the earth and its satellite。
〃We must；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃be moving at the rate of nearly a
million miles an hour； from the way we have travelled。〃
〃We must be doing fully a million；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃for by
this time we are pretty well in motion； having got a tremendous
start when so near the moon； with it and the earth in line。〃
By steering straight for Jupiter； instead of for the place it
would occupy ten days later； they knew they would swing past； for
the giant planet； being in rapid motion； would advance； but they
did not object to this； since it would give them a chance to
examine their new world in case they wished to do so before
alighting； while； if they preferred to land at once； they could
easily change their course by means of the moons； the fourth；
from which their car was named； being the one that they knew
would be of most use。 Their tremendous speed showed them they
should have time for exploration on their arrival； and that they
would reach their destination sooner than they had expected。 The
apergetic force being applied； as we have seen； only to the
Callisto； just as power in starting is exerted on a carriage or
railway car and only through it to the passengers； Ayrault and
his companions had no unusual sensation except loss of weight；
for； when they were so far from the earth； its attraction was
very slight； and no other planet was near enough to take its
place。 After breakfast； wishing to reach the dome； and realizing
that it would be unnecessary to climb； each in turn gave a slight
spring and was obliged to put up his hands to avoid striking the
roof。 In the cool quiet of the dark dome it was difficult to
believe that only twenty feet away the sun was shining with such
intensity upon the metal base as to make it too hot on t