a journey in other worlds- 第35部分

　　　
They　then　returned　to　the　study　of　the　isinglass；　which　they　were
able　to　split　into　extremely　thin　sheets。　　Suddenly　a　cloud
passed　over　the　table；　and　almost　immediately　disappeared；　and
then　a　sharpened　pencil　with　which　Ayrault　had　been　writing　began
to　trace　on　a　sheet　of　paper；　in　an　even　hand；　and　with　a　slight
frictional　sound。
　　　
〃Stop！〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃let　us　each　for　himself　describe　in
writing　what　he　has　seen。〃
　　　
In　a　moment　they　had　done　this；　and　then　compared　notes。　　In　each
case　the　vision　was　the　same。　　Then　they　looked　at　the　writing
made　by　the　invisible　hand。　　〃Absorpta　est　mors　in　Victoria；〃　it
ran。
　　　
〃Gentlemen；　began　Bearwarden；　as　if　addressing　a　meeting；　〃this
cannot　be　coincidence；　we　are　undoubtedly　and　unquestionably　in
the　presence　of　a　spirit　or　of　several　spirits。　　That　they
understand　Latin；　we　see；　and；　from　what　they　say；　they　may　have
known　death。　　Time　may　show　whether　they　have　been　terrestrials
like　ourselves。　　Though　the　conditions　of　life　here　might　make　us
delirious；　it　is　scarcely　possible　that　different　temperaments
like　ours　should　be　affected　in　so　precisely　the　same　way；
besides；　in　this　writing　we　have　tangible　proof。〃
　　　
〃It　is　perfectly　reasonable；〃　said　Ayrault；　〃to　conclude　it　was　a
spirit；　if　we　may　assume　that　spirits　have　the　power　to　move　the
pencil；　which　is　a　material　object。　　Nobody　doubts　nowadays　that
after　death　we　live　again；　that　being　the　case；　we　must　admit
that　we　live　somewhere。　　Space；　as　I　take　it；　can　be　no　obstacle
to　a　spirit；　therefore；　why　suppose　they　remain　on　earth？〃
　　　
〃This　is　a　wonderful　place；〃　said　Cortlandt。　　〃We　have　already
seen　enough　to　convince　us　of　the　existence　of　many　unknown　laws。　
I　wish　the　spirit　would　reveal　itself　in　some　other　way。〃
　　　
As　he　finished　speaking；　the　rays　of　the　distant　and　cold…looking
sun　were　split；　and　the　colours　of　the　spectrum　danced　upon　the
linen　cloth；　as　if　obtained　by　a　prism。　　In　astonishment；　they
rose　and　looked　closely　at　the　table；　when　suddenly　a　shadow　that
no　one　recognized　as　his　own　appeared　upon　the　cover。　　Tracing　it
to　its　source；　their　eyes　met　those　of　an　old　man　with　a　white
robe　and　beard　and　a　look　of　great　intelligence　on　his　calm　face。　
They　knew　he　had　not　been　in　the　little　grove　thirty　seconds
before；　and　as　this　was　surrounded　by　open　country　there　was　no
place　from　which　he　could　have　come。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　II。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　SPIRIT'S　FIRST　VISIT。

〃Greetings　and　congratulations；〃　he　said。　　〃Man　has
steadfastly　striven　to　rise；　and　we　see　the　results　in
you。〃
　　　
〃I　have　always　believed　in　the　existence　of　spirits；〃　said
Cortlandt；　〃but　never　expected　to　see　one　with　my　natural　eyes。〃
　　　
〃And　you　never　will；　in　its　spiritual　state；〃　replied　the　shade；
〃unless　you　supplement　sight　with　reason。　　A　spirit　has　merely
existence；　entity；　and　will；　and　is　entirely　invisible　to　your
eyes。〃
　　　
〃How　is　it；　then；　that　we　see　and　hear　you？〃　asked　Cortlandt。　
〃Are　you　a　man；　or　a　spectre　that　is　able　to　affect　our　senses？〃
　　　
〃I　WAS　a　man；〃　replied　the　spirit；　〃and　I　have　given　myself
visible　and　tangible　form　to　warn　you　of　danger。　　My　colleagues
and　I　watched　you　when　you　left　the　cylinder　and　when　you　shot
the　birds；　and；　seeing　your　doom　in　the　air；　have　been　trying　to
communicate　with　you。〃
　　　
〃What　were　the　strange　shadows　and　prismatic　colours　that　kept
passing　across　our　table？〃　asked　Bearwarden。
　　　
〃They　were　the　obstructions　and　refractions　of　light　caused　by
spirits　trying　to　take　shape；〃　replied　the　shade。
　　　
〃Do　you　mind　our　asking　you　questions？〃　said　Cortlandt。
　　　
〃No；〃　replied　their　visitor。　　〃If　I　can；　I　will　answer　them。〃
　　　
〃Then；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃how　is　it　that；　of　the　several　spirits
that　tried　to　become　embodied；　we　see　but　one；　namely；　you？〃
　　　
〃That；〃　said　the　shade；　〃is　because　no　natural　law　is　broken。　　On
earth　one　man　can　learn　a　handicraft　better　in　a　few　days　than
another　in　a　month；　while　some　can　solve　with　ease　a　mathematical
problem　that　others　could　never　grasp。　　So　it　is　here。　　Perhaps　I
was　in　a　favourable　frame　of　mind　on　dying；　for　the　so…called
supernatural　always　interested　me　on　earth；　or　I　had　a　natural
aptitude　for　these　things；　for　soon　after　death　I　was　able　to
affect　the　senses　of　the　friends　I　had　left。〃
　　　
〃Are　we　to　understand；　then；〃　asked　Cortlandt；　〃that　the　reason
more　of　our　departed　do　not　reappear　to　us　is　because　they
cannot？〃
　　
〃Precisely；〃　replied　the　shade。　　〃But　though　the　percentage　of
those　that　can　return　and　reappear　on　earth　is　small；　their
number　is　fairly　large。　　History　has　many　cases。　　We　know　that
the　prophet　Samuel　raised　the　witch　of　Endor　at　the　behest　of
Saul；　that　Moses　and　Elias　became　visible　in　the　transfiguration；
and　that　after　his　crucifixion　and　burial　Christ　returned　to　his
disciples；　and　was　seen　and　heard　by　many　others。〃
　　　
〃How；〃　asked　Bearwarden　deferentially；　〃do　you　occupy　your　time？〃
　　　
〃Time；　replied　the　spirit；　〃has　not　the　same　significance　to　us
that　it　has　to　you。　　You　know　that　while　the　earth　rotates　in
twenty…four　hours；　this　planet　takes　but　about　ten；　and　the　sun
turns　on　its　own　axis　but　once　in　a　terrestrial　month；　while　the
years　of　the　planets　vary　from　less　than　three　months　for　Mercury
to　Neptune's　one　hundred　and　sixty…four　years。　　Being　insensible
to　heat　and　cold；　darkness　and　light；　we　have　no　more　changing
seasons；　neither　is　there　any　night。　　When　a　man　dies；〃　he
continued　with　solemnity；　〃he　comes　at　once　into　the　enjoyment　of
senses　vastly　keener　than　any　be　possessed　before。　　Our　eyesif
such　they　can　be　calledare　both　microscopes　and　telescopes；　the
change　in　focus　being　effected　as　instantaneously　as　thought；
enabling　us　to　perceive　the　smallest　microbe　or　disease…germ；　and
to　see　the　planets　that　revolve　about　the　stars。　　The　step　of　a
fly　is　to　us　as　audible　as　the　tramp　of　a　regiment；　while　we　hear
the　mechanical　and　chemical　action　of　a　snake's　poison　on　the
blood　of　any　poor　creature　bitten；　as　plainly　as　the　waves　on　the
shore。　　We　also　have　a　chemical　and　electrical　sense；　showing　us
what　effect　different　substances　will　have　on　one　another；　and
what　changes　to　expect　in　the　weather。　　The　most　complex　and
subtle　of　our　senses；　however；　is　a　sort　of　second　sight　that　we
call　intuition　or　prescience；　which　we　are　still　studying　to
perfect　and　understand。　　With　our　eyes　closed　it　reveals　to　us
approaching　astronomical　and　other　bodies；　or　what　is　happening
on　the　other　side　of　the　planet；　and　enables　us　to　view　the
future　as　you　do　the　past。　　The　eyes　of　all　but　the　highest
angels　require　some　light；　and　can　be　dazzled　by　an　excess；　but
this　attribute　of　divinity　nothing　can　obscure；　and　it　is　the
sense　that　will　first　enable　us　to　know　God。　　By　means　of　these
new　and　sharpened　faculties；　which；　like　children；　we　are
continually　learning　to　use　to　better　advantage；　we　constantly
increase　our　knowledge；　and　this　is　next　to　our　greatest
happiness。〃
　　　
〃Is　there　any　limit；〃　asked　Bearwarden；　〃to　human　progress　on　the
earth？〃
　　　
〃Practically　none；〃　replied　the　spirit。　　〃Progress　depends
largely　on　your　command　of　the　forces　of　Nature。　　At　present　your
principal　sources　of　power　are　food；　fuel；　electricity；　the　heat
of　the　interior　of　the　earth；　wind；　and　tide。　　From　the　first　two
you　cannot　expect　much　more　than　now；　but　from　the　internal　heat
everywhere　available；　tradewinds；　and　falling　water；　as　at
Niagara；　and　from　tides；　you　can　obtain　power　almost　without
limit。　　Were　this　all；　however；　your　progress　would　be　slow；　but
the　Eternal；　realizing　the　shortness　of　your　lives；　has　given　you
power　with　which　to　rend　the　globe。　　You　have　the　action　of　all
uncombined　chemicals；　atmospheric　electricity；　the　excess　or
froth　of　which　you　now　see　in　thunderstorms；　and　the　electricity
and　magnetism　of　your　own　bodies。　　There　is　also　molecular　and
sympathetic　vibration；　by　which　Joshua　not　understandingly
levelled　the　walls　of　Jericho；　and　the　power　of　your　minds　over
matter；　but　little　more　developed　now　than　when　I　moved　in　the
flesh　upon　the　earth。　　By　lowering　large　quantities　of
high…powered　explosives　to　the　deepest　parts　of　the　ocean　bed；
and　exploding　them　there；　you　can　produce　chasms　through　which
some　water　will　be　forced　towards　the　heated　interior　by　the
enormous　pressure　of　its　own　weight。　　At　a　comparatively　slight
depth　it　will　be　converted　into　steam　and　produce　an　earthquake。　
This　will　so　enlarge　your　chasm；　that　a　great　volume　of　water
will　rush　into　the　red…hot　interior；　which　will　cause　a　series　of
such　terrific　eruptions　that　large　islands　will　be　upheaved。　　By
the　reduction　of　the　heat　of　that　part　of　the　interior　there　will
also　be　a　shrinkage；　which；　in　connection　with　the　explosions；
will　cause　the　earth's　solid　crust　to　be　thrown　up　in　folds　till
whole　continents　appear。　　Some　of　the　water　displaced　by　the　new
land　will　also；　as　a　result　of　the　cooling；　be　able　permanently
to　penetrate　farther；　thereby　decreasing　by　that　much　the　amount
of　water　in　the　oceans；　so　that　the　tide…level　in　your　existing
seaports　will　be　but　slightly　changed。　　By　persevering　in　this
work；　you　will　become　so　skilled　that　it　will　be　possible　to
evoke　land　of　whatever　kind　you　wish；　at　any　place；　and　by　having
high　table…land　at　the　equator；　sloping　off　into　low　plains
towards　north　and　south；　and　maintaining　volcanoes　in　eruption　at
the　poles　to　throw　out　heat　and　start　warm　ocean　currents；　it
will　be　possible；　in　connection　with　the　change　you　are　now
making　in　the　axis；　to　render　the　conditions　of　life　so　easy　that
the　earth　will　support　a　far　larger　number　of　souls。
　　　
〃With　the　powers　at　your　disposal　you　can　also　alter　and　improve
existing　continents；　and　thereby　still　further　increase　the
number　of　the　children　of　men。　　Perhaps　with　mild　climate；
fertile　soil；　and　decreased　struggle　for　existence；　man　will
develop　his　spiritual　side。
　　　
〃Finally；　you　have　apergy；　one　of　the　highest　forces；　for　it　puts
you　almost　on　a　plane　with　angels；　and　with　it　you　have　already
visited　Jupiter　and　Saturn。　　It　was　impossible　that　man　should
remain