impression is depressed as you watch it； as though by a weight；
and you can see； and even hear； the water being squeezed out；
though whatever is doing it is entirely invisible。 They must be
made by spirits sufficiently advanced to have weight； but not
advanced enough to make themselves visible。〃
Moved by a species of vandalism； Bearwarden raised his
twelve…bore； and fired an ordinary cartridge that he had not
prepared for the dragons； at the space directly over the nearest
forming prints。 There was a brilliant display of prismatic
colours； as in a rainbow； and though the impressions already made
remained； no new ones were formed。
〃Now you have done it！〃 said Cortlandt。 〃I hoped to be able to
investigate this further。〃
〃We shall doubtless see other and perhaps more wonderful things；〃
replied Bearwarden。 〃I must say this gives me an uncanny
feeling。〃
When they had completed a little over half their circle； they
came upon another of the groves with which Saturn seemed to
abound； at the edge of which； in a side…hill； was a cave； the
entrance of which was composed of rocky masses that had
apparently fallen together； the floor being but little higher
than the surface outside。 The arched roof of the vestibule was
rendered watertight by the soil that had formed upon it； which
again was overgrown by vines and bushes。
〃This；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃will be a good place to camp； for the
cave will protect us from dragons； unless they should take a
notion to breathe at us from the outside； and it will keep us dry
in case of rain。 To…morrow we can start with this as a centre；
and make another circuit。〃
〃We can explore Saturn on foot；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃and far more
thoroughly than Jupiter； on account of its comparative freedom
from monsters。 Not even the dragons can trouble us； unless we
meet them in large numbers。〃
Thereupon they set about getting fuel for their fire。 Besides
collecting some of the dead wood that was lying all about； they
split up a number of resinous pine and fir trees with explosive
bullets from their revolvers； so that soon they not only had a
roaring fire； but filled the back part of the cave with logs to
dry； in case they should camp there again at some later day。
Neither Cortlandt nor Bearwarden felt much like sleeping； and so；
after finishing the birds the president had brought down that
morning； they persuaded Ayrault to sit up and smoke with them。
Wrapping themselves in their blanketsfor there was a chill in
the airthey sat about the camp…fire they had built in the mouth
of the cave。 Two moons that were at the full rose rapidly in the
clear； cold sky。 On account of their distance from the sun； they
were less bright than the terrestrial moon； but they shone with a
marvellously pure pale light。 The larger contained the exact
features of a man。 There was the somewhat aquiline nose； a
clear…cut and expressive mouth； and large； handsome eyes； which
were shaded by well… marked eyebrows。 The whole face was very
striking； but was a personification of the most intense grief。
The expression was indeed sadder than that of any face they had
ever seen。 The other contained the profile of a surpassingly
beautiful young woman。 The handsome eyes； shaded by lashes；
looked straight ahead。 The nose was perfect； and the ear small；
while the hair was artistically arranged at the top and back of
the head。 This moon also reflected a pure white ray。 The former
appeared about once and a quarter； the latter but three quarters；
the size of the terrestrial moon； and the travellers immediately
recognized them by their sizes and relative positions as Tethys
and Dione； discovered by J。 D。 Cassini in March； 1684。 The sad
face was turned slightly towards that of its companion； and it
looked as if some tale of the human heart； some romance； had been
engraved and preserved for all time on the features of these dead
bodies； as they silently swung in their orbits forever and anon
were side by side。
〃In all the ages；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that these moons have
wandered with Saturn about the sun； and with the solar system in
its journey through space； they can never have gazed upon the
scene they now behold； for we may be convinced that no mortal man
has been here before。〃
〃We may say；〃 said Ayrault； 〃that they see in our bodies a type
of the source from which come all the spiritual beings that are
here。〃
〃If； as the writers of mythology supposed；〃 replied Cortlandt；
〃inanimate objects were endowed with senses； these moons would
doubtless be unable to perceive the spiritual beings here； for
the satellites； being material； should； to be consistent； have
only those senses possessed by ourselves； so that to them this
planet would ordinarily appear deserted。〃
〃I shall be glad；〃 said Bearwarden； gloomily； 〃when those moons
wane and are succeeded by their fellows； for one would give me an
attack of the blues； while the other would subject me to the
inconvenience of falling in love。〃
As he spoke； the upper branches of the trees in the grove began
to sway as a cold gust from the north sighed among them。 〃Lose
no more opportunities；〃 it seemed to cry； 〃for life is short and
uncertain。 Soon you will all be colder than I； and your future；
still as easily moulded as clay； will be set as Marpesian marble；
more fixed than the hardest rock。〃
〃Paradise；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃contains sights and sounds that
might； I should think； arouse sad reminiscences without the aid
of the waters of Lethe； unless the joy of its souls in their new
resources and the sense of forgiveness outweigh all else。〃
With a parting look at the refined； silvery moon； and its
sorrow…laden companion； they retired to the sheltering cave；
piled up the fire； and talked on for an hour。
〃I do not see how it is；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that these moons；
considering their distance from the sun； and the consequently
small amount of light they receive； are so bright。〃
〃A body's brightness in reflecting light；〃 replied Cortlandt；
〃depends as much on the colour and composition of its own surface
as on the amount it receives。 It is conceivable that these
moons； if placed at the earth's distance from the sun； would be
far brighter than our moon； and that our familiar satellite； if
removed to Saturn； would seem very dim。 We know how much more
brilliant a mountain in the sunlight is when clad in snow than
when its sides are bare。 These moons evidently reflect a large
proportion of the light they receive。〃
When they came out shortly after midnight the girl's…face moon
had already set； leaving a dark and dreary void in the part of
the sky it had so ideally filled。 The inexpressibly sad
satellite （on account of its shorter distance and more rapid rate
of revolution） was still above the horizon； and； being slightly
tilted； had a more melancholy； heart…broken look than before。
While they gazed sadly at the emptiness left by Dione； Cortlandt
saw Ayrault's expression change； and； not clearly perceiving its
cause； said； wishing to cheer him： 〃Never mind； Dick； to…morrow
night we shall see it again。〃
〃Ah； prosaic reasoner；〃 retorted Bearwarden； who saw that this；
like so many other things； had reminded Ayrault of Sylvia； 〃that
is but small consolation for having lost it now； though I suppose
our lot is not so hard as if we were never to see it again。 In
that moon's face I find the realization of my fancied ideal
woman； while that sad one yonder seems as though some celestial
lover； in search of his fate； had become enamoured of her； and
tried in vain to win her； and the grief in his mind had impressed
itself on the then molten face of a satellite to be the monument
throughout eternity of love and a broken heart。 If the spirits
and souls of the departed have any command of matter； why may not
their intensest thoughts engrave themselves on a moon that； when
dead and frozen； may reflect and shine as they did； while
immersed in the depths of space？ At first Dione bored me； now I
should greatly like to see her again。〃
〃History repeats itself；〃 replied Cortlandt； 〃and the same phases
of life recur。 It is we that are in a changed receptive mood。
The change that seems to be in them is in reality in us。 Remain
as you are now； and Dione will give you the same pleasure
tomorrow that she gave to…day。〃
To Ayrault this meant more than the mere setting to rise again of
a heavenly body。 The perfume of a flower； the sighing of the
wind； suggesting some harmony or song； a full or crescent moon；
recalled thoughts and associations of Sylvia。 Everything seemed
to bring out memory； and he realized the utter inability of
absence to cure the heart of love。 〃If Sylvia should pass from
my life as that moon has left my vision；〃 his thoughts continued；
〃existence would be but sadness and memory would be its cause；
for the most beautiful sounds entail sorrow； the most beautiful
sights； intense pain。 〃Ah；〃 he went on with a trace of
bitterness； while his friends fell asleep in the cave； 〃I might
better have remained in love with science； for whose studies
Nature； which is but a form of God； in the right spirit； is not
dependent for his joy or despair on the whims of a girl。 She； of
course； sees many others； and； being only twenty； may forget me。
Must I content myself with philosophical rules and mathematical
formulae； when she； whose changefulness I may find greater than
the winds that sigh over me； now loves me no longer？ O love；
which makes us miserable when we feel it； and more miserable
still when it is gone！〃
He strung a number of copper wires at different degrees of
tension between two trees； and listened to the wind as it ranged
up and down on this improvised AEolian harp。 It gradually ran
into a regular refrain； which became more and more like words。
Ayrault was puzzled； and then amazed。 There could be no doubt
about it。 〃You should be happy；〃 it kept repeating〃you should
be happy；〃 in soft musical tones。
〃I know I should；〃 replied Ayrault； finally recognizing the voice
of Violet Slade in the song of the wind； 〃and I cannot understand
why I am not。 Tell me；