A Trip to Mars Read online

  *CHAPTER I.*

  *THE FALL OF THE GREAT METEORITE.*

  'What a magnificent night! What a scene! Jack, old man, I think youwill have to go in to supper without me and leave me to myself. Itseems a sort of sacrilege to go indoors--to exchange the moon'sbeautiful light for the miserable glimmer of a little oil-lamp, and thisinvigorating air off the sea for the smell of paraffin oil. Ugh!'

  'You're a queer chap, Gerald; as dreamy, at times, as any girl, Ideclare! You amuse me vastly when you take on these sudden sentimentalfits. When you are in this mood no stranger would ever imagine you werethe same go-ahead, muscular young Christian you can prove yourself to beat other times.'

  'Yes, I suppose I'm a bit of a dreamer, Jack. I 've been told it so manytimes that I fancy there must be something in it. Yet "While you sleep,then am I awake"----you know the quotation.'

  'Faith! I believe you there, Gerald. I believe you were cut out for anight-bird!'

  'No, no; now you 've got hold of the wrong end of the stick. It isn'tthat I prefer the night to the day; it is simply that by day one cannotsee the stars, and one loses touch with the marvellous thoughts theyinspire. Look at the sky overhead now! Look at those little shiningpoints of light, and think how that they are all worlds such as ours is,or was, or will be! Imagine what it would be like if we could sail upamongst them from this old earth of ours--if we could roam at willthrough space, stopping here and calling there upon those which areinhabited--as I feel assured some must be. What sights we should see!What wonders we should encounter! Ah, think of it!'

  'I'd rather think just now of having a bit of supper,' remarked thepractical-minded Jack, with a yawn. 'And I'm going in to get it too;so, are you coming with me, or are you not?'

  This talk took place upon a headland of a lonely island in the SouthernSeas. A tropical moon cast its wondrous radiance over everythingaround, shimmering upon the water, and causing the whole island toappear as though floating in an ocean of molten silver. There was justwind enough now and then to start the graceful palms waving--cool,refreshing zephyrs that set millions of sparkling ripples in motion onthe sea, and sent them dancing merrily shorewards to plash at last uponthe golden sands at the foot of the cliff.

  Gerald Wilton and Jack Lawford were two youths, orphans both, who, afterhaving been brought up and educated in England, found themselves,through a curious series of chances, passing their time upon this islandunder the guardianship of a former friend of Gerald's father, namedArmeath. The latter was a scientist who had chosen to make thisout-of-the-way spot--absolutely uninhabited save for himself and hisestablishment--his home for a year or two, in order the better to pursuecertain abstruse studies to which he was ardently devoted.

  They were stalwart, well-grown, clean-limbed British youths, these two,with good-looking faces and well-knit frames, fond of hunting, shooting,fishing, and all outdoor sports. At first, therefore, it is needless tosay, they had enjoyed the change to this far-off island home, andentered with zest into its free, open life. If limited as to space,there were larger islands near, amongst which they could take anoccasional cruise, and where they could go ashore for huntingexpeditions.

  But after nearly a year, even this pleasant life had begun to grow alittle monotonous. The two high-spirited youngsters were gettingsomewhat tired of it, and beginning to long--almost unconsciously--forother and more exciting adventures.

  Of the two, however, Gerald perhaps was more troubled by these vague,restless feelings than his chum. As his friend had said, Gerald wasgiven at times to fits of dreaming. In appearance he was fairer and alittle taller than his companion, with gray eyes which often had in theman abstracted, far-away look. Jack, on the other hand, was almostswarthy of skin, with dark hair, firm lips, and keen, alert eyes, whichindicated an active, determined character, and a practical,matter-of-fact temperament.

  That, in effect, constituted the essential difference between these twofirm friends. Gerald was fond of indulging in speculations concerningall kinds of scientific research. The mysteries of the unknown, and theas yet 'undiscovered;' the limitless possibilities lying in the worldssurrounding our globe--speculations concerning such themes as these hadfor him an irresistible fascination. Jack, on the other hand, kept histhoughts and interest fixed upon the practical side of everything abouthim. He was a skilful mechanic and a trained mathematician, and haddeveloped clever engineering abilities; he might possibly some daybecome an inventor. But speculative, dreamy fancies had littleattraction for him.

  'Jack,' said Gerald impressively, 'I can't come in just now--I reallycannot! I can't exactly say why, but to-night I seem to be unusuallyrestless. I could not sit down indoors, nor could I rest if I went tobed. I don't know what it is; but I have a feeling'----

  'It's the electricity in the air. I suppose there must be more lyingabout loose to-night than suits your constitution,' remarked Jackprosaically. 'I said a minute or two since that you were as dreamy attimes as any girl. I begin now to think you are developing "nerves" aswell. However, do as you please! Stop here and enjoy yourself with your"nervy," dreamy fancies if you choose. For my part, I 'm going in tosupper, and'----

  'What are you lads talking about?'

  This question, which came from some one behind them, caused the twofriends to start suddenly, and then glance at one another with wonderinglooks.

  It was not that they had not recognised the voice. They knew it at onceto be that of Mr Armeath, their guardian; the wonder was that he shouldhave come out to them. Usually he spent the whole night shut up in hisown rooms, immersed in his studies, or gazing through his telescope atthe heavens above; for, amongst other things, he was an enthusiasticastronomer.

  'Faith!' exclaimed Jack, in an aside to Gerald, 'I begin to think you're right after all. There must be something unusual in the air toaccount for this new move!'

  The new-comer was a tall, fine-looking old man, with an ascetic face anda kindly voice and manner. His hair and beard were white, but hisdeep-set eyes glowed with the liveliness and fire of a vigorous youngman.

  With the self-absorbed, thoughtful air that so often marks the devotedscientist or profound student, Armeath, without waiting for any reply tothe question he had asked, stepped past the two youngsters and walkedalmost to the edge of the bluff. There he gazed first at the sandyshore fifty feet or more below, then out over the glistening sea to thedistant horizon, and finally at the deep-blue, star-spangled skyoverhead.

  Behind the three, at a distance of a few hundred yards, was thebuilding--or rather group of buildings--which formed their home. Thesewere built bungalow-fashion, save as to one part--the observatory--whichrose above the rest, with detached dwelling-places for their attendantsclose by.

  Inland, the ground fell away, and there was on one side a winding roaddown to the shore. On the other side, the ground rose again towardshigher ridges in the centre of the island.

  The old man remained for some minutes gazing fixedly upwards; the twoyoung fellows, very much surprised, and--if the truth be told--a littleawed by his demeanour, remained also motionless, gazing alternately athim and at each other.

  Suddenly the sage uttered a sort of cry--an exclamation so strange, sothrilling, that his companions were startled, and stared anxiouslyabout, seeking for an explanation.

  Then they saw him raise an arm and point to the sky, and, following thedirection thus indicated, they both started and stood and gazed fixedlyas though spell-bound.

  'Look!' exclaimed Jack. 'It is a meteor!'

  And that was all that was said--all, indeed, there was time for. Therewas no time for questions, for comments, for anything, in fact, save agreat gasp of astonishment, and scarcely even for that.

  Careering towards them through the upper air, at what seemed lightningspeed, was something which left a long, luminous trail behind it. Raysand flashes of light of different colours burst from it in its course,darting out in all directions. A low,
rushing sound became audible,which quickly increased in volume until it became a terrific, deafening,overwhelming roar.

  There was a sudden disturbance in the air, as of the approach of awhirlwind, and a crackling noise as of the discharge of fireworks.

  Then something seemed to shoot past them into the sea, the 'wind' fromit almost brushing them aside like that caused by a shell fired fromsome colossal cannon.

  From the sea came a mighty crash as of a loud explosion, while columnsof water and clouds of vapour rose into the air. The water came rightover the top of the cliff, drenching the amazed spectators, and almostsweeping one--it was Jack--off his feet.

  Hardly had the spray cleared away when there was another commotion inthe water. The sea, boiling and chafing, seemed to rise up into apyramid, and from it a huge dark mass shot up into the air, droppingback into the sea again with a plunge only a little less violent thanthat which had accompanied its first fall.

  For a brief space it was lost to view, and then it reappeared, shootingagain high into the air, as might a gigantic whale throwing itself outof the sea in sport or an endeavour to escape some terrible marine foe.

  These mad leaps and plunges were repeated again and again, becoming eachtime less in height and violence, until at last they ceased.

  It was some time, however, before the agitation in the water came to anend. Great waves rushed booming along the shore, dashing wildly up theface of the cliffs, sending clouds of spray flying over their summitsfar inland.

  But after a while the commotion subsided, the sea became smooth on thesurface, and there remained only a gentle heaving, as from a groundswell.

  And there, at a little distance from the shore, the cause of all thisdisturbance was plainly to be seen--an immense, egg-shaped mass manyhundreds of feet in length, floating as lightly and buoyantly upon thestill-heaving water as if it had been an immense football.