Fifteen Hundred Miles An Hour 3
"But to return. This little attachment tells the exact rate of speed
the carriage is travelling. You will also perceive that my motors are
on the principle of the paddle-wheel and the screw-propeller combined.
The interior of my carriage is formed of a series of chambers one above
the other. There is a laboratory, sleeping and living chambers, engine
and apparatus room, and ample space for stores in the basement. The
door is situated near the top, and just above it I have placed, as you
see, a small balcony, for observations. My port-holes will be glazed
with glass of exceptional quality, made by myself, and every apartment
is lighted with electricity. The carriage is conical in form, that
shape being best adapted to a high rate of speed.
"My next consideration was the supply of air. I think we shall find
that the whole planetary system is pervaded with an atmosphere so
rare, in some parts of remotest space, as to remain undetected by any
instrument yet known to science, but still of sufficient density to
offer resistance and lend support to our carriage and its propellers.
My condensers are so formed that they will readily convert this ether
into air suited to man's requirements.
"I had now but one more task to overcome--food and water. As regards
food, I have here a little cake of animal and vegetable substances
which have undergone a certain chemical process, by means of which I
have been able to compress enough food to support a human being for
three days into a space not quite two cubic inches in extent. In this
other tablet I have dealt with wheaten flour in a similar satisfactory
manner. Tea, sugar, and other luxuries I can reduce to the smallest
proportions by a process of condensation and hydraulic pressure. So
that I can stow away in the store-room of my carriage enough food to
last six persons for nearly three years--a more than ample supply, as I
intend shortly to demonstrate.
"It has taken me nearly ten years to solve the problem of my water
supply. I have here a small electrical apparatus, by means of which I
hope to be able to distil water from ether. Should my experiment fail,
I have invented a small lozenge of soda and other chemicals, which will
allay thirst. I must also say that I have allowed sufficient space for
scientific instruments, a stock of methylated spirits, a selection of
books, firearms, and ammunition: nor have I omitted clothes, cigars,
tobacco, a few bottles of wine to be used on state occasions, and a
fair quantity of brandy and whiskey, so that you, Temple, shall not
be without your grog. A medicine chest, camera, and india-rubber
boat are also included in my list of necessaries. I calculate that
my air-carriage will be about forty feet in height, and nine feet in
width. What I have disclosed is but a portion of my grand scheme,
the one great work of my life, from which I hope to obtain the most
brilliant scientific results.
"The planet Mars will reach his perihelion, or nearest distance to
our Earth, in October, 1877. He is then in an unusually favourable
position, and affords us a chance of visiting him, which will not occur
again in a lifetime. Now, I calculate that our rate of speed will be
fifteen hundred miles per hour, so that the thirty-four millions of
miles we have to traverse will be accomplished in about two and a-half
years' time. We must leave Earth, therefore, not later than the first
day of May, 1875. Our stay, of course, will depend on circumstances,
which no mortal man can foresee. We may, indeed, reach our destination
in much less time than I have anticipated.
"I ought here to mention," continued the Doctor, "that my devoted
servant, Sandy, has already expressed his desire and willingness to
accompany me on this long journey.
"Now, Temple, and you too, Graham, I wish you to weigh carefully the
_pros_ and _cons_ of this dangerous enterprize. We are about to embark
into the solemn, boundless realms of space--to dash boldly away from
the Earth, which fosters us, into mysterious regions of which we have
none but the scantiest knowledge. On the other hand," continued the
Doctor, "there is grandeur in the thought of being able to leave this
world of ours for a season, and to visit those orbs which shine so
clearly in the midnight sky. If you, of your own free will, are ready
and willing cheerfully to cast in your lot with mine, I shall be happy
in your company."
There was dead silence for several moments after the Doctor had
finished speaking, during which the little timepiece on the mantel
struck the hour of midnight with almost painful clearness, when Graham
was the first to speak.
"Doctor, you know that, through all the experiments we have conducted
together, my one aim has been, provided they were successful, to
accompany you."
Temple spoke next.
"The ties, my dear Doctor, that bind me to Earth and to life are small.
Wifeless, childless, relationless, what have I to look forward to? I
freely place at your disposal the sum I have already named, and at
the same time pledge myself to make your--shall I say OUR--journey a
success."
"I thank you, friends, for your kindness, and your proffered
assistance, and accept the offer of your company with unqualified
pleasure. It is now November. All our preparations must be made during
the next six months, that is by the end of April. We must leave Earth
no later than that date. I also suggest that all our preparations are
made as secretly as possible. Let the carriage be made in sections and
parts; let all be brought here, bit by bit. My big barn will suit us
for a workshop. Idle curiosity must not be excited. And, as a personal
favour, I request that no hint of this journey be given to any mortal
man."
Doctor Hermann then filled up his glass, all present following his
example, and together we toasted each other, and drank in wild if
silent enthusiasm to the success of our awful voyage through space.
CHAPTER II.
WE LEAVE EARTH IN THE "SIRIUS."
"At last, Graham, all is in readiness for our departure. I think it
was wise, however, that before finally leaving Earth we tested the
capabilities of our carriage." (This trial trip nearly cost the Doctor
his secret. A party of farm-labourers stoutly swore that they had seen
a big house floating over Whernside, as they came home in the dusk; but
they were only laughed at by their neighbours, and accused of being in
liquor.) "We now feel a greater amount of satisfaction and confidence
in our undertaking, and the several little details we had overlooked
will be decided improvements."
"Then you are prepared to start on Saturday, Doctor?"
"Well, if Temple can manage it, yes. It rests with him now, and we must
not be too hard or exacting on our generous friend and patron."
"Ah! Sandy, a telegram from Temple, I suppose," says the Doctor,
tearing open the orange-coloured envelope, and hastily reading the
brief message.
"Yes, Graham, all is well. Temple wires me that he will be here on
Saturday to lunch. That means he is ready. We shall start at midnight."
The remaining days of our stay on Earth were spent by Graham in
overhauling the various machinery and apparatus he had taken such pains
in making and fitting, and by the Doctor in anxious consultation of
several leading works on astronomy and mathematics, and in careful
revision of every little detail of his gigantic scheme.
At last the eventful morning came, the first day of May, 1875. Glorious
indeed was the weather on that memorable day, when, for the first time
in the history of mankind, five living creatures were about to leave
this planet on a journey to a far-distant orb.
Now behold this dauntless little party, as they stand in the Doctor's
garden, watching their last earthly sunset. The white-haired Doctor is
the central figure of the group.
As the sun sinks solemnly behind the Pennine peaks, lingering a few
moments on the gloomy crowns of Whernside, the Doctor points to the
clear southern sky, and says: "Well, friends, our stay on Earth is now
very short. In little over four hours' time we must be gone. Yonder is
our destination; the star that sheds such brilliant lustre--brightest,
to us, of all heavenly orbs to-night--is our bourne. You see it,
Temple? From this night, for two years and a-half, it is to be our only
guiding light, ever increasing in size and mysterious splendour."
As the evening gloom crept up the valleys, the scene became more and
more solemn and impressive, and a strange sense of awe seemed to come
over even the bravest heart amongst us. We felt too grave to converse,
and the Doctor's remarks were received in silence. At last the
oppressive silence was broken by the Doctor exclaiming: "We had better
now go in and dine, after which we must see about getting away. Have
you finished, Sandy?"
"Yes, Doctor; everything is neat and tidy."
"Well, after dinner, we shall be round to inspect your arrangements for
our comfort."
Dinner passed over in comparative silence.
Each one of the diners now fully realised the solemnity of his
position, and none seemed to have any desire to make their thoughts known to their companions.
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