CHAPTER XIX.SUSPENSE.
When the balloon had reached an elevation of about 2500
yards, Lieutenant Procope determined to maintain it at
that level. A wire-work stove, suspended below the casing,
and filled with lighted hay, served to keep the air in the
interior at a proper temperature.
After a while, the aeronauts began to survey everything
above them, around them, and below them.
Beneath their feet was extended the basin of the
Gallian Sea. An inconsiderable speck to the north marked
the site of Gourbi Island. Ceuta and Gibraltar, which
might have been expected in the west, had utterly disappeared.
On the south rose the volcano, the extremity of
the promontory that jutted out from the continent that
formed the framework of the sea; whilst in every direction
the strange soil, with its commixture of tellurium and gold,
gleamed under the sun's rays with a perpetual iridescence.
Apparently rising with them in their ascent, the horizon
was well-defined. The sky above them was perfectly clear;
but away in the north-west, in opposition to the sun, floated
a new sphere, so small that it could not be an asteroid, but
like a dim meteor. It was the fragment that the internal
convulsion had rent from the surface of the comet, and
which was now many thousands of leagues away, pursuing
the new orbit into which it had been projected. During
the hours of daylight it was far from distinct, but after
nightfall it would assume a definite lustre.
The object, however, of supreme interest was the great
expanse of the terrestrial disc, which was rapidly drawing
down obliquely towards them. It totally eclipsed an
enormous portion of the firmament above, and approaching
with an ever-increasing velocity, was now within half
its average distance from the moon. So close was it,
that the two poles could not be embraced in one focus.
Irregular patches of greater or less brilliancy alternated on
its surface, the brighter betokening the continents, the
more sombre indicating the oceans that absorbed the solar
rays. Above, there were broad white bands, darkened on
the side averted from the sun, exhibiting a slow but unintermittent
movement; these were the vapours that pervaded
the terrestrial atmosphere.
But as the aeronauts were being hurried on at a speed
of 70 miles a second, this vague aspect of the earth soon
developed itself into definite outlines. Mountains and
plains were no longer confused, the distinction between sea
and shore was more plainly identified, and instead of being,
as it were, depicted on a map, the surface of the earth
appeared as though modelled in relief.
Twenty-seven minutes past two, and Gallia is only
72,000 miles from the terrestrial sphere; quicker and
quicker is the velocity; ten minutes later, and they are
only 36,000 miles apart!
The whole configuration of the earth is clear.
“Europe! Russia! France!” shout Procope, the count,
and Servadac, almost in a breath.
And they are not mistaken. The eastern hemisphere
lies before them in the full blaze of light, and there is no
possibility of error in distinguishing continent from continent.
The surprise only kindled their emotion to yet keener
intensity, and it would be hard to describe the excitement
with which they gazed at the panorama that was before
them. The crisis of peril was close at hand, but imagination
overleaped all consideration of danger; and everything
was absorbed in the one idea that they were again
within reach of that circle of humanity from which they
had supposed themselves severed for ever.
And, truly, if they could have paused to study it, that
panorama of the states of Europe which was outstretched
before their eyes, was conspicuous for the fantastic resemblances
with which Nature on the one hand, and international
relations on the other, have associated them.
There was England, marching like some stately dame
towards the east, trailing her ample skirts and coroneted
with the cluster of her little islets; Sweden and Norway,
with their bristling spine of mountains, seemed like a
splendid lion eager to spring down from the bosom of the
ice-bound north; Russia, a gigantic polar bear, stood with
its head towards Asia, its left paw resting upon Turkey, its
right upon Mount Caucasus; Austria resembled a huge
cat curled up and sleeping a watchful sleep; Spain, with
Portugal as a pennant, like an unfurled banner, floated
from the extremity of the continent; Turkey, like an
insolent cock, appeared to clutch the shores of Asia with
the one claw, and the land of Greece with the other; Italy,
as it were a foot and leg encased in a tight-fitting boot,
was juggling deftly with the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and
Corsica; Prussia, a formidable hatchet imbedded in the
heart of Germany, its edge just grazing the frontiers of
France; whilst France itself suggested a vigourous torso
with Paris at its breast.
All at once Ben Zoof breaks the silence:
“Montmartre! I see Montmartre!”
And, smile at the absurdity as others might, nothing
could induce the worthy orderly to surrender his belief that
he could actually make out the features of his beloved
home.
The only individual whose soul seemed unstirred by
the approaching earth was Palmyrin Rosette. Leaning
over the side of the car, he kept his eyes fixed upon the
abandoned comet, now floating about a mile and a half
below him, bright in the general irradiation which was
flooding the surrounding space.
Chronometer in hand, Lieutenant Procope stood marking
the minutes and seconds as they fled; and the stillness
which had once again fallen upon them all was only broken
by his order to replenish the stove, that the montgolfier
might retain its necessary level. Servadac and the count
continued to gaze upon the earth with an eagerness that
almost amounted to awe. The balloon was slightly in the
rear of Gallia, a circumstance that augured somewhat
favourably, because it might be presumed that if the comet
preceded the balloon in its contact with the earth, there
would be a break in the suddenness of transfer from one
atmosphere to the other.
The next question of anxiety was, where would the
balloon alight? If upon terra firma, would it be in a
place where adequate resources for safety would be at
hand? If upon the ocean, would any passing vessel be
within hail to rescue them from their critical position?
Truly, as the count observed to his comrades, none but a
Divine Pilot could steer them now.
“Forty-two minutes past!” said the lieutenant, and his
voice seemed to thrill through the silence of expectation.
There were not 20,000 miles between the comet and
the earth!
The calculated time of impact was 2 hours, 47 minutes,
35.6 seconds.
Five minutes more and collision must ensue!
But was it so? Just at this moment, Lieutenant Procope
observed that the comet deviated sensibly in an
oblique course.
Was it possible that after all collision would not
occur?
The deviation, however, was not great; it did not
justify any anticipation that Gallia would merely graze the
earth, as it had done before; it left it certain that the two
bodies would inevitably impinge.
“No doubt,” said Ben Zoof, “this time we shall stick
together.”
Another thought occurred. Was it not only too likely
that, in the fusion of the two atmospheres, the balloon
itself, in which they were being conveyed, would be rent
into ribbons, and every one of its passengers hurled into
destruction, so that not a Gallian should survive to tell the
tale of their strange peregrinations?
Moments were precious; but Hector Servadac resolved
that he would adopt a device to secure that at least some
record of their excursion in solar distances should survive
themselves.
Tearing a leaf from his note-book, he wrote down the
name of the comet, the list of the fragments of the earth it
had carried off, the names of his companions, and the date
of the comet's aphelion; and having subscribed it with his
signature, turned to Nina and told her he must have the
carrier-pigeon which was nestling in her bosom.
The child's eyes filled with tears; she did not say a
word, but imprinting a kiss upon its soft plumage, she surrendered
it at once, and the message was hurriedly fastened
to its neck. The bird wheeled round and round in a few
circles that widened in their diameter, and quickly sunk to
an altitude in the comet's atmosphere much inferior to the
balloon.
Some minutes more were thus consumed, and the interval
of distance was reduced to less than 8000 miles.
The velocity became inconceivably great, but the increased
rate of motion was in no way perceptible; there
was nothing to disturb the equilibrium of the car in which
they were making their aerial adventure.
“Forty-six minutes!” announced the lieutenant.
The glowing expanse of the earth's disc seemed like a
vast funnel, yawning to receive the comet and its atmosphere,
balloon and all, into its open mouth.
“Forty-seven!” cried Procope,
There was half a minute yet. A thrill ran through
every vein. A vibration quivered through the atmosphere.
The montgolfier, elongated to its utmost stretch, was manifestly
being sucked into a vortex. Every passenger in
the quivering car involuntarily clung spasmodically to its
sides, and as the two atmospheres amalgamated, clouds
accumulated in heavy masses, involving all around in dense
obscurity, while flashes of lurid flame threw a weird glimmer
on the scene.
In a mystery every one found himself upon the earth
again. They could not explain it, but here they were once
more upon terrestrial soil; in a swoon they had left the
earth, and in a similar swoon they had come back!
Of the balloon not a vestige remained, and contrary to
previous computation, the comet had merely grazed the
earth, and was traversing the regions of space, again far
away!