A Columbus of Space | Page 8

by a projecting ledge
at the bottom of the wall opposite the entrance, and as I looked I was

thrilled by the sight of faint curls of smoke disappearing within their
gaping jaws.
"They are omnivorous beasts," said Edmund. "They feed on the carbon
from your breath, too. Rather remarkable, isn't it, that every time you
expel the air from your lungs you help this car to go?"
None of us knew what to say; our astonishment was beyond speech.
We began to look askance at Edmund, with creeping sensations about
the spine. A formless, unacknowledged fear of him entered our souls. It
never occurred to us to doubt the truth of what he had said. We knew
him too well for that; and, then, were we not here, flying mysteriously
through the air in a heavy metallic car that had no apparent motive
power? For my part, instead of demanding any further explanations, I
fell into a hazy reverie on the marvel of it all; and Jack and Henry must
have been seized the same way, for not one of us spoke a word, or
asked a question; while Edmund, satisfied, perhaps, with the
impression he had made, kept equally quiet.
Thus another hour passed, and all of us, I think, had fallen into a doze,
when Edmund aroused us by saying:
"I'll have to keep the first watch, and all the others, too, this night."
"So then we're not going to land to-night?"
"No, not to-night, and you may as well turn in. You see that I have
prepared good, comfortable bunks, and I think you'll make out very
well."
As Edmund spoke he lifted the tops from some of the benches along
the walls, and revealed excellent beds, ready for occupancy.
"I believe that I have forgotten nothing that we shall really need," he
added. "Beds, arms, instruments, books, clothing, furs, and good things
to eat."
Again we looked at one another in surprise, but nobody spoke,

although the same thought probably occurred to each--that this
promised to be a pretty long trip, judging from the preparations. Arms!
What in the world should we need of arms? Was he going to the Rocky
Mountains for a bear hunt? And clothing, and furs!
But we were really sleepy, and none of us was very long in taking
Edmund at his word and leaving him to watch alone. He considerately
drew a shade over the light, and then noiselessly opened a shutter and
looked out. When I saw that, I was strongly tempted to rise and take a
look myself, but instead I fell asleep. My dreams were disturbed by
visions of the grinning nondescripts at the foot of the wall, which
transformed themselves into winged dragons, and remorselessly
pursued me through the measureless abysses of space.
When I woke, windows were open on both sides of the car, and brilliant
sunshine was streaming in through one of them. Henry was still asleep,
Jack was yawning in his bunk, and Edmund stood at one of the
windows staring out. I made a quick toilet, and hastened to Edmund's
side.
"Good morning," he said heartily, taking my hand. "Look out here, and
tell me what you think of the prospect."
As I put my face close to the thick but very transparent glass covering
the window, my heart jumped into my mouth!
"In Heaven's name, where are we?" I cried out.
Jack, hearing my agitated exclamation, jumped out of his bunk and ran
to the window also. He gasped as he gazed out, and truly it was enough
to take away one's breath!
We appeared to be at an infinite elevation, and the sky, as black as ink,
was ablaze with stars, although the bright sunlight was streaming into
the opposite window behind us. I could see nothing of the earth.
Evidently we were too high for that.
"It must lie away down under our feet," I murmured half aloud, "so that

even the horizon has sunk out of sight. Heavens, what a height!"
I had that queer uncontrollable qualm that comes to every one who
finds himself suddenly on the edge of a soundless deep.
Presently I became aware that straight before us, but afar off, was a
most singular appearance in the sky. At first glance I thought that it was
a cloud, round and mottled, But it was strangely changeless in form,
and it had an unvaporous look.
"Phew!" whistled Jack, suddenly catching sight of it and fixing his eyes
in a stare, "what's that?"
"That's the earth!"
It was Edmund who spoke, looking at us with a quizzical smile. A
shock ran through my nerves, and for an instant my brain whirled. I
saw that it was the truth that he had uttered, for, as sure as I sit