 Book 2, Chapter 6 of Off on a Comet This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Off on a Comet by Jules Verne, translated by Anonymous. Book 2, Chapter 6 Money at a Premium Who's there? I have nothing here for anyone. Go away! Such was the inhospitable greeting with which Isaac Hackabutt received his visitors. Hackabutt, do you take us for thieves, asked Servidak, in tones of stern displeasure? Oh, your Excellency, my lord, I did not know that it was you, whined the Jew, but without emerging any farther from his cabin. Now, old Hackabutt, come out of your shell. Come and show the governor proper respect, when he gives you the honor of his company, cried Benzuf, who by this time had clambered onto the deck. After considerable hesitation, but still keeping his hold upon the cabin door, the Jew made up his mind to step outside. What do you want, he inquired, timorously? I want a word with you, said Servidak, but I do not want to stand talking out here in the cold. Followed by the rest of the party, he proceeded to mount the steps. The Jew trembled from head to foot, but I cannot let you into my cabin. I am a poor man. I have nothing to give you, he moaned piteously. Here he is, laughed Benzuf, contemptuously. He is beginning his chapter of lamentations over again, but standing out here will never do. Out of the way, old Hackabutt, I say, out of the way, and without more ado, he thrust the astonished Jew on one side and opened the door of the cabin. Servidak, however, declined to enter until he had taken the pains to explain to the owner of the tartan that he had no intention of laying violent hands upon his property, and that if the time should ever come that his cargo was in requisition for the common use, he should receive a proper price for his goods, the same as he would in Europe. Europe, indeed, muttered the Jew maliciously between his teeth? European prices will not do for me. I must have galley in prices, and of my own fixing, too. So large a portion of the vessel had been appropriated to the cargo that the space reserved for the cabin was of most meagre dimensions. In one corner of the compartment stood a small iron stove, in which smoldered a bare handful of coals. In another was a trestle board which served as a bed, two or three stools, and a rickety deal table. Together with a few cooking utensils, completed a stock of furniture which was worthy of its proprietor. On entering the cabin, Benzuf's first proceeding was to throw on the fire a liberal supply of coals, utterly regardless of the groans of poor Isaac, who would almost as soon as have parted with his own bones as submit to such reckless expenditure of his fuel. The perishing temperature of the cabin, however, was sufficient justification for the orderly's conduct, and by a little skillful manipulation he soon succeeded in getting up a tolerable fire. The visitors having taken what seats they could, hackabit closed the door, and, like a prisoner awaiting his sentence, stood with folded hands, expecting the captain to speak. "'Listen,' said Servodak, we have come to ask a favor. Imagining that at least half his property was to be confiscated, the Jew began to break God into his usual formula about being a poor man and having nothing to spare. But Servodak, without heeding his complainings, went on. We are not going to ruin you, you know?' Servodak looked keenly into the captain's face. "'We have only come to know whether you can lend us a steel yard.' So far from showing any symptom of relief, the old miser exclaimed, with a stare of astonishment, as if he had been asked for some thousand francs, a steel yard?' "'Yes,' echoed the professor, impatiently, a steel yard. "'Have you not one?' asked Servodak. "'To be sure he has,' said Benzouf. Old Isaac stammered and stuttered, but at last confessed that perhaps there might be one amongst the stores. "'Then, surely, you will not object to lend it to us,' said the captain. "'Only for one day,' added the professor. The Jew stammered again and began to object. "'It is a very delicate instrument, Your Excellency. The cold, you know. The cold may do injury to the spring, and perhaps you are going to use it to weigh something very heavy.' "'Why, O Defraim, do you suppose we are going to weigh a mountain with it?' said Benzouf. "'Better than that,' cried out the professor, triumphantly, we are going to weigh Galio with it. My comment.' "'Merciful heaven,' shrieked Isaac, feigning consternation at the bear's suggestion. Servodak knew well enough that the Jew was holding out only for a good bargain, and assured him that the steel yard was required for no other purpose than to weigh a kilogram, which, considering how much lighter everything had become, could not possibly put the slightest strain upon the instrument. The Jew still sputtered, and moaned, and hesitated. "'Well, then,' said Servodak, "'if you do not like to lend us your steel yard, do you object to sell it to us?' Isaac fairly shrieked aloud. "'God of Israel,' he ejaculated, "'sell my steel yard? Would you deprive me of one of the most indispensable of my means of livelihood? How should I weigh my merchandise without my steel yard? My solitary steel yard? So delicate and so correct?' The orderly wondered how his master could refrain from strangling the old miser upon the spot. But Servodak, rather amused than otherwise, determined to try another form of persuasion. "'Come, Hacabut, I see that you are not disposed either to lend or to sell your steel yard. What do you say to letting us hire it?' The Jew's eyes twinkled with a satisfaction that he was unable to conceal. But what security would you give? The instrument is very valuable, and he looked more cunning than ever. What is it worth? If it is worth twenty francs, I will leave a deposit of a hundred. Will that satisfy you?' He shook his head doubtfully. "'It is very little. Indeed, it is too little, Your Excellency. Consider, it is the only steel yard in all this new world of ours. It is worth more, much more. If I take your deposit, it must be in gold. All gold. But how much do you agree to give me for the hire? One day?' "'You shall have twenty francs,' said Servidak.' "'Oh, it is dirt cheap, but never mind. For one day you shall have it. Deposit in gold money a hundred francs and twenty francs for the hire.' The old man folded his hands in meek resignation. "'The fellow knows how to make a good bargain,' said Servidak, as Isaac, after casting a distrustful look around, went out of the cabin. "'The testable old wretch,' replied the Count, full of disgust. Hardly a minute elapsed before the Jew was back again, carrying his precious steel yard with ostentatious care. It was of an ordinary kind. A spring balance, fitted with a hook, held the article to be weighed. A pointer, revolving on a disk, indicated the weight of the article. Professor Rosette was manifestly right in asserting that such a machine would register the results quite independently of any change in the force of attraction. On the earth it would have registered a kilogram as a kilogram. Here it would record a different value altogether, as the result of the altered force of gravity. Gold coinage to the worth of one hundred and twenty francs was handed over to the Jew, who clutched at the money with unmistakable eagerness. The steel yard was committed to the keeping of Benzouf, and the visitors prepared to quit the Hansa. All at once it occurred to the professor that the steel yard would be absolutely useless to him, unless he had the means for ascertaining the precise measurement of the unit of the soil of Galea, which he proposed to weigh. "'Something more you must lend me,' he said, addressing the Jew. "'I must have a measure, and I must have a kilogram.' "'I have neither of them,' answered Isaac. "'I have neither. I am sorry. I am very sorry.' And this time the old Jew spoke the truth. He would have been really glad to do another stroke or two of business upon terms as advantageous as the transaction he had just concluded. Palmyron Rosette scratched his head in perplexity, glaring round upon his companions as if they were personally responsible for his annoyance. He muttered something about finding a way out of his difficulty, and hastily mounted the cabin ladder. The rest followed, but they had hardly reached the deck when the chink of money was heard in the room below. Haggabut was locking away the gold in one of the drawers. Back again, down the ladder, scrambled the little professor, and before the Jew was aware of his presence, he had seized him by the tail of his slouchy overcoat. "'Some of your money. I must have money,' he said. "'Money,' gasped Haggabut, "'I have no money.' He was pale with fright, and hardly knew what he was saying. "'Falsehood,' roared Rosette, "'do you think I cannot see?' When peering down into the drawer at which the Jew was vainly trying to close, he cried, "'Heaps of money, French money, five franc pieces, the very thing I want. I must have them.'" The captain and his friends, who had returned to the cabin, looked on with mingled amusement and bewilderment. "'They are mine,' shrieked Haggabut. "'I will have them,' shouted the professor. "'You shall kill me first,' bellowed the Jew. "'No, but I must,' persisted the professor again. "'It was manifestly time for Servidak to interfere. "'My dear professor,' he said, smiling, "'allow me to settle this little matter for you.' "'Ah, your Excellency,' moaned the agitated Jew, "'protect me. I am but a poor man.' "'None of that, Haggabut, hold your tongue.' And, turning to Rosette, the captain said, "'If, sir, I understand you right, you require some silver five franc pieces for your operation.'" "'Forty,' said Rosette, surly. "'Two hundred francs,' whined Haggabut. "'Silence,' cried the captain. "'I must have more than that,' the professor continued. "'I want ten two franc pieces and twenty half francs.' "'Let me see,' said Servidak. "'How much is that in all? "'Two hundred and thirty francs. "'Is it not?' "'I dare say it is,' answered the professor. "'Count, may I ask you,' continued Servidak, "'to be security to the Jew for this loan to the professor?' "'Lone,' cried the Jew. "'Do you mean only a loan?' "'Silence,' again shouted the captain. "'Count Timoshef,' expressing his regret that his purse contained only paper money, begged to place it at Captain Servidak's disposal. "'No paper, no paper,' exclaimed Isaac. "'Paper has no currency in Galea.' "'About as much as silver,' Cooley retorted the count. "'I am a poor man,' began the Jew. "'Now, Haggabut, stop these miserable lamentations of yours, "'once for all. "'Hand us over two hundred and thirty francs in silver money, "'or we will proceed to help ourselves.' Isaac began to yell with all his might. "'Thieves, thieves!' "'In a moment, Benzoff's hand was clasped tightly over his mouth. "'Stop that howling, Belchazar. "'Let him alone, Benzoff. "'He will soon come to his senses,' said Servidak, quietly. "'When the old Jew had again recovered himself, "'the Captain addressed him. "'Now, tell us, what interest do you expect?' "'Nothing could overcome the Jew's anxiety "'to make another good bargain.' "'He began, money is scarce, very scarce, you know?' "'No more of this,' shouted Servidak. "'What interest?' I say, what interest do you ask?' "'Faltering and undecided still, the Jew went on. "'Very scarce, you know? "'Ten francs a day, I think, would not be unreasonable, considering?' "'The Count had no patience to allow him to finish what he was about to say. "'He flung down notes to the value of several rubles. "'With a greediness that could not be concealed, "'Hackabut grasped them all. "'Paper, indeed, they were. "'But the cunning Israelite knew that they would, in any case, "'be security far beyond the value of his cash. "'He was making some eighteen hundred percent interest, "'and accordingly chuckled within himself "'at his unexpected stroke of business. "'The professor pocketed his French coins "'with a satisfaction far more demonstrative. "'Gentlemen,' he said, "'with these frank pieces, I obtained the means "'of determining accurately both a meter and a kilogram.' End of Book 2, Chapter 6. Book 2, Chapter 7 of Off on a Comet. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Jeannie Witchfield. Off on a Comet by Jules Verne, translated by Anonymous. Book 2, Chapter 7, Gallia Wade. A quarter of an hour later, the visitors to the Hansa had reassembled in the common hall of Nina's hive. "'Now, gentlemen, we can proceed,' said the professor. "'May I request that this table may be cleared?' "'Ben Zoof removed the various articles "'that were lying on the table, "'and the coins which had been borrowed "'from the Jew were placed upon it in three piles, "'according to their value. "'The professor commenced, "'since none of you gentlemen at the time of the shock "'took the precaution to save either a meter measure "'or a kilogram weight from the earth, "'and since both these articles are necessary, "'for the calculation on which we are engaged, "'I've been obliged to devise means of my own to replace them. "'This exordium delivered, he paused "'and seemed to watch its effect upon his audience, "'who, however, were too well acquainted "'with the professor's temper "'to make any attempt to exonerate themselves "'from the rebuke of carelessness "'and submitted silently to the implied reproach. "'I have taken pains,' he continued, "'to satisfy myself that these coins "'are in proper condition, "'for my purpose. "'I find them unworn and unchipped. "'Indeed, they are almost new. "'They have been hoarded instead of circulated. "'Accordingly, they are fit to be utilized "'for my purpose of obtaining the precise length "'of a terrestrial meter.' "'Benzouf looked on in perplexity. "'Regarding the lecturer, "'with much the same curiosity "'as he would have watched the performances "'of a traveling Mount-a-Bank at a fair in Mamantra, "'but Servodak and his two friends "'had already defined the professor's meaning. "'They knew that French coinage is all decimal, "'the franc being the standard of which the other coins, "'whether gold, silver, or copper, are multiples or measures. "'They knew, too, that the caliber or diameter "'of each piece of money is rigorously determined by law, "'and that the diameters of silver coins "'representing five francs, two francs, "'and 50 centimes measure 37, 27, "'and 18 millimeters respectively. "'And they accordingly guessed "'that Professor Rosette had conceived the plan "'of placing such a number of these coins "'in juxtaposition that the length of their "'united diameters should measure exactly "'the thousand millimeters that make up the terrestrial meter. "'The measurement thus obtained "'was by means of a pair of compasses "'divided accurately into 10 equal portions, "'or decimeters, each, of course, 3.93 inches long. "'A lathe was then cut of this exact length "'and given to the engineer of the Dobrina, "'who was directed to cut out of the solid rock, "'the cubic decimeter required by the professor. "'The next business was to obtain "'the precise weight of a kilogram. "'This was by no means a difficult matter. "'Not only the diameters, but also the weights "'of the French coins are rigidly determined "'by law, and as the silver five franc pieces "'always weigh exactly 25 grams, "'the united weight of 40 of these coins "'is known to amount to one kilogram. "'Oh,' cried Ben Zoof, "'to be able to do all this, "'I see you must be rich as well as learned, "'with a good-natured laugh at the orderly's remark, "'the meeting adjourned for a few hours. "'By the appointed time, "'the engineer had finished his task, "'and with all due care had prepared "'a cubic decimeter of the material of the comet. "'Now, gentlemen,' said Professor Rosette, "'we are in a position to complete our calculation. "'We can now arrive at Gallia's attraction, density, and mass. "'Everyone gave him his complete attention. "'Before I proceed,' he resumed, "'I must recall to your minds Newton's general law "'that the attraction of two bodies "'is directly proportional to the product of their masses "'and inversely proportional to the square of their distances.' "'Yes,' said Sir Vidak, "'we remember that.' "'Well,' then continued the professor, "'keep it in mind for a few minutes now. "'Look here, in this bag are 45 frank pieces. "'All together they weigh exactly a kilogram, "'by which I mean that if we were on the earth "'and I were to hang the bag on a hook of the steel yard, "'the indicator on the dial would register one kilogram.' "'This is clear enough, I suppose.' "'As he spoke, the professor, "'designedly kept his eyes fixed upon Ben-Zoup. "'He was avowedly following the example of Varago, "'who was accustomed always in lecturing "'to watch the countenances "'of the least intelligent of his audience. "'And when he felt that he had made his meaning clear "'to him, he concluded that he must have succeeded "'with all the rest. "'In this case, however, it was technical ignorance "'rather than any lack of intelligence "'that justified the selection of the orderly "'for this special attention.' "'Satisfied with his scrutiny of Ben-Zoup's face, "'the professor went on, and now, gentlemen, "'we have to see what these coins weigh hereupon Gallia. "'He suspended the money bag to the hook, "'the needle oscillated and stopped. "'Read it off,' he said. "'The weight registered was 133 grams. "'There, gentlemen, 133 grams, "'less than one-seventh of a kilogram. "'You see, consequently, that the force of gravity "'here on Gallia is not one-seventh "'of what it was upon the other. "'Interesting,' writes server that, "'most interesting. "'But let us go on and compute the mass.' "'No, Captain, the density first,' said Rosette. "'Certainly,' said the lieutenant. "'For as we already know the volume, "'we can determine the mass "'as soon as we have ascertained the density. "'The professor took up the cube of rock. "'You know what this is,' he went on to say. "'You know, gentlemen, that this block is a cube, "'hewn from the substance of which everywhere, "'all throughout your voyage of circumnavigation, "'you found Gallia to be composed. "'A substance to which your geological attainments "'did not suffice to assign a name. "'Our curiosity will be gratified,' said server that, "'if you will enlighten our ignorance. "'But Rosette did not take the slightest notice "'of the interruption. "'A substance, it is, which no doubt "'constitutes the sole material of the comet, "'extending from its surface to its innermost depth. "'The probability is that it would be so. "'Your experience confirms that probability. "'You have found no trace of any other substance. "'Of this rock here is a solid decimeter. "'Let us get at its weight, "'and we shall have the key "'which will unlock the problem "'of the whole weight of Gallia. "'We have demonstrated that the force of attraction here "'is only one-seventh of what it is upon the earth, "'and shall consequently have to multiply "'the apparent weight of our cube by seven. "'In order to ascertain its proper weight, "'do you understand me, Gogolais?' "'This was addressed to Benzoop, "'who was staring hard at him. "'No,' said Benzoop. "'I thought not. "'It is of no use waiting for your puzzle brains "'to make it out. "'I must talk to those who can understand. "'The professor took the cube, "'and on attaching it to the hook of the steel yard, "'found that its apparent weight was one kilogram "'and 430 grams. "'Here it is, gentlemen, one kilogram, 430 grams. "'Multiply that by seven. "'The product is as nearly as possible 10 kilograms. "'What, therefore, is our conclusion? "'Why, that the density of Gallia "'is just about double the density of the earth, "'which we know is only five kilograms "'to a cubic decimeter? "'Had it not been this greater density, "'the attraction of Gallia would only have been one-fifteenth "'instead of one-seventh of the terrestrial attraction. "'The professor could not refrain "'from exhibiting his gratification "'that however inferior in volume and density, "'at least his comment had the advantage over the earth. "'Nothing further now remained "'to apply the investigations thus finished "'to the determining of the mass or weight. "'This was a matter of little labor. "'Let me cease,' said the captain. "'What is the force of gravity upon the various planets? "'You can't mean, Servidac, that you have forgotten that, "'but you always were a disappointing pupil. "'The captain could not help himself. "'He was forced to confess "'that his memory had failed him. "'Well,' then said the professor, "'I must remind you, taking the attraction on the earth "'as one, that on Mercury is one-fifteenth "'and on Venus it is .92 on Mars, .5, "'and on Jupiter, 2.45. "'On the moon the attraction is .16. "'Lost on the surface of the sun, "'a terrestrial kilogram would weigh 28 kilograms. "'Therefore, if a man upon the surface of the sun "'would have fall down, "'he would have considerable difficulty in getting up again. "'A cannon ball, too, would only fly a few yards, "'said Lieutenant Brokope. "'A jolly battlefield for cowards,' exclaimed Ben-Zoof. "'Not so jolly, Ben-Zoof, as you fancy,' "'said his master. "'The cowards would be too heavy to run away.' "'Ben-Zoof ventured the remark that, "'as the smallness of Galea "'secured it to its inhabitants, "'such an increase of strength and agility, "'he was almost sorry that it had not been "'a little smaller still. "'Though it could not anyhow have been "'very much smaller,' he added, "'looking up slyly at the professor. "'Idiot,' exclaimed Rosette, "'your head is too light already, "'a puff of wind would blow it away. "'I must take care of my head, then, "'and hold it on,' replied the irrepressible orderly, "'unable to get the last word the professor "'was about to retire when Servodac detained him. "'Permit me to ask you one more question,' he said. "'Can you tell me what is the nature "'of the soil of Galea?' "'Yes, I can answer that. "'And in this matter I do not think "'your impertinent orderly will venture "'to put Mamantra into the comparison. "'This soil is of a substance "'not an unknown upon the earth, "'and speaking very slowly the professor said "'it contains 70% of tellurium "'and 30% of gold. "'Servodac uttered an exclamation of surprise, "'and the sum of the specific gravities "'of these two substances is 10, "'precisely the number that represents Galea's density.' "'A comet of gold? "'Ejaculated the captain. "'Yes, a realization of what the illustrious "'Malapertuis has already deemed probable "'by the astronomer. "'If Galea then should ever become attached to the earth, "'might it not bring about "'an important revolution in all monetary affairs "'inquired with the count? "'No doubt about it,' said Rosette, "'with manifest satisfaction, "'it would supply the world with about "'246,000 trillions of francs. "'It would make gold about as cheap as dirt, "'I suppose, that Servodac. "'The last observation, however, "'was entirely lost upon the professor "'who had left the hall with an air almost majestic "'and was already on his way to the observatory. "'And what, I wonder, is the use of all these "'big figures, said Benzouk, to his master, "'when next day they were alone together? "'That's just the charm of them, my good fellow,' "'was the captain's cool reply, "'that they are of no use, whatever.' "'In the Book II, Chapter VII, "'recording by Gene Whitfield, Hattiesburg, USA.' Book II, Chapter VIII, of Off on a Comet. "'This is a LibriVox recording. "'All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. "'For more information or to volunteer, "'please visit LibriVox.org.' "'Off on a Comet, by Jules Verne, "'translated by Anonymous. "'Book II, Chapter VIII, Jupiter, somewhat close. "'Except as to the time the Comet "'would take to revolve round the sun, "'it must be confessed that all the professor's calculations "'had comparatively little interest for anyone but himself, "'and he was consequently left very much "'to pursue his studies in solitude.' "'The following day was the 1st of August, "'or, according to Rosette, the 63rd of April. "'In the course of this month, "'Galia would travel 16,500,000 leagues, "'attaining at the end a distance "'of 197,000,000 leagues from the sun. "'This would leave 81,000,000 leagues more "'to be traversed before reaching the Aphelion "'of the 15th of January, "'after which it would begin once more to approach the sun. "'But meanwhile, a marvelous world, "'never before so close within the range of human vision, "'was revealing itself. "'No wonder that Paul Myron Rosette cared so little "'to quit his observatory, "'for through what those calm, clear Galleon knights, "'when the Book of the Firmament lay open before him, "'he could revel in a spectacle which no previous astronomer "'had ever been permitted to enjoy. "'The glorious orb that was becoming so conspicuous "'and object was none other than the planet Jupiter, "'the largest of all the bodies existing "'within the influence of solar attraction. "'During the seven months that had elapsed "'since its collision with the earth, "'the comet had been continuously approaching the planet "'until the distance between them "'was scarcely more than 61 million leagues, "'and this would go on diminishing "'until the 15th of October. "'Under these circumstances, "'was it perfectly certain that no danger could accrue? "'Was not Galleon, when its pathway led it "'into such close proximity to this enormous planet, "'running a risk of being attracted within its influence? "'Might not that influence be altogether disastrous? "'The Professor, it is true, "'in his estimate of the duration "'of his commons' revolution, "'had represented that he had made "'all the proper allowances for any perturbations "'that would be caused either by Jupiter, "'by Saturn, or by Mars, "'but what if there were any errors in his calculations? "'What if there should be any elements of disturbance "'on which he had not reckoned?' "'Speculations of this kind became more and more frequent, "'and Lieutenant Procote pointed out "'that the danger incurred might be of a four-fold character. "'First, that the comet, being irresistibly attracted, "'might be drawn onto the very surface of the planet, "'and there annihilated. "'Secondly, that as the result "'of being brought under that attraction, "'it might be transformed into a satellite "'or even a subsatellite of that mighty world. "'Thirdly, that it might be diverted into a new orbit, "'which would never be coincident with the ecliptic. "'Or, lastly, its course might be so retarded "'that it would only reach the ecliptic too late "'to permit any junction with the Earth. "'The occurrence of any one of these contingencies "'would be fatal to their hopes of reunion with the globe, "'from which they had been so strangely severed. "'Two rosette, who, without family ties "'which he had never found leisure "'or inclination to contract, "'had no shadow of desire to return to the Earth, "'it would be only the first of these probabilities "'that could give him any concern. "'Total annihilation might not accord with his views, "'but he would be quite content for Galea "'to miss its mark with regard to the Earth, "'indifferent whether it revolved "'as a new satellite around Jupiter, "'or whether it wended its course "'through the untroversed regions of the Milky Way. "'The rest of the community, however, "'by no means sympathized with the professor's sentiments, "'and the following month was a period "'of considerable doubt and anxiety. "'On the 1st of September, the distance between Galea "'and Jupiter was precisely the same "'as the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun. "'On the 16th, the distance was further reduced "'to 26 million leagues. "'The planet began to assume enormous dimensions, "'and it almost seemed as if the comet "'had already been deflected from its elliptical orbit "'and was rushing on in a straight line "'towards the overwhelming luminary. "'The more they contemplated the character "'of this gigantic planet, "'the more they became impressed with the likelihood "'of a serious perturbation in their own course. "'The diameter of Jupiter is 85,390 miles, "'nearly 11 times as great as that of the Earth. "'His volume is 1,387 times, "'and his mass 300 times greater. "'And although the mean density is only "'about a quarter of that of the Earth "'and only a third of that of water, "'whence it has been supposed "'that the super-fishies of Jupiter is liquid, "'yet his other proportions were large enough "'to warrant the apprehension that important disturbances "'might result from his proximity. "'I forget my astronomy, Lieutenant,' said Servidak. "'Tell me all you can about this formidable neighbor. "'The Lieutenant, having refreshed his memory "'by reference to Flamériant's recie de l'Enfanie, "'of which he had a Russian translation, "'and some other books, proceeded to recapitulate "'that Jupiter accomplishes his revolution "'round the sun in 4,332 days, 14 hours and two minutes. "'That he travels at the rate of 467 miles a minute "'along an orbit measuring 2,976 millions of miles, "'and that his rotation on his axis "'occupies only 9 hours and 55 minutes. "'His days, then, are shorter than hours,' "'interrupted the captain. "'Considerably,' answered the Lieutenant, "'who went on to describe how the displacement "'of a point at the equator of Jupiter "'was 27 times as rapid as on the Earth, "'causing the polar compression "'to be about 2,378 miles, "'how the axis, being nearly perpendicular, "'caused the days and nights to be nearly of the same length, "'and the seasons to be invariable, "'and how the amount of light and heat "'received by the planet is only a 25th part "'of that received by the Earth, "'the average distance from the sun "'being 475,693,000 miles. "'And how about these satellites? "'Sometimes, I suppose, "'Jupiter has the benefit of four moons "'all shining at once,' asked Servodak. "'Of the satellites, "'Lieutenant Procok went on to say "'that one is rather smaller than our own moon, "'that another moves around its primary "'at an interval about equal "'to the moon's distance from ourselves, "'but that they all revolve in considerably less time. "'The first takes only one day, 18 hours, 27 minutes. "'The second takes three days, 13 hours, 14 minutes. "'The third, seven days, three hours, 42 minutes, "'which the largest of all takes but 16 days, "'16 hours, 32 minutes. "'The most remote revolves around the planet "'at a distance of 1,192,820 miles. "'They have been enlisted into the service of science,' said Procok. "'It is by their movements "'that the velocity of light has been calculated, "'and they have been made available "'for the determination of terrestrial longitudes. "'It must be a wonderful sight,' said the captain. "'Yes,' answered Procok. "'I often think Jupiter is like a prodigious clock "'with four hands. "'I only hope that we are not destined "'to make a fifth hand,' answered Servodak. "'Such was the style of the conversation "'that was day by day reiterated "'during the whole month of suspense. "'Whatever topic might be started, "'it seemed soon to settle down upon the huge orb "'that was looming upon them with such threatening aspect. "'The more remote that these planets are from the sun,' said Procok, "'the more venerable and advanced information "'are they found to be. "'Neptune situated 2,746,271,000 miles from the sun "'issued from the solar nebulosity "'thousands of millions of centuries back. "'Uranus, revolving 1,753,851,000 miles "'from the center of the planetary system, "'is of an age amounting to many hundred "'millions of centuries. "'Jupiter, the colossal planet, "'gravitating at a distance of 475,693,000 miles "'may be reckoned as 70 million centuries old. "'Mars has existed for 1 billion years "'at a distance of 139,212,000 miles. "'The Earth, 91,430,000 miles from the sun, "'quitted his burning bosom 100 million years ago. "'Venus, revolving now 66,131,000 miles away, "'maybe assigned the age of 50 million years at least. "'And Mercury, nearest of all and youngest of all "'has been revolving at a distance of 35,393,000 miles "'for the space of 10 million years, "'the same time as the moon has been evolved from the Earth. "'Servedak listened attentively. "'He was at a loss what to say. "'And the only reply he made to the recital "'of this novel theory was to the effect that, "'if it were true, he would prefer being captured "'by Mercury than by Jupiter, "'for Mercury, being so much the younger, "'would probably prove the less imperative "'and self-willed master. "'It was on the 1st of September "'that the comet had crossed the orbit of Jupiter. "'And on the 1st of October, "'the two bodies were calculated to be "'at their minimum separation. "'No direct shock, however, could be apprehended. "'The demonstration was sufficiently complete "'that the orbit of Galea did not coincide "'with that of the planet, "'the orbit of Jupiter being inclined "'at an angle of one degrees, 19 minutes, "'to the orbit of the Earth, "'with which that of Galea was, no doubt, coincident.'" As the month of September verged towards its close, Jupiter began to wear an aspect that must have excited the admiration of the most ignorant or the most indifferent observer. Its salient points were illumined with novel and radiant tints, and the solar rays, reflected from its disk, glowed with a mingled softness and intensity upon Galea, so that Narina had to pale her beauty. Who could wonder that Rosette, enthusiast as he was, should be irremovable from his observatory? Who could expect otherwise than that with the prospect before him of viewing the giant among planets, 10 times nearer than any mortal eye had ever done, he should have begrudged every moment that distracted his attention. Meanwhile, as Jupiter grew large, the sun grew small. From its increased remoteness, the diameter of the sun's disk was diminished to five degrees, 46 minutes. And what an increased interest began to be associated with the satellites. They were visible to the naked eye. Was it not a new record in the annals of science? Although it is acknowledged that they are not ordinarily visible on Earth without the aid of a somewhat powerful telescope, it has been asserted that a favored few and dude with extraordinary powers of vision have been able to identify them with an unassisted eye. But here, at least, in Nina's hive were many rivals, for everyone could so far distinguish them one from another as to describe them by their colors. The first was of a dull white shade. The second was blue. The third was white and brilliant. The fourth was orange, at times approaching to a red. It was further observed that Jupiter itself was almost void of scintillation. Rosette, in his absorbing interest for the glowing glories of the planet, seemed to be beguiled into comparative forgetfulness of the charms of his comet. But no astronomical enthusiasm of the professor could quite allay the general apprehension that some serious collision might be impending. Time passed on. There was nothing to justify apprehension. The question was continually being asked. What does the professor really think? Our friend, the professor, said Sarvedak, is not likely to tell us very much. But we may feel pretty certain of one thing. He wouldn't keep us long in the dark if he thought we were not going back to the Earth again. The greatest satisfaction he could ever have would be to inform us that we had parted from the Earth forever. I trust from my very soul, said the count, that his prognostications are correct. The more I see of him and the more I listen to him, replied Sarvedak, the more I become convinced that his calculations are based on a solid foundation and will prove correct to the minutest particular. Ben Zoof here interrupted the conversation. I have something on my mind, he said. Something on your mind? Out with it, said the captain. That telescope, said the orderly. It strikes me that that telescope, which the old professor keeps pointing up at yonder big sun, is bringing it down straight upon us. The captain laughed heartily. Laugh, captain, if you like, but I feel disposed to break the old telescope into atoms. Ben Zoof, said Sarvedak, his laughter exchanged for a look of stern displeasure. Touch that telescope and you shall swing for it. The orderly looked astonished. I am governor here, said Sarvedak. Ben Zoof knew what his master meant and to him his master's wish was law. The interval between the comet and Jupiter was, by the 1st of October, reduced to 43 million miles. The belts, all parallel to Jupiter's equator, were very distinct in their markings. Those immediately north and south of the equator were of a dusky hue. Those towards the poles were alternately dark and light. The intervening spaces of the planet's superfishes, between edge and edge, being intensely bright. The belts themselves were occasionally broken by spots, which the records of astronomy described as varying both in form and extent. The physiology of belts and spots alike was beyond the astronomer's power to ascertain. And even if he should be destined once again to take his place in an astronomical Congress on the Earth, he would be just as incapable as ever of determining whether or no they owed their existence to the external accumulation of vapor or to some internal agency. It would not be Professor Rosette's lot to enlighten his brother Savant's to any great degree as to the mysteries that are associated with this, which must ever rank as one of the most magnificent amongst the heavenly orbs. As the comet approached the critical point of its career, it cannot be denied that there was an unacknowledged consciousness of alarm. Mutually reserved, though ever courteous, the count and the captain were secretly drawn together by the prospect of a common danger. And as their return to the Earth appeared to them to become more and more dubious, they abandoned their views of narrow isolation and tried to embrace the wider philosophy that acknowledges the credibility of a habitable universe. But no philosophy could be proof against the common instincts of their humanity. Their hearts, their hopes were set upon their natural home. No speculation, no science, no experience could induce them to give up their fond and sanguine anticipation that once again they were to come in contact with the Earth. Only let us escape Jupiter, said Lieutenant Procope, repeatedly, and we are free from anxiety. But would not Saturn lie ahead, asked Servidak and the Count in one breath? No, said Procope, the orbit of Saturn is remote and does not come athwart our path. Jupiter is our sole hindrance. Of Jupiter we must say, as William Tell said, once through the ominous past and all is well. The 15th of October came, the date of the nearest approximation of the comet to the planet. They were only 31 million miles apart. What would now transpire? Would Galia be diverted from its proper way? Or would it hold the course that the astronomer had predicted? Early next morning, the captain ventured to take the Count and the Lieutenant up to the observatory. The professor was in the worst of tempers. That was enough. It was enough, without a word, to indicate the course which events had taken. The comet was pursuing an unaltered way. The astronomer, correcting his prognostications, ought to have been the most proud and contented of philosophers. His pride and contentment were both overshadowed by the certainty that the career of his comet was destined to be so transient and that it must inevitably once again come into collision with the Earth. End of Book Two, Chapter Eight. Book Two, Chapter Nine of Off on a Comet. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Off on a Comet by Jules Verne, translated by Anonymous. Book Two, Chapter Nine. Market Prices in Galea. All right, said Servidak, convinced by the professor's ill humor that the danger was passed. No doubt we are in for a two-year's excursion, but 15 months more will take us back to the Earth. And we shall see Montmartre again, exclaimed Benzouf in excited tones that betrayed his delight in the anticipation. To use a nautical expression, they had safely rounded the point and they had to be congratulated on their successful navigation. For if, under the influence of Jupiter's attraction, the comet had been retarded for a single hour, in that hour, the Earth would have already traveled 2,300,000 miles from the point where contact would ensue and many centuries would elapse before such a coincidence would possibly again occur. On the 1st of November, Galea and Jupiter were 40 million miles apart. It was little more than 10 weeks to the 15th of January, when the comet would begin to re-approach the sun. Though light and heat were now reduced to a 25th part of their terrestrial intensity, so that a perpetual twilight seemed to have settled over Galea, yet the population felt cheered even by the little that was left and buoyed up by the hope that they should ultimately regain their proper position with regard to the Great Luminary, of which the temperature has been estimated as not less than 5 million degrees. Of the anxiety endured during the last two months, Isaac Hackebutt had known nothing. Since the day he had done his lucky stroke of business, he had never left the Tartan and after Benzouf on the following day had returned the steel yard and the borrowed cash receiving back the paper rubles deposited, all communication between the Jew and Nina's hive had ceased. In the course of the few minutes conversation which Benzouf had held with him, he had mentioned that he knew that the whole soil of Galea was made of gold, but the old man, guessing that the orderly was only laughing at him as usual, paid no attention to the remark and only meditated upon the means he could devise to get every bit of the money in the new world into his own possession. No one grieved over the life of solitude which Hackebutt persisted in leading. Benzouf giggled heartily, as he repeatedly observed, it was astonishing how they reconciled themselves to his absence. The time came, however, when various circumstances prompted him to think he must renew his intercourse with the inhabitants of the hive. Some of his goods were beginning to spoil and he felt the necessity of turning them into money if he could not be a loser. He hoped, moreover, that the scarcity of his commodities would secure very high prices. It happened just about the same time that Benzouf had been calling his master's attention to the fact that some of their most necessary provisions would soon be running short and that their stock of coffee, sugar, and tobacco would want replenishing. Servidak's mind, of course, turned to the cargo on board the Hansa and he resolved, according to his promise, to apply to the Jew and become a purchaser. Mutual interest and necessity thus conspired to draw Hackebutt and the captain together. Often and often had Isaac gloated in his solitude over the prospect of first selling a portion of his merchandise for all the gold and silver in the colony. His recent usurious transaction had wedded his appetite. He would next part with some more of his cargo for all the paper money they could give him, but still he would have goods left and they would want these. Yes, they should have these, too, for promissory notes. Notes would hold good when they got back again to the earth. Bills from his excellency, the governor, would be good bills. Anyhow, there would be the sheriff. By the God of Israel, he would get good prices and he would get fine interest. Although he did not know it, he was proposing to follow the practice of the Gauls of old who advanced money on bills for payment in a future life. Hackebutt's future life, however, was not many months in advance of the present. Still, Hackebutt hesitated to make the first advance and it was accordingly with much satisfaction that he hailed Captain Servidaq's appearance on board the Hansa. Hackebutt said the captain, plunging without further preface into business, we want some coffee, some tobacco, and other things. I have come today to order them, to settle the price, and tomorrow Benzuf shall fetch the goods away. Merciful, heavens, the Jew began to whine, but Servidaq cut him short. None of that miserable howling, business, I am come to buy your goods, I shall pay for them. Ah, yes, your excellency, whispered the Jew, his voice trembling like a street beggar. Don't impose on me, I am poor, I am nearly ruined already. Cease your wretched whining, cried Servidaq. I have told you once, I shall pay for all I buy. Ready money, asked Hackebutt. Yes, ready money, what makes you ask, said the captain, curious to hear what the Jew would say. Well, you see, you see, your excellency, stammered out the Jew, to give credit to one wouldn't do, unless I gave credit to another. You are solvent, I mean honorable, and his lordship, the count is honorable, but maybe, maybe. Well, said Servidaq, waiting, but inclined to kick the old rascal out of his sight. I shouldn't like to give credit, he repeated. I have not asked you for credit. I have told you, you shall have ready money. Very good, your excellency, but how will you pay me? Pay you? Why, we shall pay you in gold and silver and copper, while our money lasts, and when that is gone, we shall pay you in bank notes. Oh, no paper, no paper, ground out the Jew, relapsing into his accustomed wine. Nonsense, ma'am, cried Servidaq. No paper, reiterated Hackebutt. Why not? Surely you can trust the banks of England, France, and Russia. Ah, no, I must have gold, nothing so safe as gold. Well then, said the captain, not wanting to lose his temper, you shall have it your own way. We have plenty of gold for the present. We will leave the bank notes for buy and buy. The Jew's countenance brightened, and Servidaq, repeating that he should come again the next day, was about to quit the vessel. One moment, your excellency, said Hackebutt, sidling up with a hypocritical smile. I suppose I am to fix my own prices. You will, of course, charge ordinary prices, proper market prices, European prices, I mean. Merciful heavens, shriek the old man, you rob me of my rights, you defraud me of my privilege. The monopoly of the market belongs to me. It is the custom, it is my right, it is my privilege to fix my own prices. Servidaq made him understand that he had no intention of swerving from his decision. Merciful heavens, again howled the Jew. It is sheer ruin. The time of monopoly is the time for profit. It is the time for speculation. The very thing, Hackebutt, that I am anxious to prevent. Just stop now, and think a minute. You seem to forget my rights. You are forgetting that, if I please, I can confiscate all your cargo for the common use. You ought to think yourself lucky in getting any price at all. Be contented with European prices. You will get no more. I am not going to waste my breath on you. I will come again tomorrow, and without allowing Hackebutt time to renew his lamentations, Servidaq went away. All the rest of the day, the Jew was muttering bitter curses against the thieves of Gentiles in general and the governor of Galia in particular, who were robbing him of his just profits by binding him down to a maximum price for his goods, just as if it were a time of revolution in the state. But he would be even with them yet. He would have it all out of them. He would make European prices pay, after all. He had a plan. He knew how, and he chuckled to himself and grinned maliciously. True to his word, the captain next morning arrived at the tartan. He was accompanied by Benzov and two Russian sailors. Good morning, old Eleazar. We have come to do our little bit of friendly business with you. You know, was Benzov's greeting. What do you want today? Ask the Jew. Today we want coffee and we want sugar and we want tobacco. We must have 10 kilograms of each. Take care they are all good, all first rate. I am commissariat officer and I am responsible. I thought you were the governor's aide to camp, said Hackabutt. So I am, on state occasions. But today, I tell you, I am superintendent of the commissariat department. Now look sharp. Hackabutt thereupon descended into the hold of the tartan and soon returned, carrying 10 packets of tobacco each weighing one kilogram and securely fastened by strips of paper labeled with the French government stamp. 10 kilograms of tobacco at 12 francs a kilogram. 120 francs, said the Jew. Benzov was on the point of laying down the money when Servadex stopped him. Let us just see whether the weight is correct. Hackabutt pointed out that the weight was duly registered on every packet and that the packets had never been unfastened. The captain, however, had his own special object in view and would not be diverted. The Jew fetched his steel yard and a packet of tobacco was suspended to it. Merciful heavens, screamed Isaac. The index registered only 133 grams. You see, Hackabutt, I was right. I was perfectly justified in having your goods put to the test, said Servadex, quite seriously. But, but, your excellency, stammered out the bewildered man. You will, of course, make up the deficiency, the captain continued, not noticing the interruption. Oh, my lord, let me say, began Isaac again. Come, come, old Caiaphas, do you hear? You are to make up the deficiency, exclaimed Benzov. Ah, yes, yes, but. The unfortunate Israelite tried hard to speak, but his agitation prevented him. He understood well enough the cause of the phenomenon, but he was overpowered by the conviction that the cursed Gentiles wanted to cheat him. He deeply regretted that he had not a pair of common scales on board. Come, I say, old Jedediah, you are a long while making up what's short, said Benzov, while the Jew was still stammering on. As soon as he had recovered his power of articulation, Isaac began to pour out a medley of lamentations and petitions for mercy. The captain was inexorable. Very sorry, you know, Hakobot. It is not my fault that the packet is short-weight, but I cannot pay for a kilogram, except I have a kilogram. Hakobot pleaded for some consideration. A bargain is a bargain, said Servedak. You must complete your contract. And, moaning and groaning, the miserable man was driven to make up the full weight as registered by his own steel yard. He had to repeat the process with the sugar and coffee. For every kilogram, he had to weigh seven. Benzov and the Russians jeered him most unmercifully. I say, old Mordecai, wouldn't you rather give your goods away than sell them at this rate? I would. I say, old Pilate, a monopoly isn't always a good thing, is it? I say, old Sepharveim, what a flourishing trade you're driving. Meanwhile, 70 kilograms of each of the articles required were weighed, and the Jew for each 70 had to take the price of 10. All along, Captain Servedak had been acting only ingest, aware that old Isaac was an utter hypocrite, he had no compunction in turning a business transaction with him into an occasion for a bit of fun. But the joke at an end, he took care that the Jew was properly paid all his legitimate due. End of book two, chapter nine. Book two, chapter 10 of Off on a Comet. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Off on a Comet by Jules Verne. Translated by Anonymous. Book two, chapter 10, Far into Space. A month passed away. Gallia continued its course, bearing its little population onwards, so far removed from the ordinary influence of human passions that it might be almost said that its sole, ostensible vice was represented by the greed and avarice of the miserable Jew. After all, they were but making a voyage, a strange, yet a transient, excursion through the solar regions, hitherto untroversed. But if the professor's calculations were correct, and why should they be doubted, their little vessel was destined after a two years absence, once more to return to port. The landing, indeed, might be a matter of difficulty, but with the good prospect before them of once again standing on terrestrial shores, they had nothing to do at present, except to make themselves as comfortable as they could in their present quarters. Thus confident in their anticipations, neither the captain, the count, nor the lieutenant felt under any serious obligation to make any extensive provisions for the future. They saw no necessity for expending the strength of the people during the short summer that would intervene upon the long severity of winter in the cultivation or the preservation of their agricultural resources. Nevertheless, they often found themselves talking over the measures they would have been driven to adopt if they had found themselves permanently attached to their present home. Even after the turning point in their career, they knew that at least nine months would have to elapse before the sea would be open to navigation, but at the very first arrival of summer, they would be bound to arrange for the diberna and the hansa to re-transport themselves and all their animals to the shores of Gorby Island, where they would have to commence their agricultural labors to secure the crops that must form their winter store. During four months or thereabouts, they would lead the lives of farmers and of sportsmen, but no sooner would their haymaking and their corn harvest have been accomplished than they would be compelled again, like a swarm of bees, to retire to their semi-troglodyte existence in the cells of Nina's hive. Now and then the captain and his friends found themselves speculating weather. In the event of their having to spend another winter upon Galia, some means could not be devised by which the dreariness of a second residence in the recesses of the volcano might be escaped. Would not another exploring expedition possibly result in the discovery of a vein of coal or other combustible matter, which could be turned to account in warming some erection which they might hope to put up? A prolonged existence in their underground quarters was felt to be monotonous and depressing, and although it might be all very well for a man like Professor Rosette, absorbed in astronomical studies, it was ill-suited to the temperaments of any of themselves for any longer period and was absolutely indispensable. One contingency there was, almost too terrible to be taken into account. Was it not to be expected that the time might come when the internal fires of Galia would lose their activity and the stream of lava would consequently cease to flow? Why should Galia be exempt from the destiny that seemed to await every other heavenly body? Why should it not roll onwards, like the moon, a dark, cold mass in space? In the event of such a cessation of the volcanic eruption, whilst the comet was still at so great a distance from the sun, they would indeed be at a loss to find a substitute for what alone had served to render life endurable at a temperature of 60 degrees below zero. Happily, however, there was at present no symptom of the subsidence of the lava's stream. The volcano continued its regular and unchanging discharge and Servodak, Ever Sanguine, declared that it was useless to give themselves any anxiety upon the matter. On the 15th of December, Galia was 276 million leagues from the sun and, as it was approximately to the extremity of its axis major, would travel only some 11 million or 12 million leagues during the month. Another world was now becoming a conspicuous object in the heavens, and Paul Myron Rosette, after rejoicing in an approach nearer to Jupiter than any other mortal man had ever attained, was now to be privileged to enjoy a similar opportunity of contemplating the planet Saturn, not that the circumstances were altogether so favorable. Scarcely 31 million miles had separated Galia from Jupiter. The minimum distance of Saturn would not be less than 415 million miles, but even this distance, although too great to affect the comet's progress more than had been duly reckoned on, was considerably shorter than what had ever separated Saturn from the earth. To get any information about the planet from Rosette appeared quite impossible. Although equally by night and by day he never seemed to quit his telescope, he did not evince the slightest inclination to impart the result of his observations. It was only from the few astronomical works that happened to be included in the de Berners library that any details could be gathered, but these were sufficient to give a large amount of interesting information. Ben Zuf, when he was made aware that the earth would be invisible to the naked eye from the surface of Saturn, declared that he then, for his part, did not care to learn any more about such a planet. To him it was indispensable that the earth should remain in sight, and it was his great consolation that hitherto his NATO sphere had never vanished from his gaze. At this date, Saturn was revolving at a distance of 420 million miles from Gallia, and consequently 874,440,000 miles from the sun, receiving only a hundredth part of the light and heat which that luminary bestows upon the earth. On consulting their books of reference, the colonists found that Saturn completes his revolution around the sun in a period of 29 years and 167 days, traveling at a rate of more than 21,000 miles an hour along an orbit measuring 5,490 millions of miles in length. His circumference is about 220,000 miles, his superficies 144,000 millions of square miles, his volume 143,846 millions of cubic miles Saturn is 735 times larger than the earth, consequently he is smaller than Jupiter. In mass, he is only 90 times greater than the earth, which gives him a density less than that of water. He revolves on his axis in 10 hours 29 minutes, causing his own year to consist of 86,630 days, and his seasons on account of the great inclination of his axis to the plane of his orbit are each of the length of seven terrestrial years. Although the light received from the sun is comparatively feeble, the nights upon Saturn must be splendid. Eight satellites, Mimas, Enceladus, Teths, Dieny, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, and Jeopardus, accompany the planet. Mimas, the nearest to its primary, rotating on its axis in 22 and one half hours and revolving at a distance of only 120,800 miles, whilst Jeopardus, the most remote, occupies 79 days in its rotation and revolves at a distance of 2,314,000 miles. Another most important contribution to the magnificence of the nights upon Saturn is the triple ring with which, as a brilliant setting, the planet is encompassed. To an observer at the equator, this ring, which has been estimated by Sir William Herschel as scarcely 100 miles in thickness, must have the appearance of a narrow band of light passing through the zenith 12,000 miles above his head. As the observer, however, increases his latitude either north or south, the band will gradually widen out into three detached and concentric rings, of which the innermost, dark though transparent, is 9,625 miles in breadth, the intermediate one, which is brighter than the planet itself, being 17,605 miles broad, and the outer of a dusky hue being 8,660 miles broad. Such, they read, is the general outline of this strange appendage, which revolves in its own plane in 10 hours 32 minutes. Of what matter it is composed and how it resists disintegration is still an unsettled question, but it might almost seem that the designer of the universe, in permitting its existence, had been willing to impart to his intelligent creatures the manner in which celestial bodies are evolved, and that this remarkable ring system is a remnant of the nebula from which Saturn was himself developed, and which, from some unknown cause, has become solidified. If at any time it should disperse, it would either fall into fragments upon the surface of Saturn, or the fragments mutually coalescing would form additional satellites to circle around the planet in its path. To any observer stationed on the planet between the extremes of latitude 45 degrees on either side of the equator, these wonderful rings would present various strange phenomena. Sometimes they would appear as an illuminated arch, with the shadow of Saturn passing over it like the hour hand over a dial. At other times they would be like a semi-aureole of light. Very often, too, for periods of several years, daily eclipses of the sun must occur through the inner position of this triple ring. Truly, with the constant rising and setting of the satellites, some with bright discs at their full, others like silver crescents in quadrature, as well as by the encircling rings, the aspect of the heavens from the surface of Saturn must be as impressive as it is gorgeous. Unable, indeed, the galleons were to realize all the marvels of this strange world. After all, they were practically 1,000 times further off than the great astronomers have been able to approach by means of their giant telescopes. But they did not complain. Their little comet, they knew, was far safer where it was. Far better out of reach of an attraction by affecting their path, might have annihilated their best hopes. The distances of several of the brightest of the fixed stars have been estimated. Amongst others, Vega in the constellation Lyra is 100 millions of millions of miles away. Sirius in Canis Major, 123 millions of millions. The pole star, 282 millions of millions. And Capella, 340 millions of millions of miles. A figure represented by no less than 15 digits. The hard numerical statement of these enormous figures, however, fails altogether in any adequate way to convey a due impression of the magnitude of these distances. Astronomers in their ingenuity have endeavored to use some other basis and have found the velocity of light to be convenient for their purpose. They have made their representations something in this way. Suppose, they say, an observer endowed with an infinite length of vision. Suppose him stationed on the surface of Capella, looking then towards the earth. He would be a spectator of events that had happened 70 years previously. Transport him to a star 10 times distant and he will be reviewing the terrestrial sphere of 720 years back. Carry him away further still, to a star so remote that it requires something less than 19 centuries for light to reach it, and he would be a witness to the birth and death of Christ. Convey him further again, and he shall be looking upon the dread desolation of the deluge. Take him away further yet, for space is infinite, and he shall be a spectator of the creation of the spheres. History is thus stereotyped in space. Nothing once accomplished can ever be afaced. Who can altogether be astonished that Palmyron Rosette, with his burning thirst for astronomical research, should have been conscious of a longing for yet wider travel through the Cybriel universe? With his comet now under the influence of one star, now of another, what various systems might he not have explored? What undreamed of marvels might not have revealed themselves before his gaze? The stars, fixed and immovable in name, are all of them in motion, and Galia might have followed them in their untracked way. But Galia had a narrow destiny. She was not to be allowed to wander away into the range of attraction of another center, nor to mingle with the star clusters, some of which have been entirely, others partially resolved, nor was she to lose herself amongst the 5,000 nebulae which have resisted hitherto the grasp of the most powerful reflectors. No, Galia was neither to pass beyond the limits of the solar system, nor to travel out of sight of the terrestrial sphere. Her orbit was circumscribed to a little over 1,500 millions of miles, and, in comparison with the infinite space beyond, this was a mere nothing. End of book two, chapter 10. Book two, chapter 11 of Off on a Comet. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Off on a Comet by Jules Verne, translated by Anonymous. Book two, chapter 11, A Fate Day. The temperature continued to decrease. The mercurial thermometer, which freezes at 42 degrees below zero was no longer of service, and the spirit thermometer of the de Berna had been brought into use. This now registered 53 degrees below freezing point. In the creek, where the two vessels had been moored for the winter, the elevation of the ice, in anticipation of which Lieutenant Procult had taken the precautionary measure of beveling, was going on slowly but irresistibly, and the tartan was upheaved 50 feet above the level of the Gallean Sea, while the schooner, as being lighter, had been raised to a still greater altitude. So irresistible was this gradual process of elevation, so utterly defying all human power to arrest, that the Lieutenant began to feel very anxious as to the safety of his yacht. With the exception of the engine and the masts, everything had been cleared out and conveyed to shore. But in the event of a thaw, it appeared that nothing short of a miracle could prevent the hull from being dashed to pieces, and then all the means of leaving the promontory would be gone. The Hansa, of course, would share a similar fate. In fact, it had already healed over to such an extent as to render it quite dangerous for its obstinate owner, who, at the peril of his life, resolved that he would stay where he could watch over his all-precious cargo, though continually invoking curses on the ill fate of which he deemed himself the victim. There was, however, a stronger will than that of Isaac Hackabutt's. Although no one of all the community cared at all for the safety of the Jew, they cared very much for the security of his cargo, and when Servidak found that nothing could induce the old man to abandon his present quarters voluntarily, he very soon adopted measures of coercion that were far more effectual than any representations of personal danger. Stop where you like, Hackabutt, said the captain to him, but understand that I consider it my duty to make sure that your cargo is taken care of. I am going to have it carried across to land, at once. Neither groans nor tears nor protestations on the part of the Jew were of the slightest avail. Fourth with, on the 20th of December, the removal of the goods commenced. Both Spaniards and Russians were all occupied for several days in the work of unloading the tartan. Well muffled up as they were in furs, they were able to endure the cold with impunity, making it their special care to avoid actual contact with any article made of metal, which in the low state of the temperature would inevitably have taken all the skin off their hands, as much as if it had been red hot. The task, however, was brought to an end without accident of any kind, and when the stores of the Hansa were safely deposited in the galleries of the hive, Lieutenant Proko avowed that he really felt that his mind had been unburdened from a great anxiety. Captain Servidak gave old Isaac full permission to take up his residence amongst the rest of the community, promised him the entire control over his own property, and although showed him so much consideration that, but for his unbounded respect for his master, Ben Zoof would have liked to reprimand him for his courtesy to a man whom he so cordially despised. Although Hakobot clamored most vehemently about his goods being carried off against his will, in his heart he was more than satisfied to see his property transferred to a place of safety and delighted, moreover, to know that the transport had been affected without a farthing of expense to himself. As soon then, as he found the tartan empty, he was only too glad to accept the offer that had been made him, and very soon made his way over to the quarters in the gallery where his merchandise had been stored. Here he lived day and night. He supplied himself with what little food he required from his own stock of provisions, a small spirit lamp sufficing to perform all the operations of his meager cookery. Consequently, all intercourse between himself and the rest of the inhabitants was entirely confined to business transactions when the occasion required that some purchase should be made from his stock of commodities. Meanwhile, all the silver and gold of the colony was gradually finding its way to a double lock drawer of which the Jew most carefully guarded the key. The 1st of January was drawing near the anniversary of the shock which had resulted in the severance of 36 human beings from the society of their fellow men. Hitherto, not one of them was missing. The unvarying calmness of the climate, notwithstanding the cold, had tended to maintain them in good health, and there seemed no reason to doubt that when Gallia returned to the earth, the total of its little population would still be complete. The 1st of January, it is true, was not properly New Year's Day in Gallia, but Captain Servidak, nevertheless, was very anxious to have it observed as a holiday. I do not think, he said, to Count Timoshev and Lieutenant Procope that we ought to allow our people to lose their interest in the world to which we are all hoping to return, and how can we cement the bond that ought to unite us? Better than celebrating, in common with our fellow creatures upon earth, a day that awakens afresh the kindly sentiments of all. Besides, he added, smiling, I expect that Gallia, although invisible just at present to the naked eye, is being closely watched by the telescopes of our terrestrial friends, and I have no doubt that the newspapers and scientific journals of both hemispheres are full of accounts detailing the movements of the new comet. True, asserted the Count, I can quite imagine that we are occasioning no small excitement in all the chief observatories. I, more than that, said the Lieutenant, our Gallia is certain to be far more than a mere object of scientific interest or curiosity. Why should we doubt that the elements of a comet which has once come into collision with the earth have by this time been accurately calculated? What our friend the professor has done here has been done likewise on the earth, where, beyond a question, all matter of expedience are being discussed as to the best way of mitigating the violence of a concussion that must occur. The Lieutenant's conjectures were so reasonable that they commanded a scent. Gallia could scarcely be otherwise than an object of terror to the inhabitants of the earth, who could by no means be certain that a second collision would be as comparatively so harmless as the first. Even to the Gallians themselves, much as they look forward to the event, the prospect was not unmixed with alarm and they would rejoice in the invention of any device by which it was likely that the impetus of the shock might be deadened. Christmas arrived and was marked by the appropriate religious observance by everyone in the community, with the exception of the Jew, who made a point of secluding himself more obstinately than ever in the gloomy recesses of his retreat. To Ben Zoof, the last week of the year was full of bustle. The arrangements for the New Year's fate were entrusted to him and he was anxious, in spite of the resources of Gallia being so limited to make the program for the day as attractive as possible. It was a matter of debate that night whether the professor should be invited to join the party. It was scarcely likely that he would care to come, but on the whole, it was felt to be advisable to ask him. At first, Captain Servodak thought of going in person with the invitation, but remembering Rosette's dislike to visitors, he altered his mind and sent young Pablo up to the observatory with a formal note, requesting the pleasure of Professor Rosette's company at the New Year's fate. Pablo was soon back, bringing no answer except that the professor had told him that today was the 125th of June and tomorrow would be the 1st of July. Consequently, Servodak and the Count took it for granted that Palmyron Rosette declined their invitation. An hour after sunrise on New Year's Day, Frenchman, Russians, Spaniards, and little Nina as the representative of Italy, sat down to a feast such as never before had been seen in Gallia. Benzouf and the Russian cook had quite surpassed themselves. The wines, part of the dobernia's stores were of excellent quality. Those of the vinegars of France and Spain were drunk in toasting their respective countries and even Russia was honored in a similar way by means of a few bottles of cumul. The company was more than contented. It was as jovial as Benzouf could desire and the ringing cheers that followed the great toast of the day, a happy return to our Mother Earth must fairly have startled the professor in the silence of his observatory. The Dijounier over, there still remained three hours of daylight. The sun was approaching the zenith, but so dim and feeble were his rays that they were very unlike what had produced the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy which they had just been enjoying. And it was necessary for all before starting upon an excursion that would last over nightfall to envelop themselves in the thickest of clothing. Full of spirits, the party left the hive and chattering and singing as they went, they made their way down to the frozen shore where they fastened on their skates. Once upon the ice, everyone followed his own fancy and some singly, some in groups, scattered themselves in all directions. Captain Servidak, the Count and the Lieutenant were generally seen together. Negrit and the Spaniards, no masters of their novel exercise, wandered frequently and gracefully hither and thither, occasionally being out of sight completely. The Russian sailors, following the northern custom, skated in file, maintaining their rank by means of a long pole passed under their right arms. And in this way, they described a trackway of singular regularity. The two children, blithe as birds, flittered about, now singly, now arm in arm, now joining the captain's party, now making a short peregrination by themselves, but were always full of life and spirit. As for Benzouf, he was here, there and everywhere, his imperturbable good temper ensuring him a smile of welcome whenever he appeared. Thus coursing rapidly over the icy plain, the whole party had soon exceeded the line that made the horizon from the shore. First, the rocks of the coast were lost to view, then the white crests of the cliffs were no longer to be seen. And at last, the summit of the volcano, with its corona of vapor, was entirely out of sight. Occasionally, the skaters were obliged to stop to recover their breath, but fearful of frostbite, they almost instantly resumed their exercise and proceeded nearly as far as Gorby Island before they thought about retracing their course. But night was coming on and the sun was already sinking in the east with the rapidity to which the residents on Galea were by this time well accustomed. The sunset upon this contracted horizon was very remarkable. There was not a cloud nor a vapor to catch the tints of the declining beams. The surface of the ice did not, as a liquid sea would, reflect the last green ray of light, but the radiant orb enlarged by the effect of refraction, its circumference sharply defined against the sky, sank abruptly, as though a trap had been opened in the ice for its reception. Before the daylight ended, Captain Servidak had cautioned the party to collect themselves at times into one group. Unless you are sure of your whereabouts before dark, he said, you will not find it after. We have come out like a party of skirmishers. Let us go back in full force. The night would be dark. Their moon was in conjunction and would not be seen. The stars would only give something of that pale radiance which the poet Cornel had described. Immediately after sunset, the torches were lighted and the long series of flames, fanned by the rapid motion of their bearers, had much the appearance of an enormous fiery banner. An hour later, and the volcano appeared like a dim shadow in the horizon, the light from the crater shedding a lurid glare upon the surrounding gloom. In time, the glow of the burning lava, reflected in the icy mirror, fell upon the troop of skaters and cast their lengthened shadows grotesquely on the surface of the frozen sea. Later still, half an hour or more afterwards, the torches were all but dying out. The shore was close at hand. All at once, Ben Zoof uttered a startled cry and pointed with bewildered excitement towards the mountain. Involuntarily, one and all, they plowed their heels into the ice and came to a halt. Exclamation of surprise and horror burst from every lip. The volcano was extinguished. The stream of burning lava had suddenly ceased to flow. Speachless with amazement, they stood still for some moments. There was not one of them that did not realize, more or less, how critical was their position. The sole source of the heat that had enabled them to brave the rigor of the cold had failed them. Death, in the cruelest of all shapes, seemed staring them in the face, death from cold. Meanwhile, the last torch had flickered out. It was quite dark. Forward, cried Servedak, firmly. At the word of command, they advanced to the shore, clambered with no little difficulty up the slippery rocks, gained the mouth of the gallery, groped their way into the common hall. How dreary! How chill it seemed! The fiery cataract no longer sprayed its glowing covering over the mouth of the grotto. Lieutenant Procult leaned through the aperture. The pool, hitherto kept fluid by its proximity to the lava, was already encrusted with a layer of ice. Such was the end of the New Year's Day so happily begun. End of Book Two, Chapter 11 Book Two, Chapter 12 of Off on a Comet This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Off on a Comet by Jules Verne, translated by Anonymous. Book Two, Chapter 12 The Bowls of the Comet The whole night was spent in speculating, with gloomy forebodings, upon the chances of the future. The temperature of the hall, now entirely exposed to the outer air, was rapidly falling, and would quickly become unendurable. Far too intense was the cold to allow anyone to remain at the opening, and the moisture on the walls soon resolved itself into icicles. But the mountain was like the body of a dying man, that retains a while a certain amount of heat at the heart after the extremities have become cold and dead. In the more interior galleries, there was still a certain degree of warmth, and hitherservedack and his companions were glad enough to retreat. Here they found the professor, who, startled by the sudden cold, had been feigned to make a precipitate retreat from his observatory. Now would have been the opportunity to demand to the enthusiast whether he would like to prolong his residence indefinitely upon his little comet. It is very likely that he would have declared himself ready to put up with any amount of discomfort to be able to gratify his love of investigation. But all were far too disheartened and distressed to care to banter him upon the subject on which he was so sensitive. Next morning, hitherservedack thus addressed his people. My friends, except from cold, we have nothing to fear. Our provisions are ample, more than enough for the remaining period of our sojourn in this lone world of ours. Our preserved meat is already cooked. We shall be able to dispense with all fuel for cooking purposes. All that we require is warmth. Warmth for ourselves. Let us secure that, and all may be well. Now, I do not entertain a doubt that the warmth we require is resident in the bowels of this mountain on which we are living. To the depth of those bowels we must penetrate. There we shall obtain the warmth which is indispensable for our very existence. His tone, quite as much as his words, restored confidence to many of his people, who were already yielding to a feeling of despair. The count and the lieutenant fervently, but silently, grasped his hand. Nina, said the captain, you will not be afraid to get down to the lower depths of the mountain, will you? Not if Pablo goes, replied the child. Oh yes, of course. Pablo will go. You are not afraid to go, are you, Pablo? He said, addressing the boy. Anywhere with you, your excellency, was the boy's prompt reply. And certain it was that no time must be lost in penetrating below the heart of the volcano. Already the most protected of the many ramifications of Nina's hive were being pervaded by a cold that was insufferable. It was an acknowledged impossibility to get access to the crater by the exterior declivities of the mountain site. They were far too steep and too slippery to afford a foothold. It must of necessity be entered from the interior. Lieutenant Procope accordingly undertook the task of exploring all the galleries and was soon able to report that he had discovered one which he had every reason to believe abutted upon the central funnel. His reason for coming to this conclusion was that the caloric emitted by the rising vapors of the hot lava seemed to be oozing, as it were, out of the tellurium, which had been demonstrated already to be a conductor of heat. Only succeed in piercing through this rock for seven or eight yards, and the lieutenant did not doubt that his way would be opened into the old lava course, by following which he hoped descent would be easy. Under the lieutenant's direction the Russian sailors were immediately set to work. Their former experience had convinced them that spades and pickaxes were of no avail, and their sole resource was to proceed by blasting with gunpowder. However skillfully the operation might be carried on, it must necessarily occupy several days, and during that time the sufferings from the cold must be very severe. If we fail in our object, we cannot get to the depths of the mountain, our little colony is doomed, said the Count Temeshev. That speech is not like yourself, answered Servodak, smiling. What has become of the faith which has hitherto carried you so bravely through all our difficulties? The Count shook his head, as if in despair, and said, sadly, the hand that hitherto been not stretched to help seems now to be withdrawn. But only to test our powers of endurance, rejoined the captain, earnestly. Courage, my friend, courage. Something tells me that this cessation of the eruption is only partial. The internal fire is not all extinct. All is not over yet. It is too soon to give up. Never despair. Lieutenant Prokope quite concurred with the captain. Many causes, he knew, besides the interruption of the influence of the oxygen upon the mineral substances of Galleus interior, might account for the stoppage of the lava flow in this one particular spot. And he considered it more than probable that a fresh outlet had been opened in some other part of the surface, and that the eruptive matter had been diverted into the new channel. But at present, his business was to prosecute his labors so that a retreat might be immediately affected from their now untenable position. Restless and agitated, Professor Rosette, if he took any interest in these discussions, certainly took no share in them. He had brought his telescope down from the observatory into the common hall, and there at frequent intervals, by night and by day, he would endeavor to continue his observations. But the intense cold perpetually compelled him to desist. Or he would literally have been frozen to death. No sooner, however, did he find himself obliged to retreat from his study of the heavens, than he would begin overwhelming everybody about him with bitter complaints, pouring out his regrets that he had ever quitted his quarters at the Formantera. On the 4th of January, by persevering industry, the process of boring was completed, and the Lieutenant could hear that fragments of the blasted rock, as the sailors cleared them away with their spades, were rolling into the funnel of the crater. He noticed, too, that they did not fall perpendicularly, but seemed to slide along, from which he inferred that the sides of the crater were sloping. He had therefore reasoned to hope that a descent would be found practicable. Larger and larger grew the orifice. At length it would admit a man's body, and Ben Zoof, carrying the torch, pushed himself through it, followed by the Lieutenant and Servidak. Procopes conjecture proved correct. On entering the crater, they found that the sides slanted at an angle of about four degrees. Moreover, the eruption had evidently been of recent origin, dating probably only from the shock which had invested Galia with the proportion of the atmosphere of the earth, and beneath the coating of ashes with which they were covered, there were various irregularities in the rock, not yet worn away by the action of the lava, and these afforded a tolerably safe footing. Rather a bad staircase, said Ben Zoof, as they began to make their way down. In about half an hour, proceeding in a southerly direction, they had descended nearly 500 feet. From time to time they came upon large excavations that at first sight had all the appearance of galleries, but by waving his torch, Ben Zoof could always see their extreme limits, and it was evident that the lower strata of the mountain did not present the same system of ramification that rendered the high of above so commodious a residence. It was not a time to be fastidious. They must be satisfied with such accommodation as they could get, provided it was warm. Captain Servedac was only too glad to find that his hopes about the temperature were to a certain extent realized. The lower they went, the greater was the diminution of the cold, a diminution that was far more rapid than that which is experienced in making the descent of terrestrial mines. In this case it was a volcano, not a colliery, that was the object of the exploration, and thankful enough they were to find that it had not become extinct. Although the lava, for some unknown cause, had ceased to rise in the crater, yet plainly it existed somewhere in an incandescent state, and was still transmitting considerable heat to the inferior strata. Lieutenant Procope had brought in his hand a mercurial thermometer, and Servedac carried an aneroid barometer, by means of which he could estimate the depth of their descent below the level of the Galean Sea. When they were 600 feet below the orifice, the Mercury registered a temperature of six degrees below zero. Six degrees, said Servedac, that will not suit us. At this low temperature we could not survive the winter. We must try deeper down. I hope the ventilation will hold out. There was, however, nothing to fear on the score of ventilation. The great current of air that rushed into the aperture penetrated everywhere, and made respiration perfectly easy. The descent was continued for about another 300 feet, which brought the explorers to a total depth of 900 feet from their old quarters. Here the thermometer registered 12 degrees above zero, a temperature which, if only it were permanent, was all they wanted. There was no advantage in proceeding any further along the lava course. They could already hear the dull rumblings that indicated that they were at no great distance from the central focus. Quite near enough for me, exclaimed Ben Zoof. Those who are chilly are welcome to go as much lower as they like. For my part, I shall be quite warm enough here. After throwing the gleams of torchlight in all directions, the explorers seated themselves on a jutting rock and began to debate whether it was practicable for the colony to make an abode in these lower depths of the mountain. The prospect, it must be owned, was not inviting. The crater, it is true, widened out into a cavern sufficiently large, but here its accommodation ended. Above and below were a few ledges in the rock which could serve as receptacles for provisions, but with the exception of a small recess that must be reserved for Nina, it was clear that henceforth they must all renounce the idea of having separate apartments. The single cave must be their dining room, drawing room, and dormitory, all in one. From living the life of rabbits in a warren, they were reduced to the existence of moles, with the difference that they could not, like them, forget their troubles in a long winter's sleep. The cavern, however, was quite capable of being lighted by means of lamps and lanterns. Among the stores were several barrels of oil and a considerable quantity of spirits of wine, which might be burned when required for cooking purposes. Moreover, it would be unnecessary for them to confine themselves entirely to the seclusion of their gloomy residence. Well wrapped up, there would be nothing to prevent them from making occasional excursions both through the hive and to the seashore. A supply of fresh water would be constantly required. Ice for this purpose must be perpetually carried in from the coast, and it would be necessary to arrange that everyone in turn should perform this office, as it would be no sinecure to clamber up the sides of the crater for 900 feet and descend the same distance with a heavy burden. But the emergency was great, and it was accordingly soon decided that the little colony should forthwith take up its quarters in the cave. After all, they said, they could hardly be much worse off than the thousands who annually winter in the Arctic regions. On board the whaling vessels and in the establishments of the Hudson's Bay Company, such luxuries as separate cabins or sleeping chambers are never thought of. One large apartment, well heated and ventilated, with as few corners as possible, is considered far more healthy, and on board ship the entire hold and in forts a single floor is appropriated to this purpose. The recollection of this fact served to reconcile them, in a great degree, to the change to which they felt it requisite to submit. Having remounted the ascent, they made the result of their exploration known to the mass of the community, who received the tidings with extensive relief and cordially accepted the scheme of the migration. The first step was to clear the cavern of its accumulation of ashes, and then the labor of removal commenced in earnest. Never was a task undertaken with greater zest. The fear of being to a certainty frozen to death if they remained where they were was a stimulus that made everyone put forth all his energies. Beds, furniture, cooking utensils, first the stores of the doberna, then the cargo of the tartan, all were carried down with the greatest alacrity, and the diminished weight combined with the downhill route to make the labor proceed with incredible briskness. Although Professor Rosette yielded to the pressure of circumstances, and allowed himself to be conducted to the lower regions, nothing would induce him to allow his telescope to be carried underground, and as it was undeniable that it would certainly be of no service deep down in the bowels of the mountain, it was allowed to remain undisturbed upon its tripod in the great hall of Nina's hive. As for Isaac Hackabutt, his outcry was beyond description lamentable. Never, in the whole universe, had a merchant met with such reverses. Never had such a pitiable series of losses befallen an unfortunate man. Regardless of the ridicule which his subject wretchedness excited, he howled on still, and kept up an unending wail. But meanwhile he kept a keen eye upon every article of his property, and amidst universal laughter insisted on having every item registered in an inventory as it was transferred to its appointed place of safety. Servidak considerably allowed the whole of the cargo to be deposited in a hollow apart by itself, over which the Jew was permitted to keep a watch as vigilant as he pleased. By the tenth the removal was accomplished, rescued, at all events, from the exposure to a perilous temperature of 60 degrees below zero, the community was installed in its new home. The large cave was lighted by the dobernas lamps, while several anards, suspended at intervals along the eclivity that led to their deserted quarters above, gave a weird picturesqueness to the scene that might vie with any of the graphic descriptions of the Arabian night's entertainments. How do you like this, Nina? said Benzouf. Va bene, replied the child, we are only living in cellars instead of upon the ground floor. We will try and make ourselves comfortable, said the orderly. Oh yes, we will be happy here, rejoined the child. It is nice and warm. Although they were as careful as they could to conceal their misgivings from the rest, Servidak and his two friends could not regard their present situation without distrust. When alone, they would frequently ask each other what would become of them all, if the volcanic heat should really be subsiding, or if some unexpected perturbation should retard the course of the comet and compel them to an indefinitely prolonged residence in their grim abode. It was scarcely likely that the comet should supply the fuel of which ere long they would be in urgent need. Who could expect to find coal in the bowels of Galia? Coal, which is the residuum of ancient forests mineralized by the lapse of ages. Would not the lava cinders exhumed from the extinct volcano be their last poor resource? Keep up your spirits, my friends, said Servidak. We have plenty of time before us at present. Let us hope that as fresh difficulties arise, fresh ways of escape will open. Never despair. True, said the Count, it is an old saying that necessity is the mother of invention. Besides, I should think it very unlikely that the internal heat will fail us now before the summer. The Lieutenant declared that he entertained the same hope. As the reason of his opinion, he alleged that the combustion of the eruptive matter was most probably of quite recent origin, because the comet before its collision with the Earth possessed no atmosphere, and that consequently no oxygen could have penetrated to its interior. Most likely you are right, replied the Count, and so far from dreading the failure of the internal heat, I am not quite sure that we may not be exposed to a more terrible calamity still. What, asked Servidak? The calamity of the eruption breaking out suddenly again, and taking us by surprise. Heavens, cried the Captain, we will not think of that. The outbreak may happen again, said the Lieutenant, calmly, but it will be our fault, our own lack of vigilance if we are taken by surprise, and so the conversation dropped. The 15th of January dawned, and the comet was 220 million leagues from the Sun. Galia had reached its apelian.