CHAPTER IX.
AFLOAT ON THE INTERIOR OCEAN.
As the _Polar King_ sped southward over the interior sea the wondersof the strange world we had discovered began to dawn upon us. Thecolossal vault rose more and more above us and the sun threw his mildand vertical rays directly upon ship and sea, producing a mostdelightful climate. The ocean had a temperature of 75 degrees Fahr.and the air 85 degrees. We were absolutely sailing upside down to aninhabitant of the outer sphere, yet we seemed to ourselves to besailing naturally erect on the sea with the sun above us.
Our first experience in the internal sphere was that of a suddenstorm. The sun grew dark and appeared like a disc of sombre gold. Theocean was lashed by a furious hurricane into incredible mountains ofwater. Every crest of the waves seemed a mass of yellow flame. Theinternal heavens were rent open with gulfs of sulphur-colored fire,while the thunder reverberated with terrible concussions. The shipwould spin upon the water as though every wave were a whirlpool. Agolden-yellow phosphorescence covered the ocean. The water boiled inmaddening eddies of lemon-colored seas, while from the hurricane decksstreamed cataracts of saffron fire. The lightning, like streaks ofmolten gold, hurled its burning darts into the sea. Everything borethe glow of amber-colored fire. The sailors congratulated themselveson the shelter provided by the deck overhead. The motion of the shipexceeded all former experiences, for it leaped and plunged in aterrific manner. It was a question whether we would survive the stormor not, so violent was the shaking up both ship and men received.Fortunately, the loss of weight in everything, which was the cause ofthe rapid motion, permitted no more damage than would be caused by alesser storm on heavier objects.
The professor stated that he believed the tempest was occasioned by apolar tidal wave of air rushing into the interior sphere, to supplythe exhaustion caused by outgoing warm currents, owing perhaps to aperiodical overheating of the air by the internal sun. When a certainvolume of the air was expelled, so that it could no longer resistexternal pressure, then the external air rushed down the polar gulf,creating by meeting warm outward-flowing currents cyclones such as wewere then experiencing.
By degrees the storm abated, the sea grew calm, the heavens above usbecame clearer, and the sun assumed the rose-color he first presentedto our gaze, standing right in the zenith.
The only damage done to the crew was a few broken limbs and somesevere bruises. The ship had lost several spars, and one of her boatswas blown out of its lashings on deck and was lost.
It was a week since we had left the outer world, and what a change hadoccurred in that short space of time! The excitement had been sointense that not a man of us had slept during that period, and as formeals, we had forgotten about them altogether.
A general order was given the cooks to prepare a banquet to dulyinaugurate our discovery of the new world. Both officers and men,including myself, sat down at the same table, where we satisfied thecravings of a week's hunger.
I expressed my heartfelt pleasure in the safety of the crew and shipso far in making so tremendous a discovery. I relied on the courageand loyalty of the crew for still further explorations in the strangeand mysterious planet we had discovered. I declared that those whoshared the dangers of the expedition would also share in whateverreward fortune might bestow upon us.
It is needless to say such sentiments were enthusiastically applauded.
I praised my able coadjutor, Captain Wallace, without whose skilfulseamanship not a soul of us could ever have reached that secret world."It was he," said I, "who has guided us without a chart through fivehundred miles of polar cavern to the realms of Pluto, to Plutusia, theinterior world. On him again we must depend for a safe exit when ourexplorations are ended."
Flathootly attempted to make a speech, but, like the rest of thecompany, fell asleep, and in less than half an hour afterward not asoul remained awake, excepting Professor Starbottle and myself.
We both struggled against sleep long enough to take a survey of theinternal sphere. The _Polar King_ floated on the wide bosom of the seaunderneath the perpendicular sun that lit all Plutusia with its beams.With our telescopes we discovered oceans, continents, mountain ranges,lakes, cities, railroads, ships, and buildings of all kinds spreadlike an immense map on the concave vault of the earth overhead. It wasa sight that alone amply repaid us for the discovery of so sublime asphere.
We thought what a cry of joy would electrify both planets when throughour instrumentality they first knew of each other's existence. Wealone possessed the tremendous secret! Then, what possibilities ofcommerce! What keen and glorious revelations of art! What unfolding ofthe secrets of nature each world would find in the other! Whatinventions rival nations would discover in either world, and here forthe outer world what possible mountains of gold, what quarries ofjewels! What means of empire and joy and love! But such thoughts weretoo vast for wearied souls. We were stunned by such conceptions, and,yielding to nature, sank into a dreamless sleep.
The Goddess of Atvatabar Page 12