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She did not seem much enlivened by the good news. "What will that do for us?" she enquired doubtfully. "We can remain here as long as we like, suspended between the Sun and Mercury," replied Gazen. "Is it better to linger and die in a living tomb than be dashed to pieces and have done with it?" "But we shall gain time for your father to recover."
No doubt that eminent authority, Professor Sylvanus Pettifer Possil, regards them as aerial hurricanes; but the more I see, the more I am constrained to regard Sylvanus Pettifer Possil as a silly vain asteroid." While Gazen was yet speaking we both became sensible of an unwonted stillness in the car. The machinery had ceased to vibrate.
The sky suddenly became blue, the stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the broad day was all around us. "Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and wonder. "We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?"
"I cannot be of much service to them. They will soon forget me." "Perhaps you are mistaken there," said Gazen, assuming a more serious air. "In any case I for one shall miss you. In fact, to speak plainly, I shall feel aggrieved hurt. You and I are old friends, and when you asked me to join you in this expedition I was moved by friendship as well as interest.
We heard of "singing flowers," including a water-lily which bursts open with a musical note, and of many plants which are sensitive to heat as well as touch, and if Gazen be correct, to electricity and magnetism. We saw one in a house which was said to require a change of scene from time to time else it would languish and die.
Accordingly we held a consultation with Carmichael as to whether we should land there, or proceed to the city. Carmichael thought we should go on. "But," said Gazen, "would it not be safer to try the temper of the people first, here in the country?" "These people are not savages," replied Carmichael.
Occasionally she chatted with Gazen and myself in the saloon, or helped us to make scientific observations; but although neither of us openly confessed it, I think we both felt that she did not give us quite enough of her company. Her manner seemed to betray no preference for one or the other.
"In the next place," went on Gazen, ignoring my remark, "the old astronomer's plan of signalling by strong lights was quite impracticable. No artificial light is capable of reaching to Mars. Think of the immense distance and the two atmospheres to penetrate! The man was mad, as mad as a March hare! though why a March hare is mad I'm sure I don't know."
The wide ocean spread all around us; neither sail nor shore, nor living creature was visible, and we had begun to ask ourselves whether we had not found a watery planet, when Gazen suddenly cried out, "Land!" "Whereaway?" I enquired with breathless interest. He pointed a little to the right of our course, and following the direction of his finger, I saw a dim outline where sea and sky met.
"Possibly I can find out something about him from my American friends if he is genuine. What's his name again?" "Carmichael Nasmyth Carmichael." "Nasmyth Carmichael," repeated Gazen, musingly. "It seems to me I've heard the name somewhere. Yes, now I recollect.
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