按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pitching camp。 Go along and help handle the baggage。〃
The Tumble…Bug turned on his heel uncrushed； unabashed； observing to
himself； 〃If it isn't land tilted up； let me die the death of the
unrighteous。〃
Professor Bull Frog （nephew of the late explorer） said he believed the
ridge was the wall that inclosed the earth。 He continued：
〃Our fathers have left us much learning； but they had not traveled far；
and so we may count this a noble new discovery。 We are safe for renown
now； even though our labors began and ended with this single achievement。
I wonder what this wall is built of？ Can it be fungus？ Fungus is an
honorable good thing to build a wall of。〃
Professor Snail adjusted his field…glass and examined the rampart
critically。 Finally he said：
〃'The fact that it is not diaphanous convinces me that it is a dense
vapor formed by the calorification of ascending moisture dephlogisticated
by refraction。 A few endiometrical experiments would confirm this； but
it is not necessary。 The thing is obvious。〃
So he shut up his glass and went into his shell to make a note of the
discovery of the world's end； and the nature of it。
〃Profound mind！〃 said Professor Angle…Worm to Professor Field…Mouse；
〃profound mind！ nothing can long remain a mystery to that august brain。〃
Night drew on apace； the sentinel crickets were posted； the Glow…Worm and
Fire…Fly lamps were lighted； and the camp sank to silence and sleep。
After breakfast in the morning； the expedition moved on。 About noon a
great avenue was reached； which had in it two endless parallel bars of
some kind of hard black substance； raised the height of the tallest Bull
Frog； above the general level。 The scientists climbed up on these and
examined and tested them in various ways。 They walked along them for a
great distance； but found no end and no break in them。 They could arrive
at no decision。 There was nothing in the records of science that
mentioned anything of this kind。 But at last the bald and venerable
geographer； Professor Mud Turtle； a person who； born poor； and of a
drudging low family； had； by his own native force raised himself to the
headship of the geographers of his generation； said：
〃'My friends； we have indeed made a discovery here。 We have found in a
palpable； compact； and imperishable state what the wisest of our fathers
always regarded as a mere thing of the imagination。 Humble yourselves；
my friends； for we stand in a majestic presence。 These are parallels of
latitude！〃
Every heart and every head was bowed； so awful； so sublime was the
magnitude of the discovery。 Many shed tears。
The camp was pitched and the rest of the day given up to writing
voluminous accounts of the marvel； and correcting astronomical tables to
fit it。 Toward midnight a demoniacal shriek was heard； then a clattering
and rumbling noise； and the next instant a vast terrific eye shot by；
with a long tail attached； and disappeared in the gloom； still uttering
triumphant shrieks。
The poor damp laborers were stricken to the heart with fright； and
stampeded for the high grass in a body。 But not the scientists。 They
had no superstitions。 They calmly proceeded to exchange theories。
The ancient geographer's opinion was asked。 He went into his shell and
deliberated long and profoundly。 When he came out at last； they all knew
by his worshiping countenance that he brought light。 Said he：
〃Give thanks for this stupendous thing which we have been permitted to
witness。 It is the Vernal Equinox！〃
There were shoutings and great rejoicings。
〃But；〃 said the Angle…Worm； uncoiling after reflection； 〃this is dead
summer…time。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the Turtle； 〃we are far from our region； the season
differs with the difference of time between the two points。〃
〃Ah； true： True enough。 But it is night。 How should the sun pass in
the night？〃
〃In these distant regions he doubtless passes always in the night at this
hour。〃
〃Yes； doubtless that is true。 But it being night； how is it that we
could see him？〃
〃It is a great mystery。 I grant that。 But I am persuaded that the
humidity of the atmosphere in these remote regions is such that particles
of daylight adhere to the disk and it was by aid of these that we were
enabled to see the sun in the dark。〃
This was deemed satisfactory； and due entry was made of the decision。
But about this moment those dreadful shriekings were heard again； again
the rumbling and thundering came speeding up out of the night； and once
more a flaming great eye flashed by and lost itself in gloom and
distance。
The camp laborers gave themselves up for lost。 The savants were sorely
perplexed。 Here was a marvel hard to account for。 They thought and they
talked； they talked and they thought。 Finally the learned and aged Lord
Grand…Daddy…Longlegs； who had been sitting in deep study； with his
slender limbs crossed and his stemmy arms folded； said：
〃Deliver your opinions； brethren； and then I will tell my thoughtfor I
think I have solved this problem。〃
〃So be it； good your lordship；〃 piped the weak treble of the wrinkled and
withered Professor Woodlouse； 〃for we shall hear from your lordship's
lips naught but wisdom。〃 ＇Here the speaker threw in a mess of trite；
threadbare； exasperating quotations from the ancient poets and
philosophers； delivering them with unction in the sounding grandeurs of
the original tongues； they being from the Mastodon； the Dodo； and other
dead languages。＇ 〃Perhaps I ought not to presume to meddle with matters
pertaining to astronomy at all； in such a presence as this； I who have
made it the business of my life to delve only among the riches of the
extinct languages and unearth the opulence of their ancient lore； but
still； as unacquainted as I am with the noble science of astronomy； I beg
with deference and humility to suggest that inasmuch as the last of these
wonderful apparitions proceeded in exactly the opposite direction from
that pursued by the first； which you decide to be the Vernal Equinox；
and greatly resembled it in all particulars； is it not possible； nay
certain； that this last is the Autumnal Equi〃
〃 O…o…o！〃 〃O…o…o！ go to bed！ go to bed！〃 with annoyed derision from
everybody。 So the poor old Woodlouse retreated out of sight； consumed
with shame。
Further discussion followed； and then the united voice of the commission
begged Lord Longlegs to speak。 He said：
〃Fellow…scientists； it is my belief that we have witnessed a thing which
has occurred in perfection but once before in the knowledge of created
beings。 It is a phenomenon of inconceivable importance and interest；
view it as one may； but its interest to us is vastly heightened by an
added knowledge of its nature which no scholar has heretofore possessed
or even suspected。 This great marvel which we have just witnessed；
fellow…savants （it almost takes my breath away）； is nothing less than the
transit of Venus！〃
Every scholar sprang to his feet pale with astonishment。 Then ensued
tears； handshakings； frenzied embraces； and the most extravagant
jubilations of every sort。 But by and by； as emotion began to retire
within b