ance at the car. Their charge of
electricity for developing the repulsion seemed scarcely touched, and
they had still an abundant supply of oxygen and provisions. The
barometer registered twenty-nine inches, showing that they had not lost
much air in the numerous openings of the vestibule. The pressure was
about what would be found at an altitude of a few hundred feet, part of
the rarefaction being no doubt due to the fact that they did not close
the windows until at a considerable height above Van Cortlandt Park.

They saw they should alight in a longitude on which the sun had just
risen, the rocky tops of the great mountains shining like helmets in
its rays. Soon they felt a sharp checking of their forward motion, and
saw, from the changed appearance of the stars and the sun, that they
had entered the atmosphere of their new home.

Not even did Columbus, standing at the prow of the Santa Maria, with
the New World before him, feel the exultation and delight experienced
by these latter-day explorers of the twenty-first century. Their first
adventures on landing the reader already knows.

CHAPTER V.

EXPLORATION AND EXCITEMENT.

When they awoke, the flowers were singing with the volume of a
cathedral organ, the chant rising from all around them, and the sun was
already above the horizon. Finding a deep natural spring, in which the
water was at about blood-heat, they prepared for breakfast by taking a
bath, and then found they had brought nothing to eat.

"It was stupid of us not to think of it," said Bearwarden, "yet it will
be too much out of our way to return to the Callisto."

"We have two rifles and a gun," said Ayrault, "and have also plenty of
water, and wood for a fire. All we need is game."

"The old excuse, that it has been already shot out, cannot hold here,"
said Cortlandt.

"Seeing that we have neither wings nor pneumatic legs, and not knowing
the advantage given us by our rifles," added Bearwarden, "it should not
be shy either. So far," he continued, "we have seen nothing edible,
though just now we should not be too particular; but near a spring like
this that kind must exist."

"The question is," said the professor, "whether the game like warm
water. If we can follow this stream till it has been on the surface
for some time, or till it spreads out, we shall doubtless find a
huntsman's paradise."

"A bright idea," said Bearwarden. "Let'