heories
have been advanced by any number of men, but in weight we have the rub.
No one has ever shown how these innumerable fragments maintain
themselves at a height of but a few thousand miles above Saturn,
withstanding the giant's gravitation-pull. Their rate of revolution,
though rapid, does not seem fast enough to sustain them. Neither have
I ever seen it explained why the small fragments do not fall upon the
large ones, though many astronomers have pictured the composition of
these rings as we find they exist. Nor do we know why the molecules of
a gas are driven farther apart by heat, while their activity is also
increased, though if this activity were revolution about one another to
develop the centrifugal, it would not need to be as strong then as when
they are cold and nearer together. There may be explanations, but I
have found none in any of the literature I have read. It seems to me
that all this leads to but one conclusion, viz.: apergy is the constant
and visible companion of gravitation, on these great planets Jupiter
and Saturn, perhaps on account of some peculiar influence they possess,
and also in comets, in the case of large masses, while on earth it
appears naturally only among molecules--those of gases and every other
substance."

"I should go a step further," said Bearwarden, "and say our earth has
the peculiarity, since it does not possess the influence necessary to
generate naturally a great or even considerable development of apergy.
The electricity of thunderstorms, northern lights, and other forces
seems to be produced freely, but as regards apergy our planet's natural
productiveness appears to be small."

The omnipresent luminosity continued, but the glow was scarcely bright
enough to be perceived from the earth.

"I believe, however," said Bearwarden, referring to this, "that
whenever a satellite passes near these fragments, preferably when it
enters the planet's shadow, since that will remove its own light, it
will create such activity among them as to make the luminosity visible
to the large telescopes or gelatine plates on earth."

"Now," said Ayrault, "that we have evolved enough theories to keep
astronomers busy for some time, if they attempt to discuss them, I
suggest that we alight and leave the abstract for the concrete."

Whereupon they passed through the inner ring and rapidly sank to the
ground.

BOOK III.