ected a monument in Van Cortlandt Park, and engraved upon
it, 'At this place James Bearwarden, Henry Chelmsford Cortlandt, and
Richard Rokeby Ayrault left earth, December 21, A. D. 2000, to visit
Jupiter.'"

"Add to it, 'They returned on the 10th of the following June.'"

Soon the Callisto came nearly between the earth and the sun, when the
astronomers could see it only through darkened glasses, and it appeared
almost as a crescent. The sight the travellers then beheld was superb.
It was about 11 A. M. in London, and Europe was spread before them like
a map. All its peninsulas and islands, enclosed blue seas, and bays
came out in clear relief. Gradually Russia, Germany, France, the
British Isles, and Spain moved towards the horizon, as in grand
procession, and at the same time the Western hemisphere appeared. The
hour of day at the longitude above which they hung was about the same
as when they set out, but the sun shone far more directly upon the
Northern hemisphere than then, and instead of bleak December, this was
the leafy month of June.

They were loath to end the lovely scene, and would fain have remained
where they were while the earth revolved again; but, remembering that
their friends must by this time be waiting, they shut off the repulsion
from the earth.

"We need not apply the apergy to the earth until quite near," said
Ayrault, "since a great part of the top speed will be taken off by the
resistance of the atmosphere, especially as we go in base first. We
have only to keep a sufficiently strong repulsion on the dome to
prevent our turning over, and to see that our speed is not great enough
to heat the car."

When about fifty miles from the surface they felt the expected check,
and concluded they had reached the upper limits of the atmosphere. And
this increased, notwithstanding the decrease in their speed, showing
how quickly the air became dense.

[Illustration: The return.]

When about a mile from the earth they had the Callisto well in hand,
and allowed it to descend slowly. The ground was already black with
people, who, having learned where the Callisto was to touch, had
hastened to Van Cortlandt Park.

"I am overjoyed to see you," said Sylvia, when she and Ayrault met. "I
had the most dreadful presentiment that something had gone wrong with
you. One afternoon and evening I was so perplexed, and during the
night had a series of nightmares that I shall never forget. I really
believ