A superb being he was, quite as tall as Jack, and with a body so beautifully formed that the earth-man, a connoisseur in such matters, could not restrain a cry of admiration; so might the god Apollo have disclosed himself in vision to the sculptor who vainly strove to reproduce him in the Belvedere. He glowed as with an inner light; his features seemed divinity incarnate; his hair, thick and waving, of a golden hue, flowed down upon his Olympian shoulders. There was no excess of muscular development in trunk or limbs, but irresistible power declared itself in every contour and movement. “Who are you?” Jack asked.
“I am called Solarion,” the other replied; “I am stationed in the midway here, to look after travelers from your earth, who are specially liable to kidnaping by these Jovians, who make serfs of them. But, you,” he added, scrutinizing Jack more closely, “belong to a new type: I have only met one other—a girl, bound for Saturn. Our friend Mary Faust has been preparing the route for some while past; but it was not thought that she had yet completed her arrangements. A wise woman, that!”
“You met a girl—who was she?” demanded Jack with devouring eagerness.
“Miriam was her name—a lovely child— Ah, I see! you have come after her! Well, you must expect difficulties; it is much easier to make the trip out than to get back again. The Saturn folks are very agreeable people; but you two are such an attractive pair that I fear they may want to keep you.” He laughed good-humoredly as he spoke, sending a very keen look into Jack’s eyes. “It’s taking a risk, you know,” he added. “I would help you if I could, but my domain is restricted to these outlying regions. I am assuming, of course, that you and she—or either of you—will care to return. Saturn is a pleasant country.”
“Little old N’York is good enough fer us, mister, and don’ you fergit it!” put in Jim earnestly. “We was jest takin’ a look aroun’, dat’s all!”
Solarion smiled amusedly. “You’ll have a good story to tell your friends,” he observed. “Few of them will have traveled so far on one leg.”
“My boss figgers we’se sperrits,” said Jim; “sperrits is angels, ain’t dey? Wot I want to know is, is dere any odder angels wid one fin off, like me?”
“You are only partly a spirit as yet, Jim,” answered Solarion, patting the urchin’s head. “When you cut loose altogether, you will find your leg in its place again.”
During this colloquy, a stupendous distance had been traversed; Jupiter was now but of the apparent size of our moon; and Jack had latterly been conscious of a new influence, gentle and soothing, accompanied by warbling sounds resembling those of an æolian harp, which waxed and waned upon the ear. The dazzling whiteness of the medium surrounding them had become modified, and now took on a faint violet tinge. A delicate perfume, too, like that of wild flowers, but with a peculiar aromatic quality pervading it, was perceptible.
“Do I imagine these things, or are they real?” he asked his guide.