“Look!” was the reply.
As he spoke, the position of all three underwent an alteration. Hitherto they had been moving continually in the same course relative to the station of the earth and sun, but now they insensibly turned, as an arrow turns in the air after completing its outward flight. Immediately in front of them rose a mighty arch, with another arch defining itself above the first, and parallel with it. A minute more, and the first arch had become a complete circle, with the other surrounding it. The color of the interior sphere was a royal purple; the outer ring flashed with prismatic hues of enchanting splendor. Scattered here and there in the void around this apparition were five or six much smaller globes, each of a different tint—red, blue, yellow, green, golden and silvery. The voyagers were dropping swiftly down into the midst of this marvelous earth. It expanded until its circumference covered the entire field of sight; rivers, mountains, forests and plains were now discernible. A few breaths more, and they would alight there!
In the awe and wonder of this revelation, one thought and emotion filled Jack’s soul: Miriam! As the downward rush continued, Solarion laid a hand gently on his head; his senses swooned, a tender darkness closed his eyes; the shouting of a myriad voices seemed to vibrate in his ears for a moment, and was then hushed; and he knew nothing.
CHAPTER VIII
THE RED SPIDER
JACK was lying on his back on the ground. In the beautiful sky overhead hung what looked like a vast silvery simitar, the curved edge downward, flashing in the sun, if it were not itself the source of light. The weapon extended its arc from horizon to horizon: beautiful but menacing, it was suspended over him like a cosmic sword of Damocles, and without any visible support: were it to descend, it would not only cut Jack in twain, but the planet on which he lay, and any others of our system which might lie in its path.
Jack’s attention was especially drawn, however, to a red, globular object, at a great but incalculable height above him, and near the arch of the simitar. It had the appearance to his eyes, which were still somewhat dazed by recent events, of a huge red spider, with hostile designs upon his welfare. As he stared at it, unable to move from his position, the spider detached a scarlet thread from its body, with a tiny globule at the end of it. It swung to and fro in immense curves, and constantly lengthened its radius: it was dropping toward him with inconceivable rapidity. The globule at the end of it now assumed the aspect of a living creature or monster of some sort, clewed up there like an acrobat in an aerial flight. Nearer and nearer it came: the swinging movement of the thread to which it was attached had nearly ceased, and it was descending straight downward. In another minute the acrobatic monster would reach the ground.
It plainly behoved Jack to stand on his guard. He was convinced that the apparition meditated no good to himself. What he had done to provoke it he could imagine as little as he knew what it was, or where in the universe this event was taking place. But the proximity of danger stimulated his faculties, and by an effort of will he summoned together all his energies. He lifted himself to a sitting posture, and in another instant he was on his feet. At the same time memory, and control of his nerves, sprang into action. He remembered his flight through space: he must have landed on Saturn: and here he was, having as yet hardly drawn his first Saturnian breath, confronted by an adversary who apparently intended to prevent his drawing many more!
The red object now hung a few feet above the surface of the ground, and not more than fifty paces from where he stood. It was a sort of vehicle of hemispherical form, and out of it leaped a being in human shape, with red mantle twisted about his body, shaggy black hair, and a dark and frowning countenance. In his right hand he grasped a short truncheon. He advanced straight upon Jack, who, wholly unarmed, put himself in an attitude of defense. If it came to fist fighting or wrestling, he thought he might stand a chance, though his antagonist was a man of superb proportions and physical development. But Jack had a well-grounded confidence in his ability to tackle any man on equal terms, and to give a good account of himself. In many athletic trials and combats he had never yet met his match; and unless his present opponent took some unfair advantage, he saw no reason for doubting that he could put up a fight worth seeing.
At five paces distance, the man in the red mantle halted and addressed him.
“I will give you your choice,” he said in a deep voice, “of either becoming my slave or dying where you stand. I hold here”—he shook his truncheon threateningly—“the means of blasting you to fragments in a moment. I am Torpeon, Prince of Tor. Kneel down and do me homage!”