Off on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary Space

by Jules Verne

  CHAPTER XV. A JOURNEY AND A DISAPPOINTMENT

  It was as the professor had said. From the day that Isaac Hakkabut hadentered upon his mercantile career, his dealings had all been carriedon by a system of false weight. That deceitful steelyard had been themainspring of his fortune. But when it had become his lot to be thepurchaser instead of the vendor, his spirit had groaned within him atbeing compelled to reap the fruits of his own dishonesty. No one who hadstudied his character could be much surprised at the confession that wasextorted from him, that for every supposed kilogramme that he had eversold the true weight was only 750 grammes, or just five and twenty percent. less than it ought to have been.

  The professor, however, had ascertained all that he wanted to know. Byestimating his comet at a third as much again as its proper weight,he had found that his calculations were always at variance with theobserved situation of the satellite, which was immediately influenced bythe mass of its primary.

  But now, besides enjoying the satisfaction of having punished oldHakkabut, Rosette was able to recommence his calculations with referenceto the elements of Nerina upon a correct basis, a task to which hedevoted himself with redoubled energy.

  It will be easily imagined that Isaac Hakkabut, thus caught in his owntrap, was jeered most unmercifully by those whom he had attempted tomake his dupes. Ben Zoof, in particular, was never wearied of tellinghim how on his return to the world he would be prosecuted for usingfalse weights, and would certainly become acquainted with the insideof a prison. Thus badgered, he secluded himself more than ever in hisdismal hole, never venturing, except when absolutely obliged, to facethe other members of the community.

  On the 7th of October the comet re-entered the zone of the telescopicplanets, one of which had been captured as a satellite, and the originof the whole of which is most probably correctly attributed to thedisintegration of some large planet that formerly revolved between theorbits of Mars and Jupiter. By the beginning of the following month halfof this zone had been traversed, and only two months remained beforethe collision with the earth was to be expected. The temperature was nowrarely below 12 degrees below zero, but that was far too cold to permitthe slightest symptoms of a thaw. The surface of the sea remained asfrozen as ever, and the two vessels, high up on their icy pedestals,remained unaltered in their critical position.

  It was about this time that the question began to be mooted whether itwould not be right to reopen some communication with the Englishmen atGibraltar. Not that any doubt was entertained as to their having beenable successfully to cope with the rigors of the winter; but CaptainServadac, in a way that did honor to his generosity, represented that,however uncourteous might have been their former behavior, it was atleast due to them that they should be informed of the true condition ofthings, which they had had no opportunity of learning; and, moreover,that they should be invited to co-operate with the population of Nina'sHive, in the event of any measures being suggested by which the shock ofthe approaching collision could be mitigated.

  The count and the lieutenant both heartily concurred in Servadac'ssentiments of humanity and prudence, and all agreed that if theintercourse were to be opened at all, no time could be so suitable asthe present, while the surface of the sea presented a smooth and solidfooting. After a thaw should set in, neither the yacht nor the tartancould be reckoned on for service, and it would be inexpedient to makeuse of the steam launch, for which only a few tons of coal had beenreserved, just sufficient to convey them to Gourbi Island when theoccasion should arise; whilst as to the yawl, which, transformed into asledge, had performed so successful a trip to Formentera, the absence ofwind would make that quite unavailable. It was true that with the returnof summer temperature, there would be certain to be a derangement in theatmosphere of Gallia, which would result in wind, but for the presentthe air was altogether too still for the yawl to have any prospects ofmaking its way to Gibraltar.

  The only question remaining was as to the possibility of going on foot.The distance was somewhere about 240 miles. Captain Servadac declaredhimself quite equal to the undertaking. To skate sixty or seventy milesa day would be nothing, he said, to a practical skater like himself. Thewhole journey there and back might be performed in eight days. Providedwith a compass, a sufficient supply of cold meat, and a spirit lamp, bywhich he might boil his coffee, he was perfectly sure he should, withoutthe least difficulty, accomplish an enterprise that chimed in so exactlywith his adventurous spirit.

  Equally urgent were both the count and the lieutenant to be allowedto accompany him; nay, they even offered to go instead; but Servadac,expressing himself as most grateful for their consideration, declinedtheir offer, and avowed his resolution of taking no other companion thanhis own orderly.

  Highly delighted at his master's decision, Ben Zoof expressed hissatisfaction at the prospect of "stretching his legs a bit," declaringthat nothing could induce him to permit the captain to go alone. Therewas no delay. The departure was fixed for the following morning, the 2ndof November.

  Although it is not to be questioned that a genuine desire of doingan act of kindness to his fellow-creatures was a leading motive ofServadac's proposed visit to Gibraltar, it must be owned that anotheridea, confided to nobody, least of all to Count Timascheff, had beenconceived in the brain of the worthy Gascon. Ben Zoof had an inklingthat his master was "up to some other little game," when, just beforestarting, he asked him privately whether there was a French tricoloramong the stores. "I believe so," said the orderly.

  "Then don't say a word to anyone, but fasten it up tight in yourknapsack."

  Ben Zoof found the flag, and folded it up as he was directed. Beforeproceeding to explain this somewhat enigmatical conduct of Servadac,it is necessary to refer to a certain physiological fact, coincidentbut unconnected with celestial phenomena, originating entirely in thefrailty of human nature. The nearer that Gallia approached the earth,the more a sort of reserve began to spring up between the captain andCount Timascheff. Though they could not be said to be conscious ofit, the remembrance of their former rivalry, so completely buried inoblivion for the last year and ten months, was insensibly recoveringits hold upon their minds, and the question was all but coming tothe surface as to what would happen if, on their return to earth, thehandsome Madame de L---- should still be free. From companions in peril,would they not again be avowed rivals? Conceal it as they would, acoolness was undeniably stealing over an intimacy which, though it couldnever be called affectionate, had been uniformly friendly and courteous.

  Under these circumstances, it was not surprising that Hector Servadacshould not have confided to the count a project which, wild as it was,could scarcely have failed to widen the unacknowledged breach that wasopening in their friendship.

  The project was the annexation of Ceuta to the French dominion. TheEnglishmen, rightly enough, had continued to occupy the fragment ofGibraltar, and their claim was indisputable. But the island of Ceuta,which before the shock had commanded the opposite side of the strait,and had been occupied by Spaniards, had since been abandoned, and wastherefore free to the first occupant who should lay claim to it. Toplant the tricolor upon it, in the name of France, was now the cherishedwish of Servadac's heart.

  "Who knows," he said to himself, "whether Ceuta, on its return to earth,may not occupy a grand and commanding situation? What a proud thing itwould be to have secured its possession to France!"

  Next morning, as soon as they had taken their brief farewell of theirfriends, and were fairly out of sight of the shore, Servadac impartedhis design to Ben Zoof, who entered into the project with the greatestzest, and expressed himself delighted, not only at the prospect ofadding to the dominions of his beloved country, but of stealing a marchupon England.

  Both travelers were warmly clad, the orderly's knapsack containing allthe necessary provisions. The journey was accomplished without specialincident; halts were made at regular intervals, for the purpose oftaking food and rest. The temperature by night as well as by day wasquite
endurable, and on the fourth afternoon after starting, thanks tothe straight course which their compass enabled them to maintain, theadventurers found themselves within a few miles of Ceuta.

  As soon as Ben Zoof caught sight of the rock on the western horizon, hewas all excitement. Just as if he were in a regiment going into action,he talked wildly about "columns" and "squares" and "charges." Thecaptain, although less demonstrative, was hardly less eager to reach therock. They both pushed forward with all possible speed till they werewithin a mile and a half of the shore, when Ben Zoof, who had a verykeen vision, stopped suddenly, and said that he was sure he could seesomething moving on the top of the island.

  "Never mind, let us hasten on," said Servadac. A few minutes carriedthem over another mile, when Ben Zoof stopped again.

  "What is it, Ben Zoof?" asked the captain.

  "It looks to me like a man on a rock, waving his arms in the air," saidthe orderly.

  "Plague on it!" muttered Servadac; "I hope we are not too late." Againthey went on; but soon Ben Zoof stopped for the third time.

  "It is a semaphore, sir; I see it quite distinctly." And he was notmistaken; it had been a telegraph in motion that had caught his eye.

  "Plague on it!" repeated the captain.

  "Too late, sir, do you think?" said Ben Zoof.

  "Yes, Ben Zoof; if that's a telegraph--and there is no doubt ofit--somebody has been before us and erected it; and, moreover, if it ismoving, there must be somebody working it now."

  He was keenly disappointed. Looking towards the north, he coulddistinguish Gibraltar faintly visible in the extreme distance, and uponthe summit of the rock both Ben Zoof and himself fancied they could makeout another semaphore, giving signals, no doubt, in response to the onehere.

  "Yes, it is only too clear; they have already occupied it, andestablished their communications," said Servadac.

  "And what are we to do, then?" asked Ben Zoof.

  "We must pocket our chagrin, and put as good a face on the matter as wecan," replied the captain.

  "But perhaps there are only four or five Englishmen to protect theplace," said Ben Zoof, as if meditating an assault.

  "No, no, Ben Zoof," answered Servadac; "we must do nothing rash. Wehave had our warning, and, unless our representations can induce them toyield their position, we must resign our hope."

  Thus discomfited, they had reached the foot of the rock, when all atonce, like a "Jack-in-the-box," a sentinel started up before them withthe challenge:

  "Who goes there?"

  "Friends. Vive la France!" cried the captain.

  "Hurrah for England!" replied the soldier.

  By this time four other men had made their appearance from the upperpart of the rock.

  "What do you want?" asked one of them, whom Servadac remembered to haveseen before at Gibraltar.

  "Can I speak to your commanding officer?" Servadac inquired.

  "Which?" said the man. "The officer in command of Ceuta?"

  "Yes, if there is one."

  "I will acquaint him with your arrival," answered the Englishman, anddisappeared.

  In a few minutes the commanding officer, attired in full uniform, wasseen descending to the shore. It was Major Oliphant himself.

  Servadac could no longer entertain a doubt that the Englishmen hadforestalled him in the occupation of Ceuta. Provisions and fuel hadevidently been conveyed thither in the boat from Gibraltar before thesea had frozen, and a solid casemate, hollowed in the rock, had affordedMajor Oliphant and his contingent ample protection from the rigor ofthe winter. The ascending smoke that rose above the rock was sufficientevidence that good fires were still kept up; the soldiers appeared tohave thriven well on what, no doubt, had been a generous diet, and themajor himself, although he would scarcely have been willing to allow it,was slightly stouter than before.

  Being only about twelve miles distant from Gibraltar, the littlegarrison at Ceuta had felt itself by no means isolated in its position;but by frequent excursions across the frozen strait, and by the constantuse of the telegraph, had kept up their communication with theirfellow-countrymen on the other island. Colonel Murphy and the major hadnot even been forced to forego the pleasures of the chessboard. The gamethat had been interrupted by Captain Servadac's former visit was not yetconcluded; but, like the two American clubs that played their celebratedgame in 1846 between Washington and Baltimore, the two gallant officersmade use of the semaphore to communicate their well-digested moves.

  The major stood waiting for his visitor to speak.

  "Major Oliphant, I believe?" said Servadac, with a courteous bow.

  "Yes, sir, Major Oliphant, officer in command of the garrison at Ceuta,"was the Englishman's reply. "And to whom," he added, "may I have thehonor of speaking?"

  "To Captain Servadac, the governor general of Gallia."

  "Indeed!" said the major, with a supercilious look.

  "Allow me to express my surprise," resumed the captain, "at seeing youinstalled as commanding officer upon what I have always understood to beSpanish soil. May I demand your claim to your position?"

  "My claim is that of first occupant."

  "But do you not think that the party of Spaniards now resident with memay at some future time assert a prior right to the proprietorship?"

  "I think not, Captain Servadac."

  "But why not?" persisted the captain.

  "Because these very Spaniards have, by formal contract, made over Ceuta,in its integrity, to the British government."

  Servadac uttered an exclamation of surprise.

  "And as the price of that important cession," continued Major Oliphant,"they have received a fair equivalent in British gold."

  "Ah!" cried Ben Zoof, "that accounts for that fellow Negrete and hispeople having such a lot of money."

  Servadac was silent. It had become clear to his mind what had been theobject of that secret visit to Ceuta which he had heard of as being madeby the two English officers. The arguments that he had intended to usehad completely fallen through; all that he had now to do was carefullyto prevent any suspicion of his disappointed project.

  "May I be allowed to ask, Captain Servadac, to what I am indebted forthe honor of this visit?" asked Major Oliphant presently.

  "I have come, Major Oliphant, in the hope of doing you and yourcompanions a service," replied Servadac, rousing himself from hisreverie.

  "Ah, indeed!" replied the major, as though he felt himself quiteindependent of all services from exterior sources.

  "I thought, major, that it was not unlikely you were in ignorance ofthe fact that both Ceuta and Gibraltar have been traversing the solarregions on the surface of a comet."

  The major smiled incredulously; but Servadac, nothing daunted, went onto detail the results of the collision between the comet and the earth,adding that, as there was the almost immediate prospect of anotherconcussion, it had occurred to him that it might be advisable for thewhole population of Gallia to unite in taking precautionary measures forthe common welfare.

  "In fact, Major Oliphant," he said in conclusion, "I am here to inquirewhether you and your friends would be disposed to join us in our presentquarters."

  "I am obliged to you, Captain Servadac," answered the major stiffly;"but we have not the slightest intention of abandoning our post. We havereceived no government orders to that effect; indeed, we have receivedno orders at all. Our own dispatch to the First Lord of the Admiraltystill awaits the mail."

  "But allow me to repeat," insisted Servadac, "that we are no longer onthe earth, although we expect to come in contact with it again in abouteight weeks."

  "I have no doubt," the major answered, "that England will make everyeffort to reclaim us."

  Servadac felt perplexed. It was quite evident that Major Oliphant hadnot been convinced of the truth of one syllable of what he had beensaying.

  "Then I am to understand that you are determined to retain your twogarrisons here and at Gibraltar?" asked Servadac, with one last effortat persuasion
.

  "Certainly; these two posts command the entrance of the Mediterranean."

  "But supposing there is no longer any Mediterranean?" retorted thecaptain, growing impatient.

  "Oh, England will always take care of that," was Major Oliphant's coolreply. "But excuse me," he added presently; "I see that ColonelMurphy has just telegraphed his next move. Allow me to wish yougood-afternoon."

  And without further parley, followed by his soldiers, he retired intothe casemate, leaving Captain Servadac gnawing his mustache with mingledrage and mortification.

  "A fine piece of business we have made of this!" said Ben Zoof, when hefound himself alone with his master.

  "We will make our way back at once," replied Captain Servadac.

  "Yes, the sooner the better, with our tails between our legs," rejoinedthe orderly, who this time felt no inclination to start off to the marchof the Algerian zephyrs. And so the French tricolor returned as it hadset out--in Ben Zoof's knapsack.

  On the eighth evening after starting, the travelers again set foot onthe volcanic promontory just in time to witness a great commotion.

  Palmyrin Rosette was in a furious rage. He had completed all hiscalculations about Nerina, but that perfidious satellite had totallydisappeared. The astronomer was frantic at the loss of his moon.Captured probably by some larger body, it was revolving in its properzone of the minor planets.