The evening world., 1912-06-28


during the night. they piled
IN wood, and talked of their recent ex-
psriences.
At last the dawn began TO tint tho |
east, and the growing light showed
them that the storm had passed. The
upper strata of Saturn's atmosphere
being filled with inhnitesimal particles
OF dust. as result OF Its numerous
volcanoes, the conditions wers highly |
favorable TO beautiful sunrises and sun
sets. Soon colored streaks extended
far into the sky. and though they knew
that when the suns disk appeared II
would seem small, II filled the almost
boundless eastern horizon with the most
variegated and gorgeous hues.
Turning away from the welcome sight
for their minds were Ill at ease-they
found the light strong enough for their
search TO begin.
In the soft ground, sure enough. they
saw Ayraults footprints. and. from the
distance between them. concluded that
he must have been running or walking
very fast; but the rain had washed
down the edges OF the incis!on. The
trail assembled a gentle slope. where
they lost It; but on reaching the sum-
NIT they saw II again with the feet
together, as though Ayrault had paused.
and about II were many other impress
sions with the feet turned In, as II the
walkers or ISLANDERS had surrounded
Ayraut. who was In the centre.
~ hope" said Cortlandt 'these are
nothing moro than the footprints we
have seen formed about ourselves"
''See," said Bearwarden, 'Dick's trail
goes on, and the others vanish. They
cannot have been made by savagcs or
Indians, for they seem to have had
weight only while standing"
They then resumed their march, hrns
q revolver shot at intervals of min
ute. suddenly they came upon ;all.
straight tree. uprooted by the wind AM
lying diagonally across their path. Fol
lowing with their eyes the direction IN
which 1t lay, they saw a large, hollow
trunk, with the bark stripped OFF. and
charred as IL struck by lightning.
Obliged to pass near this by tho up
rooted tree-whose thick trunk, upheld
by the branches Mt the head, lay ra!sel
about two feet from the ground-both
searchers gave n start. and stood still
as II petrlfed. Inside the great trunk
they saw a head, and. on looking more
closely. deserted Ayrault's body. Grasp
ing 1t by the arms. they drew II ont
The face was pale and the limbs We're
stiff Instantly Cortlandt unfastene ed
the collar. while Bearwarden applied a
that their efforts we're vain,
Suddenly the stiffness was broken BY
the spirits voice, which said:
II felt more than one mind calling
but the effect was so slight I Thought
first I was mistaken. I will help you
in what YOU want, for the young man
e not dead, neither is he injured"
Saving which. he stretched himself
uuon Ayriult, worked his lungs arti-
hrlully. and wlllel with an Intensity
tho observers could reel where they
stood, Quickly the color returned TO
Ayraults rheeks. ana with the spirit
assistance he sat up and leaned against
the tree that had protected him from
the storm
Your promise was fulfilled" he said,
addressing the spirit. II have seen
what ] shall never forget. and lest the
angulsh-the vision OF which | saw
come true let us return 10 the earth,
AMI not leave II Til ! have tasted In
reality the Joys that in the spirit I
seemed 10 have missed. l have often
ionged In this lie to be In the spirit.
N,t never knew what that longing was.
TIL I experienced II as a spirit, 10 be
once more On the flesh"
When shall We start?" asked Bear
warden.
"As soon as you can get ready" re-
piled Ayrault II would not risk running
short OF enough current TO generate the
apersy needed TO get US back. dare
~ KhsR ! have been on earth = few