CHAPTER XXI
THE FISH THAT WALKED
It was with no little apprehension that the professor prepared to takehis first flight aboard the ship in the realms of the new world. He knewlittle or nothing of the conditions he might meet with, the density ofthe atmosphere, or how the _Mermaid_ would behave under anotherenvironment than that to which she was accustomed.
Yet he felt it was necessary to make a start. They would have to attempta flight sooner or later, and Mr. Henderson was not the one to delaymatters. So, the last adjustment having been made to the repairedmachinery, they all took their places in the ship.
The boys and the professor went to the conning tower to direct matters,while Washington and the others were in the engine room to see that themachinery worked properly. Mark gave a last look outside as he closedthe big steel cover over the hole through which admission was had to thecraft. He thought he might catch a glimpse of the queer shadow, butnothing was in sight. It was like a beautiful summer's day, save for thestrange lights, shifting and changing. But the travelers had becomesomewhat used to them by this time.
The professor turned the valve that allowed the gas to enter the holder.There was a hissing sound and a sort of trembling throughout the entireship. The dynamos were whizzing away and the negative gravity machinewas all ready to start.
For several minutes the travelers waited until the big lifting tank wasfilled with the strong vapor. They watched the gages which indicated thepressure to be several hundred pounds.
"I think we can chance it now," remarked Mr. Henderson, as he threw overseveral levers. "We'll try, at any rate."
With a tremor the _Mermaid_ left the surface of the inner earth and wentsailing upward toward the--well it wasn't exactly the sky, but it waswhat corresponded to it in the new world, though there were no cloudsand no blue depths such as the boys were used to. At all events the_Mermaid_ was flying again, and, as the adventurers felt themselvesbeing lifted up they gave a spontaneous cheer at the success which hadcrowned their efforts.
The ship went up several hundred feet, and then, the professor, havingbrought her to a stop, sent her ahead at a slow pace. He wanted to besure all the apparatus was in good working order before he tried anyspeed.
The _Mermaid_ responded readily. Straight as an arrow through the airshe flew.
"Well, this is almost as good as being on the regular earth!" exclaimedJack.
"It's better," put in Mark. "We haven't seen half the wonders yet. Let'sopen the floor shutter, and see how it looks down below."
He and Jack went to the room where there was an opening in the floor ofthe ship, covered by heavy glass. They slid back the steel shutter andthere, down below them, was the strange new world they had come to,stretched out like some big map.
They could see mountains, forests, plains, and rivers, the watersparkling in the colored light. Over green fields they flew, then acrosssome stretches where only sand and rocks were to be seen. Faster andfaster the ship went, as the professor found the machinery was once morein perfect order. Jack was idly watching the play of tinted lights overthe surface of the ground.
"I wonder what makes it," he said.
"I have tried to account for it in several ways," said the professor,who had called Washington to the conning tower and come to join theboys. "I have had first one theory and then another, but the one I amalmost sure is correct is that hidden volcanic fires cause theillumination.
"I think they flare up and die away, and have become so regular thatthey produce the same effect as night and day with us. Probably thefires go out for lack of fuel, and when it is supplied they start upagain. Perhaps it is a sort of gas that they burn."
"Well, it's queer enough, whatever it is," Jack remarked. "What strikesme as funny, though, is that we haven't seen a single person since wecame here. Surely this place must be inhabited."
Mark thought of the strange shadow he had seen, but said nothing.
"I believe it is," the professor answered. "We will probably come uponthe inhabitants soon. I only hope they are a people who will do us noharm."
"If they tried any of their tricks we could mount up in our ship andescape them," said Andy.
"Provided they gave us the chance," Mr. Henderson put in. "Well, we'llnot worry about that now."
For several hours the ship traveled on, until it had come to a differentsort of country. It was wilder and not so level, and there were a numberof streams and small lakes to be seen.
"Are you going to sail all night?" asked Jack.
"No," replied the professor. "I think we'll descend very soon now, andcamp out for a while. That lake just ahead seems to offer a good place,"and he pointed to a large sheet of water that sparkled in the distance,for by this time they had all gone back to the conning tower.
The lake was in the midst of a wood that extended for some distance onall sides, and was down in a sort of valley. The ship headed toward it,and in a short time a landing was made close to shore.
"Maybe we can have some fresh fish for supper," exclaimed Jack as he ranfrom the ship as soon as the sliding door in the side was opened. "Looksas if that lake had some in it. It is not thick water like in thatstream we stopped at," he added.
"I believe you're right," old Andy put in, as he turned back to look forsome lines and hooks among his traps. He soon found what he wanted, andgave them to the boys, taking his trusty gun along for himself.
While the professor, Washington, Tom and Bill remained behind to makesome adjustments to the machinery, and to get things in shape for thenight, which, they calculated would soon be upon them, Jack, Mark andAndy went down to the shore of the lake. The boys cut some poles fromthe trees, and baiting the hooks with some fat worms found under thebark, threw in.
"Let's see who'll get the first bite," spoke Jack. "I'm pretty generallylucky at fishing."
"Well, while you're waiting to decide that there contest, I think I'lltake a stroll along shore and see if I can see anything to shoot," Andyremarked.
For several minutes the boys sat in silence on the bank of the lake,watching the play of the vari-colored lights on the water. Suddenly Jackfelt a quiver on his line, and his pole began to shake.
"I've got something!" he cried. Then his pole bent almost double and hebegan to pull for all he was worth. "It's a whopper!" he cried. "Comeand help me, Mark!"
Mark ran to his friend's aid. Whatever was on the other end of the linewas strong enough to tax the muscles of both boys. They could hear thepole beginning to break. But for the excellent quality of Andy's linethat would have parted some time before.
All at once there came a sudden slacking of the pull from whatever wasin the water. And so quickly did it cease that both boys went overbackward in a heap.
"He's got away!" cried Jack, getting up and brushing some of the dirtfrom his clothes.
"There's something that didn't get away!" cried Mark, who had risen tohis knees, and was pointing at the lake. Jack looked and what he sawmade him almost believe he was dreaming.
For, emerging from the water, dragging the pole and line the boys haddropped along with it, was a most curious creature. It was a big fish,but a fish with four short legs on which it was walking, or ratherwaddling along as much as a duck, with a double supply of feet, mightdo.
"Say, do I see that or is there something the matter with my eyes?" sungout Jack, making ready to run away.
"It's there all right!" exclaimed Mark. "Hi! Andy! Here's something toshoot!" he yelled, for indeed the creature was big enough to warrantattack with a gun. It was about five feet long and two feet through.
On and on it came, straight at the boys, as if to have revenge for thepain the fish hook must have caused it, for the barb could be seendangling from its lip. On and on it came, waddling forward, the waterdripping from it at every step. It had the body and general shape of afish, save that the tail was rather large in proportion. As it camenearer the boys noted that the feet were w
ebbed, like those of a waterfowl.
"Come on!" cried Jack. "It may attack us!"
At that moment the creature opened its mouth, showing a triple row offormidable teeth, and gave utterance to a sort of groan and gruntcombined.
This was enough to send Jack and Mark off on a run up the bank, and didthey stop until they heard Andy's voice hailing them.
"What's the matter, boys?"
"Come here! Quick!" answered Jack.
The fish-animal had halted and seemed to be taking an observation. To dothis, as it could not turn its neck, it had to shift its whole body. OldAndy came up on the run, his gun held in readiness.
"Where is it?" he asked, and the boys pointed silently.
The hunter could not repress a start of astonishment as he saw thestrange creature. But he did not hesitate a second. There was a crack ofthe rifle, and the thing, whatever it was, toppled over, dead.
Andy hurried up to it, to get a closer view.
"Well, this is the limit!" he exclaimed. "First we have grasshoppersthat can roll peaches as big as hogsheads, and now we come across fishthat walk. I wonder what we will see next."
"I don't want to go fishing in this lake any more," spoke Jack, as helooked at the repulsive creature. "I never want to eat fish any more."
"Same here," agreed Mark, and old Andy was of the opinion that the thingkilled would not make a wholesome dish for the table.
"There don't seem to be any game in this section," he remarked. "Not asign could I see, nor have I since we have been here, unless you countthose grasshoppers. But the fruit is good, I'll say that."
"Come on, we'd better be getting back," Mark said, as he noticed it wasgetting dark. "I'm hungry."