FIFTEEN

HUNDRED

MILES

AN HOUR

Edited by

CHARLES DIXON.

Illustrated by Captain ARTHUR LAYARD, late R.E.

LONDON

BLISS, SANDS AND FOSTER

CRAVEN STREET, STRAND, W.C.

1895

"OUR VOYAGE BEGINS AT LAST."

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
WE PREPARE FOR OUR JOURNEY

CHAPTER II.
WE LEAVE EARTH IN THE "SIRIUS"

CHAPTER III.
OUR VOYAGE BEYOND THE CLOUDS

CHAPTER IV.
AWFUL MOMENTS

CHAPTER V.
THE GLORIES OF THE HEAVENS

CHAPTER VI.
WE NEAR MARS

CHAPTER VII.
OUR ARRIVAL AND SAFE DESCENT

CHAPTER VIII.
A STRANGE WORLD

CHAPTER IX.
THE MORROW—AND WHAT CAME OF IT

CHAPTER X.
CAPTIVITY

CHAPTER XI.
LOVE AND JEALOUSY

CHAPTER XII.
CONDEMNED TO DIE

CHAPTER XIII.
THE CRAG REMAGALOTH

CHAPTER XIV.
ACROSS THE DESERT CHADOS

CHAPTER XV.
RIVALS MEET AGAIN

CHAPTER XVI.
VOLINÈ

CHAPTER XVII.
AT THE TEMPLE ON THE HILL VEROSI

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE FIGHT FOR VOLINÈ

CHAPTER XIX.
WEDDED

CHAPTER XX.
THE LAST WORDS FROM YONDER

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"OUR VOYAGE BEGINS AT LAST" Frontispiece
"ALONE IN SPACE"
"ITS HUGE SCALY CARCASE"
"VOLINÈ"
"... THE 'SIRIUS' ... BOLDLY OUTLINED AGAINST THE SKY"
"SCORES OF STRANGE BEASTS HURRIED OUT FROM UNDER THEM"

INTRODUCTION

The narrative contained in the papers which are given to the world in this book, is of so marvellous a character as to have made me long hesitate before venturing on their publication. Even now I do so in the full expectation of scorn and unbelief.

I owe it to the world to state exactly how these papers came into my hands. That done, I must leave it to their own appearance of truth to command belief.

The year before last, I was travelling through Northern Africa on a scientific expedition. It was early in the month of May that I reached the northern confines of the Great Desert, amongst the feathery palm-groves in the delicious oasis of Biskra.

I had started one day, with the first streak of dawn, upon a short expedition into the desert. My two Arab followers were anxious to cover as much distance as possible before the heat of the sun became oppressive.

It was about ten o'clock before we halted for breakfast, and the oasis of Biskra looked but a black spot on the northern horizon. The heavens up to now were an intensely brilliant blue, but a dark cloud far away over the distant desert could be seen rapidly increasing in size.

Gradually the whole vault of sky assumed a coppery aspect, and the sun shone paler and paler each moment. The heat and oppressiveness were almost unbearable; not a breath of air relieved the suffocating atmosphere. The sun finally disappeared behind the curtain of lowering cloud, and a darkness began to creep over the earth. The Arabs prepared for the storm which they knew from experience