46 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



all the appearances suggested that this part of the 

 earth is occupied by an ice-covered continent. 



Not to digress further, however, I return to the 

 consideration of the method by which X. proposed to 

 time any solar changes. The moon was now, as I have 

 said, very close to the earth in appearance, and slightly 

 below or south of the earth, speaking always with 

 reference to the general level of the paths on which 

 the planets travel on which level, as I have said, we 

 judged it well to pursue our course. At the moment 

 we could see that the distance separating the moon and 

 earth was equal (in appearance) to about six times 

 the apparent diameter of the earth ; and X.'s long 

 experience enabled him to form an exact estimate 

 on this point. It was only necessary, therefore, to 

 compare this distance with that noted subsequently, 

 as occasion might arise, to form a tolerably exact 

 estimate of the time which should then have elapsed. 

 For it will be understood that, placed as we were, we 

 could quite readily recognize the relatively rapid 

 motions of the moon on her course round the earth. 

 And in passing we may mention how strange it appeared 

 to us to see the earth, so long known to us as a body 

 to be contrasted with the celestial orbs, now taking her 

 place as a planet among the stars. There, not far 

 from Jupiter (whom she very much outshone at the 

 time), among the familiar though now enhanced splen- 

 dours of the constellation Gremini, shone our earth and 

 her satellite, a double planet, and next to the sun 

 himself the most beautiful object in the heavens. 



