64 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



tion of the spectacle now presented to us, as well as of 

 the varying aspect presented by the sun as our distance 

 gradually increased. But I am told that it is desirable 

 for me to turn from the narrative of these phenomena, 

 in order to present the record of that part of our 

 journey which relates more particularly to the planet 

 Saturn. Let it suffice, then, to mention that the 

 bright ring of light which was for the nonce our sun, 

 contracted gradually in diameter as we receded, 

 increasing continually in brightness. Later we reached 

 a stage on our journey when the earth began to be 

 presented as a vast black disc upon the solar face, now 

 no longer magnified by the effect of the earth's 

 atmosphere. This black disc grew smaller and smaller, 

 until presently another smaller disc the moon's 

 appeared along with it on the sun's face. At this time 

 we had passed somewhat beyond the path of Mars, and 

 we turned from the further contemplation of the earth 

 and moon, in order to give all our attention to the 

 circumstances of our journey towards the ringed 

 planet. 



Saturn now appeared much brighter than we had ever 

 before beheld him. Our course thus far had carried 

 us almost directly towards him, though a very slight 

 deviation northwards had to be made so soon as we 

 ceased to direct our path by keeping the earth on the 

 middle of the sun's face. We had had a special object 

 in this, as X. was very desirous of studying the varying 

 appearance of the earth as we so travelled. Now, 

 however, we travelled directly towards the rich golden 



