return was effected at much less sacrifice of valuable time, even including the pull-up, as the vessel began to near our earth, in order to behold at leisure the grand spectacle of the ever revolving world. For a whole hour together the party looked down with profoundest interest upon the swiftly passing scene. Black had timed their arrival so as to give this hour until the landing-place had come round. And now they are once again into downward motion, as they see the place of destination approach, and make ready, with all due precaution, to enter our atmosphere.
By a slanting movement of the vessel, in view of obviating the rapid rush of the air under the axial motion, the atmosphere was entered in perfect safety, and the descent thereafter easily accomplished. Their telescope had already revealed to the travellers a waiting crowd beneath, showing that the time of return had not been unexpected. The time at this landing-place was just, in fact, about ten in the morning, and most people were on their way to business. The landing was safely effected, and upon the very pier from which the party had started but eight days before.
With this first expedition to an outside world, which followed so promptly upon the discovery of the reduplication, I now conclude this chapter. In the next I have to pass on to all the tide of external intercourse into which our great discovery had launched us.
