"On some future expedition,"said Ayrault,"and when we have a supply of blue glasses,we can take a trip to Venus,if we can find a possible season in her year.Compared with this journey,it would be only like going round the block."Two days later they had rounded the sun,and laid their course in pursuit of the earth.
That the astronomers in the dark hemisphere were at their posts and saw them,was evident;for a brilliant beam of light again flashed forth,this time from a point a little south of the arctic circle,and after shining one minute,telegraphed this message:"Rejoiced to see you again.Hope all are well."Since they were not sufficiently near the moon's shadow,they directed their light-beam into their own,which trailed off on one side,and answered:"All well,thank you.Have wonderful things to relate."The men at the telescopes then,as before,read the message,and telephoned the light this next question:"When are you coming down,that we may notify the newspapers?""We wish one more sight of the earth from this height,by daylight.We are now swinging to get between it and the sun.""We have erected a monument in Van Cortlandt Park,and engraved upon it,'At this place James Bearwarden,Henry Chelmsford Cortlandt,and Richard Rokeby Ayrault left earth,December 21,A.
D.2000,to visit Jupiter.'"
"Add to it,'They returned on the 10th of the following June.'"Soon the Callisto came nearly between the earth and the sun,when the astronomers could see it only through darkened glasses,and it appeared almost as a crescent.The sight the travellers then beheld was superb.It was about 11A.M.in London,and Europe was spread before them like a map.All its peninsulas and islands,enclosed blue seas,and bays came out in clear relief.