Yet a fortnight after my return to Washington, public attention was wholly distracted from this problem by another very different in nature, but equally astonishing.
Toward the middle of that month of May the newspapers of Pennsylvania informed their readers of some strange occurrences in different parts of the state. On the roads which radiated from Philadelphia, the chief city, there circulated an extraordinary vehicle, of which no one could describe the form, or the nature, or even the size, so rapidly did it rush past. It was an automobile1; all were agreed on that. But as to what motor drove it, only imagination could say; and when the popular imagination is aroused, what limit is there to its hypotheses?
At that period the most improved automobiles2, whether driven by steam, gasoline, or electricity, could not accomplish much more than sixty miles an hour, a speed that the railroads, with their most rapid expresses, scarce exceed on the best lines of America and Europe. Now, this new automobile which was astonishing the world, traveled at more than double this speed.
It is needless to add that such a rate constituted an extreme danger on the highroads, as much so for vehicles, as for pedestrians3. This rushing mass, coming like a thunder-bolt, preceded by a formidable rumbling4, caused a whirlwind, which tore the branches from the trees along the road, terrified the animals browsing5 in adjoining fields, and scattered6 and killed the birds, which could not resist the suction of the tremendous air currents engendered7 by its passage.
And, a bizarre detail to which the newspapers drew particular attention, the surface of the roads was scarcely even scratched by the wheels of the apparition8, which left behind it no such ruts as are usually made by heavy vehicles. At most there was a light touch, a mere9 brushing of the dust. It was only the tremendous speed which raised behind the vehicle such whirlwinds of dust.
“It is probable,” commented the New York Herald10, “that the extreme rapidity of motion destroys the weight.”
Naturally there were protests from all sides. It was impossible to permit the mad speed of this apparition which threatened to overthrow11 and destroy everything in its passage, equipages and people. But how could it be stopped? No one knew to whom the vehicle belonged, nor whence it came, nor whither it went. It was seen but for an instant as it darted12 forward like a bullet in its dizzy flight. How could one seize a cannon-ball in the air, as it leaped from the mouth of the gun?
I repeat, there was no evidence as to the character of the propelling engine. It left behind it no smoke, no steam, no odor of gasoline, or any other oil. It seemed probable, therefore, that the vehicle ran by electricity, and that its accumulators were of an unknown model, using some unknown fluid.
The public imagination, highly excited, readily accepted every sort of rumor13 about this mysterious automobile. It was said to be a supernatural car. It was driven by a specter, by one of the chauffeurs15 of hell, a goblin from another world, a monster escaped from some mythological16 menagerie, in short, the devil in person, who could defy all human intervention17, having at his command invisible and infinite satanic powers.
But even Satan himself had no right to run at such speed over the roads of the United States without a special permit, without a number on his car, and without a regular license18. And it was certain that not a single municipality had given him permission to go two hundred miles an hour. Public security demanded that some means be found to unmask the secret of this terrible chauffeur14.
Moreover, it was not only Pennsylvania that served as the theater of his sportive eccentricities19. The police reported his appearance in other states; in Kentucky near Frankfort; in Ohio near Columbus; in Tennessee near Nashville; in Missouri near Jefferson; and finally in Illinois in the neighborhood of Chicago.
The alarm having been given, it became the duty of the authorities to take steps against this public danger. To arrest or even to halt an apparition moving at such speed was scarcely practicable. A better way would be to erect20 across the roads solid gateways21 with which the flying machine must come in contact sooner or later, and be smashed into a thousand pieces.
“Nonsense!” declared the incredulous. “This madman would know well how to circle around such obstructions22.”
“And if necessary,” added others, “the machine would leap over the barriers.”
“And if he is indeed the devil, he has, as a former angel, presumably preserved his wings, and so he will take to flight.”
But this last was but the suggestion of foolish old gossips who did not stop to study the matter. For if the King of Hades possessed23 a pair of wings, why did he obstinately24 persist in running around on the earth at the risk of crushing his own subjects, when he might more easily have hurled25 himself through space as free as a bird.
Such was the situation when, in the last week of May, a fresh event occurred, which seemed to show that the United States was indeed helpless in the hands of some unapproachable monster. And after the New World, would not the Old in its turn, be desecrated26 by the mad career of this remarkable27 automobilist?
The following occurrence was reported in all the newspapers of the union, and with what comments and outcries it is easy to imagine.
A race was to be held by the automobile Club of Wisconsin, over the roads of that state of which Madison is the capital. The route laid out formed an excellent track, about two hundred miles in length, starting from Prairie-du-chien on the western frontier, passing by Madison and ending a little above Milwaukee on the borders of Lake Michigan. Except for the Japanese road between Nikko and Namode, bordered by giant cypresses28, there is no better track in the world than this of Wisconsin. It runs straight and level as an arrow for sometimes fifty miles at a stretch. Many and noted29 were the machines entered for this great race. Every kind of motor vehicle was permitted to compete, even motorcycles, as well as automobiles. The machines were of all makes and nationalities. The sum of the different prizes reached fifty thousand dollars, so that the race was sure to be desperately30 contested. New records were expected to be made.
Calculating on the maximum speed hitherto attained31, of perhaps eighty miles an hour, this international contest covering two hundred miles would last about three hours. And, to avoid all danger, the state authorities of Wisconsin had forbidden all other traffic between Prairie-du-chien and Milwaukee during three hours on the morning of the thirtieth of May. Thus, if there were any accidents, those who suffered would be themselves to blame.
There was an enormous crowd; and it was not composed only of the people of Wisconsin. Many thousands gathered from the neighboring states of Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, and even from New York. Among the sportsmen assembled were many foreigners, English, French, Germans and Austrians, each nationality, of course, supporting the chauffeurs of its land. Moreover, as this was the United States, the country of the greatest gamblers of the world, bets were made of every sort and of enormous amounts.
The start was to be made at eight o’clock in the morning; and to avoid crowding and the accidents which must result from it, the automobiles were to follow each other at two minute intervals32, along the roads whose borders were black with spectators.
The first ten racers, numbered by lot, were dispatched between eight o’clock and twenty minutes past. Unless there was some disastrous33 accident, some of these machines would surely arrive at the goal by eleven o’clock. The others followed in order.
An hour and a half had passed. There remained but a single contestant34 at Prairie-du-chien. Word was sent back and forth35 by telephone every five minutes as to the order of the racers. Midway between Madison and Milwaukee, the lead was held by a machine of Renault brothers, four cylindered, of twenty horsepower, and with Michelin tires. It was closely followed by a Harvard-Watson car and by a Dion-Bouton. Some accidents had already occurred, other machines were hopelessly behind. Not more than a dozen would contest the finish. Several chauffeurs had been injured, but not seriously. And even had they been killed, the death of men is but a detail, not considered of great importance in that astonishing country of America.
Naturally the excitement became more intense as one approached the finishing line near Milwaukee. There were assembled the most curious, the most interested; and there the passions of the moment were unchained. By ten o’clock it was evident, that the first prize, twenty thousand dollars, lay between five machines, two American, two French, and one English. Imagine, therefore, the fury with which bets were being made under the influence of national pride. The regular book makers36 could scarcely meet the demands of those who wished to wager37. Offers and amounts were hurled from lip to lip with feverish38 rapidity. “One to three on the Harvard-Watson!”
“One to two on the Dion-Bouton!”
“Even money on the Renault!”
These cries rang along the line of spectators at each new announcement from the telephones.
Suddenly at half-past nine by the town clock of Prairie-du-chien, two miles beyond that town was heard a tremendous noise and rumbling which proceeded from the midst of a flying cloud of dust accompanied by shrieks39 like those of a naval40 siren.
Scarcely had the crowds time to draw to one side, to escape a destruction which would have included hundreds of victims. The cloud swept by like a hurricane. No one could distinguish what it was that passed with such speed. There was no exaggeration in saying that its rate was at least one hundred and fifty miles an hour.
The apparition passed and disappeared in an instant, leaving behind it a long train of white dust, as an express locomotive leaves behind a train of smoke. Evidently it was an automobile with a most extraordinary motor. If it maintained this arrow-like speed, it would reach the contestants41 in the fore-front of the race; it would pass them with this speed double their own; it would arrive first at the goal.
“It is that infernal machine.”
“Yes; the one the police cannot stop.”
“But it has not been heard of for a fortnight.”
“It was supposed to be done for, destroyed, gone forever.”
“It is a devil’s car, driven by hellfire, and with Satan driving!”
In truth, if he were not the devil, who could this mysterious chauffeur be, driving with this unbelievable velocity43, his no less mysterious machine? At least it was beyond doubt that this was the same machine which had already attracted so much attention. If the police believed that they had frightened it away, that it was never to be heard of more, well, the police were mistaken which happens in America as elsewhere.
The first stunned44 moment of surprise having passed, many people rushed to the telephones to warn those further along the route of the danger which menaced, not only the people, but also the automobiles scattered along the road.
When this terrible madman arrived like an avalanche45 they would be smashed to pieces, ground into powder, annihilated46!
And from the collision might not the destroyer himself emerge safe and sound? He must be so adroit47, this chauffeur of chauffeurs, he must handle his machine with such perfection of eye and hand, that he knew, no doubt, how to escape from every situation. Fortunately the Wisconsin authorities had taken such precautions that the road would be clear except for contesting automobiles. But what right had this machine among them!
And what said the racers themselves, who, warned by telephone, had to sheer aside from the road in their struggle for the grand prize? By their estimate, this amazing vehicle was going at least one hundred and thirty miles an hour. Fast as was their speed, it shot by them at such a rate that they could hardly make out even the shape of the machine, a sort of lengthened48 spindle, probably not over thirty feet long. Its wheels spun49 with such velocity that they could scarce be seen. For the rest, the machine left behind it neither smoke nor scent50.
As for the driver, hidden in the interior of his machine, he had been quite invisible. He remained as unknown as when he had first appeared on the various roads throughout the country.
Milwaukee was promptly51 warned of the coming of this interloper. Fancy the excitement the news caused! The immediate52 purpose agreed upon was to stop this projectile53, to erect across its route an obstacle against which it would smash into a thousand pieces. But was there time? Would not the machine appear at any moment? And what need was there, since the track ended on the edge of Lake Michigan, and so the vehicle would be forced to stop there anyway, unless its supernatural driver could ride the water as well as the land.
Here, also, as all along the route, the most extravagant54 suggestions were offered. Even those who would not admit that the mysterious chauffeur must be Satan in person allowed that he might be some monster escaped from the fantastic visions of the Apocalypse.
And now there were no longer minutes to wait. Any second might bring the expected apparition.
It was not yet eleven o’clock when a rumbling was heard far down the track, and the dust rose in violent whirlwinds. Harsh whistlings shrieked55 through the air warning all to give passage to the monster.
It did not slacken speed at the finish. Lake Michigan was not half a mile beyond, and the machine must certainly be hurled into the water! Could it be that the mechanician was no longer master of his mechanism56?
There could be little doubt of it. Like a shooting star, the vehicle flashed through Milwaukee. When it had passed the city, would it plunge57 itself to destruction in the waters of Lake Michigan?
At any rate when it disappeared at a slight bend in the road no trace was to be found of its passage.
该作者的其它作品
《Around the World In 80 Days八十天环游地球》
《康涅狄格州的洋基 A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur'》
《海底两万里 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea》
该作者的其它作品
《Around the World In 80 Days八十天环游地球》
《康涅狄格州的洋基 A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur'》
《海底两万里 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea》
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1
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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automobiles
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| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
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pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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5
browsing
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| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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12
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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chauffeurs
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| n.受雇于人的汽车司机( chauffeur的名词复数 ) | |
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mythological
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| adj.神话的 | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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gateways
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| n.网关( gateway的名词复数 )；门径；方法；大门口 | |
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obstructions
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| n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 )；阻碍物；阻碍；阻挠 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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desecrated
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| 毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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cypresses
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| n.柏属植物，柏树( cypress的名词复数 ) | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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contestant
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| n.竞争者，参加竞赛者 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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contestants
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| n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 ) | |
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42
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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44
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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45
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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46
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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47
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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48
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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50
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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51
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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52
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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53
projectile
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| n.投射物，发射体；adj.向前开进的；推进的；抛掷的 | |
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54
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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55
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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57
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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