CHAPTER II
The next evening, Junius Cobb again welcomed the arrival of his friendsto his apartments.
The November rains had set in in reality, and like the precedingevening, the post wore an aspect of moistened gloom.
Cobb's friends had come earlier than usual, for the events of theprevious evening were so vividly before their minds that it wasimpossible to await the arrival of the conventional hour for callingupon their friend.
They rattled up the stairs, knocked respectfully at his door, andentered without waiting for his well-known voice.
He was sitting in his easy-chair, but arose at the first sound of theirapproach, and as they entered, cordially grasped the hand of each.
"Boys, I am glad you came earlier than is your custom," he said,motioning them to chairs.
"We could not wait for nine o'clock," replied Hathaway, breathless fromrunning up the stairs.
"No; we couldn't wait," chimed in Craft. "I do believe I dreamed ofnothing but ozone, dead cats, chemistry, and the like, all night. I am,in fact, weary for want of sleep."
Cobb did the honors of his house, and soon all three were quietlysitting, and sending clouds of smoke airily toward the ceiling.
"Any news at the club?" inquired Cobb of Craft.
"Nothing out of the usual run. Dilly, the young one from the Point, andthe others are working hard at a game of cinch."
"A good night for a quiet game, or for a quiet chat, too," saidHathaway.
"Yes," said Cobb; "but would you rather play cinch to remaining hereand listening to what I have to say?"
"Oh, no, my dear boy; excuse us. I left them all in their glory, andhunted up Craft, that we might the sooner get here, for I have no doubtthat you have some remarkable disclosures to make to-night."
"You are right; I have--and some that will probably strike you asbeing the most fanciful and, perhaps, untenable, you have ever heard,"returned the other, looking his two listeners in the eye.
"Let that be seen in the future," they both exclaimed.
"What is your pay?" abruptly asked Cobb, after a moment's silence.
"You ought to know--$1,500 a year."
"And yours the same?" to Craft, "both being dismounted officers."
"Certainly; and a mighty small sum for a man to put on style, go toparties, and send bouquets and the like, I assure you," returned thatpersonage.
"And mine is but a trifle more. We are all poor, impecunious gentlemen,are we not?"
"Yes, decidedly so, I fear; for I am not aware that either of us hasanything outside of his pay," answered Craft.
"And what are our chances for promotion? The way things go now, I willhave to serve fifty years to become a colonel. Of course, I cannotserve that long, as I would be over the maximum age," gloomily broke inHathaway.
"It is even so, gentlemen," and Cobb knocked the ashes from his cigar."Promotion in the army is so exceedingly slow that none of us canexpect to reach a colonelcy; in fact, the most that is before us is amajority. Here we are, gentlemen of thirty and thirty-five years ofage, giving our lives and brains to this government for a paltry $2,000a year. I, for one, intend to remedy this sad state of affairs," and hearose and walked across the room in an impatient manner.
The others watched him curiously. His manner of action spoke volumes,and indicated plainly that there was something he had to tell them inconjunction with his remarks.
Cobb strode nervously across the room for a minute, then suddenlyapproaching the table, he filled to the brim a glass with whisky fromone of the decanters. Raising it to his lips to drink its contents, hesuddenly paused, and begging the pardon of his guests, invited them tojoin him. His thoughts were not upon his actions.
"Listen," he exclaimed, as their glasses were laid upon the table; "areyou ready to give me your strictest attention?"
"We are all ears, and will gladly listen to all you have to say,"answered Craft, while Hathaway's eyes and manner betokened thecuriosity he could not conceal.
"Are you both willing to give your oaths that what I tell you to-nightwill never, under any circumstances, be divulged by either of you to aliving soul, or ever put in writing, or in any manner made possible tobe known?"
Both of the men gave him this promise.
Cobb arose and took a small Bible from the mantel over the grate, andadvancing to the table, held it in his right hand, requesting each ofthe others to place his hand upon it. They arose from their chairs andplaced their hands upon the sacred volume.
"Repeat after me," said Cobb: "I swear by all that I hold sacred, bymy hope of salvation in the after life, and by my belief in a justand good God, that I will not divulge or disclose, by tone of voice,or writing, or other symbol, that which maybe communicated to me thisnight; so help me God."
His words were slowly and solemnly spoken, and the repetition of themby the others was in a manner indicative of the sincerity and truththey both felt in the obligation taken.
"Good!" and Cobb laid the book upon the table.
"I might now go on and tell you of that for which I asked you to meetme here to-night, but there would be no use in communicating to youthese secrets unless you agree to assist me. It is your help that Idesire."
"Cobb," and Craft's manner indicated that he felt hurt by his friend'shesitation, "I have known you for quite a long time. I have admired andrespected you, and if I can be of any assistance to you in any way, youhave but to ask me."
"Then, if I tell you that that which I ask of you can be performedwithout any neglect of the duties you owe to your God, your country,or yourself--that it will harm no one, nor will anyone have cause tocomplain of your action--will you swear it?"
"Yes!" they both exclaimed.
Again Cobb took the sacred volume from the mantel; again was the oathadministered, and again was it taken freely and unreservedly.
"Gentlemen, I thank you," and an expression of gratitude came intoCobb's eyes. "Such friendship is worthy of you!"
After some ordinary conversation, he wheeled his chair nearer theothers, and thus addressed them:
"For many years I have served this government honestly and well, but mysalary has never seemed to me sufficient for the actual needs of a manin the position of an army officer. The government requires too muchfor the pay it gives. Again, a man is required to serve too many yearsin the lower grades; he is an old man by the time he is a captain.This is certainly contrary to the principles of a good and efficientgovernment. As a captain, he should not be over thirty years of age, atthe most. Here am I, who will be only a captain at fifty, if even then.This discourages the average young man. It keeps many from entering theservice, because they say, 'I can do better outside.' I am ambitious,and desire to gain rank and wealth. But one thing I have found: _Lifeis too short._ I propose to lengthen it. You do not yet comprehend theimport of my words. _I propose to enter life again a hundred yearshence!_ I know this statement startles you, but such is my intention.I propose to put myself in the condition in which you have seen thatMaltese cat. I will sleep a hundred years. My arrangements are allmade; my property, small though it is; is so fixed that it will notbe lost to me in that time. But I must hold my commission in thearmy--that is the hard problem. What do you think of my scheme?" andhe put his hands behind him, and stood watching the effects of hisproposition.
To say that his listeners were surprised, would ill interpret theirfeelings. They were dumbfounded. They could not believe that this manwould dare to undergo the risk of death for the mere possibility ofagain living at a future day. He certainly was joking! He had askedthem there to see if they would be such fools as to accept his remarksas given in earnest and good faith!
As soon as Craft could get his breath, he exclaimed, vehemently:
"You are certainly not going to subject yourself to such a test!"
Hathaway could not speak; he simply sat and looked at this man inamazement.
"Yes," and Cobb laughed at the horrified expressions upon their faces."Yes, I do most certai
nly intend this very thing. I have nothingto lose; I have everything to gain. My theories will be tested, mysuppositions proved. I have invested all my wealth except a sufficientamount to carry out my programme, in such a manner that in a hundredyears it must, or my calculations are very much out of the way,increase in a way to make me a rich man. If I can hold my rank in thearmy, I will be a colonel, probably. With wealth and rank, I can againenter the world in a position to gratify my ambitions and desires. IfI succeed, all will be well; if I fail, why, that is the end of it.Without chick or soul in this world dependent upon me, why should Ihesitate to advance the sciences by undergoing the ordeal of that whichI have advocated? No one but I ought to be called upon to prove thetheory I have originated. If I fail, what is the consequence? I simplydie! On this earth, a human being dies every second; does it interferewith the steady and slow movement of the machinery of life? No, notat all! Though 32,000,000 die every year, they are not missed! Do weknow what the future is? Do we know it to be worse than the present?No! Then, why care if we die to-day or to-morrow? I am resolved totake this opportunity of demonstrating that man can live longer thanthe allotted time accorded him. I have always longed to know what thisworld would be like in a hundred years: it certainly will be a strangeworld! Most men think that we have reached a state of perfectionalready, and that it is almost impossible for man to improve upon thepresent condition of life, surrounded, as we are, by so many and greatinventions. I, for one, do not think that way. I believe we are butin our infancy to what we will be in a hundred years. You have eachgiven me your sacred promise that you will assist me in my undertaking.I hold you to it. I am, in reality, going to die, as regards all myfriends, all my associations, and as regards the very present itself.I think I can almost understand the feelings of the condemned criminalon the scaffold, who is about to leave behind him all that is dear, allthat is sacred to him. Yet I am buoyed up by other feelings that thatpoor wretch has not; I will live again. I do not believe that eitherof you can quite understand my feelings in this matter. It is too newto you both. There are many cases on record where men have given uplife for various reasons--given it up cheerfully and without a murmur;and those men never expected to live again--at least, in the flesh.Why should I falter? I, who go but to come again; to again enjoy thepleasures of life; to walk, see, speak, and associate with mankind!"
Cobb ceased speaking, and paced the floor in an excited manner. It wasevident that this man, much as he talked of severing his connectionswith the present, was still loath to attempt this terrible ordeal. Yet,it was also apparent to both that he would not hesitate in his purpose.He was a man of too strong will; he would make the sacrifice.
His friends knew it and felt it.
Ceasing his walk, Cobb faced them and said:
"Before I leave, before I enter this dormant state, I must secure myposition in the army beyond the possibility of losing it. How I amto do this, has long been a problem. If I am dead, I will be droppedfrom the rolls of the army; if I go on leave, I must return at theexpiration of that leave, or, failing to do so, be declared a deserter.There seems to be but one way for me to accomplish my object. I willexplain it."
Cobb now entered his little room, and soon returned with a smallsporting rifle and a paper box.
It was an ordinary thirty-calibre rifle, such as is used in sportinggalleries.
Approaching his friends, he opened the box and showed them a row ofsmall cartridges. They differed very little from those used in theordinary rifle.
Handing one to Craft, he said:
"Do you notice anything peculiar about that cartridge?"
"Well," and Craft examined it critically, turning it over and over, "itseems to be nothing but a solid thirty-calibre bullet. I cannot seethat it is a cartridge at all," and he handed it to Hathaway.
The latter examined it closely. It was, indeed, to all appearance,but an ordinary bullet with the base filled flush with some blacksubstance; in length it was only seven-tenths of an inch; in calibre,thirty one-hundredths.
Taking one of them between his thumb and forefinger, Cobb twirled itabout and said:
"This is one of my new cartridges for use in actual service. It seemsto you, no doubt, very small, very inadequate to the needs of actualwarfare. You would both naturally say that it is too small for longrange, too small for executive work; that it is altogether unfit forthe purposes for which bullets are made." A smile played about hislips. Then, continuing, as he held up one of these bullets: "This isan ordinary thirty-calibre bullet, but the grand principle is in theexplosive used with it. Heretofore it has required about fifty grainsof powder to send such a missile on an effective mission. Now, fiftygrains of powder require quite a good-sized space; it requires a caseto hold it, and all this lengthens out the cartridge. If a magazine gunis used, but few such cartridges can be placed in the magazine. I haveovercome all this by using a new explosive of my own manufacture. Itake the ordinary bullet and simply fill the hollow end with one grainof my new compound, covering the whole with a fine and durable cement.All this saves space, and enables me to put about forty cartridges inmy gun. Do you comprehend the drift of my remarks?"
Both of his listeners nodded assent.
Cobb loaded the gun with one of the ordinary cartridges, and thenplaced a bundle of common wrapping-paper on end at the other side ofthe room. Taking a position in the further corner, he discharged thepiece at this improvised target.
The bullet entered the paper and penetrated through about forty sheets.Then, loading with one of his own cartridges, he again took the sameposition, and again discharged the piece.
Upon examination, it was found that over ninety-seven sheets of paperhad been perforated. Cobb laid the gun on the table and said:
"You see the effect of the two cartridges! Which is the superior ofthe two? Of course, mine; and in effect as forty is to ninety-seven,or even more, perhaps. This is the power that will grant me my leave!This explosive is my own invention. You have seen its power. If weput gunpowder at one and that of gun-cotton at four, then that ofmeteorite, my new compound, would be nearly forty-six.
"Like gun-cotton, there is little or no smoke upon discharge, asyou have witnessed; but, unlike gun-cotton or nitro-glycerine, theexplosion is not instantaneous, but similar to that of gunpowder. Now,the amount of gas evolved upon the explosion of one grain of gunpowderis, in volume, about three hundred of carbonic acid and nitrogen, butthe true volume, considering the heat, is about fifteen hundred timesthat of the original charge. Meteorite has a rate of combustion threetimes slower than gunpowder, while the volume of gas liberated is morethan sixty-six times that of the latter, or about one hundred thousandtimes its original bulk. This is the power, as I have said, that givesme my leave of absence. On the 22d of last month I sent an applicationto the War Department for a leave for the purpose of perfecting a gunin which to use these cartridges. With the application I sent some ofthe cartridges. I also sent a sealed packet containing the formula formaking the explosive, but with the positive directions that the formulashould not be made known until I had perfected my experiments. I askedfor leave until I had completed my work. Through the little influenceI possessed, I pressed this application to be granted in the manner Iasked. Yesterday I received my leave, and here it is;" and he handedCraft the following paper:
"WAR DEPARTMENT, A.-G. O., } WASHINGTON, November 9, 1887.}
"Special Orders, No. 156. [Extract.]
"5. Leave of absence is hereby granted First Lieutenant Junius Cobb, Second Cavalry, from December 1, 1887, until surrendered by him in writing, or upon his return to duty, for purposes which he has communicated to this department.
"By command of Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan. "R. C. DRUM, "_Adjutant-General_."
"I had this leave," said Cobb, as he took it from Craft, after thelatter had read it, "while I was talking to you last night, but Ipreferred not to show it to you until this evening. Any time after thefirst of next month I can leave the service and
return when I wish, andmy commission will be secured to me."
Craft and Hathaway both told him that though they thought hisundertaking was a very foolish one, nevertheless they would give himall the assistance in their power, as they had promised.
Cobb and his friends talked a little longer on various things to bedone, and finally separated for the night; the two latter going hometo wonder over this great scheme of their friend, the former seatinghimself in his easy-chair to deliberate upon the thousand and oneincidentals necessary to carry it out.