with amazement at the sublime spectacle afforded by the strange contrast
between the purple splendour of the solar disc in the black abyss of
ether and the pure white celestial radiance which was reflected from the
atmosphere of the planet.

The climax of magnificence was reached when the approaching surface came
so close as to appear concave, and our little ark floated above a
hemisphere of dazzling brightness under a hemisphere of appalling
darkness faintly relieved by the glimmer of stars and the purple glory
of the sun.

Ere we could express our admiration, however, we were startled by a
magical transformation of the scene. The sky suddenly became blue, the
stars vanished from sight, the sun changed to a golden lustre, and the
broad day was all around us.

"Whatever has happened?" exclaimed Miss Carmichael between alarm and
wonder.

"We have entered the atmosphere of Venus," responded Gazen with
alacrity. "I wonder if it is breathable?"

So saying he opened one of the scuttles, and a whiff of fresh air blew
into the car. Thrusting his nose out, he sniffed cautiously for a while
and then drew several long breaths.

"It seems all right as regards quality," he remarked, "but there's too
little body in it. We must wait until we get nearer the ground before we
can go outside the car."