A. D. 2000

f-past eleven o'cl

f his piece as he brought it to his shoulder and the heavy tread of his retreating footsteps

great masses of fleeting vapor, and the walks of the post and the ground

night of November 17th, 1887. The lights of the garrison made little effect upon that thick and saturated

oms were handsomely, even superbly, furnished. The billiard-tables were in full blast; the card-tables were oc

ld. The furniture upon which the officers sat and reclined, as also about the room, gave evidence of refinement and education; while the cases stacked with books, near the entrance, bespoke a tendency and desire on the part of the occu

he floor, and the boards gave evidence of having been used by many feet. Tables containing jars and many curious vessels, wires in

whose great disc of glass reflected back

e soldiers and of

sture, stood Junius Cobb, a lieutenant in the cavalry arm of the service. Sitting in an easy-chair near the fire, with his legs on the fender and his eyes watc

tes, as was also Hugh Craft; both were lieutenants in the army-the forme

m the world was one grand sphere for enjoyment; it was his life, his almost every thought, as to how he could pass his time in an easy

d not understand how it was that others should occ

line nose, and a chin denoting great firmness. His eye was piercing, and wandered from one object to another with the rapidity of lightning. He was much more of a student than Hathaway, delighting i

ck eyes, a pleasing countenance, a dark mustache nearly covering his lips, square chin, and eyebrows meeting in the center of the face-all tokens of a great firmness and decision. He was one wh

tricity. The room off the sitting-room, where the three gentlemen were gathered this dark and foggy night, was his wo

r hours talking and chatting, but no invitation

nner, "we have often discussed these matters, I will admit, but it is a t

eplied that person,

ay?" continued Cobb,

nly I do," w

l continue to hold the soul within its fleshly portals for years without losing th

d Craft; "but

kly returned the other. "God

I would say that i

t was a fact, an accomplished fac

shly exclaimed Hathaway, rising from his

th an expression of pi

ke your body, Hathaway, and so manipulate it that you will be, to all appearance, dead; but your soul, or whatever you choose to call it, w

he pages of his book, and a smile upon his f

These men had known Cobb to be a student, but

to all the principles of science, natural law, and life, tha

that he worked many hours in his little back room. They knew that he worked with chemicals and electricity, and both knew him to be a very peculiar man, yet neither of them had ever befor

ars, that as soon as the body was deprived of air for a considerable time, life would become extinct, or, in other words, that life could not exist without air. Such is not the case-ah! do not start," he exclaimed, seeing both Hathaway and Craft bend forward inquiringly in their chairs. "I repeat, such is not the case. Without the oxygen

claimed. "Please continue, for

ndeed, it can be called a gas; it is really allotropic oxygen. Now, oxygen can be put into a liquid state, or even into a solid state; yet it is most difficult to keep it in either of those conditions-so much so that it would be of no use for the purposes for which I desire to use it. Oxygen is contracted by passing an electric spark through it, and ozone is perceived by the peculiar odor arising therefrom. If the intensity of the current is increased sufficiently, the oxygen is proportionately decreased in bulk. Suffic

ness, of calm repose, and intense satisfaction. The lights danced about in thousands of forms, yet each appeared to possess some true and beautiful shape. They moved, they walked and ran, yet no effort seemed to be required. It was as if they were a part of some living thing, yet not a part: a part of it in

d took from his nostrils two small pieces of sponge

ottle on the shelf from which he had taken it

dows and wheeled their chairs around so that the cool night air could strike them full in the face. This done, h

ed the lips of Craft, his eyes opened, and he gazed

s side, and presented a g

hat, old fellow; you will feel li

ng a word; then, raising himself, h

ust awakened from a most delicious slumber, a most refreshing one, and

his eyes, and also in a dazed

I have been asle

ne and gave it to him, saying: "Drink th

glass, and then, lo

or rather the contents, that has

of that bottle that has caused you bo

is sleep continu

ten m

asleep as long?"

er," returned Cobb.

ht a cigar, he

feel-sick

e up Craft. "I cannot say that I

"except that I am a li

Cobb filled a glass for each of t

eared to suffer no evil effe

he passed over a box of fine Havana cigars.

wed the scene of warmth and sociability which had p

both have felt its effect. It is the life-giving principle of oxygen. Ozone is everywhere; in the air, of course; in all creation, in fact. I d

am most anxious to know more of this wonderfu

r hours to your words

n;" and Cobb arose and entered his little back room, soon r

the strange theories which he had advanced. Indeed, it was a most strange, not to say terrible, powe

papers which he had before him at the time he got the bottle of ozon

feet of air the average man requ

tated, blushed, and admitted that

rary to the accepted opinion on the subject, and that the amount is much greater-but let me tell you that my researches have found it entirely different: two grains only, to seven pounds of oxygen, or thirty-five pounds of common air. You will perceive by the above that each of you requires nearly two grains of ozone per day, or about 700 grains per year. Now, if by any freak of nature you could remain in a perfectly passive state, doing nothing, exercising no action at all, this amount of 700 grains would fall to about 400 grains; that is, the blood would require that amount to continue to perform its vital functions. Thus you see that you would require for the maintenance of life for a hundred years, 40,000 grains. This is equivalent to nearly seven pounds of ozone. Ozone, as you have already ascertained, cannot be taken into the system through the nostrils without serious consequences. It is too powerful, and would soon cause paralysis and death; but it can be taken int

ld not help looking at

d associated, never dreaming that he was engaged in any such investigations? Was

ts that passed throu

countenances; he read every thought as it came to their minds. He spoke not a word, wa

to natural law and science! It is imp

can never be realized. You have allowed your theories to become shadows, your shadows to becom

ile of perfect self-satisfaction. His eyes

old for yourselves whether my wo

stepping back and pointing his finger at it, exclaimed, in a t

life in death;

ous expression came over his face, his lips parted, then, finally, his wh

dvanced and obtained a view

imed; "a poor dead cat!" and he too j

ndeavoring to check their hilarity,

ed heartily; but seeing Cobb so quiet, it at last dawned upon them

nches above its thighs. The cushion upon which it lay was placed within what appeared to be a zinc coffin of something under ten inches in height. At the head of the cat was a small saucer-shaped vessel with a perforated top, while surrounding the

us, Cobb, why you have that cat lying in that box. Is this the principle you have been speaking of? Ar

of stronetic acid at its head, and crystals of ozone surrounding the body, I hermetically sealed the case. From my experiments, I ascertained that the amount of ozone necessary for the continuance of life in an animal of this size, and for a period of one year, was 1,425 grains. This amou

had changed to a grave attention to

indeed, in the theory he advanced. In an attitude

ago to-night. It is my intention to bring it to life again this evening; but befor

decanter on the table, and each

eisurely puffed clouds of smoke from his mouth,

nce, for it seemed to each of them that it was no longer

aining six cells of Grenet battery and about ten feet of wire a

ring once again his little work-room, he brought out three sponges and as many strips of common li

same time caution you not to open your mouth, but

ation of having his face below the ey

Hathaway and treate

ith the third bandage. His mouth was purposely left free that

taining the box. Turning to his friends, he answered their mute inquiries by stating that he took these precautions lest the remaining ozone in t

e said, "and quickly seize the cat, withdra

low, shattering it into many pieces; quickly seizing the cat, he drew it out of the case and threw the latter out of the window. Next, tearing off the bandages about its loins and head, he clapped the two cop

ave a gasp, a shiver ran through its frame,

for a couple of minutes, and then laid it down upon the warm rug

; it soon arose on its legs, walked around once or

others to do likewise. The air in the room was

k was placed before the cat, and the anim

en from a sound sleep. There was no indication in its m

was more than stran

d of a power unknown to any other living man. What would he do with this power? was the question that immediately came to the mind of each. Would h

athaway. "What is the n

To-morrow evening meet me here. Say nothing, not even a word, about what you b

plied together; "if you w

ng will cause you to divulge a single part

or, he again said good-night

ing, upon the cot in the corner of the room. A moment later, the deep sound of his bre