in many cases the alleged variations have doubtless been more imaginary than real.  The changes in our own climate are so rapid and striking, and occasion such abnormal appearances in celestial objects that we are frequently led to infer actual changes where none have taken place; in fact, observers cannot be too careful to consider the origin of such differences and to look nearer home for some of the discordances which may have become apparent in their results.”

It was just as he finished reading this extract that the shrill fluttering call of the maxy bird was heard from the bare branches of a poplar near the station, and in the next instant, in that intense quiet that succeeds sometimes a sudden unexpected and acute accent, the Morse register was audible above us, clicking with a continuity and evident intention that, weighted as we were with vague sensational hopes, drew the blood from our faces, and seemed almost like a voice from the red orb then glowing in the southeastern sky.  We sprang together up the stairs to the operating-room and saw with our eyes the moving lever of the little Morse machine.  We had made ourselves familiar with the ordinary telegraphic codes, the international Telegraphic Code and that in use in Canada and the United States.  They were useless.  The succession of short or long intervals was entirely different and the message, if message it was, defied our persistent efforts at translation.  The disturbance of the register continued some three hours, and though we were unmistakably in communication with some external regulated and intentional source of magnetic impulses we were hopelessly confused as to their meaning.

I can never forget our excitement.  We were certainly the recipient of exact careful conscious messages.  Their terrestrial origin, strange and incredible as it might appear, did not seem likely, for the two codes so generally in use were not represented in it.  Could it be—­the thought seemed to stop the beating of our hearts—­could it be that we had indeed received an extra-terrestrial communication?  The register of the dots and dashes cannot be all reproduced here, though a very long record of them, indeed almost complete, was made by myself.  During the whole time that the register moved hardly a word of conversation escaped our lips.  We were fixed in mute amazement.  We were full of unexpressed imaginings, which were told, however in my father’s face, so flushed with eagerness, as with half-parted lips he bent over the instrument or interrupted his attention by walking to the window and gazing far out into the heavens.

The record we obtained is here reproduced, in part, as the whole would occupy altogether too much space.  I am interested in giving it as it may effectually remain a proof of my sincerity in this matter, and will, I have the firm conviction, be repeated in the future, not exactly or at all, as I have written it, but some message similarly received will corroborate the statement here made, and the still further marvellous facts I am yet to relate.