The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 111: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ae ood Sf —- —- Fo Pw Oe ba oo ee + a ee ee os 2.9 2}. Se” « Oe 28 a, ae ~ ee TR - gt ..- 2 PB. Soe te + ded me ate: .. i. Code... ~ ot ee a <— Co Bee ge” Se a epg enan ty a D 5. < Se oF es , a= Say JAS Sat Se Se 4 Oe > 6, yo = ot cca ae ; = 3a “a a7 y RET ee ae : te A MONTH IN THE MOON. | IIL in the morning, the heavens showed only the pale light of stars, each one breathed more freely, as if a load were lifted off him. CHAPTER XXV.—TueE FInArt CRASH. THE sixth evening came. It was the last, since, according to Norbert’s calculations, the descent of the lunar globe was to take six days eight hours and forty six seconds. ‘The moon rose slowly, gradually filling up the whole sky. The sight was, indeed, terrible. Absolute and complete darkness reigned everywhere, with the exception of a silver band, as it were, that sur- rounded and held the moon above the earth. In the Arab camp terror was at its height. Silence prevailed. The very dogs held their peace. Every man had retired to his tent, where, prostrate in the dust, he waited for death, The thick darkness terrified the Mahdists. ‘The moon had for a certainty come to destroy them. Vet they did not seek to fly, but remained apathetically resigned to the unprecedented catastrophe that had befallen them. On the Peak of Tehbali the alarm was general. Norbert was almost the only one who kept his self possession. Sir Bucephaius tried to maintain his usual coolness, but, in spite of himself, the growing uneasiness he could not but feel manifested itself by continued comings and goings, and many ques- tions. The baronet was by no means a coward, but life was sweet to him; he was very fond of his club, and often thought with a sigh, how much he should like to be back there. ~He had only joined this expedition in order to have some adventures to relate, and necessarily he must. survive them, other- wise how could he relate them? The doctor took things cheerily, according to his usttal habit; but he could not help querying how it would all end. Virgil never dreamed for a moment of sitting in judgment on the doings of his ‘‘ superior officers ;’’ but he thought the sky unusually black and threatening. Smith gave full vent to Azs disappointment as far as the etiquette of re- spectful service would permit, and took care not to show his nose outside the door. As to Fatima, she cried bitterly, and Gertrude had much ado-to con- sole her, especially as she was far from being easy herself. Matters went on tolerably well, however, until midnight. Every one was in the Hall of Motors, aud Smith had just brought in the tea. Norbert, who had been to look round on the esplanade now came back, and going over to 3 oO : the electric lamp that hung over the table in the center, he drew out his chronometer and said : “Tt is twenty two minutes past midnight. Contact will be established within a minute and twenty five seconds.”’ ‘‘ What contact?’’ asked the baronet. “Phat of the lunar globe with the earth.’’ ‘What ! you really expect this contact to take place?”’ ‘“Of course I do. What would be the sense of the experiment otherwise ? I transformed the Peak of Tehbali into a magnet on purpose to force the moon GComichbooks 3