The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

324 A MONTH IN THE MOON. young astronomer that he thinks it would be safer for all hands if the experiment be stopped— which Mauny says can be done by simply touching two knobs—when the baronet’s valet, Tyrrel Smith, in an agony of apprehension, rushes to the tablet where the knobs controlling all the motors are situated, raises one and lowers another. A fearful crash ensues and all are thrown into insensibility. CHAPTER XXVI.—AFTER THE CATASTROPHE. igs was broad daylight. A deep silence reigned in the Tehbali observatory, when Norbert opened his eyes, * The intensity of the silence was remark- able. It was, in the strictest sense, a deathlike silence. The day was a brilliant one and the heat quite overpowering. At first Norbert had some difficulty in recollecting what had happened. He found himself on his back, thrown down doubtless by the first shock of the cataclysm, on an Arab divan underneath the ebony shelf in the Hall of Motors. Everything around was in disorder; the furniture scattered about, and the electric apparatus twisted, while the magnetometer lay on the ground broken, as also were all the objects made of porcelain. Gertrude, Fatima, the doctor, the baronet, and the valet lay round about, some on the sofa, where the earthquake had found them, the others on the matting that covered the floor. Norbert’s first care was to run to the assistance of Mlle. Kersain, whose name, as we know, had been the last on his lips. She was in a deep swoon, but otherwise apparently unharmed. Her pulse beat feebly, and a faint sigh came through her half closed lips.: From her Norbert instinctively turned to the doctor. He was crouched under the arm chair, where, when the shock came, he had been quietly drinking his tea. Seemingly his alarm had passed off into sleep, for Norbert just touched him on the arm and he awoke, rubbing his eyes vigorously and looking about him in evident astonishment. He jumped to his feet, but for a moment was silent as if stupefied. Then turning to Norbert, he said: ** What has happened to us?’’ ‘I cannot say; but it is a blessing to see you up again. Come to your niece first. There she is, quite unconscious.’’ Letting himself be led to the sofa, the doctor took the girl’s hand and felt her pulse, mechanically, as it were, standing there silent and rnotionless, as if he had no power to speak. | ‘“ Her pulse beats, at all events, does it not?’’ impatiently asked Norbert, who had seized her other hand. ‘‘ What ought to be done?’’ With, as it seemed, a tremendous effort of the will, the doctor muttered dreamily the words: ‘* Medicine chest !’’ | Norbert understood. He ran into the adjoining office to fetch the chest, stumbling on the way over Virgil, who lay insensible on the floor, and quickly hastened back. ‘What medicine shall I give you?’’ he asked, as he pressed the spring lock. comicbook