The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

328 A MONTH IN THE MOON. scape? For my part, as I have just been out, I can affirm that the exterior atmosphere (if, indeed, it exists at all) is absolutely unbreathable.”’ ‘In one word,’’ said Gertrude gently, ‘‘ you have come to the conclusion that we are on the moon.’’ ‘I have so little doubt of it,’’ replied Norbert, ‘‘ that I have already taken the most pressing measure for our safety by closing our doors and windows.’’ Well, well; there is nothing so dreadful about it, after all,’’ said Ger- trude cheerfully, to reassure the terrified Fatima. ‘It was always your intention to get on the moon if you could,”’ ‘The prospect, anyhow, is far from cheerful,’’ said the baronet, ‘‘if it is true, which I am not at all sure about yet. One wouldn’t mind the fact of being on the moon ; but it is quite another thing to be without air! And when we think that we owe it all to that imbecile !’’ he added, with a furious look at Smith. | ) The unhappy valet was already sufficiently terror stricken at finding him- self on the moon, and now to be blamed for it, in the righteous indignation of his master,was quite too much! His knees gave way uncer him, and he sank in a heap on the ground, muttering between his teeth, ‘“Smith, you’re an idiot !’’ CHAPTER XXVII.—A STRANGE COUNTRY. WHEN they had somewhat recovered from their first surprise, Norbert was assailed with questions. “If I have understood rightly,’’ said the doctor, ‘‘ you maintain that we are now breathing the air-we brought with us in the observatory ?”’ ‘* Just so.”’ ‘‘ And that once this is consumed we shall have none left ?”’ ‘* Doubtless. ’’ ‘* But how, in that case, are we going to breathe ?”” ‘“ How ?”’ repeated Norbert, laughing. ‘‘ Why, we must make our own air! Have we not a supply of chemical products on purpose? By the bye, I must go and overhaul them. Iam rather anxious to see how we stand as regards stores.”’ 3 Followed by the doctor and Gertrude, the astronomer proceeded through the Hall of Telescopes (which evidently had not suffered much from its dis- placement) to the store rooms, where. he found everything in much better order than he had expected. | There were a few breakages, but nothing of importance. ’I‘hey had done hardly any damage. The instruments were intact; most of them were fixed in the ground, and the cases of special apparatus were as perfect as the day they left the workshop. There were two or three cases of ‘‘ oxygen respirators.’’ Calling Virgil to assist, Norbert opened several of the cases, and took them to the laboratory to put them in working order. When the reservoirs were filled with gas, Norbert fastened,one on his back by the leather straps attached to it for the purpose, which made the Gomicbook a (©) 3 vy { é AV YS el eee r 1)