The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN THE MOON. ee thing look like a tin pannier surmounted by a large leather bag. This bag was fastened under the left,arm by an appendage which, when squeezed by the elbow, expelled a certain quantity of oxygen into a rubber tube. The tube was connected with the nose and mouth of the wearer of the apparatus, and fitted tightly on his face by means of a copper mask furnished with pads of chamois leatier. | Thus equipped, Norbert provided himself with a mariner’s compass, a spy glass, and a rifle, and returned to the drawing room. ‘‘May I ask you whom you are going to war with?’’ asked the baronet, feeling the need of a little diversion from his melancholy mood. “Tam only going to explore the surroundings,’’ answered Norbert. ‘“‘ Something is puzzling me, and I must find it out. I can’t see how we can be on the moor and in our own observatory at one and the same time. ‘The whole summit of Tehbali must have been carried off bodily. IIl make it clear, however, within the next quarter of an hour.”’ “Ts there any reason why I should not join you in the voyage of dis- covery ?’’ asked Sir Bucephalus. ‘Nothing would give me greater pleasure. Only you must be equipped like me—that is to say, with a respirator.’ I have just filled five or six. Vir- gil will fetch one of them.’’ ‘“May we sot come, too?’’ cried Gertrude and her uncle, almost simul- taneously. “T don’t think it would be wise,’’ answered Norbert. ‘‘ You shall go afterwards, if we find it quite safe and prudent.”’ This was agreed to, and the baronet hastened to equip himself for the ex- pedition. : “Tam fully as curious as you,’’ he said to Norbert, ‘‘ to ascertain how it comes about that our observatory is now in the moon ; that is,”’ he ‘added quickly, ‘‘if we are really in the moon.’’ “What !’ cried Norbert. ‘‘ You don’t mean to say you are still in doubt about it? Your doubts will soon be laid to rest now.’’ So saying, the two young men glided through the half opened, door, and were gone. d 3 There was not much change apparently in the esplanade. They went along it quickly till they reached the zigzag path down the mountain. Contrary to Norbert’s expectation, there was nothing fresh to be seen here. ‘The path wound as formerly, down the flank of the Peak, till it reached the bed of vitrified glass under the mountain. But instead ofa plain stretching beyond, there was now a considerable space between the end of the path and the lower plain. And another strange thing! Instead of facing east, as formerly, the path | lay now towards the north, as shown both by the position of the sun and by the little pocket compass Norbert had with him. In fact, it was clear that not only the summit of Tehbali, but the entire mountain, had been forcibly transported by some irresistible power from one globe to the other. The heat was intense, owing to the almost verticle rays of the sun, which looked much as it did when viewed from the earth, with the exception that CONNIE OO KS. EO) |