The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

332 A MONTH IN THE MOON. Two causes are evident. One was the slight influence of gravity on the moon ; hence our rock alighted as gently as a bird, just as I leap now with such perfect ease. The other softening element was this very mountain that caught us on our way.’’ Thus did Norbert reason to himself. There was one point still to clear up. Was the mountain a peak or a crater? Every probability pointed to its being a crater, First of all, there were only craters to be seen as far as the eye could reach. ‘Then it was easy to see that a crater could hold the magnetic rock of Tehbali: but there would have been a difficulty in the rock settling down atop of another peak. Still skirting the base of Tehbali, the explorers arrived at length on a kind of terrace, whence they had a much more extended view than from the other side of the mountain. They perceived that the lesser craters of the plain gradually diminished towards the west and south, till they reached a sandy hollow region, whilst from the north to the east, on the contrary, they rose in tiers till they reached an elevated chain of mountains running in the same direction. ‘This circum- stance, together with the characteristic aspect of the chain, was like a ray of light to the young astronomer. __ He turned round mechanically to communicate the result of his-observa- tions to Sir Bucephalus, but suddenly remembering it was impossible to make himself heard, took out his memorandum. book, and rapidly sketching the country, handed it to the baronet with this explanatory note : “I think we have alighted on the crater of Rheticus, and that this chain of mountains is that of the Lunar Apennines. ‘These sandy plains must be the Sea of Vapors, the Sea of Tranquillity, and the Sea of Serenity.” Having read this note, Sir Bucephalus returned the memorandum to Norbert, making vain efforts to speak. ‘The young astronomer saw these attempts, and wrote again : ‘IT am obliged to use a pencil, for there is no sound on the moon.”’ "Is that so?’ wrote the baronet in his turn. ‘‘I have spoken to you several times without a single word in reply.”’ | “The effect of the moon,’’ replied Norbert. ‘‘ Another strange thing. You see that block of stone near your right leg? It measures at least two cubic yards. ‘Try to lift it, and you will see.’’ Sir Bucephalus looked incredulously at the enormous block, which two horses could scarcely have moved on earth. He stooped down, however, to please his companion. ‘To his inexpressible surprise, the rock moved easily under the slight pressure of his hand. At the same instant Norbert took his flight, and passed over the baronet’s head at a height of eight or ten yards, coming down again as gracefully asa bird. ‘“ Effect of the moon !’’ he smiled. But although the baronet heard nothing, he was not going to be outdone. He took zs flight, and rose so high that Norbert was piqued into a repetition of his own exploits, and so they went on for several minutes, each trying to emulate the other in a series of acrobatic achievements. (e(oyinnliicel oveyoy <