The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

532 A MONTH IN THE MOON. your prisoner by a complete turning of the tables, and escaped death only by feigning it. Ido not regret my failure, nor the downfall of my schemes, I have learned through misfortune what I did not know before. I do not even regret being a castaway on the moon, since I am with you. Iam only sorry that the real authors of my misery and crimes are not here also, in order that I might settle up my account with them.” ‘’ Perhaps you may find them again some day on earth !”’ said Norbert, laughing, in order to make a diversion from the melancholy mood the sad recital had evoked. ‘‘ We have no reason to conclude that the catastrophe was fatal to those gentlemen, the controlling commissioners ; and you do not suppose that we intend to remain here?’’ ‘Yes, let us talk about going,”’ said the doctor, divining Norbert’s inten- tion. ‘‘ Do you seriously think it will be possible?” | ‘‘T haven’t the least doubt about it,’’ replied the young astronomer, ‘“ since we have had the good luck to carry off with us all that is necessary, We have only to put our solar heat condensers into working order again (some of them having been injured by the shock), and to touch up the electric machinery.’’ | ‘Then why not do it at once?’ cried Gertrude excitedly. ‘’ Be sure I shall not prolong our sojourn a day longer than can be helped. It will take fifteen days to put the machines in working order. Meanwhile, the night will be upon us, and the solar heat condensers cannot work until the sun comes back. I have made very close calculations on the point. We have just enough air to last that time on one condition, however : that it may not be wasted, and, especially, we must be very particular not to have any fire of any kind whatever! I say this for the benefit of certain smokers, who burn up at least twenty cubic yards of air for the pleasure of blowing a little smoke out of their nostrils !’’ added Norbert, looking at Smith and Virgil. The two culprits hung their heads, and promised reform. ‘They had, probably, not known that a pipe could cost so much. Smith hid his confusion by bustling about his business at the dining table. and slunk off to,the kitchen with a pile of plates under his arm. 3 Immediately afterwards a tremendous crash of broken crockery was heard, and the unlucky man reappeared, pale and trembling, almost fainting. “A thief !’’ he stammered. ‘‘ A thief, who escaped out of the window when he saw me!”’ . CHAPTER XXXIII.— A Barrier. NORBERT, Virgil, the doctor, and Kaddour hurried to the storeroon. No one was there, and the window was closed. But that might have been owing to the draft that blew from within whenever it was open. ‘“ What was your thief like?’’ asked the somewhat incredulous doctor. “I only saw his back,’’ replied Smith, ‘‘and the back looked as if its owner wore a respirator ; but it was like an ordinary man’s back.”’ ‘Very likely !’’ muttered the doctor. ‘‘ An ordinary man in the moon ! You are dreaming, Smith! Have you been at that bottle of port ?’”’ CONMIELOOOKS