The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

534 A MONTH IN THE MOON. This opinion was corroborated by the instant appearance of a white hand- kerchief, suspended by a bayonet, through the second breach. Even on the moon a white handkerchief is the signal for a truce. ‘‘ Stop firing, Virgil, and host your handkerchief,’ Virgil obeyed. The door then opened, and on its threshold stood the last person in the world whom they expected to see—Sir Bucephalus Coghill |! Thin, pale, and tottering, he was but the shadow of himself. But it was he without a doubt. ’ “It was you, then, who greeted us with a volley ?’’ asked Norbert, in- tensely surprised. The baronet sadly bowed his head without a word. Another voice an- swered for him, and this voice was strangely like that of Costerus Wagner. ‘We ask to treat !’’ it said, without the owner of the voice appearing. He was probably sheltering himself behind the baronet. ‘‘ Who are you ?”’ “You know us well,’’ replied the voice. ‘‘We are Costerus Wagner, Peter Gryphins, and Ignaz Vogel.’’ The dwarf suddenly gave vent to a cry of joy. ‘‘ How happens it that you are there, and why did you fire upon us ?”’ asked Norbert, lost in amazement. It does not much matter,’’ replied the voice. ‘‘ It will all be explained. But time presses, and we shall soon be without air.”’ ‘* Surrender, in that case.’’ ‘“ Not without conditions. ’’ ‘“ What conditions do you expect ?’’ ‘‘Qur lives, air, and provisions.’’ ‘‘ You shall have your lives,’’ replied Norbert. ‘‘ But air and rations are another point. They are too precious here to be wasted on three rascals.’’ ‘Then our prisoner shall suffer for it,’’ savagely replied the voice. ‘‘ What prisoner ?’’ ‘‘Sir Bucephalus Coghill.’’ ‘Is that true ?’’ asked Norbert of the baronet. His. unhappy friend nodded his head. It needed nothing more to de- cide Norbert. ‘‘ Listen,’’ he said, ‘‘ to the only conditions I will grant. You shall have your lives, air, and rations; but you shall remain prisoners in the quarters assigned to you, and you must work for the common welfare, under my directions.’’ . | ‘‘ Agreed !’’ said three eager voices, which were unmistakably those of Wagner, Gryphins, and Vogel. “Well, then, throw down your arms and stand forward ; you have my word.”’ At that moment something cold touched his hand, and, looking round, he saw Kaddour on his knees, kissing it. ‘“Qh, Monsieur Mauny, give them to me!’’ said he beseechingly. ‘‘ What do you want me to give you ?”’ CoOpnicaoolks