Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN THE MOON. 753 was sufficiently near the earth. Their weight would act as ballast, and bear the aerial ship towards the greater attracting power, the earth. CHAPTER XL.—AN ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. MEANWHILE, Norbert lost no opportunity of studying the heavens, especially the protuberances of the sun, and he perceived that the sun was about to be eclipsed by the earth. He hastened to inform his companions of the interesting spectacle soon to be unfolded before their admiring eyes. The enormous dimensions of the earth, as it appeared in the lunar sky, led them to expect. some wonderful ‘effects, but the reality far surpassed their imagination. They had scarcely time to take up their position on the esplanade (fur- nished with smoked glasses for the protection of the eyes, and with the indispensable store of oxygen), when the contact was established. First, a golden crescent slowly wound round the earth, casting a radiant aureole over the black disk. Little by little, as the sun disappeared behind the earth, the golden aureole crept on until it surrounded the whole circum- ference of the terrestrial screen, and completed the occultation, to the intense admiration of the spectators. All around the immense disk; equal in appearance to fourteen moons seen from the earth, shone an orange colored ring of light, bordered by a scarlet ring. The lunar landscape, which was now in shade, assumed a rosy tint that softened all the details, touching the summits and craters’ with violet colored rays of fairy-like beauty. Our travelers were so enraptured with the soft effects of the waves of light on the lunar landscape, that they could not for some time tear them- selves away from the spectacle. But at length they returned to the drawing room to exchange their ideas, remembering also that the eclipse would last some hours longer. Norbert’s first care was to photograph the country under its new as- pect, as he had already done in its ordinary dress.. He managed to geta tolerably good negative. Gertrude had her thoughts too. I:mpelled by pity, she suddenly said to him: ‘‘ Monsieur Mauny, I want to ask you a favor.”’ ‘Is it necessary for me to tell you that I shall only be too happy to grant it?”’ ‘I cannot help pitying those four prisoners for not being able to see this marvelous eclipse. It is hard enough that they should be exiled on the moon, and yet know nothing of her curious sights. Could you not allow them to see the eclipse ?’”’ ‘‘ Nothing easier. Virgil takes them for a walk twice daily round the circular passage. He shall let them out now.’’ ‘Oh, give them a complete holiday! Let them come on the esplanade. They could see nothing from the circular passage.”’ ‘“Be it so. You have heard, Virgil, what mademoiselle wishes. Let them go out at once.’’ (1) Eomichooks a) (Co)