[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Blomsberry, one of the most ardent supporters of the Gun Club, who had married
an aunt of the captain and daughter of an honorable Kentucky merchant)--
Page 192
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Captain Blomsberry could not have wished for finer weather in which to bring
to a close his delicate operations of sounding. His corvette had not even
felt the great tempest, which by sweeping away the groups of clouds on the
Rocky Mountains, had allowed them to observe the course of the famous
projectile.
Everything went well, and with all the fervor of a Presbyterian, he did not
forget to thank heaven for it. The series of soundings taken by the
Susquehanna, had for its aim the finding of a favorable spot for the laying of
a submarine cable to connect the Hawaiian Islands with the coast of America.
It was a great undertaking, due to the instigation of a powerful company. Its
managing director, the intelligent Cyrus
Field, purposed even covering all the islands of Oceanica with a vast
electrical network, an immense enterprise, and one worthy of American genius.
To the corvette Susquehanna had been confided the first operations of
sounding. It was on the night of the 11th-12th of
December, she was in exactly 27@ 7' north latitude, and 41@ 37'
west longitude, on the meridian of Washington.
The moon, then in her last quarter, was beginning to rise above the horizon.
After the departure of Captain Blomsberry, the lieutenant and some officers
were standing together on the poop. On the appearance of the moon, their
thoughts turned to that orb which the eyes of a whole hemisphere were
contemplating. The best naval glasses could not have discovered the
projectile wandering around its hemisphere, and yet all were pointed toward
that brilliant disc which millions of eyes were looking at at the same moment.
"They have been gone ten days," said Lieutenant Bronsfield at last. "What has
become of them?"
"They have arrived, lieutenant," exclaimed a young midshipman, "and they are
doing what all travelers do when they arrive in a new country, taking a walk!"
"Oh! I am sure of that, if you tell me so, my young friend,"
said Lieutenant Bronsfield, smiling.
"But," continued another officer, "their arrival cannot
FROM EARTH TO THE MOON
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203
be doubted. The projectile was to reach the moon when full on the 5th at
midnight. We are now at the 11th of December, which makes six days. And in
six times twenty-four hours, without darkness, one would have time to settle
comfortably. I fancy I
see my brave countrymen encamped at the bottom of some valley, on the borders
of a Selenite stream, near a projectile half-buried by its fall amid volcanic
rubbish, Captain Nicholl beginning his leveling operations, President
Barbicane writing out his notes, and Michel Ardan embalming the lunar
solitudes with the perfume of his----"
"Yes! it must be so, it is so!" exclaimed the young midshipman, worked up to a
pitch of enthusiasm by this ideal description of his superior officer.
"I should like to believe it," replied the lieutenant, who was quite unmoved.
"Unfortunately direct news from the lunar world is still wanting."
Page 193
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"Beg pardon, lieutenant," said the midshipman, "but cannot
President Barbicane write?"
A burst of laughter greeted this answer.
"No letters!" continued the young man quickly. "The postal administration has
something to see to there."
"Might it not be the telegraphic service that is at fault?"
asked one of the officers ironically.
"Not necessarily," replied the midshipman, not at all confused.
"But it is very easy to set up a graphic communication with the earth."
"And how?"
"By means of the telescope at Long's Peak. You know it brings the moon to
within four miles of the Rocky Mountains, and that it shows objects on its
surface of only nine feet in diameter.
Very well; let our industrious friends construct a giant alphabet; let them
write words three fathoms long, and sentences three miles long, and then they
can send us news of themselves."
The young midshipman, who had a certain amount of imagination, was loudly
applauded; Lieutenant Bronsfield allowing that the idea was possible, but
observing that if by these means they could receive news from the lunar world
they could not send any from the terrestrial, unless the Selenites had
instruments fit for taking distant observations at their disposal.
"Evidently," said one of the officers; "but what has become of the travelers?
what they have done, what they have seen, that above all must interest us.
Besides, if the experiment has succeeded (which I do not doubt), they will try
it again.
The Columbiad is still sunk in the soil of Florida. It is now only a question
of powder and shot; and every time the moon is at her zenith a cargo of
visitors may be sent to her."
FROM EARTH TO THE MOON
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204
"It is clear," replied Lieutenant Bronsfield, "that J. T. Maston will one day
join his friends."
"If he will have me," cried the midshipman, "I am ready!"
"Oh! volunteers will not be wanting," answered Bronsfield; "and if it were
allowed, half of the earth's inhabitants would emigrate to the moon!"
This conversation between the officers of the Susquehanna was kept up until
nearly one in the morning. We cannot say what blundering systems were
broached, what inconsistent theories advanced by these bold spirits. Since
Barbicane's attempt, nothing seemed impossible to the Americans. They had
already designed an expedition, not only of savants, but of a whole colony
toward the Selenite borders, and a complete army, consisting of infantry,
artillery, and cavalry, to conquer the lunar world.
At one in the morning, the hauling in of the sounding-line was not yet
Page 194
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
completed; 1,670 fathoms were still out, which would entail some hours' work.
According to the commander's orders, the fires had been lighted, and steam was
being got up. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl aikidobyd.xlx.pl
Blomsberry, one of the most ardent supporters of the Gun Club, who had married
an aunt of the captain and daughter of an honorable Kentucky merchant)--
Page 192
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Captain Blomsberry could not have wished for finer weather in which to bring
to a close his delicate operations of sounding. His corvette had not even
felt the great tempest, which by sweeping away the groups of clouds on the
Rocky Mountains, had allowed them to observe the course of the famous
projectile.
Everything went well, and with all the fervor of a Presbyterian, he did not
forget to thank heaven for it. The series of soundings taken by the
Susquehanna, had for its aim the finding of a favorable spot for the laying of
a submarine cable to connect the Hawaiian Islands with the coast of America.
It was a great undertaking, due to the instigation of a powerful company. Its
managing director, the intelligent Cyrus
Field, purposed even covering all the islands of Oceanica with a vast
electrical network, an immense enterprise, and one worthy of American genius.
To the corvette Susquehanna had been confided the first operations of
sounding. It was on the night of the 11th-12th of
December, she was in exactly 27@ 7' north latitude, and 41@ 37'
west longitude, on the meridian of Washington.
The moon, then in her last quarter, was beginning to rise above the horizon.
After the departure of Captain Blomsberry, the lieutenant and some officers
were standing together on the poop. On the appearance of the moon, their
thoughts turned to that orb which the eyes of a whole hemisphere were
contemplating. The best naval glasses could not have discovered the
projectile wandering around its hemisphere, and yet all were pointed toward
that brilliant disc which millions of eyes were looking at at the same moment.
"They have been gone ten days," said Lieutenant Bronsfield at last. "What has
become of them?"
"They have arrived, lieutenant," exclaimed a young midshipman, "and they are
doing what all travelers do when they arrive in a new country, taking a walk!"
"Oh! I am sure of that, if you tell me so, my young friend,"
said Lieutenant Bronsfield, smiling.
"But," continued another officer, "their arrival cannot
FROM EARTH TO THE MOON
Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com
203
be doubted. The projectile was to reach the moon when full on the 5th at
midnight. We are now at the 11th of December, which makes six days. And in
six times twenty-four hours, without darkness, one would have time to settle
comfortably. I fancy I
see my brave countrymen encamped at the bottom of some valley, on the borders
of a Selenite stream, near a projectile half-buried by its fall amid volcanic
rubbish, Captain Nicholl beginning his leveling operations, President
Barbicane writing out his notes, and Michel Ardan embalming the lunar
solitudes with the perfume of his----"
"Yes! it must be so, it is so!" exclaimed the young midshipman, worked up to a
pitch of enthusiasm by this ideal description of his superior officer.
"I should like to believe it," replied the lieutenant, who was quite unmoved.
"Unfortunately direct news from the lunar world is still wanting."
Page 193
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Beg pardon, lieutenant," said the midshipman, "but cannot
President Barbicane write?"
A burst of laughter greeted this answer.
"No letters!" continued the young man quickly. "The postal administration has
something to see to there."
"Might it not be the telegraphic service that is at fault?"
asked one of the officers ironically.
"Not necessarily," replied the midshipman, not at all confused.
"But it is very easy to set up a graphic communication with the earth."
"And how?"
"By means of the telescope at Long's Peak. You know it brings the moon to
within four miles of the Rocky Mountains, and that it shows objects on its
surface of only nine feet in diameter.
Very well; let our industrious friends construct a giant alphabet; let them
write words three fathoms long, and sentences three miles long, and then they
can send us news of themselves."
The young midshipman, who had a certain amount of imagination, was loudly
applauded; Lieutenant Bronsfield allowing that the idea was possible, but
observing that if by these means they could receive news from the lunar world
they could not send any from the terrestrial, unless the Selenites had
instruments fit for taking distant observations at their disposal.
"Evidently," said one of the officers; "but what has become of the travelers?
what they have done, what they have seen, that above all must interest us.
Besides, if the experiment has succeeded (which I do not doubt), they will try
it again.
The Columbiad is still sunk in the soil of Florida. It is now only a question
of powder and shot; and every time the moon is at her zenith a cargo of
visitors may be sent to her."
FROM EARTH TO THE MOON
Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com
204
"It is clear," replied Lieutenant Bronsfield, "that J. T. Maston will one day
join his friends."
"If he will have me," cried the midshipman, "I am ready!"
"Oh! volunteers will not be wanting," answered Bronsfield; "and if it were
allowed, half of the earth's inhabitants would emigrate to the moon!"
This conversation between the officers of the Susquehanna was kept up until
nearly one in the morning. We cannot say what blundering systems were
broached, what inconsistent theories advanced by these bold spirits. Since
Barbicane's attempt, nothing seemed impossible to the Americans. They had
already designed an expedition, not only of savants, but of a whole colony
toward the Selenite borders, and a complete army, consisting of infantry,
artillery, and cavalry, to conquer the lunar world.
At one in the morning, the hauling in of the sounding-line was not yet
Page 194
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
completed; 1,670 fathoms were still out, which would entail some hours' work.
According to the commander's orders, the fires had been lighted, and steam was
being got up. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]