The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-13

level plain remarkably smooth over most
ot IT'S surface, unmistakable evidences OF
haoitation gigantic city had evidently
az one time existed near the centre OK
his great plain. The outlines Of It's walls
and the foundation marks OF some OF its
immense buildings were plainly made
out, and elaborate plans of this van
ished capital OF the moon were prepared
By several members OF the party.
One OF them was fortunate enough to
discover an even more precious relic OF
the ancient lurians. II was a piece OF
petrihed skullbone, representing but
small portion Of the head 10 which it
had belonged. but yet sufficient 10 enable
the anthrOpoOgists, who Immediately tell
20 examining IL. 10 draw ideal representa-
lions Of the head as Il must have been
I'm lifc-the head Of a giant OF enormous
size which. II IL had possessed a highly
organized brain, Of proportlonate magni-
tude, must have given 20 It's possessor
intellectual powers immensely greater
than any OF the descendants Of Adam
have ever been endowed with.
In the meantime. the repairs TO the
electrical ships had been completed and.
although these discoveries upon the moon
had created a most profound sensation
among the members OF the expedition,
and aroused an almost irresistible desire
to continue the explorations thus happily
begun, yet everybody knew that these
things were aside from the main purpose
In view. and that We should be false TO
our duty In wasting moment more upon
the moon than was absolutely necessary
10 Put the ships In proper CONDITION 70
proceed on their warlike voyage
Everything being repaired. then we
rrtsh
forty-eight hours after we had landed
upon its surface, carrying with us
determination 20 revisit ~ and learn more
Of it's wonderful secrets Ina case we should
survive the dangers which We were now
going 70 face.
A day or two after leaving the moon
we had another adventure with wander
ing inhabitant OF space which brought
us into Tar greater peril than had our
encounter with the meteor.
The alrshlps had been parritioned or
40 that q portion or the interior could
he darkened in order 70 serve as q sleep
ing chamber. wherein. according 10 the
regulations prescribed by the commander
Of the squadron. each member or the eN-
pedition in his turn passed eight out or
every twentv-four housekeeping II ne
could. II not. medltating. In a more or
less dazed way. upon tho wonderful
things that he was seeing and doing
things far more incredible than the crea-
lions OF q dream.
one morning, II I may can py inc
name morning my periodical eihe's1hoc
from the darkencd chamber, s'ahelhs
from one Of the windows / was 5tarVeu
IN soc in the black sky a brilliant comet
" nerlodical comet. as [ knew. was
AZ This time approaching the neignDoF-
hood of the sun, and no stranger or tna'
L,nd had been detected from the oO-
servatories making its way sun|ard De-
sora ua left the earth. Here, however
us Enthusiastically a comet rushing To-
ward tho sun. hlngng out great eleaih
inc tail behind Il 80 close TO US tnae
wandered TO see II remaining al"ose
notionless In the sky. This phenolhfn'o"
Vas soon explained 10 me- ano Tue ~.
rafion was OF a most disquletins chdtdc-
ter. s., h.o, mar
"a not ontv from the flagship but
from The other members OF the s4u'u
-, "a as now learned. EFFORTS had
80, rnada to get out OF IFS neishV"i,
booS but for some reason inc 49,
annoratus did not work pertectiy-Sonio
mysterious disturbing force actlnE ur,h
It-and go II had been found ihposslo,'
70 avoid an encounter With the comet
10, an actual coming into contact WIN
n hut a falling into the sphers OF iIS
n, ract was informed that for sew
aral hours the SQUADRON had been drag
glng along IN the wake or Gomez, NerN
much as boats are sometimes to"ed o..
by a wounded whale. Every eHort ha ,l
bsen made to so adjust the bectrlc
cbarae upon the ships that they would
he repealed from the cometic mass, but
outn1 apparently 10 eccentric changes
continually going on In the electric
charge affecting the clashing mass OF
moteoric bodies which constituted the
head OF the comet. we found IL impossi-
bic 20 escape from is influence.
AT one instant the ships would be re-
nelled: Immediately afterward they
4 would be attracted again. and thus they
| were dragged hither ond thither, but
| never able to break from the invisihle
leash which the comet had cast uDon
| them The latter WAS moving with en-
| ornOus velocity toward the sun. and,
| conveniently. we were being carried back
| again away from the object OF our ex-
| petition. with fair prospect OF being
| dissiDated IN blazing vapors when the
| comet had dragged us, unwilling prison
| ers. into the immediate nelghbOrhocd OF
/ the solar furnace.
Even the most coOi-headed lost his
| self-control In this terrible emergency.
] Every kind OF device that experience or
| the imaeination could suggest was tried.
! but nothing would do. Stili on we rush
| ed. with the electrified atoms composing
\ the tail OF the comet sweeping 70 and
| fro over tho members 81 the souadron.
as they shifted their position like the
! plume 81 smoke from a gigantic steam
! err drifting over the sea birds that fol-
low In its course