The Washington times., 1903-03-22

tHrran. shouted Sir Buccphalus- i
am very glad 20 give up my feeding bot
tie: but how do you account for the fact
that we can only talk and breathe by
fts and starts in this absurd country"
Quite easily" replied Norbert. laugh
ing Don't you see that We are in an
air Cavern Making rapid mental
/ calculation. he added: This cavern is
quite thousand or twelve hundred
! yards in diameter. and almost as deep;
this gives US a provision OF several mil
lions Of inches of air."
Really. Well. 1 do call this a good
/ find II is worth more than a diamond
mine. What comfort II is. at last. 10
! be able 10 draw a good BREATH"
Yes" answered Norbert. But we
must husband our riches. They will not
be inexhaustible"
Why on earth. or. rather. in the
moon" said the baronet, is this crater
the sole storehouse Of breathabIe air2"
by the same reason that accounts for
our presence here. and also confirms my
/ theory OF the matter" answered Nor
/ bert. The air here is not proper TO the
moon. Il is terrestrial air collected by
the moon. when. like a ball rolling in
/ -four. she rolled into our atmosphere.
/ This crater had just filled with air, when
| It was suddenly capped-that is 70 say.
corked up by the rock OF TehbsIL Il is
| this mOdicum OF earth's air that we are
! now breathing
In that case said the baronet. pen
sively, we must indeed be sparing OF
/ this unexpected TREASURED" --.r. ..
Not only sparing OF IL, but ne must
prevent its escaping by the opening that
I gave us ingress, We had better go back
10 the observatory as quickly as possible
for tools 10 build II up tight. else the air
will escape little by little"
This wise advice was at once put into
practice.
The two explorers resumed their
masks and were turning back 10 the
opening. when Norbert proposed an
! amendment
There is not an instant 70 lose he
said. for each minute costs US hundreds
OF gallons OF air. Why need we both go
back? One OF US could fetch what tools
we shall want while the other remains
here anasets 10 work at once. 8
That's true replied Sir Bucephalus.
DO you 20. then. my dear FELLOW. since
you know exactly what is needed. But
what can I do in your absence?"
You can gather together a lot OF
stones. wherewith 70 make a wall and
close up the opening when come back
Very well There is no lack OF stones
here. You shall have good heap here
on your return. 1 promise.
Satisfied with this assurance. Norbert
bounded OF to the observatory. and was
there in a few minutes
As soon as they all heard the news
every one wanted 10 Join the expedi-
tiOn. The doctor. Virgil. smith Fatilna
and even Gertrude we're ali anxious 70
become assistant masons.
Smith had laid out a splendid lunch
for the explorers on their return. But
II was settled 10 postpone the repast
for another hour. as Norbert did not
think IL would take longer 70 close the
opening
He had already given his instructions
TO Virgil. who had hurried OF TO the
stOrerOom in search Of a shovel. a
trowel. a sack Of cement, and a barrel
, or water.
Meanwhile all prepared for the ad-
venture by providing themselves with
oxygen respirators. and Norbert warned
his COMPANIONS of the singular Phe-
nOmena that awaited them outside
Breit's cOuntenance heightened con-
siderably when he heard that he was
, about TO be condemned TO absolute ST.
lence.
Gertruda took it all in her usual cour-
ageous way What is that majestic
planet thai has appeared since your de-
r parture?" she asked. going 10 the win
I dow 10 point out to Norbert a large.
, pale white crescent in the heavens SINH
lar in appearance 10 the new moon
when viewed from the earth. only four
times as large.
THAT is our country. the earth" he
i replied I'VE shall have the pleasure Of
n constantly seeing her, for she is he
= great timepiece OF the lunar world; she
is always present in the heavens. and
?. in this hemisphere she is visible all
u day and all night
e The earth" said Gertrude. with a
e SIGH. To think that my poor. darling
father is there. so far from Us. exposed
10 the horrors of a siege. and little
dreaming that his daughter has been
y exiled TO this place."
They went out on the esplanade. ana
l. for the first few minutes there was some
> confusion. Norbert had warned them OF
the new conditions they might expect TO
find outside; but the two servants had
. failed 10 take in all his explanations.
: Their abnormal lightness was great
II trouble 20 them. They conducted them
"a selves as II seized with an acute nervous
IN fever.
Virgil. wishing TO look over the edge
OF the espIanade, was carried by his
: own impetus TO distance Of forty yards
Is at least.
IS This will be my DEATH" he thought.
n, as he flew through space "Or at all
events. I shall be dreadfully hurt,~ he
. continued. picking himself up most care
sc fully when he had reached the ground.
ID No such thing, He was not even
bruised,
:. A. he turned round in 2mazenenf 20