The Washington times., 1903-03-15
CHAPTER XIV.
THE FINAL CRASH.

last. since. according to Norbcrt's cal
culations, the descent of the lunar
globe was to take six days eight
hours and forty-six seconds. The
moon rose slowly. gradually filling up
the whole sky. The sight was. indeed
terrible. Absolute and complete dark
ness reigned everywhere. with the ex-
cePtion of silver Band. as ii were
that surrounded and held the moon
above the Garth.
In the Arab camp terror was at its
height. Silence prevailed. The very
dogs held their peace Every man had
retired to his tent. where. PROSTATE in
the dust, he waited for death
The thick darkness terrified the NAH
dists. The moon had for a certainty
come to destroy them. Yet they did not
seek TO fly. but remained Alphabetically
resigned to the Unprecedented catastro-
Dhe that had befallcn them.
On the Peak of Tehbali the alarm was
general Norbert was almost the only
one who kept his self possession. Sir
Bucephalus tried 70 maintain his usual
GOODNESS. but. IN spite of himself. the
growing uneasiness he could not but
feel manifested itself by continued COM
ings and goings. and many questions.
The barcnet was by no means z cow
ard. but life was sweet TO him; he vas
very fond OF his club. and often thought.
with sigh. how much he should like
to be back there He had only Joined
this expedition in order to have some
adventures TO relate, and necessarily he
must survive them, otherwise how could
he relate them?
The doctor took things cheeriIy. &C
cording 10 his usual habit; but he could
not help querying how il would all end
Virgil never dreamed for a moment Of
sitting in judgment On the doings of his
superior officers" but he thought the
sky unusually black and threatening.
Smith gave full vent 10 his disappoinJ-
ment as far as the etiquette Of respect
full service would permit, and took care
not TO show his nose outside the door
As to Fatima, she cried bitterly. and
Gertrude had much ado TO console her.
especially as she was far from being
easy herself
Matters went on tolerably well. how
ever. until midnight. Everyone was in
the Hall of Motors. and Smith had just
brought in the tea. Norbert. who had
been 10 look round on the esplanade.
now camc back. and going over % the
electric lamp that hung over the table
in the center. he drew out his chrome
meter and said:
1t is twenty-five inmates last mid
night. Contact will be established with
in a minute and twenty Eve seconds.
What contact ?" asked the barone5.
THAT OF the lunar globe with the
earth"
What. you really expect this con
tact TO take placer
'.Of course ! do What would be the
sense Of the experiment otherwise? I
transformed the Peak Of IehbaH into
magnet on purpose 70 force the moon
to come down to US. DO YOU want rue
now to forego the pleasure OF taking
her acquaintance, aad scnd her back
into space ?"
You could do it. them
with the greatest ease. Simply by
means Of that ivory knob yondsr. marked
B."
What The action II your magnet
could be suspended sirpIy by touching
the motor B." cried the barone-. evil
IDENTIFY startled.
Not precisely by touching it, 5ut by
lowering it and raising the letter A"
In that case. my dear friend. l FL.
of opinion that you had better use
your power without DELAY.
There are very good reasons. my dca-
CoghiU. why I should not follow your
advice"
Then the moon is 10 fall ipon the
earth2"
Just So
'wiU it not cause a shock"
Yes. for those who happen 10 be be-
tween the anvil and hammer. certainly
But the chain OF the Lunar Apennines
will come into contact with the earth
about a hundred leagues OF, striking the
Sahara from the northeast to the south
west. I expect we shall feel a sharp
shock, but nothing more.
And supposing you should be mis-
taken? II the shock does fall upon us -
In that case. of course. we shall be
crushed But I have not made a mis-
take. / don't know that we should be
better off massacred by the Mahdi. for
at all events we KNOW what we nave 10
expect" added Norbert. as he looked At
his chronometer again In twenty-five
/ seconds and a half, he continued. Il
expect"
I still think it would be wise to stop
this experiment" interposed the baro-
me-.
No sooner had he uttered these words
than Smith. as II this had been the
oracle long waited for. flung himself
on the ebony tablet. and before anyone
suspected his intention. he had seized
the knob A with his right hand. and the
knob with his left, and raising the
| former. he lowered the other.
Norbert had but just time 70 rush
upon him, excIaimiug aloud in his anger
and despair.
II was too late,
A fearful explosion ensued followed
by an uproar and din that can only be
/ Iikened to the noise OF a thousand vol
canoes. or the roar OF a million cannon
There ,soa one terrible shocl orf