The Warwickshire Herald. — 1890-02-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

EFFECTS OP THR MOON.  Not only did our two explorers find themselves in • furnace-like heat, but they also discovered that they were now of an extraordinary lightness, They scarcely felt their feet as they tripped along rather than walked. Every moment they were making extraordinary bounds, sometimes of four or five yards, whilst meaning only to step aside from some little obstacle, such as a stone or piece of rock. These I gymnastics were so involuntary that each looked I at his companion in astonishment. Norbert stared at seeing the baronet gambolling along in the most novel way, leaping lightly like a hare,and bounding aloft every now and then as if he were an indiarubber ball. "There is something marvellous about this," he thought. He will break his neck if be goes on in that extravagant hull:lion !" At this moment I he himself made • slight backward movement to 1 avoid a precipice, and was, to his surprise, taken six or seven yards up in the air, falling gently I down again on the ground. The baronet, his own gymnastic exercise scarcely over, looked at Norbert 1 with an air of displeased surprise at such undignified pranks. "I have it ! " suddenly thought Nor- I bert. "Gravity is playing us these tricks. It is six I times less on the moon than on the earth. It follows that one muscular power is siz.fold greater, and hence we have become veritable acrobats." He could not resist the pleasure of communicating the interesting fact to the baronet, and untied his demi- , mask for the purpose. "Well, my dear fellow," said he, "do you at last believe that you lare in the moon ?" To his great surprise there was no reply. The baronet did not pay the least attention to him, but gave a tremendous leap over • little rivulet the rains had left in the road. Norbert thought at first from his silence and the expression of indifference on his countenance that Sir , Bucephalus was sulking for some cause or other. But what had he done to offend him? He could not conceive what his offence had been. "What an odd idea!" thought Norbert. "Such a strange time, too, to shoos., for the sulks. What con he be savage with me about? Perhaps he is angry because I laughed at his gambols. homatter, I shan't trouble my bead about it!' But in the midst of these reflections he suddenly went off into a fit of laughter —a fit of silent laughter though. He had just discovered that he had only articulated his words without pronouncing them—The Conquest of the Moon. By Andre Laurie. ( London : Sampson Lots and Co.)  "Now give us a speech!" "Ay, give us •speech !" "Confess the foul murder ere you go to your doom ! " "But innt he handsome?" "Whoever would ha' thought it!" "It's sad for his parents !" " It's saddev for him !" Harry caught these brief sentences bandied about by the crowd, but he moved not a muscle, though he felt all their sting. , Should he speak to these people—declare hewas guiltless? Then a roar fr..ni the great human sea spread around him smote his ear with • stab of terrible pain. "Come, give us a speech •' now improve the occasion," and they yelled and gesticulated like people demented. 13.1 t how could Inc speak' His heart grew rebellious. Speak to people half-drunken, besotted, compassiiiiii,a? Pander to curiosity morbid and vulgar! NO, never! "Now, hangman, I'm ready." and he stepped to the toe • line, and quickly the noose encircled his neck. Then a whisper —a murmur far out in the distance; then a cry I that soon grew to an ominous roar. Away down the street a horse will, its rider was struggling to reach the black sure leg crowd. Foam covered, dripping, staggering, ha eying, galloping still with an effort devpsiriog ; while the rider stood up in the stirrups and shoot. d "Stay the bands of Use haegnlan ! I bring a reprieve." And the word was eaught up, and eent on and on, till the crowd thundered oat, "A reprieve !a reprieve Then the black sea divided, and the nine with its rider staggered into the centre ; and J ...1c leaped on the saddle, and, waving his hat, shout • .1: "Harry. you're saved !" Treaeagle'a Head. 113 .Silas K. Rocking. (London: P. Warne and Co.)