Путешествие на Луну
How a Frenchman Manages an Affair
"Hush!"saidhe,"thereissomeonedownthere!"
"Someone?"repeatedMichelArdan.
"Yes;aman!Heseemsmotionless.Hisrifleisnotinhishands.Whatcanhebedoing?"
"Butcanyourecognizehim?"askedArdan,whoseshortsightwasoflittleusetohiminsuchcircumstances.
"Yes!yes!Heisturningtowardus,"answeredMaston.
"Anditis?"
"CaptainNicholl!"
"Nicholl?"criedMichelArdan,feelingaterriblepangofgrief.
"Nichollunarmed!Hehas,then,nolongeranyfearofhisadversary!"
"Letusgotohim,"saidMichelArdan,"andfindoutthetruth."
Butheandhiscompanionhadbarelytakenfiftysteps,whentheypausedtoexaminethecaptainmoreattentively.Theyexpectedtofindabloodthirstyman,happyinhisrevenge.
Onseeinghim,theyremainedstupefied.
Anet,composedofveryfinemeshes,hungbetweentwoenormoustulip-trees,andinthemidstofthissnare,withitswingsentangled,wasapoorlittlebird,utteringpitifulcries,whileitvainlystruggledtoescape.Thebird-catcherwhohadlaidthissnarewasnohumanbeing,butavenomousspider,peculiartothatcountry,aslargeasapigeon’segg,andarmedwithenormousclaws.Thehideouscreature,insteadofrushingonitsprey,hadbeatenasuddenretreatandtakenrefugeintheupperbranchesofthetulip-tree,foraformidableenemymenaceditsstronghold.
Here,then,wasNicholl,hisgunontheground,forgetfulofdanger,tryingifpossibletosavethevictimfromitscobwebprison.
