Путешествие на Луну
Fire!
Thusthetravelersenclosedwithintheprojectilewereenabledtofollowwiththeireyestheimpassiveneedlewhichmarkedtheprecisemomentoftheirdeparture.
Themomenthadarrivedforsaying"good-by!"Thescenewasatouchingone.Despitehisfeverishgayety,evenMichelArdanwastouched.J.T.Mastonhadfoundinhisowndryeyesoneancienttear,whichhehaddoubtlessreservedfortheoccasion.Hedroppeditontheforeheadofhisdearpresident.
"CanInotgo?"hesaid,"thereisstilltime!"
"Impossible,oldfellow!"repliedBarbicane.Afewmomentslater,thethreefellow-travelershadensconcedthemselvesintheprojectile,andscreweddowntheplatewhichcoveredtheentrance-aperture.ThemouthoftheColumbiad,nowcompletelydisencumbered,wasopenentirelytothesky.
Themoonadvancedupwardinaheavenofthepurestclearness,outshininginherpassagethetwinklinglightofthestars.ShepassedovertheconstellationoftheTwins,andwasnownearingthehalfwaypointbetweenthehorizonandthezenith.Aterriblesilenceweighedupontheentirescene!Notabreathofwindupontheearth!notasoundofbreathingfromthecountlesschestsofthespectators!Theirheartsseemedafraidtobeat!AlleyeswerefixedupontheyawningmouthoftheColumbiad.
Murchisonfollowedwithhiseyethehandofhischronometer
