Путешествие на Луну
The Gun Club
Oneday,however—sadandmelancholyday!—peacewassignedbetweenthesurvivorsofthewar;thethunderofthegunsgraduallyceased,themortarsweresilent,thehowitzersweremuzzledforanindefiniteperiod,thecannon,withmuzzlesdepressed,werereturnedintothearsenal,theshotwererepiled,allbloodyreminiscenceswereeffaced;thecotton-plantsgrewluxuriantlyinthewell-manuredfields,allmourninggarmentswerelaidaside,togetherwithgrief;andtheGunClubwasrelegatedtoprofoundinactivity.
Somefewofthemoreadvancedandinveteratetheoristssetthemselvesagaintoworkuponcalculationsregardingthelawsofprojectiles.Theyrevertedinvariablytogiganticshellsandhowitzersofunparalleledcaliber.Stillindefaultofpracticalexperiencewhatwasthevalueofmeretheories?Consequently,theclubroomsbecamedeserted,theservantsdozedintheantechambers,thenewspapersgrewmouldyonthetables,soundsofsnoringcamefromdarkcorners,andthemembersoftheGunClub,erstwhilesonoisyintheirseances,werereducedtosilencebythisdisastrouspeaceandgavethemselvesupwhollytodreamsofaPlatonickindofartillery.
"Thisishorrible!"saidTomHunteroneevening,whilerapidlycarbonizinghiswoodenlegsinthefireplaceofthesmoking-room;"nothingtodo!nothingtolookforwardto!whataloathsomeexistence!Whenagainshallthegunsarouseusinthemorningwiththeirdelightfulreports?"
"Thosedaysaregoneby,"saidjollyBilsby,tryingtoextendhismissingarms.
