Путешествие на Луну
Stones Hill
Theyhastenedonward,therefore,andwerecompelledtofordseveralrivers,notwithoutdanger,fortheywereinfestedwithhugealligatorsfromfifteentoeighteenfeetlong.Mastoncourageouslymenacedthemwithhissteelhook,butheonlysucceededinfrighteningsomepelicansandteal,whiletallflamingosstaredstupidlyattheparty.
Atlengththesedenizensoftheswampsdisappearedintheirturn;smallertreesbecamethinlyscatteredamonglessdensethickets—afewisolatedgroupsdetachedinthemidstofendlessplainsoverwhichrangedherdsofstartleddeer.
"Atlast,"criedBarbicane,risinginhisstirrups,"hereweareattheregionofpines!"
"Yes!andofsavagestoo,"repliedthemajor.
Infact,someSeminoleshadjustcameinsightuponthehorizon;theyrodeviolentlybackwardandforwardontheirfleethorses,brandishingtheirspearsordischargingtheirgunswithadullreport.Thesehostiledemonstrations,however,hadnoeffectuponBarbicaneandhiscompanions.
Theywerethenoccupyingthecenterofarockyplain,whichthesunscorchedwithitsparchingrays.Thiswasformedbyaconsiderableelevationofthesoil,whichseemedtooffertothemembersoftheGunCluballtheconditionsrequisitefortheconstructionoftheirColumbiad.
"Halt!"saidBarbicane,reiningup."Hasthisplaceanylocalappellation?"
"ItiscalledStonesHill,"repliedoneoftheFloridans.
Barbicane,withoutsayingaword,dismounted,seizedhisinstruments,andbegantonotehispositionwithextremeexactness
