Путешествие на Луну
The Columbiad
Theworkwasresumedthesameday.Theyproceededatoncetoextracttheinteriormould,forthepurposeofclearingouttheboringofthepiece.Pickaxesandboringironsweresettoworkwithoutintermission.Theclayeyandsandysoilshadacquiredextremehardnessundertheactionoftheheat;but,bytheaidofthemachines,therubbishonbeingdugoutwasrapidlycartedawayonrailwaywagons;andsuchwastheardorofthework,sopersuasivetheargumentsofBarbicane’sdollars,thatbythe3rdofSeptemberalltracesofthemouldhadentirelydisappeared.
Immediatelytheoperationofboringwascommenced;andbytheaidofpowerfulmachines,afewweekslater,theinnersurfaceoftheimmensetubehadbeenrenderedperfectlycylindrical,andtheboreofthepiecehadacquiredathoroughpolish.
Atlength,onthe22dofSeptember,lessthanatwelvemonthafterBarbicane’soriginalproposition,theenormousweapon,accuratelybored,andexactlyverticallypointed,wasreadyforwork.Therewasonlythemoonnowtowaitfor;andtheywereprettysurethatshewouldnotfailintherendezvous.
TheecstasyofJ.T.Mastonknewnobounds,andhenarrowlyescapedafrightfulfallwhilestaringdownthetube.ButforthestronghandofColonelBlomsberry,theworthysecretary,likeamodernErostratus,wouldhavefoundhisdeathinthedepthsoftheColumbiad.
Thecannonwasthenfinished;therewasnopossibledoubtastoitsperfectcompletion.
