Подорож на Місяць
The Passenger of the Atlanta
Barbicanedescended;andheadingtheimmenseassemblage,ledthewaytothetelegraphoffice.AfewminuteslateratelegramwasdispatchedtothesecretaryoftheunderwritersatLiverpool,requestinganswerstothefollowingqueries:
"AbouttheshipAtlanta—whendidsheleaveEurope?HadsheonboardaFrenchmannamedMichelArdan?"
TwohoursafterwardBarbicanereceivedinformationtooexacttoleaveroomforthesmallestremainingdoubt.
"ThesteamerAtlantafromLiverpoolputtoseaonthe2ndofOctober,boundforTampaTown,havingonboardaFrenchmanborneonthelistofpassengersbythenameofMichelArdan."
ThatveryeveninghewrotetothehouseofBreadwillandCo.,requestingthemtosuspendthecastingoftheprojectileuntilthereceiptoffurtherorders.Onthe10thofOctober,atnineA.M.,thesemaphoresoftheBahamaCanalsignaledathicksmokeonthehorizon.Twohourslateralargesteamerexchangedsignalswiththem.thenameoftheAtlantaflewatonceoverTampaTown.Atfouro’clocktheEnglishvesselenteredtheBayofEspirituSanto.AtfiveitcrossedthepassageofHillisboroughBayatfullsteam.AtsixshecastanchoratPortTampa.TheanchorhadscarcelycaughtthesandybottomwhenfivehundredboatssurroundedtheAtlanta,andthesteamerwastakenbyassault.Barbicanewasthefirsttosetfootondeck,andinavoiceofwhichhevainlytriedtoconcealtheemotion,called"MichelArdan."
"Here!"repliedanindividualperchedonthepoop.
