Подорож на Місяць
Attack and Riposte
Herosesuddenly,andwasrushingupontheenemywhothusbravedhimtotheface,whenallatoncehefoundhimselfseparatedfromhim.
Theplatformwasliftedbyahundredstrongarms,andthepresidentoftheGunClubsharedwithMichelArdantriumphalhonors.Theshieldwasheavy,butthebearerscameincontinuousrelays,disputing,struggling,evenfightingamongthemselvesintheireagernesstolendtheirshoulderstothisdemonstration.
However,theunknownhadnotprofitedbythetumulttoquithispost.Besideshecouldnothavedoneitinthemidstofthatcompactcrowd.Thereheheldoninthefrontrowwithcrossedarms,glaringatPresidentBarbicane.
Theshoutsoftheimmensecrowdcontinuedattheirhighestpitchthroughoutthistriumphantmarch.MichelArdantookitallwithevidentpleasure.Hisfacegleamedwithdelight.Severaltimestheplatformseemedseizedwithpitchingandrollinglikeaweatherbeatenship.Butthetwoherosofthemeetinghadgoodsea-legs.Theyneverstumbled;andtheirvesselarrivedwithoutduesattheportofTampaTown.
MichelArdanmanagedfortunatelytoescapefromthelastembracesofhisvigorousadmirers.HemadefortheHotelFranklin,quicklygainedhischamber,andslidunderthebedclothes,whileanarmyofahundredthousandmenkeptwatchunderhiswindows.
Duringthistimeascene,short,grave,anddecisive,tookplacebetweenthemysteriouspersonageandthepresidentoftheGunClub.
Barbicane,freeatlast,hadgonestraightathisadversary.
"Come!"hesaidshortly
