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The Projectile-Vehicle
"SinceIamnottogo,"saidthebraveartillerist,"Imayatleastliveforaweekintheprojectile."
Itwouldhavebeenhardtorefusehim;sotheyconsentedtohiswish.Asufficientquantityofchlorateofpotassiumandofcausticpotashwasplacedathisdisposal,togetherwithprovisionsforeightdays.Andhavingshakenhandswithhisfriends,onthe12thofNovember,atsixo’clockA.M.,afterstrictlyinformingthemnottoopenhisprisonbeforethe20th,atsixo’clockP.M.,hesliddowntheprojectile,theplateofwhichwasatoncehermeticallysealed.Whatdidhedowithhimselfduringthatweek?Theycouldgetnoinformation.Thethicknessofthewallsoftheprojectilepreventedanysoundreachingfromtheinsidetotheoutside.Onthe20thofNovember,atsixP.M.exactly,theplatewasopened.ThefriendsofJ.T.Mastonhadbeenallalonginastateofmuchanxiety;buttheywerepromptlyreassuredonhearingajollyvoiceshoutingaboisteroushurrah.
PresentlyafterwardthesecretaryoftheGunClubappearedatthetopoftheconeinatriumphantattitude.Hehadgrownfat!
