Fire!

           ThefirstofDecemberhadarrived!thefatalday!for,iftheprojectilewerenotdischargedthatverynightat10h.48m.40s.P.M.,morethaneighteenyearsmustrollbybeforethemoonwouldagainpresentherselfunderthesameconditionsofzenithandperigee.

           Theweatherwasmagnificent.Despitetheapproachofwinter,thesunshonebrightly,andbathedinitsradiantlightthatearthwhichthreeofitsdenizenswereabouttoabandonforanewworld.

           Howmanypersonslosttheirrestonthenightwhichprecededthislong-expectedday!Allheartsbeatwithdisquietude,saveonlytheheartofMichelArdan.Thatimperturbablepersonagecameandwentwithhishabitualbusiness-likeair,whilenothingwhateverdenotedthatanyunusualmatterpreoccupiedhismind.

           Afterdawn,aninnumerablemultitudecoveredtheprairiewhichextends,asfarastheeyecanreach,roundStonesHill.Everyquarterofanhourtherailwaybroughtfreshaccessionsofsightseers;and,accordingtothestatementoftheTampaTownObserver,notlessthanfivemillionsofspectatorsthrongedthesoilofFlorida.

           Forawholemonthpreviously,themassofthesepersonshadbivouackedroundtheenclosure,andlaidthefoundationsforatownwhichwasafterwardcalled"Ardan’sTown."Thewholeplainwascoveredwithhuts,cottages,andtents.Everynationunderthesunwasrepresentedthere;andeverylanguagemightbeheardspokenatthesametime.ItwasaperfectBabelre-enacted.AllthevariousclassesofAmericansocietyweremingledtogetherintermsofabsoluteequality.