Подорож на Місяць

           Theylookedinvain!Itwasnolongertobeseen,andtheywereobligedtowaitfortelegramsfromLong’sPeak.ThedirectoroftheCambridgeObservatorywasathispostontheRockyMountains;andtohim,asaskillfulandperseveringastronomer,allobservationshadbeenconfided.

           Butanunforeseenphenomenoncameintosubjectthepublicimpatiencetoaseveretrial.

           Theweather,hithertosofine,suddenlychanged;theskybecameheavywithclouds.Itcouldnothavebeenotherwiseaftertheterriblederangementoftheatmosphericstrata,andthedispersionoftheenormousquantityofvaporarisingfromthecombustionof200,000poundsofpyroxyle!

           Onthemorrowthehorizonwascoveredwithclouds—athickandimpenetrablecurtainbetweenearthandsky,whichunhappilyextendedasfarastheRockyMountains.Itwasafatality!Butsincemanhadchosensotodisturbtheatmosphere,hewasboundtoaccepttheconsequencesofhisexperiment.

           Supposing,now,thattheexperimenthadsucceeded,thetravelershavingstartedonthe1stofDecember,at10h.46m.40s.P.M.,weredueonthe4that0h.P.M.attheirdestination.Sothatuptothattimeitwouldhavebeenverydifficultafteralltohaveobserved,undersuchconditions,abodysosmallastheshell.Thereforetheywaitedwithwhatpatiencetheymight