The Columbiad

           Hadthecastingsucceeded?Theywerereducedtomereconjecture.Therewasindeedeveryreasontoexpectsuccess,sincethemouldhasabsorbedtheentiremassofthemoltenmetal;stillsomeconsiderabletimemustelapsebeforetheycouldarriveatanycertaintyuponthematter.

           ThepatienceofthemembersoftheGunClubwassorelytriedduringthisperiodoftime.Buttheycoulddonothing.J.T.Mastonescapedroastingbyamiracle.FifteendaysafterthecastinganimmensecolumnofsmokewasstillrisingintheopenskyandthegroundburnedthesolesofthefeetwithinaradiusoftwohundredfeetroundthesummitofStonesHill.Itwasimpossibletoapproachnearer.Alltheycoulddowastowaitwithwhatpatiencetheymight.

           "Hereweareatthe10thofAugust,"exclaimedJ.T.Mastononemorning,"onlyfourmonthstothe1stofDecember!Weshallneverbereadyintime!"Barbicanesaidnothing,buthissilencecoveredseriousirritation.

           However,dailyobservationsrevealedacertainchangegoingoninthestateoftheground.Aboutthe15thofAugustthevaporsejectedhadsensiblydiminishedinintensityandthickness.Somedaysafterwardtheearthexhaledonlyaslightpuffofsmoke,thelastbreathofthemonsterenclosedwithinitscircleofstone.Littlebylittlethebeltofheatcontracted,untilonthe22ndofAugust,Barbicane,hiscolleagues,andtheengineerwereenabledtosetfootontheironsheetwhichlayleveluponthesummitofStonesHill.

           "Atlast!"exclaimedthepresidentoftheGunClub,withanimmensesighofrelief.