Stones Hill

When the decision was arrived at by the Gun Club, to the disparagement of Texas, every one in America, where reading is a universal acquirement, set to work to study the geography of Florida. Never before had there been such a sale for works like “Bertram’s Travels in Florida,” “Roman’s Natural History of East and West Florida,” “William’s Territory of Florida,” and “Cleland on the Cultivation of the Sugar-Cane in Florida.” It became necessary to issue fresh editions of these works.

When the Gun Club made its decision against Texas, everyone in America began studying the geography of Florida. Everyone in America could read. Works like “Bertram’s Travels in Florida,” “Roman’s Natural History of East and West Florida,” “William’s Territory of Florida,” and “Cleland on the Cultivation of the Sugar-Cane in Florida” had never sold so well. New editions of these works had to be printed.

Barbicane had something better to do than to read. He desired to see things with his own eyes, and to mark the exact position of the proposed gun. So, without a moment’s loss of time, he placed at the disposal of the Cambridge Observatory the funds necessary for the construction of a telescope, and entered into negotiations with the house of Breadwill and Co., of Albany, for the construction of an aluminum projectile of the required size. He then quitted Baltimore, accompanied by J. T. Maston, Major Elphinstone, and the manager of the Coldspring factory.

Barbicane had something better to do than read. He wanted to see things for himself and mark the exact location of the proposed gun. So, without wasting a moment, he gave the Cambridge Observatory the funds needed to build a telescope. He also began negotiations with Breadwill and Co. of Albany to build an aluminum projectile of the required size. He then left Baltimore with J. T. Maston, Major Elphinstone, and the manager of the Coldspring factory.

On the following day, the four fellow-travelers arrived at New Orleans. There they immediately embarked on board the Tampico, a despatch-boat belonging to the Federal navy, which the government had placed at their disposal; and, getting up steam, the banks of Louisiana speedily disappeared from sight.

The next day, the four travelers arrived in New Orleans. They immediately boarded the Tampico, a Federal navy dispatch boat the government had placed at their disposal. The boat got up steam, and the banks of Louisiana quickly disappeared from sight.

The passage was not long. Two days after starting, the Tampico, having made four hundred and eighty miles, came in sight of the coast of Florida. On a nearer approach Barbicane found himself in view of a low, flat country of somewhat barren aspect. After coasting along a series of creeks abounding in lobsters and oysters, the Tampico entered the bay of Espiritu Santo, where she finally anchored in a small natural harbor, formed by the embouchure of the River Hillisborough, at seven P.M., on the 22d of October.

The voyage was short. Two days after setting out, the Tampico came within sight of the Florida coast, having traveled four hundred and eighty miles. As the ship drew closer, Barbicane saw a low, flat country that looked somewhat barren. The Tampico sailed along a series of creeks full of lobsters and oysters, then entered the bay of Espiritu Santo. At seven P.M. on October 22, she finally anchored in a small natural harbor formed by the mouth of the River Hillisborough.

Our four passengers disembarked at once. “Gentlemen,” said Barbicane, “we have no time to lose; tomorrow we must obtain horses, and proceed to reconnoiter the country.”

Our four passengers got off at once. “Gentlemen,” said Barbicane, “we have no time to lose. Tomorrow we must get horses and explore the country.”

Barbicane had scarcely set his foot on shore when three thousand of the inhabitants of Tampa Town came forth to meet him, an honor due to the president who had signalized their country by his choice.

Barbicane had barely stepped ashore when three thousand residents of Tampa Town came out to meet him. It was an honor due to the president, whose choice had brought distinction to their country.

Declining, however, every kind of ovation, Barbicane ensconced himself in a room of the Franklin Hotel.

But Barbicane refused all public acclaim and settled into a room at the Franklin Hotel.

On the morrow some of the small horses of the Spanish breed, full of vigor and of fire, stood snorting under his windows; but instead of four steeds, here were fifty, together with their riders. Barbicane descended with his three fellow- travelers; and much astonished were they all to find themselves in the midst of such a cavalcade. He remarked that every horseman carried a carbine slung across his shoulders and pistols in his holsters.

The next morning, some small Spanish horses stood snorting beneath his windows, full of energy and spirit. But instead of four horses, there were fifty, along with their riders. Barbicane came downstairs with his three fellow travelers. All four were astonished to find themselves among such a large group of riders. Barbicane noticed that each rider had a carbine slung over his shoulder and pistols in his holsters.

On expressing his surprise at these preparations, he was speedily enlightened by a young Floridan, who quietly said:

When he expressed surprise at the preparations, a young Floridan quickly explained them, saying quietly:

“Sir, there are Seminoles there.”

“Sir, there are Seminoles there.”

“What do you mean by Seminoles?”

“What do you mean by Seminoles?”

“Savages who scour the prairies. We thought it best, therefore, to escort you on your road.”

“Savages who roam the prairies. So we thought it best to escort you on your journey.”

“Pooh!” cried J. T. Maston, mounting his steed.

“Pooh!” cried J. T. Maston as he climbed onto his horse.

“All right,” said the Floridan; “but it is true enough, nevertheless.”

“All right,” said the Floridan, “but it’s still true.”

“Gentlemen,” answered Barbicane, “I thank you for your kind attention; but it is time to be off.”

“Gentlemen,” Barbicane replied, “thank you for your kind attention, but it is time to leave.”

It was five A.M. when Barbicane and his party, quitting Tampa Town, made their way along the coast in the direction of Alifia Creek. This little river falls into Hillisborough Bay twelve miles above Tampa Town. Barbicane and his escort coasted along its right bank to the eastward. Soon the waves of the bay disappeared behind a bend of rising ground, and the Floridan “champagne” alone offered itself to view.

At five A.M., Barbicane and his party left Tampa Town and traveled along the coast toward Alifia Creek. This small river flows into Hillisborough Bay twelve miles above Tampa Town. Barbicane and his escort followed its right bank eastward. Soon a rise in the ground hid the waves of the bay, leaving only the Floridan “champagne” in view.

Florida, discovered on Palm Sunday, in 1512, by Juan Ponce de Leon, was originally named Pascha Florida. It little deserved that designation, with its dry and parched coasts. But after some few miles of tract the nature of the soil gradually changes and the country shows itself worthy of the name. Cultivated plains soon appear, where are united all the productions of the northern and tropical floras, terminating in prairies abounding with pineapples and yams, tobacco, rice, cotton-plants, and sugar-canes, which extend beyond reach of sight, flinging their riches broadcast with careless prodigality.

Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida on Palm Sunday in 1512 and originally named it Pascha Florida. With its dry, parched coasts, Florida hardly deserved the name. But after a few miles inland, the soil gradually changes, and the country proves worthy of its name. Cultivated plains soon appear, bringing together all the plants of northern and tropical regions. These plains give way to prairies rich with pineapples, yams, tobacco, rice, cotton, and sugarcane. The prairies stretch beyond sight, scattering their riches with careless abundance.

Barbicane appeared highly pleased on observing the progressive elevation of the land; and in answer to a question of J. T. Maston, replied:

Barbicane seemed very pleased to see the land gradually rising. In answer to a question from J. T. Maston, he replied:

“My worthy friend, we cannot do better than sink our Columbiad in these high grounds.”

“My friend, we can do no better than bury our Columbiad in this high ground.”

“To get nearer the moon, perhaps?” said the secretary of the Gun Club.

“Perhaps to get closer to the moon?” said the secretary of the Gun Club.

“Not exactly,” replied Barbicane, smiling; “do you not see that among these elevated plateaus we shall have a much easier work of it? No struggles with the water-springs, which will save us long expensive tubings; and we shall be working in daylight instead of down a deep and narrow well. Our business, then, is to open our trenches upon ground some hundreds of yards above the level of the sea.”

“Not exactly,” Barbicane replied, smiling. “Don’t you see that our work will be much easier on these high plateaus? We won’t have to deal with underground springs, so we’ll save the expense of long pipes. And we’ll be working in daylight instead of at the bottom of a deep, narrow well. So we need to dig our trenches on ground several hundred yards above sea level.”

“You are right, sir,” struck in Murchison, the engineer; “and, if I mistake not, we shall ere long find a suitable spot for our purpose.”

“You’re right, sir,” Murchison, the engineer, interrupted. “And if I’m not mistaken, we’ll soon find a suitable spot for our purpose.”

“I wish we were at the first stroke of the pickaxe,” said the president.

“I wish we could start digging,” said the president.

“And I wish we were at the last,” cried J. T. Maston.

“And I wish we were at the last,” shouted J. T. Maston.

About ten A.M. the little band had crossed a dozen miles. To fertile plains succeeded a region of forests. There perfumes of the most varied kinds mingled together in tropical profusion. These almost impenetrable forests were composed of pomegranates, orange-trees, citrons, figs, olives, apricots, bananas, huge vines, whose blossoms and fruits rivaled each other in color and perfume. Beneath the odorous shade of these magnificent trees fluttered and warbled a little world of brilliantly plumaged birds.

By about 10 a.m., the small group had traveled twelve miles. Beyond the fertile plains lay a region of forests. A rich variety of tropical scents mingled in the air. The forests were almost impossible to pass through. They were filled with pomegranates, orange trees, citrons, figs, olives, apricots, bananas, and huge vines. Their blossoms and fruits competed in color and fragrance. Beneath the fragrant shade of these magnificent trees, a little world of brightly colored birds fluttered and sang.

J. T. Maston and the major could not repress their admiration on finding themselves in the presence of the glorious beauties of this wealth of nature. President Barbicane, however, less sensitive to these wonders, was in haste to press forward; the very luxuriance of the country was displeasing to him. They hastened onward, therefore, and were compelled to ford several rivers, not without danger, for they were infested with huge alligators from fifteen to eighteen feet long. Maston courageously menaced them with his steel hook, but he only succeeded in frightening some pelicans and teal, while tall flamingos stared stupidly at the party.

J. T. Maston and the major could not hide their admiration for the glorious natural beauty around them. President Barbicane, however, was less moved by these wonders and wanted to press on. The lush countryside actually displeased him. So they hurried onward and had to wade across several rivers. This was dangerous, for the rivers were full of huge alligators, fifteen to eighteen feet long. Maston bravely threatened the alligators with his steel hook, but he only frightened some pelicans and teal. Meanwhile, tall flamingos stared stupidly at the party.

At length these denizens of the swamps disappeared in their turn; smaller trees became thinly scattered among less dense thickets—a few isolated groups detached in the midst of endless plains over which ranged herds of startled deer.

Eventually, these swamp dwellers disappeared too. Smaller trees stood scattered among thinner thickets, with a few isolated groups in the middle of endless plains. Herds of startled deer roamed across the plains.

“At last,” cried Barbicane, rising in his stirrups, “here we are at the region of pines!”

“At last,” shouted Barbicane, rising in his stirrups, “we've reached the pine region!”

“Yes! and of savages too,” replied the major.

“Yes! And of savages too,” the major replied.

In fact, some Seminoles had just came in sight upon the horizon; they rode violently backward and forward on their fleet horses, brandishing their spears or discharging their guns with a dull report. These hostile demonstrations, however, had no effect upon Barbicane and his companions.

In fact, some Seminoles had just appeared on the horizon. They rode swiftly back and forth on their fast horses, waving their spears or firing their guns with a dull sound. But these hostile displays had no effect on Barbicane and his companions.

They were then occupying the center of a rocky plain, which the sun scorched with its parching rays. This was formed by a considerable elevation of the soil, which seemed to offer to the members of the Gun Club all the conditions requisite for the construction of their Columbiad.

They were in the center of a rocky plain, scorched by the sun’s drying rays. The plain was on a large area of raised ground. It seemed to offer the Gun Club members all the conditions needed to build their Columbiad.

“Halt!” said Barbicane, reining up. “Has this place any local appellation?”

“Stop!” said Barbicane, pulling up. “Does this place have a local name?”

“It is called Stones Hill,” replied one of the Floridans.

“It’s called Stones Hill,” replied one of the Floridans.

Barbicane, without saying a word, dismounted, seized his instruments, and began to note his position with extreme exactness. The little band, drawn up in the rear, watched his proceedings in profound silence.

Without a word, Barbicane dismounted, grabbed his instruments, and began recording his position with extreme precision. The small group stood behind him and watched in complete silence.

At this moment the sun passed the meridian. Barbicane, after a few moments, rapidly wrote down the result of his observations, and said:

At that moment, the sun crossed the meridian. After a few moments, Barbicane quickly wrote down the results of his observations and said:

“This spot is situated eighteen hundred feet above the level of the sea, in 27° 7′ N. lat. and 5° 7′ W. long. of the meridian of Washington. It appears to me by its rocky and barren character to offer all the conditions requisite for our experiment. On that plain will be raised our magazines, workshops, furnaces, and workmen’s huts; and here, from this very spot,” said he, stamping his foot on the summit of Stones Hill, “hence shall our projectile take its flight into the regions of the Solar World.”

“This spot is eighteen hundred feet above sea level, at 27° 7′ N latitude and 5° 7′ W longitude of the Washington meridian. Its rocky, barren ground seems to me to meet all the requirements for our experiment. On that plain we will build our storage buildings, workshops, furnaces, and workers’ huts. And here, from this very spot,” he said, stamping his foot on the summit of Stones Hill, “our projectile will take flight into the regions of the Solar World.”