Fire!

The first of December had arrived! the fatal day! for, if the projectile were not discharged that very night at 10h. 48m. 40s. P.M., more than eighteen years must roll by before the moon would again present herself under the same conditions of zenith and perigee.

December 1 had arrived! The fateful day! The projectile had to be fired that night at 10:48:40 p.m. Otherwise, more than eighteen years would pass before the moon was again at the same zenith and perigee.

The weather was magnificent. Despite the approach of winter, the sun shone brightly, and bathed in its radiant light that earth which three of its denizens were about to abandon for a new world.

The weather was magnificent. Although winter was approaching, the sun shone brightly over the Earth. Three of its inhabitants were about to leave it for a new world.

How many persons lost their rest on the night which preceded this long-expected day! All hearts beat with disquietude, save only the heart of Michel Ardan. That imperturbable personage came and went with his habitual business-like air, while nothing whatever denoted that any unusual matter preoccupied his mind.

How many people lost sleep the night before this long-awaited day! Every heart was troubled except Michel Ardan's. Unshakable as ever, he went about with his usual businesslike air. Nothing about him suggested that anything unusual was on his mind.

After dawn, an innumerable multitude covered the prairie which extends, as far as the eye can reach, round Stones Hill. Every quarter of an hour the railway brought fresh accessions of sightseers; and, according to the statement of the Tampa Town Observer, not less than five millions of spectators thronged the soil of Florida.

After dawn, a countless crowd covered the prairie around Stones Hill, as far as the eye could see. Every fifteen minutes, the railway brought more sightseers. According to the Tampa Town Observer, at least five million spectators crowded into Florida.

For a whole month previously, the mass of these persons had bivouacked round the enclosure, and laid the foundations for a town which was afterward called “Ardan’s Town.” The whole plain was covered with huts, cottages, and tents. Every nation under the sun was represented there; and every language might be heard spoken at the same time. It was a perfect Babel re-enacted. All the various classes of American society were mingled together in terms of absolute equality. Bankers, farmers, sailors, cotton-planters, brokers, merchants, watermen, magistrates, elbowed each other in the most free-and-easy way. Louisiana Creoles fraternized with farmers from Indiana; Kentucky and Tennessee gentlemen and haughty Virginians conversed with trappers and the half-savages of the lakes and butchers from Cincinnati. Broad-brimmed white hats and Panamas, blue-cotton trousers, light-colored stockings, cambric frills, were all here displayed; while upon shirt-fronts, wristbands, and neckties, upon every finger, even upon the very ears, they wore an assortment of rings, shirt-pins, brooches, and trinkets, of which the value only equaled the execrable taste. Women, children, and servants, in equally expensive dress, surrounded their husbands, fathers, or masters, who resembled the patriarchs of tribes in the midst of their immense households.

For a whole month before this, most of these people had camped around the enclosure. They had laid the foundations of a town later called “Ardan’s Town.” Huts, cottages, and tents covered the entire plain. Every nation under the sun was represented there, and every language could be heard at once. It was a perfect recreation of Babel. All the different classes of American society mingled on absolutely equal terms. Bankers, farmers, sailors, cotton planters, brokers, merchants, boatmen, and magistrates rubbed elbows in the most relaxed way. Louisiana Creoles became friendly with farmers from Indiana. Gentlemen from Kentucky and Tennessee and proud Virginians talked with trappers, the half-savages of the lakes, and butchers from Cincinnati. Broad-brimmed white hats, Panama hats, blue cotton trousers, light-colored stockings, and fine linen ruffles were all on display. Rings, shirt pins, brooches, and trinkets adorned shirtfronts, cuffs, neckties, every finger, and even ears. Their value was matched only by their appalling taste. Women, children, and servants, dressed just as expensively, surrounded their husbands, fathers, or masters. The men resembled tribal patriarchs among their vast households.

At meal-times all fell to work upon the dishes peculiar to the Southern States, and consumed with an appetite that threatened speedy exhaustion of the victualing powers of Florida, fricasseed frogs, stuffed monkey, fish chowder, underdone ’possum, and raccoon steaks. And as for the liquors which accompanied this indigestible repast! The shouts, the vociferations that resounded through the bars and taverns decorated with glasses, tankards, and bottles of marvelous shape, mortars for pounding sugar, and bundles of straws! “Mint-julep” roars one of the barmen; “Claret sangaree!” shouts another; “Cocktail!” “Brandy-smash!” “Real mint-julep in the new style!” All these cries intermingled produced a bewildering and deafening hubbub.

At mealtimes, everyone dug into dishes typical of the Southern States. They ate with such appetites that they threatened to quickly exhaust Florida’s food supplies. There were fricasseed frogs, stuffed monkey, fish chowder, undercooked possum, and raccoon steaks. And what drinks accompanied this indigestible feast! Shouts and cries rang through the bars and taverns. The establishments were decorated with glasses, tankards, and bottles of marvelous shapes, mortars for pounding sugar, and bundles of straws. “Mint-julep!” roared one bartender. “Claret sangaree!” shouted another. “Cocktail!” “Brandy-smash!” “Real mint-julep in the new style!” All these cries mingled in a bewildering, deafening uproar.

But on this day, 1st of December, such sounds were rare. No one thought of eating or drinking, and at four P.M. there were vast numbers of spectators who had not even taken their customary lunch! And, a still more significant fact, even the national passion for play seemed quelled for the time under the general excitement of the hour.

But on December 1, such sounds were rare. No one thought about eating or drinking. By 4 p.m., large numbers of spectators had not even eaten their usual lunch! Even more tellingly, the excitement of the moment seemed to have quieted the national passion for gambling.

Up till nightfall, a dull, noiseless agitation, such as precedes great catastrophes, ran through the anxious multitude. An indescribable uneasiness pervaded all minds, an indefinable sensation which oppressed the heart. Every one wished it was over.

Until nightfall, a dull, silent agitation passed through the anxious crowd, like the unrest that comes before great disasters. Everyone felt an indescribable unease, a nameless feeling that weighed on their hearts. Everyone wished it was over.

However, about seven o’clock, the heavy silence was dissipated. The moon rose above the horizon. Millions of hurrahs hailed her appearance. She was punctual to the rendezvous, and shouts of welcome greeted her on all sides, as her pale beams shone gracefully in the clear heavens. At this moment the three intrepid travelers appeared. This was the signal for renewed cries of still greater intensity. Instantly the vast assemblage, as with one accord, struck up the national hymn of the United States, and “Yankee Doodle,” sung by five million of hearty throats, rose like a roaring tempest to the farthest limits of the atmosphere. Then a profound silence reigned throughout the crowd.

However, around seven o’clock, the heavy silence lifted. The moon rose above the horizon. Millions of people cheered her appearance. She was on time for the meeting, and shouts of welcome greeted her from every side. Her pale beams shone gracefully in the clear sky. At that moment, the three brave travelers appeared. Their appearance sparked even louder cheers. At once, the vast crowd began singing the national hymn of the United States, as if with one voice. “Yankee Doodle,” sung by five million strong voices, rose like a roaring storm to the farthest reaches of the atmosphere. Then a deep silence fell over the crowd.

The Frenchman and the two Americans had by this time entered the enclosure reserved in the center of the multitude. They were accompanied by the members of the Gun Club, and by deputations sent from all the European Observatories. Barbicane, cool and collected, was giving his final directions. Nicholl, with compressed lips, his arms crossed behind his back, walked with a firm and measured step. Michel Ardan, always easy, dressed in thorough traveler’s costume, leathern gaiters on his legs, pouch by his side, in loose velvet suit, cigar in mouth, was full of inexhaustible gayety, laughing, joking, playing pranks with J. T. Maston. In one word, he was the thorough “Frenchman” (and worse, a “Parisian”) to the last moment.

By this time, the Frenchman and the two Americans had entered the enclosure reserved for them in the middle of the crowd. Members of the Gun Club accompanied them, along with delegations from all the European observatories. Barbicane, calm and composed, was giving his final instructions. Nicholl walked with a firm, measured step, his lips pressed together and his arms crossed behind his back. Michel Ardan was as relaxed and cheerful as ever. He wore a loose velvet suit, leather gaiters, and a pouch at his side, dressed for travel with a cigar in his mouth. He laughed, joked, and played pranks with J. T. Maston. In short, he was the complete “Frenchman” (and worse, a “Parisian”) to the last moment.

Ten o’clock struck! The moment had arrived for taking their places in the projectile! The necessary operations for the descent, and the subsequent removal of the cranes and scaffolding that inclined over the mouth of the Columbiad, required a certain period of time.

Ten o’clock struck! It was time for them to take their places in the projectile! Lowering them into it would take some time. So would removing the cranes and scaffolding that leaned over the mouth of the Columbiad.

Barbicane had regulated his chronometer to the tenth part of a second by that of Murchison the engineer, who was charged with the duty of firing the gun by means of an electric spark. Thus the travelers enclosed within the projectile were enabled to follow with their eyes the impassive needle which marked the precise moment of their departure.

Barbicane had set his chronometer to match Murchison’s, accurate to a tenth of a second. Murchison, the engineer, was responsible for firing the gun with an electric spark. This allowed the travelers inside the projectile to watch the steady hand mark the precise moment of their departure.

The moment had arrived for saying “good-by!” The scene was a touching one. Despite his feverish gayety, even Michel Ardan was touched. J. T. Maston had found in his own dry eyes one ancient tear, which he had doubtless reserved for the occasion. He dropped it on the forehead of his dear president.

The time had come to say “good-by!” It was a touching scene. Even Michel Ardan was moved, despite his feverish cheerfulness. J. T. Maston found one old tear in his otherwise dry eyes. He had no doubt saved it for the occasion. He let it fall on the forehead of his dear president.

“Can I not go?” he said, “there is still time!”

“Can’t I go?” he said. “There’s still time!”

“Impossible, old fellow!” replied Barbicane. A few moments later, the three fellow-travelers had ensconced themselves in the projectile, and screwed down the plate which covered the entrance-aperture. The mouth of the Columbiad, now completely disencumbered, was open entirely to the sky.

“Impossible, old friend!” replied Barbicane. A few moments later, the three travelers settled inside the projectile. They screwed down the plate covering the entrance. The mouth of the Columbiad was now completely clear and open to the sky.

The moon advanced upward in a heaven of the purest clearness, outshining in her passage the twinkling light of the stars. She passed over the constellation of the Twins, and was now nearing the halfway point between the horizon and the zenith. A terrible silence weighed upon the entire scene! Not a breath of wind upon the earth! not a sound of breathing from the countless chests of the spectators! Their hearts seemed afraid to beat! All eyes were fixed upon the yawning mouth of the Columbiad.

The moon rose through a perfectly clear sky, outshining the twinkling stars as it passed. It crossed the constellation of the Twins and was nearing the halfway point between the horizon and the point directly overhead. A terrible silence weighed over the whole scene! Not a breath of wind stirred on the earth! Not a sound of breathing came from the countless spectators! Their hearts seemed afraid to beat! All eyes were fixed on the gaping mouth of the Columbiad.

Murchison followed with his eye the hand of his chronometer. It wanted scarce forty seconds to the moment of departure, but each second seemed to last an age! At the twentieth there was a general shudder, as it occurred to the minds of that vast assemblage that the bold travelers shut up within the projectile were also counting those terrible seconds. Some few cries here and there escaped the crowd.

Murchison watched the hand of his chronometer. There were barely forty seconds left before departure, but each second seemed to last forever! At the twentieth second, a shudder ran through the crowd. They realized that the daring travelers shut inside the projectile were also counting those terrible seconds. A few cries rose from the crowd here and there.

“Thirty-five!—thirty-six!—thirty-seven!—thirty-eight!—thirty-nine!—forty! FIRE!!!”

“Thirty-five! Thirty-six! Thirty-seven! Thirty-eight! Thirty-nine! Forty! FIRE!!!”

Instantly Murchison pressed with his finger the key of the electric battery, restored the current of the fluid, and discharged the spark into the breech of the Columbiad.

Murchison immediately pressed the key on the electric battery. This restored the current and sent a spark into the breech of the Columbiad.

An appalling unearthly report followed instantly, such as can be compared to nothing whatever known, not even to the roar of thunder, or the blast of volcanic explosions! No words can convey the slightest idea of the terrific sound! An immense spout of fire shot up from the bowels of the earth as from a crater. The earth heaved up, and with great difficulty some few spectators obtained a momentary glimpse of the projectile victoriously cleaving the air in the midst of the fiery vapors!

An appalling, unearthly blast followed instantly. It was unlike anything known, even the roar of thunder or the blast of a volcanic explosion! No words can give the slightest idea of that terrifying sound! A huge jet of fire shot up from deep within the earth, as if from a crater. The ground heaved. With great difficulty, a few spectators caught a brief glimpse of the projectile as it cut triumphantly through the air amid the fiery vapors!