Путешествие на Луну

           Thusthetravelersenclosedwithintheprojectilewereenabledtofollowwiththeireyestheimpassiveneedlewhichmarkedtheprecisemomentoftheirdeparture.

           Themomenthadarrivedforsaying"good-by!"Thescenewasatouchingone.Despitehisfeverishgayety,evenMichelArdanwastouched.J.T.Mastonhadfoundinhisowndryeyesoneancienttear,whichhehaddoubtlessreservedfortheoccasion.Hedroppeditontheforeheadofhisdearpresident.

           "CanInotgo?"hesaid,"thereisstilltime!"

           "Impossible,oldfellow!"repliedBarbicane.Afewmomentslater,thethreefellow-travelershadensconcedthemselvesintheprojectile,andscreweddowntheplatewhichcoveredtheentrance-aperture.ThemouthoftheColumbiad,nowcompletelydisencumbered,wasopenentirelytothesky.

           Themoonadvancedupwardinaheavenofthepurestclearness,outshininginherpassagethetwinklinglightofthestars.ShepassedovertheconstellationoftheTwins,andwasnownearingthehalfwaypointbetweenthehorizonandthezenith.Aterriblesilenceweighedupontheentirescene!Notabreathofwindupontheearth!notasoundofbreathingfromthecountlesschestsofthespectators!Theirheartsseemedafraidtobeat!AlleyeswerefixedupontheyawningmouthoftheColumbiad.

           Murchisonfollowedwithhiseyethehandofhischronometer