Путешествие на Луну

           Theyhastenedonward,therefore,andwerecompelledtofordseveralrivers,notwithoutdanger,fortheywereinfestedwithhugealligatorsfromfifteentoeighteenfeetlong.Mastoncourageouslymenacedthemwithhissteelhook,butheonlysucceededinfrighteningsomepelicansandteal,whiletallflamingosstaredstupidlyattheparty.

           Atlengththesedenizensoftheswampsdisappearedintheirturn;smallertreesbecamethinlyscatteredamonglessdensethickets—afewisolatedgroupsdetachedinthemidstofendlessplainsoverwhichrangedherdsofstartleddeer.

           "Atlast,"criedBarbicane,risinginhisstirrups,"hereweareattheregionofpines!"

           "Yes!andofsavagestoo,"repliedthemajor.

           Infact,someSeminoleshadjustcameinsightuponthehorizon;theyrodeviolentlybackwardandforwardontheirfleethorses,brandishingtheirspearsordischargingtheirgunswithadullreport.Thesehostiledemonstrations,however,hadnoeffectuponBarbicaneandhiscompanions.

           Theywerethenoccupyingthecenterofarockyplain,whichthesunscorchedwithitsparchingrays.Thiswasformedbyaconsiderableelevationofthesoil,whichseemedtooffertothemembersoftheGunCluballtheconditionsrequisitefortheconstructionoftheirColumbiad.

           "Halt!"saidBarbicane,reiningup."Hasthisplaceanylocalappellation?"

           "ItiscalledStonesHill,"repliedoneoftheFloridans.

           Barbicane,withoutsayingaword,dismounted,seizedhisinstruments,andbegantonotehispositionwithextremeexactness