FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88  
89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   >>   >|  
d idea!" replied the major. "Corporal, you hear the orders." In quick time an artillery-wagon was on the spot, and the men lifted out a full-sized shot, weighing 200 lbs., which, under ordinary circumstances, the cannon would carry about four miles. It was proposed, by means of telescopes, to note the place where the ball first touched the water, and thus to obtain an approximation sufficiently accurate as to the true range. Having been duly charged with powder and ball, the gun was raised to an angle of something under 45 degrees, so as to allow proper development to the curve that the projectile would make, and, at a signal from the major, the light was applied to the priming. "Heavens!" "By all that's good!" exclaimed both officers in one breath, as, standing open-mouthed, they hardly knew whether they were to believe the evidence of their own senses. "Is it possible?" The diminution of the force of attraction at the earth's surface was so considerable that the ball had sped beyond the horizon. "Incredible!" ejaculated the colonel. "Incredible!" echoed the major. "Six miles at least!" observed the one. "Ay, more than that!" replied the other. Awhile, they gazed at the sea and at each other in mute amazement. But in the midst of their perplexity, what sound was that which startled them? Was it mere fancy? Was it the reverberation of the cannon still booming in their ears? Or was it not truly the report of another and a distant gun in answer to their own? Attentively and eagerly they listened. Twice, thrice did the sound repeat itself. It was quite distinct. There could be no mistake. "I told you so," cried the colonel, triumphantly. "I knew our country would not forsake us; it is an English ship, no doubt." In half an hour two masts were visible above the horizon. "See! Was I not right? Our country was sure to send to our relief. Here is the ship." "Yes," replied the major; "she responded to our gun." "It is to be hoped," muttered the corporal, "that our ball has done her no damage." Before long the hull was full in sight. A long trail of smoke betokened her to be a steamer; and very soon, by the aid of the glass, it could be ascertained that she was a schooner-yacht, and making straight for the island. A flag at her mast-head fluttered in the breeze, and towards this the two officers, with the keenest attention, respectively adjusted their focus. Simultaneously the two telescopes wer
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88  
89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

replied

 

telescopes

 

country

 
officers
 
colonel
 

Incredible

 
cannon
 

horizon

 

mistake

 

forsake


triumphantly
 

booming

 

report

 

reverberation

 

startled

 
distant
 

repeat

 

distinct

 

thrice

 
answer

Attentively

 
eagerly
 

listened

 

making

 

straight

 

island

 

schooner

 
ascertained
 

steamer

 

adjusted


Simultaneously

 

attention

 

keenest

 

fluttered

 

breeze

 

betokened

 

perplexity

 

relief

 

visible

 

Before


damage

 

responded

 

muttered

 

corporal

 

English

 

obtain

 
approximation
 

sufficiently

 

accurate

 

touched