At the present time, it was five o'clock in the morning of
the 7th; therefore, if nothing unforeseen should occur in the meantime,
their great and final effort was to be made about twenty hours later.
The rockets, so often alluded to as an idea of Ardan's and already fully
described, had been originally provided to break the violence of the
Projectile's fall on the lunar surface; but now the dauntless travellers
were about to employ them for a purpose precisely the reverse. In any
case, having been put in proper order for immediate use, nothing more
now remained to be done till the moment should come for firing them off.
"Now then, friends," said M'Nicholl, rubbing his eyes but hardly able to
keep them open, "I'm not over fond of talking, but this time I think I
may offer a slight proposition."
"We shall be most happy to entertain it, my dear Captain," said
Barbican.
[Illustration: ARDAN GAZED ON THE PAIR.]
"I propose we lie down and take a good nap."
"Good gracious!" protested Ardan; "What next?"
"We have not had a blessed wink for forty hours," continued the Captain;
"a little sleep would recuperate us wonderfully."
"No sleep now!" exclaimed Ardan.
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