Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 22, 2025
If ever two individuals offered a striking contrast to each other, these were certainly Michel Ardan and the Yankee Barbicane; both, moreover, being equally enterprising and daring, each in his own way. The scrutiny which the president of the Gun Club had instituted regarding this new rival was quickly interrupted by the shouts and hurrahs of the crowd.
You must always respect your adversary; don't be uneasy; if Barbicane is alive we shall find him, and so much the more easily that if he has not amused himself with protecting birds he must be looking for you too. But when you have found him and Michel Ardan tells you this there will be no duel between you."
"Between President Barbicane and me," answered Nicholl gravely, "there is such rivalry that the death of one of us " "Come, come!" resumed Michel Ardan, "brave men like you may detest one another, but they respect one another too. You will not fight." "I shall fight, sir." "No you won't."
Its line of movement, however, being oblique instead of direct, was so deceptive as to induce Ardan to flatter himself that they might still reach the lunar surface. He could never persuade himself to believe that they should get so near their aim and still miss it. No; nothing might, could, would or should induce him to believe it, he repeated again and again.
"Well," replied Michel Ardan, "as the matter is settled, let us have breakfast. After a whole night of watching it is fair to build ourselves up a little." This proposal meeting with no contradiction, Michel prepared the repast in a few minutes. But they ate for eating's sake, they drank without toasts, without hurrahs.
"Himself," answered Michel Ardan; "and allow me to introduce at the same time the worthy Captain Nicholl." "Nicholl!" cried Barbicane, up in a moment. "Excuse me, captain," said he; "I had forgotten. I am ready." Michel Ardan interfered before the two enemies had time to recriminate. "Faith," said he, "it is fortunate that brave fellows like you did not meet sooner.
Michel Ardan looked at his friends with a rueful countenance. "One question presents itself," said Barbicane. "We cannot keep the dead body of this dog with us for the next forty-eight hours." "No! certainly not," replied Nicholl; "but our scuttles are fixed on hinges; they can be let down. We will open one, and throw the body out into space."
'Deirdre hath wisdom, said Ardan. 'By the morn after to-morrow we must be far hence, for ere the sun shall rise may not yonder chief be upon us with thrice the number of our men? And Nathos, though he was sore grieved for the weariness of Deirdre, bowed his head. So they set sail, and through the thick mist of a starless night their galley silently breasted the unseen waves.
But there is another view of the case possible, which might annul the bet." "What other view?" asked Barbican, quickly. "Suppose," said the Captain, very drily, "that the powder had not caught, and that we were still lying quietly at the bottom of the Columbiad!" "By Jove!" laughed Ardan, "there's an idea truly worthy of my own nondescript brain!
"They must be hungry!" observed the Captain. "We have forgotten the poor creatures!" cried Barbican. "Where can they have gone to?" asked Ardan, looking for them in all directions. At last they found one of them hiding under the sofa.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking