Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/432

 nedy; at four Kennedy will wake Joe; at six we shall be off, and may Heaven guard us through this last day!"

Without saying anything, the doctor's two companions lay down at the bottom of the car and slept profoundly.

The night was calm; some clouds passed over the moon, whose rays at that time scarce broke the obscurity. Ferguson, leaning against the car, looked about in all directions; he steadily watched the dark carpet of foliage which lay spread beneath and intercepted his view of the ground. The least noise appeared to him suspicious, and he sought for reasons for even a trembling of the leaves. He was in that over-excited state of mind which solitude renders more nevousnervous [sic], and in which all kinds of vague terrors arise.

At the termination of a similar journey, having overcome all obstacles, at the moment of success, fears are so strong, emotions so great, that the point of arrival seems to disappear altogether.

Besides, the situation offered nothing reassuring in the midst of a barbarous country, and with means of transport which, in fact, might fail at any moment. The doctor did not rely absolutely upon his balloon, the time had passed in which he could maneuver it fearlessly.

With these impressions upon him the doctor believed he could hear vague murmurs in that vast forest, and fancied he perceived a fire rapidly flitting between the trees. He kept his gaze fixed, and leveled his night-glass in the same direction, but nothing appeared, and the silence was most profound.

Ferguson had doubtless been under a delusion, he listened without hearing the slightest sound. The period of his watch having now expired, he woke Kennedy, enjoined upon him the utmost vigilance, and lay down beside Joe, who was sleeping soundly.

Kennedy lit his pipe and rubbed his eyes, which he could scarcely keep open. He leaned his elbows upon the corner of the car, and smoked vigorously to keep himself awake.

The most absolute silence reigned around, a gentle breeze moved the tops of the trees, and swayed the car in a most sleep-inviting manner, which Kennedy could scarce resist. He struggled against the feeling, opened his eye-