Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/293

 smooth, the former with warts on them. It was on these appendages, fastened firmly, that all their balancing feats were performed. A dozen of these sectaries of the god Tingou lay upon their backs, and their comrades came, dressed like lightning rods, to make sport on their noses, jumping, leaping from one to the other, executing the most incredible somersaults.

To close, they had specially announced to the public the "human pyramid," in which fifty Long Noses were to represent the car of Juggernaut. But instead of forming this pyramid by taking their shoulders for a point of support, the artists of the Honorable Batulcar made it with their noses. Now, the one of them who usually formed the base of the car had left the troupe, and as all that was necessary was to be strong and agile, Passepartout was chosen to take his place.

The good fellow felt quite melancholy, when—sad recollection of his youth—he had put on this costume of the middle ages, adorned with parti-colored wings, and when a nose six feet long had been put on his face. But this nose was to earn his bread for him, and he took his part.

Passepartout went upon the stage and took his place with those of his colleagues who were to form the base of the Car of Juggernaut. All stretched themselves on the floor, their noses turned towards the ceiling. A second section of equilibrists placed themselves upon these long appendages, a third formed a story above, then a fourth, and on these noses which only touched at the point, a human monument soon rose to the height of the cornices of the theater.

Now, the applause was redoubled, and the instruments in the orchestra crashed like so much thunder, when the pyramid shook, the equilibrium was broken, one of the noses of the base was missing, and the monument fell like a house of cards.

It was Passepartout's fault, who, leaving his post, clearing the footlights without the aid of his wings, and climbing up to the right-hand gallery, fell at the feet of a spectator, crying: "Ah! my master! my master!"

"You here?"

"Myself!"

"Well then, in that case, to the steamer, young man!"

Mr. Fogg, Aouda, who accompanied him, and Passepar-