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Off on a Comet-Part12_JULES VERNE(1828-1905)_Translated Works(翻译文学)-第2页

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"This is all very peculiar, Sir John," observed the colonel.

"Yes, colonel; very peculiar," replied the major.



"England will be sure to send for us," said one officer.

"No doubt she will," answered the other.



Accordingly, they came to the mutualresolution that they would

"stick to their post."



To say the truth, it would have been a difficult matter for

the gallant officers to do otherwise; they had but one small boat;



therefore, it was well that they made a virtue of necessity,

and resigned themselves to patient expectation of the British



ship which, in due time, would bring relief.

They had no fear of starvation. Their island was mined with subterranean



stores, more than ample for thirteen men--nay, for thirteen Englishmen--

for the next five years at least. Preserved meat, ale, brandy--all were



in abundance; consequently, as the men expressed it, they were in this

respect "all right."



Of course, the physical changes that had taken place had attracted the notice

both of officers and men. But the reversed position of east and west,



the diminution of the force of gravity, the altered rotation of the earth,

and her projection upon a new orbit, were all things that gave them little



concern and no uneasiness; and when the colonel and the major had replaced

the pieces on the board which had been disturbed by the convulsion,



any surprise they might have felt at the chess-men losing some portion

of their weight was quite forgotten in the satisfaction of seeing them



retain their equilibrium.

One phenomenon, however, did not fail to make its due impression upon



the men; this was the diminution in the length of day and night.

Three days after the catastrophe, Corporal Pim, on behalf of himself



and his comrades, solicited a formalinterview with the officers.

The request having been granted, Pim, with the nine soldiers,



all punctiliously wearing the regimental tunic of scarlet and trousers

of invisible green, presented themselves at the door of the colonel's room,



where he and his brother-officer were continuing their game.

Raising his hand respectfully to his cap, which he wore poised jauntily



over his right ear, and scarcely held on by the strap below his under lip,

the corporal waited permission to speak.



After a lingering survey of the chess-board, the colonel slowly

lifted his eyes, and said with official dignity, "Well, men,



what is it?"

"First of all, sir," replied the corporal, "we want to speak to you



about our pay, and then we wish to have a word with the major

about our rations."



"Say on, then," said Colonel Murphy. "What is it about your pay?"

"Just this, sir; as the days are only half as long as they were,



we should like to know whether our pay is to be diminished in proportion."

The colonel was taken somewhat aback, and did not reply immediately,



though by some significant nods towards the major,

he indicated that he thought the question very reasonable.



After a few moments' reflection, he replied, "It must, I think,

be allowed that your pay was calculated from sunrise to sunrise;



there was no specification of what the interval should be.

Your pay will continue as before. England can afford it."



A buzz of approval burst involuntarily from all the men, but military




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