10 Hojas Audio Libro

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5

CHAPTER I

THE GUN CLUB

During the War of the Rebellion, a ne an! influential "lub a# e#tabli#he! in the "it$ of Balti%ore

in the &tate of 'ar$lan!( It i# ell )non ith hat energ$ the ta#te for %ilitar$ %atter# be"a%e

!e*elo+e! a%ong that nation of #hi+oner#, #ho+)ee+er#, an! %e"hani"#( &i%+le tra!e#%en

-u%+e! their "ounter# to be"o%e e.te%+ori/e! "a+tain#, "olonel#, an! general#, ithout ha*ing

e*er +a##e! the &"hool of In#tru"tion at We#t Point0 ne*erthele##0 the$ 1ui")l$ ri*ale! their

"o%+eer# of the ol! "ontinent, an!, li)e the%, "arrie! off *i"torie# b$ !int of la*i#h e.+en!iture in

a%%unition, %one$, an! %en(

But the +oint in hi"h the A%eri"an# #ingularl$ !i#tan"e! the Euro+ean# a# in the #"ien"e of

gunner$( Not, in!ee!, that their ea+on# retaine! a higher !egree of +erfe"tion than their#, but that

the$ e.hibite! unhear!of !i%en#ion#, an! "on#e1uentl$ attaine! hitherto unhear!of range#( In +oint

of gra/ing, +lunging, obli1ue, or enfila!ing, or +ointblan) firing, the Engli#h, 2ren"h, an! Pru##ian#

ha*e nothing to learn0 but their "annon, hoit/er#, an! %ortar# are %ere +o")et+i#tol# "o%+are!

ith the for%i!able engine# of the A%eri"an artiller$(

Thi# fa"t nee! #ur+ri#e no one( The 3an)ee#, the fir#t %e"hani"ian# in the orl!, are engineer#

-u#t a# the Italian# are %u#i"ian# an! the Ger%an# %eta+h$#i"ian# b$ right of birth( Nothing i#

%ore natural, therefore, than to +er"ei*e the% a++l$ing their au!a"iou# ingenuit$ to the #"ien"e of

gunner$( Witne## the %ar*el# of Parrott, Dahlgren, an! Ro!%an( The Ar%#trong, Palli#er, an!

Beaulieu gun# ere "o%+elle! to bo before their tran#atlanti" ri*al#(

No hen an A%eri"an ha# an i!ea, he !ire"tl$ #ee)# a #e"on! A%eri"an to #hare it( If there be

three, the$ ele"t a +re#i!ent an! to #e"retarie#( Gi*en four, the$ na%e a )ee+er of re"or!#, an! the

offi"e i# rea!$ for or)0 fi*e, the$ "on*ene a general %eeting, an! the "lub i# full$ "on#titute!( &o

thing# ere %anage! in Balti%ore( The in*entor of a ne "annon a##o"iate! hi%#elf ith the "a#ter

an! the borer( Thu# a# for%e! the nu"leu# of the 4Gun Club(4 In a #ingle %onth after it# for%ation

it nu%bere! ,677 effe"ti*e %e%ber# an! 78,595 "orre#+on!ing %e%ber#(

:ne "on!ition a# i%+o#e! a# a sine qua non u+on e*er$ "an!i!ate for a!%i##ion into the

a##o"iation, an! that a# the "on!ition of ha*ing !e#igne!, or ;%ore or le##< +erfe"te! a "annon0



or, in !efault of a "annon, at lea#t a firear% of #o%e !e#"ri+tion( It %a$, hoe*er, be %entione!

that %ere in*entor# of re*ol*er#, fire#hooting "arbine#, an! #i%ilar #%all ar%#, %et ith little

"on#i!eration( Artilleri#t# ala$# "o%%an!e! the "hief +la"e of fa*or(

The e#ti%ation in hi"h the#e gentle%en ere hel!, a""or!ing to one of the %o#t #"ientifi"

e.+onent# of the Gun Club, a# 4+ro+ortional to the %a##e# of their gun#, an! in the !ire"t ratio of

the #1uare of the !i#tan"e# attaine! b$ their +ro-e"tile#(4

The Gun Club on"e foun!e!, it i# ea#$ to "on"ei*e the re#ult of the in*enti*e geniu# of the

A%eri"an#( Their %ilitar$ ea+on# attaine! "olo##al +ro+ortion#, an! their +ro-e"tile#, e."ee!ing

the +re#"ribe! li%it#, unfortunatel$ o""a#ionall$ "ut in to #o%e unoffen!ing +e!e#trian#( The#e

in*ention#, in fa"t, left far in the rear the ti%i! in#tru%ent# of Euro+ean artiller$(

It i# but fair to a!! that the#e 3an)ee#, bra*e a# the$ ha*e e*er +ro*e! the%#el*e# to be, !i! not

"onfine the%#el*e# to theorie# an! for%ulae, but that the$ +ai! hea*il$, in propria persona, for their

in*ention#( A%ong the% ere to be "ounte! offi"er# of all ran)#, fro% lieutenant# to general#0

%ilitar$ %en of e*er$ age, fro% tho#e ho ere -u#t %a)ing their debut in the +rofe##ion of ar%# u+

to tho#e ho ha! gron ol! in the gun"arriage( 'an$ ha! foun! their re#t on the fiel! of battle

ho#e na%e# figure! in the 4Boo) of Honor4 of the Gun Club0 an! of tho#e ho %a!e goo! their

return the greater +ro+ortion bore the %ar)# of their

CHAPTER I 9

in!i#+utable *alor( Crut"he#, oo!en leg#, artifi"ial ar%#, #teel hoo)#, "aout"hou" -a#, #il*er

"raniu%#, +latinu% no#e#, ere all to be foun! in the "olle"tion0 an! it a# "al"ulate! b$ the great

#tati#ti"ian Pit"airn that throughout the Gun Club there a# not 1uite one ar% beteen four

+er#on# an! to leg# beteen #i.(

Ne*erthele##, the#e *aliant artilleri#t# too) no +arti"ular a""ount of the#e little fa"t#, an! felt -u#tl$

+rou! hen the !e#+at"he# of a battle returne! the nu%ber of *i"ti%# at tenfol! the 1uantit$ of

+ro-e"tile# e.+en!e!(

:ne !a$, hoe*er #a! an! %elan"hol$ !a$= +ea"e a# #igne! beteen the #ur*i*or# of the ar0

the thun!er of the gun# gra!uall$ "ea#e!, the %ortar# ere #ilent, the hoit/er# ere %u//le! for

an in!efinite +erio!, the "annon, ith %u//le# !e+re##e!, ere returne! into the ar#enal, the #hot

ere re+ile!, all bloo!$ re%ini#"en"e# ere effa"e!0 the "otton+lant# gre lu.uriantl$ in the



ell%anure! fiel!#, all %ourning gar%ent# ere lai! a#i!e, together ith grief0 an! the Gun Club

a# relegate! to +rofoun! ina"ti*it$(

&o%e fe of the %ore a!*an"e! an! in*eterate theori#t# #et the%#el*e# again to or) u+on

"al"ulation# regar!ing the la# of +ro-e"tile#( The$ re*erte! in*ariabl$ to giganti" #hell# an!

hoit/er# of un+arallele! "aliber( &till in !efault of +ra"ti"al e.+erien"e hat a# the *alue of %ere

theorie#> Con#e1uentl$, the "lubroo%# be"a%e !e#erte!, the #er*ant# !o/e! in the ante"ha%ber#,

the ne#+a+er# gre %oul!$ on the table#, #oun!# of #noring "a%e fro% !ar) "orner#, an! the

%e%ber# of the Gun Club, er#thile #o noi#$ in their #ean"e#, ere re!u"e! to #ilen"e b$ thi#

!i#a#trou# +ea"e an! ga*e the%#el*e# u+ holl$ to !rea%# of a Platoni" )in! of artiller$(

4Thi# i# horrible=4 #ai! To% Hunter one e*ening, hile ra+i!l$ "arboni/ing hi# oo!en leg# in the

fire+la"e of the #%o)ingroo%0 4nothing to !o= nothing to loo) forar! to= hat a loath#o%ee.i#ten"e= When again #hall the gun# arou#e u# in the %orning ith their !elightful re+ort#>4

4Tho#e !a$# are gone b$,4 #ai! -oll$ Bil#b$, tr$ing to e.ten! hi# %i##ing ar%#( 4It a# !elightful

on"e u+on a ti%e= :ne in*ente! a gun, an! har!l$ a# it "a#t, hen one ha#tene! to tr$ it in the

fa"e of the ene%$= Then one returne! to "a%+ ith a or! of en"ourage%ent fro% &her%an or a

frien!l$ #ha)e of the han! fro% '"Clellan( But no the general# are gone ba") to their "ounter#0

an! in +la"e of +ro-e"tile#, the$ !e#+at"h bale# of "otton( B$ ?o*e, the future of gunner$ in A%eri"a

i# lo#t=4

4A$= an! no ar in +ro#+e"t=4 "ontinue! the fa%ou# ?a%e# T( 'a#ton, #"rat"hing ith hi# #teel

hoo) hi# gutta+er"ha "raniu%( 4Not a "lou! on the hori/on= an! that too at #u"h a "riti"al +erio! in

the +rogre## of the #"ien"e of artiller$= 3e#, gentle%en= I ho a!!re## $ou ha*e %$#elf thi# *er$

%orning +erfe"te! a %o!el ;+lan, #e"tion, ele*ation, et"(< of a %ortar !e#tine! to "hange all the

"on!ition# of arfare=4

4No= i# it +o##ible>4 re+lie! To% Hunter, hi# thought# re*erting in*oluntaril$ to a for%er

in*ention of the Hon( ?( T( 'a#ton, b$ hi"h, at it# fir#t trial, he ha! #u""ee!e! in )illing three

hun!re! an! thirt$#e*en +eo+le(

42a"t=4 re+lie! he( 4&till, hat i# the u#e of #o %an$ #tu!ie# or)e! out, #o %an$ !iffi"ultie#

*an1ui#he!> It@# %ere a#te of ti%e= The Ne Worl! #ee%# to ha*e %a!e u+ it# %in! to li*e in

+ea"e0 an! our belli"o#e Tribune +re!i"t# #o%e a++roa"hing "ata#tro+he# ari#ing out of thi#



#"an!alou# in"rea#e of +o+ulation(4

4Ne*erthele##,4 re+lie! Colonel Blo%#berr$, 4the$ are ala$# #truggling in Euro+e to %aintain the

+rin"i+le of nationalitie#(4

4Well>4

4Well, there %ight be #o%e fiel! for enter+ri#e !on there0 an! if the$ oul! a""e+t our #er*i"e#4

4What are $ou !rea%ing of>4 #"rea%e! Bil#b$0 4or) at gunner$ for the benefit of foreigner#>4

CHAPTER I

4That oul! be better than !oing nothing here,4 returne! the "olonel(

4uite #o,4 #ai! ?( T( 'at#on0 4but #till e nee! not !rea% of that e.+e!ient(4

4An! h$ not>4 !e%an!e! the "olonel(

4Be"au#e their i!ea# of +rogre## in the :l! Worl! are "ontrar$ to our A%eri"an habit# of thought(

Tho#e fello# belie*e that one "an@t be"o%e a general ithout ha*ing #er*e! fir#t a# an en#ign0

hi"h i# a# %u"h a# to #a$ that one "an@t +oint a gun ithout ha*ing fir#t "a#t it one#elf=4

4Ri!i"ulou#=4 re+lie! To% Hunter, hittling ith hi# boie)nife the ar%# of hi# ea#$ "hair0 4but if

that be the "a#e there, all that i# left for u# i# to +lant toba""o an! !i#till haleoil(4

4What=4 roare! ?( T( 'a#ton, 4#hall e not e%+lo$ the#e re%aining $ear# of our life in +erfe"ting

firear%#> &hall there ne*er be a fre#h o++ortunit$ of tr$ing the range# of +ro-e"tile#> &hall the air

ne*er again be lighte! ith the glare of our gun#> No international !iffi"ult$ e*er ari#e to enable u#

to !e"lare ar again#t #o%e tran#atlanti" +oer> &hall not the 2ren"h #in) one of our #tea%er#, or

the Engli#h, in !efian"e of the right# of nation#, hang a fe of our "ountr$%en>4

4No #u"h lu"),4 re+lie! Colonel Blo%#berr$0 4nothing of the )in! i# li)el$ to ha++en0 an! e*en if

it !i!, e #houl! not +rofit b$ it( A%eri"an #u#"e+tibilit$ i# fa#t !e"lining, an! e are all going to

the !og#(4



4It i# too true,4 re+lie! ?( T( 'a#ton, ith fre#h *iolen"e0 4there are a thou#an! groun!# for fighting,

an! $et e !on@t fight( We #a*e u+ our ar%# an! leg# for the benefit of nation# ho !on@t )no hat

to !o ith the%= But #to+ ithout going out of one@# a$ to fin! a "au#e for ar !i! not North

A%eri"a on"e belong to the Engli#h>4

4Un!oubte!l$,4 re+lie! To% Hunter, #ta%+ing hi# "rut"h ith fur$(

4Well, then,4 re+lie! ?( T( 'a#ton, 4h$ #houl! not Englan! in her turn belong to the A%eri"an#>4

4It oul! be but -u#t an! fair,4 returne! Colonel Blo%#berr$(

4Go an! +ro+o#e it to the Pre#i!ent of the Unite! &tate#,4 "rie! ?( T( 'a#ton, 4an! #ee ho he

ill re"ei*e $ou(4

4Bah=4 grole! Bil#b$ beteen the four teeth hi"h the ar ha! left hi%0 4that ill ne*er !o=4

4B$ ?o*e=4 "rie! ?( T( 'a#ton, 4he %u#tn@t "ount on %$ *ote at the ne.t ele"tion=4

4Nor on our#,4 re+lie! unani%ou#l$ all the belli"o#e in*ali!#(

4'eanhile,4 re+lie! ?( T( 'a#ton, 4allo %e to #a$ that, if I "annot get an o++ortunit$ to tr$ %$

ne %ortar# on a real fiel! of battle, I #hall #a$ goo!b$ to the %e%ber# of the Gun Club, an! go an!

bur$ %$#elf in the +rairie# of Ar)an#a#=4

4In that "a#e e ill a""o%+an$ $ou,4 "rie! the other#(

'atter# ere in thi# unfortunate "on!ition, an! the "lub a# threatene! ith a++roa"hing

!i##olution, hen an une.+e"te! "ir"u%#tan"e o""urre! to +re*ent #o !e+lorable a "ata#tro+he(

:n the %orro after thi# "on*er#ation e*er$ %e%ber of the a##o"iation re"ei*e! a #eale! "ir"ular

"ou"he! in

CHAPTER I 6

the folloing ter%#



BALTI':RE, :"tober 7( The +re#i!ent of the Gun Club ha# the honor to infor% hi# "olleague#

that, at the %eeting of the 5th in#tant, he ill bring before the% a "o%%uni"ation of an e.tre%el$

intere#ting nature( He re1ue#t#, therefore, that the$ ill %a)e it "on*enient to atten! in a""or!an"e

ith the +re#ent in*itation( er$ "or!iall$, I'PE3 BARBICANE, P(G(C(

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

PRE&IDENT BARBICANE@& C:''UNICATI:N

:n the 5th of :"tober, at eight +(%(, a !en#e "ro! +re##e! toar! the #aloon# of the Gun Club at

No( F Union &1uare( All the %e%ber# of the a##o"iation re#i!ent in Balti%ore atten!e! the

in*itation of their +re#i!ent( A# regar!# the "orre#+on!ing %e%ber#, noti"e# ere !eli*ere! b$

hun!re!# throughout the #treet# of the "it$, an!, large a# a# the great hall, it a# 1uite ina!e1uate to

a""o%%o!ate the "ro! of savants( The$ o*erfloe! into the a!-oining roo%#, !on the narro

+a##age#, into the outer "ourt$ar!#( There the$ ran again#t the *ulgar her! ho +re##e! u+ to the

!oor#, ea"h #truggling to rea"h the front ran)#, all eager to learn the nature of the i%+ortant

"o%%uni"ation of Pre#i!ent Barbi"ane0 all +u#hing, #1uee/ing, "ru#hing ith that +erfe"t free!o% of

a"tion hi"h i# #o +e"uliar to the %a##e# hen e!u"ate! in i!ea# of 4#elfgo*ern%ent(4

:n that e*ening a #tranger ho %ight ha*e "han"e! to be in Balti%ore "oul! not ha*e gaine!

a!%i##ion for lo*e or %one$ into the great hall( That a# re#er*e! e."lu#i*el$ for re#i!ent or

"orre#+on!ing %e%ber#0 no one el#e "oul! +o##ibl$ ha*e obtaine! a +la"e0 an! the "it$ %agnate#,

%uni"i+al "oun"ilor#, an! 4#ele"t %en4 ere "o%+elle! to %ingle ith the %ere ton#+eo+le in

or!er to "at"h #tra$ bit# of ne# fro% the interior(

Ne*erthele## the *a#t hall +re#ente! a "uriou# #+e"ta"le( It# i%%en#e area a# #ingularl$ a!a+te! to

the +ur+o#e( Loft$ +illar# for%e! of "annon, #u+er+o#e! u+on huge %ortar# a# a ba#e, #u++orte! the

fine ironor) of the ar"he#, a +erfe"t +ie"e of "a#tiron la"eor)( Tro+hie# of blun!erbu#e#,

%at"hlo")#, ar1uebu#e#, "arbine#, all )in!# of firear%#, an"ient an! %o!ern, ere +i"ture#1uel$

interla"e! again#t the all#( The ga# lit u+ in full glare %$ria!# of re*ol*er# grou+e! in the for% of

lu#tre#, hile grou+# of +i#tol#, an! "an!elabra for%e! of %u#)et# boun! together, "o%+lete! thi#

%agnifi"ent !i#+la$ of brillian"e( 'o!el# of "annon, bron/e "a#ting#, #ight# "o*ere! ith !ent#,

+late# battere! b$ the #hot# of the Gun Club, a##ort%ent# of ra%%er# an! #+onge#, "ha+let# of #hell#,

reath# of +ro-e"tile#, garlan!# of hoit/er# in #hort, all the a++aratu# of the artilleri#t, en"hante!



the e$e b$ thi# on!erful arrange%ent an! in!u"e! a )in! of belief that their real +ur+o#e a#

orna%ental rather than !ea!l$(

At the further en! of the #aloon the +re#i!ent, a##i#te! b$ four #e"retarie#, o""u+ie! a large +latfor%(

Hi# "hair, #u++orte! b$ a "ar*e! gun"arriage, a# %o!ele! u+on the +on!erou# +ro+ortion# of a

7Fin"h %ortar( It a# +ointe! at an angle of ninet$ !egree#, an! #u#+en!e! u+on trun"heon#, #o that

the +re#i!ent "oul! balan"e hi%#elf u+on it a# u+on a ro")ing"hair, a *er$ agreeable fa"t in the *er$

hot eather( U+on the table ;a huge iron +late #u++orte! u+on #i. "arrona!e#< #too! an in)#tan! of

e.1ui#ite elegan"e, %a!e of a beautifull$ "ha#e! &+ani#h +ie"e, an! a #onnette, hi"h, hen

re1uire!, "oul! gi*e forth a re+ort e1ual to that of a re*ol*er( During *iolent !ebate# thi# no*el )in!

of bell #"ar"el$ #uffi"e! to !ron the "la%or of the#e e."itable artilleri#t#(

In front of the table ben"he# arrange! in /ig/ag for%, li)e the "ir"u%*allation# of a retren"h%ent,for%e! a #u""e##ion of ba#tion# an! "urtain# #et a+art for the u#e of the %e%ber# of the "lub0 an!

on thi# e#+e"ial e*ening one %ight #a$, 4All the orl! a# on the ra%+art#(4 The +re#i!ent a#

#uffi"ientl$ ell )non, hoe*er, for all to be a##ure! that he oul! not +ut hi# "olleague# to

!i#"o%fort ithout #o%e *er$ #trong %oti*e(

I%+e$ Barbi"ane a# a %an of fort$ $ear# of age, "al%, "ol!, au#tere0 of a #ingularl$ #eriou# an!

#elf"ontaine! !e%eanor, +un"tual a# a "hrono%eter, of i%+erturbable te%+er an! i%%o*able

"hara"ter0 b$ no %ean# "hi*alrou#, $et a!*enturou# ithal, an! ala$# bringing +ra"ti"al i!ea# to

bear u+on the *er$ ra#he#t enter+ri#e#0 an e##entiall$ Ne Englan!er, a Northern "oloni#t, a

!e#"en!ant of the ol! anti&tuart Roun!hea!#, an! the i%+la"able ene%$ of the gentle%en of the

&outh, tho#e an"ient "a*alier# of the %other "ountr$( In a or!, he a# a 3an)ee to the ba")bone(

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