No one knew what had passed at Kilimanjaro; but before the end of the day an answer was given to the question that puzzled humanity.
There was a telegram from Zanzibar:—
“To John S. Wright, Washington, U.S.A.
“Zanzibar, 23rd September, 7.27 a.m., local time. Discharge took place at midnight from cannon on southern side of Kilimanjaro. Projectile travelled with fearful shriek. Awful explosion. Province devastated by a tornado. Sea risen in the Mozambique Channel. Many ships damaged and driven on shore. Towns and villages annihilated. All well, as usual.—Richard W. Trust, U.S. Consul.”
Yes. All well as usual! Nothing changed in the state of affairs except the disasters among the Wamasai caused by the artificial tornado and the wrecks caused by the risen sea.
And had it not been the same when the famous Columbiad had sent its projectile towards the Moon? The shock communicated to the soil of Florida had only been experienced for a hundred miles round. But this time the effect ought to have been a hundred times as great.
Under any circumstances the telegram informed the world of two matters of interest:—
1. The enormous cannon had been made in the flank of Kilimanjaro.
2. It had been fired at the time stated.
And then the world gave a shout of satisfaction, which was followed by an immense shout of laughter.