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 PROJECTILE TRAINS FOR THE MOON. 
 
 FroJitispiecf. 
 
 [p. 95.]
 
 FROM THE 
 
 Earth to the Moo:n, 
 
 DIRECT IN NINETY-SEVEN HOURS 
 AND TWENTY MINUTES: 
 
 And a Trip Round It. 
 
 BY 
 
 JULES TERI^E, 
 
 ACTHOB OP "A JOUBNET TO THB CENTBB OP THE EABTH. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH 
 
 BY 
 
 LOUIS MERCIER, M.A., (OxoN,) and ELEANOR E. KING. 
 
 ■WITH EIGHTY FULL PAGE ILLXJSTRATIONS. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 SCRIBN"ER, ARMSTEOXCt & COMPA^^Y. 
 
 1874.
 
 
 BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 S Jouii.)e3- to tl\e deqtf e of tl\e i^aftl\. 
 
 With 53 Illustrations. Onb Vol. 12mo, $9.00.
 
 
 • 
 
 CONTEXTS. 
 
 -♦- 
 
 rRo:\r the earth to the moon. 
 
 CHAPTEE L PAGE 
 The Gim Club • 1 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 Peesidext Baebicane's CoirsruNicATioN ..••••• 8 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Effect of the PEEsrDE>-T's Coinrtrs'icATiox ...... 15 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Reply feom the Obseevatoet of Cambeidgk 19 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The EoiLANCE of the Moon 23 
 
 i 
 
 r CHAPTER TI. 
 
 The Peemissive Limits of Igxoeaxce ant) Belief in the Uxited 
 
 States 28 
 
 ; CHAPTER YII. 
 
 ""-The HrsiN of the Cankox-Ball 33 
 
 CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 HisrroEY of the Cannon 40 
 
 ; - 
 
 ) CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Ql^stion of the Powdees ........ 44 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 One Eneitt v. T-wenty-fite IIillioxs of Feiends 49
 
 IV CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. PAGE 
 
 Florida and Texas •••••54 
 
 , CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Uebi ex Orbi •••••59 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Stones Hill •••.65 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Pickaxe and Trowel «... 70 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 The Fete of the Casting 75 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 The Columbiad ..80 
 
 CHAPTER X7II. 
 A Telegraphic Despatch 85 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 The Passenger or THE "Atlanta" 86 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 A Monster Meeting 92 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 Attack and Riposte 99 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 How A Frenchman manages an Affair ...,,,. 103 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 The New Citizen of the United States ...... 117 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 The Projectile Vehicle ....••••. 122 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 The Telescope of the Rocky Mountains .•••••. 125 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 Final Details 128
 
 CONTENTS V 
 
 CHAPTER XXYI. page 
 
 FiKE ! .,....». 133 
 
 Foul Weathee 
 
 CHAPTER XXYII. 
 i^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 A New Star 1*1 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 
 Recapitulatoet / • • • I'^S 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Feom Twenty Minutes past Ten to Fortt-seven Minutes past 
 Ten p.m 151 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 The First Half-hour 157 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Their Place or Shelter 169 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 A Little Algebra 178 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Cold of Space ..'....- 185 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Question and Answer 194 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 A Moment of Intoxication 202 
 
 CHAPTER Vin. 
 At Seventy-eight Thousand Five Hundred and Fourteen Leagues . 212 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 The Consequences of a Deviation ........ 221
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. PAGE 
 
 The Observebs of the Moon • • 228 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 pXnct and Eealitt 232 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Orogkaphic Details 236 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Lunar Landscapes 243 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 The Night or Three Hundred and Fifty-four Hours and a half . 251 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Hyperbola or Parabola 260 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 The Southern Hemisphere 270 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 Tycho 273 
 
 CHAPTER XVlil. 
 Grave Questions • . 281 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 A Struggle against the Impossible   . 289 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 The Soundings of the " Susquehanna " ...... 299 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 J. T. Maston recalled 805 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 Recovered from the Sea . 312 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 The End 820
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Artillery-men of the Gun Clnb 4 
 
 President Barbicane 10 
 
 Meeting of the Gun Club 12 
 
 The Torchlight Procession 16 
 
 Cambridge Observatory 19 
 
 The Moon's Disc 25 
 
 Baibicane holds forth 33 
 
 The Rodman Columbiad . . . 34 
 
 Cannon at Malta in the time of the Knights 36 
 
 Ideal Sketch of J. T. Maston's Gun 42 
 
 The invention of Gunpowder by the Monk Schwartz .... 44 
 
 Captain Nicholl 49 
 
 Nicholl published a number of Letters in the Newspapers . . .51 
 It became necessary to keep an eye upon the Deputies . . . .57 
 The Subscription was opened ......... 60 
 
 The Manufactory at Ooldspring, near New York 63 
 
 Tampa Town, previous to the undertaking .66 
 
 They were compelled to ford several Rivers 68 
 
 The Work progressed regularly 73 
 
 The Casting 77 
 
 Tampa Town, after the undertaking . . . • . . . .82 
 
 The Banquet in the Columbiad 84 
 
 President Barbicane at his Window ....... 87 
 
 Michel Ardan ........•.•• 88 
 
 The Meeting 92 
 
 Projectile Trains for the Moon 95 
 
 Attack and Riposte 101 
 
 Tile Platform was suddenly carried away 106 
 
 Mas ton burst into the Room . . . . . • • . .108 
 
 In the midst of this Snare was a poor little Bird 112 
 
 " Go with me, and see whether we are stopped on our journey " . . 115 
 
 The Cat taken out of the Shell 120 
 
 The Arrival of the Projectile at Stones Hill 122 
 
 J. T. Maston had grown fat 124 
 
 The Telescope of the Rocky Mountains 127
 
 • •• 
 
 Vm LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Interior of the Projectile 130 
 
 An innumerable Multitude covered tlie Prairie round Stones Hill . . 133 
 
 Fire ! ! 136 
 
 Effect of the Explosion . . • . 138 
 
 The Director at his Posb 139 
 
 The Gas caught firo 153 
 
 Diana and Satellite 154 
 
 The couratreous Frenchman 157 
 
 They raised Barbicans 159 
 
 It was an enormous Disc 163 
 
 They gave her a pie 170 
 
 The Sun chose to be of the party 172 
 
 Ardan plunged his hand rapidly into certain mysterious boxes . . 176 
 " Do I understand it ? " cried Ardan; " my head is splitting with it " . 183 
 Satellite was thrown out ......... 193 
 
 It was the Body of Satellite 201 
 
 " I could hare ventured out on the top of the Projectile "... 206 
 They struck up a frantic dance ........ 210 
 
 " The Oxygen ! " he exclaimed 212 
 
 " Ah ! if kaphael had seen us thus " 217 
 
 The Telescope at Parsonstown 228 
 
 How many people have heard speak of the Moon ! .... 232 
 
 " This plain would then be nothing but an immense Cemetery " . . 241 
 
 '• What Giant Oxen ! " 245 
 
 He could distinguish nothing but Desert Beds 247 
 
 " It is the fault of the Moon " 252 
 
 Nothing could equal the splendour of this starry world .... 256 
 " The vapour of our breath will fall in snow around us " . . .258 
 A Discussion arose ........... 261 
 
 A Prey to frightful Terror 267 
 
 "What a sight ! 268 
 
 " The Sun ! " 271 
 
 " Light and Heat ; all Life is contained in them " .... 273 
 
 He distinguished all this 275 
 
 Can you picture to yourselves ? . 277 
 
 A violent Contraction of the Lunar Crust 282 
 
 Around the Projectile were the Objects which had been thro^vn out . 291 
 " These practical people have sometimes most inopportune ideas " . 295 
 
 Ardan applied the lighted Match 296 
 
 ,' I fancy I see them " 301 
 
 A few feet nearer ........... 304 
 
 The unfortunate man had disappeared ....... 311 
 
 The Descent began 315 
 
 " White all, Barbicane " 819 
 
 The Apotheosis was worthy of the three Heroes 322
 
 FEOM THE EAETH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE GUN CLUB. 
 
 During the War of the Rebellion, a new and influential club 
 was established in the city of Baltimore in the State of Mary- 
 land. It is well known with what energy the taste for military 
 matters became developed amongst that nation of ship-owners, 
 shopkeepers, and mechanics. Simple ti'adesmen jumped their 
 counters to become extemporized captains, colonels, and gen- 
 erals, without having ever passed the School of Instruction at 
 "West Point: nevertheless, they quickly rivalled their compeers of 
 the old continent, and, like them, carried off victories by dint of 
 lavish expenditure in ammunition, money, and men. 
 
 But the point in which the Americans singularly distanced the 
 Europeans was in the science of gunnery. Not, indeed, that their 
 weapons retained a higher degree of perfection than theirs, but 
 that they exhibited unheard-of dimensions, and consequently 
 attained hitherto unheard-of ranges. In point of grazing, plung- 
 ing, oblique, or enfilading, or point-blank firing, the English, 
 French, and Prussians have nothing to learn; but their cannon, 
 howitzers, and mortars are mere pocket-pistols compared with the 
 formidable engines of the American artillery. 
 
 B
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 This fact need surprise no one. The Yankees, the first me- 
 chanicians in the world, are engineers — just as the Italians are 
 musicians and the Germans metaphysicians — by right of birth. 
 Nothing is more natural, therefore, than to perceive them 
 applying their audacious ingenuity to the science of gunnery. 
 Witness the marvels of Parrott, Dahlgren, and Rodman. The 
 Ai-mstrong, Palliser, and Beaulieu guns were compelled to bow 
 before their transatlantic rivals. 
 
 Now when an American has an idea, he directly seeks a second 
 American to share it. If there be three, they elect a president 
 and two secretaries. Given /owr, they name a keeper of records, 
 and the office is ready for work; Jive, they convene a general 
 meeting, and the club is fully constituted. So things were 
 managed in Baltimore. The inventor of a new cannon associated 
 himself with the caster and the borer. Thus was formed the 
 nucleus of the " Gun Club." In a single month after its forma- 
 tion it numbered 1833 effective members and 30,565 corre- 
 sponding members. 
 
 One condition was imposed as a sine qua non upon every can- 
 didate for admission into the association, and that was the 
 condition of having designed, or (more or less) perfected a 
 cannon; or, in default of a cannon, at least a fire-arm of some 
 description. It may, however, be mentioned that mere inventions 
 of revolvers, five-shooting carbines, and similar small arms, met 
 with but little consideration. Artillerists always commanded the 
 chief place of favour. 
 
 The estimation in which these gentlemen were held, according 
 to one of the most scientific exponents of the Gun Club, was 
 " proportional to the masses of their guns, and in the direct ratio 
 of the square of the distances attained by their projectiles" 
 
 The Gun Club once founded, it is easy to conceive tb'^ -nit 
 of the inventive genius of the Americans. Their n^ - ry 
 weapons attained colossal proportions, and their projectiles, ex- 
 ceeding the prescribed limits, unfortunately occasionally cut in
 
 THE GUN CLUB. 
 
 two some unoffending pedestrians. These inventions, in fact, 
 left far iu the rear the timid instruments of European artil- 
 lery. 
 
 It is but fair to add that these Yankees, brave as they have 
 ever proved themselves to be, did not confine themselves to 
 theories and formula?, but that they paid heavily, in propria 
 persona, for their inventions. Amongst them were to be counted 
 officers of all ranks, from lieutenants to generals; military men of 
 every age, from those who were just making their debut in the 
 profession of ai'ms up to those who had grown old on the gun- 
 carriage. Many had found their rest on the field of battle whose 
 names figured in the " Book of Honour " of the Gun Club ; and ot 
 those who made good their return the gi-eater proportion bore the 
 marks of their indisputable valour. Crutches, wooden legs, arti 
 ficial arms, steel hooks, caoutchouc jaws, silver craniums, pla- 
 tinum noses, were all to be found in the collection; and it was 
 calculated by the great statistician Pitcairn that throughout the 
 Gun Club there was not quite one arm between four persons, and 
 exactly two legs between six. 
 
 Nevertheless, these valiant artillerists took no particular 
 account of these little facts, and felt justly proud Avhen the 
 despatches of a battle returned the number of victims at tenfold 
 the quantity of the pi'ojectiles expended. 
 
 One day, however — sad and melancholy day ! — peace was 
 signed between the survivors of the war; the thunder of the guns 
 gradually ceased, the mortars were silent, the howitzers were 
 muzzled for an indefinite period, the cannon, with muzzles 
 depressed, were returned into the arsenal, the shot were replied, 
 all bloody reminisceaces were effaced; the cotton-plants grew 
 luxuriantly in the well-manured fields, all mourning garments 
 were laid aside, together with grief; and the Gun Club was 
 relegated to profound inactivity. 
 
 Some few of the more advanced and inveterate theorists set 
 themselves again to work upon calculations regarding the laws of 
 
 B 2
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 projectiles. They reverted invariably to gigantic shells and 
 howitzers of unparalleled calibre. Still, in default of practical 
 experience, what was the value of mere theories ? Consequently, 
 the club-rooms became deserted, the servants dozed in the ante- 
 chambers, the newspapers grew mouldy on the tables, sounds of 
 snoring came from dark corners, and the members of the Gun 
 Club, erstwhile so noisy in their seances, were reduced to silence 
 by this disastrous peace and gave themselves up wholly to dreams 
 of a Platonic kind of artillery. 
 
 " This is horrible ! " said Tom Hunter one evening, while 
 rapidly carbonizing his wooden legs in the fire-place of the 
 smoking-room; " nothing to do ! nothing to look forward to! what 
 a loathsome existence ! When again shall the guns arouse us in 
 the morning with their delightful reports?" 
 
 "Those days are gone by," said jolly Bilsby, trying to -extend 
 his missing arms. " It was delightful once upon a time ! Oii& 
 invented a gun, and hardly was it cast, when one hastened to try 
 it in the face of the enemy ! Then one returned to camp with a 
 word of encouragement from Sherman or a friendly shake of the 
 hand from M'Clellan. But now the generals are gone back to 
 
 « 
 
 their counters; and in place of projectiles, they despatch bales 
 of cotton. By Jove, the future of gunnery in America is 
 lost!" 
 
 " Ay ! and no war in prospect ! " continued the famous James 
 T. Maston, scratching with his steel hook his gutta-percha 
 cranium. " Not a cloud in the horizon ! and that too at such a 
 critical period in the progress of the science of artillery ! Yes, 
 gentlemen! I who address you have myself this very morning 
 perfected a model (plan, section, elevation, &c.) of a mortar 
 destined to change all the conditions of warfare ! " 
 
 " No ! is it possible ? " replied Tom Hunter, his thoughts 
 reverting involuntarily to a former invention of the Hon, J. T. 
 Maston, by which, at its first trial, he had succeeded in killing 
 three hundred and thirty-seven people. 
 
 <L'J
 
 THE ARTILLERl' MEN OF THE GUN CLUB. 
 
 [p. 4.]
 
 THE GUN CLUB. 
 
 " Fact ! " 1-eplied he. " Still, what is the use of so many 
 studies worked out, so many difficulties vanquished ? It's mere 
 waste of time ! The New World seems to have made up its mind 
 to live in peace; and our bellicose Tribune predicts some approach- 
 ing catastrophes arising out of this scandalous increase of popu- 
 lation." 
 
 " Nevertheless," replied Colonel Blomsberry, " they are always 
 struggling in Europe to maintain the principle of nationali- 
 ties." 
 
 " Well ? " 
 
 "Well, there might he some field for enterprise down there; 
 and if they would accept our services — " 
 
 *' What are you dreaming of?" screamed Bilsby; " work at gun- 
 nery for the benefit of foreigners ?" 
 
 " That would be better than doing nothing here," returned the 
 colonel. 
 
 *' Quite so," said J. T. Maston; " but still we need not dream of 
 that expedient." 
 
 *' And why not ? " demanded the colonel. 
 
 " Because their ideas of progress in the Old World are contrary 
 to our American habits of thought. Those fellows believe that 
 one can't become a general without having served first as au 
 ensign; Avhich is as much as to say that one can't point a gun 
 without having first cast it oneself! " 
 
 " Ridiculous ! " replied Tom Hunter, whittling with his bowie- 
 knife the arms of his easy-chair; "but if that be the case 
 there, all that is left for us is to plant tobacco and distil whale- 
 oil." 
 
 " What ! " roared J. T. Maston, " shall we not employ these 
 remaining years of our life in perfecting fire-arms ? Shall there 
 never be a fresh opportunity of trying the ranges of projectiles ? 
 Shall the air never again be lighted with the glare of our guns ? 
 No international difficulty ever arise to enable us to declare war 
 against some transatlantic power ? Shall not the French sink one
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 of our steamers, or the English, in defiance of the rights of 
 nations, hang a few of our countrymen ? " 
 
 *' No such luck," replied Colonel Blomsberry; " nothing of the 
 kind is likely to happen; and even if it did, we should not profit 
 by it. American susceptibility is fast declining, and we are all 
 going to the dogs." 
 
 "It is too true," replied J. T. Maston, with fresh violence; 
 " there are a thousand grounds for fighting, and yet we don't 
 fight. We save up our arms and legs for the benefit of nations 
 who don't know what to do with them! But stop — without going 
 out of one's way to find a cause for war — did not North America 
 once belong to the English ? " 
 
 " Undoubtedly," replied Tom Hunter, stamping his crutch with 
 fury. 
 
 *' Well then," replied J. T. Maston, " why should not England 
 in her turn belong to the Americans ? " 
 
 ** It would be but just and fair," returned Colonel Blomsberry. 
 
 " Go and propose it to the President of the United States," cried 
 J. T. Maston, " and see how he will receive you." 
 
 " Bah ! " growled Bilsby between the four teeth which the war 
 had left him; " that will never do ! " 
 
 *' By Jove ! " cried J. T. Maston, " he mustn't count on my vote 
 at the next election I " 
 
 " Nor on ours," replied unanimously all the bellicose in- 
 valids. 
 
 ** Meanwhile," replied J. T. M., " allow me to say that, if I can- 
 not get an opportunity to try my new mortars on a real field of 
 battle, I shall say good-bye to the members of the Gun Club, and 
 go and bury myself in the prairies of Arkansas ! " 
 
 " In that case we will accompany you," cried the others. 
 
 Matters were in this unfortunate condition, and the club was 
 threatened with approaching dissolution, when an unexpected 
 circumstance occurred to prevent so deplorable a catastrophe. 
 
 On the morrow after this conversation every memb^' of the
 
 THE GUN CLUB. 
 
 association received a sealed circular couched in the following 
 
 teiTBS : — 
 
 " Baltimore, Oct. 3. 
 " The President of the Gun Club has the honour to inform his colleagues 
 that, at the meeting of the 5th instant, he will bring before them a com- 
 munication of an extremely interesting nature. He requests, therefore, 
 that they will make it convenient to attend in accordance with the present 
 inyitation. — Very cordially, 
 
 " Impey Baebicane, P.G.C."
 
 8 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHA.PTER 11. 
 
 PRESIDENT BARBICANE'S COarMUNICATION. 
 
 On the 5th of October, at 8 p.m., a dense crowd pressed towards 
 the saloons of the Gun Club at No. 21, Union Square. All the 
 members of- the association resident in Baltimore attended the 
 invitation of their president. As regards the corresponding mem- 
 bers, notices were delivered by hundreds throughout the streets of 
 the city, and, large as was the great hall, it was quite inadequate 
 to accommodate the crowd of savants. They overflowed into the 
 adjoining rooms, down the narrow passages, into the outer court- 
 yards. There they ran against the vulgar herd who pressed up 
 to the doors, each struggling to reach the front ranks, all eager to 
 learn the nature of the important communication oi President 
 Barbicane ; all pushing, squeezing, crushing with that perfect 
 freedom of action which is peculiar to the masses when educated 
 in ideas of " self-government." 
 
 On that evening a stranger who might have chanced to be in 
 Baltimore could not have gained admission for love or money 
 into the great hall. That was reserved exclusively for resident 
 or corresponding members ; no one else could possibly have 
 obtained a place ; and the city magnates, municipal councillors, 
 and " select men " were compelled to mingle with the mere 
 townspeople in order to catch stray bits of news from the interior. 
 
 Nevertheless the vast hall presented a curious spectacle. Its 
 immense area was singularly adapted to the purpose. Lofty 
 pillars formed of cannon, superposed upon huge mortars as a base, 
 supported the fine ironwork of the arches, a perfect piece of cast-
 
 PRESIDENT BARBICAN^S COMMUNICATION. 9 
 
 iron lacework. Trophies of blunderbuses, matchlocks, arquebuses, 
 carbines, all kinds of fire-arms, ancient and modern, -were pic- 
 turesquely interlaced against the walls. The gas lit up in full 
 glare myriads of revolvers grouped in the form of lustres, whilst 
 groups of pistols, and candelabra formed of muskets bouud 
 together, completed this magnificent display of brilliance. Models 
 of cannon, bronze castings, sights covered with dents, plates 
 battered by the shots of the Gun Club, assortments of rammers 
 and sponges, chaplets of shells, wreaths of projectiles, garlands 
 of howitzers — in short, all the apparatus of the artillerist, en- 
 chanted the eye by this wonderful arrangement and induced % 
 kind of belief that their real purpose was ornamental rather than 
 
 deadly. 
 
 At the further end of the saloon the president, assisted by foui 
 secretaries, occupied a large platform. His chair, supported by i. 
 carved gun-can-iage, was modelled upon the ponderous propor- 
 tions of a 32-inch mortar. It was pointed at an angle of ninety 
 degrees, and suspended upon trunnions, so that the president 
 could balance himself upon it as upon a rocking-chair, a very 
 agreeable fact in the very hot weather. Upon the table (a huge 
 iion plate supported upon six carronnades) stood an inkstand of 
 exquisite elegance, made of a beautifully chased Spanish piece, 
 and a sonnette, which, when required, could give forth a report 
 equal to that of a revolver. During violent debates this novel 
 kind of bell scarcely sufficed to drown the clamour of these 
 excitable artillerists. 
 
 In front of the table benches arranged in zigzag form, like the 
 circumvallations of a retrenchment, formed a succession of bastions 
 and curtains set apart for the use of the members of the club ; 
 and on this especial evening one might say, " All the world was 
 on the ramparts." The president was sufficiently well known, 
 however, for all to be assured that he would not put his col- 
 leagues to discomfort without some very sti'ong motive. 
 
 Impey Barbicane was a man of forty years of age, calm, cold,
 
 lO FROM THE EARTH TO 7HE MOON. 
 
 austere; of a singularly serious and self-contained demeanour, 
 punctual as a chronometer, of imperturbable temper and immov- 
 able character ; by no means chivalrous, yet adventurous withal, 
 and always bringing practical ideas to bear upon the very rashest 
 enterprises ; an essentially New-Englander, a Northern colonist, 
 a descendant of the old anti-Stuart Koundheads, and the impla- 
 cable enemy of the gentlemen of the South, those ancient Cava- 
 liers of the mother-country. In a word, he was a Yankee to the 
 backbone. 
 
 Barbicane had made a large fortune as a timber-merchant. 
 Being nominated Director of Artillery during the war, he proved 
 himself fertile in invention. Bold in his conceptions, he contri- 
 buted powerfully to the progress of that arm and gave an 
 immense impetus to experimental researches. 
 
 He was a personage of the middle height, having, by a rare 
 exception in the Gun Club, all his limbs complete. His strongly- 
 marked features seemed draAvn by square and rule ; and if it be 
 true that, in order to judge of a man's character one must look at 
 his profile, Barbicane, so examined, exhibited the most certain 
 indications of energy, audacity, and sang-froid. 
 
 At this moment he was sitting in his armchair, silent, 
 absorbed, lost in reflection, sheltered under his high- crowned 
 hat — a kind of black silk cylinder which always seems firmly 
 screwed upon the head of an American. 
 
 Just when the deep-toned clock in the great hall struck eight, 
 Barbicane, as if he had been set in motion by a spring, raised 
 himself up. A profound silence ensued, and the speaker, in a 
 somewhat emphatic tone of voice, commenced as follows : — 
 
 " My brave colleagues, too long already a paralyzing peace has 
 plunged the members of the Gun Club in deplorable inactivity. 
 After a period of years full of incidents Ave have been compelled 
 to abandon our labours, and to stop short on the road of progress. 
 I do not hesitate to state, boldly, that any war which should 
 recall us to arms would be welcome ! " ( Trem endous applause ! )
 
 PRESIDENT BARBICANE. 
 
 Li). 10.1
 
 PRESIDENT DARBICAN^S COMMUNICATION. II 
 
 " But war, gentlemen, is impossible under existing circum- 
 stances ; and, however wc may desire it, many years may 
 elapse before our cannon shall again thunder in the field of battle. 
 We must make up our minds, then, to seek in another train 
 of ideas some field for the activity which we all pine for." 
 
 The meeting felt that the president was now approaching the 
 critical point, and redoubled their attention accordingly. 
 
 " For some months past, my brave colleagues," continued Barr- 
 bicane, "I have been asking myself whether, while confining our- 
 selves to our own particular objects, we could not enter upon 
 some grand experiment worthy of the nineteenth century; and. 
 whether the progress of artilleiy science would not enable us to 
 carry it out to a successful issue. I have been considering, 
 working, calculating; and the result of my studies is the con- 
 viction that we are safe to succeed in an enterprise which to any 
 other country would appear wholly impracticable. This project, 
 the result of long elaboration, is the object of my present commu- 
 nication. It is worthy of yourselves, worthy of the antecedents 
 of the Gun Club; and it cannot fail to make some noise in the 
 world." 
 
 A thrill of excitement ran through the meeting. 
 
 Barbicane, having by a rapid movement firmly fixed his hat 
 upon his head, calmly continued his harangue: — 
 
 " There is no one among you, my brave colleagues, who has 
 not seen the Moon, or, at least, heard speak of it. Don't be sur- 
 prised if I am about to discourse to you regarding this Queen of 
 the Night. It is perhaps reserved for us to become the Colum- 
 buses of this unknown world. Only enter into ray plans, and 
 second me with all your power, and I will lead you to its con- 
 quest, and its name shall be added to those of the thirty-six 
 States which compose this Great Union." 
 
 *• Three cheers for the Moon ! " roared the Gun Club, with one 
 voice. 
 . " The moon, gentlemen, has been carefully studied," continued
 
 12 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 Barbicane ; " her mass, density, and weight ; her constitution, 
 motions, distance, as well as her place in the solar system, have all 
 been exactly determined. Selenographic charts have been con- 
 structed with a perfection which equals, if it does not even sur- 
 pass, that of our terrestrial maps. Photography has given us 
 proofs of the incomparable beauty of our satellite; in short, all is 
 known regarding the moon which mathematical science, astro- 
 nomy, geology, and optics can learn about her. But up to the 
 present moment no direct communication has been established 
 with her." 
 
 A violent movement of interest and surprise here greeted this 
 remark of the speaker. 
 
 "Permit me," he contiuiied, "to recount to you briefly how 
 certain ardent spirits, starting on imaginary journeys, have pene- 
 trated the secrets of our satellite. In the seventeenth century a 
 certain David Fabricius boasted of having seen with his own eyes 
 the inhabitants of the moon. In 1649 a Fi'enchman, one Jeau 
 Baudoin, published a ' Journey performed from the Earth to the 
 Moon by Domingo Gonzalez,' a Spanish Adventurer. At the 
 same period Cyrano de Bergerac published that celebrated 
 'Journeys in the Moon' which met with such success in France. 
 Somewhat later another Frenchman, named Fontenelle, wrote 
 .' The Plurality of Worlds,' a chef-cVceuvre of its time. About 
 1835 a small treatise, translated from the New York American, 
 related how Sir John Herschell, having been despatched to the 
 Cape of Good Hope for the purpose of making there som^e astro- 
 nomical calculations, had, by means of a telescope brought to 
 perfection by means of internal lighting, reduced the apparent 
 distance of the moon to eighty yards ! He then distinctly per- 
 ceived caverns frequented by hippopotami, green mountains 
 bordered by golden lace- work, sheep with horns of ivory, a white 
 species of deer, and inhabitants Avith membranous wings, like 
 bats. This brochure, the work of an American named Locke, 
 had a great sale. But, to bring this rapid sketch to a close.
 
 MEETIXG OF THE GUN CLUB. 
 
 [p. 12.J
 
 PRESIDEXT BARBICANE's COMM JSICATION. I3 
 
 I will only add that a certain Hans Pfaal, of Rotterdam, launching 
 himself in a balloon filled with a gas extracted from nitrogen, 
 thirtj-seven times lighter than hydrogen, reached the moon after 
 a passage of nineteen hours. This journey, like all the previous 
 ones, was purely imaginary; still, it was the work of a popular 
 American author — I mean, Edgar Pee I " 
 
 " Cheers for Edgar Poe ! " roared the assemblage, electrified by 
 their president's words. 
 
 " I have now enumerated," said Barbicane, "the experiments 
 which I call purely paper ones, and wholly insufficient to establish 
 serious relations with the Queen of Xight. Nevertheless, I am 
 bound to add that some practical geniuses have attempted to 
 establish actual communication A.ith her. Thus, a few years ago, 
 a German geometrician proposed to send a scientific expedition to 
 the steppes of Siberia. There, on those vast plains, they were to 
 describe enormous geometric figures, drawn in characters of 
 reflecting luminosity, amongst which was the prop, regarding the 
 ' square of the hypothenuse,' commonly called the ' Ass^s bridge ' 
 by the French. 'Every intelligent being,' said the geometrician, 
 'must understand the scientific meaning of that figure. The 
 Selenites, do they exist, will respond by a similar figure; and, a 
 communication being thus once established, it will be easy to 
 form an alphabet which shall enable us to converse with the inha- 
 bitants of the moon.' So spoke the German geometrician ; but 
 his project was never put into practice, and up to the present day 
 there is no bond in existence between the earth and her satellite. 
 It is reserved for the practical genius of Americans to establish a 
 communication with the sidereal world. The means of arriving 
 thither are simple, easy, certain, infiillible — and that is the 
 purpose of my present proposal." 
 
 A stoiTQ of acclamations greeted these words. There was not 
 a single person in the whole audience who was not overcome, 
 carried away, lifted out of hunself by the speaker's words ! 
 
 Long coutinued applause resounded from all sides.
 
 14 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON.- 
 
 As soon as the excitement had partially subsided, Barbicane 
 resumed his speech in a somewhat graver voice. 
 
 " You l^uow," said he, " what progress artillery science has 
 made during the last few years, and what a degree of perfection 
 fire-arms of every kind have reached. Moreover, you are well 
 aware that, in general terms, the resisting power of cannon and 
 the expansive force of gunpowder are practically unlimited. 
 Well! starting from this principle, I ask myself whether, sup- 
 posing sufficient apparatus could be obtained constructed upon 
 the conditions of ascertained resistance, it might not be possible 
 to project a shot up to the moon ? " 
 
 At these words a murmur of amazement escaped from a 
 thousand panting chests ; then succeeded a moment of perfect 
 silence, resembling that profound stillness which precedes the 
 bursting of a thunderstorm. In point of fact, a thunderstorm 
 did peal forth, but it was the thunder of applause, of cries, and 
 of uproar which made the very hall tremble. The president at- 
 tempted to speak, but could not. It was fully ten minutes 
 before he could make himself heard. 
 
 " Suffer me to finish," he calmly continued. " I have looked 
 at the question in all its bearings, I have resolutely attacked 
 it, and by incontrovertible calculations I find that a projectile 
 endowed with an initial velocity of 12,000 yards per second, and 
 aimed at the moon, must necessarily reach it. I have the honour, 
 my brave colleagues, to propose a trial of this little experi- 
 ment."
 
 EFFECT OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMUNICATION. 1 5 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 EFFECT OP THE PRESIDENT'S COMMUNICATION. 
 
 It is impossible to describe tlie effect produced by the last 
 words of the hon. president — the cries, the shouts, the succession 
 of roars, hurrahs, and all the varied vociferations which the 
 American language is capable of supplying. It was a scene of 
 indescribable confusion and uproar. They shouted, they clapped, 
 they stamped on the floor of the hall. All the weapons in the 
 museum discharged at once could not have more violently set in 
 motion the waves of sound. One need not be surprised at 
 this. There are some cannoneers nearly as noisy as their own 
 guns. 
 
 Barbicane remained calm in the midst of this enthusiastic 
 clamour; perhaps he was desirous of addressing a few more 
 words to his colleagues, for by his gestures he demanded silence, 
 and his powei-ful alarum was worn out by its violent reports. No 
 attention, however, was paid to his request. He was presently 
 torn from his seat and passed from the hands of his faithful col- 
 leagues into the arms of a no less excited crowd. 
 
 Nothing can astound an American. It has often been asserted 
 that the word " impossible " is not a French one. People have 
 evidently been deceived by the dictionary. In America, all is 
 easy, all is simple ; and as for mechanical difficulties, they are 
 overcome before they arise. Between Bai'bicane's proposition and 
 its realization no true Yankee would have allowed even the 
 semblance of a difficulty to be possible. A thing with them is 
 no sooner said than done.
 
 t6 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 The triumphal progress of the president continued throughout 
 the evening. It -was a regular torchlight procession. Irish, Ger- 
 mans, French, Scotch, all the heterogeneous units which make up 
 the population of Maryland shouted in their respective vernacu- 
 lars ; and the " vivas," " hurrahs," and " braves " were inter- 
 mingled in inexpressible enthusiasm. 
 
 Just at this crisis, as though she comprehended all this agita- 
 tion regarding herself, the Moon shone forth with serene splendour, 
 eclipsing by her intense illumination all the surrounding lights. 
 The Yankees all turned their gaze towards her resplendent orb, 
 kissed their hands, called her by all kinds of endearing names. 
 Between eight o'clock and midnight one optician in Jones'-Fall 
 Street made his fortune by the sale of opera-glasses. 
 
 Midnight anived, and the enthusiasm showed no signs of dimi- 
 nution. It spread equally among all classes of citizens — men 
 of science, shopkeepers, merchants, porters, chair-men, as well 
 as " greenhorns," were stirred in their innermost fibres. A 
 national enterprise was at stake. The whole city, high and low, 
 the quays bordering the Patapsco, the ships lying in the basins, 
 disgorged a crowd drunk with joy, gin, and whisky. Every one 
 chattered, argued, discussed, disputed, applauded, from the gentle- 
 man lounging upon the bar-room settee with his tumbler of 
 sherry-cobbler before him down to the waterman who got 
 drunk upon his " knock-me-down " in the dingy taverns of Fell 
 Point. 
 
 About 2 a.m., however, the excitement began to subside. 
 President Barbicane reached his house, bruised, crushed, and 
 squeezed almost to a mummy. A Hercules could not have re- 
 sisted a similar outbreak of enthusiasm. The crowd gradually 
 deserted the squares and streets. The four railways from 
 Philadelphia .and Washington, Harrisburg and Wheeling, which 
 convei'ge at Baltimore, whirled away the heterogeneous popula- 
 tion to the four corners of the United States, and the city sub- 
 sided into comparative tranquillity.
 
 THE TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION. 
 
 [p. 16.]
 
 ERFECT OF THE PRESIDENTS COMMUNICATION. 1 7 
 
 On the following day, thanks to the telegraphic wires, five 
 hundred newspapers and journals, daily, weekly, monthly, or bi- 
 monthly, all took up the question. They examined it under all 
 its difierent aspects, physical, meteorological, economical, or 
 moral, up to its bearings on politics or civilization. Tliey debated 
 whether the moon was a finished world, or whether it was des- 
 tined to undergo any further transformation. Did it resemble 
 the earth at the period when the latter was destitute as yet of an 
 atmosphere ? What kind of spectacle would its hidden hemi- 
 sphere present to our terrestrial spheroid ? Granting that the 
 question at present was simply that of sending a projectile up to 
 the moon, every one must see that that involved the commence- 
 ment of a series of experiments. All must hope that some day 
 America would penetrate the deepest secrets of that mysterious 
 orb; and some even seemed to fear lest its conquest should not 
 sensibly derange the equilibrium of Europe. 
 
 The project once under discussion, not a single paragraph sug- 
 gested a doubt of its realization. All the papers, pamphlets, 
 reports — all the journals published by the scientific, literary, and 
 religious societies enlarged upon its advantages; and the Society 
 of Natural History of Boston, the Society of Science and Art of 
 Albany, the Geographical and Statistical Society of New York, 
 the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, and the Smithsonian 
 of Washington sent innumerable letters of congratulation to the 
 Gun Club, together with ofiers of immediate assistance and 
 money. 
 
 From that day forward Impey Barbicane became one of the 
 greatest citizens of the United States, a kind of Washington of 
 Science. A single trait of feeling, taken from many others, will 
 serve to show the point which this homage of a whole people to a 
 single individual attained. 
 
 Some few days after this memorable meeting of the Gun Club, 
 the manager of an English company announced, at the Baltimore 
 theatre, the production of " Much ado about Nothing." But the 
 
 c
 
 1 8 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 populace, seeing in that title an allusion damaging to Barbicane's 
 pi'oject, broke into the auditorium, smashed the benches, and com- 
 pelled the unlucky director to alter his playbill. Being a sensible 
 man, he bowed to the public will and replaced the offending 
 comedy by "A3 you like it;" and for many weeks he realized 
 fabulous prciits.
 
 CAMBRIDGE OBSERVATORr. 
 
 [p. 19.1
 
 REPLY FROM THE OBSERVATORY OF CAMBRIDGE. 19 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 REPLY FROM THE OBSERVATORY OP CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 Barbicane, however, lost not one moment amidst all the 
 enthusiasm of which he had become the object. His first care 
 was to reassemble his colleagues in the board-room of the Gun 
 Club. There, after some discussion, it was agreed to consult the 
 astronomers regarding the astronomical part of the enterprize. 
 Their reply once ascertained, they could then discuss the 
 mechanical means, and nothing should be wanting to ensure the 
 success of this great experiment. 
 
 A note couched in precise terms, containing special interroga- 
 tories, was then drawn up and addressed to the Observatory of 
 Cambridge in Massachusetts. This city, where the first Univer- 
 sity of the United States was founded, is justly celebrated for its 
 astronomical staff. There are to be found assembled all the most 
 eminent men of science. Here is to be seen at work that power- 
 ful telescope which enabled Bond to resolve the nebula of Andro~ 
 meda, and Clarke to discover the satellite of Sirius. This cele- 
 brated institution fully justified on all points the confidence 
 reposed in it by the Gun Club. 
 
 So, after two days, the reply so hnpatiently awaited was placed 
 in the hands of President Barbicane. 
 
 It was couched in the following terms : — 
 
 " The Director of the Cambridge Oiservatory to the President of the Gun Club 
 
 at Baltimore. 
 
 " Cambridge, Oct. 7. 
 " On the receipt of your favour of tte 6th inst., addressed to the Observa- 
 toiy of Cambridge in the name of the Members of the Baltimore Gun Club, 
 
 c 2
 
 20 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 our staff was immediately called tegether, and it was judged expedient to 
 reply as follows : — 
 
 " The questions which have been proposed to it are these, — 
 
 " ' 1. Is it possible to transmit a projectile up to the moon ? 
 
 '"2. What is the exact distance which separates the earth from its satel-" 
 lite? 
 
 '"3. What will be the period of transit of the projectile when endowed 
 with sufficient initial velocity ? and, consequently, at what moment ought 
 it to bo discharged in order that it may touch the moon at a particular 
 point ? 
 
 " ' 4. At wbat precise moment will the moon present herself in the most j 
 favourable position to be reached by the projectile ? 
 
 "'5. Wliat point in the heavens ought the cannon to be aimed at which! 
 is intended to discharge the projectile ? 
 
 " ' 6. What place will the moon occupy in the heavens at the moment of j 
 the projectile's departure?' 
 
 " Eegarding the/rst question, ' Is it possible to transmit a projectile np toj 
 the moon ? ' 
 
 "^4nsit.-ei*.— Yesj provided it possess an initial velocity of 1200 yards -pei 
 second ; calculations prove that to be sufficient. In proportion as we recede 
 from the earth the action of gravitation diminishes in the inverse ratio of the 
 square of Ihe distance ; that is to say, at three times a given distance the 
 action is nine times less. Consequently, the weight of a shot will decrease, 
 and vriW become reduced to zero at the instant that the attraction of the 
 moon exactly counterpoises that of the earth; that is to say, at ^l of its 
 passage. At that instant the projectile will have no weight whatever ; and, 
 if it passes that point, it will fall into the moon by the sole effect of the 
 lunar attraction. The theoretical possibility of the experiment is therefore 
 absolutely demonstrated; its success must depend upon the power of the 
 engine employed. 
 
 "As to the second question, 'What is the exact distance whicb separates 
 the earth from its satellite ? ' 
 
 " Ansicer. — The moon does not describe a circle round the earth, but rather 
 an ellipse, of which our earth occupies one of the foci; the consequence, 
 therefore, is, that at certain times it approaches nearer to, and at others it 
 recedes farther from, the earth ; in astronomical language, it is at one time 
 in apogee, at another in perigee. Now the difference between its greatest 
 and its least distance is too considerable to be left oat of consideration. In 
 point of fact, in its apogee the moon is 247,552 miles, and in its perigee, 
 218,657 miles only distant ; a fact which makes a difference of 28,895 miles, 
 or more than one ninth of the entire distance. The perigee distance, there- 
 fore, is that which ought to serve as the basis of all calculations. 
 
 " To the third question : — 
 
 " Aiiswer. — If the shot should preserve continuously its initial velocity of 
 12,000 yards per second, it would require little more than nine hours to 
 reach its destination ; but, inasmuch as that initial velocity will be con- 
 
 I
 
 REPLY FROM THE OBSERVATORY OF CAMBRIDGE. 21 
 
 tinnally decreasing, it results ttat, taking everything into consideration, it 
 •will occupy 300,000 seconds, that is 83hrs. 20m. in reaching the point where 
 the attraction of the earth and moon will be in equilihrio. From this point 
 it will fall into the moon in 50,000 seconds, or 13hrs. 53m. 20sec. It will be 
 desirable, therefore, to discharge it 97hrs. 13m. 20sec. before the arrival of 
 the moon at the point aimed at. 
 
 "Regarding question four, 'At what precise moment will the moon 
 present herself in the most favourable position, &c. ?' 
 
 " Answer. — After what has been said above, it will be necessary, first of 
 all, to choose the period when the moon will be in perigee, and also the 
 moment when she will be crossing the zenith, which latter event will further 
 diminish the entire distance by a length equal to the radius of the earth, 
 i. e. 3919 miles ; the result of which will be that the final passage remaining 
 to be accomplished will be 214,976 miles. But although the moon passes 
 her perigee every month, she does not reach the zenith always at exactly 
 the same moment. She does not appear under these two conditions simul- 
 taneously, except at long intervals of time. It will be necessary, therefore, 
 to wait for the moment when her passage in perigee shall coincide with that 
 in the zenith. Ivow, by a fortunate circumstance, on the 4th December in 
 the ensuing year the moon will present these two conditions. At midnight 
 ehe will be in perigee, that is, at her shortest distance from the earth, and 
 at the same moment sne will be crossing the zenith. 
 
 " On the fifth question, ' At what point in the heavens ought the cannon 
 to be aimed ? ' 
 
 " Answer. — The preceding remarks being admitted, the cannon ought to 
 be pointed to the zenith of the place. Its fire, therefore, will be perpen- 
 dicular to the plane of the horizon; and the projectile will soonest pass 
 beyond the range of the terrestrial attraction. But, in order that the moon 
 should reach the zenith of a given place, it is necessary that the place should 
 not exceed in latitude the declination of the luminaiy ; in other words, it 
 must be comprised within the degrees 0° and 28° of lat. N. or S. In every 
 other spot the fiire must necessarily be oblique, which would seriously 
 militate against the success of the experiment. 
 
 "As to the sixth question, 'What place will the moon occupy in the 
 heavens at the moment of the projectile's departure ? ' 
 
 " Ansicer. — At the moment when the projectile shall be discharged into 
 epace, the moon, which travels daily forward 13° 10' 35", will be distant 
 from the zenith point by four times that quantity, i. e. by 52^ 42' 20", a space 
 which corresponds to the path which she will describe during the entire 
 journey of the projectile. But, inasmuch as it is equally necessary to take 
 into account the deviation which the rotary motion of the earth will impart 
 to the shot, and as the shot cannot reach the moon until after a deviation 
 equal to 16 radii of the earth, which, calculated upon the moon's orbit, are 
 equal to about eleven degrees, it becomes necessary to add these eleven 
 degrees to those which express the retardation of the moon just mentioned : 
 that is to say, in round numbers, about 64 degrees. Consequently, at the
 
 22 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 moment of firing the visual radius applied to the moon will describe, with 
 the vertical line of the place, an angle of sixty-four degrees. 
 
 " These are our answers to the questions proposed to the Observatory of 
 Cambridge by the members of the Gun Club : — 
 
 " To sum up, — 
 
 " 1st. The cannon ought to be planted in a country situated between 0° 
 and 28° of N. or S. lat. 
 
 "2ndly. It ought to be pointed directly towards the zenith of the place. 
 
 " 3rdly. The projectile ought to be propelled with an initial velocity of 
 12,000 yards per second. 
 
 "4thly. It ought to be discharged at lOhrs. 46m. 40sec. of the 1st 
 December of the ensuing year. 
 
 " 5thly. It will meet the moon four days after its discharge, precisely at 
 midnight on the 4th December, at the moment of its transit across the 
 zenith. 
 
 " The members of the Gun Club ought, therefore, without delay, to com- 
 mence the works necessary for such an experiment, and to be prepared to 
 set to work at the moment determined upon ; for, if they should sulier this 
 4th December to go by, they will not find the moon again under the same condi- 
 tions of perigee and of zenith until eighteen years and eleven days afterwards. 
 
 " The Staff of the Cambridge Observatory place themselves entirely at 
 their disposal in respect of all questions of theoretical astronomy; and here- 
 with add their congratulations to those of all the rest of America. 
 " For the Astronomical StaS", 
 
 " J. M. Belfast, 
 ** Director of the Observatory of Camlridqe." 
 
 I
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE MOON. 23 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE MOON. 
 
 An observer endued with an infinite range of vision, and placed 
 in that unknown centre around which the entire world revolves, 
 might have beheld myriads of atoms filling all space duriYig the 
 chaotic epoch of the universe. Little by little, as ages went on, a 
 change took place; a general law of attraction manifested itself, to 
 which the hitherto errant atoms became obedient : these atoms 
 combined together chemically according to their affinities, formed 
 themselves into molecules, and composed those nebulous masses 
 with which the depths of the heavens are strewed. 
 
 These masses became immediately endued with a rotary motion 
 around their own central point. This centre, formed of indefinite 
 molecules, began to revolve round its own axis during its gradual 
 condensation; then, following the immutable laws of mechanics, 
 in proportion as its bulk diminished by condensation, its rotary 
 motion became accelerated, and these two effects continuing, the 
 result was the formation of one principal star, the centre of the 
 nebulous mass. 
 
 By attentively watching, the observer would then have per- 
 ceived the other molecules of the mass, following the example of 
 this central star, become likewise condensed by gradually acce- 
 lerated rotation, and gravitating round it in the shape of 
 innumerable stars. Thus was formed the NehulcB, of which 
 astronomers have reckoned up nearly 5000. 
 
 Amongst these 5000 nebulae there is one which has received 
 the name of the Milky Way, and which contains eighteen
 
 24 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOO^. 
 
 milHone of stars, each of wliich has become the centre of a solar 
 world. 
 
 If the observer had then specially directed his attention to one 
 of the more humble and less brilliant of these stellar bodies, a star 
 of the fourth class, that which is arrogantly called the Sun, all the 
 phenomena to which the foiTnation of the Universe is to be 
 ascribed would have been successively fulfilled before his eyes. 
 In fact, he would have perceived this sun, as yet in the gaseous 
 state, and composed of moving molecules, revolving round its axis 
 in order to accomplish its work of concentration. This motion, 
 faithful to the laws of mecltanics, would have been accelerated 
 with the diminution of its volume; and a moment would have 
 arrived when the centrifugal foi-ce would have overpowered the 
 centripetal, which causes the molecules all to tend towards the 
 centre. 
 
 Another phenomenon would now have passed before the 
 observer's eye, and the molecules situated on the plane of the 
 equator escaping, like a stcne from a sling of which the cord had 
 suddenly snapped, would have formed around the sun sundry con- 
 centric rings resembling that of Saturn. In their turn, again, 
 these rings of cosmical matter, excited by a rotary motion round 
 the central mass, would have been broken up and decomposed 
 into secondary nebulosities, that is to say, into planets. Similarly 
 he would have observed these planets throw oflF one or more rings 
 each, which became the origin of the secondary bodies which we 
 call satellites. 
 
 Thus, then, advancing from atom to molecule, from molecule to 
 nebulous mass, from that to a principal star, from star to sun, 
 from sun to planet, and hence to satellite, we have the whole 
 series of transformations undergone by the heavenly bodies during 
 the first days of the world. 
 
 Now, of those attendant bodies which the sun maintains in 
 their elliptical orbits by the great law of gravitation, some few in 
 their turn possess satellites. Uranus has eight, Saturn eight,
 
 THE MOON'S DISC. 
 
 (p. 26
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE MOON. 
 
 25 
 
 Jupiter four, Neptune possibly three, and the Earth one. This 
 last, one of the least important of the entire solar systera, we 
 2all the Moon ; and it is she whom the daring genius of the 
 A.mericans professed their intention of conquering. 
 
 The moon, by her comparative proximity, and the constantly 
 varying appearances produced by her several phases, has always 
 jccnpied a considerable share of the attention of the inhabitants 
 )f the earth. 
 
 _From the time of Thales of Miletus, in the fifth century B.C., 
 iown to that of Copernicus in the fifteenth and Tycho Brahe in 
 ;he sixteenth century A. D., observations have been from time to time 
 !arried on with more or less coi'rectness, until in the present day 
 he altitudes of the lunar mountains have been determined Avith 
 sxactitude. Galileo explained the phenomena of the lunar light 
 )roduced during certain of her phases by the existence of moun- 
 ains, to which he assigned a mean altitude of 27,000 feet. After 
 lim Hevelius, an astronomer of Dantzic, reduced the highest 
 ilevations to 15,000 feet ; but the calculations of Riccioli brought 
 hem up again to 21,000 feet. 
 
 At the close of the eighteenth centuiy Herschell, armed with 
 \ powerful telescope, considerably reduced the preceding measure- 
 Qents. He assigned a height of 11,400 feet to the maximum 
 ilevations, and reduced the mean of the different altitudes to little 
 Qore than 2400 feet. But Herschell's calculations wei'e in their 
 urn corrected by the observations of Halley, Nasmyth, Bianchini, 
 Jruithuysen, and others ; but it was reserved for the labours of 
 3oeer and Miedler finally to solve the question. They succeeded 
 n measuring 1905 difi"erent elevations, of which six exceed 
 .5,000 feet, and twenty-two exceed 14,400 feet. The highest 
 lummit of all towers to a height of 22,606 feet above the surface 
 >f the lunar disc. At the same period the examination of the 
 noon was completed. She appeared completely riddled with 
 '.raters, and her essentially volcanic character was apparent at 
 jach observation. By the absence of refraction in the rays of the
 
 26 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 planets occulted by her we conclude that she is absolutely devoid 
 of an atmosphere. The absence of air entails the absence of 
 ■water. It became, therefore, manifest that the Seleuites, to 
 support life under such conditions, must possess a special organi- 
 zation of their own, must differ remarkably from the inhabitants 
 of the earth. 
 
 At length, thanks to modern art, instruments of still highe: 
 perfection searched the moon without intermission, not leaving a 
 single point of her surface unexplored ; and notwithstanding 
 that her diameter measures 2150 miles, her surface equals the 
 1-1 5th part of that of our globe, and her bulk the l-49th 
 part of that of the terrestrial spheroid — not one of her secrets 
 was able to escape the eyes of the astronomers ; and these skilful 
 men of science carried to even greater degree their prodigious 
 observations. 
 
 Thus they remarked that, daring full moon, the disc appeared 
 scored in certain parts with icliit.e lines ; and, during the phases, 
 with hlach. On prosecuting the study of these with still greater 
 precision, they succeeded in obtaining an exact account of the 
 nature of these lines. They were long and narrow furrows sunk 
 between parallel ridges, bordering generally upon the edges of the 
 craters. Tlicir length varied between ten and 100 miles, and their 
 width was about 1 GOO yards. Astronomers called them chasms, 
 but they could not get any farther. Whether these chasms were 
 the dried-up beds of ancient rivers or not they were unable 
 thoroughly to ascertain. 
 
 The Americans, amongst others, hoped one day or other to 
 determine this geological question. They also undertook to 
 examine the true nature of that system of parallel ramparts dis- 
 covered on the moon's surface by Gruithuysen, a learned professor 
 of Munich, who considered them to be " a system of fortifications 
 thrown up by the Selenitic engineers." These two points, yet 
 obscure, as avcU as others, no doubt, could not be definitively 
 settled except by direct communication with the moon. 
 
 .3
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE MOON. 27 
 
 Regarding the degree of inteusity of its light, there was nothing 
 more to learn on this point. It was known that it is 300,000 
 times weaker than that of the sun, and that its heat has no ap- 
 preciable eifcct upon the thermometer. As to the phenomenon 
 : known as the " ashy light," it is explained naturally by the effect 
 of the transmission of the solar rays from the earth to the moon, 
 which give the appearance of completeness to the lunar disc, while 
 it presents itself under the crescent form during its first and last 
 phases. 
 
 Such was the state of knowledge acquired regarding the earth's 
 satellite, which the Gun Club undertook to perfect in all its 
 aspects, cosmographic, geological, political, and moral
 
 28 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TUE PERMISSIVE LIMITS OP IGNORANCE AND BELIEF IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 The immediate result of Barbicane's proposition was to place 
 upon the orders of the day all the astronomical facts relative to 
 the Queen of Night. Everybody set to work to study assiduously. 
 One would have thought that the moon had just appeared for the 
 first time, and that no one had ever before caught a glimpse of ' 
 her in the heavens. The papers revived all the old anecdotes in 
 which the " sun of the wolves " played a part ; they recalled the ' 
 influences which the ignorance of past ages ascribed to her ; in 
 short, all America was seized with seleno-mauia, or had become , 
 moon-mad. 
 
 The scientific journals, for their part, dealt more especially with 
 the questions which touched upon the enterprise of the Gun Club. 
 The letter of the Observatory of Cambridge was published by ; 
 them, and commented upon with unreserved approval. 
 
 Until that time most people had been ignorant of the mode iu 
 which the distance which separates the moon from the eartli i? 
 calculated. They took advantage of this fact to explain to them 
 that this distance was obtained by measuring the parallax of the ' 
 moon. The term parallax proving " caviare to the general," they 
 further explaineil that it meant the angle formed by the inclination ; 
 of two straight lines drawn from either extremity of the earth- 
 radius to the moon. On doubts being expressed as to the correct- j 
 ness of this method, they immediately proved (hat not only was 
 the mean distance 234,347 miles, but that astronomers could not
 
 THE PERMISSIVE LIMITS OF IGNORANCE, ETC. 29 
 
 possibly be in error in their estimate by more than 70 miles either 
 
 way. 
 
 To those who were not familiar with the motions of the moon, 
 , they demonstrated that she possesses two distinct motions, the first 
 . being that of rotation upon her axis, the second that of revolution 
 I round the earth, accomplishing both together in an equal pei'iod of 
 
 time, that is to say, in 27^ days. 
 
 The motion of rotation is that which produces day and night on 
   the surfiice of the moon; save that there is only one day and one 
 i night in the lunar month, each lasting 354-^ hours. But, happily 
 
 for her, the face turned towards the terrestrial globe is illuminated 
 i by it with an intensity equal to the light of fourteen moons. As 
 I to the other face, always invisible to us, it has of necessity 354 
 
 hours of absolute night, tempered only by that "pale glimmer 
 
 which falls upon it from the stars." 
 
 Some well-intentioned but rather obstinate persons, could not at 
 I first comprehend how, if the moon displays invariably the same 
 
 face to the earth during her revolution, she can describe one turn 
 { round herself. To such they answered, " Go into your dining- 
 j room, and walk round the table in such a way as always to keep 
 j your face turned towards the centre ; by the time you will have 
 I achieved one complete round you will have completed one turn 
 I round yourself, since your eye will have traversed successively 
 [ every point of the room. Well, then, the room is the heavens, the 
 I table is the earth, and the moon is yourself." And they would go 
 ' away delighted. 
 
 So, then, the moon displays invariably the same face to the 
 , earth; nevertheless, to be quite exact, it is necessary to add that, 
 ' in consequence of certain fluctuations of north and south, and of 
 
 west and east, termed her libration, she permits rather more than 
 
 the half, that is to say, five-sevenths, to be seen. 
 
 As soon as the ignoramuses came to understand as much as the 
 
 Director of the Observatory himself knew, they began to worry 
 
 themselves regarding her revolution round the earth, whereupon
 
 30 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 
 twenty scientific reviews immediately came to the rescue. They 
 pointed out to them then that the firmament, with its infinitude of 
 stars, may be considered as one vast dial-plate, upon which the 
 moon travels, indicating the true time to all the inhabitants of the 
 earth; that it is during this movement that the Queen of Night ! 
 exhibits her different phases; that the moon is" full when she is in 
 opposition with the sun, that is, when the three bodies are on the 
 same straight line, the earth occupying the centre; that she is new 
 when she is in conjunction Avith the sun, that is, when she is 
 between it and the earth; and lastly, that she is in \\qy first or last 
 quarter, when she makes with the sun and the earth an angle of 
 which she herself occupies the apex. 
 
 Regarding the altitude which the moon attains above the hori- 
 zon, the letter of the Cambridge Observatory had said all that was 
 to be said in that respect. Every one knew that this altitude 
 varies according to the latitude of the observer. But the only 
 zones of the globe in which the moon passes the zenith, that is, the 
 point directly over the head of the spectator, are of necessity 
 comprised between the twenty-eighth parallels and the equator. 
 Hence the importance of the advice to try the experiment upon 
 some point of that part of the globe, in order that the projectile 
 might be discharged perpendicularly, and so the soonest escape 
 the action of gravitation. This was an essential condition to the 
 success of the enterprise, and continued actively to engage the 
 public attention. 
 
 Regarding the path described by the moon in her revolution 
 round the earth, the Cambridge Observatory had demonstrated 
 that this path is a re-entering curve, not a perfect circle, but an 
 ellipse, of which the earth occupies one of the Joci. It was also 
 well understood that it is farthest removed from the earth during 
 its apogee, and approaches most nearly to it at its perigee. 
 
 m 
 
 Such then was the extent of knowledge possessed by every 
 American on the subject, and of which no one could decently 
 profess ignorauce. Still, while these true principles were being
 
 THE PERMISSIVE LIMITS OF IGNORANCE, ETC, 3 1 
 
 rapidly dissemiuated many errors and illusory fears proved less 
 easy to eradicate. 
 
 For instance, some worthy persons maintained that the moon 
 was an ancient comet Avhich, in describing its elongated orhit round 
 the snn, hapjiened to pass near the earth, and became confined 
 within her circle of attraction. These drawing-room astronomers 
 professed so to explain the chan-ed aspect of the moon — a 
 disaster which they attributed to the intensity of the solar heat ; 
 only, on being reminded that comets have an atmosphere, and 
 that the moon has little or none, they were fairly at a loss for 
 a reply. 
 
 Others again, belonging to the doubting class expressed certain 
 fears as to the position of the moon. They had heard it said that, 
 according to observations made in the time of the Caliphs, her 
 revolution had become accelerated in a certain degree. Hence 
 they concluded, logically enough, that an acceleration of motion 
 ought to be accompanied by a corresj)onding diminution in the 
 distance separating the two bodies ; and that, supposing the 
 double effect to be continued to infinity, the moon would end by 
 one day fitUiug into the earth. However, they became reassured 
 as to the fate of future generations on being apprised that, accord- 
 ing to the calculations of Laplace, this acceleration of motion is 
 confined within very restricted limits, and that a proportional 
 diminution of speed will be certain to succeed it. So, then, the 
 stabilit}^ of the solar system would not be deranged in ages to 
 come. 
 
 Their remains but the third class, the superstitious. These 
 ■v^orthies were not content merely to rest in ignorance; they must 
 know all about things which had no existence whatever, and as 
 to the moon, they had long known all about hei\ One set regarded 
 her disc as a polished mirroi', by means of Avhich people could see 
 each other from difterent j^oints of the earth and interchange their 
 thoughts. Another set pretended that out of one thousand new 
 moons that had been observed, nine hundred and fifty had been
 
 32 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 attended with remarkable disturbances, such as cataclysms, revolu- 
 tious, earthquakes, the deluge, &c. Then they believed in some 
 mysterious influence exercised by her over human destinies — that 
 every Selenite was attached to some inhabitant of the earth by a 
 tie of sympathy; they maintained that the entire vital system is 
 subject to her control, &c., &c. But in time the majority renounced 
 these vulgar errors, and espoused the true side of the question. As 
 for the Yankees, they had no other ambition than to take posses- 
 sion of this new continent of the sky, and to plant upon the summit 
 of its highest elevation the star-spangled banner of the United 
 States of America. 
 
 I 
 
 «
 
 barbica:ne holds forth. 
 
 [p. 33.]
 
 THE HYMM OF THE CANNON-BALL. 
 
 61 
 
 CHAPTER VIT. 
 
 THE HYMN OF THE CANNON-BALL. 
 
 The Observatory of Cambridge in its memorable letter hail treated 
 the-, question from a purely astronomical point of view. The 
 mechanical part still remained. 
 
 President Barbicane had, without loss of time, nominated a 
 Working Committee of the Gun Club. The duty of this Com- 
 mittee was to resolve the three grand questions of the cannon, the 
 projectile, and the powder. It was composed of four members of 
 great technical knowledge, Barbicane (with a casting vote in case 
 of equality), General Morgan, Major Elphinstone, and J. T. Mas- 
 ton, to whom were confided the functions of secretary. On the 
 8th of October the Committee met at the house of President Bar- 
 bicane, 3, Republican Street. The meeting Avas opened by the 
 president himself. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said he, " we have to resolve one of the most 
 important problems in the whole of the noble science of gunnery. 
 It might appear, perhaps, the most logical course to devote our 
 first meeting to the discussion of the engine to be employed. 
 Nevertheless, after mature consideration, it has appeared to me 
 that the question of the projectile must take precedence of that of 
 the cannon, and that the dimensions of the latter must necessarily 
 depend upon those of the former." 
 
 " Suffer me to say a word," here broke in J. T. Maston. Per- 
 mission having been granted, " Gentlemen," said he, with an 
 inspired accent, " our president is right in placing the question of 
 the projectile above all others. The ball we are about to discharge 
 
 D
 
 14. 
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 at the moon is our ambassador to her, and I wish to consider it 
 from a moral point of view. The cannon-ball, gentlemen, to my 
 mind, is the most magnificent manifestation o^* human power. If 
 Providence has created the stars and the planets, man has called 
 the cannon-ball into existence. Let Providence claim the swift- 
 ness of electricity and of light, of the stars, the comets, and the 
 planets, of wind and sound — we claim to have invented the swift- 
 ness of the cannon-ball, a hundred times superior to that of the 
 swiftest horses or railway train. How glorious will be the moment 
 when, infinitely exceeding all hitherto attained velocities, Ave shall 
 launch our new projectile with the rapidity of seven miles a second! 
 Shall it not, gentlemen — shall it not be received up there with 
 the honours due to a terrestrial ambassador ?" 
 
 Overcome with emotion the orator sat down and applied himself 
 to a huge plate of sandwiches before him. 
 
 " And now," said Bai'bicane, " let us quit the domain of poetry 
 and come direct to the question." 
 
 " By all means," replied the members, each with his mouth full 
 of sandwich. 
 
 " The problem before us," continued the pi'esident, " is how to 
 communicate to a projectile a velocity of 12,000 yards per second. 
 Let us at present examine the velocities hitherto attained. General 
 Morgan will be able to enlighten us on this point." 
 
 " And the more easily," replied the general, " that during the 
 war I Avas a member of the Committee of experiments. I may 
 say, then, that the 100-pounder Dahlgrens, which carried a 
 distance of 5000 yards, impressed upon their projectile an initial 
 velocity of 500 yards a second. The Rodman Columbiad threw a 
 shot weighing half a ton a distance of six miles, Avith a velocity 
 of 800 yards per second — a result Avhich Armstrong and Palisser 
 have never obtained in England." 
 
 " This," replied Barbicane, " is, I believe, the maximum 
 velocity CA^er attained ? " 
 
 " It is so," replied the general.
 
 THE RODMAN COLUMIUAD. 
 
 [p. 34.1
 
 I 
 
 1
 
 THE HYMN OF THE CANSON-BALL. 35 
 
 " Ah ! " groaned J, T. Maston, " if my mortox had not 
 burst—" 
 
 " Yes," quietly replied Barbicane, " but it did burst. Wo 
 must take, then, for our starting-point this velocity of 800 yards. 
 We must increase it twenty-fold. Now, reserving for another 
 discussion the means of producing this velocity, I will call your 
 attention to the dimensions which it will be proper to assign to 
 the shot. You understand that we have nothing to do here Avith 
 projectiles weighing at most but half a ton." 
 " ^^'hy not ?" demanded the major. 
 
 " Because the shot," quickly replied J. T. Maston, " must be big 
 enough to attract the attention of the inhabitants of the moon, 
 if there are any ? " 
 
 " Yes," replied Barbicane, " and for another reason more impor- 
 tant still." 
 
 " What mean you ?" asked the major. 
 
 " I mean that it is not enough to discharge a projectile, and 
 then take no further notice of it ; we must follow it throughout 
 its course, up to the moment when it shall reach its goal." 
 
 " What ?" shouted the general and the major in great surprise. 
 " Undoubtedly," replied Barbicane, composedly, " or our ex- 
 periment would produce no result." 
 
 "But then," replied the major, "you will have to give this 
 projectile enormous dimensions." 
 
 " No ! Be so good as to listen. You know that optical in 
 struments have acquired great perfection ; with certain telescopes 
 we have succeeded in obtaining enlai-gcmeuts of 6000 times and 
 reducing the moon to within forty miles' distance. Now, at this 
 distance, any objects sixty feet square would be perfectly visible. 
 If, then, the penetrative power of telescopes has not been further 
 increased, it is because that power detracts from their light ; and 
 the moon, Avhich is but a reflecting mirror, does not give back 
 suthcient light to enable us to perceive objects of lesser magni- 
 tude." 
 
 D 2
 
 36 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 "Well, then, what do you propose to do ?" asked the general. 
 " Would you give your projectile a diameter of sixty feet ?" 
 
 " Not so." 
 
 " Do you intend, then, to increase the luminous power of the 
 moon ?" 
 
 " Exactly so. If I can succeed in diminishing the density of 
 the atmosphere through which the moon's light has to travel I 
 shall have rendered her light more intense. To effect that object 
 it will be enough to establish a telescope on some elevated moun- 
 tain. That is what we will do." 
 
 " I give it up," answered the major. " You have such a way 
 of simplifying things. And what enlai'gement do you expect to 
 obtain in this way ?" 
 
 " One of 48,000 times, which should bring the moon within an J 
 apparent distance of five miles ; and, in order to be visible, 
 objects need not have a diameter of moi'e than nine feet." 
 
 " So, then," cried J. T. Maston, " our projectile i^eed not be 
 more than nine feet in diameter." 
 
 " Let me observe, however," intermitted Major Eli^hinstone, 
 " this will involve a weight such as — " 
 
 " My dear major," replied Barbicane, " before discussing its 
 Aveight, permit me to enumerate some of the marvels which our 
 ancestors have achieved in this respect. I don't mean to pretend 
 that the liciencc of gunnery has not advanced, but it is as well to 
 bear in mind that during the middle ages they obtained results 
 more surprising, I will venture to say, than ours. For instance, 
 during the siege of Constantinople by Mahomet II., in 1453, 
 stone shot of 1900lbs. weight were employed. At Malta, in the 
 time of the knights, there was a gun of the fortress of St. Elmo 
 M'hich threw a projectile weighing 25001bs. And, noAV, what is 
 the extent of what Ave have seen ourselves ? Armstrong guns 
 discharging shot of oOOlbs., and the Rodman guns projectiles 
 of half a ton ! It seems, then, that if projectiles have gained 
 in range, they have lost far more in weight. Now, if we 
 
 ' W.m i iMmw iiii r .) » i «*' WW
 
 CANNON AT MALTA IN THE TIME OF THE KNIGHTS. 
 
 [p. 30.]
 
 THE HYMN OF THE CANNON-BALL. 37 
 
 turn our efforts in that direction, Ave ought to arrive, with 
 the progress of science, at ten times the weight of the shot of 
 Mahomet II. and the Knights of Malta." 
 
 " Clearly," replied the major ; " but Avhat metal do you 
 calculate upon employing ?" 
 
 " Simply cast iron," said General Morgan, 
 
 " But," interrupted the major, " since the weight of a shot is 
 proportionate to its volume, an iron ball of nine feet in diameter 
 would be of tremendous weight." 
 
 " Yes, if it were solid, not if it were hollow." 
 " Hollow ? then it would be a shell ? " 
 
 " Yes, a shell," replied Barbicane ; " decidedly it must be. A 
 solid shot of 108 inches would weigh more than 200,0001bs., 
 a weight evidently far too great. Still, as we must reserve a 
 certain stability for our projectile, I propose to give it a weight of 
 20,0001bs." 
 
 " What, then, will be the thickness of the sides ? " asked the 
 major. 
 
 " If we follow the usual proportion," replied Morgan, " a 
 diameter of 108 inches would require sides of two feet thickness, 
 or less." 
 
 " That would be too much," replied Barbicane ; " for you will 
 observe that the question is not tliat of a shot intended to pierce 
 an iron plate : it Avill suffice, therefore, to give it sides strong 
 enough to resist the pressure of the gas. The problem, therefore, 
 is this — What thickness ought a cast-iron shell to have in order 
 not to weigh more than 20,0001bs. ? Our clever secretary will 
 soon enlighten us upon this point." 
 
 " Nothing easier," replied the worthy secretary of the Com- 
 mittee ; and, rapidly tracing a few algebraical formuUc upon 
 paper, among which n^ and x" frequently appeared, he presently 
 said, — 
 
 " The sides will require a thickness of less than two inches." 
 " Will that be enough ?" asked the major doubtfully.
 
 38 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 "Clearly not!" repliod the president. 
 
 " What is to be done, then?" said Elphinstone, with a puzzled 
 air. 
 
 "Eaiploy another metal instead of iron." 
 
 " Copper?" said Morgan. 
 
 " No; that would be too heavy. I have better than that to 
 offer." 
 
 " What then?" asked the major. 
 
 "Aluminium!" replied Barbicane. 
 
 " Aluminium ? " cried his three colleagues in chorus. 
 
 " Unquestionably, my friends. This valuable metal possesses 
 the whiteness of silver, the indestructibility of gold, the tenacity 
 of iron,- the fusibility of copper, the lightness of glass. It is 
 easily wrought, is very widely distributed, forming the base of 
 most of the rocks, is three times lighter than iron, and seems to 
 have been created for the express purpose of furnishing us with 
 the material for our projectile." 
 
 " But, my dear president," said the major, " is not the cost 
 price of aluminium extremely high?" 
 
 " It was so at its first discovery, but it has fallen now to nine 
 dollars the pound." 
 
 "But still, nine dollars the pound!" replied the major, who 
 Avas not willing readily to give in; "even that is an enormous 
 price." 
 
 "Undoubtedly, my dear major; bnt not beyond our reach." 
 
 "What will the projectile weigh then?" asked Morgan. 
 
 " Here is the result of my calculations," replied Barbicane. 
 "A shot of 108 inches in diameter, and 12 inches in thickness, 
 would weigh, in cast-iron, 67,4401bs.; cast in aluminium, its 
 weight will be reduced to 19,2o01bs." 
 
 "Capital!" cried the major; "bnt do you know that, at nine 
 dollars the pound, this projectile will cost — " 
 
 " One hundred and seventy-three thousand and fifty dollars 
 (§173,050). I know it quite well. But fear not, my friends; the
 
 THE HYMN OF THE CANNON-BALL. 39 
 
 money will not be wanting for our enterprise, I will ansAver for 
 it. Now what say you to aluminium, gentlemen?" 
 
 "Adopted!" replied the three members of the Committee. 
 
 So ended the first meeting. The question of the projectile was 
 definitively settled.
 
 40 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER Vni. 
 
 HISTOKY OF THE CANNON. 
 
 The resolutions passed, at the last meeting produced a great effect 
 out of doors. Timid people took friglit at the idea of a shot 
 weighing 20,0001bs. being launched into space; they asked what 
 cannon could ever transmit a sufficient velocity to such a mighty 
 mass. The minutes of the second meeting were destined trium- 
 phantly to answer such questions. The following evening the 
 discussion was renewed. 
 
 " My dear colleagues," said Barbicaue, without further preamble, 
 " the subject now before us is the construction of the engine, its 
 length, its composition, and its weight. It is probable that wo 
 shall end by giving it gigantic dimensions ; but however great 
 may be the difficulties in the way, our mechanical genius will 
 readily surmount them. Be good enough, then, to give me your 
 attention, and do not hesitate to make objections at the close. I 
 have no fear of them. The problem before us is how to commu- 
 nicate an initial force of 12,000 yards per second to a shell of 108 
 inches in diameter, weighing 20,0001bs. Now when a projectile 
 is launched into space, what happens to it? It is acted upon by 
 three independent forces, the resistance of the air, the attraction 
 of the earth, and the force of impulsion with which it is endowed. 
 Let us examine these three forces. The resistance of the air is 
 of little importance. The atmosphere of the earth does not 
 exceed forty miles. Now, with the given rapitlity, the projectile 
 will have traversed this in five seconds, and the period is too 
 brief for the resistance of the medium to be regarded otherwise
 
 HISTORY OF THE CANNON. 4 1 
 
 than as insignificant. Proceeding, then, to the attraction of tho 
 earth, that is, the weight of the shell, we know that this weight 
 will diminish in the inverse ratio of the square of the distance. 
 When a body left to itself falls to the surface of the earth, it falls 
 five feet in the first second; and if the same body were removed 
 257,542 miles farther off, in other words, to the distance of tho 
 moon, its fall would be reduced to about half a line in the first 
 second. That is almost equivalent to a state of perfect rest. 
 Our business, then, is to overcome progressively this action of 
 gravitation. The mode of accomplishing that is by the force of 
 impulsion." 
 
 " There's the difficulty," broke in the major. 
 "True," replied the president; "but we will overcome that, 
 for this force of impulsion will depend upon the length of the 
 engine aod the powder employed, the latter being limited only by 
 the resisting power of the former. Our business, then, to-day is 
 with the dimensions of the cannon." 
 
 " Now, up to the present time," said Barbicane, " our longest 
 guns have not exceeded twenty-five feet in length. We shall 
 therefore astonish the world by the dimensions we shall be 
 obliged to adopt. It must evidently be, then, a gun of great 
 range, since the length of the piece will increase the detention of 
 the gas accumulated behind the projectile; but there is no advan- 
 ta^^e in passing certain limits." 
 
 "Quite so," said the major. "What is the rule in such a 
 
 case?" 
 
 " Ordinarily the length of a gun is 20 to 25 times the diameter 
 of the shot, and its weight 235 to 240 times that of the shot." 
 
 " That is not enough," cried J. T. Maston impetuously. 
 
 "I agree with you, my good friend; and, in fact, following 
 this prrportion for a projectile nine feet in diameter, weighing 
 30,0001bs., the gun would only have a length of 225 feet, and a 
 weight of 7,2O0,0001bs." 
 
 " Ridiculous ! " rejoined Maston. " As well take a pistol."
 
 42 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 " I tliink so too," replied Barbicaue; " that is why I propose 
 to quadruple that length, and to construct a gun of 900 feet." 
 
 Tlie general and the major offered some objections; never- 
 theless, the proposition, actively supported by the secretary, was 
 definitively adopted. 
 
 " But," said Elphinstone, " what thickness must we give it ? " 
 
 " A thickness of six feet," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " You surely don't think of mounting a mass like that upon a 
 carriage ? " asked the major. 
 
 " It would be a superb idea, though," said Maston. 
 
 " But impracticable," replied Barbicane. " No ; I think of 
 sinking this engine in the earth alone, binding it with hoops of 
 wrought iron, and finally surrounding it with a thick mass of 
 masonry of stone and cement. The piece once cast, it must be 
 bored with great precision, so as to preclude any possible 
 windage. So there will be no loss whatever of gas, and all 
 the expansive force of the powder will be employed in the 
 propulsion." 
 
 " One simple question," said Elphinstone : " is our gun to be 
 rifled ? " 
 
 " No, certainly not," replied Barbicane; " we require an 
 enormous initial velocity; and you are Avell aware that a shot 
 quits a rifled gun less rapidly than it does a smooth-bore." 
 
 " True," rejoined the major. 
 
 The Committee here adjourned for a few minutes to tea and 
 sandwiches. 
 
 On the discussion being renewed, *' Gentlemen," said Barbi- 
 cane, " we must now take into consideration the metal to be 
 employed. • Our cannon must be possessed of great tenacity, 
 great hardness, be infusible by heat, indissoluble, and inoxydable 
 by the corrosive action of acids." 
 
 " There is no doubt about that/' replied the major; " and as 
 we shall have to employ an immense quantity of metal, we shall 
 not be at a loss for choice."
 
 IDEAL SKETCH OF J. T. MASTON'S GUN. 
 
 [p. 42.]
 
 i
 
 HISTORY OF THE CANNON. 43 
 
 " Well, then," said Morgan, " I propose the best alloy hitherto 
 known, which consists of 100 parts of copper, 12 of tin, and 6 of 
 
 brass." 
 
 " I admit," replied the president, " that this composition has 
 yielded excellent results, but in the present case it would be too 
 expensive, and very difficult to work. I think, then, that we 
 ought to adopt a material excellent in its way and of low price, 
 such as cast iron. What is your advice, major ? " 
 
 ** I quite agree with you," replied Eiphinstone. 
 
 " In fact," continued Barbicane, " cast iron cost ten times less 
 than bronze; it is easy to cast, it runs readily from the moulds of 
 sand, it is easy of manipulation, it is at once economical of money 
 and of time. In addition, it is excellent as a material, and I well 
 remember that during the war, at the siege of Atlanta, some iron 
 guns fired one thousand rounds at intervals of twenty minutes 
 without injury." 
 
 " Cast iron is very brittle, though," replied Morgan. 
 
 " Yes, but it possesses great resistance. I will now ask our 
 worthy secretary to calculate the weight of a cast-iron gun with 
 a bore of nine feet and a thickness of six feet of metal." 
 
 " In a moment," replied Maston. Then, dashing off some alge- 
 braical formulte with marvellous facility, in a minute or two he 
 declared the following result : — 
 
 " The cannon will weigh 68,040 tons. And, at two cents a 
 pound, it Avill cost — ? " 
 
 " 2,510,701 dollars." 
 
 Maston, the major, and the general regarded Barbicane with 
 uneasy looks. 
 
 " Well, gentlemen," replied the president, " I repeat what I 
 said yesterday. Make yourselves easy; the millions will not be 
 
 wanting. 
 
 With this assurance of their president the Committee sepa- 
 rated, after having fixed their third meeting for the following 
 
 evening.
 
 44 FRO HI THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE QUESTION OF THE POWDERS. 
 
 There remained for consitlei-ation merely the question of powders. 
 The public awaited with interest its final decision. The size of 
 the projectile, the length of the cannon being settled, what would 
 be the quantity of powder necessary to produce impulsion ? 
 
 It is generally asserted that gunpowder was invented in the 
 fourteenth century by the monk Schwartz, who paid for his 
 grand discovery with his life. It is, however, pretty well proved 
 that this story ought to be ranked amongst the legends of the . 
 middle ages. Gunpowder was not invented by any one ; it was 
 the lineal successor of the Greek fire, which, like itself, was 
 composed of sulphur and saltpetre. Few persons are acquainted 
 with the mechanical power of gunpowder. Now this is pre- 
 cisely what is necessary to be understood in order to comprehend 
 the importance of the question submitted to the committee. 
 
 A litre of gunpowder weighs about 21bs.; during combustion 
 it produces 400 litres of gas. This gas, on being liberated and 
 acted upon by a temperature raised to 2400 degrees, occupies a 
 space of 4000 litres: consequently the volume of powder is to the 
 volume of gas produced by its combustion as 1 to 4000. One 
 may judge, therefore, of the tremendous pressure oi" this gas when 
 compressed within a space 4000 times too confined. All this was, 
 of course, well known to the members of the committee when 
 they met on the following evening. 
 
 The first speaker on this occasion was Major Elphinstone,
 
 THE INVENTION OF GUNPOWDER BY THE MONK SCHWARTZ. 
 
 Ll>. 44-1
 
 THE QUESTION OF THE POWDERS. 45 
 
 who had been the director of the gunpowder factories during the 
 war. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said this distinguished chemist, '* I begin with 
 some figures whicli will serve as the basis of onr calculation. 
 The old 24-pouuder shot required for its discharge IGlbs. of 
 powder." 
 
 " You are certain of the amount ? " broke in Barbicane. 
 
 " Quite certain," replied the majoi'. " The Armstrong cannon 
 employs only 75 lbs. of powder for a projectile of SOOlbs., and the 
 Rodman Columbiad uses only 1601bs. of powder to send its half- 
 ton shot a distance of six miles. These fticts cannot be called in 
 question, for I myself raised the point during the depositions taken 
 before the Committee of Artillery." 
 
 " Quite true," said the general. 
 
 " Well," replied the major, " these figures go to prove that the 
 quantity of powder is not increased with the weight of the shot ; 
 that is to say, if a 24-pounder shot requires IGlbs. of powder ; — 
 in other words, if in ordinary guns we employ a quantity of 
 powder equal to two-thirds of the weight of the projectile, this 
 proportion is not constant. Calculate, and you will see that in 
 place of 3331bs. of powder, the quantity is reduced to no more 
 than leOlbs." 
 
 " What are you aiming at ? " asked the president. 
 
 " If you push your theory to extremes, my dear major," said 
 J. A. Maston, "you will get to this, that as soon as your 
 shot becomes sufficiently heavy you will not require any powder 
 at all." 
 
 " Our friend Maston is always at his jokes, even in serious 
 matters," cried the major ; *' but let him make his mind easy, I 
 am going presently to propose gunpowder enough to satisfy his 
 artillerist's propensities. I only keep to statistical facts when I 
 say that during the war, and for the very largest guns, the weight 
 of powder was reduced, as the result of experience, to a tenth part 
 of the weight of the shot."
 
 46 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON". 
 
 " Perfectly correct," said Murgau ; " but before deciding the 
 quantity of powder necessary to give the impulse, I think it would 
 be as well — " 
 
 " We shall have to employ a large-grained powder," continued 
 the major, " its combustion is more rapid than that of the small." 
 
 " No doubt about that," replied Morgan, " but it is very 
 destructive, and ends by enlarging the bore of the pieces." 
 
 " Granted ; but that which is injurious to a gun destined to 
 perform long service is not so to our Columbiad. We shall run 
 no danger of an explosion ; and it is necessary that our powder 
 should lake fire instantaneously in order that its mechanical effect 
 may be complete." 
 
 " We must have," said Maston, " several touch-holes, so as to 
 fire it at different points at the same time." 
 
 " Certainly," replied Elphinstone ; " but that will reuder tho 
 working of the piece more difficult. I return then to my large- 
 grained powder, which removes those difficulties. In his Columbiad 
 charges Rodman employed a powder as large as chestnuts, made 
 of willow charcoal, simply dried in cast-iron pans. This powder, 
 was hard and glittering, left no trace upon the hand, contained 
 hydrogen and oxygen in large proportion, took fire instantaneously, 
 and, though very destructive, did not sensibly injure the mouth- 
 piece." 
 
 Up to this point Barbicane had kept aloof from the discussion; 
 he left the others to speak while he himself listened ; he had 
 evidently got an idea. He now simply said, " Well, my friends, 
 what quantity of powder do you propose ?" 
 
 The three members look at one another. 
 
 " Two hundred thousand pounds," at last said Morgan. 
 
 *' Five hundred thousand," added the major. 
 
 " Eight hundred thousand," screamed Maston. 
 
 A moment of silence followed this triple proposal ; it was at 
 last broken by the president. 
 
 *• Geutlemen," he quietly said, " I start from this principle, that
 
 THE QUESTION OF THE POWDERS. 47 
 
 the resistance of a gun, constructed under the given conditions, is 
 unlimited. I shall surprise our friend Mastcn, then, by stigma- 
 tizing his calculations as timid ; and I propose to double his 
 800,0001bs. of powder." 
 
 " Sixteen hundred thousand pounds ? " shouted Maston, leaping 
 from his seat. 
 
 « Just so." 
 
 " We shall have to come then to my ideal of a cannon half a 
 mile long ; for you see l,600,0001bs. will occupy a space of about 
 20,000 cubic feet; and sisce the contents of your cannon do not 
 exceed 54,000 cubic feet, it would be half full; and the bore will 
 not be more than long enough for the gas to communicate to the 
 projectile sufficient imjjulse." 
 
 ** Nevertheless," said the president, " I hold to that quantity of 
 powder. Now, l,600,0001bs. of powder will create 6,000,000,000 
 of litres of gas. Six thousand millions ! You quite understand?" 
 
 " What is to be done then ? " said the general. 
 
 " The thing is very simple ; we must reduce this enormous 
 quantity of powder, while preserving to it its mechanical power." 
 
 " Good; but by what means?" 
 
 "I am going to tell you," replied Barbicane quietly. " Nothing 
 is more easy than to reduce this mass to one quarter of its bulk. 
 You know that curious cellular matter w^hich constitutes the 
 elementary tissues of vegetables?' This substance is found quite 
 pure in many bodies, especially in cotton, which is nothing more 
 than the down of the seeds of the cotton plant. Now cotton, com- 
 bined Avith cold nitric acid, becomes transformed into a substance 
 eminently insoluble, combustible, and explosive. It was first dis- 
 covered in 1832, by Braconnot, a French chemist, who called it 
 xyloidine. In 1838 another Frenchman, Pelouze, investigated its 
 different properties, and finally, in 1846, Schonbein, Professor of 
 Chemistry at Bale, proposed its employment for purposes of war. 
 This powder, now called pyroxyle, or fulminating cotton, is pre- 
 pared with great facility by simply plunging cotton for fifteen
 
 48 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 minutes iu nitric acid, theu Avashiug it in water, then drying it, 
 and it is ready for use." 
 
 " Nothing could be more simple," said Morgan. 
 
 " Moi;eover, pyroxyle is unaltered by moisture — a valuable 
 property to us, inasmuch as it would take several days to charge 
 the cannon. It ignites at 170 degrees in place of 240, and its com- 
 bustion is so rapid that one may set light to it on the top of 
 ordinary powder, without the latter having time to ignite." 
 
 "Perfect!" exclaimed the major. 
 
 *' Only it is more expensive." 
 
 " What matter ? " cried J. T. Maston. 
 
 " Finally, it imparts to projectiles a velocity four times superior 
 to that of gunpowder. I will even add, that if we mix with it 
 one-eighth of its own weight of nitrate of potass, its expansive 
 force is again considerably augmented." 
 
 " Will that be necessary ? " asked the major. 
 
 "I think not," replied Barbicane. "So, then, in place of 
 l,600,0001bs. of powder, we shall have but 400,000lbs. of ful- 
 minating cotton; and since we can, without danger, compress 
 5001bs. of cotton into 27 cubic feet, the whole quantity will not 
 occupy a height of more than 180 feet within the bore of the 
 Columbiad. In this way the shot will have more than 700 feet 
 of bore to traverse under a force of 6,000,000,000 litres of gas " 
 before taking its flight towards the moon." 
 
 At this junction J. T. Maston could not repress his emotion; 
 he flung himself into the arms of his friend with the violence of a 
 projectile, and Barbicane would have been stove in if he had not 
 been bomb-proof. 
 
 This incident terminated the third meeting of the Committee. 
 
 Barbicane and his bold colleagues, to whom nothing seemed 
 impossible, had succeeded in solving the complex problems of pro- 
 jectile, cannon, and powder. Their plan was drawn up, and it 
 only remained to pxit it in execution. 
 
 " A mere matter of detail, a bagatelle," said J. T. Maston.
 
 CAPTAIN NICIIOLL. 
 
 [,.. 48.1
 
 ONE ENEMY V. TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS OF FRIENDS. 4q 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ONE ENEMY V. TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS OF FEIENDS. 
 
 The American public took a lively interest in the smallest details 
 of the enterprise of the Gun Club. It followed day by day the 
 discussioQS of the committee. The most simple preparation for 
 the great experiment, the questions of figures which it involved, 
 the mechanical difficulties to be resolved — in one word, the entire 
 plan of work — roused the popular excitement to the highest 
 pitch. 
 
 The purely scientific attraction was suddenly intensified by the 
 following incident : — 
 
 We have seen what legions of admirers and friends Barbicane's 
 project had rallied round its author. There was, however, one 
 single individual alone in all the States of the Union who pro- 
 tested against the attempt of the Gun Club. He attacked it 
 furiously on every opportunity, and human nature is such that 
 Barbicane felt more keenly the opposition of that one man than 
 he did the applause of all the others. He was well aware of the 
 motive of this antipathy, the origin of this solitary enmity, the 
 cause of its personality and old standing, and in what rivalry of 
 self-love it had its rise. 
 
 This persevering enemy the President of the Gun Club had 
 never seen. Fortunate that it was so, for a meeting between the 
 two men would certainly have been attended with serious conse- 
 quences. This rival was a man of science, like Barbicane himself, 
 of a fieiy, daring, and violent disposition ; a pure Yankee. His 
 name was Captain Nicholl ; he lived at Philadelphia. 
 
 E
 
 5° 
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 Most people are awai'e of the curious struggle which arose! 
 during the Federal war between the guns and the armour of iron- 
 plated ships. The result was the entire reconstruction of the navy J 
 of both the continents; as the one grew heavier, the other became] 
 thicker in proportion. The "Merrimac," the "Monitor," the| 
 " Tennessee," the " Weehawken" discharged enormous projec- 
 tiles themselves, after having been ai"mour-clad against the pro- 
 jectiles of others. In fact they did to others that which they would! 
 not they should do to them — that grand principle of immorality] 
 upon which rests the whole art of war. 
 
 Now if Barbicane was a great founder of shot, Nicholl was al 
 great forger of plates; the one cast night and day at Baltimore, 
 the other forged day and night at Philadelphia. As soon as ever] 
 Barbicane invented a new shot, NichoU invented a new plate, 
 each followed a current of ideas essentially opposed to the other. 
 Happily for these citizens, so useful to their country, a distance! 
 of from fifty to sixty miles separated them from one another, and 
 they had never yet met. Which of these two inventors had the 
 advantage over the other it was difficult to decide from the resultaj 
 obtained. By last accounts, however, it would seem that the] 
 armour-plate would in the end have to give way to the shot ;j 
 nevertheless, there were competent judges who had their doubtaj 
 on the point. 
 
 At the last experiment the cylindro-conical projectiles ofl 
 Barbicane stuck like so many pins in the Nicholl plates. On that] 
 day the Philadelphian iron-forger then believed himself victorious,] 
 and could not evince contempt enough for his rival; but when] 
 the other afterwards substituted for conical shot simple 6001b.] 
 shells, at very moderate velocity, the captain was obliged toj 
 give in. In fact, these projectiles knocked his best metal plate tc 
 shivers. 
 
 Matters were at this stage, and victory seemed to rest wit! 
 the shot, Avhen the war came to an end on the very day whei 
 Nicholl had completed a new armour-plate of wrouijht steel. Itl
 
 
 NICUOLL PUBLISHED A NUirBER OF LETTERS 
 IN THE NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 [p. 51.]
 
 ONE ENEMY V. TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS OF FRIENDS. 51 
 
 was a masterpiece of its kind, and bid defiance to all the projectiles 
 in the world. The captain had it conveyed to the Polygon at 
 Washington, challenging the President of the Gun Club to break 
 it. Barbicane, peace having been declared, declined to try the 
 experiment. 
 
 Nicholl, now furious, offered to expose his plate to the shock 
 of any shot, solid, hollow, round, or conical. Refused by iho 
 president, who did not choose to compromise his last success. 
 
 Nicholl, disgusted by this obstinacy, tried to tempt Barbicane 
 by offering him qycyj chance. He proposed to fix the plate 
 Avithin two hundred yards of the gun. Barbicane still obstinate 
 in refusal. A himdred yards ? Not even seventy-jive ! 
 
 *' At fifty then !" roared the captain through the newspapers. 
 " At twenty-five yards ! ! and I'll stand behind ! ! !" 
 
 Barbicane returned for answer that, even if Captain Nicholl 
 would be so good as to stand in front, he would not fire any more. 
 
 Nicholl could not contain himself at this reply; threw out hints 
 of cowardice; that a man who refused to fire a cannon-shot was 
 pretty near being afraid of it; that artillerists who fight at six 
 miles' distance are substituting mathematical formulaB for indivi- 
 dual courage. 
 
 To these insinuations Barbicane returned no answer ; perhaps 
 he never heard of them, so absorbed was he in the calculations 
 for his great enterprise. 
 
 When his famous communication was made to the Gun Club, 
 the captain's wrath passed all bounds; with his intense jealousy 
 was mingled a feeling of absolute impotence. How was he to 
 invent anything to beat this 900-f6et Columbiad ? What armour- 
 plate could ever resist a projectile of 30,0001bs. weigbt ? Over- 
 whelmed at first under this violent shock, he by and by recovered 
 himself, and resolved to crush the proposal by the weight of his 
 
 arguments. 
 
 He then violently attacked the labours of the Gun Club, pub- 
 lished a number of letters in the newspapers, endeavoured to 
 
 E 2 
 
 QHIVERS*TY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY
 
 52 
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 prove Barbicaue ignorant of the first principles of gunnery. He 
 maintained that it was absolutely impossible to impress upon any 
 body whatever a velocity of 12,000 yards per second ; that even 
 with such a velocity a projectile of such a weight could not 
 transcend the limits of the earth's atmosphere. Further still, 
 even regarding the velocity to be acquired, and granting it to be 
 sufficient, the shell could not resist the pressure of the gas deve- 
 loped by the ignition of l,600,0001bs. of powder; and supposing 
 it to resist that pressure, it would be the less able to support that 
 temperature; it would melt on quitting the Columbiad, and fall 
 back in a red-hot shower upon the heads of the imprudent 
 spectators. 
 
 Barbicane continued his work without regarding these attacks. 
 
 NichoU then took up the question in its other aspects. Without 
 touching upon its uselessness in all points of view, he regaixled 
 the experiment as fraught with extreme danger, both to the 
 citizens, who might sanction by their presence so reprehensible a 
 spectacle, and also to the towns in the neighbourhood of this 
 deplorable cannon. He also observed that if the projectile did 
 not succeed in reaching its destination (a result absolutely impos- 
 sible), it must inevitably fall back upon the earth, and that the 
 shock of such a mass, multiplied by the square of its velocity, 
 would seriously endanger every point of the globe. Under the 
 circumstances, therefore, and without interfering with the rights 
 of free citizens, it was a case for the intervention of Government, 
 which ought not to endanger the safety of all for the pleasure of 
 one individual. 
 
 Spite of all his arguments, however, Captain Nicholl remained 
 alone in his opinion. Nobody listened to him, and he did not 
 succeed in alienating a single admirer from the President of the 
 Gun Club. The latter did not even take the pains to refute the 
 arguments of his rival. 
 
 Nicholl, driven into his last entrenchments, and not able to fight 
 personally in the cause, resolved to fight with money. He pub-
 
 ONE ENEMY V. TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS OF FRIENDS. 53 
 
 lished, thex'efore, in the Richmond Inquirer a series of wagers, 
 conceived in tliese terms, and on an increasing scale : — 
 
 No. 1 (1000 dols.). — Tbat tlie necessary funds for the experi- 
 ment of the Gun Chib will not be forthcoming, 
 No. 2 (2000 dols.). — That the operation of casting a cannon 
 of 900 feet is impracticable, and cannot possibly 
 succeed. 
 No. 3 (3000 dols.). — That it is impossible to load the Colum- 
 biad, and that the pyroxyle will take fire spontane- 
 ously under the pressure of the projectile. 
 No. 4 (4000 dols.). — That the Columbiad will burst at the 
 
 first fire. 
 No. 5 (5000 dols.). — That the shot will not travel farther than 
 six miles, and that it will fall back again a few 
 seconds after its discharge. 
 It was an important sum, therefore, which the captain risked 
 in his invincible obstinacy. He had no less than 15,000 dollars 
 at stake. 
 
 Notwithstanding the importance of the challenge, on the 19th 
 of May he received a sealed packet containing the following 
 superbly laconic reply :— 
 
 "Baltimore, Oct. 19. 
 « Done. 
 
 " Barbicane."
 
 54 
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 FLORIDA AND TEXAS. 
 
 One question yet remained to be decided : it was necessary to 
 choose a favourable spot for tlie experiment. According to the 
 advice of the Observatory of Cambridge, the gun must be fired 
 perpendicularly to the plane of the horizon, that is to say, towards 
 the zenith. Now the moon does not traverse the zenith, except 
 in places situated between 0° and 28' of latitude. It became, 
 then, necessary to determine exactly that spot on the globe where 
 the immense Columbiad should be cast. 
 
 On the 20th of October, at a general meeting of the Gun Club, 
 Barbicane produced a magnificent map of the United States. 
 " Gentlemen," said he, in opening the discussion, " I presume 
 that we are all agreed that this experiment cannot and ought not 
 to be tried anywhere but within the limits of the soil of the 
 Union. Now, by good fortune, certain frontiers of the United 
 States extend downwards as far as the 28th parallel of the north 
 latitude. If you will cast your eye over this map, you will see 
 that we have at our disj)osal the whole of the southern portion of 
 Texas and Florida." 
 
 It was finally agreed, then, that the Columbiad must be cast on 
 the soil of either Texas or Florida. The result, however, of this 
 decision was to create a rivalry entirely without precedent 
 betAveen the different towns of these two states. 
 
 The 28th parallel, on reaching the American coast, traverses 
 the peninsula of Florida, dividing it into two nearly equal por 
 iious. Then, plunging into the Gulf of Mexico, it subtends the
 
 FLORIDA AND TEXAS. 55 
 
 arc formed by the coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana ; 
 then skirting Texas, off which it cuts an angle, it continues its 
 course over Mexico, crosses the Sonora, Old California, and loses 
 itself in the Pacific Ocean. It was, therefore, only those 
 portions of Texas and Florida which were situated below this 
 parallel which came within the prescribed conditions of latitude. 
 
 Florida, in its southern part, reckons no cities of importance ; it 
 is simply studded with forts raised against the roving Indians. 
 One solitary town, Tampa Town, was able to put in a claim in 
 favour of its situation. 
 
 In Texas, on the contrary, the towns are much more numerous 
 and important. Corpus Christi, in the county of Nuaces, and all 
 the cities situated on the Rio Bravo, Laredo, Comalites, San 
 Ignacio on the Web, Rio Grande city on the Starr, Edinburgh 
 in the Hidalgo, Santa Rita, Elpanda, Brownsville in the Cameron, 
 formed an imposing league against the pretensions of Florida. 
 So, scarcelv was the decision known, when the Texian and 
 Floridan deputies arrived at Baltimore in an incredibly short 
 space of time. From that very moment President Barbicane and 
 the influential members of the Gun Club were besieged day and 
 night by formidable claims. If seven cities of Greece contended 
 for the honour of having given birth to Homer, here were two 
 entire states threatening to come to blows about the question of a 
 cannon. 
 
 The rival parties promenaded the streets with arms in their 
 hands ; and at eveiy occasion of their meeting a collision Avas to 
 be apprehended which might have been attended with disastrous 
 results. Happily the prudence and address of President Barbi- 
 cane averted the danger. These personal demonstrations found a 
 division in the newspapers of the different states. The New 
 York Herald and the Tribune supported Texas, while the Times 
 and the American Review espoused the cause of the Floridan 
 Deputies. The members of the Gun Club could not decide to 
 which to give the preference.
 
 56 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 Texas produced its array of twenty-six counties ; Florida 
 replied that twelve counties were better than twenty-six in a 
 country only one-sixth part of the size. 
 
 Texas plumed itself upon its 330,000 natives ; Florida with 
 a far smaller territory, boasted of being much more densely 
 populated with 56,000. 
 
 The Texians, tb rough the columns of the Herald, claimed that 
 some regard should be had to a state which grew the best cotton 
 in all America, produced the best green oak for the service of the 
 navy, and contained the finest oil, besides iron mines, in which the 
 yield was 50 per cent, of pure metal. 
 
 To this the American Review replied that the soil of Florida, 
 although not equally rich, afforded the best conditions for the 
 moulding and casting of the Columbiad, consisting as it did of 
 sand and argillaceous earth. 
 
 " That may be all very well," replied the Texians ; *' but you 
 must first get to this country. Now the communications with 
 Florida are difficult, while the coast of Texas offers the bay of 
 Galveston, which possesses a circumference of fourteen leagues, 
 and is capable of containing the navies of the entire 
 world!" 
 
 " A pretty notion trulj ," replied the papers in the interest of 
 Florida, "that of Galveston Bay, below the 29th parallel! Have 
 we not got the bay of Espiritu Santo, opening precisely upon the 
 28fh degree, and by which ships can reach Tampa Town by direct 
 route?" 
 
 " A fine bay! half choked with sand!" " Choked yourselves!" 
 returned the others. 
 
 Thus the war went on for several days, when Florida endea- 
 voured to draw her adversary away on to fresh ground; and one 
 morning the Times hinted that, the enterprise being essentially 
 American, it ought not to be attempted upon other than purely 
 American territory. 
 
 To these words Texas retorted, " American ! are we not as 
 
 I
 
 
 IT BECAME NECESSARY TO KEEP AN EYE UPOir 
 THE DEPUTIES. 
 
 [p. 07.]
 
 FLORIDA AND TEXAS. 
 
 57 
 
 much so as you? Were not Texas and Florida both incorporated 
 into the Union in 1845?" 
 
 " Undoiibtedly," replied the Times; " but we have belonged to 
 the Americans ever since 1820." 
 
 "Yes!" returned the Tribune; "after having- been Spaniards 
 or English for 200 years, you were sold to the United States foi* 
 five million dollai's!" 
 
 " Well ! and why need we blush for that? Was not Louisiana 
 bought from Napoleon in 1803 at the price of sixteen million 
 dollars?" 
 
 "Scandalous!" roared the Texian deputies. "A wretched 
 little strip of country like Florida to dare to compare itself to 
 Texas, who, in place of selling herself, asserted her own inde- 
 pendence, drove out the Mexicans in March 2, 1836, and declared 
 herself a federal republic after the victory gained by Samuel 
 Houston, on the banks of the San Jacinto, over the troops of 
 Santa Anna ! — a country, in fine, which voluntarily annexed itself 
 to the United States of America ! " 
 
 " Yes ; because it was afraid of the Mexicans !" replied Florida. 
 
 "Afraid!" From this moment the state of things became 
 intolerable. A sanguinary encounter seemed daily imminent 
 hetween the two parties in the streets of Baltimore. It became 
 necessary to keep an eye upon the deputies. 
 
 President Barbicane knew not which way to look. Notes, 
 documents, letters full of menaces showered down upon his house. 
 Which side ought he to take? As regarded the appropriation of 
 the soil, the facility of communication, the rapidity of transport, 
 the claims of both states were evenly balanced. As for political 
 prepossessions, they had nothing to do with the question. 
 
 This dead block had existed for some little time, when Bar- 
 bicane resolved to get rid of it at once. He called a meeting of 
 his colleagues, and laid before them a proposition which, il will 
 be seen, was profoundly sagacious. 
 
 " On carefully considering," he said, « what is going on now
 
 58 
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 between Florida and Texas, it is clear that the same difficulties 
 will recur with all the towns of the favoured state. The rivaliy 
 will descend from state to city, and so on downwards. Now 
 Texas possesses eleven towns within the prescribed conditions, 
 which will further dispute the honour and create us new enemies, 
 while Florida has only one. I go in, therefore, for Florida and 
 Tampa Town." 
 
 This decision, on being made known, utterly crushed the 
 Texian deputies. Seized with an indescribable fury, they ad- 
 dressed threatening letters to the different members of the Gun 
 Club by name. The magistrates had but one course to take, and 
 they took it. They chartered a special train, forced the Texians 
 into it whether they would or no ; and they quitted the city with 
 a speed of thirty miles an hour. 
 
 Quickly, however, as they were despatched, they found time 
 to hurl one last and bitter sarcasm at their adversaries. 
 
 Alluding to the extent of Florida, a mere peninsula confined 
 between two seas, they pretended that it could never sustain the 
 shock of the discharge, and that it would " bust up " at the very 
 first shot. 
 
 "Very well, let it bust up!" replied the Floridans, with a 
 brevity worthy of the days of ancient Sparta.
 
 VRBI ET ORBI. 59 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 URBI ET ORBI. 
 
 The astronomical, mechanical, and topograpliical difficulties re- 
 solved, finally came the question of finance. The sum required 
 was far too great for any individual, or even any single state, to 
 provide the. requisite millions. 
 
 President Barhicane undertook, despite of the matter being a 
 purely American affair, to render it one of universal interest, and 
 to request the financial co-operation of all peoples. It was, he 
 maintained, the right and the duty of the whole earth to interfere 
 in the affairs of its satellite. The subscription opened at Balti- 
 more extended properly to the whole world — JJrhi et orU. 
 
 This subscription was successful beyond all expectation; not- 
 withstanding that it was a question not of lending but of giving 
 the money. It was a purely disinterested operation in the 
 strictest sense of the term, and offered not the slightest chance 
 of profit. 
 
 The effect, however, of Barbicane's communication was not con- 
 fined to the frontiers of the United States; it crossed the Atlantic 
 and Pacific, invading simultaneously Asia and Europe, Africa and 
 Oceania. The observatories of the Union placed themselves in 
 immediate communication with those of foreign countries. Some, 
 such as those of Paris, Petersburg, Berlin, Stockholm, Hamburg, 
 Malta, Lisbon, Benares, Madras, and others, transmitted their 
 good wishes; the rest maintained a prudent silence, quietly 
 awaiting the result. As for the observatory at Greenwich, 
 seconded as it was by the twenty-two astronomical establishments
 
 6o 
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON". 
 
 of Great Britain, it spoke plainly enough. It boldly denied thej 
 possibility of success, and pronounced in favour of the theories of 
 Captain Nicholl. But this was nothing more than mere Englishi 
 jealousy. 
 
 On the 8th of October President Barbicane published a mani- 
 festo full of enthusiasm, in which he made an appeal to " all per-J 
 sons of good will upon the face of the earth." This document,] 
 translated into all languages, met with immense success. 
 
 Subscription lists were opened in all the principal cities of the] 
 Union, with a central office at the Baltimore Bank, 9, Baltimore] 
 Street. 
 
 In addition, subscriptions were received at the following] 
 banks in the different states of the two continents: — 
 At Vienna, with S. M. de Rothschild. 
 
 „ Petersburg, Stieglitz and Co. 
 
 „ Paris,- The Credit Mobiliei-. 
 
 „ Stockholm, Tottie and Arfuredson. 
 
 „ London, N. M. Rothschild and Son. 
 
 „ Turin, Ardouin and Co. 
 
 „ Berlin, Mendelssohn. 
 
 „ Geneva, Lombard, Odier, and Co. 
 
 „ Constantiuople, The Ottoman Bank. 
 
 „ Brussels, J. Lambert. 
 
 „ Madrid, Daniel Weisweller. 
 
 „ Amsterdam, Netherlands Credit Co. 
 
 „ Rome, Torlonia and Co. 
 
 „ Lisbon, Lecesne. 
 
 „ Copenhagen, Private Bank. 
 
 „ Rio Janeiro, do. 
 
 „ Monte Video, do. 
 
 „ Valparaiso and Lima, Thomas la Chambre and Co. 
 
 „ Mexico, Martin Darau and Co. 
 Three days after the manifesto of President Barbicane 4,000,000 1 
 of dollars were paid into the different towns of the Union. With
 
 THE SUBSCRIPTION WAS OPENED. 
 
 [p. CO.]
 
 ^
 
 URBr ET ORBI. 6 1 
 
 such a balance the Gun Club might begin operations at onco. 
 But some days later advices wei'e received to the effect that the 
 foreign subscriptions were being eagerly taken up. Ccrtuiix 
 countries distinguished themselves by their liberality; others 
 untied their purse-strings with less facility — matter of tempera- 
 ment. Figures are, however, more eloquent than words, and 
 here is the official statement of the sums which were paid in to 
 the credit of the Gun Club at the close of the subscription. 
 
 Russia paid in as her contingent the enormous sum of 368,733 
 roubles. No one need be surprised at this, Avho bears in mind 
 the scientific taste of the Russians, and the impetus which they 
 have given to astronomical studies — thanks to their numerous 
 observatories. 
 
 France began by deriding the pretensions of the Americans. 
 The moon served as a pretext for a thousand stale puns and a 
 score of ballads, in which bad taste contested the palm with 
 ignorance. But as formerly the French paid before singing, so 
 now they paid after having had their laugh, and they subscribed 
 for a sum of 1,253,930 francs. At that price they had a right to 
 enjoy themselves a little. 
 
 Austria showed herself generous in the midst of her financial 
 crisis. Her public contributions amounted to the sum of 216,000 
 florins — a perfect godsend. 
 
 52,000 rix-dollars were the remittance of Sweden and Norway; 
 the amount is large for the country, but it would undoubtedly 
 have been considerably increased had the subscription been opened 
 in Christiania simultaneously with that at Stockholm. For somo 
 reason or other the Norwegians do not like to send their money 
 
 to Sweden. 
 
 Prussia, by a remittance of 250,000 thalers, testified her high 
 
 approval of the enterprise. 
 
 Turkey behaved generously; but she had a personal interest in 
 the matter. The moon, in fact, regulates the cycle of her years 
 and her fast of Ramadan. She could not do less than give
 
 62 
 
 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON"-. 
 
 1,372,640 piastres ; and she gave them with an eagerness 
 which denoted, however, some pressure on the part of the 
 Government. 
 
 Belgium distinguished herself among the second-rate states 
 by a grant of 513,000 francs — about two centimes per head of 
 her population. 
 
 Holland and her colonies interested themselves to the extent of 
 110,000 florins, only demanding an allowance of five per cent, 
 discount for paying ready money. 
 
 Denmark, a little contracted in territory, gave nevertheless 
 9000 ducats, proving her love for scientific experiments. 
 
 The Germanic Confederation pledged itself to 34,285 florins. 
 It was impossible to ask for more j besides, they would not have 
 given it. 
 
 Though very much crippled, Italy found 200,000 lire in the 
 pockets of her people. If she had had Venetia she would have 
 done better; but she had not. 
 
 The States of the Church thought that they could not send 
 less than 7040 Roman crowns; and Portugal carried her devotion 
 to science as far as 30,000 cruzados. It was the widow's mite — 
 eighty-six piastres; but self-constituted empires are always rather 
 short of money. 
 
 257 francs, this was the modest contribution of Switzerland to 
 the American work. One must freely admit that she did not see 
 the practical side of the matter. It did not seem to her that the 
 mere despatch of a shot to the moon could possibly establish any 
 relation of aflfairs with her; and it did not seem prudent to her to 
 embark her capital in so hazardous an enterprise. After all, 
 perhaps she was right. 
 
 As to Spain, she could not scrape together more than 110 reals. 
 She gave as an excuse that she had her railways to finish. The 
 truth is, that science is not favourably regarded in that country, it 
 is still in a backward state; and, moreover, certain Spaniards, not 
 by any means the least educated, did not form a correct estimate
 
 THE MANUFACTORY AT COLDSPRING, NEAR NEW YORK. 
 
 [p. 63.]
 
 VRBl ET ORBI. 
 
 63 
 
 of the bulk of the projectile compared with that of the moon. 
 They feared that it woukl disturb the established order of thiiif^s 
 la that case it were better to keep aloof ; which they did to the 
 tune of some reals. 
 
 There remained but England; and we know the contemptuous 
 antipathy with which she received Bai-bicane's proposition. The 
 English have but one soul for the whole twenty-six millions of 
 inhabitants which Great Britain contains. They hinted that the 
 enterprise of the Gun Club was contrary to the " principle of non- 
 intervention." And they did not subscribe a single farthing. 
 
 At this intimation the Gun Club merely shrugged its shoulders 
 and returned to its great work. When South America, that is to 
 say, Peru, Chili, Brazil, the provinces of La Plata and Colnmbia, 
 had poured forth their quota into their hands, the sum of 300,000 
 dollars, it found itself in possession of a considerable capital, of 
 which the following is a statement : — 
 
 United States subscriptions . . 4,000,000 dollars. 
 Foreign subscriptions , . . 1,446,675 „ 
 
 Total .... 5,446,675 „ 
 
 Such was the sum which the public poured into the treasury 
 of the Gun Club. 
 
 Let no one be surprised at the vastness of the amount. The 
 work of casting, boring, masonry, the transport of workmen, 
 their establishment in an almost uninhabited country, the con- 
 struction of furnaces and workshops, the plant, the powder, the 
 projectile, and incidental expenses, would, according to the esti- 
 mates, absorb nearly the whole. Certain cannon shots in the 
 Federal war cost 1000 dollars a-piece. This one of Piesident 
 Barbicane, unique in the annals of gunnery, might well cost five 
 thousand times more. 
 
 On the 20th of October a contract was entered into with the 
 manufactory at Coldspring, near New York, which during the 
 war had furnished the largest Parrott cast-iron guns. It was
 
 64 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 stipulated between the contracting parties that the manufactory of 
 Coldspriug should engage to transport to Tampa Town, in southern 
 Florida, the necessary materials for casting the Columbiad. The 
 work Avas bound to be completed at latest by the 15th of October 
 following, and the cannon delivered in good condition under 
 penalty of a forfeit of 100 dollars a day to the moment when 
 the moon should again present herself under the same conditions — 
 that is to say, in eighteen years and eleven days. 
 
 The engagement of the workmen, their pay, and all the 
 necessary details of the work, devolved upon the Goldspring 
 Company. 
 
 This contract, executed in duplicate, was signed by Barbicane, 
 President of the Gun Club, of the one part, and T. Murphison, 
 director of the Coldspring manufactory, of the other, who thus 
 executed the deed on behalf of theii' respective principals.
 
 STONES HILL. 
 
 6? 
 
 CHAPTER Xin. 
 
 STONES HILL, 
 
 "\V"hen the decision was arrived at by the Gun Chib, to the dis- 
 paragement of Texas, every one in America, where reading is an 
 universal acquirement, set to work to study the geography of 
 Florida. Never before had there been such a sale for works like 
 Bertram^ s Travels in Florida, Romanes Natural History of East and 
 West Florida, William's Territory of Florida, and Cldand on the 
 Cultivation of the Sugar- Cane in Florida. It became necessary to 
 issue fresh editions of these works. 
 
 Bai'bicane had something better to do than to read. He desired 
 to see things with his own eyes, and to mark the exact position 
 of the proposed gun. So, without a moment's loss of time, he 
 placed at the disposal of the Cambridge Observatory the funds 
 necessary for the construction of a telescope, and entered into 
 negotiations with the house of Breadwill and Co., of Albany, for 
 the construction of an aluminium projectile of the required size. 
 He then quitted Baltimore, accompanied by J. T. Maston, Major 
 Elphinstone, and the manager of the Coldspring Factory. 
 
 On the folloAving day, the four fellow-travellers arrived at New 
 Orleans. There they immediately embarked on board the " Tam- 
 pico," a despatch-boat belonging to the Federal navy, which the 
 Government had placed at their disposal ; and, getting up steam, 
 the banks of the Louisiana speedily disappeared from sight. 
 
 The passage was not long. Two days after starting, the 
 " Tampico," having made four hundred and eighty miles, came in 
 sight of the coast of Florida. On a' nearer approach Barbicaue 
 
 F
 
 66 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 barre™ 
 
 found himself in view of a low, flat couutiy of somewhat barre 
 aspect. After coasting along a series of creeks abounding in 
 lobsters and oysters, the " Tampico " entered the bay of Espiritu 
 Santo, where she finally anchored in a small natural hai'bour, 
 formed by the embouchure of the River Hillisborough, at seven 
 p.m., on the 22nd October. 
 
 Our four passengers disembarked at once. " Gentlemen," said 
 Barbicane, " we have no time to lose ; to-morrow we must obtain 
 horses, and proceed to reconnoitre the country." 
 
 Bai-bicane had scarcely set his foot on shore when three tliousand 
 of the inhabitants of Tampa Town came forth to meet him, an 
 honour due to the president who had signalized their country by 
 his choice. 
 
 Declining, however, every kind of ovation, Barbicane ensconced 
 himself in a room of the Franklin Hotel. 
 
 On the morrow some of those small horses of the Spanish breed, 
 full of vigour and of fire, stood snorting under his windows ; 
 but instead of four steeds, here were fifty, together with their 
 riders. Barbicane descended with his three fellow-travellers ; 
 and much astonished were they all to find themselves in the 
 midst of such a cavalcade. He remarked that every horseman 
 carried a carbine slung across his shoulders and pistols in his 
 holsters. 
 
 On expressing his surprise at these preparations, he was speedily 
 enlightened by a young Floridan, who quietly said, — 
 
 " Sir, there ai'e Seminoles there." 
 
 " What do you mean by Seminoles? " 
 
 " Savages who scour the prairies. We thought it best, there- 
 fore, to escort you on your road." 
 
 " Pooh ! " cried J. T. Maston, mounting his steed. 
 
 " All right," said the Floridan ; " but it is true enough, never- 
 theless." 
 
 " Gentlemen," answered Barbicane, " I thank you for your kind 
 attention ; but it is time to be off*."
 
 TAMPA TOWN PREVIOUS TO THE UNDERTAKTNG. 
 
 [p. G6.1
 
 STO^TES HILL. 67 
 
 It was five a.m. when Barbicane and his party, quitting Tampa 
 Town, made their way along the coast in the direction of Alifia 
 Creek. This little river falls into Hillisborough Bay twelve miles 
 above Tampa Town. Bai'bicane and his escort coasted along its 
 right bank to the eastward. Soon the waves of the bay dis- 
 appeared behind a bend of rising ground, and the Floridan 
 " champagne " alone offered itself to view. 
 
 Florida, discovered on Palm Sunday, in 1512, by Juan Ponce 
 de Leon, was originally named Pascha Florida. It little deserved 
 that designation with its dry and parched coasts. But after some 
 few miles of tract the nature of the soil gradually changes and 
 the country shows itself worthy of the name. Cultivated plains 
 soon appear, where are united all the productions of the northern 
 and tropical floras, terminating in pi'airies abounding with pine- 
 apples and yams, tobacco, rice, cotton-plants, and sugar-canes, 
 which extend beyond reach of sight, flinging their riches broad- 
 cast with careless prodigality. 
 
 Barbicane appeared highly pleased on observing the progressive 
 elevation of the land ; and in answer to a question of J. T. Maston, 
 replied, — 
 
 " My worthy friend, we cannot do better than sink our Colum- 
 biad in these high grounds." 
 
 " To get nearer to the moon, perhaps ? " said the secretary of 
 the Gun Club. 
 
 " Not exactly," replied Barbicane, smiling ; " do you not see 
 that amongst these elevated plateaus we shall have a much easier 
 work of it ? No struggles with the water-springs, Avhich will 
 save us long and expensive tubings ; and we shall be working in 
 daylight instead of down a deep and narrow well. Our business, 
 then, is to open our trenches upon ground some hundreds of yards 
 above the level of the sea." 
 
 " You are right, sir," struck in Murchisou, the engineer ; 
 " and, if I mistake not, we shall ere long find a suitable spot for 
 
 our purpose." 
 
 F 2
 
 68 FR03f THE EARTH TO THE MOON". 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 " I wish Ave Avere at the first stroke of the pickaxe," said the 
 president. 
 
 " And I wish we were at the last,"" cried J. T. Maston. 
 
 About ten a.m. the little band had ci"ossed a dozen miles. To 
 fertile plains succeeded a region of forests. There perfumes of 
 the most A^aried kinds mingled together in tropical profusion. These 
 almost impenetrable forests were composed of pomegranates, 
 orange-trees, citrons, figs, olives, apricots, bananas, huge vines, 
 Avhose blossoms and fruits rivalled each other in colour and per-| 
 fume. Beneath the odorous shade of these magnificent trees 
 fi uttered and Avarbled a little world of brilliantly plumaged birds. 
 
 J. T. Maston and the major could not repress their admiration;^ 
 on finding themselves in presence of the glorious beauties of this 
 Avealth of nature. President Barbicane, hoAvever, less sensitive 
 to these Avonders, was in haste to press forward ; the very 
 luxuriance of the country Avas displeasing to him. They hastened 
 onwards, therefore, and Avere compelled to ford several rivers, not 
 without danger, for they were infested with huge alligators from 
 fifteen to eighteen feet long. Maston courageously menaced them 
 Avith his steel hook, but he only succeeded in frightening some 
 pelicans and teal, Avhile tall flamingos stared stupidly at the 
 party. 
 
 At length these denizens of the swamps disappeared in theii- 
 turn ; smaller trees became thinly scattered among less dense 
 thickets — a few isolated groups detached the in midst of endless 
 plains over which ranged herds of startled deer. 
 
 "At last," cried Barbicane, rising in his stirrups, " here we are 
 at the region of pines ! " 
 
 " Yes ! and of savages too," replied the major. 
 
 In fact, some Semiuoles had just come in sight upon the horizon; 
 they rode violently backAvards and forAvards on their fleet horses, 
 brandishing their spears or discharging their guns with a dull 
 report. These hostile demonstrations, however, had no effect upon 
 Barbicane and his companions.
 
 THEY WERE COMPELLED TO FORD SEVERAL RIVERS. 
 
 [p. C3.1
 
 STO:^ES HILL. 69 
 
 They were then occupying the centre of a rocky plain, which 
 the sun scorched with its parching rays. This was fornicil by a 
 considci'able elevation of the soil, which seemed to ofler to tho 
 members of the Gun Club all the conditions requisite for tho 
 construction of their Columbiad. 
 
 " Halt ! " said Barbicane, reining up. " Has this place any local 
 appellation ? " 
 
 " It is called Stones Hill," replied one of the Floridans. 
 
 Barbicane, without saying a word, dismounted, seized his instru- 
 ments, and began to note his position with extreme exactness. 
 The little band, drawn up in rear, watched his proceedings in pro- 
 found silence. 
 
 At this moment the sun passed the meridian. Barbicane, after 
 a few moments, rapidly wrote down the result of his observations, 
 and said, — 
 
 " This spot is situated 1800 feet above the level of the sea, in 
 27° 7' N. lat. and 5° 7' W. long, of the meridian of Washington. 
 It appears to me by its rocky and barren character to offer all the 
 conditions requisite for our experiment. On that plain will bo 
 raised our magazines, workshops, furnaces, and workmen's huts ; 
 and here, from this very spot," said he, stamping his foot on tho 
 summit of Stones Hill, " hence shall our projectile take its flight 
 into the regions of the Solar World."
 
 70 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 PICKAXE AND TROWEL. 
 
 The same evening Barbicane and his companions returned to 
 Tampa Town ; and ^lurcliison, the engineer, re-embarked on 
 boai'd the " Tampico " for New Orleans. His object was to enlist 
 an army of workmen, and to collect together the greater part of 
 the materials. The members of the Gun Club remained at 
 Tampa Town, for the purpose of setting on foot the preliminary- 
 works by the aid of the people of the country. 
 
 Eight days after its departure, the " Tampico " returned into 
 the bay of Espiritu Santo, with a whole flotilla of steamboats. 
 Murchison hc-d succeeded in assembling together fifteen hundred 
 artisans. Attracted by the high pay and considerable bounties 
 offered by the Gun Club, he had enlisted a choice legion of 
 stokers, iron-founders, lime-burners, miners, brickmakers, and 
 artisans of every trade, without distinction of colour. As many 
 of these people brought their families with them, their departure 
 resembled a perfect emigration. 
 
 On the 31st October, at ten o'clock in the morning, the troop 
 disembarked on the quays of Tampa Town ; and one may imagine 
 the activity which pervaded that little town, whose population 
 was thus doubled in a single day. 
 
 During the first few days they were busy discharging the 
 cargo brought by the flotilla, the machines, and the rations, as 
 well as a large number of huts constructed of iron plates, 
 separately pieced and numbered. At the same period Barbicane 
 laid the first sleepers of a railway fifteen miles in length, intended
 
 PICKAXE AND TROWEL. Jl 
 
 to unite Stones Hill with Tampa Town. On the first of Novem- 
 ber Barbicaue quitted Tampa Town with a detachment of work- 
 men; and on the following day the whole town of huts was erected 
 round Stones Hill. This they enclosed with palisades; and iu 
 respect of energy and activity, it might have shortly been mis- 
 taken for one of the great cities of the Union. Everything was 
 placed under a complete system of dicipline, and the works were 
 commenced in most perfect order. 
 
 The nature of the soil having been carefully examined, by 
 means of repeated borings, the work of excavation was fixed for 
 the 4th of November. 
 
 On that day Barbicane called together his foremen and addressed 
 them as follows :— " You are well aware, my friends, of the 
 object with which I have assembled you together in this wild 
 part of Florida. Our business is to construct a cannon measuring 
 nine feet in its interior diameter, six feet thick, and with a stone 
 revetment of nineteen and a half feet in thickness. We have, 
 therefore, a well of sixty feet in diameter to dig down to a depth 
 of nine hundred feet. This great work must be completed 
 ivithin eight months, so that you have 2,543,400 cubic feet of 
 earth to excavate in 255 days ; that is to say, in round numbers, 
 2000 cubic feet per day. That which would present no difficulty 
 to a thousand navvies working in open country will be of course 
 more troublesome in a comparatively confined space. However, 
 the thing must be done, and I reckon for its accomplishment upon 
 your courage as much as upon your skiU. 
 
 At eight o'clock in the morning the first stroke of the pickaxe 
 was struck upon the soil of Florida ; and from that momenl 
 that prince of tools was never inactive for one moment in the 
 hands of the excavators. The gangs relieved each other every 
 
 three hours. 
 
 On the 4th of November fifty workmen commenced digging, 
 in the very centre of the enclosed space on the summit of Stones 
 Hill, a circular hole sixty feet in diameter. The pickaxe first
 
 72 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 Struck upon a kind of black earth, six inches in thickness, which 
 was speedily disposed of. To this earth succeeded two feet of 
 fine sand, which was carefully laid aside as being valuable for 
 serving for the casting of the inner mould. After the sand 
 appeared some compact white clay, resembling the chalk of Great 
 Britain, which extended down to a depth of four feet. Then the 
 iron of the picks struck upon the hard bed of the soil ; a kind of 
 rock formed of petrified shells, very dry, very solid, and which 
 the picks could with difficulty penetrate. At this point the 
 excavation exhibited a depth of six feet and a half, and the work 
 of the masonry was begun. 
 
 At the bottom of this excavation they constructed a wheel of 
 oak, a kind of circle strongly bolted together, and of immense 
 strength. The centre of this wooden disc was hollowed out to a 
 diameter equal to the exterior diameter of the Columbiad. Upon 
 this wheel rested the first layers of the masonry, the stones of 
 which were bound together by hydraulic cement, with irresis- 
 tible tenacity. The workmen, after laying the stones from the 
 circumference to the centre, were thus enclosed within a kind of 
 well twenty-one feet in diameter. When this work was accom- 
 plished, the miners resumed their picks and cut away the rock 
 from underneath the wheel itself, taking care to support it as 
 they advanced upon blocks of great thickness. At every two 
 feet which the hole gained in depth they successively withdrew 
 the- blocks. The wheel then sank little by little, and with it 
 the massive ring of masonry, on the upper bed of which the 
 masons laboured incessantly, always reserving some vent holes to 
 permit the escape of gas during the operation of casting. 
 
 This kind of work required on the part of the workmen 
 extreme nicety and minute attention. More than one, in dio^o-iuo- 
 underneath the wheel, was dangerously injured by the splinters of 
 stone. But their ardour never relaxed, night or day. By day 
 they worked under the rays of the scorching sun; by night, 
 under the gleam of the electric light. The sounds of the picks
 
 THE WOniC PROGRESSED REGULARLY. 
 
 [P- 73.] 
 
 J
 
 PICKAXE AND TROWEL. 73 
 
 against the rock, the bursting of mines, the grinding of tho 
 machines, the wreaths of smoke scattei'ed through the air, tracoil 
 around Stones Hill a circle of terror which the herds of buffaloes 
 and the war parties of the Seminolcs never ventured to pass. 
 Nevertheless, the works advanced regularly, as the steam-cranes 
 actively removed the rubbish. Of unexpected obstacles there was 
 little account ; and with regard to foreseen difliculties, they were 
 speedily disposed of. 
 
 At the expiration of the first month the well had attained the 
 depth assigned for that lapse of time, viz. 112 feet. This depth 
 was doubled in December, and trebled in January. 
 
 During the month of February the workmen had to contend 
 with a sheet of water which made its way right across the outer 
 soil. It became necessary to employ very powerful pumps and 
 compressed air-engines to drain it off, so as to close up the orifice 
 from whence it issued ; just as one stops a leak on board ship. 
 They at last succeeded in getting the upper hand of these 
 untoward streams ; only, in consequence of the loosening of the 
 soil, the wheel partly gave way, and a slight partial settlement 
 ensued. This accident cost the life of several workmen. 
 
 No fresh occurrence thenceforward arrested the progress of the 
 operation; and on the 10th of June, twenty days before the 
 expiration of- the period fixed by Baibicane, the well, lined 
 throughout with its facing of stone, had attained the depth of 900 
 feet. At the bottom the masonry rested upon a massive block 
 measuring thirty feet iu thickness, whilst on the upper portion it 
 Avas level with the surrounding soil. 
 
 President Barbicane and the members of the Gun Club warmly 
 congratulated their engineer Murchison : the cyclopean work had 
 been accomplished with extraordinary rapidity. 
 
 During these eight months Barbicane never quitted Stones Hill 
 for a single instant. Keeping ever close by the work of excava- 
 tion, he busied himself incessantly with the welfare and health of 
 his workpeople, and was singularly fortunate in warding oil' tbo
 
 74 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 epidemics common to large communities of men, and so disastrous 
 in those regions of the globe which are exposed to the influences 
 of tropical climates. 
 
 Many workmen, it is true, paid with their lives for the rashness 
 inherent in these dangerous labours ; but these mishaps are 
 impossible to be avoided, and they are classed amongst details with 
 which the Americans trouble themselves but little. They have 
 in fact more regard for human natui'e in general than for the 
 mdividual in particular. 
 
 Nevertheless, Barbicane professed opposite principles to these, 
 and put them in force at every opportunity. So, thanks to his 
 care, his intelligence, his useful intervention in all difficulties, his 
 prodigious and humane sagacity, the average of accidents did not 
 exceed that of transatlantic countries, noted for their excessive 
 precautions, France, for instance, among others, where they reckon 
 about one accident for every tAvo hundred thousand francs of 
 work.
 
 THE FETE OF THE CASTING. 
 
 75 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE FETE OF THE CASTING. 
 
 During the eight months which were employed in the work of 
 excavation the preparatory works of the casting had been carried 
 on simultaneously with extreme rapidity. A stranger arriving at 
 Stones Hill would have been surprised at the spectacle offered to 
 his view. 
 
 At 600 yards from the well, and circularly arranged around it 
 as a central point, rose 1200 reverberating ovens, each six feet in 
 diameter, and separated from each other by an interval of three 
 feet. The circumference occupied by these 1200 ovens presented 
 a length of two miles. Being all constructed on the same plan, 
 each Avith its high quadrangular chimney, they produced a most 
 singular effect. 
 
 It will be remembered that on their third meeting the Com- 
 mittee had decided to use cast-iron for the Columbiad, and in 
 particular the lohite description. This metal in fact is the most 
 tenacious, the m.ost ductile, and the most malleable, and conse- 
 quently suitable for all moulding operations ; and when smelted 
 with pit coal, is of superior quality for all engineering works 
 requiring gi'eat resisting power, such as cannon, steam-boiler.'t, 
 hydraulic presses, and the like. 
 
 Cast-iron, however, if subjected to only one single fusion, is 
 larely sufficiently homogeneous ; and it requires a second fusiim 
 completely to refine it by dispossessing it of its last earthly 
 deposits. So before being forwarded to Tami)a Town, the iron 
 ore, molten in the great furnaces of Coldspriug, and brouglit into
 
 76 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 contact with coal and silicium heated to a high temperature, was 
 carlnirized and transformed into cast-iron. After this first opera- 
 tion, the metal was sent on to Stones Hill. They had, however, 
 to deal with 136,000,0001bs. of iron, a quantity far too costly to 
 send by railway. The cost of transport would have been double 
 that of material. It appeared pi-eferable to freight vessels at New 
 York, and to load them with the iron in bars. This, howcA^er, 
 required not less than sixty-eight vessels of 1000 tons, a A^eritable 
 fleet, which, quitting New York on the 3rd of May, on the 10th 
 of the same month ascended the Bay of Espiritu Santo, and dis- 
 chaiged their cargoes, without dues, in the port at Tampa Town. 
 Thence the iron was transported by rail to Stones Hill, and about 
 the middle of January this enormous mass of metal was delivered 
 at its destination. 
 
 It will be easily understood that 1200 furnaces were not too 
 many to melt simultaneously these 60,000 tons of iron. Each of 
 these furnaces contained nearly 140,000lbs. weight of metal. They 
 were all built after the model of those which served for the casting 
 of the Rodman gun, they were trapezoidal in shape, with a high 
 elliptical arch. These furnaces, constructed of fireproof brick, were 
 especially adapted for burning pit coal, with a fiat bottom upon 
 which the iron bars Avere laid. This bottom, inclined at an ansrle 
 of 25°, allowed the metal to fiow into the receiving troughs ; and 
 the 1200 converging trenches carried the molten metal down to 
 the central well. 
 
 The day following that on which the works of the masoniy and 
 boring had been completed, Barbicaue set to work upon the central 
 mould. His object now was to raise within the centre of the 
 Avell, and with a coincident axis, a cylinder 900 feet high, and 9 
 feet in diameter, Avhich should exactly fill up the space reserved 
 for the bore of the Colurabiad. This cylinder was composed of a 
 mixture of clay and sand, Avith the addition of a little hay and 
 straAv. The space left between the mould and the masonry Avas 
 intended to be filled up by the molten metal, Avhich would thus
 
 THE CASTING. 
 
 [p. 7T.1
 
 THE Fete op the casting. ^n 
 
 form the walls six feet in thickness. This cylinder, in order to 
 maintcain its equilibrium, had to be bound by iron bands, and 
 firmly fixed at certain intervals by cross-clamps fastened into the 
 stone lining ; after the castings these would be buried in the block 
 of metal, leaving no external projection. 
 
 This operation was completed on the 8th of July, and the run of 
 the metal was fixed for the following day. 
 
 " This fete of the casting will be a grand ceremony," said J. T. 
 Maston to his friend Barbicane. 
 
 " Undoubtedly," said Barbicane; "but it will not be a pubHc 
 fete." 
 
 " What ! will you not open the gates of the enclosure to all 
 comers ?" 
 
 " I must be very careful, Maston. The casting of the Colum- 
 biad is an extremely delicate, not to say a dangerous, operation, 
 and I should prefer its being done privately. At the discharge of 
 the projectile, a fete if you like— till then, no !" 
 
 The president was right. The operation involved unforeseen 
 dangers, which a great influx of spectators would have hindered 
 h,m from averting. It was necessary to preserve complete free- 
 dom of movement. No one was admitted within the enclosure 
 except a delegation of members of the Gun Ciub, who had made 
 the voyage to Tampa Town. Among these was the brisk Bilsby, 
 Tom Hunter, Colonel Blomsberry, Major Elphinstoue, General 
 Morgan, and the rest of the lot to whom the casting of the 
 Columbiad was a matter of personal interest. J. T. Maston 
 became their cicerone. He omitted no point of detail; he con- 
 ducted them throughout the magazines, workshops, through the • 
 midst of the engines, and compelled them to visit the whole 1200 
 furnaces one after the other. At the end of the twelve-hundredth 
 visit they were pretty well knocked up. 
 
 The casting was to take place at 12 o'clock precisely. Tlio 
 previous evening each furnace had been charged with 114,000ibs. 
 weight of metal in bars disposed cross-ways to each other, so as to
 
 FROAf THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 allow the hot air to circulate freely between them. At daybreak 
 the 1200 cliimneys vomited their torrents of flame into the air, and 
 the ground was agitated with dull tremblings. As many pounds 
 of metal as there were to cast, so many pounds of coal were there 
 to burn. Thus there were 68,000 tons of coal which projected in 
 the face of the sun a thick curtain of smoke. The heat soon 
 became insuppoitable within the circle of furnaces, the rumblinf 
 of which resembled the rolling of thunder. The powerful venti- 
 lators added their continuous blasts and saturated with oxygen the 
 glowing plates. The operation, to be successful, required to be 
 conducted with great rapidity. On a signal given by a cannon- 
 shot each furnace was to give vent to the molten iron and com- 
 pletely to empty itself. These arrangements made, foremen and 
 workmen waited the preconcerted moment with an impatience 
 mingled with a certain amount of emotion. Not a soul remained 
 Avithin the enclosure. "Each superintendent took his post by the 
 aperture of the run. 
 
 Barbicane and his colleagues, perched- on a neighbouring emi- 
 nence, assisted at the operation. In front of them was a piece of 
 artillery ready to give fire on the signal from the engineer. Some 
 minutes before midday the first driblets of metal began to flow; 
 the reservoirs filled little by little; and, by the time that the 
 whole melting was completely accomplished, it was kept in 
 abeyance for a few minutes in order to facilitate the separation of 
 foreign substances. 
 
 Twelve o'clock struck ! A gun-shot suddenly pealed forth and 
 shot its flame into the air. Twelve hundred melting-troughs 
 were simultaneously opened and twelve hundred fiery serpents 
 crept towards the central well, unrolling their incandescent 
 curves. There, down they plunged with a terrific noise into a 
 depth of 900 feet. It was an exciting and a magnificent spec- 
 tacle. The ground trembled, while these molten waves, launching 
 into the sky their Avreaths of smoke, evaporated the moisture of 
 the mould and hurled it upwards through the vent-holes of the stone
 
 THE FETE OF THE CASTING. -g 
 
 lining in the form of dense vapour-clouds. These uiiillcial clouds 
 unrolled their thick spirals to a height of 1000 yards into the nir. 
 A savage, wandering somewhere beyond the limits of tho 
 horizon, might have believed that some new crater was forming 
 in the bosom of Florida, although there was neither auy eruption" 
 nor typhoon, nor storm, nor struggle of the elements, nor any of 
 those terrible phenomena which nature is capable of producing. 
 No, it was man aione who had produced these reddi.sli vapours, 
 these gigantic flames worthy of a volcano itself, these tremendous 
 vibrations resembling the shock of an earthquake, these reverbe- 
 rations rivalling those of hurricanes and storms, • and it was his 
 hand which precipitated into an abyss, dug by himself, a whole 
 Niagara of molten metal !
 
 8o FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE COLUMBIA!). 
 
 Had the casting succeeded ? They were reduced to mere con- 
 jecture. There was indeed every reason to expect success, since 
 the mould had absorbed the entire mass of the molten metal; still 
 some considerable time must elapse before they could arrive at 
 any certainty upon the matter. 
 
 The patience of the members of the Gun Club was sorely tried 
 during this period of time. But they could do nothing. J. T. 
 Maston escaped roasting by a miracle. Fifteen days after the 
 casting an immense column of smoke was still rising in the open 
 sky, and the ground burnt the soles of the feet within a radius of 
 200 feet round the summit of Stones Hill. It was impossible to 
 approach nearer. All they could do was to wait with what 
 patience they might. 
 
 " Here we are at the 10th August," exclaimed J. T. Maston 
 one morning, " only four months to the 1st of December! We 
 shall never be ready in time! " Barbicaue said nothing, but his 
 silence covered serious irritation. 
 
 However, daily observations revealed a certain change going on 
 in the state of the ground. About the 15th August the vapours 
 ejected had sensibly diminished in intensity and thickness. Some 
 days afterv/ards the earth exhaled only a slight puff of smoke, the 
 last breath of the monster enclosed within its circle of stone. 
 Little by little the belt of heat contracted, until on the 22nd 
 August Barbicaue, his colleagues, aud the engineer were enabled
 
 THE COLVMBIAD. gl 
 
 to set foot on the iron sheet which lay level upon the summit of 
 Stones Hill. 
 
 " At last!" exclaimetl the President of the Gun Club, with an 
 immense sigh of relief. 
 
 The work was resumed the same day. They proceeded at once 
 to extract the interior mould, for the purpose of clearing out the 
 boring of the piece. Pickaxes and boring irons were set to work 
 without intermission. The clayey and sandy soils had acquired 
 extreme hardness under the action of the heat ; but by the aid of 
 the machines, the rubbish on being dug out was rapidly carted 
 away on railway waggons; and such was the ardour of the work, 
 so persuasive the arguments of Barbicane's dollars, that by the 3rd 
 of September all traces of the mould had entirely disappeared. 
 
 Immediately the opei-ation of boring was commenced; and by the 
 aid of powerful machines, a few weeks later, the inner surface of 
 the immense tube had been rendered perfectly cylindrical, and the 
 bore of the piece had acquired a thorough polish. 
 
 At length, on the 22nd of September, less than a twelvemonth 
 after Barbicane's original proposition, the enormous weapon, 
 accurately bored, and exactly vertically pointed, was ready for 
 work. There was only the moon now to wait for; and they were 
 pretty sure that she would not fail in the rendezvous. 
 
 The ecstacy of J. T. Maston knew no bounds, and he narrowly 
 escaped a frightful fall while staring down the tube. But for the 
 strong hand of Colonel Blomsberry, the worthy secretary, like a 
 modern Erostratus, would have found his death in the depths of 
 the Columbiad. 
 
 The cannon was then finished ; there was no possible doubt as 
 to its perfect completion. So, on the 6th of October, Captain 
 NichoU opened an account between himself and President Burbi- 
 cane, in which he debited himself to the latter in the sum of 2()00 
 dollars. One may believe that the Captain's wrath was increu.-^cil 
 to its highest point, and must have made him seriously ill. How- 
 ever, he bad still three bets of three, four, and five thousand 
 
 o
 
 82 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 dollars, re.s])Cctivoly ; aud if he gained two out of these, his 
 position would not be very had. But the money question did not 
 outer into his calculations; it was the success of his rival in 
 casting a cannon against which iron plates sixty feet thick 
 would have been iueffectal, that dealt him a terrible blow. 
 
 After the 23rd of September the enclosure of Stones Hill was 
 thrown open to the public; and it will be easily imagined what 
 was the concourse of visitors to this spot ! There was an incessant 
 flow of people to and from Tampa Town and the place, which 
 resembled a procession, or rather, in fact, a pilgrimage. 
 
 It was already clear to be seen that, on the day of the experi- 
 ment itself, the aggregate of spectators would be counted by 
 millions; for they were already arriving from all parts of the earth 
 upon this narrow strip of promontory. Europe was emigrating 
 to America. 
 
 Up to that time, however, it must be confessed, the curiosity 
 of the numerous comers was but scantily gratified. Most had 
 counted upon witnessing the spectacle of the casting, and they 
 were treated to nothing but smoke. This was sorry food for 
 hungry eyes; but Barbicanc would admit no one to that opei'ation. 
 Then ensued grumbling, discontent, murmurs; they blamed the Pre- 
 sident, taxed him with dictatoi'ial conduct. His proceedings were 
 declared " un-American." There was very nearly a riot round 
 Stones Hill; but Barbicane remained inflexible. When, however, 
 the Columbiad was entirely finished, this state of closed doors 
 could no longer be maintained; besides it would have been bad 
 taste, and even imprudence, to affi'ont the public feeling. Bar- 
 bicane, therefore, opened the enclosure to all comers; but, true to 
 his jM-actical disposition, he determined to coin money out of the 
 public curiosity. 
 
 It was something, indeed, to be enabled to contemplate this 
 immense Columbiad; but to descend into its depths, this seemed to 
 the Americans the ne plus ultra of earthly felicity. Consequently, 
 there was not one curious spectator who was not wilHng to give
 
 TAMPA TOWN AFTER THE UNDERTAKING. 
 
 rp. M.1
 
 THE COLUMBIAD. 83 
 
 himself the treat of visitiug the iuteiioi- of this metallic abyss. 
 Baskets suspended from steam-cranes permitted them to satisfy 
 their curiosity. There was a perfect mania. Women, children, 
 old men, all made it a point of duty to penetrate the mysteries 
 of the colossal gun. The fare for the descent was fixed at five 
 dollars per head ; and, despite this high charge, during the two 
 months which preceded the experiment, the influx of visitors 
 enabled the Gun Club to pocket nearly 500,000 dollars ! 
 
 It is needless to say that the first visitors of the Columbiad 
 were the members of the Gun Club. This privilege was justly 
 reserved for that illustrious body. The ceremony took place on 
 the 25th September. A basket of honour took down the Presi- 
 dent, J. T. Maston, Major Elphinstoue, General ^lorgan, Colonel 
 Blomsberry, and other members of the club, to the number ot ten 
 in all. How hot it was at the bottom of that long tube ol metal ! 
 They were half suffocated. But what delight ! What ecstacy ! 
 A table had been laid with six covers on the massive stone which 
 formed the bottom of the Columbiad, and lighted by a jet of 
 electric light resembling that of day itself. Numerous exquisite 
 dishes, which seemed to descend from heaven, were placed 
 successively before the guests, and the richest wines of France 
 flowed in profusion during this splendid repast, served mne hundred 
 feet beneath the surface of the earth! 
 
 The festival was animated, not to say somewhat noisy. Toasts 
 flew backwards and forwards. They drank to the earth and to 
 her satellite, to the Gun Club, the Union, the moon, Diana, 
 Phoebe, Selene, the "peaceful courier of the night ' ! All the 
 hurrahs, carried upwards upon the sonorous waves of the immense 
 acoustic tube, arrived with the sound of thunder «;* its mouth ; and 
 the multitude ranged round Stones Hill heartdy umted leu 
 shouts with those of the ten revellers hidden from view at the 
 
 bottom of the gigantic Columbiad. Whether he 
 
 J. T. Maston was no longer master of h.mse . ^^^^ ' ^ J 
 
 shouted or gesticulated, ate or drank most, would be a d.lhcult 
 
 G 2
 
 84 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 matter to detenuiue. At all events, ho would not have given his 
 place up for an empire, " not even if the cannon — loaded, primed, 
 and fired at that very moment — were to blow him in pieces into 
 fhe ])lanetary world." 
 
 ^W
 
 THE BANQUET IN THE COLUMBIAD. 
 
 [p. S4.1
 
 1
 
 A TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCH. 85 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCH. 
 
 The great works undertaken by the Gun Club had now virtually 
 come to an end ; and two months still remained before the day for 
 the discharge of the shot to the moon.' To the general impaticneo 
 these two months appeared as long as years ! Hitherto the 
 smallest details of the operation had been daily chronicled by the 
 journals, which the public devoured with eager eyes. 
 
 Just at this moment a circumstance, the most unexpected, tho 
 most extraordinary and incredible, occurred to rouse afresh their 
 panting spirits, and to throw every mind into a state of tho most 
 violent excitement. 
 
 One day, the 30th September, at 3.47 p.m., a telegram, trans- 
 mitted by cable from Valentia (Ireland) to Newfoundland and 
 the American mainland, arrived at the address of President 
 Barbicane. 
 
 The President tore open the envelope, read the despatch, and, 
 despite his remarkable powers of self-control, his lips turned pale 
 and his eyes grew dim, on reading the tAventy words of this 
 
 telegram. 
 
 Here is the text of the despatch, which figures now in tho 
 
 archives of the Gun Club : — 
 
 " Feance, Paeis, 
 
 " 30 September, 4 a.m. 
 
 " Barbicane, Tampa Town, Florida, United States. 
 " Substitute for your spherical shell a cylindro-conical projectile. I sLtJl 
 
 go inside. SliaU arrive by steamer ' Atlanta.' 
 
 ^ "Michel Audan."
 
 86 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE PASSENGER OF THE " ATLANTA." 
 
 If this astountUng news, instead of flying through the electric 
 wire?, had simply arrived by post in the ordinary sealed envelope, 
 Barbicane would not have hesitated a moment. He would have 
 held his tongue about it, both as a measure of prudence, and in 
 order not to have to I'econsider his plans. This telegram might 
 be a cover for some jest, especially as it came from a Frenchman. 
 What human being would ever have conceived the idea of such a 
 journey? and, if such a person really existed, he must be an idiot, 
 whom one would shut up in a lunatic ward, rather than within the 
 walls of the projectile. 
 
 The contents of the despatch, however, speedily became known; 
 for the telegraphic officials possessed but little discretion, and 
 IMichel Ardan's proposition ran at once throughout the several 
 States of the Union. Barbicane had, therefore, no further motive 
 for keeping silence. Consequently, he called together such of his 
 colleagues as were at the moment in Tampa Town, and without 
 any expression of his own opinions simply read to them the laconic 
 text itself. It was received with every possible variety of expres- 
 sions of doubt, incredulity, and derision from every one, with the 
 exception of J. T. Maston, who exclaimed, " It is a grand idea, 
 however!" 
 
 When Barbicane originally proposed to send a shot to the moon 
 every one looked upon the enterprise as simple and practicable 
 enough — a mere question of gunnery; but when a person, pro- 
 fessing to be a reasonable being, offered to take passage within the
 
 PRESIDENT BAKCICANE AT HIS WINDOW. 
 
 [p. 87.1
 
 THE PASSENGER OF THE "ATLANTA.'^ 87 
 
 projectile, the whole thiug became a faice, or, in plainer language, 
 a humbug. 
 
 One question, however, remained. Did such a being exist ? 
 This telegram flashed across the depths of the Atlantic, the desig- 
 nation of the vessel on board which he was to take his passage, 
 the date assigned for his speedy arrival, all combined to impart a 
 certain character of reality to the proposal. They must get some 
 clearer notion of the matter. Scattered groups of inquirers at 
 length condensed themselves into a compact crowd, which made 
 straight for the residence of President Barbicane. That worthy 
 individual was keeping quiet with the intention of watching events 
 as they arose. But he had forgotten to take into account the 
 public impatience; and it was with no pleasant countenance that 
 he watched the population of Tampa Town gathering under his 
 windows. The miuinurs and vociferations below presently obliged 
 him to appear. He came forward, therefore, and on silence being 
 procured, a citizen put point-blank to him the following question: 
 — " Is the person mentioned in the telegram, under the name of 
 Michel Ardan, on his way here ? Yes or no." 
 
 "Gentlemen," replied Barbicane, " I know no more than you 
 
 do." 
 
 « We must know," roared the impatient voices. 
 
 " Time will show," calmly replied the President. 
 
 - Time has no business to keep a whole country in suspense," 
 replied the orator. " Have you altered the plans of the projectdo 
 according to the request of the telegram? " 
 
 " Not yet, gentlemen; but you are right ! we must have better 
 information to go by. The telegraph must complete its informa- 
 tion." 
 
 " To the telegraph !" roared the crowd. 
 
 Barbicane descended; and heading the immense assemblage, led 
 the way to the telegraph office. A few minutes later a telegram 
 was despatched to the secretary of the underwriters at Liverpool, 
 requesting answers to the following queries :—
 
 83 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 " About the ship * Atlanta ' — when did she leave Europe? Had 
 she on board a Frenchman named Michel Ardau?" 
 
 Two hours afterwards Barbicane received information too exact 
 to leave room for the smallest remaining doubt. 
 
 " The steamer 'Atlanta' from Liverpool put to sea on the 2nd 
 October, bound for Tampa Town, having on board a French- 
 niau borne on the list of passengers by the name of Michel 
 Ardan." 
 
 That very evening he wrote to the bouse of Breadwill and Co., 
 requesting them to suspend the casting of the projectile until the 
 receipt of further orders. On the 20th October, at 9 a.m., the 
 semaphores of the Bahama Canal signalled a thick smoke on the 
 horizon. Two hours later a large steamer exchanged signals with 
 them. The name of the "Atlanta" flew at once over Tampa 
 Town. At four o'clock the English vessel entered the Bay of 
 Esjiiritu Santo. At five it crossed the passage of Hillisborough 
 Bay at full steam. At six she cast anchor at Port Tampa. The 
 anchor had scarcely caught the sandy bottom when 500 boats 
 surrounded the " Atlanta," and the steamer was taken by assault. 
 Barbicane was the first to set foot on deck, and in a voice of 
 which he vainly tried to conceal the emotion, called "Michel 
 Ardan." 
 
 "Here!" replied an individual perched on the poop. 
 
 Barbicane, with arms crossed, looked fixedly at the passenger 
 of the "Atlanta." 
 
 He was a man of about 42 years of age, of large build, but 
 slightly round-shouldered. His massive head momentarily shook 
 a shock of reddish hair, which resembled a lion's mane. His 
 face was short with a broad forehead, and furnished with a 
 moustache as bristly as a cat's, and little patches of yellowish 
 whisker upon full checks. Round, wildish eyes, slightly near- 
 sighted, completed a physiognomy essentially feline. His nose 
 was firmly shaped, his mouth particularly sweet in expression, 
 high forehead, intelligent and furrowed with wrinkles like a
 
 IIICIIEL ARDAK 
 
 111. H8 1
 
 THE PASSENGER OF THE '■^ATLANTA" 89 
 
 newly-ploughed field. The body Avas powerfully developed and 
 firmly fixed upon long legs. Muscular arms, and a general air 
 of decision gave him the appearance of a hardy, jolly companion. 
 He was dressed in a suit of ample dimensions, loose neckerchief, 
 open shirt-collar, disclosing a robust neck; his cuffs were in- . 
 variably unbuttoned, through which appeared a pair of red hands. 
 On the bridge of the steamer, in the midst of the crowd, he 
 bustled to and fro, never still for a moment, "dragging his 
 anchors," as the sailors say, gesticulating, making free with 
 everybody, biting his nails with nervous avidity. He was one of 
 those originals which nature sometimes invents in the freak of a 
 moment, and of which she then breaks the mould. 
 
 Amongst other peculiarities, this curiosity gave himself out for 
 a sublime ignoramus, " like Shakespeare," and professed supreme 
 contempt for all scientific men. Those " fellows," as ho called 
 them, " are only fit to mark the points, while we play the game." 
 He was, in fact, a thorough Bohemian, adventurous, but not an 
 adventurer; a hair-brained fellow, a kind of Icarus, only possess- 
 ing relays of wings. For the rest, he was ever in scrapes, ending 
 invariably by falling on his feet, like those little pith figures 
 which they sell for children's toys. In two words, his motto was 
 "I have my opinions," and the love of the impossible constituted 
 
 his ruling passion. 
 
 Such was the passenger of the "Atlanta," always excitable, as 
 if boiling under the action of some internal fire by the character 
 of his physical organization. If ever two individuals offered a 
 striking contrast to each other, these were certainly Michel 
 Ardan and the Yankee Barbicane; both, moreover, being equaUy 
 enterprising and daring, each in his own way. 
 
 The scrutiny which the President of the Gun Club had insti- 
 tuted regarding this new rival was quickly interrupted by the 
 shouts and hurrahs of the crowd. The cries became at last so 
 uproarious, and the popular enthus;asm assumed so personal a 
 form, that Michel Ardan, after having shaken hands somo
 
 90 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 tliousamls of times, at the immineut risk of leaving his fingers 
 beliind liim, Avas fain at last to make a bolt for his cabin. 
 
 Barbicane followed him Avithout uttering a word. 
 
 " You are Barbicane, I suppose ? " said Michel Ardan in a 
 tone of voice in which he would have addressed a friend of 
 twenty years' standing. 
 
 " Yes," replied the President of the G. C. 
 
 " All right ! how d'ye do, Barbicane ? how are you getting on 
 — pretty well ? that's right." 
 
 " So," said Barbicane, without further preliminary, " you are) 
 quite determined to go." 
 
 " Quite decided." 
 
 "Nothing will stop you?" 
 
 "Nothing. Have you modified your projectile according to 
 my telegram." 
 
 "I waited for your arrival. But," asked Barbicane again, 
 "have you carefully reflected?" 
 
 " Reflected ? have I any time to spare ? I find an opportunity 
 of making a tour in the moon, and I mean to profit by it. There 
 is the whole gist of the matter." 
 
 Barbicane looked hard at this man who spoke so lightly of his 
 project with such complete absence of anxiety. " But, at least," 
 said he, "you have some plans, some means of carrying your 
 pi'oject into execution ? " 
 
 "Excellent, my dear Barbicane; only permit me to offer one 
 remark: — My wish is to tell my story once for all, to everybody, 
 and then to have done with it; then there will be no need for 
 recapitulation. So, if you have no objection, assemble your 
 friends, colleagues, the whole town, all Florida, all America if 
 you like, and to-morrow I shall be ready to explain my plans and 
 answer any objections whatever that may be advanced. You 
 may rest assured I shall wait without stirring. Will that suit 
 you?" 
 
 " All right," replied Barbicane.
 
 THE PASSENGER OF THE "ATLANTA" 9 1 
 
 So saying, the President left the cabin and informed the crowd 
 of the proposal of Michel Ardan. His words were received with 
 clappings of hands and shouts of joy. They had removed all 
 difficulties. To-morrow every one would contemplate at his ease 
 this European hero. However, some of the spectators, more 
 infatuated than the rest, would not leave the deck of the " At- 
 lanta." They passed the night on board. Amongst others, 
 J. T. Maston got his hook fixed in the combing of the poop, and 
 it pretty nearly required the capstan to get it out again. 
 
 "He is a hero! a hero!" he cried, a theme of which he was 
 never tired of ringing the changes; "and we are only like weak, 
 silly women, compared with this European!" 
 
 As to the president, after having suggested to the visitors it 
 was time to retire, he re-entered the passenger's cabin, and re- 
 mained there till the bell of the steamer made it midnight. 
 
 But then the two rivals in popularity shook hands heartily 
 and parted on terms of intimate friendship.
 
 92 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A MONSTER MEETING. 
 
 On llie following ilay Barbicane, fearing that indiscreet questions 
 might be put to Michel Ardan, was desirous of reducing the num- 
 ber of the audience to a few of the initiated, his own colleagues 
 for instance. He might as well have tried to check the Falls of 
 Niagara ! He was compelled, therefore, to give up the idea, and 
 to let his new friend run the chances of a public conference. 
 The i^lace cLosen for this monster meeting was a vast plain 
 situated in the rear of the town. In a few hours, thanks to the 
 help of the shipping in port, an immense roofing of canvas was 
 stretched over the parched prairie, and protected it from the 
 burning rays of the sun. There 300,000 people braved for many- 
 hours the stifling heat while awaiting the arrival of the French- 
 man. Of this crowd of spectators a first set could both see and 
 hear ; a second set saw badly and heard nothing at all ; and as 
 for the third, it could neither see nor hear anything at all. At 
 tbree o'clock Michel Ardau made his appearance, accompanied by 
 the principal members of the Gun Club. He was supported on 
 his right by President Barbicane, and on his left by J. T. Maston, 
 more radiant than the midday sun and nearly as ruddy. Ardau 
 mounted a platform, from the top of which his view extended 
 over a sea of black hats. He exhibited not the slightest embar- 
 i-assmcnt ; he was just as gay, familiar, and pleasant as if he 
 were at home. To the hurrahs which greeted him he replied by a 
 graceful bow ; then, waving his baud to request silence, he spoke 
 in perfectly correct English as follows : — 
 
 " Gentlemen, despite the very hot weather I request your
 
 
 <>^mmt^^^^^mi} 
 
 THE MEETING. 
 
 [,,. 92.]
 
 A MONSTER MEETING. 93 
 
 patience for a short time while I offer some explanations regard- 
 ing the projects which seem to have so interested yon. I am 
 neither an orator nor a man of science, and I had no idea of 
 addressing you in public ; but my fiiend Barbicane has told mo 
 that you would like to hear me, and I am quite at your service. 
 Listen to me, therefore, with your 600,000 ears, and please to 
 excuse the foults of the speaker. Now pray do not forget that 
 you see before you a perfect ignoramus, whoso ignorance goes so 
 far that he cannot even understand the difficulties ! It seemed to 
 him that it was a matter quite simple, natural, and easy to take 
 one's place in a projectile and start for the moon ! That journey 
 must be undertaken sooner or later ; and, as for the mode of 
 locomotion adopted, it follows simply the law of progress. Man 
 began by walking on all-fours ; then, one fine day, on two feet ; 
 then in a carriage ; then in a stage-coach ; and lastly by railway. 
 Well, the projectile is the vehicle of the future, and the planets 
 themselves are nothing else ! Noav some of you, gentlemen, may 
 imagine that the velocity we propose to impart to it is extra- 
 vagant. It is nothing of the kind. All the stars exceed it in 
 rapidity, and the earth herself is at this moment carrying us 
 round the sun at three times as rapid a rate, and yet she is a mere 
 louno-er on the way compared with many others of the planets ! 
 And her velocity is constantly decreasing. Is it not evident, 
 then, I ask you, that there will some day appear velocities far 
 lu^reater than these, of which light or electricity will probably be 
 the mechanical agent ? 
 
 "Yes, gentlemen," continued the orator, "in spite of the 
 opinions of certain narrow-minded people, who would shut up the 
 human race upon this globe, as within some magic circle which it 
 must never outstep, we shall one day travel to the moon, tho 
 planets, and the stars, with the same facility, rapidity, and 
 certainty as we now make the voyage from Liverpool to New 
 York ! Distance is but a relative expression, and must end by 
 beln" reduced to zero."
 
 94 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOO 17. 1 
 
 The assembly, strongly predisposed as they were in favour of the 
 French hero, were slightly staggered at this bold theory. Michel 
 Ardan perceived the fact. 
 
 " Gentleman," he coutiuued with a pleasant smile, " you do not 
 seem quite convinced. Very good ! Let us reason the matter 
 out. Do you know how long it would take for an express train to 
 reach the moon ? Three hundred days ; no more ! And what is 
 that ? The distance is no more than nine times the circum- 
 ference of the earth ; and there are no sailors or travellei's, of even 
 moderate activity, who have not made longer journeys than that 
 in their lifetime. And now consider that I shall be only ninety- 
 seven hours on my journey. Ah ! I see you are reckoning that 
 the moon is a long way off from the earth, and that one must 
 think twice before making the experiment. What would you say, 
 then, if we were talking of going to Neptune, which revolves at 
 a distance of more than two thousand seven hundred and twenty 
 millions of miles from the sun ! And yet what is that compared with 
 the distance of the fixed stars, some of which, such as Arcturus, 
 are at billions of miles distant from us ? And then you talk of 
 the distance which separates the planets from the sun ! And 
 there are people who affirm that such a thing as distance exists. 
 Absurdity, folly, idiotic nonsense! Would you know what / 
 think of our own solar universe ? Shall I tell you my theory ? 
 It is very simple ! In my opinion the solar system is a solid, 
 homogeneous body ; the planets which compose it are in actual 
 contact with each other ; and whatever space exists between 
 them is nothing more than the space which separates the 
 molecules of the densest metal, such as silver, iron, or platinum ! 
 I ha\-e the right, therefore, to affirm, and I repeat, with the con- 
 viction which must penetrate all your minds, ' Distance is but an 
 empty name ; distance does not really exist ! ' " 
 
 " Hurrah! " cried one voice (need it be said it was that of J. T. 
 IVIaston ?). " Distance does not exist ! " And overcome by the 
 energy of his movements, he nearly fell from the platform to the
 
 A MONSTER MEETING. 
 
 95 
 
 ground. He just escaped a severe fall, which would have proved 
 to him that distance was by no means aii empti/ name. 
 
 " Gentlemen," resumed the oratoi-, " I repeat that the distance 
 between the earth and her satellite is a mere trifle, and uiule- 
 serving of serious consideration, I am convinced that before 
 twenty years are over one half of our earth will have paid a 
 visit to the moon. Now, my worthy fiiends, if you have 
 any question to put to me, you will, I fear, tadly embarrass 
 a poor man like myself; still I will do my best to answer 
 you." 
 
 Up to this point the President of the Gun Club had been satis- 
 fied with the turn which the discussion had assumed. It became 
 now, however, desirable to divert Ardan from questions of a prac- 
 tical nature, with which he was doubtless far less conversant. 
 Barbicane, therefore, hastened to get in a word, and began by 
 asking his new friend whether he thought that the moon and the 
 planets were inhabited. 
 
 " You put before me a great problem, my worthy President," 
 replied the orator, smiling. " Still, men of great intelligence, 
 such as Plutarch, Swedenborg, Bernardin de St. Pierre, and 
 others have, if I mistake not, pronounced in the affirmative. 
 Looking at the question from the natural philosopher's point of 
 view, I should say that nothing useless existed in the world ; and, 
 replying to your question by another, I should venture to assert, 
 that if these worlds are habitable, they either are, have been, or 
 will be inhabited," 
 
 " No one could answer more logically or fairly," replied the 
 president. " The question then reverts to this : Are these worlds 
 habitable ? For my own part I believe they are." 
 
 " For myself, I feel certain of it," said Michel Ardan. 
 
 " Nevertheless," retorted one of the audience, " there are many 
 arguments against the habitability of the worlds. The conditions 
 of life must evidently be greatly modified upon the majority of 
 tliem. To mention only the planets, we should bo either broiled
 
 9^ FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 nlive in some, or frozen to death in others, according as they are 
 more. or less removed from the sun." 
 
 "I regret," replied Michel Ardan, " that I have not the honour 
 of personally knowing my contradictor, for I would have 
 attempted to answer him. His objection has its merits, I admit ; 
 hut I think we may successfully combat it, as well as all others 
 which affect the habitability of the other worlds. If I were a 
 natural philosopher, I would tell him that if less of caloric were 
 set in motion upon the planets which are nearest to the sun, and 
 more, on the contrary, upon those which are farthest removed 
 from it, this simple fact would alone suffice to equalize the heat, 
 and to render the temperature of those worlds supportable bv 
 beings organized like ourselves. If I were a naturalist, I would 
 tell him that, according to some illustrious men of science, nature 
 has furnished us with instances upon the earth of animals existing 
 under veiy varying conditions of life ; that fish respire in a 
 medium fatal to other animals ; that amphibious creatures possess 
 a double existence very difficult of explanation; that certain 
 denizens of the seas maintain life at enormous depths, and there 
 support a pressure equal to that of fifty or sixty atmospheres 
 without being crushed ; that several aquatic insects, insensible to 
 temperature, are met with equally among boiling springs and in 
 the frozen plains of the Polar Sea ; in fine, that w'e cannot help 
 recognizing in nature a diversity of means of operation oftentimes 
 incomprehensible, but not the less real. If I were a chemist, I 
 would tell him that the aerolites, bodies evidently formed exteriorly 
 of our terrestrial globe, have, upon analysis, revealed indisputable 
 traces of carbon, a substance which owes its origin solely to orga- 
 nized beings, and which, according to the experiments of Reichen- 
 bach, must necessarily itself have been endued with animation. 
 And lastly, were I a theologian, I would tell him that the scheme 
 of the Divine Redemption, according to St. Paul, seems to be 
 applicable, not merely to the earth, but to all the celestial worlds. 
 But, unfortunately I am neither theologian, nor chemist, nor 
 
 I
 
 A MONSTER MEETING. 97 
 
 raturalist, nor pliilosopher ; therefore, in my absolute ignorance of 
 the great laws which govern the universe, I confine myself to 
 saying in reply, ' I do not know whether the worlds are inhabited 
 or not ; and since I do not know, / am going to see ! ' " 
 
 Whether Michel Ardan's antagonist hazarded any further argu- 
 ments or not it is impossible to say, for the uproarious shouts of 
 the crowd would not allow any expression of opinion to gain a 
 hearing. On silence being restored, the triumphant orator con- 
 tented himself with adding the following remarks :— 
 
 " Gentlemen, you will observe that 1 have but slightly touched 
 upon this great question. There is another altogether different 
 line of arguments in favour of the habitability of the stars, which 
 I omit for the present. I only desire to call attention to one point. 
 To those who maintain that the planets arc not inhabited one may 
 reply ._you might be perfectly in the right, if you could only show 
 that the earth is the best possible world, spite of what Voltaire has 
 said. She has but one satellite, while Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, 
 Keptune have each several, an advantage by no means to be 
 despised. But that which renders our own globe so uncomfortable 
 is the inclination of its axis to the plane of its orbit. Hence the 
 inequality of days and nights ; hence the disagreeable diversity of 
 the seasons. On the surface of our unhappy spheroid we are 
 always either too hot or too cold ; we are frozen in winter, broiled 
 in summer ; it is the planet of rheumatism, coughs, bronchitis ; 
 while on the surface of Jupiter, for example, where the axis is but 
 slightly inclined, the inhabitants may enjoy uniform temperatures 
 It possesses zones of perpetual springs, summers, autumns, and 
 winters ; every Jovian may choose for himself what climate he 
 likes, and there spend the whole of his life in security from all 
 variations of temperature. You will, I am sure, readily admit this 
 superiority of Jupiter over our own planet, to say nothing of his 
 years, which each equal twelve of ours ! Under such au.p.ces 
 and such marvellous conditions of existence, it appears to me tha 
 the inhabitants of 'so fortunate a world must be in every respect
 
 gS FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 superior to ourselves. AH we require, in order to attain to such 
 perfection, is the mere trifle of having an axis of rotation less 
 incUned to the plane of its orbit !" 
 
 " Hurrah !" roared an energetic voice, " let us unite our efforts, 
 invent the necessary machines, and rectify the earth's axis !" 
 
 A thunder of applause followed this proposal, the author of 
 •which was, of course, no other than J. T. Maston. And, in all 
 probability, if the truth must be told, if the Yankees could only 
 have found a point of application for it, they would have con- 
 structed a lever capable of raising the earth and rectifying its 
 axis. It was just this deficiency which baffled these daring 
 mechanicians.
 
 ATTACK AND RIPOSTE. 99 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ATTACK AND RIPOSTE. 
 
 As soon as the excitement had subsided, the folio-wing words were 
 heard uttered in a strong and determined voice : — 
 
 *' Now that the speaker has favoured us with so much imagina- 
 tion, would he be so good as to return to his subject, and give iis a 
 little practical view of the question ?" 
 
 All eyes were directed towards the person who spoke. He was 
 a little dried-up man, of an active figure, with an American 
 "goatee" beard. Profiting by the different movements in the 
 crowd, he had managed by degrees to gain the front row of spec- 
 tators. There, with arms crossed and stern gaze, he watched the 
 hero of the meeting. After having put his question he remained 
 silent, and appeared to take no notice of the thousands of looks 
 directed towards himself, nor of the murmur of disapprobation 
 excited by his words. Meeting at first with no reply, he repeated 
 his question with marked emphasis, adding, " We are here to talk 
 about the moon and not about the earth." 
 
 " You are right, sir," replied Michel Ardan ; " the discussion 
 has become irregular. We will return to the moon." 
 
 "Sir," said the unknown, "you pretend that our satellite is 
 inhabited. Very good ; but if Selenites do exist, that race of 
 beings assuredly must live without breathing, for— I warn yo« for 
 your own sake— there is not the smallest particle of air on the 
 surface of the moon." 
 
 At this remark Ardan pushed up liis shock of red hair ; he saw 
 that he was on the point of being involved in a struggle with this 
 
 H 2
 
 lOO FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 person upon the very gist of the -whole question. He looked 
 sternly at him in his turn and said, — 
 
 " Oh ! so there is no air in the moon ? And pray, if you are 
 60 good, who ventures to affirm that?" 
 
 " The men of science." 
 
 "Really?" 
 
 " Really." 
 
 " Sir," replied Michel, " pleasantry apart, I have a profound 
 respect for men of science who do possess science, but a profound 
 contempt for men of science who do not." 
 
 " Do you know any who belong to the latter category ? " 
 
 " Decidedly. In France there are some who maintain that, 
 mathematically, a bird cannot possibly fly ; and others who demon- 
 strate theoretically that fishes were never made to live in 
 water." 
 
 " I have nothing to do with persons of that description, and I 
 can quote, in support of my statement, names which you cannot 
 refuse deference to." 
 
 " Then, sir, you will sadly embarrass a poor ignorant, who, 
 besides, asks nothing better than to learn." 
 
 " Why, then, do you introduce scientific questions if you have 
 never studied them ? " asked the unknown somewhat coarsely. 
 
 " For the reason that ' he is always brave who never suspects 
 danger.' I know nothing, it is true ; but it is precisely my very 
 weakness which constitutes my strength." 
 
 " Your weakness amounts to folly," retorted the unknown in a 
 passion. 
 
 " All the better," replied our Frenchman, " if it carries me up 
 to the moon" 
 
 BSrbicane and his colleagues devoured with their eyes the in- 
 truder who had so boldly placed himself in antagonism to their 
 enterprise. Nobody knew him, and the president, uneasy as to 
 the result of so free a discussion, watched his new friend with 
 some anxiety. The meeting began to be somewhat fidgetty also.
 
 ATTACK AXD RIPOSTE. 
 
 [p. 101.1
 
 ATTACK AND RIPOS^TE. lOI 
 
 for the contest directed their attention to the dangers, if not tbo 
 actual impossibilities, of the proposed expedition. 
 
 " Sir," replied Ardau's antagonist, " there are many and incon- 
 trovertible reasons which prove the absence of an atmosphere in 
 the moon. I might say that, a priori, if one ever did exist, it 
 must have been absorbed by the earth ; but I prefer to bring 
 forward indisputable facts." 
 
 " Bring them forward then, sir, as many as you please." 
 " You know," said the stranger, " that when any luminous rays 
 cross a medium such as the air, they are deflected out of the 
 straight line ; in other words, they undergo refraction. Well ! 
 When stars are occulted by the moon, their rays, on grazing the 
 ed^e of her disc, exhibit not the least deviation, nor ofler the 
 slightest indication of refraction. It follows, therefore, that 
 the moon cannot be surrounded by an atmosphere." 
 
 " In point of fact," replied Ardan, " this is your chief, if not 
 your only argument; and a really scientific man might be puzzled 
 to answer it. For myself, I will simply say that it is defective, 
 because it assumes that the angular diameter of the moon has been 
 completely determined, which is not the case. But let us proceed. 
 Tell me, my dear sir, do you admit the existence of volcanoes on 
 the moon's surface ? " 
 
 " Extinct, yes ! In activity, no !" 
 
 " These volcanoes, however, were at one time in a state of 
 
 activity?" 
 
 " True ! but, as they furnished themselves the oxygen necessary 
 for combustion, the mere fact of their eruption doefe not prove tlio 
 presence of an atmosphere." 
 
 " Proceed a^-ain, then ; and let us set aside this class of argu- 
 ments in order to come to direct observations. In 1715 the astro- 
 nomers Louville and Hallcy, watching the eclipse of the 3rd May, 
 remarked some very extraordinary sciutillatious.- These jets of 
 light, rapid in nature, and of frequent recurrence, they attributed 
 to thunderstorms generated in the lunar atmosphere."
 
 102 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 "In 1715," replied the unknown, "the astronomers Louville and 
 Halley mistook for lunar phenomena some which were purely 
 terrestrial, such as meteoric or other bodies which are generated 
 in our own atmosphere. This was the scientific explanation at 
 the time of the facts ; and that is my answer now." 
 
 "On again, then," replied Ardan; " Herschel, in 1787, observed 
 a great number of luminous points on the moon's surface, did he 
 not ? " 
 
 " Yes ! but without offering any solution of them. Herschel 
 himself never inferred from them the necessity of a lunar 
 atmosphere. And I may add that Baeer and Maedler, the two 
 great authorities upon the moon, are quite agreed as to the entire 
 absence of air on its surface." 
 
 A movement was here manifest among the assemblage, who 
 appeared to be growing excited by the arguments of this singular 
 personage. 
 
 " Let us proceed," replied Ardan, with perfect coolness, " and 
 come to one important fact. A skilful French astronomer, M. 
 Laussedat, in watching the eclipse of July 18, 1860, proved that 
 the horns of the solar crescent were rounded and truncated. Now, 
 this appearance could only have been produced by a deviation of 
 the solar rays in traversing the atmosphere of the moon. There 
 is no other possible explanation of the fact." 
 
 "But is this established as a fact ?" 
 
 " Absolutely certain ! " 
 
 A counter-movement here took place in favour of the hero of 
 the meeting, whose opponent was now reduced to silence. Ardan 
 resumed the conversation j and, without exhibiting any exultation 
 at the advantage he had gained, simply said,— 
 
 " You see, then, my dear sir, we must not pronounce with abso- 
 lute positiveness against the existence of an atmosphere in the 
 moon. That atmosphere is, probably, of extreme rarity; never- 
 theless at the present day science generally admits that it 
 exists." 
 
 I
 
 ATTACK AND RIPOSTE. I03 
 
 " Not in the mouatains, at all eveuts," returned the unknown, 
 unwilling to give in. 
 
 ** No ! but at the bottom of the valleys, and not exceeding a 
 few hundred feet in height." 
 
 " In any case you will do well to take every precaution, for the 
 air will be terribly rarified." 
 
 " My good sir, there will always be enough for a solitary indi- 
 vidual; besides, once arrived up there, I shall do my best to 
 economize, and not to breathe except on grand occasions !" 
 
 A tremendous roar of laughter rang in the cars of the mys- 
 terious interlocutor, who glared fiercely round upon the assembly. 
 
 " Then," continued Ardan, with a careless air, " since we are 
 in accord regarding the presence of a certain atmosphere, we 
 are forced to admit the presence of a certain quantity of water. 
 This is a happy consequence for me. Moreover, my amiable 
 contradictor, permit me to submit to you one further observation. 
 We only know one side of the moon's disc; and if there is 
 but little air on the face presented to us, it is possible that there is 
 plenty on the one turned away from us." 
 
 " And for what reason ? " 
 
 " Because the moon, under the action of the earth's attraction, 
 has assumed the form of an egg, which we look at from the 
 smaller end. Hence it follows, by Hansen's calculations, that its 
 centre of gravity is situated in the other hemisphere. Hence it 
 results that the great mass of air and water must have been 
 drawn away to the other face of our satellite during the first 
 days of its creation." 
 
 " Pure fancies ! " cried the unknown. 
 
 " No ! Pure theories ! which are based upon the laws of 
 mechanics, and it seems difficult to me to refute tlicm. I 
 appeal then to this meeting, and I put it to them whether life, 
 such as exists upon the earth, is possible on the surface of 
 the moon ? " 
 
 Three hundred thousand auditors at once applauded the propo-
 
 104 FRO^T THE EARTtI TO THE MOON. 
 
 sition. Aldan's opponent tried to get in another word, btit he 
 could not obtain a hearing. Cries and menaces fell upon Iiim 
 like hail. 
 
 "Enough! enough! " cried some. 
 
 " Drive the intruder off !" shouted others. 
 
 " Turn him out! " roared the exasperated crowd. 
 
 But he, holding firmly on to the platform, did not budge 
 an inch, and let the storm pass on, which would soon have 
 assumed formidable proportions, if Michel Ardan had not quieted 
 it by a gesture. He was too chivalrous to abandon his ojDpouent 
 in an apparent extremity. 
 
 " You wished to say a few more words ? " he asked, in a 
 pleasant voice. 
 
 " Yes, a thousand; or rather, no, only one! If you persevere in 
 your enterprise, you must be a — " 
 
 " Very rash person ! How can you treat me as such ? me, who 
 have demanded a cyllndro-conical projectile, in order to prevent 
 turning round and round on my way like a squirrel ? " 
 
 " But, unhappy man, the dreadful recoil will smash you to 
 pieces at your starting," 
 
 " My dear contradictor, you have just put your finger upon the 
 true and the only difficulty; nevertheless, I have too good an 
 opinion of the industrial genius of the Americans not to believe 
 that they will succeed in overcoming it." 
 
 " But the heat developed by the rapidity of the projectile 
 iu crossing the strata of air ? " 
 
 " Oh ! the walls are thick, and I shall soon have crossed the 
 atmos^phcre." 
 
 " But victuals and water?" 
 
 " I have calculated for a twelvemonth's supply, and I shall be 
 only four days on the journey." 
 
 " But for air to breathe on the road ? " 
 
 ** I shall make it by chemical process." 
 
 " But your fall on the moon, supposing you ever reach it ?"
 
 ATTACK AND RIP0S7E. 105 
 
 " It will be six times less dangerous than a sudden Aill upon 
 the earth, because the weight will be only one-sixth as great on 
 the surface of the moon." 
 
 " Still it will be enough to smash you like glass ! " 
 
 " What is to prevent my retarding the shock by means 
 of rockets conveniently placed, and lighted at the right 
 moment?" 
 
 " But after all, supposing all difficulties surmounted, all obstacles 
 removed, supposing everything combined to favour you, and 
 granting that you may arrive safe and sound in the moon, how 
 will you come back ? " 
 
 " I am not coming back ! " 
 
 At this reply, almost sublime in its very simplicity, the assembly 
 became silent. But its silence was more eloquent than could have 
 been its cries of enthusiasm. The unknown profited by the 
 opportunity and once more protested, — 
 
 "You will inevitably kill yourself!" he cried; "and your 
 death will be that of a madman, useless even to science ! " 
 
 " Go on, my dear unknown, for truly your prophecies are most 
 agreeable ! " 
 
 " It really is too much ! " cried Michel Ardan's adversary. " I 
 do not know why I should continue so frivolous a discussion I 
 Please yourself about this insane expedition ! We need not 
 trouble ourselves about you I " 
 
 " Pray don't stand upon ceremony !" 
 
 " No ! another person is responsible for your act." 
 • " Who, may I ask?" demanded Michel Ardan in an imperious 
 tone. 
 
 " The ignoramus who organized this equally absurd and impos- 
 sible experiment ! " 
 
 The attack was direct. Barbicane, ever since the interference 
 of the unknown, had been making fearful efforts of self-control; 
 now, however, seeing himself directly attacked, he could restrain 
 himself no longer. He rose suddenly, and was rubhing upon the
 
 I06 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 enemy who thus braved him to the face, when all at once he 
 fouud himself separated from him. 
 
 The platform was lifted by a hundred strong arms, and the 
 President of the Gun Club shared with Michel Ardan triumphal 
 honours. The shield was heavy, but the bearers came in con- 
 tinuous relays, disputing, struggling, even fighting among them- 
 selves in their eagerness to lend their shoulders to this demon- 
 stration. 
 
 However, the unknown had not profited by the tumult to quit 
 his post. Besides, he could not have done it in the midst of that 
 compact crowd. The»"e he held on in the front row, with crossed 
 arms, glaring at President Barbicane. 
 
 The shouts of the immense crowd continued at their hishest 
 pitch throughout this triumphant march. Michel Ardan took 
 it all with evident pleasure. His face gleamed with delight. 
 Several times the platform seemed seized with pitching and 
 rolling like a weather-beaten ship. But the two heroes of the 
 meeting had good sea-legs. They never stumbled ; and their 
 vessel arrived without dues at the port of Tampa Town. 
 
 Michel Ardan managed fortunately to escape from the last 
 embraces of his vigorous admirers. He made for the Hotel 
 Franklin, quickly gained his chamber, and slid under the bed- 
 clothes, while an army of a hundred thousand men kept watch 
 under his windows. 
 
 During this time a scene, short, grave, and decisive, took place 
 between the mysterious personage and the President of the Gun 
 Club. 
 
 Barbicane, free at last, had gone straight at his adversary. 
 
 " Come ! " he said shortly. 
 
 The other followed him on to the quay; and the two presently 
 fouud themselves alone at the entrance of an open wharf on 
 Jones' Fall. 
 
 The two enemies, still mutually unknown, gazed at each other. 
 
 '*Who are you?" asked Barbicane.
 
 THE PLATFORM WAS SUDDENLY CARRIED AWAY. 
 
 Ip. lot]
 
 ATTACK AND RIPOSTE. JQ-J 
 
 "Captain Nicholl!" 
 
 " So I suspected. Hitherto chaace has never thrown you in 
 ray way." 
 
 *' I am come for that purpose." 
 
 " You have insulted me ! " 
 
 "Publicly!" 
 
 " And you will answer to me for this insult ? " 
 
 "At this very moment." 
 
 " No ! I desire that all that passes between us shall be secret. 
 There is a wood situated three miles from Tampa, the wood of 
 Skersnaw. Do you know it?" 
 
 " I know it." 
 
 " Will you be so good as to enter it to-morrow morning at five 
 o'clock, on one side?" 
 
 " Yes ! if you will enter at the other side at the same hour." 
 
 "And you will not forget your rifle?" said Barbicane. 
 
 " No more than you will forget yours," replied Nicholl. 
 
 These words having been coldly spoken, the President of the 
 Gun Club and the captain parted. Bai'bicane returned to his 
 lodging; but, instead of snatching a few hours of repose, he 
 passed the night in endeavouring to discover a means of evading 
 the recoil of the projectile, and resolving the difficult problem 
 pi'oposed by Michel Ardan during the discussion at the meeting.
 
 I08 FROM THE EARTH 'JO THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 HOW A FRENCHMAN MANAGES AN AFFAIR. 
 
 While tlio contract of this duel was being discussed by the 
 president and tbe captain — this dreadful, savage duel, in which 
 each adversary became a man-hunter — Michel Ardan was resting 
 from the fatigues of his triumph. Resting is, hardly an appropriate 
 expression, for American beds rival marble or granite tables for 
 hardness. 
 
 Ardan was sleeping, then, badly enough, tossing about between 
 the cloths which served him for sheets, and he was dreaming of 
 making a more comfortable couch in his projectile when a frightful 
 noise disturbed his dreams. Thundering blows shook his door. 
 They seemed to be caused by some iron instrument. A great 
 deal of loud talking was distinguishable in this racket, which 
 was rather too early in the morning. " Open the door," some one 
 shrieked, " for Heaven's sake! " Ardan saw no reason for com- 
 plying with a demand so roughly expressed. However, he got 
 up and opened the door just as it was giving way before the 
 blows of this determined visitor. The secretary of the Gun Club 
 burst into the room. A bomb could not have made more noise or 
 have entered the room Avith less ceremony. 
 
 " Last night," cried J. T. Maston, ex ahnipto, " our president 
 was publicly insulted during the meeting. He provoked his 
 adversary, who is none other than Captain Nicholl ! They are 
 fighting this morning in the wood of Skersnaw. I heard all 
 particulars from the mouth of Barbicaue himself. If he is killed,
 
 MASTON BURST INTO THE ROOM. 
 
 [p. m.]
 
 HOW A FRENCHMAN MANAGES AN AFFAIR. I09 
 
 then oiii* scheme is at end. We must prevent this duel; and one 
 man alone has enough iufluence over Barbicaue to stop him, and 
 that man is Michel Ardan." 
 
 While J. T. Maston was speaking, Michel Ardan, without inter- 
 rupting him, had hastily put on his clothes ; and, in less than two 
 minutes, the two friends were making for the suburbs of Tampa 
 Town with rapid strides. 
 
 It was during this walk that Maston told Ardan the state of the 
 case. He told him the real causes of the hostility between 
 Barbicane and Xicholl; how it was of old date, aud why, thanks 
 to unknown friends, the president and the captain had, as yet, 
 never met face to face. He added that it arose simply from a 
 rivalry between iron plates and shot, and, finally, that the scene 
 at the meeting was only the long-wished-for opportunity for 
 NichoU to pay off an old grudge. 
 
 Nothing is more dreadful than private duels in America. The 
 two adversaries attack each other like wild beasts. Then it is 
 tbat they might Avell covet those wonderful properties of the Indians 
 of the prairies — their quick intelligence, their ingenious cunning, 
 their scent of the enemy. A single mistake, a moment's hesita- 
 tion, a single false step may cause death. On these occasions 
 Yankees are often accompanied by their dogs, aud keep up 
 the straggle for hours. 
 
 " What demons you are ! " cried Michel Ardan, when his com- 
 panion had depicted this scene to him with much energy. 
 
 "Yes we are," replied J. T. modestly; "but we had better 
 
 make haste." 
 
 Though Michel Ardan and he had crossed the plain still wet 
 with dew, and had taken the shortest route over creeks and rice- 
 fields, they could not reach Skersnaw under five hours and a half. 
 
 Barbicane must have passed the border half an hour ago. 
 
 There was an old bushman working there, occupied in selling 
 fao-crots from trees that had been levelled by his axe. 
 
 Maston ran towards him, saying, "Have you seen a man go
 
 no FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 into the wood, armed with a rifle ? Barbicane, the president, my 
 best friend ? " 
 
 The worthy secretary of the Gun Club thought that his presi- 
 dent must be known by all the world. But the bushman did not 
 eeem to understand him. 
 
 " A hunter ? " said Ardan. 
 
 " A hunter ? Yes," replied the bushman. 
 
 " Long ago ? " 
 
 " About an hour." 
 
 "Too late! " cried Maston. 
 
 " Have you heard any gun-shots ? " asked Ardan. 
 
 " No ! " 
 
 * Not one ? " 
 
 " Not one ! that hunter did not look as if he knew how to hunt !" 
 
 " What is to be done ? " said Maston. 
 
 " We must go into the wood, at the risk of getting a ball which 
 is not intended for us." 
 
 "Ah!" cried Maston, in a tone which could not be mistaken, 
 *' I would rather have twenty balls in my own head than one in 
 Barbicane's." 
 
 " Forward, then," said Ardan, pressing his companion's hand. 
 
 A few moments later the two friends had disappeai'cd in the 
 copse. It was a dense thicket, in whch rose huge cypresses, 
 sycamores, tulip-trees, olives, tamarinds, oaks, and magnolias. 
 These different trees had interwoven their branches into an inex- 
 tricable maze, through which the eye could not penetrate. Michel 
 Ardan and Maston walked side by side in silence through the tall 
 grass, cutting themselves a path through the strong creepers, 
 casting curious glances on the bushes, and momentarily expecting 
 to hear the sound of rifles. As for the traces which Barbicane 
 ought to have left of his passage through the wood, there was not 
 a vestige of them visible: so they followed the barely perceptible 
 paths along which Indians had tracked some enemy, and which the 
 dense foliage darkly overshadowed.
 
 HOW A FRENCHMAN MANAGES AN AFFAIR. Ill 
 
 Aftei' an hour spent in vain pursuit the two stopped, in 
 intensified anxiety. 
 
 " It must be all over," said Maston, discouraged. " A man 
 like Barbicaue would not dodge with his enemy, or ensnare him, 
 Avould not even manoeuvre ! He is too open, too brave. He has 
 gone straight ahead, right into the danger, and doubtless far 
 enough from the bushman for the wind to prevent his hearing the 
 report of the rifles." 
 
 " But surely," replied Michel Ardan, " since wo entered tho 
 wood we should have heard! " 
 
 " And what if we came too late ? " cried Maston in tones of 
 despair. 
 
 For once Ardan had no reply to make, he and Maston resuming 
 their walk in silence. From time to time, indeed, they raised 
 great shouts, calling alternately Barbicane and Nicholl, neither 
 of whom, however, answered their cries. Only the birds, awa- 
 kened by the sound, flew past them and disappeared among tho 
 branches, while some frightened deer fled precipitately before them. 
 
 For another hour their search was continued. The greater part 
 of the wood had been explored. There was nothing to reveal the 
 presence of the combatants. The information of the bushman 
 was after all doubtful, and Ardan was about to propose their aban- 
 doning this useless pursuit, when all at once Maston stopped. 
 
 " Hush ! " said he, " there is some one down there ! " 
 
 " Some one ? " repeated Michel Ardan. 
 
 " Yes ; a man ! He seems motionless. His rifle is not in his 
 hands. What can he be doing? " 
 
 " But can you recognize him ? " asked Ardan, whose short 
 sight was of little use to him in such circumstances. 
 
 " Yes ! yes ! He is turning towards us," answered Maston. 
 
 " And it is ? " 
 
 " Captain Nicholl ! " 
 
 "IS'ichoU?" cried Michel Ardan, feeling a terrible pang of 
 
 grief.
 
 112 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 " NichoU unarmed ! He has, then, no longer any fear of his 
 adversary!" 
 
 " Let us go to hina," said Michel Ardan, " and find out the 
 truth." 
 
 But he aud his companion had barely taken fifty steps when 
 they paused to examine the captain more attentively. They ex- 
 pected to find a bloodthirsty man, happy in his revenge ! 
 
 On seeing him, they remained stupefied. 
 
 A net, composed of very fine meshes, hung between two 
 enormous tulip-trees, and in the midst of this snare, with its 
 wings entangled, was a poor little bird, uttering pitiful cries, 
 while it vainly struggled to escape. The bird-catcher who had 
 laid this snare was no human being, but a venomous spider, 
 peculiar to that country, as large as a pigeon's egg, and armed 
 with enormous claws. The hideous ci'eature, instead of rushing 
 on its prey, had beaten a sudden retreat and taken refuge in the 
 upper branches of the tulip-tree, for a formidable enemy menaced 
 its stronghold. 
 
 Here, then, was Nicholl, his gun on the ground, forgetful of 
 danger, trying if possible to save the victim from its cobweb 
 prison. At last it was accomplished, and the little bird flew 
 joyfully away and disappeared. 
 
 Nicholl lovingly watched its flight, when he heard these words 
 pronounced by a voice full of emotion, — 
 
 " You are indeed a brave man ! " 
 
 He turned. Michel Ardan was before him, repeating in a 
 diflxu'ent tone, — 
 
 "And a kindhearted one ! " 
 
 " Michel Ardan ! " cried the captain. " Why are you here ?" 
 
 " To press your hand, Nicholl, and to prevent you from either 
 killing Barbicane or being killed by him." 
 
 "Barbicane !" returned the captain. I have been looking for 
 him for the last two hours in vain. Where is he hiding ? " 
 
 "Nicholl!" said Michel Ardan, "this is not courteous! we
 
 IN THE MIDST OF THIS SNAKE WAS A POOU LITTLE BlUD. 
 
 [,.. 112.]
 
 HOW A FRENCHMAN MANAGES AN AFFAIR. II3 
 
 ought always to treat an adversary with respect ; rest assured if 
 Barbicane is still alive we shall fiud him all the more ea,sily ; 
 because if he has not, like you, been amusing himself with freeing 
 oppressed birds, he must bo looking for you. When we have 
 found him, Michel Ardan tells you this, there will be no duel 
 between you." 
 
 " Between President Barbicane and myself," gravely replied 
 NichoU, " there is a rivalry which the death of one of us — " 
 
 " Pooh, pooh ! " said Ardan. " Bravo fellows like you indeed ! 
 you shall not fight ! " 
 
 " I will fight, sir ! " 
 
 « No ! " 
 
 " Captain," said J. T. Maston, with much feeling, " I am a 
 friend of the president's, his alter ego, his second self; if you 
 really must kill some one, shoot me ! it will do just as well ! " 
 
 " Sir," NichoU replied, seizing his rifle convulsively, " these 
 
 jokes — " 
 
 " Our friend Maston is not joking," replied Ardan. " I fully 
 understand his idea of being killed himself in order to save his 
 friend. But neither he nor Barbicane will fall before the balls of 
 Captain NichoU. Indeed I have so attractive a proposal to make 
 to the two rivals, that both will be eager to accept it." 
 
 « What is it ? " asked NichoU with manifest incredulity. 
 
 " Patience ! " exclaimed Ardan. " I can only reveal it in the 
 presence of Barbicane." 
 
 " Let us go in search of him then ! " cried the captain. 
 
 The three men started off at once ; the captain having dis- 
 chaiged his rifle threw it over his shoulder, and advanced in 
 
 silence. 
 
 Another half-hour passed, and the pursuit was still fruitless. 
 Maston was oppressed by sinister forebodings. He looked fiercely 
 at NichoU, asking himself whether the captain's vengeance had 
 been already satisfied, and the unfortunate Barbicane, shot, was 
 perhaps lying dead on some bloody track. The same thought
 
 114 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 eccmed to occur to Ardan ; aud both were casting inquiring 
 glances on NiclioU, when suddenly Maston paused. 
 
 The motionless figure of a man leaning against a gigantic 
 catalpa twenty feet off appeared, half-veiled by the foliage. 
 
 " It is he ! " said Maston. 
 
 Barbicane never moved. Ardan looked at the captain, but he 
 did not wince. Ardan went forward crying, — 
 
 " Barbicane, Barbicane ! " 
 
 No answer ! Ardan rushed towards his friend ; but in tbe act 
 of seizing his arms, he stopped short and uttered a cry of surprise. 
 
 Barbicane, pencil in hand, was tracing geometrical figures in a 
 memorandum book, whilst his unloaded rifle lay beside him on the 
 ground. 
 
 Absorbed in his studies, Barbicane, in his turn forgetful of the 
 duel, had seen and heard nothing. 
 
 When Ardan took his hand, he looked up and stared at his 
 visitor in astonishment. 
 
 " Ah, it is you ! " he cried at last. " I have found it, my friend, 
 I have found it ! " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " My plan ! " • 
 
 "What plan?" 
 
 " The plan for couTiteractlng the effect of the shock at the 
 departure of the projectile ! " 
 
 " Indeed ? " said Michel Ardan, looking at the captain out of 
 the corner of his eye. 
 
 " Yes ! water ! simply water, which will act as a spring — ah ! 
 Maston," cried Barbicane, " you here also ? " 
 
 " Himself," replied Ardan ; and permit me to introduce to you 
 at the same time the woi^thy Captain Nicholl ! " 
 
 " Nicholl ! " cried Barbicane, who jumped up at once. "Pardon 
 me, captain, I had quite forgotten — I am i-eady ! " 
 
 Michel Ardan interfered, without giving the two enemies time 
 to say anything more.
 
 "GO WITH ME, AND SEE WHETHER WE AKE STOPPED 
 ON OUR JOURNEY.' 
 
 [p. 115.]
 
 HOW A FRENCHMAN MANAGES AN AFFAIR. II5 
 
 " Thank Heaven !" said he. " It is a happy thing that brave 
 men like you two did not meet sooner ! we should now have been 
 mourning for one or other of you. But, thanks to Providence, 
 which has interfered, there is now no further cause for alarm. 
 "When one forgets one's anger in mechanics or in cobwebs, it is a 
 sign that the anger is not dangerous." 
 
 Michel Ardan then told the president how the captain had been 
 found occupied. 
 
 " I put it to you now," said he in conclusion, " are two such 
 good fellows as you are made on purpose to smash each other's 
 skulls with shot ? " 
 
 There was in " the situation " somewhat of the ridiculous, some- 
 thing quite unexpected ; Michel Ardan saw this, and determined 
 to effect a reconciliation. 
 
 " My good friends," said he, with his most bewitching smile, 
 " this is nothing but a misunderstanding. Nothing more ! well ! 
 to prove that it is all over between you, accept frankly the 
 proposal I am going to make to you." 
 
 " Make it," said Nicholl. 
 
 "Our friend Barbicane believes that V^'^ projectile will go 
 straight to the moon ? " 
 
 " Yes, certainly," replied the president. 
 
 " And our friend Nicholl is persuaded it will fall back upon the 
 
 earth ? " 
 
 " I am certain of it," cried the captain. 
 
 *' Good !" said Ardan. " I cannot pretend to make you agree ; 
 but I suggest this :— Go with me, and so see whether we ai'O 
 stopped on our journey." 
 
 " What ? " exclaimed J. T. Maston, stupefied. 
 
 The two rivals, on this sudden proposal, looked steadily at each 
 other. Barbicane waited for the captain's answer. Nicholl watched 
 for the decision of the president. 
 
 " Well ? " said Michel. " There is now no fear of the shock 
 
 "Done!" cried Barbicane. 
 
 I 2 
 
 I' I"
 
 Il6 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 But quickly as he pronounced the word, he was not before 
 Nicholl. 
 
 " Hurrah ! bravo ! hip ! hip ! hurrah ! " cried Michel, giving a 
 hand to each of the late adversaries. " Now that it is all settled, 
 my friends, allow me to treat you after French fashion. Let us 
 be off to breakfast ! "
 
 THE NEW CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATE:i. II7 
 
 CHAPTER XXn. 
 
 THE NEW CITIZEN OF TUE UNITED STATES. 
 
 That same day all America heard of the affair of Captain NichoU 
 aud President Barbicane, as well as its singular denouement. 
 From that day forth, Michel Ardan had not one moment's rest. 
 Deputations from all corners of the Union harassed him without 
 cessation or intermission. He was compelled to receive them all, 
 whether he would or no. How many hands he shook, how many 
 people he was "hail-follow-well-met" with, it is impossible to 
 guess ! Such a triumphal result would have intoxicated any other 
 man ; but he managed to keep himself in a state of delightful 
 se7«i-tipsiness. 
 
 Among the deputations of all kinds which assailed him, that of 
 " The Lunatics " were careful not to forget what they owed to tho 
 future conqueror of the moon. One day, certain of these poor 
 people, so numerous in America, came to call upon him, and 
 requested permission to return with him to their native country. 
 
 "Singular hallucination!" said he to Barbicane, after having 
 dismissed the deputation with promises to convey numbers of mes- 
 sages to friends in the moon. " Do you believe in the influence of 
 the moon upon distempers ? " 
 
 "Scarcely!" 
 
 "No more do I, despite some remarkable recorded facts of 
 history. For instance, during an epidemic in 1693, a large number 
 of persons died at the very moment of an eclipse. The celebrated 
 Bacon always fainted during an eclipse. Charles VI. relapsed six 
 times into madness during the year 1399, sometimes during the 
 
 /
 
 Il8 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 I 
 
 new, sometimes during the full moon. Gall observed that insane 
 persons underwent an accession of their disorder twice in every 
 month, at the epochs of new and full moon. In fact, numerous 
 observations made upon fevers, somnambulisms, and other human 
 maladies, seem to prove that the moon does exercise some myste- 
 rious influence upon man." 
 
 " But the how and the wherefore ?" asked Barbicane. 
 
 " Well, I can only give you the answer which Arago borrowed 
 from Plutarch, which is nineteen centuries old. 'Perhaps the 
 stories are not true ! '" 
 
 In the height of his triumph, Michel Ardan had to encounter all 
 the annoyances incidental to a man of celebrity. Managers of 
 entertainments Avanted to exhibit him. Barnum offered him a 
 million dollars to make the tour of the United States in his show. 
 As for his photographs, they were sold of all sizes, and his portrait 
 taken in every imaginable posture. More than half a million 
 copies were disposed of in an incredibly short space of time. 
 
 But it was not only the men who paid him homage, but the 
 women also. He might have married well a hundred times over, 
 if he had been willing to settle in life. The old maids, in particular, 
 of forty years and upwards, and dry in proportion, devoured his 
 photographs day and night. They would have married him by 
 hundreds, even if he had imposed upon them the condition of 
 accompanying him into space. He had, however, no intention of 
 transplanting a race of Franco- Americans upon the surface of the 
 moon. 
 
 He therefore declined all offers. 
 
 As soon as he could withdraw from these somewhat embarrassing 
 demonstrations, he went, accompanied by his friends, to pay a visit 
 to the Columbiad. He was highly gratified by his inspection, and 
 made the descent to the bottom of the tube of this gigantic machine 
 which was presently to launch him to the regions of the moon. 
 
 It is necessary here to mention a proposal of J. T. Maston's. 
 When the secretary of the Gun Club found that Barbicane and
 
 THE NEW CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES. II9 
 
 Nicholl accepted the proposal of Michel Ardan, he determined to 
 join them, and make one of a snug party of four. So one day 
 he determined to be admitted as one of the travellers. Barbicanc, 
 pained at having to refuse him, gave him clearly to understand 
 that the projectile could not possibly contain so many passengers. 
 Maston, in despair, went in search of Michel Ardan, who coun- 
 selled him to resign himself to the situation, addiug one or two 
 arguments ad hominem. 
 
 " You see, old fellow," ho said, " you must not take ^'hat I say 
 in bad part ; but really, between ourselves, you are in too incom- 
 plete a condition to appear in the moon ! " 
 
 "Incomplete ? " shrieked the valiant invalid. 
 
 " Yes, my dear fellow ! imagine our meeting some of the 
 inhabitants up there ! Would you like to give them such a 
 melancholy notion of what goes on down here ? to teach them 
 what war is, to inform them that we employ our time chiefly in 
 devouring each other, in smashing arms and legs, and that too on 
 a globe which is capable of supporting a hundred billions of 
 inhabitants, and which actually does contain nearly two hundred 
 millions ? Why, my worthy friend, we should have to turn you 
 out of doors ! " 
 
 " But still, if you arrive there in pieces, you will be as incom- 
 plete as I am." 
 
 " Unquestionably," replied INIichel Ardan ; " but we shall 
 
 not." 
 
 In fact, a preparatory experiment, tried on the 18th October, 
 had yielded the best results and caused the most well-grounded 
 hopes of success. Barbicane, desirous of obtaining some notion of 
 the effect of the shock at the moment of the projectile's departure, 
 had procured a 38-inch mortar from the arsenal of Pensacola. 
 He had this placed on the bank of Hillisborough Roads, in order 
 that the shell might fall back into the sea, and the shock be 
 thereby destroyed. His object was to ascertain the extent of the 
 shock of departure, and not that of the return.
 
 T20 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 A hollow projectile had been prepared for this curious experi- 
 ment. A thick padding fastened upon a kind of elastic network, 
 made of the best steel, lined the inside of the walls. It was a 
 veritable nest most carefully wadded. 
 
 " What a pity I can't find room in there," said J. T. Maston, 
 regretting that his height did not allow of his trying the ad- 
 venture. 
 
 Within this shell were shut up a large cat, and a squirrel belong- 
 ing to J. T. Maston, and of which he was particularly fond. They 
 were desirous, however, of ascertaining how this little animal, 
 least of all others subject to giddiness, would endure this experi- 
 mental voj'agc. 
 
 The mortar was charged with 160Jbs. of powder, and the shell 
 placed in the chamber. On being fired, the projectile rose with 
 great velocity, described a majestic parabola, attained a height of 
 about a thousand feet, and with a graceful curve descended in the 
 midst of the vessels that lay there at anchor. 
 
 Without a moment's loss of time a small boat put off in the 
 direction of its fall; some active divers plunged into the water and 
 attached ropes to the handles of the shell, which was quickly 
 dragged on board. Five minutes did not elapse between the 
 moment of enclosing the animals and that of unscrewing the 
 coverlid of their prison. 
 
 Ardan, Barbicane, Maston, and Nicholl were present on board 
 the boat, and assisted at the operation witli an interest which may 
 readily be comprehended. Hardly had the shell been opened 
 when the cat leaped out, slightly bruised, but full of life, and 
 exhibiting no signs whatever of having made an aerial expedi- 
 tion. No trace, however, of the squirrel could be discovered. 
 The truth at last became apparent ; — the cat had eaten its fellow- 
 traveller ! 
 
 J. T. Maston grieved much for the loss of his poor squirrel, 
 and proposed to add its case to that of other martyrs to science. 
 
 After this experiment all hesitation, all fear disappeared.
 
 THE CAT TAKEN OUT OF THE SHELL. 
 
 I p. 120.]
 
 THE AKRIVAL OF THE PilOJECTILE AT STONE'S lUl.U
 
 THE PROJECTILE VEHICLE. 
 
 tubes were conii)letely concealed ; thus all imaginable precautions 
 had been taken for averting the first shock ; and if they did get 
 crushed, they must, as Michel Ardan ir^aid, be made of very bad 
 materials. 
 
 The entrance into this metallic tower Avas by a narrow aper- 
 ture contrived in the wall of the cone. This was hermetically 
 closed by a plate of aluminium, fastened internally by powerful 
 screw-pressure. The travellers could therefore quit their prison 
 at pleasure, as soon as they should reach the moon. 
 
 Light and view were given by means of four thick lenticular 
 glass scuttles, two pierced in the circular wall itself, the third in 
 the bottom, the fourth in the top. These scuttles then were pro- 
 tected against the shock of departure by plates let into solid 
 grooves, which could easily be opened outwards by unscrewing 
 them from the inside. Reservoirs firmly fixed contained water 
 and the necessary provisions; and fire and light were procurable 
 by means of gas, contained in a special reservoir under a pressure 
 of several atmospheres. They had only to turn a tap, and for 
 six hours the gas would light and warm this comfortable vehicle. 
 There now remained only the question of air ; for allowing for 
 the consumption of air by Barbicane, his two companions, and 
 two dogs which he purposed taking with him, it was necessary to 
 renew the air of the projectile. Now air consists principally of 
 twenty-one parts of oxygen and seventy-nine of nitrogen. The 
 lungs absorb the oxygen, which is indispensable for the support 
 of life, and reject the nitrogen. The air expired loses nearly five 
 per cent, of the former and contains nearly an equal volume of 
 carbonic acid, produced by the combustion of the elements of tho 
 blood. In an air-tight enclosure, then, after a certain time, all 
 the oxygen of the air will be replaced by the carbonic acid— a 
 gas fatal to life. There were two things to be done then— first, 
 to replace the absorbed oxygen ; secondly, to destroy the expired 
 carbonic acid ; both easy enough to do, by means of chlorate of 
 potass and caustic potash. The former is a salt which appears
 
 124 PROM THE EAR TIT TO THE MOON: 
 
 under the form of white crystals ; when raised to a temperature 
 of 400° it is transformed into clilorure of potassium, and the 
 oxygen which it contains is entirely libei'ated. Now twenty- 
 eight pounds of chlorate of potass produce seven pounds of 
 oxygen, or 2400 litres — the quantity necessary for the travellers 
 during twenty-four hours. 
 
 Caustic potash has a great affinity for carbonic acid ; and it is 
 sufficient to shake it in order for it to seize upon the acid and 
 form bi-carbonate of potass. By these two means they would be 
 enabled to restore to the vitiated air its life-supporting properties. 
 
 It is necessary, however, to add that the experiments had 
 hitherto been made in anima vili. Whatever its scientific accuracy 
 was, they were at present ignorant how it would answer with 
 human beings. The honour of putting it to the proof was ener 
 getically claimed by J. T. Maston. 
 
 " Since I am not to go," said the brave artillerist, " I may at 
 least live for a week in the projectile." 
 
 It would have been hard to refuse him ; so they consented to 
 his wish. A sufficient quantity of chlorate of potass and of 
 caustic potash was placed at his disposal, together with provisions 
 for eight days. And having shaken hands with his friends, on 
 the 12th November, at six o'clock a.m., after strictly informing 
 them not to open his prison before the 20th, at six o'clock p.m., 
 he slid down the projectile, the plate of which was at once her- 
 metically sealed. What did he do with himself during that week ? 
 They could get no information. The thickness of the walls of 
 the projectile prevented any sound reaching from the inside to 
 the outside. On the 20th of November, at six p.m. exactly, the 
 plate was opened. The friends of J. T. Maston had been all 
 along in a state of much anxiety ; but they were promptly re- 
 assured on hearing a jolly voice shouting a boisterous hurrah. 
 
 Presently afterwards the secretary of the Gun Chib appeared 
 at the top of the cone in a triumphant attitude. He had grown " 
 fat!
 
 THE TELESCOPE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. ' I25 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE TELESCOPE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 
 
 On the 20th October in the preceding year, after the close of 
 the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the 
 Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the con- 
 struction of a gigantic optical instrument. This instrument was 
 designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the 
 moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter. 
 
 At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experi- 
 ment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, 
 and produced some magnificent results. Two telescopes in par- 
 ticular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of 
 gigantic dimensions. The first, constructed by Ilerschcl, was thirty- 
 six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it 
 possessed a magnifying power of 6000. The second was raised 
 in Ireland, in Parsonstown Park, and belongs to Lord Rosse. The 
 length of this tube is forty-eight feet, and the diameter of its object- 
 glass six feet ; it magnifies 6400 times, and required an immense 
 erection of brickwork and masonry for the purpose of working it, 
 its weight being twelve tons and a half. 
 
 Still, despite these colossal dimensions, the actual enlargements 
 scarcely exceeded 6000 times in round numbers ; consequently, 
 the moon was brought within no nearer an apparent distance than 
 thirty-nine miles; and objects of less than sixty feet in diametei-, 
 unless they were of very considerable length, were still impercep- 
 tible. 
 
 In the present case, dealing with a projectile nine feet in 
 diameter and fifteen feet long, it became necessary to bring the
 
 126 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 moon within an apparent distance of five miles at most; and, for 
 that purpose, to establish a magnifying power of 48,000 times. 
 
 Such was the question proposed to the Observatory of Cam- 
 bridge. There was no lack of funds ; the difficulty was purely one 
 of construction. 
 
 After considerable discussion as to the best form and principle 
 of the proposed instrument the work was finally commenced. 
 According to the calculations of the Observatory of Cambridge, 
 the tube of the new reflector would require to be 280 feet in 
 length, and the object-glass sixteen feet in diameter. Colossal as 
 these dimensions may appear, they were diminutive in comparison 
 with the 10,000 foot telescope proposed by the astronomer Hooke 
 only a few years ago ! 
 
 Regarding the choice of locality, that matter was promptly 
 determined. The object was to select some lofty mountain, and 
 there are not many of these in the United States. In fact there 
 are but two chains of moderate elevation, between which runs the 
 magnificent Mississippi, the " king of rivers," as these Republican 
 Yankees delight to call it. 
 
 Eastwards rise the Apalachians, the very highest point of 
 which, in New Hampshire, does not exceed the very moderate 
 altitude of 5600 feet. 
 
 On the west, however, rise the Rocky Mountains, that immense 
 range which, commencing at the Straits of Magellan, follows the 
 western coast of Southern America under the name of the Andes 
 or the Cordilleras, until it crosses the Isthmus of Panama, and 
 runs up the whole of North America to the very borders of the 
 Polar Sea. The highest elevation of this range still does not 
 exceed 10,700 feet. With this elevation, nevertheless, the Gun 
 Club Avere compelled to be content, inasmuch as they had deter- 
 mined that both telescope and Col umbiad should be erected within 
 the limits of the Union. All the necessaiy apparatus was conse- 
 quently sent on to the summit of Long's Peak, in the territory of 
 Missouri.
 
 THE TELESCOPE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIIT3. 
 
 [p. 137.]
 
 THE TELESCOPE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 1 27 
 
 Neither pen uor language can describe the clUricultics of all kinds 
 which the American engineers had to surmount, or the prodigies 
 of daring and skill which they accompliyhed. They had to raiso 
 enoiTuous stones, massive pieces of wrought iron, heavy corner- 
 clamps and huge portions of cylinder, with an object-glass weigh- 
 ing nearly 30,0001bs., above the line of perpetual snow for more than 
 10,000 feet in height, after crossing desert prairies, impenetrable 
 forests, fearful lapids, far from all centres of population, and in 
 the midst of savage regions, in which every detail of life becomes 
 an almost insoluble problem. And yet, notwithstanding these 
 innumerable obstacles, American genius triumphed. In less 
 than a year after the commencement of tho works, towards the 
 close of September, the gigantic reflector rose into the air to a 
 height of 280 feet. It was raised by means of an enormous iron 
 crane ; an ingenious mechanism allowed it to be easily worked 
 towards all the points of the heavens, and to follow the stars from 
 the one horizon to the other during their journey through tho 
 heavens. 
 
 It had cost 400,000 dollars. The first time it was directed 
 towards the moon, the observers evinced both curiosity and 
 anxiety. What were they about to discover in the field of thi^; 
 telescope which magnified objects 48,000 times ? Would they 
 perceive peoples, herds of lunar animals, towns, lakes, seas ? No! 
 there was nothing which science had not already discovered ! and 
 on all the points of its disc the volcanic nature of the moon became 
 determinable with the utmost precision. 
 
 But the telescope of the Rocky Mountains, before doing its 
 duty to the Gun Club, rendered immense services to astronomy. 
 Thanks to its penetrative power, the depths of the heavens were 
 sounded to the utmost extent; the apparent diameter of a great 
 number of stars was accurately measured; and Mr. Clark, of tho 
 Cambridge staff, resolved the Crab nebula in Taurus, which the 
 reflector of Lord Eosse had never been able to decompose.
 
 128 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON: 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 FINAL DETAILS. 
 
 It was the 22ncl of November; the departure was to take place 
 in ten days. One operation alone remained to be accom- 
 plished to bring all to a happy termination; an operation delicate 
 and perilous, requiring infinite precautions, and against the suc- 
 cess of Avhich Captain Nicholl had laid his third bet. It Avas, in 
 fact, nothing less than the loading of the Columbiad, and the 
 introduction into it of 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton. !Nicholl 
 had thought, not perhaps without reason, that the handling 
 of such formidable quantities of pyroxyle would, in all proba- 
 bility, involve a grave catastrophe; and at any rate, that this 
 immense mass of eminently inflammable matter would inevit- 
 ably ignite when submitted to the pressure of the projectile. 
 
 There were indeed dangers accruing" as before from the care- 
 lessness of the Americans, but Barbicane had set his heart on 
 success, and took all possible precautions. In the first place, ho 
 was very careful as to the transportation of the gun-cotton to 
 Stones Hill. He had it conveyed in small quantities, carefully 
 packed in sealed cases. These were brought by rail from Tampa 
 ToAvn to the camp, and from thence were taken to the Columbiad 
 by barefooted Avorkmen, who deposited them in their places by 
 means of cranes placed at the orifice of the cannon. No steam- 
 engine was permitted to work, and every fire was extinguished 
 within two miles of the works. 
 
 Even in November they feared to work by day, lest the sun's 
 rays acting on the gun-cotton might lead to unhappy results.
 
 FINAL DETAILS. I 29 
 
 This led to their working at night, by light produced in a vacuum 
 by means of RiihrnkorfTs apparatus, which threw an artificial 
 brightness into the depths of the Columbiad. There the cart- 
 ridges were arranged with the utmost regularity, connected by a 
 metallic thread, destined to communicate to them all simulta- 
 neously the electric spark, by which means this mass of gun- 
 cotton was eventually to be ignited. 
 
 By the 28th of November, 800 cartridges had been placed in 
 the bottom of the Columbiad. So far the operation had been 
 successful! But what confusion, what anxieties, what struggles 
 were undergone by President Barbicane! In vain had he refused 
 admission to Stones Hill ; every day the inquisitive neighbours 
 scaled the palisades, some even carrying their imprudence to the 
 point of smoking, while surrounded by bales of gun-cotton. Bar- 
 bicane was in a perpetual state of alarm. J. T. IMaston seconded 
 him to the best of his ability, by giving vigorous chase to the 
 intruders, and carefully picking up the still lighted cigar ends 
 which the Yankees threw about. A somewhat difficult task! 
 seeing that more than 300,000 persons were gathered round 
 the enclosure. Michel Ardan had volunteered to superintend the 
 transport of the cartridges to the mouth of the Columbiad ; but 
 the president, having surprised him with an enormous cigar in 
 his mouth, while he was hunting out the rash spectators to whom 
 he himself offered so dangerous an example, saw that he could 
 not trust this fearless smoker, and was therefore obliged to mount 
 a special guard over him. 
 
 At last, Providence being propitious, this wonderful loading 
 came to a happy termination. Captain NichoU's third bet being 
 thus lost. It remained now to introduce the projectile into the 
 Columbiad, and to place it on its soft bed of gun-cotton. 
 
 But before doing this, all those things necessary for the 
 journey had to be carefully arranged in the projectile-vehicle. 
 These necessaries were numerous ; and had Ardan been allowed to 
 follow his own wishes, there would have been no space remaining 
 
 K
 
 130   FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON". 
 
 for the travellers. It is impossible to conceive of lialf tlie 
 tilings this charming Frenchman wished to convey to the moon. 
 A veritable stock of useless trifles! But Barbicane interfered and 
 refused admission to anything not absolutely needed. Sevei'al 
 thermometers, barometers, and telescopes were packed in the 
 instrument case. 
 
 The travellers being desirous of examining the moon carefully 
 during their voyage, in order to facilitate their studies, they took 
 with them Bocer and Mocller's excellent Mappa Selenograpliica, 
 a masterpiece of patience and observation, which they hoped 
 would enable them to identify those physical features in the moon, 
 with which they were acquainted. This map reproduced with 
 scrupulous fidelity the smallest details of the lunar surface which 
 faces the earth; the mountains, valleys, craters, peaks, and ridges 
 were all represented, with their exact dimensions, relative posi- 
 tions, and names; from the mountains Doerfel and Leibnitz on the 
 eastern side of the disc, to the Mare fvigoris of the North Pole. 
 
 They took also three rifles and three fowling-pieces, and a 
 large quantity of balls, shot, and powder. 
 
 " We cannot tell whom we shall have to deal with," said 
 Michel Ardan. " Men or beasts may possibly object to our visit. 
 It is only wise to take all precautions." 
 
 These defensive weapons were accompanied by pickaxes, crow- 
 bars, saws, and other useful implements, not to mention clothing 
 adapted to every temperature, from that of the polar regions to 
 that of the torrid zone. 
 
 Ardan wished to convey a number of animals of diflferent sorts 
 (not indeed a pair of every known species), as he could not see the 
 necessity of acclimatizing serpents, tigers, alligators, or any other 
 noxious beasts in the moon. " Nevertheless," he said to Barbi- 
 cane, " some valuable and useful beasts, bullocks, cows, horses, 
 and donkeys, would bear the journey very well, and would also 
 be very useful to us." 
 
 " I dare say, my dear Ardan," replied the president, " but our
 
 •^2<S%Sp2^i^^^^^^^^P^<^54^ 
 
 THE INTERIOR OF THE PROJECTILE. 
 
 ip. 130.]
 
 FINAL DETAILS. 
 
 projectile-vehicle is no Noah's ark, from which it diflcrs both in 
 dimensions and object. Let us confine ourselves to possibilities." 
 
 After a prolonged discussion, it was agreed that the travellers 
 should restrict themselves to a sporting-dog bclon'Mn"- to 
 Nicholl, and to a large Newfoundland. Several packets of seeds 
 were also included among the necessaries. Michel Ardan, indeed, 
 was anxious to add some sacks full of earth to sow them in ; as 
 it was, he took a dozen shrubs carefully wrapped up in straw to 
 plant in the moon. 
 
 The important question of provisions still remained; it being 
 necessary to provide against the possibility of their finding the 
 moon absolutely barren. Barbicane managed so successfully, 
 that he supplied them with sufficient rations for a year. These 
 consisted of preserved meats and vegetables, reduced by strono- 
 hydraulic pressure to the smallest possible dimensions. They 
 were also supplied with brandy, and took water enough for two 
 months, being confident, from astronomical observations, that 
 there was no lack of water on the moon's surface. As to provi- 
 sions, doubtless the inhabitants of the earth would find nouris-h- 
 ment somewhere in the moon. Ardan never questioned this; indeed, 
 bad he done so, he would never have undertaken the journey. 
 
 *' Besides," he said one day to his friends, " we shall not bo 
 completely abandoned by our terrestrial friends; they will take 
 care not to forget us." 
 
 " No, indeed ! " replied J. T. Maston. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked Nicholl. 
 
 " Nothing would be simpler," replied Ardan; "the Colurabiad 
 will be always there. Well ! whenever the moon is in a favour- 
 able condition as to the zenith, if not to the perigee, that is to say 
 about once a year, could you not send us a shell packed with 
 provisions, Avhich we might expect on some appointed day?" 
 
 "Hurrah! hurrah!" cried J. T. Maston; " Avhat an ingenious 
 fellow! what a splendid idea I Indeed, my good friends, wo 
 shall not forget you ! " 
 
 K 2
 
 132 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 " I shall reckon upon you ! Then, you see, we shall receive 
 news regularly from the earth, and we shall indeed be stupid if we 
 hit upon no plan for communicating with our good friends here!" 
 
 These words inspired such confidence, that Michel Ardan 
 carried all the Gun Club with him in his enthusiasm. What he 
 said seemed so simple and so easy, so sure of success, that none 
 could be so sordidly attached to this earth, as to hesitate to fol- 
 low the three travellers on their lunar expedition. 
 
 All being ready at last, it remained to place the projectile in the 
 Columbiad, an operation abundantly accompanied by dangers and 
 difficulties. 
 
 The enormous shell was conveyed to the summit of Stones 
 Hill. There, powei'fu] cranes raised it, and held it suspended 
 over the mouth of the cylinder. 
 
 It was a fearful moment ! What if the chains should break 
 imder its enormous weight ? The sudden fall of such a body 
 would inevitably cause the gun-cotton to explode ! 
 
 Fortunately this did not happen ; and some hours later the 
 projectile-vehicle descended gently into the heart of the cannon 
 and rested on its couch of pyroxyle, a veritable bed of explosive 
 eider-down. Its pressure had no result, other than the more 
 effectual ramming down of the charge of the Columbiad. 
 
 " I have lost," said the Captain, who forthwith paid President 
 Barbicane the sum of 3000 dollars. 
 
 Barbicane did not Avish to accept the money from one of his 
 fellow-travellers, but gave way at last before the determination of 
 Nicholl, who wished before leaving the earth to fulfil all his 
 engagements. 
 
 " Now," said Michel Ardan, " I have only one thing more to 
 wish for you, my brave Captain." 
 
 " What is that ? " asked Nicholl. 
 
 " It is that you may lose your two other bets ! Then we shall 
 be sure not to be stopped ou our journey ! "
 
 AN INNUMERABLE MULTITODE COATERED THE PRAIRIE 
 ROUND STONE'S HILL. 
 
 Li). 133.]
 
 'fireV 133 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 FIRE ! 
 
 The first of December had arrived ! the fatal day ! for, if the 
 projectile were not discharged that very night at lOh. 46m. 40s. 
 p.m., more than eighteen years must roll by before the moon 
 would again present herself under the same conditions of zenith 
 and perigee. 
 
 The weather was magnificent. Despite the approach of winter, 
 the sun shone brightly, and bathed in its radiant light that earth 
 which three of its denizens wei'e about to abandon for a new 
 world. 
 
 How many persons lost their rest on the night which preceded 
 this long-expected day ! All hearts beat with disquietude, save only 
 the heart of Michel Ardan. That imperturbable personage came 
 and went with his habitual business-like air, while nothing what- 
 ever denoted that any unusual matter preoccupied his mind. 
 
 After dawn, an innumerable multitude covered the prairie 
 which extends, as far as the eye can reach, round Stones Hill. 
 Every quarter of an hour the railway brought fresh accessions of 
 sightseers ; and, according to the statement of the Tampa Toivn 
 Observer, not less than five millions of spectators thronged the 
 soil of Florida. 
 
 For a whole month previously, the mass of these persons had 
 bivouacked round the enclosure, and laid the foundations for a 
 town which was afterwards called " Ardan's Town." The whole 
 plain was covered with huts, cottages, and tents. Every nation
 
 134 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 under the sun was representod there ; and every language might 
 be heard spoken at the same time. It was a perfect Babel re- 
 enacted. All the various classes of American society were 
 mingled together in terms of absolute equality. Bankers, 
 farmers, sailors, cotton-planters, brokers, merchants, watermen, 
 magistrates, elbowed each other in the most free-and-easy way. 
 Louisiana Creoles fraternised with farmers from Indiana ; 
 Kentucky and Tennessee gentlemen and haughty Virginians 
 conversed with trappers and the half-savages of the lakes 
 and butchers from Cincinnati. Broad-brimmed white hats and 
 Panamas, blue cotton trowsers, light coloured stockings, cambric 
 frills, were all here displayed ; while upon shirt-fronts, wristbands, 
 and neckties, upon every finger, even upon the very ears, they 
 wore an assortment of rings, shirt-pins, brooches, and trinkets, of 
 which the value only equalled the execrable taste. Women, 
 children, and servants, in equally expensive dress, surrounded 
 their husbands, fathers, or masters, who resembled the patriarchs 
 of tribes in the midst of their immense households. 
 
 At meal-times, all fell to work upon the dishes peculiar to the 
 Southern States, and consumed with an appetite that threatened 
 speedy exhaustion of the victualling powers of Florida, fri- 
 casseed frogs, stuffed monkey, fish chowder, underdone 'possum, 
 and racoon steaks. And as for tlie liquors which accompanied this 
 indigestible repast ! The shouts, the vociferations that resounded 
 through the bars and taverns decorated with glasses, tankards, 
 and bottles of marvellous shape, mortars for pounding sugar, and 
 bundles of straws ! *' Mint-julep ! " roars one of the barmen ; 
 *•' Claret sangaree ! " shouts another ; " Cocktail ! " " Brandy- 
 smash ! " " Real mint-julep in the new style ! " All these cries 
 intermingled produced a bcAvildering and deafening hubbub. 
 
 But on this day, 1st December, such sounds were rare. No 
 one thought of eating or drinking, and at four p.m. there were vast 
 numbers of spectators who had not even taken their customary 
 lunch ! And, a still more significant fact, oven the national
 
 "fire\" 135 
 
 passion for play seemed quelled for the time under the general 
 excitement of the hour. 
 
 Up till nightAvll, a dull, noiseless agitation, such as precedes 
 great catastrophes, ran through the anxious multitude. Au 
 indescribable uneasiness pervaded all minds, an indefinable sensa- 
 tion which oppressed the heart. Every one wished it was over 
 
 However, about seven o'clock, the heavy silence was dissipated. 
 The moon rose above the horizon. Millions of hurrahs hailed her 
 appearance. She was punctual to the rendezvous, and shouts of 
 welcome greeted her on all sides, as her pale beams shone 
 gracefully in the clear heavens. At this moment the three 
 intrepid travellers appeared. This was the signal for renewed 
 cries of still greater intensity. Instantly the vast assemblage, as 
 with one accord, struck up the national hymn of the United States, 
 and " Yankee Doodle," sung by five millions of hearty throats, rose 
 like a roaring tempest to the farthest limits of the atmosphere. 
 Then a profound silence reigned throughout the crowd. 
 
 The Frenchman and the two Americans had by this time 
 entered the enclosure reserved in the centre of the multitude. 
 They were accompanied by the members of the Gun Club, and by 
 deputations sent from all the European Observatories. Baibi- 
 caue, cool and collected, was giving his final directions. Nicholl, 
 with compressed lips, his arms crossed behind his back, walked 
 with a firm and measured step. Michel Ardan, always easy, 
 dressed in thorough traveller's costume, leathern gaiters on his 
 legs, pouch by his side, in loose velvet suit, cigar in mouth, was 
 fall of inexhaustible gaiety, laughing, joking, playing pranks 
 with J. T. Maston. In one word, he was the thorough "French- 
 man " (and worse, a " Parisian ") to the last moment. 
 
 Ten o'clock struck ! The moment had arrived for taking their 
 places in the projectile 1 The necessary operations for the 
 descent, and the subsequent removal of the cranes and scaflblding 
 that inclined over the mouth of the Columbiad, required a ceilain 
 period of time.
 
 i;^6 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 Barbicane had regulated his chronometer to the tenth part of a 
 second by that of Murchison the engineer, -who was charged with 
 the duty of firing the gun by means of an electric spark. Thus 
 the travellers enclosed within the projectile, were enabled to 
 follow with their eyes the impassive needle which marked the 
 precise moment of their departure. 
 
 The moment had arrived for saying " Good-bye ! " The scene 
 was a touching one. Despite his feverish gaiety, even Michel 
 Ardan was touched. J. T. Maston had found in his own dry eyes 
 one ancient tear, which he had doubtless reserved for the occasion. 
 He dropped it on the forehead of his dear president, 
 
 " Can I not go ? " he said, " there is still time ! " 
 
 " Impossible, old felloAV ! " replied Barbicane. A few moments 
 later, the three fellow-travellers had ensconced themselves in 
 the projectile, and screwed down the plate which covered the 
 entrance-aperture. The mouth of the Columbiad, now completely 
 disencumbered, was open entirely to the sky. 
 
 The moon advanced upwards in a heaven of the purest clear- 
 ness, outshining in her passage the twinkling light of the stars. 
 She passed over the constellation of the Twins, and was now 
 wearing the half-way point between the horizon and the zenith. 
 A terrible silence weighed upon the entire scene ! Not a breath 
 of wind upon the earth! not a sound of breathing from the 
 countless chests of the spectators ! Their hearts seemed afraid to 
 beat ! All eyes Avere fixed upon the yawning mouth of the Columbiad. 
 
 Murchison followed with his eye the hand of his chronometei'. 
 It wanted scarce forty seconds to the moment of departure, but 
 each second seemed to last an age ! At the twentieth there was a 
 general shudder, as it occurred to the minds of that vast assem- 
 blage that the bold travellers shut up within the projectile were 
 also counting those terrible seconds. Some few cries here and 
 there escaped the croAvd. 
 
 " Thirty-five ! — thii'ty-six ! — thirty-seven ! — thirty-eight! — 
 thirty-nine ! — forty I Fire III"
 
 "fire\" 137 
 
 Instantly Murchison pressed with, his finger the key of the 
 electric battery, restored the current of the fluid, and discharged 
 the spark into the breach of the Columbiad. 
 
 An appalling, unearthly report followed instantly, such as can 
 be compared to nothing whatever known, not even to the roar of 
 thunder, or the blast of volcanic explosions ! No words can 
 convey the slightest idea of the terrific sound ! An immense 
 spoilt of fire shot up from the bowels of the earth as from a 
 crater. The earth heaved up, and with great difliculty some 
 few spectators obtained a momentary glimpse of the projectile 
 victoriously cleaving the air in the midst of the fiery vapours I
 
 138 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOOM. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 rOUL WEATHER. 
 
 At the moment wlien that pyramid of fire rose to a prodigious 
 height into the air, the glare of the flame lit up the whole of 
 Florida ; and for a moment day superseded night over a con- 
 siderable extent of the country. This immense canopy of fire 
 was perceived at a distance of 100 miles out at sea, and more 
 than one ship's captain entered in his log the appearance of this 
 gigantic meteor. 
 
 The discharge of the Columbiad was accompanied by a perfect 
 earthquake. Florida was shaken to its very depths. The gases 
 of the powder, expanded by heat, forced back the atmospheric 
 strata with tremendous violence, and this artificial hurricane 
 rushed like a waterspout through the air. 
 
 Not a single spectator remained on his feet ! Men, women, 
 children, all lay prostrate like ears of corn under a tempest. 
 There ensued a terrible tumult ; a large number of persons were 
 seriously injured. J. T. Maston, who, despite of all dictates of 
 prudence had kept in advance of the mass, was pitched back 120 
 feet, shooting like a projectile over the heads of his fellow- 
 citizens. Three hundred thousand persons remained deaf for a 
 time, and as though struck stupefied. 
 
 As soon as the first effects were over, the injured, the deaf, and 
 lastly, the crowd in general, woke up with frenzied cries. " Hur- 
 rah for Ardan! Hurrah for Barbicane ! Hurrah forNicholl!" 
 rose to the skies. Thousands of persons, noses in air, armed 
 with telescopes aud race-glasses, were questioning space, forget-
 
 EFFECT OF THE EXPLOSION. 
 
 [p. 138.]
 
 THE DIRECTOR AT HIS POST. 
 
 [p. 139.1
 
 FOUL WEATHER. 1 39 
 
 ting all contusions and emotions in the one idea of watching for 
 the pi'ojectile. They looked in vain ! It was no longer to be 
 seen, and they were obliged to wait for telegrams from Long's 
 Peak. The Director of the Cambridge Observatory was at his 
 post on the Rocky Mountains; and to him, as a skilful and per- 
 severing astronomer, all observations had been confided. 
 
 But an unforeseen phenomenon came in to subject the public 
 impatience to a severe trial. 
 
 The weather, hitherto so fine, suddenly changed ; the sky 
 became heavy with clouds. It could not have been otherwise 
 after the terrible derangement of the atmospheric strata, and the 
 dispersion of the enormous quantity of vapour arising from the 
 combustion of 200,0001bs. of pyroxyle ! 
 
 On the morrow the horizon was covered with clouds — a thick 
 and impenetrable curtain between earth and sky, which unhappily 
 extended as far as the Rocky Mountains. It was a fiitality ! But 
 since man had chosen so to disturb the atmosphere, he was bound 
 to accept the consequences of his experiment. 
 
 Supposing, now, that the experiment had succeeded, the tra- 
 vellers having started on the 1st of December, at lOh. 46m. 403. 
 p.m., were due on the 4th at Oh. p.m. at their destination. So 
 that up to that time it would have been very difficult after all to 
 have observed, under such conditions, a body so small as the 
 shell. Therefore they waited with what patience they might. 
 
 From the 4th to the 6th of December inclusive, the Aveather 
 remaining much the same in America, the great European instru- 
 ments of Herschel, Rosse, and Foucault, were constantly directed 
 towards the moon, for the weather was then magnificent ; but the 
 comparative weakness of their glasses prevented any trustworthy 
 observations being made. 
 
 On the 7th the sky seemed to lighten. They were in hopes 
 now, but their hope was of but short duration, and at night again 
 thick clouds hid the starry vault from all eyes. 
 
 Mailers were now becoming serious, when on the 9tb, the
 
 
 140 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MIOON. 
 
 sun reappeared for an instant, as if for the purpose of teasing the 
 Americans. It was received with hisses ; and wounded, no doubt, 
 by such a reception, showed itself very sparing of its rays. 
 
 On the 10th, no change ! J. T. Maston went nearly mad, an 
 great fears w^ere entertained regarding the brain of this worthy 
 individual, which had hitherto been so well preserved within his 
 gutta-percha cranium. 
 
 But on the 11th one of those inexplicable tempests peculiar 
 to those intertropical regions, was let loose in the atmosphere. A 
 terrific east wind swept away the groups of clouds which had 
 been so long gathering, and at night the semi-disc of the orb of 
 night rode majestically amidst the soft constellations of the sky.
 
 I 
 
 A NEH^ STAR. 141 
 
 CHAPTER XXVm. 
 
 A NEW STAB. 
 
 That very night, the stai-tling news so impatiently awaited, burst 
 like a thunderbolt over the United States of the Union, and 
 thence, darting across the ocean, ran through all the telegraphic 
 wires of the globe. The projectile had been detected, thanks to 
 the gigantic reflector of Long's Peak! Here is the note received 
 by the Director of the Observatory of Cambridge. It contains 
 the scientific conclusion regarding this great experiment of the 
 Gun Club. 
 
 " Loxg's Peak, December 12. 
 
 " To the Officers of the Observatory of Cambridge. 
 
 " The projectile discharged by the Coltunbiad at Stones Hill has been 
 detected by Messrs. Belfast and J. T. Maston, 12th December, at 8.47 p.m., 
 the moon having entered her last quarter. This projectile has not arrived at 
 its destination. It has passed by the side ; but sufficiently near to be 
 retained by the lunar attraction. 
 
 "The rectilinear movement has thus become changed into a circular 
 motion of extreme velocity, and it is now pursuing an elliptical orbit round 
 the moon, of which it has become a true satelhte. 
 
 "The elements of this new star we have as yet been unable to determine; 
 we do not yet know the velocity of its passage. The distance which separates 
 it from the surface of the moon may be estimated at about 2833 miles. 
 
 " However, two hypothesis come here into our consideration. 
 
 "1. Either the attraction of the moon will end by dravring them into 
 itself, and the travellers will attain their destination ; or, — 
 
 " 2. The projectile, foUomng an immutable law, will continue to gravitate 
 round the moon till the end of time. 
 
 " At some future time, our observations will be able to determine this 
 point, but tni then the experiment of the Gun Club can have no other result 
 than to have provided our solax system with a new star. 
 
 " J. Belfast."
 
 142 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON. 
 
 To how many questions did this unexpected denouement give 
 rise ? What mysterious results was the future reserving for the 
 investigations of science ? At all events, the uames of Nicholl, 
 Barhicanc, and Michel Ardan were certain to be immortalized in 
 the annals of astronomy ! 
 
 When the despatch from Long's Peak had once become known, 
 there was but one universal feeling of surprise and alarm. Was 
 it possible to go to the aid of these bold travellers ? No ! for 
 they had placed themselves beyond the pale of humanity, by 
 crossing the limits imposed by the Creator on his earthly creatures. 
 They had air enough for two months ; they had victuals enough 
 for twelve; — hut after that ? There was only one man who would 
 not admit that the situation was desperate, — he alone had confi- 
 dence ; and that was their devoted friend J. T. Maston. 
 
 Besides, he never let them get out of sight. His home was 
 henceforth the post at Long's Peak ; his horizon, the mirror of 
 that immense reflector. As soon as the moon rose above the 
 horizon, he immediately caught her in the field of the telescope ; 
 he never let her go for an instant out of his sight, and followed 
 her assiduously in her course through the stellar spaces. He 
 watched with untiring patience the passage of the projectile 
 across her silvery disc, and really the worthy man remained in 
 perpetual communication with his three friends, whom he did not 
 despair of seeing again some day. 
 
 " Those three men," said he, " have carried into space all the 
 resources of art, science, and industry. With that, one can do 
 anything ; and you will see that, some day, they will come out all 
 right."
 
 EOUND THE MOON: 
 
 A SEQUEL TO 
 
 FIIOM THE EMTH TO THE MOOX.
 
 EOUND THE MOON 
 
 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 
 
 RECAPITULATING THE FIRST PART OF THIS WORK, AND 
 SERVING AS A PREFACE TO THE SECOND. 
 
 During the year 186 — , the whole world was greatly excited by 
 a scieutific experiment iiuprecedented in the annals of science. 
 The members of the Gun Club, a circle of artillerymen formed 
 at Baltimore after the American war, conceived the idea of 
 putting themselves in communication with the moon ! — yes, with 
 the moon,— by sending to her a projectile. Their president, 
 Barbicane, the promoter of the enterprise, having consulted the 
 astronomers of the Cambridge Observatory upon the subject, 
 took all necessary means to ensure the success of this extraor- 
 dinary enterprise, which had been declared practicable by the 
 majority of competent judges. After setting on foot a public 
 subscription, which realized nearly 1,200,000^., they began the 
 
 gigantic work. 
 
 According to the advice forwarded from the members of the 
 Observatory, the gun destined to launch the projectile had to be 
 fixed in a country situated between the and 28th degrees of 
 north or south latitude, in order to aim at the moon when 
 at the zenith ; and its initiatory velocity was fixed at twelve 
 thousand yards to the second. Launched on the 1st of December,
 
 146 ROU^D THE MOON. 
 
 at lOlirs. 46m. 40s. p.m., it ought to reacli the moon four days 
 after its depai'ture, that is on the oth of December, at midnight 
 precisely, at the moment of her attaining her pei^igee, that is her 
 nearest distance from the earth, which is exactly 86,410 leagues 
 (French), or 238,833 miles viean distance (English). 
 
 The principal members of the Gun Club, President Barbicane, 
 Major Elphinstone, the secretary Joseph T. Maston, and other 
 learned men, held several meetings, at which the shape and com- 
 position of the projectile were discussed, also the position and 
 nature of the gun, and the quality and quantity of the powder to 
 be used. It was decided : 1st, that the projectile should be a 
 shell made of aluminium with a diameter of 108 inches and a thick- 
 ness of twelve inches to its walls ; and should weigh 19,2o01bs. 
 2ndly, that the gun should be a Columbiad east in iron, 900 feet 
 long, and run perpendicularly into the earth. 3rdly, that the 
 charge should contain 400,000 pounds of gun-cotton, which, 
 giving out six billions of litres of gas in rear of the projectile, 
 would easily carry it towards the orb of night. 
 
 These questions determined President Baibicane, assisted by 
 Murchison the engineer, to choose a spot situated in Florida, in 
 2T 7' North latitude, and 77° 3' W, (Greenwich) longitude. It 
 was on this spot, after stupendous labour, that the Columbiad 
 was cast with full success. Things stood thus, when an incident 
 took place which increased the interest attached to this great 
 enterprise a hundredfold. 
 
 A Frenchman, an enthusiastic Parisian, as witty as he was 
 bold, asked to be enclosed in the projectile, in order that he 
 might reach the moon, and reconnoitre this terrestial satellite. 
 The name of this intrepid adventurer was Michel Ardan. He 
 landed in America, was received with enthusiasm, held meetings, 
 saw himself carried in triumph, reconciled President Barbicane to 
 his moi-tal enemy, Captain Nicholl, and, as a token of recon- 
 ciliation, persuaded them both to start with him in the projec- 
 tile. The proposition being accepted, the shape of the projectile
 
 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 147 
 
 was slightly altered. It was made of a cylindro-conieal form. 
 This species of aerial car was liued with strong springs and 
 partitions to deaden the shock of departure. It was provided 
 with food for a year, water for some months, and gas for some 
 days. A self-acting apparatus supplied the three travellers with 
 air to breathe. At the same time, on one of the highest points of 
 the Rocky Mountains, the Gun Club had a gigantic telescope 
 erected, in order that they might be able to follow the course 
 of the projectile through space. AH was then ready. 
 
 On the 30th November, at the hour fixed upon, from the midst 
 of an extraordinary crowd of spectators, the departure took place; 
 and for the first time, three human beings quitted the terrestial 
 globe, and launched into interplanetary space with almost a cer- 
 tainty of reaching their destination. These bold travellers, 
 Michel Ardan, President Barbicane, and Captain Nicholl, ought 
 to make the passage in ninety-seven hours, thirteen minutes, 
 and twenty seconds. Consequently, their arrival on the lunar 
 disc could not take place until the 5th December at twelve at 
 night, at the exact moment when the moon should be full, 
 and not on the 4th, as some badly-informed journals had 
 
 announced. 
 
 But an unforeseen circumstance, viz., the detonation produced 
 by the Columbiad, had the immediate effect of troubling the ter- 
 restial atmosphere, by accumulating a large quantity of vapour, 
 a phenomenon which excited universal indignation, for the 
 moon was hidden from the eyes of the watchers for several 
 
 nights. 
 
 The worthy Joseph T. Maston, the staunchest friend of the 
 three travellers, started for the Rocky Mountains, accompanied 
 by the Hon. J. Belfast, director of the Cambridge Observatory, 
 and reached the station of Long's Peak, where the telescope was 
 erected which brought the moon within an apparent distance of 
 two leagues. The hon. secretary of the Gun Club wished himself 
 to observe the vehicle of his daring friends. 
 
 L 2
 
 148 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 The accumulation of clouds in the atmosphere prevented all 
 observations on the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th of December. 
 Indeed it was thought that all observations would have to be put 
 off to the 3rd of January in the following year ; for the moon 
 entering its last quarter on the 11th, would then only present an 
 ever-decreasing portion of her disc, insufficient to allow of their 
 following the course of the projectile. 
 
 At length, to the general satisfaction, a heavy storm cleared 
 the atmosphere on the night of the 11th and 12th December, and 
 the moon, with half illuminated disc, was plainly to be seen upon 
 the black sky. 
 
 That very night, a telegram was sent from the station of 
 Long's Peak by Joseph T. Maston and Belfast to the gentlemen 
 of the Cambridge Observatory, announcing that, on the 11th of 
 December at 8h. 47m, p.m., the projectile launched by the Colum- 
 biad of Stones Hill had been detected by Messrs. Belfast and 
 Maston, — that it had deviated from its course from some un- 
 known cause, and had not reached its destination ; but that it 
 had passed near enough to be retained by the lunar attraction ; 
 that its rectilinear movement had been changed to a circular one, 
 and that following an elliptical orbit round the star of night it had 
 become its satellite. The telegram added that the elements of this 
 new star had not yet been calculated; and indeed three observations 
 made upon a star in three different positions, are necessary to 
 determine these elements. Then it showed that the distance 
 sejjarating the projectile from the lunar surface "might" be 
 reckoned at about 2833 miles. 
 
 It ended with this double hypothesis ; either the attraction 
 of the moon would draw it to herself, and the travellers thus 
 attain their end ; or that the projectile, held in one immutable 
 orbit, would gravitate around the lunar disc to all eter- 
 nity. 
 
 With such alternatives, what would be the fate of the travellers? 
 Certainly they had food for some time. But supposing they did
 
 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. I49 
 
 succeed iu tlietr rash euterprise, how would they return ? Could 
 they ever return ? Should they hear from them ? These ques- 
 tions, debated by the most learned pens of the day, strongly 
 eugi'ossed the public atteution. 
 
 It is advisable here to make a i-emark which ought to be well 
 considered by hasty observers. When a purely speculative dis- 
 covery is announced to the public, it cannot be done with too 
 much prudence. No one is obliged to discover either a planet, a 
 comet, or a satellite ; and whoever makes a mistake in such a 
 case exposes himself justly to the derision of the mass. Far 
 better is it to wait ; and that is what the impatient Joseph T. 
 Maston should have done before sending this telegram forth to 
 the world, which, according to his idea, told the whole result of 
 the enterprise. Indeed this telegram contained two sorts of 
 errors, as was proved eventually. 1st, errors of observation, con- 
 cerning the distance of the projectile from the surface of the 
 moon, for on the 11th December it was impossible to see it; and 
 what Joseph T. Maston had seen, or thought he saw, could not 
 have been the projectile of the Columbiad. 2ndly, errors of 
 theory on the fate in store for the said projectile ; for in making 
 it a satellite of the moon, it was putting it in direct contradiction 
 to all mechanical laws. 
 
 One single hypothesis of the observers of Long's Peak could 
 ever be realized, that which foresaw the case of the travellers (if 
 still alive) uniting their efforts with the lunar attraction to attain 
 the surface of the disc. 
 
 Now these men, as clever as they were daring, had survived 
 the terrible shock consequent on their departure, and it is their 
 journey in the projectile car which is here related in its most 
 dramatic as well as in its most singular details. This recital will 
 destroy many illusions and surmises ; but it will give a true idea 
 of the singular changes in store for such an "enterprise ; it will 
 bring out the scientific instincts of Barbicane, the industrious 
 resources of Nicholl, and the audacious humour of Michel Aidan.
 
 I <0 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 Besides this, it will prove that their worthy friend, Joseph T. 
 Maston, was wasting his time, while leaning over the gigantic 
 telescope he watched the course of the moon through the starry 
 space.
 
 FROM 20 MIN. PAST lO TO 47 MIiV. PAST lO P. AT. 15I 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 FEOM TWENTY MINUTES PAST TEN TO FORTY-SEVEN MINUTES 
 
 PAST TEN P.M. 
 
 As ten o'clock struck, Michel Avdan, Barbicane, and Nicholl, 
 took leave of the numerous friends they were leaving on the 
 earth. The two dogs, destined to propagate the canine race on 
 the lunar continents, were already shut up in the projectile. 
 
 The three travellers approached the orifice of the enormous cast- 
 iron tube, and a crane let them down to the conical top of the 
 projectile. There, an opening made for the purpose gave them 
 access to the aluminium car. The tackle belonging to the crane 
 being hauled from outside, the mouth of the Columbiad was in- 
 stantly disencumbered of its last supports. 
 
 Nicholl, once introduced with his companions inside the projec- 
 tile, began to close the opening by means of a strong plate, held in 
 position by powerful screws. Other plates, closely fitted, covered 
 the lenticular glasses, and the travellers, hermetically enclosed in 
 their metal pi'ison, were plunged in profound darkness. 
 
 " And now, my dear companions," said Michel Ardan, " let us 
 make ourselves at home ; I am a domesticated man and strong in 
 housekeeping. We are bound to make the best of our new 
 lodgings, and make ourselves comfortable. And first let us try 
 and see a little. Gas was not invenj;ed for moles." 
 
 So saying, the thoughtless fellow lit a match by striking it on 
 the sole of his boot ; and approached the burner fixed to the 
 receptacle, in which the carbonized hydrogen, stored at high pres- 
 sure, sufficed for the lighting and warming of the projectile for a
 
 152 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 hundred and forty-four Lours, or six days aud six uights. The 
 gas caught fire, and tlius lighted the projectile looked like a com- 
 fortable room with thickly padded walls, furnished with a circular 
 divan, and a roof rounded in the s-hape of a dome. 
 
 The objects it contained, arms, instruments, and utensils securely 
 fastened against the rounds of wadding, could bear the shock of 
 departure with impunity. Humanly speaking, every possible pre- 
 caution had been taken to bring this rash experiment to a success- 
 ful termination. 
 
 Michel Ardan examined everything, and declared himself satis- 
 fied with his installation. 
 
 " It is a prison," said he, " but a travelling prison ; and, with 
 the right of putting my nose to the window, I could well stand a 
 lease of a hundred years. You smile, Barbicane. Have you any 
 arrihe-pensee? Do you say to yourself, 'This prison may be our 
 tomb ' ? Tomb, perhaps ; still I would not change it for Ma- 
 homet's, which floats in space, but never advances an inch !" 
 
 Whilst Michel Ardan was speaking, Barbicane and Nicholl 
 were making their last preparations. 
 
 NichoU's chronometer marked twenty minutes past ten p.m. 
 when the three travellers were finally enclosed in their projectile. 
 This chronometer was set within the tenth of a second by that 
 of Murchison the engineer. Barbicane consulted it. 
 
 " My friends," said he, " it is twenty minutes past ten. At 
 forty-seven minutes past ten Murchison will launch the electric 
 spark on the wire which communicates with the charge of the 
 Columbiad. At that precise moment we shall leave our spheroid. 
 Thus we have still twenty-seven minutes to remain on the 
 earth." 
 
 " Twenty-six minutes thirteen seconds," replied the methodical 
 Kicholl. 
 
 "Well!" exclaimed Michel Ardan, in a good-humoured tone, 
 " much may be done in twenty-six minutes. The gravest ques- 
 tions of morals and politics may be discussed, and even solved.
 
 THE GAS CAUGHT FIRE. 
 
 [p. 158.]
 
 FROM 20 MIN. PAST lO TO 47 MIN. PAST lO P.M. 1 53 
 
 Twenty-six minutes well employed are worth more than twenty- 
 six yeai's in which nothing is done. Some seconds of a Pascal 
 or a Newton are more precious than the whole existence of a 
 crowd of raw simpletons — " 
 
 "And you conclude, then, you everlasting talker?" asked 
 Barbicane. 
 
 "I conclude that we have twenty-six minutes left," replied 
 Ardan. 
 
 " Twenty-four only," said Nicholl. 
 
 "Well, twenty-four, if you like, my noble captain," said 
 Ardan ; " twenty-four minutes in which to investigate — " 
 
 " Michel," said Barbicane, " during the passage we shall have 
 plenty of time to investigate the most dithcult questions. For the 
 present we must occupy ourselves with our departure." 
 
 " Are we not ready ? " 
 
 " Doubtless ; but there are still some precautions to be taken, 
 to deaden as much as possible the first shock." 
 
 " Have we not the water-cushions placed between the partition- 
 breaks, whose elasticity will sufficiently protect us ? " 
 
 " I Iwpe so, Michel," replied Barbicane gently, " but I am not 
 
 sure." 
 
 " Ah, the joker ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan. " He hopes !— Ho 
 is not sure ! — and he waits for the moment Avhen we are encased 
 to make this deplorable admission ! I beg to be allowed to get 
 out!" 
 
 " And how ?" asked Barbicane. 
 
 "Humph!" said Michel Ardan, "it is not easy ; we are in 
 the train, and the guard's whistle will sound before twenty-four 
 minutes are over." 
 
 " Twenty" said Nicholl. 
 
 For some moments the three travellers looked at each other. 
 Then they began to examine the objects imprisoned with them. 
 
 " Everything is in its place," said Barbicane. " We have now 
 to decide how we can best place ourselves to resist the shock.
 
 154 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 Position cannot be an iudiffeient matter ; and we must, as much 
 as possible, prevent the rush of blood to the head." 
 
 " Just so," said NichoU. 
 
 " Then," replied Michel Ardan, ready to suit the action to the 
 word, " let us put our heads down and our feet in the air, like the 
 clowns in the grand circus." 
 
 " No," said Barbicane, " let us stretch ourselves on our sides ; 
 we shall resist the shock better that way. Remember that, when 
 the projectile starts, it matters little whether we are in it or 
 before it ; it amounts to much the same thing." 
 
 " If it is only ' much the same thing,' I may cheer up," said 
 Michel Ardan. 
 
 " Do you approve of my idea, Nicholl ? " asked Barbicane. 
 
 *' Entirely," replied the captain. " We've still thirteen minutes 
 and a half." 
 
 "That Nicholl is not a man," exclaimed Michel; "he is a 
 chronometer with seconds, an escape, and eight holes." 
 
 But his c )mpanions were not listening ; they were taking up 
 their last positions with the most perfect coolness. They were 
 like two methodical travellers in a car, seeking to place them- 
 selves as comfortably as possible. 
 
 We might well ask ourselves of what materials are the hearts 
 of these Americans made, to whom the approach of the most 
 frightful danger added no pulsation. 
 
 Three thick and solidly-made couches had been placed in the 
 projectile. Nicholl and Barbicane placed them in the centre of 
 the disc forming the floor. There the three travellers were to 
 stretch themselves some moments before their departure. 
 
 During this time, Ardan, not being able to keep still, turned in 
 his narrow prison like a wild beast in a cage, chatting with his 
 friends, speaking to the dogs Diana and Satellite, to whom, as 
 may be seen, he had given significant names. 
 
 " Ah, Diana ! Ah, Satellite ! " he exclaimed, teazing them ; 
 "so you arc going to show the moon-dogs the good habits of the
 
 DIANA AND SATELLlTt:. 
 
 Ip. 154.]
 
 FROM 20 Miy. PAST lO TO 47 MI.Y. PAST lO P.M. 1 55 
 
 dogs of the earth ! That will do honour to the canine race ! If 
 ever we do come down again, I will bi'ing a cross type of * moon- 
 dogs,' which will make a stir !" 
 
 " If there are dogs in the moon," said Barhicane. 
 
 "There are," said Michel Ardan, "just as there are horses, 
 cows, donkeys, and chickens. I bet that we shall find chickens." 
 
 "A hundred dollars we shall find none !" said Nicholl. 
 
 "Done, my captain!" replied Ardan, clasping NichoU's hand, 
 "But, by the bye, you have already lost three bets with our 
 president, as the necessary funds for the enterprise have been 
 found, as the operation of casting has been successful, and lastly, 
 as the Columbiad has been loaded without accident, six thousand 
 dollars." 
 
 " Yes," replied Nicholl. " Thirty-seven minutes six seconds 
 past ten." 
 
 " It is understood, captain. "Well, before another quarter of 
 an hour you will have to count 9000 dollars to the president ; 
 4000 because the Columbiad will not burst, and 5000 because the 
 projectile will rise more than six miles in the air." 
 
 " I have the dollars," replied Nicholl, slapping the pocket of 
 his coat. I only ask to be allowed to pay." 
 
 " Come, Nicholl, I see that you are a man of method, which I 
 could never be ; but indeed you have made a series of bets of 
 very little advantage to yourself, allow me to tell you." 
 
 "And why ?" asked Nicholl. 
 
 " Because, if you gain the first, the Columbiad will have burst, 
 and the projectile with it ; and Barbicane will no longer be there 
 to reimburse your dollars." 
 
 "My stake is deposited at the bank in Baltimore," replied 
 Barbicane simply ; " and if Nicholl is not there, it will go to his 
 heirs." 
 
   "Ah, you practical men!" exclaimed Michel Ardan; "I 
 admire you the more for not being able t.> understand you." 
 
 " Forty-two minutes past ten ! " said Nicholl.
 
 156 ROUND T-HE MOON. 
 
 " Only five minutes more !" answered Barbicane. 
 
 " Yes, five little minutes !" replied Michel Ardan ; " and we 
 are enclosed in a projectile, at the bottom of a gun 900 feet long! 
 And under this pi'ojectile are rammed 400,000 lbs. of gun-cottou, 
 Avhich is equal to 1,600,000 lbs. of ordinary powder! And 
 friend Murchison, with his chronometer in hand, his eye fixed on 
 the needle, his fiaiger on the electric apparatus, is counting tlie 
 seconds preparatory to launching us into interplanetary space." 
 
 "Enough, Michel, enough!" said Barbicane, in a serious voice; 
 " let us prepare. A few instants alone separate us from an 
 eventful moment. One clasp of the hand, my friends." 
 
 " Yes," exclaimed Michel Ardan, more moved than he wished 
 to appear j and the three bold companions were united in a last 
 embrace. 
 
 " God preserve us !" said the religious Barbicane. 
 
 Michel Ardan and Kicholl stretched themselves on the couclies 
 placed in the centre of the disc. 
 
 " Forty seven minutes past ten 1" murmured the captain. 
 
 " Twenty seconds more I " Barbicane quickly put out the gas 
 and lay down by his companions, and the profound silence was 
 only broken by the ticking of the chronometer marking the 
 seconds. 
 
 Suddenly a dreadful shock was felt, and the projectile, under 
 the force of six billions of litres of gas, developed by the com- 
 bustion of the pyroxyle, mounted into space.
 
 THE COURAGEOUS FKENCHMAN. 
 
 [p. 157.]
 
 THE FIRST HALF-HOUR. 157 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE FIRST HALF-nOUK. 
 
 What had happened ? What effect had this frightful shock 
 produced ? Had the ingenuity of the constructors of the pro- 
 jectile obtained any happy result ? Had the shock been deadened, 
 thanks to the springs, the four plags, the water-cushions, and the 
 partition-breaks ? Had they been able to subdue the frightful 
 pressure of the initiatory speed of more than 11,000 yards, which 
 was enough to traverse Paris or New York in a second ? This 
 was evidently the question suggested to the thousand spectators 
 of this moving scene. They forgot the aim of the journey, and 
 thought only of the travellers. And if one amongst them — Joseph 
 T. Maston for example — could have cast one glimpse into the 
 projectile, what would he have seen ? 
 
 Nothing then. The darkness was profound. But its cylindro- 
 conical partitions had resisted wonderfully. Not a rent or a 
 dent any where ! The wonderful projectile was not even heated 
 under the intense deflagration of the powder, nor liquefied, as 
 they seemed to fear, in a shower of aluminium. 
 
 The interior showed but little disorder ; indeed, only a few 
 objects had been violently thrown towards the roof; but the most 
 important seemed not to have suffered from the shock at all ; 
 their fixtures were intact. 
 
 On the movable disc, sunk down to the bottom by the smashing 
 of the partition-breaks and the escape of the water, three bodies 
 lay apparently lifelesg. Barbicane, Nicholl, and Michel Ardan —
 
 158 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 (lid they still breathe ? or was the projectile nothing now but a 
 metal coffin, bearing three corpses into space ? 
 
 Some minutes after the departure of the projectile, one of the 
 bodies moved, shook its arms, lifted its head, and finally succeeded 
 in getting on its knees. It was Michel Ardan. He felt himself 
 all over, gave a sonorous " Hem !" and then said, — 
 
 " Michel Ardan is whole. How about the others ? " 
 
 The courageous Fienchmau tried to rise, but could not stand. 
 His head swam, from the rush of blood ; he was blind ; he was 
 like a drunken man. 
 
 " Bur-r !" said he. " It produces the same effect as two bottles 
 of Gorton, though perhaps less agreeable to swallow." Then, 
 passing his hand several times across his forehead and rubbing 
 his temples, he called in a firm voice, — 
 
 "Nicholl! Barbicaue!" 
 
 He waited anxiously. No answer ; not even a sigh to show 
 that the hearts of his companions were still beating. He called 
 again. The same silence. 
 
 " The devil ! " he exclaimed. They look as if they had fallen 
 from a fifth story on their heads. Bah !" he added, with that 
 imperturbable confidence which nothing could check, " if a 
 Frenchman can get on his knees, two Americans ought to be able 
 to get on their feet. But first let us light up." 
 
 Ardan felt the tide of life return by degrees. His blood became 
 calm, and returned to its accustomed circulation. Another effort 
 restored his equilibrium. He succeeded in rising, drew a match 
 from his pocket, and approaching the burner lighted it. The 
 receiver had not suffered at all. The gas had not escaped. Be- 
 sides, the smell would have betrayed it ; and in that case Michel 
 Ardan could not have carried a lighted match with impunity 
 through the space filled with hydrogen. The gas mixing with 
 the air would have produced a detonating mixture, and the ex- 
 plosion would have finished what the shock had perhaps begun. 
 When the burner was lit, Ardan leaned over the bodies 01 his com-
 
 THE FIRST HALF-HOUR. 159 
 
 panions : they were lying one on the other, an inert mass, NichoU 
 above, Barbicane underneath. 
 
 Ardau lifted the captain, propped him up against the divan, 
 and began to rub vigorously. This means, used with judgment, 
 restored Nicholl, who opened his eyes, and instantly recovering 
 his presence of mind, seized Ardan's hand and looked around 
 him. 
 
 " And Barbicane ? " said he. 
 
 •' Each in turn," replied Michel Ardan. " I began with you, 
 NichoU, because you were on the top. Now let us look to Bar- 
 bicane." Saying Avhich, Ardau and NichoU raised the president 
 of the Gun Club and laid him on the divan. He seemed to have 
 suffered more than either of his companions ; he was bleeding, 
 but NichoU was reassured by finding that the htemorrhage came 
 from a slight wound on the shoulder, a mere graze, which he 
 bound up carefully. 
 
 StiU, Barbicane was a long time coming to himself, which 
 frightened his friends, who did not spare friction. 
 
 " He breathes though," said NichoU, putting his ear to the 
 chest of the wounded man. 
 
 " Yes," replied Ardan, " he breathes like a man who has some 
 notion of that daily operation. Rub, NichoU ; let us rub harder." 
 And the two improvised practitioners worked so hard and so 
 well that Barbicane recovered his senses. He opened his eyes, 
 sat up, took his two friends by the hands, and his first words 
 were — 
 
 " Nicholl, are we moving ? " 
 
 NichoU and Barbicane looked at each other ; they had not yet 
 troubled themselves about the projectile ; their first thought had 
 been for the traveller, not for the car. 
 
 " Well, are we really moving ?" repeated Michel Ardan. 
 
 " Or quietly resting on the soil of Florida ? " asked Nicholl. 
 
 «0r at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico?" added Michel 
 Ardan.
 
 l6o ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " What an idea !" exclaimed the president. 
 
 And this double hypothesis suggested by his companions had 
 the effect of recalling him to his senses. In any case they could 
 not yet decide on the position of the projectile. Its apparent 
 immovability, and the want of communication with the outside, 
 prevented them from solving the question. Perhaps the pro- 
 jectile was unwinding its course through space. Perhaps after a 
 short rise it had fallen upon the earth, or even in the Gulf of 
 Mexico — a fall which the narrowness of the peninsula of Florida 
 would render not impossible. 
 
 The case was serious, the problem interesting, and one that 
 must be solved as soon as possible. Thus, highly excited, Barbi- 
 cane's moral energy triumphed over physical weakness, and he 
 rose to his feet. He listened. Outside was perfect silence ; but 
 the thick padding was enough to intercept all sounds coming 
 from the earth. But one circumstance struck Barbicane, viz., that 
 the temperature inside the projectile was singularly high. The 
 president drew a thermometer from its case, and consulted it. 
 The instrument showed 81° Fahr. 
 
 "Yes," he exclaimed, "yes, we are moving! This stifling 
 heat, penetrating through the partitions of the projectile, is pro- 
 duced by its friction on the atmospheric strata. It will soon 
 diminish, because we are already floating in space, and after 
 having been nearly stifled, we shall have to suffer intense cold. 
 
 " What ! " said Michael Ardan. " According to your showing, 
 Barbicane, we are already beyond the limits of the terrestrial 
 atmosphere ?" 
 
 "Without a doubt, Michel. Listen to me. It is fifty-five 
 minutes past ten ; we have been gone about eight minutes ; and 
 if our initiatory speed has not been checked by the friction, six 
 seconds would be enough for us to pass through the forty miles 
 of atmosphere which surrounds the globe." 
 
 " Just so," replied Nicholl ; " but in what proportion do you 
 estimate the diminution of speed by friction ? "
 
 THE FIRST HALF-HOUR. l6l 
 
 "lu the proportion of one-third, Nicholl. This diminution is 
 considerable, but according to my calculations it is nothing less. 
 If, then, we had an initiatory speed of 12,000 yards, on leaving 
 the atmosphere this speed would be reduced to 9165 yards. In 
 any case we have already passed through this interval, and — " 
 
 "And then," said Michel Ardan, "friend Nicholl has lost his 
 two bets : four thousand dollars because the Columbiad did not 
 burst ; five thousand dollars because the projectile has risen moro 
 than six miles. Now, Nicholl, pay up." 
 
 "Let us prove it first," said the captain, "and we will pay 
 afterwards. It is quite possible that Barbicane's reasoning is 
 correct, and that I have lost my nine thousand dollars. But a 
 new hypothesis presents itself to my mind, and it annuls the 
 wager." 
 
 " What is that ? " asked Barbicane quickly. 
 
 " The hypothesis that, for some reason or other, fire was never 
 set to the powder, we have not started at all." 
 
 " My goodness, captain," exclaimed Michel Ardan, " that 
 hypothesis is worthy of my brain ! It cannot be a serious one. 
 For have we not been half annihilated by the shock ? Did I not 
 recall you to life ? Is not the president's shoulder still bleeding 
 from the blow it has received ? " 
 
 " Granted," replied Nicholl ; " but one question." 
 
 " Well, captain ? " 
 
 " Did you hear the detonation, which certainly ought to be 
 
 loud ? " 
 
 " No," replied Ardan, much surprised ; " certainly I did not 
 hear the detonation." 
 
 " And you, Barbicane ? " 
 
 " Nor I, either." 
 
 " Very well," said Nicholl. 
 
 " Well now," murmured the president, " why did we not 
 hear the detonation ? " 
 
 The three friends looked at each other with a disconcerted air. 
 
 u
 
 1 62 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 It was quite an iuexplicablc phenomenon. The projectile had 
 started, and consequently there must have been a detonation. 
 
 "Let us first find out where we are," said Barbicauc, "and 
 let down the panel." 
 
 This very simple operation was soon accomplished. 
 
 The nuts which held the bolts to the outer plates of the right- 
 hand scuttle gave way under the pressure of the English wrench. 
 These bolts were pushed outside, and buflfers covered with india- 
 rubber stopped up the holes which let them through. Imme- 
 diately the outer plate fell back upon its hinges like a porthole, 
 and the lenticular glass which closed the scuttle appeared. A 
 similar one was let into the thick partition on the opposite side of 
 the projectile, another in the top of the dome, and finally, a 
 fourth in the middle of the base. They could, therefore, make 
 observations in four diiferent directions : the firmament by the 
 side and most direct windoAvs, the earth or the moon by the upper 
 and under openings in the projectile. 
 
 Barbicane and his two companions immediately rushed to the 
 uncovered window. But it was lit by no ray of light. Profound 
 darkness surrounded them, which, however, did not prevent the 
 president from exclaiming, — 
 
 *' No, my friends, we have not fallen back upon the earth ; no, 
 nor are we submerged in the Gulf of Mexico. Yes ! we are 
 mounting into space. See those stars shining in the night, 
 and that impenetrable darkness heaped up between the earth 
 and us ! " 
 
 " Hurrah ! hurrah ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan and Nicholl in 
 one voice. 
 
 Indeed, this thick darkness proved that the projectile had left 
 the earth, for the soil, brilliantly lit by the moonbeams, would 
 have been visible to the travellers, if they had been lying on its 
 Surface. This darkness also showed that the projectile had 
 passed the atmospheric strata, for the difi'used light spread in the 
 air would have been reflected on the metal walls, which reflection
 
 ■n.
 
 IT Vv'AS AN ENORMOUS DISC. 
 
 [p. 163.)
 
 THE FIRST HALF-HOUR. 1 63 
 
 was wanting. This light would have lit the window, and the 
 window was dark. Doubt was no longer possible j the travellers 
 had left the earth. 
 
 "I have lost," said Nicholl. 
 
 " I congratulate you," replied Ardan. 
 
 *' Here are the nine thousand dollars," said the captain, 
 drawing a roll of paper dollars from his pocket. 
 
 " Will you have a receipt for it ? " asked Barbicarie, taking the 
 sum. 
 
 "If you do not mind," answered Nicholl ; " it is more business- 
 like." 
 
 And coolly and seriously, as if he had been at his strong-box, the 
 president drew forth his note-book, tore out a blank leaf, wrote a 
 proper receipt in pencil, dated and signed it with the usual flourish,^ 
 and gave it to the captain, who carefully placed it in his pocket- 
 book. Michel Ardan, taking off his hat, bowed to his two 
 companions without speaking. So much formality under such 
 circumstances left him speechless. He had never before seen 
 anything so " American." 
 
 This affair settled, Barbicane and Nicholl had returned to the 
 window, and were watching the constellations. The stars looked 
 like bright points on the black sky. But from that side they 
 could not see the orb of night, which, travelling from east to 
 west, would rise by degrees towards the zenith. Its absence 
 drew the following i-emark from Ardan. 
 
 " And the moon ; will she perchance fail at our rendezvous ? " 
 
 *' Do not alarm yourself," said Barbicane ; " our future globe 
 is at its post, but we cannot see her from this side ; let us open 
 the other." 
 
 As Barbicane was about leaving the window to open the 
 opposite scuttle, his attention was attracted by the approach of a 
 brilliant object. It was an enormous disc, whose colossal dimen- 
 sion could not be estimated. Its face, which was turned to the 
 
 1 This is a purely French habit. (Ed.) 
 M 2
 
 164 ROUND THE MOON 
 
 eartli, -vvas very bright. One might have thought it a small 
 moon reflecting the light of the larger one. She advanced ■with 
 great speed, and seemed to describe an orbit round the earth, 
 ■which -would intersect the passage of the projectile. This body 
 revolved upon its axis, aud exhibited the phenomena of all 
 celestial bodies abandoned in space. 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed Michel Ardan, "what is that? another 
 projectile ?" 
 
 Barbicane did not answer. The appearance of this enormous 
 body surprised and troubled him. A collision was possible, and 
 might be attended with deplorable results ; either the projectile 
 would deviate from its path, or a shock, breaking its impetus, 
 might precipitate it to the earth ; or, lastly, it might be irre- 
 sistibly drawn away by the powerful asteroid. The president 
 caught at a glance the consequences of these three hypotheses, 
 either of which would, one way or the other, bring their 
 experiment to an unsuccessful and fatal termination. His com 
 pauious stood silently looking into space. The object grew 
 rapidly as it approached them, and by au optical illusion the 
 projectile seemed to be throwing itself before it. 
 
 " By Jove ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan, " we shall run into 
 one another ! " 
 
 Instinctively the travellers drew back. Their dread was 
 great, but it did not last many seconds. The asteroid passed 
 several hundred yards from the projectile and disappeared, not 
 so much from the rapidity of its course, as that its face being 
 opposite the moon, it was suddenly merged into the perfect 
 darkness of space. 
 
 "A happy journey to you," exclaimed Michel Ardan, with 
 a sigh of relief. " Surely infinity of space is large enough for a 
 poor little projectile to walk through without fear. Now, what 
 is this portentous globe which nearly struck us ?" 
 
 " I know," replied Barbicane. 
 
 *' Oh, indeed ! you know everything."
 
 THE FIRST HALF-HOUR. 1 65 
 
 "It is," said Bai'l)icane, "a simple meteorite, but an enormous 
 one, Avhi.ch the attraction of the eartli has retained as a satellite." 
 
 " Is it possible ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan ; " the earth then 
 has two moons like Neptune ? " 
 
 " Yes, my friend, two moons, though it passes generally for 
 having only one ; but this second moon is so small, and its speed 
 so great, that the inhabitants of the earth cannot see it. It was 
 by noticing disturbances that a French astronomer, M. Petit, was 
 able to determine the existence of this second satellite and 
 calculate its elements. According to liis observations, this 
 meteorite will accomplish its revoliTtion round the earth in three 
 hours and twenty minutes, which implies a wonderful rate of 
 speed." 
 
 "Do all astronomers admit the existence of this satellite?" 
 asked Nicholl. 
 
 " No," replied Barbicane ; " but if, like us, they had met it, 
 they could no longer doubt it. Indeed, 1 think that this meteorite, 
 which, had it struck the projectile, would have much embarrassed 
 us, will give us the means of deciding what our position in 
 space is." 
 
 "How ?" said Ardan. 
 
 " Because its distance is known, and when we met it, we were 
 exactly 4650 miles from the surface of the terrestrial globe. 
 
 " More than 2000 French leagues," exclaimed Michel Ardan. 
 " That beats the express trains of the pitiful globe called the 
 earth." 
 
 " I should think so," replied Nicholl, consulting his chrono- 
 meter ; " it is eleven o'clock, and it is only thirteen minutes since 
 we left the American Continent." 
 
 "Only thirteen minutes ?" said Barbicane. 
 
 "Yes," said Nicholl ; "and if our initiatory speed of 12,000 
 yards has been kept up, we shall have made about 20,000 miles 
 in the hour." 
 
 " That is all very well, my friends," said the president, " but
 
 1 66 ROUND THE MOON: 
 
 the insoluble question still remains. Why did we not hear the 
 detonation of the Columbiad ?" 
 
 For want of an answer the conversation dropped, and Barbi- 
 canc began thoughtfully to let down the shutter of the second 
 side. He succeeded ; and through the uncovered glass the moon 
 filled the projectile with a brilliant light. Nicholl, as an econo- 
 mical man, put out the gas, now useless, and whose brilliancy 
 prevented any observation of the interplanetary space. 
 
 The lunar disc shone with wonderful purity. Her rays, no 
 longer filtered through the vapoury atmosphere of the terrestrial 
 globe, shone through the glass, filling the air in the interior of 
 the projectile with silvery reflections. The black curtain of the 
 firmament in reality heightened the moon's brilliancy, which in 
 this void of ether unfavourable to diff'usion did not eclipse the 
 neighbouring stars. The heavens, thus seen, presented quite a 
 new aspect, and one which the human eye could never dream of. 
 One may conceive the interest with which these bold men 
 watched the orb of night, the great aim of their journey. 
 
 In its motion the earth's satellite was insensibly nearing the 
 zenith, the mathematical point which it ought to attain ninety- 
 six hours later. Her mountains, her plains, every projection was 
 as clearly discernible to their eyes as if they were observing it 
 from some spot upon the earth ; but its light was developed 
 through space with wonderful intensity. The disc shone like 
 a platinum mirror. Of the earth flying from under their feet, the 
 travellers had lost all recollection. 
 
 It was Captain Nicholl who first recalled their attention to the 
 vanishing globe. 
 
 " Yes," said Michel Ardan, " do not let us be ungrateful to it. 
 Since we are leaving our country, let our last looks be directed to 
 it. I wish to see the earth once more before it is quite hidden 
 from my eyes." 
 
 To satisfy his companions, Barbicane began to imcover the 
 window at the bottom of the projectile, which would allow them
 
 THE FIRST HALF-HOUR. 167 
 
 to observe the earth direct. The disc, which the force of tlie 
 projection had beaten down to the base, was removed, not without 
 difficulty. Its fragments, placed carefully against the wall, might 
 servo again upon occasion. Then a circular gap appeared, 
 nineteen inches in diameter, hollowed out of the lower part of the 
 projectile. A glass cover, six inches thick and strengthened 
 with upper fastenings, closed it tightly. Beneath was fixed an 
 aluminium plate, held in place by bolts. The screws beino- 
 undone, and the bolts let go, the plate fell down, and visible com- 
 munication was established between the. interior and the exterior. 
 Michel Ardan knelt by the glass. It was cloudy, seemingly 
 opaque. 
 
 " Well !" he exclaimed, '*and the earth ?" 
 " The earth ? " said Barbicane. " There it is." 
 " What ! that little thread ; that silver crescent ?" 
 " Doubtless, Michel. In four days, when the moon will be 
 full, at the very time we shall reach it, the earth will be new, 
 and Avill only appear to us as a slender crescent which will soon 
 disappear, and for some days will be enveloped in utter dark- 
 
 ness." 
 
 "That the earth ?" repeated Michel Ardan, looking with all 
 his eyes at the thin slip of his native planet. 
 
 The explanation given by 'President Barbicane was correct. 
 The earth, with respect to the projectile, was entering its last 
 phase. It was in its octant, and showed a crescent finely traced 
 on the dark background of the sky. Its light, rendered bluish 
 by the thick strata of the atmosphere, was less intense than that 
 of the crescent moon, but it was of considerable dimensions, and 
 looked like an enormous arch stretched across the firmament. 
 Some parts brilliantly lighted, especially on its concave part, 
 showed the presence of high mountains, often disappearing behind 
 thick spots, which are never seen on the lunar disc. They were 
 rings of clouds placed concentrically round the terrestrial globe. 
 
 Whilst the travellers were trying to pierce the profound dark-
 
 1 68 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 ness, a brilliant cluster of shooting stars burst upon tlieir eyes. 
 Hundreds of meteorites, ignited by the friction of the atmosphere, 
 iri'adiated the shadow of the luminous train, and lined the cloudy 
 parts of the disc with their fire. At this period the earth was in 
 its perihelium, and the month of December is so propitious to 
 these shooting stars, that astronomers have counted as many as 
 twenty-four thousand in an hour. But Michel Ardan, disdaining 
 scientific reasonings, preferred thinking that the earth was thus 
 saluting the departure of her three children with her most 
 brilliant fireworks. 
 
 Indeed this was all they saw of the globe lost in the shadow, 
 an inferior orb of the solar world, rising and setting to the great 
 planets like a simple morning or evening star ! This globe, where 
 they had left all their affections, was nothing more than a fugitive 
 crescent ! 
 
 Long did the three friends look without speaking, though 
 united in heart, whilst the projectile sped onward with an ever- 
 decreasing speed. Then an irresistible drowsiness crept over 
 their brain. Was it weariness both of body and mind ? No 
 doubt ; for after the over-excitement of those last hours passed 
 upon earth, reaction was inevitable. 
 
 " Well," said Nicholl, *' since we must sleep, let us sleep." 
 
 And stretching themselves on their couches, they were all 
 three soon in a profound slumber. 
 
 But they had not forgotten themselves more than a quarter of 
 an hour, when Barbicane sat up suddenly, and rousing his com- 
 panions with a loud voice, exclaimed, — 
 
 "I have found it!" 
 
 " What^have you found ?" asked Michel Ardan, jumping from 
 his bed. 
 
 " The reason why we did not hear the detonation of the 
 Columbiad." 
 
 " And it is — ? " said Nicholl. 
 
 *' Because our projectile travelled /asi^r than the sound I "
 
 THEIR PLACE OF SHELTER. 169 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THEIR PLACE OP SHELTER. 
 
 This curious but certainly correct explanation once given, the 
 three friends returned to their slumbers. Could they have found 
 a calmer or more peaceful spot to sleep in? On the earth, houses, 
 towns, cottages, and country feel every shock given to the exterior 
 of the globe. On sea, the vessels rocked by the waves are still 
 in motion ; in the air, the balloon oscillates incessantly on the 
 fluid strata of divers densities. This projectile alone, floating 
 in perfect space, in the midst of perfect silence, ofiered perfect 
 repose. 
 
 Thus the sleep of our adventurous travellers might have been 
 indefinitely prolonged, if an unexpected noise had not awakened 
 them at about seven o'clock in the morning of the 2nd of Decem- 
 ber, eight hours after their departure. 
 
 This noise was a very natural barking. 
 
 "The dogs! it is the dogs!" exclaimed Michel Ardan, rising 
 at once. 
 
 " They are hungry," said Nicholl. 
 
 "By Jove!" replied Michel, "we have forgotten them." 
 
 "Where are they?" asked Barbicane. 
 
 They looked, and found one of the animals crouched under the 
 divan. Terrified and shaken by the initiatory shock, it had re- 
 mained in the corner till its voice returned with the pangs of 
 hunger. It was the amiable Diana, still very confused, who crept 
 out of her retreat, though not without much persuasion, Michel 
 Ardan encouraging her with most gracious words.
 
 XJO ROUND THE MOON: 
 
 " Come, Diana," paid he ; " come, my girl ! thou whose destiny 
 Avill be marked in the cynegetic annals ; thou -whom the pagans 
 •would have given as companion to the god Anubis, and Christians 
 as friend to St. Roch ; thou who art rushing into interplanetary 
 space, and wilt perhaps be the Eve of all Selenite dogs ! come, 
 Diana, come here." 
 
 Diana, flattered or not, advanced by degrees, uttering plaintive 
 cries. 
 
 " Good," said Barbicane; "I see Eve, but where is Adam?" 
 
 "Adam?" replied Michel; "Adam cannot be far off; he is 
 there somewhere ; we must call him. Satellite ! here, Satellite !" 
 
 But Satellite did not appear. Diana would not leave off 
 howling. They found, however, that she was not bruised, and 
 they gave her a pie, which silenced her complaints. As to 
 Satellite, he seemed quite lost. They had to hunt a long time before 
 finding him in one of the upper compartments of the projectile, 
 whither spme unaccountable shock must have violently hurled him. 
 The poor beast, much hurt, was in a piteous state. 
 
 " The devil ! " said Michel. 
 
 They brought the unfortunate dog down with great care. Its 
 skull had been broken against the roof, and it seemed unlikely 
 that he could recover fiom such a shock. McanAvhile, he was 
 stretched comfortably on a cushion. Once there, he heaved a sigh. 
 
 " We will take care of you," said Michel ; " we are responsible 
 for your existence. I would rather lose an arm than a paw of my 
 poor Satellite." 
 
 Sayiiig which, he offered some water to the wounded dog, who 
 swallowed it with avidity. 
 
 This attention paid, the travellers watched the earth and the 
 moon attentively. The earth was now only discernible by a 
 cloudy disc ending iu a crescent, rather more contracted than that 
 of the previous evening ; but its expanse was still enormous, 
 compared with that of the moon, which was approaching nearer 
 and nearer ^o a perfect circle.
 
 THEY GAVE IlEP. A PIE. 
 
 L;>. no.]
 
 THEIR PLACE OF SHELTER. 17I 
 
 "By Jove!" said Michel Ardaii, "I am really sorry that -we 
 did not start when the earth was full, that is to say, when our 
 globe was in opposition to the sun." 
 
 "Why?" asked Nicholl. 
 
 " Because we should have seen our continents and seas in a 
 new light, — the first resplendent under the solar rays, Ihe latter 
 cloudy as represented on some maps of the Avorld. I should like 
 to have seen those poles of the earth on which the eye of man 
 has never yet rested. 
 
 " I dare say," replied Barbicaue ; " but if the earth had been 
 full, the moon would have been new ; that is to say, invisible, 
 because of the rays of the sun. It is better for us to see the 
 destination we wish to reach, than the point of departure." 
 
 "You are right, Barbicaue," replied Captain Nicholl; "and, 
 besides, when we have reached the moon, we shall have time 
 during the long lunar nights to consider at our leisure the globe 
 on Avhich our likenesses swarm." 
 
 " Our likenesses !" exclaimed Michel Ardan; "they are no more 
 our likenesses than the Seleuites are ! We inhabit a new world, 
 peopled l)y ourselves — the projectile ! I am Barbieane's likeness, 
 and Bar! icane is NichoU's. Beyond ns, around lis, human nature 
 is at a' end, and we are the only population of this microcosm 
 until ■v become pure Selenites. 
 
 " In about eighty-eight hours," replied the captain. 
 
 " W^hich means to say?" asked Michel Ardan. 
 
 " That it is half-past eight," replied Nicholl. 
 
 "Very well," retorted Michel ; "then it is impossible for me to find 
 even the shadow of a reason why we should not go to breakfast." 
 
 Indeed the inhabitants of the new star could not live without 
 eating, and their stomachs were suffering from the imperious 
 laws of hunger. Michel Ardan, as a Frenchman, was declared 
 chief cook, an important function, which raised no rival. The 
 gas gave sufHcient heat for the culinary apparatus, and the pro- 
 vision-box furnished the elements of this first feast.
 
 172 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 The breakfast began with three bowls of excellent soup, thanks 
 to the liquefaction in hot water of those precious cakes of Liebig, 
 prepared from the best parts of the ruminants of the Pampas. 
 To the soup succeeded some beefsteaks, compressed by an hy- 
 draulic press, as tender and succulent as if brought straight from 
 the kitchen of an English eating-house. Michel, who was 
 imaginative, maintained that they were even " red." 
 
 Preserved vegetables (" fresher than nature," said the amiable 
 Michel) succeeded the dish of meat ; and was followed by some 
 cups of tea with bread and butter, after the American fashion. 
 
 The beverage was declared exquisite, and was due to the 
 infusion of the choicest leaves, of which the Emperor of Russia 
 liad given some chests for the benefit of the travellers. 
 
 And lastly, to crown the repast, Ardau brought out a fine 
 bottle of Nuits, which was found " by chance " in the provision- 
 box. The three friends drank to the union of the earth and her 
 satellite. 
 
 And, as if he had not already done enough for the generous 
 wine which he had distilled on the slopes of Burgundy, the sun 
 chose to be of the party. At this moment the projectile emerged 
 from the conical shadow cast by the terrestrial globe, and the 
 rays of the radiant orb struck the lower disc of the projectile 
 direct, occasioned by the angle which the moon's orbit makes 
 with that of the earth, 
 
 " The sun ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan. 
 
 " No doubt," replied Barbicaue ; " I expected it." 
 
 " But," said Michel, " the conical shadow which the earth 
 leaves in space extends beyond the moon ?" 
 
 " Far beyond it, if the atmospheric refraction is not taken into 
 consideration," said Barbicane. " But when the moon is en- 
 veloped in this shadow, it is because the centres of the three 
 stars, the sun, the earth, and the moon, are all in one and the 
 same straight line. Then the nodes coincide with the phases of 
 the moon, and there is an eclipse. If we had started when there
 
 THE SUN CnOSE TO BE OF THE I'ARTY. 
 
 [p. na.]
 
 THEIR PLACE OF SHELTER. 1 73 
 
 was an eclii^se of the moon, all oui- passage would have been in 
 the shadow, which would have been a pity." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Because, though we are floating in space, our projectile, 
 bathed in the solar rays, will receive their light and heat. It 
 economizes the gas, which is in every respect a good economy." 
 
 Indeed, under these rays which no atmosphere can temper, 
 either in temperature or brilliancy, the projectile grew warm and 
 bright, as if it had passed suddenly from winter to summer. The 
 moon above, the sun beneath, were inundating it with their fire. 
 
 " It is pleasant here," said Nichol. 
 
 " I should think so," said Michel Ardan, " With a little earth 
 spread on our aluminium planet we should have green peas in 
 twenty-four hours. I have but one fear, which is that the walls 
 of the projectile might melt." 
 
 " Calm yourself, my worthy friend," replied Barbicane ; " the 
 projectile withstood a very much higher temperatuie than this as 
 it slid through the strata of the atmosphere. I should not be 
 surprised if it did not look like a meteor on fire to the eyes of the 
 spectators in Florida." 
 
 "But then Joseph T. Maston will think we are roasted !" 
 
 " What astonishes me," said Barbicane, " is that we have not 
 been. That Avas a danger we had not provided for." 
 
 " I feared it," said NichoU simply. 
 
 "And you never mentioned it, my sublime captain," exclaimed 
 Michel Ardan, clasping his friend's hand. 
 
 Barbicane now began to settle himself in the projectile as if he 
 was never to leave it. One must remember that this aerial car 
 had a base with a superficies of fifty-four square feet. Its height 
 to the roof was twelve feet. Carefully laid out in the inside, and 
 little encumbered by instruments and travelling utensils which 
 each had their particular place, it left the three travellers a 
 certain freedom of movement. The thick window inserted in 
 the bottom could bear any amount of weight, and Barbicane and
 
 174 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 his companions walked upon it as if it wei*e solid plank ; but the 
 sun striking it directly with its rays lit the interior of the pro- 
 jectile from beneath, thus producing singular effects of light. 
 
 They began by investigating the state of their store of water 
 and provisions, neither of which had suifered, thanks to the care 
 taken to deaden the shock. Their provisions were abundant, and 
 plentiful enough to last the three travellers for more than a year. 
 Barbicaue wished to be cautious, in case the projectile should land 
 on a part of the moon which was utterly barren. As to water 
 and the reserve of brandy, which consisted of fifty gallons, there 
 was only enough for two months ; but according to the last 
 observations of astronomers, the moon had a low, dense, and 
 thick atmosphere, at least in the deep valleys, and there 
 springs and streams could not fail. Thus, during their passage, 
 and for the first year of their settlement on the lunar continent, 
 these adventurous explorers would suffer neither hunger nor 
 thirst. 
 
 Now about the air in the projectile. There, too, they were secure. 
 Reiset and Reguaut's apparatus, intended for the production of 
 oxygen, was supplied with chlorate of potass for two months. 
 They necessarily consumed a certain quantity of gas, for they 
 were obliged to keep the producing substance at a temperature of 
 above 400*^. But there again they were all safe. The apparatus 
 only wanted a little care. But it was not enough to renew the 
 oxygen ; they must absorb the carbonic acid produced by expira- 
 tion. During the last twelve hours the atmosphere of the pro- 
 jectile had become charged with this deleterious gas. NichoU 
 discovered the state of the air by observing Diana panting pain- 
 fully. The carbonic acid, by a phenomenon similar to that pro- 
 duced in the famous Grotto del Cane, had collected at the bottom of 
 the projectile owing to its weight. Poor Diana, with her head low, 
 would suffer before her masters from the presence of this gas. But 
 Captain NichoU hastened to remedy this state of things, by placing 
 on the floor several receivers containing caustic potash which he
 
 THEIR PLACE OF SHELTER. 1 75 
 
 sliook about for a time, and this substance, greedy of carbonic 
 acid, soon completely absorbed it, thus purifying the air. 
 
 An inventory of instruraeuts was then begun. The ther- 
 mometers and barometers had resisted, all but one minimum 
 thermometer, the glass of which was broken. An excellent 
 aneroid was drawn from the wadded box which contained it and 
 hung on the Avail. Of course it was only affected by and marked 
 the pressure of the air inside the projectile,, but it also showed 
 the quantity of moisture which it contained. At that moment 
 its needle oscillated between 25*24 and 25"08. 
 
 It was fine weather. 
 
 Barbicane had also brought several compasses, which he found 
 intact. One must understand that under present couditions their 
 needles were acting wildly, that is without any constant direction. 
 Indeed, at the distance they were from the earth, tlie magnetic 
 pole could have no perceptible action upon the apparatus ; but 
 the box placed on the lunar disc might perhaps exhibit some 
 strange phenomena. In any case it would be interesting to see 
 whether the earth's satellite submitted like herself to its magnetic 
 influence. 
 
 A hypsometer to measure the height of the lunar mountains, a 
 sextant to take the height of the sun, glasses which would be 
 useful as they neai'ed the moon, all these instruments were care- 
 fully looked over, and pronounced good in spite of the violent 
 shock. 
 
 As to the pickaxes and diffei-ent tools which were NichoU's 
 especial choice ; as to the sacks of different kinds of grain and 
 shrubs which Michel Ardan hoped to transplant into Selenite 
 ground, they were stowed away in the upper part of the pro- 
 jectile. There was a sort of granary there, loaded with things 
 which the extravagant Frenchman had heaped up. What they 
 were no one knew, and the good-tempered fellow did not explain. 
 Now and then he climbed up by cramp-irons rivetted to the walls, 
 but kept the inspection to himself. He arranged and rearranged.
 
 176 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 he plunged bis hand rapidly into certain mysterious hoxes, 
 singing in one of the falsest of voices an old French refrain to 
 enliven the situation. 
 
 Barbicane observed with some interest that his guns and other 
 arms had not been damaged. These were important, because, 
 heavily loaded, they were to help to lessen the fall of the pro- 
 jectile, when drawn by the lunar attraction (after having passed 
 the point of neutral attraction) on to the moon's surface; a fall 
 which ought to be six times less rapid than it would have been 
 on the earth's sui'face, thanks to the diiference of bulk. The inspec- 
 tion ended with general satisfaction, when each returned to watch 
 space through the side windows and the lower glass coverlid. 
 
 There was the same view. The Avhole extent of the celestial 
 sphere swarmed with stars and constellations of wonderful purity, 
 enough to drive an astronomer out of his mind ! On one side the 
 sun, like the mouth of a lighted ove'a, a dazzling disc without a 
 halo, standing out on the dark background of the sky ! On the 
 other, the moon returning its fire by reflection, and apparently 
 motionless in the midst of the starry world. Then, a large spot 
 seemingly nailed to the firmament, bordered by a silvery cord : it 
 was the earth ! Here and there nebulous masses like large flakes of 
 starry snow ; and from the zenith to the nadir, an immense ring 
 formed by an impalpable dust of stars, the " Milky Way," in the 
 midst of which the sun ranks only as a star of the fourth magni- 
 tude. The observers could not take their eyes from this novel 
 spectacle, of which no description could give an adequate idea. 
 What reflections it suggested ! What emotions hitherto unknown 
 awoke in their souls ! Barbicane wished to begin the relation 
 of his journey while under its first impressions, and hour after 
 hour took notes of all facts happening in the beginning of the 
 enterprise. He wrote quietly, with his large square writing, in a 
 business-like style. 
 
 During this time Nicholl, the calculator, looked over the 
 minutes of their passage, and worked out figures with un-
 
 ARDAN PLUNGED HIS IIAXD RAPIDLY INTO CERTAIN 
 MYSTERIOUS BOXES. 
 
 [p. 176.]
 
 THEIR PLACE OF SHELTER. 177 
 
 paralleled dexteritj. Michel Anhin chatted first with Barblcane, 
 who did not answer him, and then with Nicholl, who did not 
 hear him, Avith Diana, who nnderstood none of his theories, and 
 lastly with himself, questioning and answering, going and coming, 
 busy with a thousand details ; at one time bent over the lower 
 glass, at another roosting in the heights of the projectile, and 
 always singing. In this microcosm he represented French 
 loquacity and excitability, and we beg you to believe that they 
 were well represented. The day, or rather (for the expression is 
 not correct) the lapse of twelve hours, which forms a day upon 
 earth, closed with a plentiful supper carefully prepared. No 
 accident of any nature had yet happened to shake the travellers' 
 confidence ; so, full of hope, already sure of success, they slept 
 peacefully, whilst the projectile under an uniformly decx'easing 
 speed was crossing the sky.
 
 lyg ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A LITTLE ALGEBRA. 
 
 The night passed without incident. The word " night," however, 
 is scarcely applicable. 
 
 The position of the projectile with regard to the sun did not 
 change. Astronomically, it was daylight on the lower part, and 
 night on the upper ; so when during this narrative these words 
 are used, they represent the lapse of time between the rising and 
 setting of the sun upon the earth. 
 
 The travellers' sleep was rendered more peaceful by the pro- 
 jectile's excessive speed, for it seemed absolutely motionless. Not 
 a motion betrayed its onward course through space. The rate of 
 progress, however rapid it might be, cannot pi'oduce any sen- 
 sible effect on the human frame when it takes place in a vacuum, 
 or when the mass of air circulates with the body which is carried 
 Avith it. What inhabitant of the earth perceives its speed, which, 
 however, is at the rate of 68,000 miles per hour ? Motion under 
 such conditions is " felt " no more than repose ; and Avhen a body 
 is in repose it will remain so as long as no strange force displaces 
 it ; if moving, it will not stop unless an obstacle comes in its way. 
 This indifference to motion or repose is called inertia. 
 
 Barbicane and his companions might have believed themselves 
 pei'fectly stationary, being shut up in the projectile ; indeed, the 
 effect would have been the same if they had been on the outside 
 of it. Had it not been for the moon, which was increasing above 
 them, they might have sworn that they were floating in complete 
 stagnation.
 
 A LITTLE ALGEBRA. 1 79 
 
 That morning, the 3ril of December, the travellers were 
 awakened by a joyous but unexpected noise ; it was the crowing 
 of a cock which sounded through the ear. Michel Ardan, who 
 was the first on his feet, climbed to the top of the projectile, and 
 shutting a box, the lid of which was partly open, said in a low 
 voice, " Will you hold your tongue ? That creature will spoil 
 my design!" 
 
 But NichoU and Barbicane were awake. 
 " A cock ! " said NichoU. 
 
 " Why no, my friends," Michel answered quickly ; " it was I 
 who wished to awake you by this rural sound." So saying, he 
 gave vent to a splendid cock-a-doodledoo, which would have 
 done honour to the proudest of poultry-yards. 
 The two Americans could not help laughing. 
 "Fine talent that," said NichoU, looking suspiciously at his 
 companion. 
 
 " Yes," said Michel ; " a joke in my country. It is very Gallic; 
 they play the cock so in the best society." 
 Then turning the conversation, — 
 
 " Barbicane, do you knoAV what I have been thinking of all 
 night?" 
 
 " No," answered the president. 
 
 " Of our Cambridge friends. You have already remarked that 
 I am an iofnoramus in mathematical subjects ; and it is impossible 
 for me to find out how the savants of the Observatory were able 
 to calculate what initiatory speed the projectile ought to have on 
 leaving the Columbiad in order to attain the moon." 
 
 " You mean to say," replied Barbicane, " to attain that neutral 
 point where the terrestrial and lunar attractions are equal ; for, 
 starting from that point, situated about nine-tenths of the distance 
 travelled over, the projectile would simply fall upon the moon, on 
 account of its weight." 
 
 " So be it," said Michel ; *' but, once more ; how could they 
 calculate the initiatory speed ? " 
 
 N 2
 
 l8o ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " Nothing can be easier," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " And you knew bow to make that calculation ? " asked Michel 
 Ardan. 
 
 " Perfectly. Nicholl and I would have made it, if the Obser- 
 vatory had not saved us the trouble." 
 
 " Very well, old Barbicane," replied Michel ; " they might 
 have cut off my head, beginning at my feet, before they could 
 hav;e made me solve that problem." 
 
 " Because you do not know algebra," answered Barbicane 
 quietly. 
 
 " Ah, there you are, you eaters of x^ ; you think you have said 
 all when you have said 'Algebra.'" 
 
 " Michel," said Barbicane, " can you use a forge without a 
 hammer, or plough without a ploughshare ? " 
 
 " Hardly." 
 
 " Well, algebra is a tool, like the plough or the hammer, and a 
 good tool to those who know how to use it." 
 
 " Seriously ? " 
 
 " Quite seriously." 
 
 " And can you use that tool in my presence ? " 
 
 " If it will interest you." 
 
 •* And show me how they calculated the initiatory speed of our 
 car ? " 
 
 " Yes, my worthy friend ; taking into consideration all the 
 elements of the problem, the distance from the centre of the earth 
 to the centre of the moon, of the radius of the earth, of its bulk, 
 and of the bulk of the moon, I can tell exactly what ought to be 
 the initiatory speed of the projectile, and that by a simple formula." 
 
 " Let us see." 
 
 "You shall see it ; only I shall not give you the real course 
 drawn by the projectile between the moon and the earth in con- 
 sidering their motion round the sun. No, I shall consider these 
 two orbs as perfectly motionless, which will answer all our 
 P-u-pose."
 
 A LITTLE ALGEBRA. l8l 
 
 " And why ? " 
 
 "Because it will be trying to solve the problem called 'the 
 pioblem of the three bodies,' for which the integral calculus is 
 not yet far enough advanced." 
 
 " Then," said Michel Ardan, in his sly tone, " mathematics 
 have not said their last word ? " 
 
 " Certainly not," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " Well, perhaps the Selenites have carried the integral calculus 
 farther than you have ; and, by the bye, what is this ' integral 
 calculus ? ' " 
 
 " It is a calculation the converse of the differential," replied 
 Barbicane seriously. 
 
 " Much obliged ; it is all very clear, no doubt." 
 
 " And now," continued Barbicane, " a slip of paper and a bit 
 of pencil, and before a half-hour is over I will have found the 
 required formula." 
 
 Half an hour had not elapsed before Barbicane, raising his head, 
 showed Michel Ardan a page covered with algebraical signs, in 
 which the general formula for the solution was contained. 
 
 " Well, and does Nicholl understand what that means ? " 
 
 " Of course, Michel," replied the captain. " All these signs, 
 which seem cabalistic to you, form the plainest, the clearest, and 
 the most logical language to those who know how to read it." 
 
 " And you pretend, Nicholl," asked Michel, " that by means of 
 these hieroglyphics, more incomprehensible than the Egyptian 
 Ibis, you can find what initiatory speed it was necessary to give 
 to the projectile ? " 
 
 " Incontestably," replied Nicholl ; " and even by this same for- 
 mula I can always tell you its speed at any point of its transit." 
 
 "On your word?" 
 
 " On my word." 
 
 " Then you are as cunning as our president." 
 
 " No, Michel ; the difficult part is what Barbicane has done ; 
 that is, to get an equation which shall satisfy all the conditions of
 
 J $2 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 the problem. The remainder is only a question of arithmetic, 
 requiring merely the knowledge of the four rules." 
 
 ** That is something I " replied Michel Ardan, who for his life 
 could not do addition right, and who defined the rule as a 
 Chinese puzzle, which allowed one to obtain all sorts of totals. 
 
 " The expression v zero, which you see in that equation, is 
 the speed which the projectile will have on leaving the atmo- 
 sphere." 
 
 "Just so," said Nicholl ; "it is from that point that we must 
 calculate the velocity, since we know already that the velocity at 
 departure was exactly one and a half times more than on leaving 
 the atmosphere." 
 
 " I understand no more," said Michel. 
 
 " It is a very simple calculation," said Barbicane. 
 
 " Not as simple as I am," retorted Michel. 
 
 " That means, that when our projectile reached the limits of 
 the terrestrial atmosphere it had already lost one- third of its 
 initiatory speed." 
 
 " As much as that ? " 
 
 "Yes, my friend; merely by friction against the atmospheric 
 strata. You understand that the faster it goes the more resistance 
 it meets with from the air." 
 
 " That I admit," answered Michel ; " and I understand it, 
 although your x's and zero's, and algebraic formulae, are rattling 
 in my head like nails in a bag." 
 
 " First effects of algebra," replied Barbicane ; " and now, to 
 finish, we are going to prove the given number of these different 
 expressions, that is, work out their value." 
 
 " Finish me ! " replied Michel. 
 
 Barbicane took the paper, and began again to make his calcula- 
 tions with great rapidity, Nicholl looked over and greedily read 
 the work as it proceeded. 
 
 " That's it ! that's it ! " at last he cried. 
 
 " Is it clear ? " asked Barbicane.
 
 DO I LNDERSTAND IT?"' CRIED ARDAN; "MY IlEAD IS 
 SPLITTING WITH IT." 
 
 [p. 183.1
 
 A LITTLE ALGEBRA. 183 
 
 " It is written in letters of fire," said NiclioU. 
 
 " Wonderful fellows ! " muttered Ardau. 
 
 " Do you understand it at last ? " asked Barbicane. 
 
 " Do I understand it ? " cried Ardan ; " my head is splitting 
 Avith it." 
 
 " And now," said Niclioll, " to find out the speed of the projec- 
 tile when it left the atmosphere, we have only to calculate that." 
 
 The captain, as a pi'actical man equal to all difficulties, began to 
 write with frightful rapidity. Divisions and multiplications grew 
 under his fingers ; the figures were like hail on the white page. 
 Barbicane watched him, whilst Michel Ardan nursed a growing 
 headache with both hands. 
 
 " Very well ? " asked Barbicane, after some minutes' silence. 
 
 " Well ! " replied NichoU ; " every calculation made, v zero, that 
 is to say, the speed necessai-y for the projectile on leaving the 
 atmosphere, to enable it to reach the equal point of attraction, 
 ought to be — " 
 
 " Yes ? " said Barbicane. 
 
 " Twelve thousand yards." 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Barbicane, starting ; " you say — " 
 
 " Twelve thousand yards." 
 
 " The devil ! " cried the president, making a gesture of despair. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " asked Michel Ardan, much surprised. 
 
 " What is the matter ! why, if at this moment our speed had 
 already diminished one-third by friction, the initiatory speed 
 ought to have been — " 
 
 " Seventeen thousand yards." 
 
 "And the Cambridge Observatory declared that 12,000 yards 
 was enough at starting ; and our projectile, which only started 
 with that speed — " 
 
 *• Well ? " asked Nicholl. 
 
 *' Well, it will not be enough." 
 
 « Good." 
 
 " We shall not be able to reach the neutral point."
 
 184 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 *' The deuce ! " 
 
 " We shall not even get half way." 
 
 " lu the name of the projectile ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan, 
 jumping as if it was already on the point of striking the tei'restrial 
 globe. 
 
 *' And we shall fall back upon the earth ! "
 
 THE COLD OF SPACE. 1 85 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE COLD OF SPACE. 
 
 This revelation came like a thunderbolt. Who could have ex- 
 pected such an error in calculation ? Barbicane Avould not believe 
 it. Nicholl revised his figures : they were exact. As to the 
 formula which had determined them, they could not suspect its 
 truth ; it was evident that an initiatory velocity of 17,000 
 yards in the first second was necessary to enable them to reach 
 the neutral point. 
 
 The three friends looked at each other silently. There was no 
 thought of breakfast. Barbicane, with clenched teeth, knitted 
 brows, and hand^ clasped convulsively, was watching through the 
 window. Nicholl had crossed his arms, and was examining his 
 calculations. Michel Ardan was muttering, — 
 
 " That is just like those scientific men : they never do anything 
 else. I would give twenty pistoles if we could fall upon the 
 Cambridge Observatory and crush it, together with the whole lot 
 of dabblers in figures which it contains." 
 
 Suddenly a thought struck the captain, which he at once 
 communicated to Barbicane. 
 
 " Ah ! " said he ; " it is seven o'clock in the morning ; we have 
 already been gone thirty-two hours ; more than half our passage 
 is over, and we are not falling that I am aware of." 
 
 Barbicane did not auswer, but, after a rapid glance at the 
 captain, took a pair of compasses wherewith to measure the 
 angular distance of the terrestrial globe ; then from the lower 
 window he took an exact observation, and noticed that the pro-
 
 1 86 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 jectile was apparently stationary. Then rising and wiping his 
 forehead, on which hirge drops of perspiration were standing, he 
 put some figures on paper. Nicholl understood that the president 
 was deducting from the terrestrial diameter the projectile's dis- 
 tance from the earth. He watched him anxiously. 
 
 " No," exclaimed Barbicane, after some moments, " no, we are 
 not falling ! no, Ave are already more than 50,000 leagues from the 
 earth. We have passed the point at which the projectile would 
 have stopped if its speed had only been 12,000 yards at starting. 
 We are still going up." 
 
 " That is evident," replied NichoU ; " and we must conclude 
 that our initial speed, under the power of the 400,000 ibs. of gun- 
 cotton, must have exceeded the required 12,000 yards. Now I 
 can understand how, after thirteen minutes only, we met the 
 second satellite, which gravitates round the earth at more than 
 2000 leagues' distance." 
 
 " And this explanation is the more probable," added Barbicane, 
 " because, in throwing off the water enclosed between its partition- 
 breaks, the projectile found itself lightened of a considerable 
 weight." 
 
 " Just so," said Nicholl. 
 
 " Ah, my brave Nicholl, we are saved ! " 
 
 *' Very well, then," said Michel Ardan quietly ; " as we are safe, 
 let us have breakfast." 
 
 Nicholl was not mistaken. The initial speed had been, very 
 fortunately, much above that estimated by the Cambridge Obser- 
 vatory ; but the Cambridge Observatory had nevertheless made 
 a mistake. 
 
 The travellers, recovered from this false alarm, breakfasted 
 meriily. If they ate a great deal, they talked more. Their confi- 
 dence was greater after than before " the incident of the algebra." 
 
 "Why should we not succeed?" said Michel Ardan j "why 
 should we not arrive cafely ? We are launched ; we have no 
 obstacle before us, no stones in our way ; the road is open, more
 
 THE COLD OF SPACE. 1 87 
 
 SO than that of a ship battling with the sea; more open than that 
 of a balloon battling Avitli the wind; and if a ship can reach its 
 destination, a balloon go where it pleases, why cannot our pro- 
 jectile attain its end and aim?" 
 
 " It will attain it," said Barbicane. 
 
 " If only to do honour to the Americans," added Michel Ardan, 
 " the only people who could bring such an enterprise to a happy 
 termination, and the only one which could produce a President 
 Barbicane. Ah, now Ave are no longer uneasy, I begin to think, 
 What will become of us ? We shall get right royally weary." 
 
 Barbicane and Nicholl made a gesture of denial. 
 
 " But I have provided for the contingency, my friends," re- 
 plied Michel ; " you have only to speak, and I have chess, 
 draughts, cards, and dominoes at your disposal ; nothing is 
 wanting but a billiard-table." 
 
 "What!" exclaimed Barbicane; "you brouglit away such 
 trifles ? " 
 
 " Certainly," replied Michel, " and not only to distract our- 
 selves, but also with the laudable intention of endowing the 
 Selenite smoking divans with them." 
 
 " My friend," said Barbicane, " if the moon is inhabited, its 
 inhabitants must have appeared some thousands of years before 
 those of the earth, for we cannot doubt that their star is much 
 older than ours. If then these Selenites have existed their 
 hundreds of thousands of years, and if their brain is of the same 
 organization as the human brain, they have already invented all 
 that we have invented, and even what we may invent in future 
 &"es. They have nothing to learn from us, and we have every- 
 thing to learn from them." 
 
 "What!" said Michel; "you believe that they have artists 
 like Phidias, Michael Augelo, or Raphael ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Poets like Homer, Virgil, Milton, Lamartine, and Hugo ? " 
 
 " I am sure of it."
 
 l88 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " Philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant ? " 
 
 " I have no doubt of it.** 
 
 " Scientific men like Archimedes, Euclid, Pascal, Newton ? " 
 
 " I could swear it." 
 
 " Comic writers like Arnal, and photographers like — like 
 Nadar ? " 
 
 " Certain." 
 
 *' Then, friend Barbicane, if they are as strong as we are, and 
 even stronger — these Selenites — why have they not tried to com- 
 municate with the earth ? why have they not launched a lunar 
 projectile to our terrestrial regions ?" 
 
 " Who told you that they have never done so ? " said Barbicane, 
 seriously. 
 
 "Indeed," added Nicholl, "it would be easier for them than 
 for us, for two reasons ; first, because the attraction on the moon's 
 surface is six times less than on that of the earth, which would 
 allow a projectile to rise more easily; secondly, because it would 
 be enough to send such a projectile only at 8000 leagues instead of 
 80,000, which would require the force of projection to be ten 
 times less strong," 
 
 " Then," continued Michel, " I repeat it, why have they not 
 done it ? " 
 
 " And I repeat," said Barbicane ; " who told you that they 
 have not done it ? " 
 
 "When?" 
 
 " Thousands of years before man appeared on earth." 
 
 " And the projectile — where is the projectile ? I demand to 
 see the projectile." 
 
 " My friend," replied Barbicane, " the sea covers five-sixths of 
 our globe. From that we may draw five good reasons for sup- 
 posing that the lunar projectile, if ever launched, is now at the 
 bottom of the Atlantic or the Pacific, unless it sped into some 
 crevasse at that period when the crust of the earth was not yet 
 hardened."
 
 THE COLD OF SPACE. 189 
 
 " Old Barbicane," said Michel, " you have an answer for every- 
 thing, and I bow before your wisdom. But there is one hypo- 
 thesis that would suit me better than all the others, which is, that- 
 the Selenites, being older than we, are wiser, and have not 
 invented gunpowder. 
 
 At this moment Diana joined in the conversation by a sonorous 
 barking. She was asking for her breakfast. 
 
 " Ah I " said Michel Ardan, " in our discussion we have for- 
 gotten Diana and Satellite." 
 
 Immediately a good-sized pie was given to the dog, which 
 devoured it hungrily. 
 
 " Do you see, Barbicane," said Michel, " we should have made 
 a second Noah's Ark of this projectile, and borne with us to the 
 moon a couple of every kind of domestic animal." 
 
 *' I dare say ; but room would have failed us." 
 
 *' Oh ! " said Michel, " we might have squeezed a little." 
 
 " The fact is," replied NichoU, " that cows, bulls, and horses, 
 and all ruminants, would have been very useful on the lunar con- 
 tinent, but unfortunately the car could neither have been made a 
 stable nor a shed." 
 
 " Well, we might at least have brought a donkey, only a little 
 donkey ; that courageous beast which old Silenus loved to mount. 
 I love those old donkeys ; they are the least favoured animals in 
 creation ; they are not only beaten while alive, but even after they 
 are dead." 
 
 " How do you make that out ?" asked Bai'bicane. 
 
 " Why," said Michel, " they make their skins into drums." 
 
 Barbicane and NichoU could not help laughing at this ridiculous 
 remark. But a cry from their merry companion stopped them. 
 The latter was leaning over the spot where Satellite lay. He 
 rose, saying, — 
 
 " My good Satellite is no longer ill." 
 
 «' Ah ! " said Nicholl. 
 
 " No," answered Michel, " he is dead ! There," added he, in a
 
 IQO ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 piteous tone, ''that is embarrassing. I much fear, my poor Diana, 
 that you will leave no progeny in the lunar regions!" 
 
 Indeed the unfortunate Satellite had not survived its wound. 
 It was quite dead. Michel Ardan looked at his friends with a 
 rueful countenance. 
 
 " One question presents itself," said Barbicane. " We cannot 
 keep the dead body of this dog with us for the next forty-eight 
 hours." 
 
 "No ! certainly not," replied Nicholl ; "but our scuttles are 
 fixed on hinges ; they can be let down. We will open one, and 
 throw the body out into space." 
 
 The president thought for some moments, and then said, — 
 
 " Yes, we must do so, but at the same time taking very great 
 precautions." 
 
 " Why ? " asked Michel. 
 
 " For two reasons which you will understand," answered Bar- 
 bicane. " The first relates to the air shut up in the projectile, and 
 of which we miist lose as little as possible." 
 
 " But we manufacture the air ?" 
 
 " Only in part. We make only the oxygen, my worthy Michel; 
 and with regard to that, we must watch that the apparatus does 
 not furnish the oxygen in too great a quantity ; for an excess 
 would bring us very serious physiological troubles. But if we 
 make the oxygen, we do not make the azote, that medium which 
 the lungs do not absorb, and which ought to remain intact ; and 
 that azote will escape rapidly through the open scuttles." 
 
 " Oh ! the time for throwing out poor Satellite ? " said Michel. 
 
 " Agreed ; but we must act quickly." 
 
 " And the second reason ? " asked Michel. 
 
 " The second reason is that we must not let the outer cold, 
 which is excessive, penetrate the projectile, or we shall be frozen 
 to death." 
 
 " But the sun ? " 
 
 " The sun warms our projectile, which absorbs its rays ; but it
 
 THE COLD OF SPACE. 19I 
 
 does not warm the vacuum in which we are floating at this 
 moment. Where there is no air, there is no more heat than 
 diffused light ; and the same with darkness : it is cold where the 
 sun's rays do not strike direct. This temperature is onlj the 
 temperature produced by the radiation of the stars; that is to say, 
 what the terrestrial globe would undergo if the sun disappeared 
 one day." 
 
 " Which is not to be feared," replied Nicholl. 
 
 "Who knows ?" said Michel Ardan. "But, in admitting that 
 the sun does not go out, might it not happen that the earth might 
 move away from it ? " 
 
 " There ! " said Barbicane, " there is Michel with his ideas." 
 
 "And," continued Michel, "do we not know that in 1861 the 
 earth passed through the tail of a comet ? Or let us suppose a 
 comet whose power of attraction is greater than that of the sun. 
 The terrestrial orbit will bend towards the wandering star, and 
 the earth, becoming its satellite, will be drawn such a distance 
 that the rays of the sun will have no action on its surface." 
 
 " That might happen, indeed," replied Barbicane, " but the con- 
 sequences of such a displacement need not be so formidable as 
 you suppose." 
 
 " And why not ? " 
 
 " Because the heat and the cold would be equalized on our 
 globe. It has been calculated that, had our earth been carried 
 alono- in its course by the comet of 1861, at its perihelion, that is, 
 its nearest approach to the sun, it would have undergone a heat 
 28,000 times greater than that of summer. But this heat, which 
 is sufficient to evaporate the waters, would have formed a thick 
 ring of cloud, which would have modified that excessive tempera- 
 ture ; hence the coDipensation between the cold of the aphelion 
 and the heat of the perihelion." 
 
 " At how many degrees," asked ]Nicholl, " is the temperature of 
 the planetary spaces estimated ? " 
 
 "Formerly," replied Barbicxine, "it was greatly exaggerated;
 
 192 ROUND THM MOON: 
 
 , but HOW, after the calculations of Fourier, of the French Academy 
 of Science, it is not supposed to exceed 60° Centigrade below zero." 
 
 " Pooh !" said Michel, " that's nothing I " 
 
 "It is very much," replied Barbicane ; " the temperature 
 which was observed in the polar regions, at Melville Island and 
 Fort Reliance, that is 76° Fahrenheit below zero." 
 
 " If I mistake not," said Nicholl, " M. Pouillet, another savant, 
 estimates the tempei'ature of space at 250° Fahr. below zero. We 
 shall, however, be able to verify these calculations for ourselves." 
 
 " Not at present ; because the solar rays, beating directly upon 
 our thermometer, would give, on the contrary, a very high tem- 
 perature. But, when we arrive in the moon, during its fifteen 
 days of night at either face, we shall have leisure to make the 
 experiment, for our satellite lies in a vacuum." 
 
 "What do you mean by a vacuum?" asked Michel. "Is it 
 perfectly such ? " 
 
 " It is absolutely void of air." 
 
 " And is the air replaced by nothing whatever ? " 
 
 " By the ether only," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " And pray what is the ether ?" 
 
 " The ether, my friend, is an agglomeration of imponderable 
 atoms, which, relatively to their dimensions, ai'e as far removed 
 from each other as the celestial bodies are in space. It is these 
 atoms which, by their vibratory motion, produce both light and 
 heat in the universe." 
 
 They now proceeded to the burial of Satellite. They had 
 merely to drop him into space, in the same way that sailors 
 drop a body into the sea ; but, as President Barbicane suggested, 
 they must act quickly, so as to lose as little as possible of that air 
 Avhose elasticity would rapidly have spread it into space. The 
 bolts of the right scuttle, the opening of which measured about 
 twelve inches across, were carefully drawn, whilst Michel, quite 
 grieved, prepared to launch his dog into space. The glass, raised 
 by a powerful lever, which enabled it to overcome the pressure of
 
 THE COLD OF SPACE, ^ T93 
 
 the inside air on the walls of the projectile, turned rapidly on its 
 hinges, and Satellite was thrown out. Scarcely a particle of air 
 could have escaped, and the operation was so successful, that later 
 on Barbicane did not fear to dispose of the rubbish which en- 
 cumbered the car.
 
 196 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 axles of the wheels ? To prevent their heating, because this heat 
 wouiil bo generated by the motion which is thus lost by trans- 
 formation." 
 
 "Yes, I understand," replied Michel, "perfectly. For example, 
 when I have run a long time, when I am swimming, when I am 
 perspiring in large drops, why am I obliged to stop ? Simply 
 because my motion is changed into heat." 
 
 Barbicane could not help smiling at Michel's reply ; then, 
 returning to his theory, said, — 
 
 " Thus, in case of a shock, it would have been with our pro- 
 jectile as with a ball which falls in a burning state after having 
 struck the metal plate ; it is its motion which is turned into heat. 
 Consequently I affirm that, if our projectile had struck the meteor, 
 its speed thus suddenly checked would have raised a heat great 
 enough to turn it into vapour instantaneously." 
 
 " Then," asked Nicholl, " what would happen if the earth's 
 motion were to stop suddenly ?" 
 
 " Her temperature would bo raised to such a pitch," said 
 Barbicane, " that she would be at once reduced to vapour." 
 
 "Well," said Michel, " that is a Avay of ending the earth which 
 will greatly simplify things." 
 
 " And if the earth fell upon the sun ? " asked Nicholl. 
 
 "According to calculation," replied Barbicane, "the fall would 
 develope a heat equal to that produced by 16,000 globes of coal, 
 each equal in bulk to our terrestrial globe." 
 
 " Good additional heat for the sun," replied Michel Ardan, "of 
 which the inhabitants of Uranus or Neptune would doubtless not 
 complain ; they must be perished with cold on their planets." 
 
 " Thus, my friends," said Barbicane, " all motion suddenly 
 stopped produces heat. And this theory allows us to infer that 
 the heat of the solar disc is fed by a hail of meteors falling inces- 
 santly on its surface. They have even calculated — " 
 
 "Oh, dear !" murmured Michel, "the figures are coming." 
 
 " They have even calculated," continued the imperturbable
 
 QUESTION AND ANSWER. I97 
 
 Barbicane, "that the shock of each meteor on the sun ought to 
 produce a heat equal to tliat of 4000 masses of coal of an equal 
 bulk." 
 
 " And what is the solar heat ? " asked Michel. 
 
 " It is equal to that produced by the combustion of a stratum of 
 coal surrounding the sun to a depth of forty-seven miles." 
 
 " And that heat — " 
 
 " Would be able to boil two billions nine hundred millions of 
 cubic myriametres ^ of water." 
 
 " And it does not roast us ! " exclaimed Michel. 
 
 " No," replied Barbicane, " because the terrestrial atmosphere 
 absorbs four-tenths of the solar heat ; besides, the quantity of 
 heat intercepted by the earth is but a billionth part of the entire 
 radiation." 
 
 " I see that all is for the best," said Michel, " and that this 
 atmosphere is a useful invention ; for it not only allows us to 
 breathe, but it prevents us from roasting." 
 
 " Yes I" said NichoU, " unfortunately, it will not be the same 
 in the moon." 
 
 " Bah ! " said Michel, always hopeful. " If there are inhabi- 
 tants, they must breathe. If there are no longer any, they must 
 have left enough oxygen for three people, if only at the bottom of 
 ravines, where its own weight will cause it to accumulate, and we 
 will not climb the mountains ; that is all." And Michel, rising, 
 went to look at the lunar disc, which shone wuth intolerable 
 brilliancy, 
 
 " By Jove !" said he, " it must be hot up there !" 
 
 " Without considering," replied Nicholl, *' that the day lasts 
 360 hours !" 
 
 " And to compensate that," said Barbicane, " the nights have 
 the same length ; and as heat is restored by radiation, their tem- 
 perature can only be that of the planetary space." 
 
 ' The myriametre is eqaal to rather more than 10,036 cubic yards Eng. 
 Ush.— (Ed.)
 
 X98 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " A pretty country, that!" exclaimed Michel. " Never mind! 
 I wish I was there ! Ah ! my dear comrades, it will be rather 
 curious to have the earth for our moon, to see it rise on the 
 horizon, to recognize the shape of its continents, and to say 
 to oneself, ' There is America, there is Europe ;' then to follow it 
 when it is about to lose itself in the sun's rays ! By-the-bye, 
 Barbicane, have the Selenites eclipses ?" 
 
 " Yes, eclipses of the sun," replied Barbicane, " when the centres 
 of the three orbs are oil a line, the earth being in the middle. But 
 they are only partial, during which the earth, cast like a screen 
 upon the solar disc, allows the greater portion to be seen." 
 
 " And why," asked Nicholl, " is there no total eclipse ? Does 
 not the cone of the shadow cast by the earth extend beyond the 
 moon ?" 
 
 " Yes, if we do not take into consideration the refraction pro- 
 duced by the terrestrial atmosphere. No, if we take that refrac- 
 tion into consideration. Thus let 8 be the horizontal parallel, 
 and p the apparent semidiameter — " 
 
 " Oh ! " said Michel. " Do speak plainly, you man of algebra ! " 
 
 "Very well ;" replied Barbicane, "in popular language the mean 
 distance from the moon to the earth being sixty terrestrial radii, 
 the length of the cone of the shadow, on account of the refrac- 
 tion, is reduced to less than forty-two radii. The result is that 
 when there are eclipses, the moon finds itself beyond the cone of 
 pure shadoAV, and that the sun sends her its rays, not only from 
 its edges, but also from its centre." 
 
 " Then," said Michel, in a merry tone, " why are there eclipses, 
 when there ought not to be any ?" 
 
 " Simply because the solar rays are weakened by this refrac- 
 tion, and the atmosphere through which they pass extinguishes 
 the greater part of them ! " 
 
 " That reason satisfies me," replied Michel. " Besides we shall 
 see when we get there. Now, tell me, Barbicane, do you believe 
 that the moon is an old comet ? "
 
 QUESTION AND ANSWER. I99 
 
 " There's an idea !" 
 
 " Yes," replied Michel, with an amiable swagger, " I have a 
 few ideas of that sort." 
 
 " But that idea does not spring from Michel," answered 
 Xicholl. 
 
 " Well, then, I am a plagiarist." 
 
 " No doubt about it. According to the ancients, the Arcadians 
 pretend that their ancestors inhabited the earth before the moon 
 became her satellite. Starting from this fact, some scientific men 
 have seen in the moon a comet whose orbit will one day bring it 
 so near to the earth that it will be held there bj its attraction." 
 
 " Is there any truth in this hypothesis ?" asked Michel. 
 
 " None whatever," said Barbicane, " and the proof is, that the 
 moon has preserved no trace of the gaseous envelope which always 
 accompanies comets." 
 
 " But," continued Nicholl, " before becoming the earth's satel- 
 lite, could not the moon, when in her perihelion, pass so near the 
 sun as by evaporation to get rid of all those gaseous substances ?" 
 
 " It is possible, friend Xicholl, but not probable." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Because — Faith I do not know." 
 
 " Ah !" exclaimed Michel," what hundreds of volumes we might 
 make of all that we do not know !" 
 
 " Ah! indeed. What time is it ?" asked Barbicane. 
 
 " Three o'clock," answered Nicholl. 
 
 " How time goes," said Michel, " in the convei'sation of scien- 
 tific men such as we are ! Certainly, I feel I know too much ! I 
 feel that I am becoming a well !" 
 
 Saying which, Michel hoisted himself to the roof of the pro- 
 jectile, " to observe the moon better," he pretended. During this 
 time his companions were watching through the lower glass. 
 Nothing new to note ! 
 
 When Michel Ardan came down, he went to the side scuttle ; 
 and suddenly they heard an exclamation of surprise !
 
 200 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " What is it ? " asked Barbicane, 
 
 The president approached the window, and saw a sort of 
 flattened sack floating some yards from the projectile. This 
 object seemed as motionless as the projectile, and was conse- 
 quently animated with the same ascending movement. 
 
 " What is that machine?" continued Michel Ardan. " Is it one 
 of the bodies of space which our projectile keeps within its attrac- 
 tion, and which will accompany it to the moon ?" 
 
 " What astonishes me," said NichoU, " is that the specific weight 
 of the body, which is certainly less than that of the projectile, 
 allows it to keep so perfectly on a level with it." 
 
 " NichoU," replied Barbicane, after a moment's reflection, " I do 
 not know what the object is, but I do know why it maintains our 
 level." 
 
 " And why ?" 
 
 " Because we are floating in space, my dear captain, and in 
 space bodies fall or move (which is the same thing) Avith equal 
 speed whatever be their weight or form; it is the air, which by its 
 resistance creates these differences in weight. When you create a 
 vacuum in a tube, the objects you send through it, grains of dust 
 or grains of lead, fall with the same rapidity. Here in space is the 
 same cause and the same effect." 
 
 " Just so," said NichoU, " and everything we throw out of the 
 projectile will accompany it until it reaches the moon." 
 
 " Ah! fools that we are !" exclaimed Michel. 
 
 " Why that expletive ?" asked Barbicane. 
 
 " Because we might have filled the projectile with useful 
 objects, books, instruments, tools, &c. We could have thrown 
 them all out, and all would have followed in our train. But 
 happy thought ! Why cannot we Avalk outside like the meteor ? 
 Why cannot we launch into space through the scuttle ? What 
 enjoyment it would be to feel oneself thus suspended in ether, 
 more favoured than the birds who must use their wings to keep 
 themselves up I"
 
 IT WAS THE BODY OF SATELLITE. 
 
 [p. 201.]
 
 QUESTION AND ANSWER. 201 
 
 " Granted," said Barbicane, " but how to breathe ? " 
 
 " Hang the air, to fail so inopportunely !" 
 
 " But if it did not fail, Michel, your density being less than 
 that of the projectile, you would soon be left behind." 
 
 " Then wo must remain in our car ?" 
 
 "We must!" 
 
 " Ah ! " exclaimed Michel, in a loud voice. 
 
 " What is the matter," asked NichoU. 
 
 " I know, I guess, what this pretended meteor is ! It is no 
 asteroid which is accompanying us ! It is not a piece of a planet." 
 
 " What is it then ? " asked Barbicane. 
 
 " It is our unfortunate dog ! It is Diana's husband ! " 
 
 Indeed, this deformed, unrecognizable object, reduced to nothing, 
 was the body of SateUite, flattened like a bagpipe without wind, 
 and ever mounting, mounting 1
 
 202 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A MOMENT OP INTOXICATION. 
 
 Thus a phenomenon, curious but explicable, was happening under 
 these strange conditions. 
 
 Every object thrown from the projectile would follow the same 
 course and never stop until it did. There was a subject for con- 
 versation which the whole evening could not exhaust. 
 
 Besides, the excitement of the three travellers increased as 
 they drew near the end of their journey. They expected unfore- 
 seen incidents, and new phenomena ; and nothing would have 
 astonished them in the frame of mind they then were in. Their 
 over-excited imagination went faster than the projectile, whose 
 speed was evidently diminishing, though insensibly to themselves. 
 But the moon grew larger to their eyes, and they fancied if they 
 stretched out their hands they could seize it. 
 
 The next day, the 5th of November, at five in the morning, all 
 three were on foot. That day was to be the last of their journey, 
 if all calculations were true. That very night, at twelve o'clock, 
 in eighteen hours, exactly at the full moon, they would reach its 
 brilliant disc. The next midnight would see that journey ended, 
 the most extraordinary of ancient or modern times. Thus from 
 the first of the morning, through the scuttles silvered by its rays, 
 they saluted the orb of night with a confident and joyous 
 hurrah. 
 
 The moon was advancing majestically along the starry firma- 
 ment. A few more degrees, and she would reach the exact point 
 where her meeting with the projectile was to take place.
 
 A MOMENT OF INTOXICATIOi 203 
 
 Accoriliuo- to his own observations, Bavbicane reclvoned that 
 they would land on her northern hemisphere, where stretch 
 immense planes, and where mountains are rare. A favourable 
 circumstance if, as they tliought, the hinar atmosphere was stored 
 only in its depths. 
 
 " Besides," observed Michel Ardan, "a plain is easier to dis- 
 embark upon than a mountain. A Selenite, deposited in Europe 
 on the summit of Mont Blanc, or in Asia on the top of the 
 Himalayas, would not be quite in the right place." 
 
 " And," added Captain Nicholl, " on a flat ground, the pro- 
 jectile will remain motionless when it has once touched ; whereaa 
 on a declivity it would roll like an avalanche, and not being 
 squirrels we should not come out safe and sound. So it is all for 
 the best." 
 
 Indeed, the success of the audacious attempt no longer appeared 
 doubtful. But Barbicane was preoccupied with one thought ; but 
 not wishing to make his companions uneasy, he kept silence on 
 the subject. 
 
 The direction the projectile was taking towards the moon's 
 northern hemisphere, showed that her course had been slightly 
 altered. The discharge, mathematically calculated, would carry 
 the projectile to the very centre of the lunar disc. If it did not 
 land there, there must have been some deviation. What had 
 caused it ? Barbicane could neither imagine, nor determine the 
 importance of the deviation, for there were no points to go by. 
 
 He hoped, however, that it would have no other result than 
 that of bringing them near the upper border of the moon, a region 
 more suitable for landing. 
 
 Without imparting his uneasiness to his companions, Barbicane 
 contented himself with constantly ob,"erving the moon, in order to 
 see whether the course of the projectile would not be altered ; for 
 the situation would have been terrible if it failed in its aim, and 
 being carried beyond the disc should be launched into inter- 
 planetary space. At that moment, the moon, instead of appearing
 
 204 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 flat like a disc, showed its convexity. If the sun's rays had struck 
 it obliquely, the shadow thrown would have brought out the high 
 mountains, which would have been clearly detached. The eye 
 might have gazed into the crater's gaping abysses, and followed 
 the capricious fissures which wound through the immense plains. 
 But all relief was as yet levelled in intense brilliancy. They could 
 scarcely distinguish those large spots which give to the moon the 
 appearance of a human face. 
 
 "Face, indeed!" said Michel Ardan ; "but I am sorry for the 
 amiable sister of Apollo. A very pitted face !" 
 
 But the travellers, now so near the end, were incessantly 
 observing this new world. They imagined themselves walking 
 tlirough its unknown countries, climbing its highest peaks, de- 
 scending into its lowest depths. Here and there they fancied 
 tiiey saw vast seas, scarcely kept together under so rarefied an 
 atmosphere, and watercourses emptying the mountain tributaries. 
 Leaning over the abyss, they hoped to catch some sounds from 
 that orb for ever mute in the solitude of space. That last day 
 left them. 
 
 They took down the most trifling details. A vague uneasiness 
 took possession of them as they neared the end. This uneasiness 
 would have been doubled had they felt how their speed had 
 decreased. It would have seemed to them quite insufficient to 
 carry them to the end. It was because the projectile then 
 "weighed" almost nothing. Its weight was ever decreasing, 
 and would be entirely annihilated on that line where the lunar 
 and terrestrial attractions would neutralize each other. 
 
 But in spite of his preoccupation, Michel Ardan did not forget 
 to prepare the morning repast with his accustomed punctuality. 
 They ate with a good appetite. Nothing was so excellent as the 
 soup liquefied by t\\Q heat of the gas ; nothing better than the 
 preserved meat. Some glasses of good French wine crowned 
 the repast, causing Michel Ardan to remaik that the lunar vines, 
 warmed by that ardent sun, ought to distil even more generous
 
 A MOMENT OF INTOXICATION. 
 
 205 
 
 wiucs; that is, if they existed. In any case, the fav-seeing 
 Frenchman had taken care not to forget in his collection some 
 precious cuttings of the Medoc and Cote d'Or, upon Avhich ho' 
 founded his hopes. 
 
 Reiset and Reguault's apparatus worked with great regularity. 
 Not an atom of carbonic acid resisted the potash ; and as to the 
 oxygen. Captain NichoU said " it was of the first quahty." The 
 little watery vapour enclosed in the projectile mixing with the air 
 tempered the dryness ; and many apartments in Loudon, Paris, 
 or New York, and many theatres, were certainly not in such a 
 healthy condition. 
 
 But that it might act with regularity, the apparatus must be 
 kept in perfect order ; so each morning Michel visited the escape 
 regulators, tried the taps, and regulated the heat of the gas by 
 the pyrometer. Everything had gone Avell up to that time, and 
 the travellers, imitating the worthy Joseph T. Maston, began to 
 acquire a degree of embonpoint, which wouki have rendered them 
 unrecognizable if their imprisonment had been prolonged to some 
 mouths. In a word, they behaved like chickens in a coop ; they 
 were getting fat. 
 
 In looking through the scuttle Barbicane saw the spectre of 
 the dog, and other divers objects which had been thrown from the 
 projectile obstinately following them. Diana howled lugubriously 
 on seeing the remains of Satellite, which seemed as motionless as 
 if they reposed on the solid earth. 
 
 " Do you know, my friends," said Michel Ardan, " that if one 
 of us had succumbed to the shock consequent on departure, we 
 should have had a great deal of trouble to bury him ? What am I 
 saying? to etherize h.\m, ViS, here ether takes the place of earth. 
 You see the accusing body would have followed us into space like 
 
 a remorse." 
 
 " That would have been sad," said NichoU. 
 "Ah!" continued Michel, "what I regret is not being able to 
 take a walk outside. What voluptuousness to float amid this
 
 2o6 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 radiant ether, to bathe oneself in it, to wrap oneself in the sun's 
 pure rays. If Barbicane had only thought of furnishing us with 
 a diving apparatus and an air-pump, I could have ventured out 
 and assumed fanciful attitudes of feigned monsters on the top of 
 the projectile." 
 
 "Well, old Michel," replied Barbicane,-" you would not have 
 made a feigned monster long, for in spite of your diver's dress, 
 swollen by the expansion of air within you, you would have burst 
 like a shell, or rather like a balloon which has risen too high. So 
 do not regret it, and do not forget this — as long as we float in 
 space, all sentimental walks beyond the projectile are forbidden." 
 Michel Ardan allowed himself to be convinced to a certain 
 
 extent. He admitted that the thing was difficult but not ini- 
 
 possiile, a word which he never uttered. 
 
 The conversation passed from this subject to another, not 
 
 failing for an instant. It seemed to the three friends as thouo-h. 
 
 under present conditions, ideas shot up in their brains as leaves 
 
 shoot at the first warmth of spring. They felt bewildered. In the 
 
 middle of the questions and answers which crossed each other, 
 
 KichoU put one question which did not find an immediate solution. 
 " Ah, indeed !" said he ; " it is all very well to go to the moon, 
 
 but how to get back again ?" 
 
 His two interlocutors looked surprised. One would have 
 
 thought that this possibility now occurred to them for the first 
 
 time. 
 
 "What do you mean by that, Nicholl?" asked Barbicane 
 gravely. 
 
 " To ask for means to leave a country," added Michel, « when 
 we have not yet arrived there, seems to me rather inopportune." 
 
 "I do not say that, wishing to draw back," replied Nichollj 
 " but I repeat my question, and I ask, ' How shall we return ?'" 
 
 " I know nothing about it," answered Barbicane. 
 
 " And I," said Michel, " if I had known how to return, I would 
 never have started."
 
 '1 COULD HAVE VENTURED OUT ON THE TOP OF THE 
 PROJECTILE." 
 
 [p. 203.]
 
 A MOMENT OF INTOXICATION: 207 
 
 " There's an answer !" cried Nicholl. 
 
 "I quite approve of Michel's words," said Barbicane ; "aud 
 add, that the question has no real interest. Later, when we 
 think it advisable to return, we will take counsel together. If 
 the Columbiad is not there, the projectile will be." 
 
 "That is a step certainly. A ball Avithout a gun !" 
 
 " The gun," replied Barbicane, " can be manufactured. The 
 powder can be made. Neither metals, saltpetre, nor coal can 
 fail in the depths of the moon, and we need only go 8000 leagues 
 in order to fall upon the terrestrial globe by virtue of the mere 
 laws of weight." 
 
 " Enough," said Michel with animation. "Let it be no longer 
 a question of returning : we have already entertained it too long. 
 As to communicating with our former earthly colleagues, that will 
 not be difficult." 
 
 "And how?" 
 
 " By means of meteors launched by lunar volcanos." 
 
 " Well thought of, Michel," said Barbicane in a convinced tone 
 of voice. " Laplace has calculated that a force five times greater 
 than that of our gun would suffice to send a meteor from the 
 moon to the earth, and there is not one volcano which has not 
 a greater power of propulsion than that." 
 
 "Hurrah!" exclaimed Michel; "these meteoi's are handy 
 postmen, and cost nothing. And how we shall be able to laugh 
 at the post-office administration. But now I think of it — " 
 
 "What do you think of?" 
 
 " A capital idea. Why did we not fasten a thread to our pro- 
 jectile, and we could have exchanged telegi-ams with the earth ?" 
 
 "The deuce!" answered Nicholl. "Do you consider the 
 weight of a thread 250,000 miles long nothing ? " 
 
 "As nothing. They could have trebled the Columbiad's 
 charge ; they could have quadrupled or quintupled it!" ex- 
 claimed Michel, with whom the verb took a higher intonation 
 each time.
 
 2o8 ROUND THE MOON: 
 
 " There is but one little objection to make to your proposition," 
 replied Barbieane, "which is that, during the rotary motion of 
 the globe, our thread would have wound itself round it like a 
 chain on a capstan, and that it would inevitably have brought us 
 to the ground." 
 
 "By the thirty-nine stars of the Union!" said Michel, "I 
 have nothing but impracticable ideas to-day ; ideas worthy of 
 J. T. Maston. But I have a notion that, if we do not return to 
 earth, J. T. Maston will be able to come to us." 
 
 "Yes, he'll come," replied Barbieane; "he is a worthy and a 
 courageous comrade. Besides, what is easier ? Is not the 
 Columbiad still buried in the soil of Florida? Is cotton and 
 nitric acid wanted wherewith to manufacture the pyroxile? Will 
 not the moon again pass to the zenith of Florida ? In eighteen 
 years' time will she not occupy exactly the same place as to-day?" 
 
 " Yes," continued Michel, " yes, Marston will come, and with 
 him our fiiends Elphistone, Blomsberry, all the members of the 
 Gun Club, and they will be well received. And by and by they 
 will run trains of projectiles between the earth and the moon! 
 Hurrah for J. T. Maston!" 
 
 It is probable that, if the Hon. J. T. Maston did not hear the 
 hurrahs uttered in his honour, his ears at least tingled. What 
 was he doing then ? Doubtless posted in the Rocky Mountains, 
 at the station of Long's Peak, he was trying to find the invisible 
 projectile gravitating in space. If he was thinking of his dear 
 companions, we must allow that they were not far behind him ; 
 and that, under the influence of a strange excitement, they were 
 devoting to him their best thoughts. 
 
 But whence this excitement, which was evidently growing upon 
 the tenants of the projectile? Their sobriety could not be doubted. 
 This strange irritation of the brain, must it be attributed to the 
 peculiar circumstances under which they found themselves, to 
 their proximity to the orb of night, from which only a few hours 
 separated them, to some secret influence of the moon acting upon
 
 A MOMENT OF INTOXICATION. 209 
 
 their nervous system ? Their faces were as rosy as if they had 
 been exposed to the roaring flames of an oven ; their voices 
 resounded in loud accents ; their words escaped like a champagne 
 cork driven out by carbonic acid ; their gestures became annoying, 
 they wanted so much room to perform them ; and, strange to say, 
 they none of them noticed this great tension of the mind. 
 
 " Now," said Nicholl, in a short tone, " now that I do not 
 know whether we shall ever return from the moon, I want to 
 know what we are going to do there ?" 
 
 " What we are going to do there ?" replied Barbicane, stamp- 
 ing with his foot as if he was in a fencing saloon ; "I do not 
 know." 
 
 " You do not know ! " exclaimed Michel, with a bellow which 
 provoked a sonorous echo in the projectile. 
 
 " No, I have not even thought about it," retorted Barbicane, 
 in the same loud tone. 
 
 " Well, I know," replied Michel. 
 
 " Speak, then," cried Nicholl, who could no longer contain the 
 growling of his voice. 
 
 " I shall speak if it suits me," exclaimed Michel, seizing his 
 companions' arms with violence. 
 
 " It must suit you," said Barbicane, with an eye on fire and a 
 threatening hand. " It was you who drew us into this frightful 
 journey, and we want to know what for." 
 
 " Yes," said the captain, " now that I do not know where I am 
 going, I want to know ichj I am going." 
 
 *' Why ? " exclaimed Michel, jumping a yard high, " why ? 
 To take possession of the moon in the name of the United States; 
 to add a fortieth State to the Union ; to colonize the lunar regions ; 
 to cultivate them, to people them, to transport thither all the 
 prodigies of art, of science, and industry ; to civilize the Selenites, 
 unless they are more civilized than we are ; and to constitute 
 them a republic, if they are not already one ! " 
 
 "And if there are no Selenites ?" retorted Nicholl, who, under 
 
 p
 
 2IO ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 the influence of this unaccountable intoxication, was very con- 
 tradietoiy. 
 
 " Who said that there were no Selenltes ?" exclaimed Michel 
 in a threatening tone. 
 
 " I do," howled Nicholl. 
 
 " Captain," said Michel, " do not repeat that insolence, or I 
 will knock your teeth down your throat!" 
 
 The two adversaries were going to fall upon each other, and 
 the incoherent discussion threatened to merge into a fight, when 
 Barbicane intervened with one bound. 
 
 " Stop, miserable men," said he, separating his two companions ; 
 " if there are no Selenites, we will do without them." 
 
 ** Yes," exclaimed Michel, who was not particular ; " yes, we 
 will do without them. We have only to make Selenites. Down 
 with the Selenites ! " ^ 
 
 " The empire of the moon belongs to us,'' said Nicholl. "Let 
 us three constitute the republic." 
 
 " I will be the congress," cried Michel. 
 
 " And I the senate," retorted Nicholl. 
 
 "And Barbicane, the president," howled Michel. 
 
 " Not a president elected by the nation," replied Barbicane. 
 
 ** Very well, a president elected by the congress," cried 
 Michel ; " and as I am the congress, you are unanimously 
 elected ! " 
 
 " Hurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah ! for President Barbicane," ex- 
 claimed Nicholl. 
 
 "Hip! hip ! hip !" vociferated Michel Ardan. 
 
 Then the President and the Senate struck up in a tremendous 
 voice the popular song " Yankee Doodle," whilst from the Congress 
 resounded the masculine tones of the " Marseillaise." 
 
 Then they struck up a frantic dance, with maniacal gestures, 
 idiotic stampings, and somersaults like those of the boneless 
 clowns in the circus. Diana, joining in the dance, and howling 
 iu her tni-n, jumped to the top of the projectile. An unaccount-
 
 THEY STRUCK UP A FRANTIC DANC". 
 
 [p. 213.1
 
 A MOMENT OF INTOXICATION. 211 
 
 able flapping of -wings Avas then heard amidst most fantastic 
 cock-crows, while five or six hens fluttered like bats against the 
 walls. 
 
 Then the three travelling companions, acted upon by some 
 unaccountable influence above that of intoxication, inflamed by 
 the air which had set their respiratory apparatus on fire, fell 
 motionless to the bottom of the projectile. 
 
 »2
 
 2 12 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER Vni. 
 
 AT SEVENTr-ElGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN 
 
 LEAGUES. 
 
 What had happened ? Whence the cause of this singular intoxi- 
 cation, the consequences of which might have been very disas- 
 trous ? A simple blunder of Michel's, which, fortunately, NichoU 
 was able to correct in time. 
 
 After a perfect swoon, which lasted some minutes, the captain, 
 recovering first, soon collected his scattered senses. Although he 
 had breakfasted only two hours before, he felt a gnawing hunger, 
 as if he had not eaten anything for several days. Eveiything 
 about him, stomach and brain, were overexcited to the highest 
 degree. He got up and demanded from Michel a supplementary 
 repast. Michel, utterly done up, did not answer. 
 
 NichoU then tried to prepare some tea destined to help the 
 absorption of a dozen sandwiches. He first tried to get some fire, 
 and struck a match sharply. What was his surprise to see the 
 sulphur shine with so extraordinary a brilliancy as to be almost 
 unbearable to the eye. From the gas-burner which he lit rose a 
 flame equal to a jet of electric light. 
 
 A revelation dawned on NichoU's mind. That intensity of 
 light, the physiological troubles which had arisen in him, the 
 overexcitement of all his moral and quarrelsome faculties,'— he 
 understood all. 
 
 " The oxygen !" he exclaimed. 
 
 And leaning over the air apparatus, he saw that the tap was 
 allowing the scentless colourless gas to escape freely, life-giving,
 
 ' THE OXYGEN I " HE EXCLAIMED. 
 
 [p. 212.]
 
 I
 
 AT 78,514 LEAGUES. 213 
 
 but in its pure state producing the gravest disorders in the 
 system. Michel had blunderingly opened the tap of the apparatus 
 to the full. 
 
 Nicholl hastened to stop the escape of oxygen with which the 
 atmosphere was saturated, which would have been the death of 
 the travellers, not by suffocation, but by combustion. An hour 
 later, the air less charged with it restored the lungs to their 
 normal condition. By degrees the three friends recovered from 
 their intoxication ; but they were obliged to sleep themselves 
 sober over their oxygen, as a drunkard does over his wine. 
 
 When Michel learnt his share of the responsibility of this inci- 
 dent, he was not much disconcerted. This unexpected drunken- 
 ness broke the monotony of the journey. Many foolish things had 
 been said while under its influence, but also quickly forgotten. 
 
 " And then," added the merry Frenchman, " I am not sorry 
 to have tasted a little of this heady gas. Do you know, my 
 friends, that a curious establishment might be founded with 
 rooms of oxygen, where people whose system is weakened could 
 for a few hours live a more active life. Fancy parties where 
 the room was saturated with this heroic fluid, theatres where it 
 should be kept at high pressure ; what passion in the souls of 
 the actors and spectators ! what fire, what enthusiasm ! And if, 
 instead of an assembly only a whole people could be saturated, 
 what activity in its functions, what a supplement to life it would 
 derive. From an exhausted nation they might make a great and 
 strong one, and I know more than one state in old Europe Avhich 
 ought to put itself under the regime of oxygen for the sake of its 
 health !" 
 
 Michel spoke with so much animation, that one might have 
 fancied that the tap was still too open. But a few words from 
 Barbicano soon scattered his enthusiasm. 
 
 " That is all very well, friend Michel," said he, " but will you 
 inform us where these chickens came from which have mixed 
 themselves up in our concert ?"
 
 14 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 "Those chickens ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 IndceJ, half a dozen cliickens and a fine cock were walking 
 about, flapping their wings and chattering. 
 
 " Ah, the awkward things !" exclaimed Michel. " The oxygen 
 has made them revolt." 
 
 " But what do you want to do with these chickens ?" asked 
 Barbicane." 
 
 " To acclimatize them in the moon, by Jove !" 
 
 " Then why did you hide them ?" 
 
 " A joke, my worthy president, a simple joke, which has proved 
 a miserable failure. I wanted to set them free on the lunar con- 
 tinent, without saying anything. Oh, what would have been 
 your amazement on seeing these earthly-winged animals pecking 
 in the lunar fields !" 
 
 " You rascal, you unmitigated rascal," replied Barbicane, '^ you 
 do not want oxygen to mount to the head. You are always what 
 ice were under the influence of the gas ; you are always 
 foolish!" 
 
 " Ah, who says that we were not wise then ?" replied Michel 
 Ardan. 
 
 After this philosophical reflection, the three friends set about 
 restoring the order of the projectile. Chickens and cock were 
 reinstated in their coup. But whilst proceeding with this opera- 
 tion, Barbicane and his two companions had a most desired per- 
 ception of a new phenomenon. From the moment of leaving the 
 eartli, their own weight, that of the projectile, and the objects it 
 enclosed, had been subject to an increasing diminution. If they 
 could not prove this loss of the projectile, a moment would arrive 
 when it would be sensibly felt upon themselves and the utensils 
 and instruments they used. 
 
 It is needless to say that a scale would not show this loss ; for 
 the weight destined to weigh the object would have lost exactly 
 as much as the object itself ; but a spring steelyard for example,
 
 AT 78,514 LEAGUES. 215 
 
 the tension of wliich was independent of the attraction, would 
 have given a just estimate of this loss. 
 
 We know that the attraction, otherwise called the weight, is in 
 proportion to the densities of bodies, and inversely as the squares 
 of the distances. Hence this effect : If the earth had been alone 
 in space, if the other celestial bodies had been suddenly anni- 
 hilated, the projectile, according to Newton's laws, would weigh 
 less as it got farther from the earth, but without ever losing its 
 weight entirely, for the terrestrial attraction would always have 
 made itself felt, at whatever distance. 
 
 But, in reality, a time must come when the projectile would no 
 longer be subject to the law of weight, after allowing for the 
 other celestial bodies whose effect could not be set down as zero. 
 Indeed, the projectile's course was being traced between the 
 earth and the moon. As it distanced the earth, the terrestrial 
 attraction diminished : but the lunar attraction rose in proportion. 
 There must then come a point where these two attractions would 
 neutralize each other : the projectile would possess weight no 
 longer. If the moon's and the earth's densities had been equal, 
 this point would have been at an equal distance between the two 
 orbs. But taking the different densities into consideration, it was 
 easy to reckon that this point would be situated at 47-60ths of the 
 whole journey, i.e. at 78,114 leagues from the earth. At this 
 point, a body having no principle of speed or displacement in 
 itself, would remain immovable for ever, being attracted equally 
 by both orbs, and not being drawn more towards one than towards 
 the other. 
 
 Now if the projectile's impulsive force had been correctly cal- 
 culated, it would attain this point without speed, having lost all 
 trace of weight, as well as all the objects within it. What would 
 happen then ? Three hypotheses presented themselves. 
 
 1. Either it would retain a certain amount of motion, and pass 
 the point of equal attraction, and fall upon the moon by virtue of 
 the excess of the lunar attraction over the terrestrial.
 
 ,,g ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 2 Or, its speed fliiling, and unable to reach the point of equal 
 attraction, it would foil upon the moon by virtue of the excess of 
 the liuiar attraction over the terrestrial. 
 
 3. Or, lastly, animated with sufficient speed to enable it to reach 
 the neutral point, but not sufficient to pass it, it would remain for 
 ever Buspeuded in that spot like the pretended tomb of Mahomet, 
 between the zenith and the nadir. 
 
 Such was their situation ; and Barbicane clearly explained 
 the consequences to his travelling companions, which greatly 
 interested them. But how should they know when the projec- 
 tile had reached this neutral point situated at that distance, 
 especially when neither themselves, nor the objects enclosed 
 in the projectile, would be any longer subject to the laws of 
 
 weight ? 
 
 Up to this time, the travellers, whilst admitting that this 
 action was constantly decreasing, had not yet become sensible to 
 
 its total absence. 
 
 But that day, about eleven o'clock in the morning, Nicholl 
 having accidentally let a glass slip from his hand, the glass, 
 instead of falling, remained suspended in the air. 
 
 " Ah 1" exclaimed Michel Ai'dan, " that is rather an amusing | 
 piece of natural philosophy." 
 
 And immediately divers other objects, firearms and bottles, 
 abandoned to themselves, held themselves up as by enchantment. 
 Diana too, placed in space by Michel, reproduced, but without 
 any trick, the wonderful suspension practised by Gaston and 
 Robert Iloudin. Indeed the dog did not seem to kno^V that she 
 was floating in air. 
 
 The three adventurpus companions were surprised and stupe- 
 fied, despite their scientific reasonings. They felt themselves 
 being carried into the domain of wonders ! they felt that wtight 
 was really wanting to their bodies. If they stretched out their 
 arms, they did not attempt to fall. Their heads shook on their 
 Bhouldere. Their feet no longer clung to the floor of the pro-
 
 L -_ ._^ 
 
 'AH I IF RAPmVEL UAD SEEN US THUS.' 
 
 [p. 217.]
 
 AT 78,514 LEAGirES. 21 7 
 
 jectile. They were like drunken men having no stability in 
 themselves. 
 
 Fancy has depicted men witliont reflection, others A^-ithout 
 shadow. But here realitij, by the neuti-ah'sation of attractive 
 forces, produced men in whom nothing had any weight, and who 
 weighed nothing themselves. 
 
 Suddenly Michel, taking a spring, left the floor and remained 
 suspended in the air, like Murillo's monk of the Cusine des Anges. 
 
 The two friends joined him instantly, and all three formed a 
 miraculous " Ascension " in the centre of the projectile. 
 
 "Is it to be believed? is it probable? is it possible?" ex- 
 cla'imed Michel ; " and yet it is so. Ah ! if Raphael had seen us 
 thus, what an * Assumption' he would have thrown upon canvas !" 
 
 "The 'Assumption' cannot last," replied Baibicane. "If the 
 projectile passes the neutral point, the lunar attraction will draw 
 us to the moon." 
 
 " Then our feet will be upon the roof," replied Michel. 
 
 " No," said Barbicane, " becaiise the projectile's centi'e of 
 gravity is very low ; it will only turn by degi'ees." 
 
 " Then all our portables will be upset from top to bottom, that 
 is a fact." 
 
 " Calm yourself, Michel," replied NichoU ; " no upset is to be 
 feared ; not a thing will move, for the projectile's evolution will 
 be imperceptible." 
 
 " Just so," continued Barbicane ; " and when it has passed the 
 point of equal attraction, its base, being the heavier, will draw it 
 perpendicularly to the moon; but, in order that this phenomenon 
 should take place, we must have passed the neutral line." 
 
 "Pass the neutral line ! " cried Michel; " then let us do as the 
 sailors do when they cross the equator." 
 
 A slight side movement brought Michel back towards the 
 padded side; thence he took a bottle and glasses, placed them "in 
 space" before his companions, and, drinking merrily, they saluted 
 the line with a triple hurrah. The influence of these attractions
 
 2i8 ROUND THp, MOON. 
 
 Bcarcely lasted an hour; the travellers felt themselves iueensibly 
 drawn towards the floor, and Barbicane fancied that the conical 
 end of the projectile was varying a little from its normal direction 
 towards the moon. By an inverse motion the base was approach- 
 ing first; the lunar attraction was prevailing over the terrestrial; 
 the fall towards the moon Avas beginning, almost imperceptibly as 
 yet, Init by degrees the attractive force would become stronger, 
 the full would be more decided, the projectile, drawn by its base, 
 would turn its cone to the earth, and fall with ever-increasing 
 ppecd on to the surface of the Selenite continent; their destina- 
 tion would then be attained. Now nothing could prevent the 
 success of their enterprise, and NichoU and Michel Ardan shared 
 Barbicanc's joy. 
 
 Then they chatted of all the phenomena which had astonished 
 them one after the other, particularly the neutralization of the 
 laws of weight. Michel Ardan, always enthusiastic, drew con- 
 clusions which were purely fanciful. 
 
 " Ah, my worthy friends," he exclaimed, " what progress we 
 should make if on earth we could throw off some of that weight, 
 some of that chain which binds us to her; it would be the 
 prisoner set at liberty; no more fatigue of either arms or legs. 
 Or, if it is true that in order to fly on the earth's surface, to keep 
 oneself suspended in the air merely by the play of the muscles, 
 there requires a strength a hundred and fifty times greater than 
 that which we possess, a simple act of volition, a caprice, would 
 bear us into space, if attraction did not exist." 
 
 "Just so," said NichoU, smiling; "if we could succeed in 
 pujijircssiug weight as they suppress pain by ana3sthesia, that 
 would change the face of modern society!" 
 
 " Yes," cried Michel, full of his subject, " destroy weight, and 
 no more burdens!" 
 
 "Well said," replied Barbicane; "but if nothing had any 
 weight, nothing would keep in its place, not even your hat on 
 youi- Lead, worthy Michel ; nor your house, whose stones only
 
 AT 78,514 LEAGUES. 219 
 
 adhere by weight ; not a boat, whose stability on the water is 
 caused only by weight ; not even the ocean, whose waves 
 would no longer be equalized by terrestrial attraction ; and lastly, 
 not even the atmosphe?-e, whose atoms, being no longer held in 
 their places, would disperse in space ! " 
 
 " That is tiresome," retorted Michel ; " nothing like these 
 matter-of-fact peoi^le for bi'inging one back to the bare reality." 
 
 " But console yourself, Michel," continued Barbicane, " for if 
 no orb exists from whence all laAVS of weight are banished, you are 
 at least going to visit one where it is much less than on the earth." 
 
 "The moon?" 
 
 " Yes, the moon, on whose surface objects weigh six times less 
 than on the earth, a phenomenon easy to prove." 
 
 " And we shall feel it ? " asked Michel. 
 
 " Evidently, as 2001bs. will only weigh 301bs. on the surface 
 of the moon." 
 
 "And our muscular strength will not diminish?" 
 
 " Not at all ; instead of jumping one yard high, you will rise 
 eighteen feet high." 
 
 " But we shall be regular Herculeses in the moon ! " exclaimed 
 Michel. 
 
 " Yes," replied Nicholl ; " for if the height of the Selenites is 
 in proportion to the density of their globe, they will be scarcely a 
 foot high." 
 
 " Lilliputians ! " ejaculated Michel ; " I shall play the part of 
 G ulliver. We are going to realize the fable of the giants. This 
 is the advantage of leaving one's own planet and overrunning 
 the solar world." 
 
 " One moment, Michel," answered Barbicane ; " if you wish to 
 ]>lay the part of Gulliver, only visit the inferior planets, such as 
 Mercury, Venus, or Mars, whose density is a little less than that 
 of the earth ; but do not venture into the great planets, Jupiter,^ 
 Saturn, Uranus, Neptune ; for there the order will be changed, 
 and you will become Lilliputian."
 
 220 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " And in the sun ? " 
 
 " In the sun, if its density is thirteen hundred and twenty-four 
 tliousand times greater, and the attraction is twenty-seven times 
 preiitor than on the surface of our globe, keeping everything 
 in proportion, the inhabitants ought to be at least two hundred 
 feet high." 
 
 " By Jove ! " exclaimed Michel ; " I should be nothing more 
 than a pigmy, a shrimp ! " 
 
 " Gulliver with the giants," said Nicholl. 
 
 "Just so," replied Barbicane. 
 
 ♦' And it would not be quite useless to carry some pieces of 
 artillery to defend oneself." 
 
 "Good," replied Nicholl; "your projectiles would have no 
 effect on the sun ; they would fall back on the earth after some 
 minutes." 
 
 " That is a strong remark." 
 
 "It is certain," replied Barbicane; "the attraction is so great 
 on this enormous orb, that an object weighing 70,0001bs. on 
 the earth would weigh but 19201bs. on the surface of the sun. 
 If you were to fall upon it you would weigh — let me see — about 
 SOOOlhs., a weight which you would never be able to raise again." 
 
 " The devil ! " said Michel ; " one would want a portable crane. 
 However, wo will be satisfied with the moon for the present • 
 there at least we shall cut a great figure. We will see about the 
 Bun by and by."
 
 THE CONSEQUENCES OF A DEVIATION. 221 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE CONSEQUENCES OP A DEVIATION. 
 
 Barbicane liad now no fear of the issue of the joui*ney, at least 
 as far as the projectile's impulsive force was concerned ; its own. 
 speed would carry it beyond the neutral line ; it would certainly 
 not return to earth ; it would certainly not remain motionless 
 on the line of attraction. One single hypothesis remained to be 
 realized, the arrival of the projectile at its destination by the 
 action of the lunar attraction. 
 
 It was in reality a fall of 8296 leagues on an orb, it is true, 
 where weight could only be reckoned at one-sixth of terrestrial 
 weight ; a formidable fall, nevertheless, and one against which 
 every precaution must be taken without delay. 
 
 These precautious were of two sorts, some to deaden the shock 
 when the projectile should touch the lunar soil, others to delay the 
 fall, and consequently make it less violent. 
 
 To deaden the shock, it was a pity that Barbicane was no 
 longer able to employ the means which had so ably weakened the 
 shock at departure, that is to say, by water used as springs and 
 the partition-breaks. 
 
 The partitions still existed but water failed, for they could not 
 use their reserve, which was precious, in case during the first 
 days the liquid element should be found wanting on lunar 
 soil. 
 
 And indeed this reserve would have been quite insufficient for 
 a spring. The layer of Avater stored in the projectile at their 
 departure, and on which the waterproof disc lay, occupied no less
 
 22a . ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 than three feet in depth, and spread over a surface of not less 
 tlmn fifty-four square feet. Besides, the cistern did not contain 
 cue fifth part of it ; they must therefore give up this efficient 
 means of deadening the shock of arrival. Happily, Barhicane, 
 not content with employing water, had furnished the movable 
 disc with strong spring plugs, destined to lessen the shock against 
 the base after the breaking of the horizontal partitions. These 
 plugs still existed ; they had only to readjust them and replace 
 the movable disc ; every piece, easy to handle, as their weight 
 was now scarcely felt, was quickly mounted. 
 
 The different pieces were fitted without trouble, it being only a 
 matter of bolts and screAvs ; tools were not wanting, and soon the 
 reinstated disc lay on its steel plugs, like a table on its legs. One 
 inconvenience resulted from the replacing of the disc, the lower 
 window was blocked up ; thus it was impossible for the travellers 
 to observe the moon from that opening while they were being 
 precipitated perpendicularly upon her ; but they were obliged to 
 give it up ; even by the side openings they could still see vast 
 lunar regions, as an aeronaut sees the earth from his car. 
 
 This replacing of the di<:o was at least an hour's work. It was 
 past twelve when all preparations were finished. Barbicane took 
 fresh observations on the inclination of the projectile, but to his 
 annoyance it had not turned over sufficiently for its fall ; it 
 seemed to take a curve parallel to the lunar disc. The orb of 
 night shone splendidly into space, whilst, opposite, the orb of day 
 blazed with fire. 
 
 Their situation began to make them uneasy. 
 
 "Arc wc reaching our destination ?" said Nicholl. 
 
 " Let us act as if we were about reaching it," replied Bar- 
 bicane. 
 
 " You are sceptical," retorted Michel Ardan. " We shall 
 arrive, and that, too, quicker than we like." 
 
 This answer brought Barbicane back to his preparations, and 
 he occupied himself with placing the contrivances intended to
 
 THE CONSEQUENCES OF A DEVIATION. 223 
 
 break their descent. We may remember the scene of the meeting 
 held at Tampa Town, in Florida, when Cajitain Nicholl came 
 forward as Barbicane's enemy and Michel Ardan's adversary. To 
 Captain NichoU's maintaining that the projectile would smash like 
 glass, Michel replied that he would break their fall by means of 
 rockets properly placed. 
 
 Thus, powerful fireworks, taking their starting-point from the 
 base and bursting outside, could, by producing a recoil, check to 
 a certain degree the projectile's speed. These rockets were to 
 burn in space, it is true ; but oxygen would not fail them, for they 
 could supply themselves with it, like the lunar volcanoes, the 
 burning of which has never yet been stopped by the want of 
 atmosphere round the moon. 
 
 Barbicane had accordingly supplied himself with these fire- 
 works, enclosed in little steel guns, which could be screwed on to 
 the base of the projectile. Inside, these guns were flush with the 
 bottom ; outside, they protruded about eighteen inches. There 
 were twenty of them. An opening left in the disc allowed them 
 to light the match with which each was provided. All the efiect 
 was felt outside. The burning mixture had been already rammed 
 into each gun. They had, then, nothing to do but to raise the 
 metallic buffers fixed in the base, and replace them by the guns, 
 which fitted closely in their places. 
 
 This new woi'k was finished about three o'clock, and after 
 taking all these precautions there remained but to wait. But the 
 projectile was perceptibly nearing the moon, and evidently suc- 
 cumbed to her influence to a certain degree ; though its own 
 velocity also drew it in an oblique direction. From these con- 
 flicting influences resulted a line which might become a tangent. 
 But it was certain that the projectile would not fall directly ou 
 the moon ; for its lower part, by reason of its weight, ought to be 
 turned towards her. 
 
 Barbicane's uneasiness increased as he saw his projectile resist 
 the influence of gravitation. The Unknown was opening befor*
 
 224 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 him, the Unknowu in interplanetary space. The man of science 
 thought he had foreseen the only three hypotheses possible— the 
 return to the earth, the return to the moon, or stagnation on the 
 neutral line ; and here a fourth hypothesis, big with all the 
 terrors of the Infinite, sui-ged up inopportunely. To face it with- 
 out flinching, one must be a resolute savant like Barbicane, a 
 phlegmatic being like NichoU, or an audacious adventurer like 
 Michel Ardan. 
 
 Conversation was started upon this subject. Other men would 
 have considered the question from a practical point of view ; they 
 would have asked themselves whither their projectile carriage was 
 carrying them. Not so with these ; they sought for the cause 
 which produced this effect. 
 
 " So we have become diverted from our route," said Michel ; 
 "but why?" 
 
 " I very much fear," answered Nicholl, ** that, in spite of all 
 precautions taken, the Columbiad was not fairly pointed. An 
 error, however small, would be enough to throw us out of the 
 moon's attraction." 
 
 " Then they must have aimed badly ?" asked Michel. 
 " I do not think so," replied Barbicane. "The perpendicularity 
 of the gun was exact, its direction to the zenith of the spot incon- 
 testible ; and the moon passing to the zenith of the spot, we 
 ought to reach it at the full. There is another reason, but it 
 escapes me." 
 
 "Are we not arriving too late ?" asked Nicholl. 
 " Too late ? " said Barbicane. 
 
 " Yes," continued Nicholl. " The Cambridge Observatory's 
 note says that the transit ought to be accomplished in ninety- 
 seven hours thirteen minutes and twenty seconds ; which means 
 to say, that sooner the moon will not be at the point indicated, 
 and that later it will have passed it." 
 
 "True," replied Barbicane. "But we started the 1st of 
 December, at thirleeu minutes and twenty-five seconds to eleven
 
 THE CONSEQUENCES OF A DEVIATION. 22$ 
 
 at night ; and we ought to arrive on the 5th at midnight, at tlie 
 exact moment when the moon would bo full ; and we are now at 
 the 5th of December. It is now half past three in the evening ; 
 half past eight ought to see us at the end of our journey. \\ hy 
 do we not arrive ?" 
 
 "Might it not be an excess of speed?" answered Nicholl ; 
 ** for we know now that its initial velocity was greater than they 
 supposed." 
 
 " No ! a hundred times, No ! " replied Barbicane. *' An excess 
 of speed, if the direction of the projectile had been right, Avould 
 not have prevented us reaching the moon. No, thex'e has been a 
 deviation. We have been turned out of our course." 
 
 " By whom ? by what ? " asked Nicholl. 
 
 " I cannot say," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " Very well, then, Barbicane," said Michel, " do you wish to 
 know my opinion on the subject of finding out this deviation ?" 
 
 " Speak." 
 
 " I would not give half a dollar to know it. That we have 
 deviated is a fact. Where we ai'e going to mattei's little ; we 
 shall soon see. Since we are being borne along in space we shall 
 end by falling into some centre of attraction or other." 
 
 Michel Ardan's indifference did not content Barbicane. Not 
 that he was uneasy about the future, but he wanted to know at 
 any cost why his projectile had deviated. 
 
 But the projectile continued its course sideways to the moon, 
 and wilh it the mass of things thrown out. Barbicane could even 
 prove, by the elevations which served as landmarks upon the 
 moon, which was only 2000 leagues distant, that its speed was 
 becoming uniform — fresh proof that there was no fall. Its impul- 
 sive force still prevailed over the lunar attraction, but the projec- 
 tile's course was certainly bringing it nearer to the moon, and 
 they might hope that at a nearer point the weight, predominating, 
 would cause a decided fall. 
 
 The three friends, having nothing better to do, continued theii* 
 
 Q
 
 2 26 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 observations ; but tlicy could not yet determine the topographical 
 position of the satellite ; every relief was levelled under the 
 reflection of the solar rays. 
 
 They watched thus through the side windows until eight 
 o'clock at night. The moon had then grown so large in their 
 eyes that it filled half of the firmament. The sun on one side, and 
 the orb of night on the other, flooded the projectile with light. 
 
 At that moment, Barbicane thought he could estimate the dis- 
 tance which separated them from their aim at no more than 700 
 leagues. The speed of the projectile seemed to him to be more 
 than 200 yards, or about 170 leagues a second. Under the cen- 
 tripetal force, the base of the projectile tended towards the moon ; 
 but the centrifugal still prevailed ; and it was probable that its 
 rectilineal course would be changed to a curve of some sort, the 
 nature of which they could not at present determine. 
 
 Barbicane was still seeking the solution of his insoluble 
 problem. Hours passed without any result. The projectile was 
 evidently nearing the moon, but it was also evident that it would 
 never reach her. As to the nearest distance at which it would 
 pass her, that must be the result of the two forces, attraction and 
 repulsion, affecting its motion. 
 
 " I ask but one thing," said Michel ; " that we may pass near 
 enough to penetrate her secrets." 
 
 " Cursed be the thing that has caused our projectile to deviate 
 from its course," cried Nicholl. 
 
 And, as if a light had suddenly broken in upon his mind, Bar- 
 bicane answered, " Then cursed be the meteor which crossed our 
 path," 
 
 " What ?" said Michel Ardan. 
 •' What do you mean ? " exclaimed Nicholl. 
 " I mean," said Barbicane in a decided tone, "I mean that our 
 deviation is owing solely to our meeting with this erring body." 
 " But it did not even brush us as it passed," said Michel. 
 " What does that matter ? Its mass, compared to that of our
 
 THE CONSEQUENCES OF A DEVIATION. 227 
 
 projectile, was enormous, and its attraction was enough to influence 
 
 our course." 
 
 "So little?" cried Nicholl. 
 
 " Yes, Nicholl ; but however little it might be," replied Bar- 
 bicane, " in a distance of 84,000 leagues, it wanted no more to 
 make us miss the moon." 
 
 Q2
 
 2 28 ROUND THE MOON, 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE OBSERVERS OP THE MOON. 
 
 Baudicane had evidently hit iijion the only plausible reason of 
 tliis deviation. However slight it might have been, it had sufficed 
 to modify the course of the projectile. It was a fatality. The 
 bold attempt had miscarried by a fortuitous circumstance; and 
 unless by some exceptional event, they could now never reach the 
 moon's disc. 
 
 Would they pass near enough to be able to solve certain phy-, 
 sical and geological questions until then insoluble ? This waS' 
 the question, and the only one, which occupied the minds of these 
 bold travellers. As to the fate in store for themselves, they did 
 not even dream of it. 
 
 But what would become of them amid these infinite solitudes, 
 tlieso who would soon want air ? A few more days, and they 
 would full stifled in this wandering projectile. But some days 
 to these intrepid fellows was a century; and they devoted all 
 their time to observe that moon which they no longer hoped to 
 reach. 
 
 The distance which then separated the projectile from the 
 satellite was estimated at about 200 leagues. Under these con- 
 .litions, as regards the visibility of the details of the disc, the 
 travellers were farther from the moon than are the inhabitants of 
 the earth with their powerful telescopes. 
 
 Indeed, we know that the instrumeut mounted by Lord Rosse 
 at Par.sonstown, which magnifies 6500 times, brings the moon to 
 within an ai)parcnt distance of sixteen leagues. And more than
 
 THE TELESCOPE AT PARSONTOWN. 
 
 [p. 228.]
 
 THE OBSERVERS OF THE MOON. 229 
 
 that, Avilh the powerful one set up at Long's Peak, the orb of 
 night, maguified 48,000 times, is brought to within less than two 
 leagues, and objects having a diameter of thirty feet are seen 
 very distinctly. So that, at this distance, the topographical 
 details of the moon, observed without glasses, could not be 
 determined with precision. The eye caught the vast outline of 
 those immense depressions inappropriately called " seas," but they 
 could not recognize their nature. The prominence of the moun- 
 tains disappeared under the splendid irradiation produced by the 
 reflection of the solar rays. The eye, dazzled as if it was leaining 
 over a bath of molten silver, turned from it involuntarily ; but 
 the oblong form of the orb was quite clear. It appeared like a 
 gigantic egg, with the small end turned towards the earth. 
 Indeed the moon, liquid and pliable in the first days of its for- 
 mation, was originally a perfect sphere ; but, being soon drawn, 
 within the attraction of the earth, it became elongated under the 
 influence of gravitation. In becoming a satellite, she lost her 
 native purity of form ; her centi-e of gravity was in advance of 
 the centre of her figure ; and from this fact some savants 
 draw the conclusion that the air and water had taken refuge on' 
 the opposite surface of the moon, which is never seen from the 
 earth. This alteration in the primitive form of the satellite was 
 only perceptible for a few moments. The distance of the pro- 
 jectile from the moon diminished very rapidly under its speed, 
 though that was much less than its initial velocity, — but eight or 
 nine times greater than that which propels our express trains. 
 The oblique course of the projectile, from its very obliquity, gave 
 Michel Ardan some hopes of striking the lunar disc at some point 
 or other. He could not think that tbey would never reach it. 
 No! he could not believe it; and this opinion he often repeated. 
 But Barbicane, who was a better judge, always answered him 
 with merciless logic. 
 
 " No, Michel, no ! "We can only reach the moon by a fall, and 
 we are not falling. The centx-ipetal force keeps us under the
 
 23° 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 moon's influence, but the centrifugal force draws us irresistibly 
 away from it." 
 
 This was said in a tone which quenched Michel Ardan's last 
 hope. 
 
 The portion of the moon which the projectile was nearing was 
 the northern hemisphere, that which the Selenographic maps place 
 below ; for these maps are generally drawn after the outline given 
 by the glasses, and we know that they reverse the objects. Such 
 was the Maj)pa Selenograpliica of Bccer and Moedler which 
 Barbicane consulted. This northern hemisphere presented vast 
 plains, dotted with isolated mountains. 
 
 At midnight the moon was full. At that precise moment the 
 traveliors sliould have alighted upon it, if the mischievous meteor 
 had not diverted their course. The orb was exactly in the 
 condition deteraiined by the Cambridge Observatory. It was 
 mathematically at its perigee, and at the zenith of the twenty- 
 eighth parallel. An observer placed at the bottom of the enormous 
 Columbiad, pointed perpendicularly to the horizon, would have 
 framed the moon in the mouth of the gun. A straight line drawn 
 through the axis of the piece would have passed through the 
 centre of the orb of night. It is needless to say, that during the 
 night of the 5th — 6th of December, the travellers took not an 
 instant's rest. Could they close their eyes when so near this new 
 world ? No ! All their feelings were concentrated in one single 
 thought : — See ! Representatives of the earth, of humanity, past 
 and present, all centred in them ! It is through their eyes that 
 the human race look at these lunar regions, and penetrate the 
 secrets of tlieir satellite ! A strange emotion filled their hearts as 
 they went from one window to the other. 
 
 Their observations, reproduced by Barbicane, were rigidly 
 determined. To take them, they had glasses ; to correct them, 
 maps. 
 
 As regards the optical instruments at their disposal, they had 
 excellent marine glasses specially constructed for this journey.
 
 THE OBSERVERS OF THE MOON. 23 1 
 
 They possessed magnifying powers of 100. They would thus 
 have brought the moon to within a distance (apparent) of less 
 than 2000 leagues from the earth. But then, at a distance which 
 for three hours in the morning did not exceed sixty-five miles, 
 and in a medium free from all atmospheric disturbances, these 
 instruments could reduce the lunar surface to with'" 'ess than 
 1500 yards!
 
 J32 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 FANCY AND REALITY. 
 
 " Have you ever seen the raoou ?" asked a professor, ironically, 
 of one of his pupils. 
 
 " No, sir !" replied the pupil, still more ironically, "but 1 must 
 pay I have hcaid'it spoken of." 
 
 In one sense, the pupil's witty answer might be given by a large 
 niajoi ity of sublunary beings. How many people have heard speak 
 of the moon, who have never seen it — at least through a glass 
 or a telescope ! How many have never examined the map of their 
 satellite ! 
 
 In looking at a selenographic map, one peculiarity strikes us. 
 Contrary to the arrangement followed for that of the Earth 
 and -Mars, the continents occupy more particularly the southern 
 hemisphere of the lunar globe. These continents do not show 
 such decided, clear, and regular boundary lines as South America, 
 Africa, and the Indian peninsula. Their angular, capricious, and 
 deeply indented coasts, are rich in gulfs and peninsulas. They 
 remind one of the confusion in the islands of the Sound, where 
 the land is excessively indented. If navigation ever existed on 
 the surface of the moon, it must have been wonderfully difficult 
 and dangerous ; and we may well pity the Selenite sailors and 
 hydrographers ; the former, when they came upon these perilous 
 coasts, the latter, when they took the soundings of its stormy 
 banks. 
 
 We may also notice that, on the lunar sphere, the south pole is 
 much more continental than the north pole. On the latter, there
 
 HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD SPEAK OF THE MOOIT, 
 
 [p. 232.]
 
 t
 
 FANCY AND REALITY. 233 
 
 is but one slight strip of land separated from other continents by 
 vast seas. Towards the south, continents clothe almost the 
 whole of the hemisphere. It is even possible that the Selenites 
 bave already planted the flag on one of their poles, whilst 
 Franklin, Ross, Kane, Dumont d'Urville, and Lambert, have 
 never yet been able to attain that imknown point of the terrestrial 
 globe. 
 
 As to islands, they are numerous on the surface of the moon. 
 Nearly all oblong or circular, and as if traced with the compass, 
 they seem to form one vast Archipelago, equal to that charming 
 group lying between Greece and Asia Minor, and which mytho- 
 logy in ancient times adorned Avith most graceful legends. 
 Involuntarily the names of Naxos, Tenedos, and Carpathos, 
 rise before the mind, and we seek vainly for Ulysses' vessel 
 or the "clipper" of the Argonauts. So at least it was in 
 Michel Ardan's eyes. To him it was a Grecian Archipelago 
 that he saw on the map. To the eyes of his matter-of-fact com- 
 panions, the aspect of these coasts recalled rather tbe parcelled- 
 out land of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia ; and where 
 the Frenchman discovered traces of the hei'oes of fable, these 
 Americans were marking the most favourable points for the 
 establishment of stores in the interests of lunar commerce and 
 
 industry. 
 
 After wandering over these vast continents, the eye is attracted 
 by still greater seas. Not only their formation, but their situation 
 and aspect remind one of the terrestrial oceans ; but again, as on 
 earth, these seas occupy the greater portion of the globe. But in 
 point of fact, these are not liquid spaces, but plains, the nature of 
 which the travellers hoped soon to determine. Astronomers, we 
 must allow, have graced these pretended seas with at least odd 
 names, which science has respected up to the present time. 
 Michel Ardan was right when he compared this map to a 
 " Tendre card," got up by a Scudary or a Cyrano de Bergerac. 
 " Only," said he, " it is no longer the sentimental card of the
 
 J34 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 sevcnteccnth century, it is the card of life, very neatly divided 
 into two parts, one feminine, the other masculine; the right hemi- 
 sphere for woman, the left for man." 
 
 In speaking thus, Michel made his prosaic companions shrug 
 their slioulders. Barhicane and NichoU looked upon the lunar 
 map from a very different point of view to that of their fantastic 
 friend. Nevertheless, their fantastic friend was a little in the 
 right. Judge for yourselves. 
 
 In the left hemisphere stretches the " Sea of Clouds," where 
 human reason is so often shipwrecked. Not far off lies the " Sea 
 of Rains," fed by all the fever of existence. Near this is the 
 " Sea of Storms," where man is ever fighting against his passions, 
 which too often gain the victory. Then, worn out by deceit, 
 treasons, infidelity, and the whole body of terrestrial misery, 
 what does he find at the end of his career ? that vast " Sea of 
 Humours," barely softened by some drops of the waters from the 
 " Gulf of Dew !" Clouds, rain, storms, and humours, — does the life 
 of man contain aught but these ? and is it not summed up in these 
 four words ? 
 
 The right hemisphere, " dedicated to the ladies," encloses 
 smaller seas, whose significant names contain every incident of a 
 feminine existence. There is the " Sea of Serenity," over which 
 the young girl bends; " The Lake of Dreams," reflecting a joyous 
 future; "the Sea of Nectar," with its waves of tenderness and 
 breezes of love; " The Sea of Fruitfulness;" "The Sea of Crises;" 
 then the " Sea of Vapours," whose dimensions are perhaps a little 
 too confined ; and lastly, that vast " Sea of Tranquillity," in which 
 every false passion, every useless dream, every unsatisfied desire 
 is at length absorbed, and whose waves emerge peaceably into the 
 " Lake of Death !" 
 
 What a strange succession of names ! What a singular division 
 of the moon's two hemispheres, joined to one another hke man 
 and woman, and forming that sphere of life carried into space ! 
 And was not the fantastic Michel right in thus interpreting the
 
 FjyCV AND REALITY. 235 
 
 fancies of the ancient astronomers ? But -whilst his imagination 
 thus roved over " the seas," his grave companions were con- 
 sidering things more geographically. They Avere learning 
 this new world by heart. They were measuring angles and 
 diameters.
 
 236 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 OROGRArniC DETAILS. 
 
 The course talvcn by the projectile, as we have before remai-ked, 
 was bearing it towards the moon's northern hemisphere. The 
 travellers were far from the central point which they would have 
 struck, had their course not been subject to an irremediable 
 deviation. It was past midnight ; and Barbicane then estimated 
 the distance at 750 miles, which was a little gi'eater than the 
 length of the lunar radius, and Avhich would diminish as it 
 advanced nearer to the North Pole. The projectile was then 
 not at the altitude of the equator ; but across the tenth parallel, 
 and from that latitude, carefully taken on the map to the pole, 
 Barbicane and his two companions were able to observe the moon 
 under the most favourable conditions. Indeed, by means of 
 glasses, the above named distance Avas reduced to little more than 
 fourteen miles. The telescope of the Rocky Mountains brought 
 the moon much nearer ; but the terrestrial atmosphere singularly 
 lessened its power. Thus Barbicane, posted in his projectile, 
 with the glasses to his eyes, could seize upon details which were 
 almost imperceptible to earthly observers. 
 
 " My friends," said the president, in a serious voice, " I do not 
 know whither we are going ; I do not know if we shall ever see 
 the terrestrial globe again. Nevertheless, let us proceed as if our 
 work would one day be useful to our fellow-men. Let us keep 
 our minds free from every other considei-ation. We are astro- 
 nomers ; and this projectile is a room in the Cambridge University, 
 carried into s])acc. Let us make our observations !"
 
 OROGRAPHIC DETAILS. 237 
 
 This said, work was begun with great exactness ; and they 
 faithfully reproduced the ditFerent aspects of the moon, at the 
 different distances which the projectile reached. 
 
 At the time that the projectile was as high as the tenth parallel, 
 N. latitude, it seemed rigidly to follow the twentieth degree, 
 E. loncritude. We must here make one important remark with 
 regard to the map by which they were taking observations. In 
 the selenographical maps where, on account of the reversing of 
 the objects by the glasses, the south is above and the north below, 
 it would seem natural that, on account of that inversion, the east 
 should be to the left hand, and the west to the right. But it is 
 not so. If the map were turned upside down, showing the moon 
 as we see her, the east would be to the left, and the west to the 
 right, contrary to that which exists on terrestrial maps. The 
 following is the reason of this anomaly. Observers in the 
 northern hemisphere (say in Europe) see the moon in the south, — 
 according to them. When they take observations, they turn their 
 backs to the north, the reverse position to that which they occupy 
 when they study a terrestrial map. As they turn their backs to 
 the north, the east is on their left, and the west to their right. 
 To observers in the southern hemisphere (Patagonia for example), 
 the moon's west would be quite to their left, and the east to their 
 rit^ht. as the south is behind them. Such is the reason of the 
 apparent reversing of these two cardinal points, and we must bear 
 it in mind in order to be able to follow President Barbicane's 
 observations. 
 
 With the help of Boeer and Moedler's Mappa Selenographica, the 
 travellers were able at once to recognijse that portion of the disc 
 enclosed within the field of their glasses. 
 
 " What are we looking at, at this moment ?" asked Michel. 
 
 " At the northern part of the ' Sea of Clouds,' " answered Bar- 
 
 bicane. " We are too far off to recognize its nature. Are these 
 
 plains composed of arid sand, as the first astronomer maintained ? 
 
 Or are they nothing but immense forests, according to M. Warreu
 
 2-}8 ROUND THE MOGN. 
 
 do la Riio's opiaiou, who gives the moon an atmosphere, though 
 a very low and a very dense one ? That wo shall know by and 
 Ity. We must affirm nothing until we are in a position to 
 (to so. 
 
 'J'his " Sea of Clouds " is rather doubtfully marked out upon 
 the maps. It is supposed that these vast plains are strewn with 
 blocks of lava from the neighbouring volcanoes on its right, 
 Ptolemy, Purbach, Arzachel. But the projectile was advancing, 
 and sensibly nearing it. Soon there appeared the heights which 
 bound this sea at this northern limit. Before them rose a moun- 
 tain radiant with beauty, the top of which seemed lost in an 
 eruption of solar rays. 
 
 " That is— ?" asked Michel. 
 
 " Copernicus," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " Let us see Copernicus." 
 
 This mount situated in 9° north latitude and 20° east longitude, 
 rose to a height of 10,600 feet abov-e the surface of the moon. It is 
 quite visible from the earth ; and astronomers can study it with 
 e^sc, particularly during the phase between the last quarter and 
 the new moon, because then the shadows are thrown lengthways 
 from east to west, allowing them to measure the heights. 
 
 This Copernicus forms the most important of the radiating 
 eystcm, situated in the southern hemisphere, according to Tycho 
 lirahe. It rises isolated like a gigantic lighthouse on that portion 
 of the Sea of Clouds, which is bounded by the " Sea of Tem- 
 pests," thus lighting by its splendid rays two oceans at a time. 
 It was a sight without an equal, those long luminous trains, so 
 dazzling in the full moon, and which, passing the boundary chain 
 on the north, extends to the " Sea of Rains." At one o'clock of 
 the teiTcstrial morning, the projectile, like a balloon borne into 
 space, overlooked the top of this superb mountain. Barbicane 
 could recognize perfectly its chief features. Copernicus is com- 
 prised in the series of ringed mountains of the first order, in the 
 division of great circles. Like Kepler and Aristarchus, which
 
 OROGRArillC DETAILS. 
 
 239 
 
 overlook the Ocean of Tempests, sometimes it appeared like a 
 brilliant point through the cloudy light, and was taken for a 
 volcano in activity. But it is only an extinct one, — like all on that 
 side of the moon. Its circumference showed a diameter of about 
 twenty-two leagues. The glasses discovered traces of stratifica- 
 tion produced by successive eruptions, and the neighbourhood 
 was strewn with volcanic remains which still choked some of the 
 craters. 
 
 " There exist," said Barbicane, " several kinds of circles on the 
 surface of the moon, and it is easy to see that Copernicus belongs 
 to the radiating class. If we were nearer, we should see the 
 cones bristling on the inside, which in former times were so many 
 fiery mouths. A curious arrangement, and one w.ithout an 
 exception on the lunar disc, is that the interior surface of these 
 circles is the reverse of the exterior, and contrary to the form 
 taken by terrestrial craters. It follows, then, that the general 
 curve of the bottom of these circles gives a sphere of a smaller 
 diameter than that of the moon." 
 
 " And why this peculiar disposition ? " asked Nicholl. 
 
 " We do not know," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " What splendid radiation!" said Michel. " One could hardly 
 see a finer spectacle, I think." 
 
 "What would you say, then," replied Barbicane, "if chance 
 should bear us towards the southern hemisphere ?" 
 
 " Well, I should say that it was still more beautiful," retorted 
 Michel Ardan. 
 
 At this moment the projectile hung perpendicularly over .the 
 circle. The circumference of Copernicus formed almost a perfect 
 circle, and its steep escarpments were clearly defined. They 
 could even distinguish a second ringed enclosure. Around spread 
 a greyish plain, of a wild aspect, on which every relief was 
 marked in yellow. At the bottom of the circle, as if enclosed in a 
 jewel case, sparkled for one instant two or three erupMve cones, 
 like enormous dazzling gems. Towards the north the escarp-
 
 240 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 mcnts were lowered by a depression which would probably have 
 given access to the interior of the crater. 
 
 In passing over the surrounding plains, Barbicane noticed a 
 great number of less important mountains ; and among others a 
 little ringed one called Guy Lussac, the breadth of which 
 measured twelve miles. 
 
 Towards the south, the plain was very flat, without one eleva- 
 tion, without one projection. Towards the north, on the contrary, 
 till where it was bounded by the Sea of Storms it resembled a 
 liquid surAice agitated by a storm, of which the hills and hollows 
 formed a succession of waves suddenly congealed. Over the 
 whole of this, and in all directions, lay the luminous lines, all 
 convci'ging to the summit of Copernicus. 
 
 The travellers discussed the origin of these strange rays ; but 
 they could not determine their nature any more than terrestrial 
 observers. 
 
 "But why," said NichoU, "should not these rays be simply 
 epurs of mountains which reflect more vividly the light of the 
 
 sun ?' 
 
 " No," replied Barbicane ; " if it was so, under certain con- 
 ditions of the moon, these ridges would cast shadows, and they 
 do not cast any." 
 
 And indeed, these rays only appeared when the orb of day was 
 in opposition to the moon, and disappeared as soon as its rays 
 became oblique. 
 
 " But how have they endeavoured to explain these lines of 
 light?" asked Michel; "for I cannot believe that savants would 
 ever be stranded for want of an explanation." 
 
 " Yes," replied Barbicane ; " Herschel has put forward an 
 opinion, but he did not venture to affirm it." 
 
 "Never mind. What was the opinion?" 
 
 " He thought that these rays might be streams of cooled lava 
 which shone when the sun beat straight upon them. It may be 
 80; but nothing can be less certain. Besides, if we pass nearer
 
 "THIS PLAIN WOULD THEN BE NOTHING BUT AX 
 IMMENSE CEMETERY." 
 
 [p. 241.]
 
 OROGRAPHIC DETAILS, 2\\ 
 
 ;o Tycho, we shall be in a better position to find out the cause of 
 ,his radiation." 
 
 " Do you know, my friends, what that plain, seen from the 
 leight we are at, resembles?" said Michel. 
 
 "No," replied Nicholi. 
 
 "Very well; with all those pieces of lava lengthened like 
 •ockets, it resembles an immense game of spelikans thrown pell- 
 nell. There wants but the hook to pull them out one by one." 
 
 " Do be serious," said Barbicane. 
 
 "Well, let us be serious," replied Michel, quietly; "and 
 nstead of spelikans, let us put bones. This plain would then be 
 lothing but an immense cemetery, ou which would repose the 
 uortal remains of thousands of extinct generations. Do you 
 :)i-efer that high-flown comparison ? " 
 
 " One is as good as the other," retorted Bai-bicane. 
 
 "My woi'd, you are difficult to please," answered Michel. 
 
 "My worthy friend," continued the matter-of-fact Barbicane, 
 ' it matters but little what it resembles, when we do not know 
 kvhat it is" 
 
 " Well answered," exclaimed Michel. " That will teach me to 
 'eason with savants." 
 
 But the projectile continued to advance with almost uniform 
 speed ax'oiind the lunar disc. The travellers, we may easily imagine, 
 lid not dream of taking a moment's rest. Every minute changed 
 ;he landscape which fled from beneath their gaze. About hali- 
 3ast one o'clock in the morning, they caught a glimpse of the tops 
 )f another mountain. Barbicane, consulting his map, recognized 
 Eratosthenes. 
 
 It was a ringed mountain 9000 feet high, and one Oi' thoso 
 nrcles so numerous on this satellite. With regard lo this, Bar- 
 bicane related Kepler's singular opinion on the foimation o.' 
 jircles. According to that celebrated mathematician, these crater- 
 ike cavities had been dug by the hand o* man. 
 
 "For what purpose?" asked NichoU. 
 
 li
 
 242 
 
 ROUNt> THE MOON. 
 
 " For fi very natural one," replied Barbicaue. " The Selenites 
 nii"lit have timlfrtakcn these immense works and dug these 
 enormous holes for a refuge and shield from the solar rays which 
 beat upon them during fil'tccn consecutive days.'' 
 
 " The Selenites are not fools," said Michel. 
 
 " A singular idea," replied Nicholl ; " but it is probable that 
 Koplor did not know the true dimensions of these circles, for 
 the digging of them would have been the work of giants, quite 
 impossible for the Selenites." 
 
 " Why ? if weight on the moon's surface is six times less 
 than on the carlh?" said Michel. 
 
 " IJut if the Selenites are six times smaller?" retorted Nicholl. 
 
 "And if there are no Selenites?" added Barbicane. 
 
 This put an cud to the discussion. 
 
 Soon Eratosthenes disappeared under the horizon without the 
 projectile being sufficiently near to allow of close observation. 
 This mountain separated the Apennines from the Carpathians. 
 In the lunar orography they have discerned some chains of moun- 
 tains, which are chiefly distributed over the northern hemisphere. 
 Some, however, occupy certain portions of the southern hemi- 
 sphere also. 
 
 About two o'clock in the morning Barbicane found that 
 they were above the twentieth lunar parallel. Tlie distance of 
 the projectile from the moon was not more than 600 miles. 
 Barbicane, now perceiving that the projectile was steadily ap- 
 proaching the lunar disc, did not despair, if of reaching her, at 
 Icait of discovering the secrets of her configuration.
 
 LUNAR LANDSCAPES. 243 
 
 CriAPTER XIII. 
 
 LUNAR LANDSCAPES. 
 
 At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the 
 thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of 500 miles, 
 reduced by the glasses to five. It still seemed impossible, however, 
 that it could ever touch any part of the disc. Its motive speed, 
 comparatively so moderate, was inexplicable to President Bar- 
 bicane. At that distance from the moon it must have been con- 
 siderable, to enable it to bear up against her attraction. Here 
 was a phenomenon the cause of which escaped them again. 
 Beside;:?, time failed them to investigate the cause. All lunar 
 relief was defiling under the eyes of the travellers, and they 
 would not lose a single detail. 
 
 Under the glasses the disc appeared at the distance of five 
 miles. What would an aeronaut, borne to this distance from the 
 earth, distinguish on its surface ? We cannot say, since the 
 greatest ascension has not been more than 25,000 feet. 
 
 This, however, is an exact description of what Barbicane and 
 his companions saw at this heiglit. Large patches of different 
 colours arppeared on the disc. Selenographers are not agreed 
 upon the nature of these colours. There are several, and 
 rather vividly marked. Julius Schmidt, pretends that, if the 
 terrestrial oceans were dried up, a Selenite observer could not 
 distinguish on the globe a greater diversity of shades between 
 the oceans and the continental plains than those on the moon 
 present to a terrestrial obsei'ver. According to him, the colour 
 common to the vast plains known by the name of " seas " is a 
 
 B 2
 
 2^^ ROUND THE MOON: 
 
 dark grey mixed with green and hrown. Some of tlie large 
 cmtorri present the same appearance. Barbicane knew this 
 opiiiioa of the German selenographer, an opinion shared by 
 B(Ecr and Mocdler. Observation has proved that right was on 
 their side, and not on that of some astronomers Avho admit the 
 existence of only grey on the moon's surface. In some parts 
 green was very distinct, such as springs, according to Julius 
 Schmidt, from the seas of Serenity and Humours. Barbicane 
 also noticed large craters, without any interior cones, which shed 
 n bluish tint similar to the reflection of a sheet of steel freshly 
 polished. These colours belonged really to the lunar disc, and 
 did not result, as some astronomers say, cither from the imper- 
 fection in the objective of the glasses or from the interposition of 
 the terrestrial atmosphere. 
 
 Not a doubt existed in Barbicane's mind with regard to it, as 
 ho observed it through space, and so could not commit any 
 optical error. He considered the establishment of this fact as an 
 acquisition to science. Now, were these shades of green, belong- 
 ing to tropical vegetation, kept up by a low dense atmosphere? 
 He could not yet say. 
 
 Farther on, he noticed a reddish tint, quite defined. The same 
 shade had before been observed at the bottom of an isolated 
 enclosure, known by the name of Lichtenburg's circle, which is 
 situated near the Hercynian mountains, on the borders of the 
 moon ; but they could not tell the nature of it. 
 
 Tiiey were not more fortunate with regard to another peculiarity 
 of the disc, for they could not decide upon the caus'e of it. 
 
 Michel Ardan was watching near the president, when he 
 noticed long white lines, vividly lighted up by the direct rays of 
 the sun. It was a succession of luminous furrows, very different 
 from the radiation of Copernicus not long before; they ran 
 parallel with each other. 
 
 Michel, with his usual readiness, hastened to exclaim, — 
 " Look there! cultivated fields ! "
 
 "WHAT GIANT OXEN." 
 
 rP. 245.]
 
 LUNAR LANDSCAPES. 245 
 
 " Cultivated fields ! " replied Nicholl, slirugging his shoulders. 
 
 " Ploughed, at all events," retorted Michel Ardan ; " but what 
 labourers those Selenites must be, and what giant oxeu they must 
 harness to their plough to cut such furrows ! " 
 
 " They are not furrows," said Barbicane ; " they are r\fts.^' 
 
 "Rifts? stuff!" replied Michel mildly; "but what do you 
 mean by ' rifts' in the scientific world ?" 
 
 Barbicane immediately enlightened his companion as to what 
 he knew about lunar rifts. He knew that they were a kind of 
 furrow found on every part of the disc which was not mountain- 
 ous ; that these furrows, genex'ally isolated, measured from 400 
 to 500 leagues in length ; that their breadth varied from 1000 
 to 1500 yards, and that their borders were strictly parallel; but 
 he knew nothing more either of their formation or their nature. 
 
 Barbicane, through his glasses, observed these rifts with great 
 attention. He noticed that their borders were formed of steep 
 declivities ; they were long parallel ramparts, and with some 
 small amount of imagination he might have admitted the 
 existence of long lines of fortifications, raised by Selenite engi- 
 neers. Of these diiFerent rifts some were perfectly straight, as 
 if cut by a line; others were' slightly curved, though still keeping 
 their borders parallel ; some crossed each other, some cut through 
 craters ; here they wound through ordinary cavities, such as Posi- 
 donius or Petavius ; there they wound through the seas, such as 
 the Sea of Serenity. 
 
 These natural accidents naturally excited the imaginations of 
 these terrestrial astronomers. The first observations had not 
 discovered these rifts. Neither Hevelius, Cassim, La Hire, nor 
 Herschel seemed to have known them. It was Schroeter who in 
 1789 first drew attention to them. Others followed who studied 
 them, as Pastorff, Gruithuysen, Boeer, and Moedler. At this 
 time their number amounts to seventy; but, if they have been 
 counted, their nature has not yet been determined ; they are 
 certainly not fortifications, any more than they ai'e the ancient
 
 2^6 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 hetls of (Iripd-np rivers ; for, on one side, the waters, so slight 
 on the moon's surface, could never have worn such drains for 
 themselves ; and, on the other, they often cross craters of great 
 elevation. 
 
 "\Vo must, however, allow that Michel Ardan had " an idea," 
 nnil that, witiiout knowing it, he coincided iu that respect with 
 Julius Schmidt. 
 
 " Wiiy," said he, " should not these unaccountable appearances 
 be simply plienomena of vegetation ?" 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked Bai bicane quickly. 
 
 " Do not excite yourself, my wortliy president," replied Michel; 
 "might it not be possible that the dark lines forming that bastion 
 were rows of trees regularly placed ? " 
 
 " You stick to your vegetation, then ?" said Barbicane. 
 
 " I like," retorted Michel Ardan, " to ex^jlain what you savants 
 cannot explain ; at least my hypothesis has the advantage of 
 indicating why these rifts disappear, or seem to disappear, at 
 certain seasons." 
 
 " And for what reason ? " 
 
 " For the reason that the trees become invisible when they lose 
 their leaves, and visible when they regain them." 
 
 "Your explanation is ingenious, my dear companion," replied 
 Barbicane, " but inadmissable." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Because, so to speak, there are no seasons on the moon's 
 surface, and that, consequently, the phenomena of vegetation of 
 wliich you speak cannot occur." 
 
 Indeed, the slight obliquity of the lunar axis keeps the sun 
 at an almost equal height in every latitude. Above the 
 equatorial regions the radiant orb almost invariably occupies the 
 zenith, and does not pass the limits of the horizon iu the polar 
 regions; tiuis, according to each region, there reigns a perpetual 
 winter, spring, summer, or autumn, as in the planet Jupiter, whose 
 axis is but little inclined upon its orbit.
 
 HE COULD DISTINGUISH XOTIUXG BUT DESERT BEDS. 
 
 [p. 247.]
 
 LUNAR LANDSCAPES. 247 
 
 Wliiit origin do tlicy attribute to these rifts? That is a 
 question diflicult to solve. They are certainly anterior to the 
 foimation of craters and circles, for several have introduced them- 
 selves by breaking through their circular ramparts. Thus it 
 may be that, contemporary with the latter geological epochs, they 
 are due to the expansion of natural forces. 
 
 But the projectile had now attained the 40° of lunar lat., at a 
 distance not exceeding 400 miles. Through the glasses objects 
 appeared to be only four miles distant. 
 
 At this point, under their feet, rose Mount Helicon. 1520 feet 
 high, and round about the left rose moderate elevations, enclosing 
 a small portion of the " Sea of E.aius," under the name of the 
 Gulf of Iris. The terrestrial atmosphere would have to be one 
 hundred and seventy times more transparent than it is, to allow 
 astronomers to make perfect observations on the moon's surface; 
 but in the void in which the projectile floated no fluid interposed 
 itself between the eye of the observer and the object observed. And 
 more, Barbicane found himself cax'ried to a greater distance than 
 the most powerful telescopes had ever done before, either that of 
 Lord Rosse or that of the Rocky Mountains. He was, therefore, 
 under extremely favourable conditions for solving that great ques- 
 tion of the habitability of the moon ; but the solution still escaped 
 him ; he could distinguish nothing but desert beds, immense 
 plains, and towards the north, arid mountains. Not a work be- 
 trayed the hand of man; not a ruin marked his course; not a group 
 of animals was to be seen indicating life, even in an inferior 
 degree. In no part was there life, in no part was there an 
 appearance of vegetation. Of the three kingdoms which share the 
 terrestrial globe between them, one alone was representeu on the 
 lunar, and that the mineral. 
 
 " Ah, indeed ! " said Michel Ardan, a little out of countenance; 
 " then you see no one ? " 
 
 " No," answered NichoU ; " up to this time not a man, not an 
 animal, not a tree! After all, whether the atmos^jhere has taken
 
 248 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 refiigo at the bottom of cavities, in the midst of the circles, or 
 oven on the opposite face of tlie moon, we cannot decide." 
 
 *' Besides," added Barbicane, " even to the most piercing eye a 
 man cannot be distinguished farther than three miles and a half 
 off; 80 that, if there are any Seleuites, they can see our projectile, 
 but we cannot see them." 
 
 Towards four in the morning, at the height of the fiftieth 
 jtanillel, the distance was i-educed to 300 miles. To the left ran 
 u line of mountains capriciously shaped, lying in the full light. 
 To the right, on the contrary, lay a black hollow resembling a 
 vast well, unfathomable and gloomy, drilled into the lunar soil. 
 
 This liolo was the "Black Lake;" it was Pluto, a deep circle 
 ■SN hicli can be conveniently studied from the earth, between the 
 last quarter and the new moon, when the shadows fall from west 
 to cast. 
 
 This black colour is rarely met with on the surface of the 
 satellite. As yet it has only been recognized in the depths of the 
 circle of Endymion, to the east of the Cold Sea, in the northern 
 hemisphere, and at the bottom of Grimaldi's circle, on the equator, 
 towards the eastern border of the orb. 
 
 Pluto is an annular mountain, situated in 51° north latitude, 
 and 9° east longitude. lis circuit is forty-seven miles long and 
 thirty-two broad. 
 
 Barbicane regretted that they were not passing directly above 
 this vast opening. There was an abyss to fathom, jjcrhaps some 
 mysterious phenomenon to surprise ; but the projectile's course 
 could not be altered. They must rigidly submit. They could 
 not guide a balloon, still less a projectile, when once enclosed 
 witliin its walls. Towards five in the morning the northern limits 
 of the Sea of Rains was at length passed. The mounts of Con- 
 daniine and Fontcnelle remained— one on the right, the other 
 on the left. That part of the disc beginning with 60^ was 
 becoming quite mountainous. The glasses brought them to 
 witi.iu two miles, less than that separating the summit of Mont
 
 LUNAR LANDSCAPES. 249 
 
 Blanc from the level of the sea. The whole region was bristling 
 Avith spikes and circles. Towards the 60^ Philolaus stood pre- 
 dominant at a height of 5550 feet Avith its elliptical crater, 
 and seen from this distance, the disc showed a very fantastical 
 appearance. Landscapes were presented to the eye under veiy 
 different conditions from those on the earth, and also very inferior 
 to them. 
 
 The moon having no atmosphere, the consequences arising 
 from the absence of this gaseous envelope have already been 
 shown. No twilight on her surface ; night following day and 
 day following night with the suddenness of a lamp which is ex- 
 tinguished or lighted amidst profound darkness, — no transition 
 from cold to heat, the temperature falling in an instant from 
 boiling point to the cold of space. 
 
 Another consequence of this want of air is that absolute dai'k- 
 ness reigns where the sun's rays do not penetrate. That which on 
 earth is called diffusion of light, that luminous matter which the 
 air holds in suspension, which creates the twilight and the day- 
 break, which produces the umhroe and the penumbrce, and all the 
 mao-ic of chiaro-oscuro, does not exist on the moon. Hence the . 
 harshness of contrasts, which only admit of two colours, black and 
 white. If a Selenite were to shade his eyes from the sun's rays, 
 the sky would seem absolutely black, and ihe. stars would shine to 
 him as on the darkest night. Judge of the impression produced 
 on Barbicane and his three friends by this strange scene ! Their 
 eyes were confused. They could no longer grasp the respective 
 distances of the different plains. A lunar landscape Avithout the 
 softening of the phenomena of chiaro-oscuro could not be rendered 
 by an earthly landscape painter : it would be spots of ink on a 
 ■white page — nothing more. 
 
 This aspect was not altered even when the projectile, at the 
 height of 80°, was only separated from the moon by a dis- 
 tance of fifty miles ; nor even Avhen, at five in the morning, it 
 passed at less than twenty-five miles from the mountain of Gioja,
 
 2 CO ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 a distftnco reduced by the glasses to .1 quarter of a mile. It 
 eccnicd as if the moon might be touched by the hand ! It geemed 
 impossible that, before long, the projectile would not strike her, if 
 only at the north pole, the brilliant arch of which was so distinctly 
 visible on the black sky. 
 
 Michel Ardan wanted to open one of the scuttles and throw 
 himself on to the moon's surface ! A very useless attempt ; for 
 if the projectile could not attain any point whatever of the 
 satellite, Michel, carried along by its motion, could not attain it 
 
 either. 
 
 At that moment, at six o'clock, the lunar pole appeared. The 
 disc only presented to the travellers' gaze one half brilliantly lit 
 up, whilst the other disappeared in the darkness. Suddenly the 
 projectile passed the line of demarcation between intense light 
 aud absolute darkness, and was plunged in profound night !
 
 THE NIGHT OF 354 HOURS AND A HALF. 25I 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE NIGHT OF THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOUR HOURS 
 
 AND A HALF. 
 
 At tbe moment when this phenomenon took place so rapidly, the 
 projectile was skirting the moon's north pole at less that twenty- 
 five miles distance. Some seconds had sufficed to plunge it into the 
 absolute darkness of space. Tlae transition was so sudden, without 
 shade, without gradation of light, without attenuation of the 
 luminous waves, that the orb seemed to have been extinguished 
 by a powerful blow. 
 
 " Melted, disappeared !" Michel Ardan exclaimed, aghast. 
 
 Indeed, there was neither reflection nor shadow. Nothing 
 more was to be seen of that disc, formerly so dazzling. The dark- 
 ness was complete, and rendered even more so by the rays from 
 the stars. It was " that blackness " in which the lunar uights are 
 insteejjed, which last three hundred and four hours and a half at 
 each point of the disc, a long night resulting from the equality of 
 the translatory and rotatory movements of the moon. The pro- 
 jectile, immerged in the conical shadow of the satellite, expe- 
 rienced the action of the solar rays no more than any of its 
 invisible points. 
 
 In the interior, the obscurity was complete. They could not 
 see each other. Hence the necessity of dispelling the darkness. 
 However desirous Barbicane might be to husband the gas, the 
 reserve of which was small, he was obliged to ask from it 
 a fictitious light, an expensive brilliancy which the sun then 
 reiused.
 
 252 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " Devil take the radiant orb !" exclaimed Michel Ardau, " which \ 
 forces us to expend gas, instead of giving us his rays gratuitously." 
 
 " Do not let us accuse the sun," said Nicholi, "it is not his i 
 fault, but that of the moon, which has come and placed herself] 
 like a screen between us and it." 
 
 " It is the sun !" continued Michel. 
 
 " It is the moon !" retorted NichoU. 
 
 An idle disj)ute, which Barbicane put an end to by saying, — 
 
 '^ My friends, it is neither the fault of the sun nor of the moon ; 
 it is the fault of the 'projectile, which, instead of rigidly following 
 its course, has awkwardly missed it. To be more just, it is the 
 fault of that unfartuuate meteor Avhich has so deplorably altered 
 our first direction. 
 
 " Well," replied Michel Ardan, "as the matter is settled, let usj 
 have breakfast. After a whole night of watching, it is fair to] 
 build ourselves up a little." 
 
 This proposal meeting with no contradiction, Michel prepared] 
 the repast in a few minutes. But they ate for eating's sake, theyj 
 drank without toasts, without hurrahs. The bold travellers being] 
 borne away into gloomy space, without their accustomed cortege of I 
 rays, felt a vague uneasiness at their hearts. The ""strange 
 shadow so dear to Victor Hugo's pen bound tliem on all sides.] 
 But they talked over the intei'minable night of three hundred and! 
 iifty-four hours and a half, neai'ly fifteen days, which the law] 
 of physics has imi^osed on the inhabitants of the moon. 
 
 Barbicane gave his friends some explanation of the causes andj 
 the consequences of this curious phenomenon. 
 
 "Carious indeed," said they; "for, if each hemisphere of the moon I 
 |s deprived of solar light for fifteen days, that above which we I 
 noTT float does not even enjoy during its long night any view of j 
 the earth so beautifully lit np. In a word she has no moon] 
 (applying this designation to our globe) but on one side of her disci 
 Now if this were the case with the earth, — if, for example, Europe 
 never saw the moon, and she was only visible at the Antipodes,
 
 'IT IS THE FAULT OF THE MOOX.' 
 
 [p. 252.1
 
 i 
 
 I
 
 THE NIGHT OF 354 HOURS AND A HALF. 253 
 
 imagine to yourself the astonishment of a European on arriving 
 in Australia." 
 
 " They would make the voyage for nothing but to see the 
 nioou ! " replied Michel. 
 
 " Very well ! " continued Barbicane, " that astonishment is 
 reserved for the Selenites who inhabit tlie face of the moon oppo- 
 site to the earth, a face which is ever invisible to our countrymen 
 of the terrestrial globe." 
 
 "And which we should have seen," added Nieholl, " if we had 
 arrivedhere when the moon was new, that is tosay fifieendays later." 
 " I will add, to make amends," continued Barbicane, " that the 
 inhabitants of the visible face are singularly favoured by nature, 
 to the detriment of their brethren on the invisible face. The latter, 
 as you see, have dark nights of 354 hours, without one single ray 
 to break the darkness. The other, on the contrary, when the sun 
 which has given its light for fifteen days sinks below the horizon, 
 see a splendid orb rise on the opposite horizon. It is the earth, 
 Avhich is thirteen times greater than that" diminutive moon that we 
 know ; — the earth which developes itself at a diameter of two 
 degrees, and which sheds a light thirteen times greater than that 
 qualified by atmospheric strata— the earth which only disappears 
 at the moment when the sun reappears in its turn !" 
 
 " Nicely worded !" said Michel, " slightly academical perhaps." 
 
 " It follows, then," continued Barbicane, without knitting his 
 
 brows, " that the visible face of the disc must be very agreeable 
 
 to inhabit, since it always looks on either the sun when the moon 
 
 is full, or on the earth when the moon is new." 
 
 " But," said Nieholl, " that advantage must be well compen- 
 sated by the insupportable heat which the light brings with it." 
 
 " The inconvenience, in that respect, is the same for the two 
 faces, for the earth's light is evidently deprived of heat. But the 
 invisible face is still more searched by the heat than the visible 
 face. I say that for you, Nieholl, because Michel will probably 
 not understand."
 
 354 ROUND THE MOON: 
 
 E 
 
 " Thank yon," said Michel. 
 
 *' Intlcctl," conlinuod liarbicane, " when the invisible face re- 
 ceives at t!ie same time light and heat from the sun, it is because 
 the moon is new ; I hat is to say, she is situated between the sun 
 mid the oaitli. It follows, tlieu, considcriusj the position which 
 iho occupies in opposition when full, that she is nean-r to the sun 
 by twice her distance from tlic earth ; and that distance may 
 bo estimated at the two-huiulrcdtb part of that which separates 
 tlie 6un from the earth, or iu round numbers 400,000 miles. So 
 that invisible face is so much nearer to the sua when she receives 
 its rayp." 
 
 "Quite riglit," replied Nicholl. 
 " On the contrary," continued Barbicane. 
 
 " One moment," said Michel, interrupting his grave companion. 
 "What do you want?" 
 
 " I ask to be allowed to continue the explanation." 
 "And why?" 
 
 " To prove that I understand." 
 " Get along with you," said Barbicane, smiling. 
 " On the contrary," said Michel, imitating the tone and ges- 
 tures of the president, " on the contrary, Avhen the visible face of 
 the moon is lit by the sun, it is because the moon is full, that is 
 to say, opposite the sun with regard to the earth. The distance 
 BOimi-ating it from the vadiant orb is then increased iu round 
 numbers to 400,000 miles, and the beat which she receives must 
 be a little less." 
 
 "Very well said!" exclaimed Barbicane. "Do you know, 
 Michel, that, for an amateur, you are intelligent." 
 
 " Yes," replied Michel coolly, " we are all so on the Boulevard 
 dcs Itjilirn«." 
 
 Barl>icane gravely cla.pod the hand of his amiable companion, 
 and continued to enimicMate the advantages reserved for the 
 inhabitants of tlie visible face. 
 
 Amongst others, ho mentioned eclipses of tU sun, which only
 
 THE NIGHT OF 354 HOURS AND A HALF. 255 
 
 take place on this side of the hinar disc ; siuce, in order that they 
 may take place, it is necesssary for the moon to be in opposition. 
 These eclipses, caused by the interposition of the earth hetwecu 
 the moon and the sun, can last two houvR ; during which time, by 
 reason of the rays refracted by its atmosphere, the terrestrial 
 globe can appear as nothing but a black point upon the sun. 
 
 *' So," said Nicholl, " there is a hemisphere, that invisible 
 hemisphere -svliich is very ill supplied, very ill treated, by 
 nature." 
 
 "Never mind," replied Michel ; " if we ever become Selenites, 
 •we will inhabit the visible face. I like the light." 
 
 " Unless, by any chance," answered Nicholl, " the atmosphere 
 should be condensed on the other side, as certain astronomers 
 pretend." 
 
 " That would be a consideration," said Michel. 
 Breakfast over, the observers returned to their post. They 
 tried to see through the darkened scuttles by extinguishing all 
 light in the projectile ; but not a luminous spark made its way 
 through the darkness. 
 
 One inexplicable fact preoccupied Barbicane. Why, having 
 passed within such a short distance of the moon— about twenty- 
 five miles only — why the piojectile had not fallen ? If its speed 
 had been enormous, be could have understood that the fall would 
 not have taken place ; but, with a relatively moderate speed, that 
 resistance to the moon's attraction could not be explained. Was 
 the projectile under some foreign influence ? Did some kind of 
 body retain it in the ether ? It was quite evident that it could 
 never reach any point of the moon. Whither was it going ? Was 
 it going farther from, or nearing, the disc ? Was it being borne 
 in that profound darkness through the infinity of space ? How 
 could they learn, how calculate, in the midst of this night ? All 
 these questions made Barbicane uneasy, but he could not solve 
 them. 
 
 Certainly, the invisible orb was there, perhaps only some few
 
 2c6 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 miles ofV; but neither he nor his companions conkl see it. If 
 there was any noise on its snrfixce, they could not hear it. Air, 
 that medium of sound, was wanting to transmit the groanings of 
 that moon which the Arabic legends call " a man already half 
 granite, and still breathing." 
 
 One must allow tiiat that was enough to aggravate the most 
 patient observers. It was just that unknown hemisphere which 
 was stealing from their sight. That face Avhich fifteen days 
 sooner, or fifteen days later, had been, or would be, splendidly 
 illuminated by the solar rays, was then being lost in utter 
 darkness. In fifteen days where would the projectile be ? Who 
 could say ? Where would the chances of conflicting attractions 
 have drawn it to ? The disappoiutme.it of the travellers in the 
 midst of this utter darkness may be imagined. All observation 
 of the liuiar disc was impossible. The constellations alone 
 claimed all their attention ; and we must allow that the astro- 
 nomers Faye, Charconac, and Secchi, never found themselves in 
 circumstances so favourable for their observation. 
 
 Indeed, nothing could equal the splendour of this starry world, 
 bathed in limpid ether. Its diamonds set in the heavenly vault 
 sparkled magtiificently. The eye took in the firmament from the 
 Southern Cioss to the North Star, those two constellations which 
 in 12.000 years, by reason of the succession of equinoxes, 
 will resign their part of polar stars, the one to Canopus in the 
 Bouthorn hemisphere, the other to Wega in the northern. Ima- 
 gination loses itself in this sublime Infinity, amidst which the 
 l.n.jectile was gravitating, like a new star created by the hand of 
 man. From a natural cause, these constellations shone with a 
 soft lustre ; they did not twinkle, for there was no atmosphere 
 wJiich, l)y the intervention of its layers unequally dense and of 
 ditferont degrees of humidity, produces this scintillation. These 
 stars were soft eyes, looking out into the dark night, amidst the 
 silence of absolute space. 
 
 Long did the travellers stand mute, watching the constellated
 
 NOTHING COULD EQUAL THE SPLENDOR OF THTS 
 STAKRY WORLD. 
 
 [r. 250.]
 
 THE NIGHT OF 354 HOURS AND A HALF. 257 
 
 firmament, upon which the moon, like a vast screen, made an 
 enormous black hole. But at length a painful sensation drew 
 them from their watchings. This was an intense cold, which 
 soon covered the inside of the glass of the scuttles with a thick 
 coating of ice. The sun was no longer warming the projectile 
 with its direct rays, and thus it was losing the heat stored up in 
 its walls by degrees. This heat was rapidly evaporating into 
 space by radiation, and a considerably lower temperature was the 
 result. The humidity of the interior Avas changed into ice upon 
 contact with the glass, preventing all observation. 
 
 Nicholl consulted the thermometer, and saw that it had fallen 
 to seventeen degrees (centigrade) below zero.^ So that, in spite 
 of the many reasons for economizing, Barbicane, after having 
 begged light from the gas, was also obliged to beg for heat. The 
 projectile's low temperature was no longer endurable. Its tenants 
 would have been frozen to death. 
 
 "Well!" observed Michel, "we cannot reasonably complain of 
 the monotony of our journey ! What variety we have had, at least 
 in temperature. Noav we are blinded with light and saturated 
 Avith heat, like the Indians of the Pampas ! now plunged into 
 profound darkness, amidst the cold like the Esquimauxs of the 
 north pole. No, indeed ! Ave have no right to complain ; nature 
 does wonders in our honour." 
 
 " But," asked NichoU, " what is the temperature outside ?" 
 
 " Exactly that of the planetary space," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " Then," continued Michel Ardan, " would not this be the time 
 to make the experiment Avhich we dared not attempt, when we 
 Avere droAvned in the sun's rays ?" 
 
 " It is now or never," replied Barbicane, " for Ave are in a good 
 position to verify the temperature of space, and see if Fourier or 
 Pouillet's calculations are exact." 
 
 " In any case it is cold," said Michel. " See ! the steam of the 
 
 » 1° Falir. (Ed.)
 
 258 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 interior is condensing on the glasses of the scnttles. If the fall 
 continues, the vapour of our breath will full in snow around 
 us." 
 
 " Let us prepare a thermometer," said Barbicane. 
 
 Wo may imagine that an ordinary thermometer would afford no 
 result under the circumstances in which this instrument was to be 
 exposed. The mercury would have been frozen in its ball, as 
 below forty-two degrees below zero* it is no longer liquid. But 
 Barbicane had furnished himself with a spirit thermometer on 
 Wafferdin's system, which gives the minima of excessively low 
 temperatures. 
 
 Before beginning tlie experiment, tbis instrument was com- 
 pared with an ordinary one, and then Barbicane prepared to use it. 
 
 " How shall we set about it ?" asked Nicholl. 
 
 " Nothing is easier," replied Michel Ardan, who was never at 
 a loss. "We open the scuttle rapidly; throw out the instru- 
 ment; it follows the projectile with exemplary docility; and a 
 quarter of an hour after, draw it in. 
 
 " With the hand ?" asked Barbicane. 
 
 " With the hand," replied Michel. 
 
 " Well then, my friend, do not expose yourself," answered 
 Barbicane, " for the hand that you di'aw in again will be nothing 
 but a stump frozen and deformed by the frightful cold." 
 
 " Really !" 
 
 " You will feel as if you had had a terrible burn, like that of 
 iron at a white heat ; for whether the heat leaves our bodies 
 briskly or enters briskly, it is exactly the same thing. Besides, I 
 am not at all certain that the objects we have thrown out are still 
 following us." 
 
 " Why not ?" asked Nicholl. 
 
 " Because, if we are parsing through an atmosphere of the 
 slightest density, these objects will be retarded. Again, the dark- 
 ness prevents our seeing if they still float around us. But in order 
 
 » -41* Falir. (Ed.)
 
 "THE YAPOR OF OUR BREATH WILL FALL IN SNOW 
 AROUND US." 
 
 [p. 258.]
 
 THE NIGHT OF 354 HOURS AND A HALF. 259 
 
 not to expose ourselves to the loss of our thermometer, we will 
 fasten it, and we can then more easily pull it buck ao'ain." 
 
 Barbicane's advice was followed. Through the scuttle rapidly 
 opened, Nicholl threw out the instrument which was held by a 
 short cord, so that it might be more easily drawn up. The scuttle 
 had not been opened more than a second, but that second had 
 sufficed to let in a most intense cold. > 
 
 " The devil !" exclaimed Michel Ardan, " it is cold enough to 
 freeze a white bear." 
 
 Barbicane waited until half an hour had elapsed, which was 
 more than time enough to allow the instrument to fall to the level 
 of the surrounding tempei-ature. Then it was rapidly pulled in. 
 
 Barbicane calculated the quantity of spirits of wine overflowed 
 into the little phial soldered to the lower part of the instrument, 
 and said, — 
 
 " A hundred and forty degrees centigrade' below zero ! " 
 
 M. Pouillet was right and Fourier wrong. That was the 
 
 undoubted temperature of the starry space. Such is, perhaps, 
 
 that of the lunar continent?, when the orb of night has lost by 
 
 radiation all the heat which fifteen days of sun have poured 
 
 into her. 
 
 » -218'Falir. (Ed.)
 
 26o ROUXD THE .IfOOJV. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 DYPERIJOLA. OR PARABOLA. 
 
 We may, perhaps, be astonished to find Barbicane and his com- 
 panions so little ocenpied with the future reserved for them in 
 their melal prison which was bearing them through the infinity 
 of space. Instead of asking where they were going, they passed 
 their time making experiments, as if they had been quietly 
 installed in their own study. 
 
 We might answer that men so strong-minded were above such 
 anxieties— that they did not trouble themselves about such trifles 
 — and that they had something else to do than to occupy their 
 minds with the future. 
 
 The truth was that they were not masters of their projectile ; 
 they could neither check its course, nor alter its direction. 
 
 A sailor can change the head of his ship as he pleases; an 
 aeronaut can give a vertical motion to his balloon. They, on the 
 contrary, had no power over their vehicle. Every mancBuvi*e was 
 forl)idden. Hence the inclination to let things alone, or as the 
 Kiilors t^ay, " let her run." 
 
 Where did they find themselves at this moment, at eight o'clock 
 in the morning of the day called upon the earth the 6th of De- 
 cember ? Very certainly in the neighbourhood of the moon, and 
 even near enough for her to look to them like an enormous black 
 screen upou the firmament. As to the distance which separated 
 them, it was impossible to estimate it. The projectile, held by 
 porae unaccountable force, had been within four miles of grazing 
 the satellite's north pole.
 
 A DISCUSSION AROSE. 
 
 [p. 261.1
 
 HYPERBOLA OR PARABOLA. 26 1 
 
 But since entering the cone of shadow these last two hours, had 
 the distance increased or diminished ? Every point of mark was 
 wanting by which to estimate both the direction and the speed of 
 the projectile. 
 
 Perhaps it was rapidly leaving the disc, so that it would soon 
 quit the pure shadow. Perhaps, again, on the other hand, it 
 might be nearing it so much that in a short time it might strike 
 some high point on the invisible hemisphere, which would doubt- 
 lessly have ended the journey much to the detriment of the 
 travellers. 
 
 A discussion arose on this siibject, and Michel Ardan, always 
 ready with an explanation, gave it as his opinion that the pro- 
 jectile, held by the lunar attraction, would end by falling on the 
 surface of the terrestrial globe like an aerolite. 
 
 " First of all, my friend," answered Barbicane, " every aerolite 
 does not fall to the earth ; it is only a small proportion which do 
 so ; and if we had passed into an aerolite, it does not necessarily 
 follow that we should ever reach the surface of the moon." 
 "But how if we get near enough ?" replied MicheL 
 "Pure mistake," replied Barbicane. "Have you not seen 
 shooting stars rush through the sky by thousands at certain 
 seasons ? " 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Well, these stars, or rather corpuscules, only shine when they 
 are heated by gliding over the atmospheric layers. Now, if they 
 enter the atmosphere, they pass at least within forty miles of the 
 earth, but they seldom fall upon it. The same with our pro- 
 jectile. It may approach very near to the moon, and yet not fall 
 
 upon it." 
 
 " But then," asked Michel, " I shall be curious to know how 
 
 our erring vehicle will act in space ?" 
 
 "I see but two hypotheses," replied Barbicane, after some 
 
 moments' reflection. 
 "What are they?'
 
 262 ROUND THE MOON 
 
 "The projectile lias the choice between two mathemfitical 
 ciirvci?, aud it will follow one or the other according to the speec 
 •with which it is animated, and which at this momeat I cannot 
 
 estimate." 
 
 "Yes," said Nicholl, "it will follow either a parabola or a 
 hyperbola." 
 
 "Jnst so," replied Barbicane. " With a certain speed it will 
 assnme the parabola, and with a greater the hyperbola." 
 
 "I like those giand words," exclaimed Michel Ardan ; "one 
 knows directly what they mean. And pray what is your para- 
 bola, if you please ?" 
 
 " My friend," answered the captain, " the parabola is a curve 
 of the second order, the result of the section of a cone intersected 
 by a plane parallel to one of its sides." 
 
 "Ah ! ah !" said Michel, in a satisfied tone. 
 
 "It is very nearly," continued Nicholl, "the course described 
 by a bomb launched from a mortar." 
 
 " Perfect ! And the hyperbola ?" I 
 
 " The hyperbola, Michel, is a curve of the second order, pro- 
 duced by the intersection of a conic surface and a plane parallel 
 to its axis, and constitutes two branches separated one from the 
 other, both tending indefinitely in the two directions." 
 
 " Is it possible ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan in a serious tone, as 
 if they had told him of some serious event. " What I particularly 
 like in your definition of the hyperbola (I was going to say hyper- 
 blague) is that it is still more obscure than the word you pretend 
 to define." 
 
 Nicholl and Barbicane cared little for Michel Ardan's fun. 
 They were deep in a scientific discussion. What curve would the 
 projectile follow ? was their hobby. One maintained the hyper- 
 bola, the other the parabola. They gave each other reasons 
 bristling with .r. Their arguments were couched in language 
 which made Michel jnnip. Tiie discnssion was hot, and neither 
 would give up his chosen curve to his adversary.
 
 HYPERBOLA OR PARABOLA. 263 
 
 This scientific dispute lasted so long that it made Michel very 
 impatient. 
 
 " Ni)W, gentlemen co-sincp, will you cease to throw paraholas 
 and hyperbolas at each other s heads ? I want to understand tho 
 only interesting question in the whole affair. We shall follow one 
 or other of these curves? Good. But where will they lead us 
 to?" 
 
 " Nowhere," replied Nicholl. 
 
 " How, nowhere ? " 
 
 " Evidently," said Barbicane, " they are open curves, which 
 may be prolonged indefinitely." 
 
 "Ah, savants!" cried Michel; "and what are either the one 
 or the other to us from the moment we know that they equally 
 lead lis into infinite space ?" 
 
 Barbicane and Nicholl could not forbear smiling. They had 
 just been Ci-eating "art for art's sake." Never had so idle a 
 question been raised at such an inopportune moment. The 
 sinister truth remained that, wdiether hyperbolically or paraboli- 
 cally borne away, the projectile would never again meet either 
 the earth or the moon. 
 
 What would become of these bold travellers in the immediate 
 future ? If they did not die of hunger, if they did not die of 
 thirst, in some days, when the gas failed, they would die from 
 want of air, unless the cold had killed them first. Still, important 
 as it was to economize the gas, the excessive lowness of the sur- 
 rounding temperature obliged them to consume a certain quantity. 
 Strictly speaking, they could do without its lujlit, but not without 
 its hiat. Fortunately the caloric generated by lleiset's and 
 Rcgnaut's apparatus raised the temperature of the interior of the 
 projectile a little, and without much expenditure they were able 
 to keep it bearable. 
 
 But observations had now become very difficult. The damp- 
 ness of the projectile was condensed on the windows and 
 congealed immediately. This cloudiness had to be dispersed
 
 264 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 continually. In any case they might hope to be able to discover 
 some phenomena of the highest interest. 
 
 But up to this time the disc remained dumb and dark. It did 
 not answer the multiplicity of questions put by these ardent 
 minds ; a matter which drew this reflection from Michel, appa- 
 rently a just one, — 
 
 " If ever we begin this journey over again, we shall do well to 
 choose the time when the moon is at the full." 
 
 " Certainly," said Nicholl, " that circumstance will be more 
 favourable. I allow that the moon, immersed in the sun's rays, 
 ■will not be visible during the transit, but instead we should see 
 the earth, which would be full. And what is more, if we were 
 drawn round the moon, as at this moment, we should at least 
 have the advantage of seeing the invisible part of her disc 
 magnificently lit." 
 
 " Well said, Nicholl," replied Michel Ardan. " What do you 
 think, Barbicane?" 
 
 " I think this," answered the grave president : " If ever we 
 begin this journey again, we shall start at the same time and 
 under the same conditions. Suppose we had attained our end, 
 would it not have been better to have found continents in broad 
 daylight, than a country plunged in utter darkness ? Would not 
 our first installation have been made under better circumstances ? 
 Yes, evidently. As to the invisible side, we could have visited 
 it in our exploring expeditions on the lunar globe. So that the 
 time of the full moon was well chosen. But we ought to have 
 arrived at the end ; and in order to have so arrived, we ought to 
 have suffered no deviation on the road." 
 
 " I have nothing to say to that," acswered Michel Ardan. 
 " Here is, however, a good opportunity lost of observing the other 
 side of the moon." 
 
 But the projectile was now describing in the shadow that 
 incalculable course which no sight-mark would allo\^ them to 
 ascertain. Had its direction been altered, either by the influence 
 
 i
 
 HYPERBOLA OR PARABOLA. 265 
 
 of the lunar attraction, or by the action of some unknown star? 
 Barbicaue could not say. But a change had taken place in tho 
 relative position of the vehicle ; and Barbicane veriflcd it about 
 four in the morniusr. 
 
 The change consisted in this, that the base of the projectile 
 bad turned towards the moon's surface, and was so held by a 
 perpendicular passing through its axis. The attraction, that is 
 to say the weight, had brought about this alteration. The heaviest 
 part of the projectile inclined towards the invisible disc as if it 
 would fall upon it. 
 
 Was it falling? Were the travellers attaining that much 
 desired end ? No. And the observation of a sign-point, quite 
 inexplicable In itself, showed Barbicane that his projectile was 
 not nearing the moon, and that it had shifted by following an 
 almost concentric curve. 
 
 This point of mark was a luminous brightness, which Nicholl 
 sighted suddenly, on the limit of the horizon formed by the black 
 disc. This point could not be confounded with a star. It was 
 a reddish incandescence which increased by degrees, a decided 
 proof that the projectile was shifting towards it and not falling 
 normally on the surface of the moon. 
 
 "A volcano! it is a volcano in action!" cried Nicholl ; "a 
 disembowelling of the interior fires of the moon ! That world is 
 not quite extinguished." 
 
 "Yes, an eruption," replied Barbicane, who was carefully 
 studying the phenomenon through his night glass. "What should 
 it be, if not a volcano ? " 
 
 " But, then," said Michel Ardan, " in order to maintain that 
 combustion, there must be air. So an atmosphere does surround 
 that part of the moon." 
 
 "Per/2aj5S so," replied Barbicane, "but not necessarily. The vol- 
 cano, by the decomposition of certain substances, can provide its 
 own oxygen, and thus throw flames into space. It seems to me 
 that the deflagration, by tho intense brilliancy of tho substances
 
 256 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 in combustion, is produced in pure oxygen. We must not be in a 
 hurry to proclaim the existence of a lunar atmosphere." 
 
 The fiery mountain must have been situated about the 45=' 
 south latitude on the invisible part of the disc ; but, to Barbicane's 
 great displeasure, the curve which the projectile was describing 
 was taking it far from the point indicated by the eruption. Thus 
 he could not determine its nature exactly. Half an hour after 
 being sighted, this luminous point had disappeared behind the 
 dark horizon ; but the verification of this phenomenon was of 
 considerable consequence in their selenographic studies. It proved 
 that all heat had not yet disappeared from the bowels of this 
 globe ; and where heat exists, who can affirm that the vegetable 
 kingdom, nay, even the animal kingdom itself, has not up to this 
 time resisted all destructive influences ? The existence of this 
 volcano in eruption, unmistakably seen by these earthly savants, 
 would doubtless give rise to many theories favourable to the grave 
 question of the habitability of the moon. 
 
 Barbicane allowed himself to be carried away by these reflec- 
 tions. He forgot himself in a deep reverie in which the mys- 
 terious destiny of the lunar world was uppermost. He was 
 seeking to combine together the facts observed up to that time, 
 when a new incident recalled him briskly to reality. This 
 incident was more than a cosmical phenomenon ; it was a 
 threatened danger, the consequences of which might be disas- 
 trous in the extreme. 
 
 Suddenly, in the midst of the ether, in the profound darkness, 
 an enoimous mass appeared. It was like a moon, but an incan- 
 descent moon, whose brilliancy was all the more intolerable as it 
 cut sharply on the frightful darkness of space. This mass, of a 
 circular form, threw a light which filled the projectile. The 
 forms of Barbicane, NichoU, and Michel Ardan, bathed in its 
 white sheets, assumed that livid spectral appearance which 
 physicians produce with the fictitious light of alcohol impregnated 
 with kult.
 
 A PREY TO FRIGnTFUL TERROR. 
 
 [p. 267.]
 
 HYPERBOLA OR PARABOLA. 267 
 
 *' Bj Jove !" cried Michel Ardan, « we are hideoua. What is 
 that ill-conditioned moon ?" 
 
 " A meteor," replied Barbicane. 
 
 " A meteor burning in space ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 This shooting globe suddenly appearing in shadow at a distance 
 of at most 200 miles, ought, according to Barbicane, to have a 
 diameter of 2000 yards. It advanced at a speed of about one mile 
 and a half per second. It cut the projectile's path, and must reach 
 it in some minutes. As it approached it grew to enormous 
 proportions. 
 
 Imagine, if possible, the situation of the travellers ! It is 
 impossible to describe it. In spite of their courage, their sang- 
 froid, their carelessness of danger, they were mute, motionless 
 with stiffened limbs, a prey to frightful ten-or. Their projectile, 
 the course of which they could not alter, was rushing straight on 
 this ignited mass, more intense than the open mouth of an oven. 
 It seemed as though they were being precipitated towards an abyss 
 of fire. 
 
 Barbicane had seized the hands of his two companions, and all 
 three looked through their half-open eyelids upon that asteroid 
 heated to a white heat. If thought was not destroyed within 
 them, if their brains still worked amidst all this awe, they must 
 have given themselves up for lost. 
 
 Two minutes after the sudden appearance of the meteor (to 
 them two centuries of anguish) the projectile seemed almost about 
 to strike it, when the globe of fire burst like a bomb, but without 
 making any noise in that void where sound, which is but the 
 agitation of the layers of air, could not be generated. 
 
 Nicholl uttered a cry, and he and his companions rushed to the 
 scuttle. What a sight ! What pen can describe it ? What 
 palette is rich enough in colours to reproduce so magnificent a 
 spectacle ? 
 
 It was like the opening of a crater, like the scattering of an
 
 268 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 immense conflnj^ration. Thousands of luminous fragments lit up 
 and irradiated space with their fires. Every size, every colour, 
 uas (here intermingled. There were rays of yellow and pale 
 yellow, red, green, grey — a crown of fireworks of all colours. Of 
 the enormous and much-dreaded globe there remained nothing 
 but these fragments carried in all directions, uow become asteroids 
 in their turn, some flaming like a sword, some surrounded by a 
 whitish cloud, and others leaving behind them trains of brilliant 
 cosmical dust. 
 
 Tiiese incandescent blocks crossed and struck each other, scat- 
 tering still smaller fragments, some of which struck the projectile. 
 Its left scuttle was even cracked by a violent shock. It seemed 
 to be floating amidst a hail of howitzer shells, the smallest of 
 which might destroy it instantly. 
 
 The light which saturated the ether was so wonderfully intense, 
 that Michel, drawing Barbicane and Nicholl to his window, 
 exclaimed, "The invisible moon, visible at last !" 
 
 And through a luminous emanation, which lasted some seconds, 
 the whole three caught a glimpse of that mysterious disc which 
 the eye of man now saw. for the first time. What could they dis- 
 tinguish at a distance which they could not estimate ? Some 
 lengthened bands along the disc, real clouds formed in the midst 
 of a very confined atmosphere, from which emerged not only all 
 the mountains, but also projections of less importance; its circles, 
 its yawning craters, as capriciously placed as on the visible sur- 
 face. Then immense spaces, no longer arid plains, but real seas, 
 oceans, widely distributed, reflecting on their liquid surface all the 
 dazzling magic of the fires of space ; and, lastly, on the surface of 
 the continents, large dark masses, looking like immense forests 
 under the rapid illumination of a brilliance. 
 
 Was it an illusion, a mistake, an optical illusion ? Could they 
 give a scientific assent to an observation so superficially obtained ? 
 Dared they pronounce upon the question of its habitability after 
 6C slight a glimpso of the invisible disc ?
 
 WHAT A SIGUT. 
 
 [p. 2m:
 
 HYPERBOLA OR PARABOLA. 269 
 
 But the lightnings ia space subsided by degrees ; its accidental 
 biillianey died away ; the aslcioids dispersed iu diHi rent direc- 
 tions and were extinguished in the distance. The ether returned 
 to its accustomed darkness ; the stars, eclipsed for a moiueut, 
 again twinkled in the firmament, and the disc, bo hastily discerned, 
 was again buried in impenetrable night.
 
 .-O ROUND TH6 MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE SOUTHERX HEMISPHERE. 
 
 The projectile had just escaped a terrible danger, and a very 
 unforeseen one. Who would have thought of such a rencontre 
 with meteors ? These erring bodies might create serious perils 
 for the travellers. They were to them so many sandbanks upon 
 that sea of ether which, less fortunate than sailors, they could not 
 escape. But did these adventurers complain of space ? No, not 
 since nature had given them the splendid sight of a cosmical 
 meteor bursting from expansion, since this inimitable firework, 
 which no Ruggieri could imitate, had lit up for some seconds the 
 invisible glory of the moon. In that flash, continents, seas, and 
 forests had become visible to them. Did an atmosphere, then, 
 bring to this unknown face its life-giving atoms ? Questions still 
 insoluble, and for ever closed against human curiosity ! 
 
 It was then half past three in the afternoon. The projectile 
 was following its curvilinear direction round the mooii. Had its 
 course been again altered by the meteor? It was to be feared so. 
 But the projectile must describe a curve unalterably detei-mined 
 by the laws of mechanical reasoning. Barbicane was inclined to 
 believe that this curve would be rather a parabola than a hyper- 
 bola. But admitting the parabola, the projectile must quickly 
 have passed through the cone of shadow projected into space 
 opposite the sun. This cone, indeed, is very narrow, the angular 
 diameter of the moon being so little when compared with the 
 diameter of the orb of day ; and up to this time the projectile 
 had been floating in this deep shadow. Whatever had been its
 
 'THE SUN!" 
 
 [p. 271.1
 
 THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. 27 I 
 
 speed (and it could not have beeu insignificant) its period of 
 occultation continued. That ivas evident, but perhaps that would 
 not have been the case in a supposed rigidly parabolical trajectory, 
 — a new problem which tormented Barbicane's brain, imprisoned 
 as he was in a circle of unknowns which he couhl not unravel. 
 
 Neither of the travellers thought of taking an instant's repose. 
 Each one watched for an unexpected fact, which might throw 
 some new light on their uranographic studies. About five o'clock, 
 Michel Ardan distributed, under the name of dinner, some pieces 
 of bread and cold meat, which were quickly swallowed without 
 either of them abandoning their scuttle, the glass of which was 
 incessantly encrusted by the condensation of vapour. 
 
 About forty-five minutes past five in the evening, Nicholl, 
 armed with his glass, sighted towards the southern border of the 
 moon, and in the direction followed by the projectile, some bright 
 points cut upon the dark shield of the sky. They looked like a 
 succession of sharp points lengthened into a tremulous line:- They 
 were very bright. Such appeared the terminal line of the moon 
 when in one of her octants. 
 
 They could not be mistaken. It was no longer a simple meteor. 
 This luminous ridge had neither colour nor motion. Nor was it a 
 volcano in eruption. And Barbicane did not hesitate to pronounce 
 upon it. 
 
 " The sun !" he exclaimed. 
 
 " What ! the sun ? " answered Nicholl and Michel Aitlan. 
 
 " Yes, my friends, it is the radiant orb itself lighting up the 
 summit of the mountains situated on the southern borders of the 
 moon. We are evidently nearing the south pole." 
 
 " After having passed the north pole," replied Michel. " We 
 have made the circuit of our satellite, then ?" 
 
 *' Yes, my good Michel." 
 
 " Then, no more hyperbolas, no more parabolas, no more open 
 curves to fear ?" 
 
 " No, but a closed curve."
 
 ,7-. ROUND THE MOON: 
 
 « Which is called—" 
 
 " Au ellipse. Instead of losing itself in interplanetary space, it 
 is probable that tho projectile will describe au elliptical orbit 
 around the moon." 
 
 "Indeed!" 
 
 " And that it will become Iter satellite." 
 
 " Moon of the moon ! " cried Michel Ardan. 
 
 " Only, I would have you observe, my worthy friend," replied 
 Barbicane, " that we are none the less lost for that." 
 
 " Yes, in another manner, and much more pleasantly," answered 
 the careless Frenchman with his most amiable smile.
 
 ' LIGHT AND HEAT ; ALL LIFE IS CONTAINED IN THEM." 
 
 [p. 273.] 
 
 i
 
 TVCHO. 
 
 273 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 TTCHO. 
 
 At six in the evening tlie projectile passe the south pole at less 
 than forty miles off, a distance equal to that already reached at the 
 uoi'th pole. The elliptical curve was being rigidly carried out. 
 
 At this moment the travellers once more entered the blessed 
 rays of the sun. They saw once more those stars which move 
 slowly from east to west. The radiant orb was saluted by a 
 triple hurrah. With its light it also sent heat, which soon 
 pierced the metal walls. The glass resumed its accustomed 
 appearance. The layers of ice melted as if by enchantment ; 
 and immediately, for economy's sake, the gas was put out, the air 
 apparatus alone consuming its usual quantity. 
 
 " Ah !" said Nicholl, " these rays of heat are good. "With what 
 impatience must the Selenites wait the reappearance of the orb 
 of day." 
 
 " Yes," replied Michel Ardan, "imbibing as it were the brilliant 
 ether, light and heat, all life is contained in tlieiii." 
 
 At this moment the bottom of the projectile deviated somewhat 
 from the lunar surface, in order to follow the slightly lengthened 
 elliptical orbit. From this point, had the earth been at the full, 
 Barbicane and his companions could have seen it, but immersed 
 in the sun's irradiation she was quite invisible. Another spectacle 
 attracted their attention, that of the southern part of the moon, 
 brought by the glasses to within 450 yards. They did not again 
 leave the scuttles, and noted every detail of this fantastical 
 continent. 
 
 T
 
 2^4 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 Mounts Docrfcl and Leibnitz formed two separate groups very 
 near the south pole. The first group extended from the pole to 
 the eighty-fourth parallel, on the eastern part of the orb; the 
 second occupied the eastern border, extending from the 65° of 
 
 latitude to the pole. 
 
 On their capriciously formed ridge appeared dazzling sheets, as 
 n.cntioncd by Pere Secchi. With more certainty than the illus- 
 trious Roman astronomer, Barbicane was enabled to recognize their 
 
 nature. 
 
 " They are snow," he exclaimed. 
 " Snow?" repeated NichoU. 
 
 " Yes, Nicholl, snow ; the surface of which is deeply frozen. 
 See how they reflect the luminous rays. Cooled lava would 
 never give out such intense reflection. There must then be 
 water, there must be air on the moon. As little as you please, 
 but the fact can no longer be contested." No, it could not be. 
 And if ever Barbicane should see the earth again, his notes will 
 bear witness to this great fact in his selenographic observations. J 
 
 These mountains of Doerfel and Leibnitz rose in the midst of I 
 plains of a medium extent, which were bounded by an indefinite 
 succession of circles and annular ramparts. These two chains 
 arc the only ones met with in this region of circles. Compara- 
 tively but slightly marked, they throw up here and there some 
 sharp points, the highest summit of which attains an altitude of 
 24,G00 feet. 
 
 But the projectile was high above all this landscape, and the 
 projections disappeared in the intense brilliancy of the disc. And 
 to the eyes of the travellers there reappeared that original aspect 
 of the lunar landscapes, raw in tone, without gradation of colours, 
 and without degrees of shadow, roughly black and white, from 
 the want of diff"usion of light. 
 
 But the sight of this desolate world did not fail to captivate 
 them by its very strangeness. They were nio^'ing over this 
 region as if they had been borne on the breath of some stonn,
 
 HE DISTINGUISHED ALL THIS 
 
 [p. 275.]
 
 TVCHO. 275 
 
 watching heights defile under their feet, piercing the cavities with 
 their eyes, going down into the rifts, climbing the ramparts, 
 sounding these mysterious holes, and levelling all cracks. But 
 no trace of vegetation, no appeai'ance of cities ; nothing but 
 stratification, beds of lava, overflowings polished like immense 
 mirrors, reflecting the sun's rays with overpowering brilliancy. 
 Nothing belonging to a living world — everything to a dead 
 world, where avalanches, rolling from the summits of the moun- 
 tains, would disperse noiselessly at the bottom of the abyss, 
 retaining the motion, but wanting the sound. In any case it 
 was the image of death, without its being possible even to say 
 that life had ever existed there. 
 
 Michel Ardan, however, thought he recognized a heap of 
 ruins, to which he drew Barbicane's attention. It was about the 
 80th parallel, in 30° longitude. This heap of stones, rathej:^, 
 regularly placed, represented a vast fortress, overlooking a long 
 rift, which in former days had served as a bed to the rivers of 
 prehistorical times. Not far from that, rose to a height of 
 17,400 feet the annular mountain of Short, equal to the Asiatic 
 Caucasus. Michel Ardan, Avith his accustomed ardour, main- 
 tained " the evidences " of his fortress. Beneath it he discerned 
 the dismantled ramparts of a town ; here the still intact arch 
 of a portico, there two or three columns lying under their base ; 
 farther on, a succession of arches which must have supported the 
 conduit of an aqueduct ; in anotlier part the sunken pillars of 
 a gigantic bridge, run into the thickest parts of the rift. He 
 distinguished all this, but with so much imagination in his 
 glance, and through glasses so fantastical, that we must mistrust 
 his observation. But who could aflirm, who would dare to say, 
 that the amiable fellow did not really see that which his two 
 companions would not see ? 
 
 Moments were too precious to be sacrificed in idle discussion. 
 The Selenite city, whether imaginary or not, had already dis- 
 appeared afar off. The distance of the projectile from tha lunar 
 
 T 2
 
 ij(y ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 disc was ou Ihe iucrcase, and the details of the soil were being 
 lost ill a confused jumble. The reliefs, the circles, the craters 
 and plains alone remained, and still showed their boundary- 
 lines distinctly. At this moment, to the left, lay extended one 
 of the finest circles of lunar orography, one of the curiosities of 
 this continent. It was Newton, Avhich Barbicane recognized 
 without trouble, by referring to the Mappa Sdenograpliica, 
 
 Newton is situated in exactly 77° south lat., and 16° east long. 
 It forms an annular crater, the ramparts of which, rising to a 
 height of 21,300 feet, seemed to be impassable. 
 
 Barbicane made his companions observe that the height of this 
 mountain above the surrounding plain was far from equalling the 
 depth of its crater. This enormous hole was beyond all measure- 
 ment, and formed a gloomy abyss, the bottom of which the sun's 
 rays could never i*each. There, according to Humboldt, reigns 
 utter darkness, which the light of the sun and the earth cannot 
 break. Mythologists could well have made it the mouth of hell. 
 
 " Newton," said Barbicane, " is the most perfect type of these 
 annular mountains, of which the earth possesses no sample. They 
 prove that the moon's formation, by means of cooling, is due to 
 violent causes; for whilst under the pressure of internal fires the 
 reliefs rise to considerable height, the depths withdraw far below 
 the lunar level." 
 
 " I do not dispute the fact," replied Michel Ardan. 
 
 Some minutes after passing Newton, the projectile directly 
 overlooked the annular mountain of Moret. It skirted at some 
 distance the summits of Blancanus, and at about half-past seven 
 in the evening reached the circle of Clavius. 
 
 This circle, one of the most remarkable of the disc, is situated 
 in 58° south lat., and 15° east long. Its height is estimated 
 at 22,950 feet. The travellers, at a distance of twenty-four 
 miles (reduced to four by their glasses), could admire this vast 
 crater in its entirety. 
 
 " Terrestrial volcanoes," said Barbicane, " are but molehills
 
 ^ 
 
 CAN YUU riCTUKC TO YOURSELVES ? 
 
 [p. 277.]
 
 TYCHO. ' 277 
 
 compared with those of the moon. Measuring the old craters 
 formed by the fiist eruptions of Vesuvius aud Etna, we find tliem 
 little more than three miles in breadth. In France the circle of 
 Cantal measures six miles across ; at Ceyland the circle of the 
 island is forty miles, which is considered the largest on the globe. 
 What are these diameters against that of Clavius, which we over- 
 look at this moment ? " 
 
 " What is its breadth ? " asked NichoU. 
 
 "It is 150 miles," replied Barbicaue. "This circle is certainly 
 the most important on the moon, but many others measure 
 150, 100, or 75 miles." 
 
 " Ah ! my friends," exclaimed Michel, " can you picture to 
 yourselves what this now peaceful orb of night must have been 
 when its craters, filled with thunderings, vomited at the same 
 time smoke and tongues of flame. What a wonderful spectacle 
 then, and now what decay ! This moon is nothing more than a 
 thin carcase of fireworks, whose squibs, rockets, serpents and 
 suus, after a superb brilliancy, have left but sadly broken cases. 
 Who can say the cause, the reason, the motive force of these 
 cataclysms ?" 
 
 Barbicaue was not listening to Michel Ardan ; he was contem- 
 plating those ramparts of Clavius, formed by large mountains 
 spread over several miles. At the bottom of the immense cavity 
 burrowed hundreds of small extinguished craters, riddling the 
 soil like a colander, and overlooked by a peak 15,000 feet high. 
 
 Around, the plain appeared desolate. Nothing so arid as these 
 reliefs, nothing so sad as these ruins of mountains, and (if 
 we may so express ourselves) these fragments of peaks and 
 mountains which strewed the soil. The satellite seemed to have 
 burst at this spot. 
 
 The projectile was still advancing, and this movement did not 
 subside. Circles, craters, and uprooted mountains succeeded each 
 other incessantly. No more plains; no more seas. A never- 
 ending Switzerland and Norway. And lastly, in the centre of
 
 2_3 KOUXD THE MOOfT. 
 
 this region of crevasses, the most splendid mountain on the lunar 
 disc, the dazzling Tycho, in which posterity will ever preserve 
 the name of the illustrious Danish astronomer. 
 
 In ohscrving the full moon in a cloudless sky no one has 
 failed to remark this brilliant point of the southern hemisphere. 
 ]\Iichcl Ardan used every metaphor that his imagination could 
 supply to designate it by. To him this Tycho was a focus of 
 light, a centre of irradiation, a crater vomiting rays. It was the 
 tire of a brilliant wheel, an asUria enclosing the disc with its 
 silver tentacles, an enormous eye filled with flames, a glory carved 
 for Pluto's head, a star launched by the Creator's hand, and 
 crushed against the face of the moon ! 
 
 Tycho forms such a concentration of light that the inhabitants 
 of the earth can see it without glasses, though at a distance of 
 240,000 miles ! Imagine, then, its intensity to the eye of 
 observers placed at a distance of only fifty miles ! Seen through 
 this pure ether, its brilliancy was so intolerable that Barbicane 
 and his friends were obliged to blacken their glasses with the gas 
 smoke before they could bear the splendour. Then silent, 
 scarcely uttering an interjection of admiration, they gazed, they 
 contemplated. All their feelings, all their impressions, were con- 
 centrated in that look, as under any violent emotion all life is 
 concentrated at the heart. 
 
 Tycho belongs to the system of radiating mountains, like Aris- 
 tarchus and Copernicus ; but it is of all the most complete and 
 decided, showing unquestionably the frightful volcanic action to 
 which the formation of the moon is due. Tycho is situated in 
 43° south lat., and 12° east long. Its centre is occupied by a 
 crater fifty miles broad. It assumes a slightly elliptical form, and 
 is surrounded by an enclosure of annular ramparts, which on the 
 east and west overlook the outer plain from a height of 15,000 feet. 
 It is a group of Mont Blancs, placed round one common centre, 
 and crowned by radiating beams. 
 
 What this incomparable mountain really is, with all the projec-
 
 TYCITO. 
 
 279 
 
 tions converging towards it, and the interior excrescences of its 
 crater, photography itself could never represent. Indeed, it is 
 during the full moon that Tjcho is seen in all its splendour. 
 Then all shadows disappear, the foreshortening of perspective 
 disappears, and all proofs become white — a disagreeable fact ; for 
 this strange region would have been marvellous if reproduced 
 with photographic exactness. It is but a group of hollows, 
 craters, circles, a network of crests ; then, as far as the eye could 
 see, a whole volcanic network cast upon this encrusted soil. One 
 can then understand that the bubbles of this central eruption have 
 kept their first form. Crystallized by cooling, they have stereo- 
 typed that aspect which the moon formerly presented when under 
 the Plutonian forces. 
 
 The distance which separated the travellers from the annular 
 summits of Tycho was not so great but that they could catch the 
 principal details. Even on the causeway forming the fortifications 
 of Tycho, the mountains hanging on to the interior and exterior 
 sloping flanks rose in stories like gigantic terraces. They ap- 
 peared to be higher by 300 or 400 feet to the west than to the 
 east. No system of teiTestrial encampment could equal these 
 natural fortifications. A town built at the bottom of this circular 
 cavity would have been utterly inaccessible. 
 
 Inaccessible and wonderfully extended over this soil covered 
 with picturesque projections ! Indeed, nature had not left the 
 bottom of this crater flat and empty. It possessed its own 
 peculiar orography, a mountainous system, making it a world 
 in itself. The travellers could distinguish clearly cones, cen- 
 tral hills, remarkable positions of the soil, naturally placed to 
 receive the chefs- d'ceuvre of Seleuite architecture. There was 
 marked out the place for a temple, here the ground of a forum, on 
 this spot the plan of a palace, in another the plateau for a 
 citadel; the whole overlooked by a central mountain of 1500 feet. 
 A vast circle, in which ancient Rome could have been held in its 
 entirety ten times over.
 
 2 So ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 "All!" exclaimed Michel Ardan, euthusiastic at the sifht ; 
 " what a grand town might be constructed within that riuc 
 of mountains ! A quiet city, a peaceful refuge, beyond all human 
 misery. IIow calm and isolated those misanthropes, those 
 haters of humanity might live there, and all who have a distaste 
 for social life!" 
 
 " All ! It would be too small for them," replied Barbicane 
 simply.
 
 CRAVE QUESTIONS. 28 1 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 GRAVE QUESTIONS. 
 
 But the projectile had passed the enceinte of Tycho, and 
 Bai'bicane and his two companions Avatched with scrupulous 
 attention the brilliant rays which the celebrated mountain shed 
 so curiously all over the horizon. 
 
 What was this radiant glory ? What geological phenomenon 
 had designed these ardent beams ? This question occupied 
 Barbicane's mind. 
 
 Under his eyes ran in all directions luminous furrows, raised at 
 the edges and concave in the centre, some twelve miles, others 
 thirty miles broad. These brilliant trains extended in some places 
 to within 600 miles of Tycho, and seemed to cover, particularly 
 towards the east, the north-east and the north, the half of the 
 southern hemisphere. One of these jets extended as far as the 
 circle of Neander, situated on the 40th meridian. Another by a 
 flight curve furrowed the Sea of Nectar, breaking against the 
 chain of Pyrenees, after a circuit of 800 miles. Others, towards 
 the west, covered the Sea of Clouds and the Sea of Humours with 
 a luminous network. What was the origin of these sparkling 
 rays, which shone on the plains as well as on the reliefs, at what- 
 ever height they might be ? All started from a common centre, 
 the crater of Tycho. They sprang from him. Herschel attri- 
 buted their brilliancy to currents of lava congealed by the cold ; 
 an opinion, however, which has not been generally adopted. Other 
 astronomers have seen in these inexplicable rays a kind of moraines,
 
 j82 round the moon: 
 
 rows of erratic blocks, •which had been thrown up at the period of 
 Tycho's formation. 
 
 "And why not ?" asked NichoU of Barbicane, who was relating 
 and rejecting these difTerent opinions. 
 
 " Because the regularity of these luminous lines, and the violence 
 necessary to carry volcanic matter to such distances, is inex- 
 plical)le." 
 
 " Eh ! by Jove !" replied Michel Ardan, " it seems easy enough 
 to mc to explain the origin of these rays." 
 
 " Indeed ?" said Barbicane. 
 
 " Indeed," continued Michel. " It is enough to say that it is a 
 vast star, similar to that produced by a ball or a stone thrown at a 
 square of glass !" 
 
 "Well !" replied Barbicane, smiling. "And what hand would 
 be powerful enough to throw a ball to give such a shock as that ?" 
 
 " The hand is not necessary," answered Nicholl, not at all con- 
 founded ; "and as to the stone, let us suppose it to be a comet." 
 
 "Ah! those much-abused comets!" exclaimed Barbicane, 
 "My brave Michel, your explanation is not bad ; but your comet 
 is useless. The shock which produced that rent must have come 
 from the inside of the star. A violent contraction of the lunar 
 crust, while cooling, might suffice to imprint this gigantic star." 
 
 " A contraction ! something like a lunar stomach-ache," said 
 Michel Ardan. 
 
 "Besides," added Barbicane, "this opinion is that of an English 
 savant, Nasmyth, and it seems to me to sufficiently explain the 
 radiation of these mountains." 
 
 "That Nasmyth was no fool !" replied Michel. 
 
 Long did the travellers, whom such a sight could never weary, 
 admire the splendours of Tycho. Their projectile, saturated with 
 luminous gleams in the double irradiation of sun and moon, must 
 have appeared like an incandescent globe. They had passed 
 suddenly from excessive cold to intense heat. Nature was thus 
 preparing them to become Selenitcs. Become Selenites ! That
 
 A VIOLENT CONTRACTION OP THE LUNAR CRUST. 
 
 [p. 282.]
 
 GRAVE QUESTIONS. 283 
 
 idea brought up once more the question of the habitahility of tho 
 moon. After Avliat they had seen, could the travellers solve it ? 
 Would they decide for or against it ? Michel Ardan persuaded 
 liis two friends to form an opinion, and asked them directly if 
 they thought that men and animals were repi-esentcd in the lunar 
 world. 
 
 "I think that we can answer," said Barbicano ; "but according 
 to my idea the question ought not to be put in that form. I ask 
 it to be put diflPerently." 
 
 " Put it your own way," replied Michel. 
 
 " Here it is," continued Barbicane. " The problem is a double 
 one, and requires a double solution. Is the moon habitable? Ha3 
 the moon ever been inhabited 7''^ 
 
 " Good ! " replied Nicholl. '• First let us see whether the moon 
 is habitable." 
 
 " To tell the truth, I know nothing about it," answered 
 Micliel. 
 
 *' And I answer in the negative," continued Barbicane. " In 
 her actual state, with her surrounding atmosphere certainly very 
 much reduced, her seas for the most part dried up, her insufficient 
 supply of water restricted, vegetation, sudden alterations of cold 
 and heat, her days and nights of 354 hours; the moon does not 
 seem habitable to me, nor does she seem propitious to animal 
 development, nor sufficient for the wants of existence as we 
 understand it." 
 
 "Agreed," replied Nicholl. "But is not the moon habitable 
 for creatures differently organized from ourselves ? " 
 
 " That question is more difficult to answer, but I will try ; 
 and I ask Nicholl if motion appears to him to be a necessary 
 result of life, whatever be its organization ? " 
 
 " Without a doubt ! " answered Nicholl. 
 
 " Then, my worthy companion, I would answer that we have 
 observed the lunar continent at a distance of 500 yards at most, 
 and that nothing seemed to us to move on the moon's surface.
 
 384 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 The presence of any kind of life would liave been betrayed by 
 ita attendant marks, such as divers buildings, and even by ruins. 
 And what have we seen ? Everywhere and always the geological 
 works of nature, never the work of man. If, then, there exist 
 representatives of the animal kingdom on the moon, they must 
 liave fled to those unfathomable cavities which the eye cannot 
 reach ; which I cannot admit, for they must have left traces of 
 their passage on those plains which the atmosphere must cover, 
 however slightly raised it may be. These traces are nowhere 
 visible. There remains but one hypothesis, that of a living race 
 to which motion, which is life, is foreign." 
 
 " One might as well say, living creatures which do not live," 
 replied Michel. 
 
 "Just so," said Barbicane, "which for us has no meaning." 
 
 " Then we may form our opinion ? " said Michel. 
 
 " Yes," replied NichoU. 
 
 " Veiy well," continued Michel Ardan, " the Scientific Com- 
 mission assembled in the projectile of the Gun Club, after having 
 founded their argument on facts recently observed, decide 
 unanimously upon the question of the habitabilitj of the moon — 
 * No I the moon is not habitable.' " 
 
 This decision was consigned by President Barbicane to his note- 
 book, where the process of the sitting of the 6th of December 
 may be seen. 
 
 " Now," said Nicholl, " let us attack the second question, an 
 indispensable complement of the first. I ask the honourable 
 Commission, if the moon is not habitable, has she ever been in- 
 liabited, Citizen-Barbicane ? " 
 
 " My friends," replied Barbicane, " I did not undertake this 
 journey in order to form an opinion on the past habitability of our 
 satellite ; but I will add that our personal observations only con- 
 firm me in this opinion. I believe, indeed I affirm, that the moon 
 has been inhabited by a human race organized like our own ; that 
 ehe has produced animals anatomically formed like the terrestrial
 
 CRAVE QUESTIONS. 285 
 
 animals ; but I add that these races, human or animal, have Jiad 
 their day, and are now for ever extinct ! " 
 
 " Then," asked Michel, " the moon must be older than the 
 earth ? " 
 
 "No!" said Barbicane decidedly, "but a world which lins 
 grown old quicker, and whose formation and deformation have 
 been more rapid. Relatively, the organizing force of matter has 
 been much more violent in the interior of the moon than in the 
 interior of the terrestrial globe. The actual state of this cracked, 
 twisted, and burst disc abundantly proves this. The moon and 
 the earth were nothing but gaseous masses originally. These 
 gases have passed into a liquid state under different influences 
 and the solid masses have been formed later. But most certainly 
 our sphere was still gaseous or liquid, when the moon was 
 solidified by cooling, and had become habitable." 
 
 " I believe it," said Nicholl. 
 
 " Then," continued Barbicane, " an atmosphere surrounded it 
 the w^aters contained within tliis gaseous envelope could not 
 evaporate. Under the influence of air, water, light, solar heat, 
 and central heat, vegetation took possession of the continents 
 prepared to receive it, and certainly life showed itself about this 
 period, for nature does not expend herself in vain ; and a world 
 60 wonderfully formed for habitation must necessarily bo in- 
 habited. 
 
 "But," said Nicholl, "many phenomena inherent in our 
 satellite might cramp the expansion of the animal and vegetable 
 kingdom. For example, its days and nights of 354 honrs ?" 
 
 "At the terrestrial poles they last six months," said Michel. 
 
 "An argument of little value, since the poles are not in- 
 habited." 
 
 " Let us observe, my friends," continued Barbicane, " that if 
 in the actual state of the moon its long nights aud long days created 
 diflerences of temperature insupportable to organization, it was 
 not so at the historical period of time. The atmosphere enveloped
 
 2S6 
 
 ROUND THE MOOJ^. 
 
 the disc with a fluid mantlo ; vapour deposited itself in the shape 
 of clouds ; this natural screen tempered the ardour of the solar 
 rays, and retained the nocturnal radiation. Light, like heat, can 
 diffuse itself in the air ; hence an equality between the influences 
 which no longer exists, now that that atmosphere has almost 
 entirely dii-appeared. And now I am going to astonish 
 
 you." 
 
 " Astonish us ? " said Michel Ardan. 
 
 " I firmly believe that at the period when the moon was in- 
 habited, the nights and days did not last 354 hours ! " 
 
 " And why ? " asked NichoU quickly. 
 
 " Because most probably then the rotary motion of the moon 
 upon her axis was not equal to her revolution, an equality which 
 presents each part of her disc during fifteen days to the action 
 of the solar rays." 
 
 " Granted," replied Nicholl, " but why should not these two 
 motions have been equal, as they are really so ? " 
 
 ** Because that equality has only been determined by terrestrial 
 attraction. And who can say that this attraction was powerful 
 enouMi to alter the motion of the moon at that period when the 
 earth was still fluid ? " 
 
 "Just so," replied Nicholl;' "and who can say that the moon 
 has always been a satellite of the earth ? " 
 
 "And who can say," exclaimed Michel Ardan, " that the moon 
 did not exist before the earth ? " 
 
 Their imaginations carried them away into an indefinite field of 
 hypothesis. Barbicane sought to restrain them. 
 
 "Those speculations are too high," said he; "problems utterly 
 insoluble. Do not let us enter upon them. Let us only ad- 
 mit the insufficiency of the primordial attraction; and then by 
 the inequality of the two motions of rotation and revolution, the 
 days and nights could have succeeded each other on the moon as 
 they succeed each other on the earth. Besides, even without 
 these conditions, life was possible."
 
 GRAVE QUESTIONS. 2S7 
 
 "And so," asked Micliel Ardan,"humauity has disappeared 
 from the inoou ? " 
 
 " Yes," replied Barbicaue, " after Laving doubtless remained 
 persistently for millions of centuries ; by degrees the atmospheio 
 becoming rarefied, the disc became uninhabitable, as the terrestrial 
 globe will one day become by cooling." 
 
 " By cooling ? " 
 
 " Certainly," replied Barbicane ; " as the internal fires becamo 
 extinguished, and the incandescent matter concentrated itself, tho 
 lunar crust cooled. By degrees the consequences of these pheno- 
 mena showed themselves in the disappearance of organized beiiifs, 
 and by the disappearance of vegetation. Soon the atmosphere was 
 rarefied, probably withdrawn by terrestrial attraction ; then aerial 
 departure of respirable air, and disappearance of water by means 
 of evapoi'ation. At this period the moon becoming uninhabitable, 
 was no longer inhabited. It was a dead world, such as we see 
 it to-day." 
 
 " And you say that the same fate is in store for the 
 earth ? " 
 
 " Most probably." 
 
 " But when ? " 
 
 " When the cooling of its crust shall have made it uninhabitable." 
 
 " And have they calculated the time which our unfortunate 
 sphere will take to cool ? " 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " And you know these calculations ? '* 
 
 " Perfectly." 
 
 " But speak, then, my clumsy savant," exclaimed Michel Arden, 
 " for you make me boil with impatience ! " 
 
 " Very well, my good Michel," replied Barbicane quietly, "wo 
 know what diminution of temperature the earth undergoes in the 
 lapse of a century. And according to certain calculations, this 
 mean temperature will, after a period of 400,000 years, be brought 
 down to zero! "
 
 2S8 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " Four hundred tliousanil years!" exclaimed Michel. *'Ali! I 
 brofttho again. Kcally I was frightened to hear you; I imagined 
 tliat we had not more than 50,000 years to live." 
 
 Barbicane and Nicholl could not help laughing at their compa- 
 nion's uneasiness. Then Nicholl, who wished to end the discus- 
 sion, put the second question, which had just been considered 
 
 again. 
 
 *' Has the moon been inhabited ? " he asked. 
 
 The answer was unanimously in the affirmative. But during 
 this discussion, fruitful in somewhat hazardous theories, .the 
 projectile was rapidly leaving the moon ; the lineaments faded 
 away from the travellers' eyes, mountains were confused in the 
 distance; and of all the wonderful, strange, and fantastical form 
 of the earth's satellite, there soon remained nothing but the 
 imperishable remembrance.
 
 A STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMPOSSIBLE. 28q 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMPOSSIBLE. 
 
 For a long time Barbicaue and his companions looked silently 
 and sadly upon that woiid which they had only seen from a dis- 
 tance, as Moses saw the land of Canaan, and which they were 
 leaving without a possibility of ever returning to it. The pro- 
 jectile's position with regard to the moon had altered, and the 
 base was now turned to the earth. 
 
 This change, which Barbicane verified, did not fail to surprise 
 them. If the projectile was to gravitate round the satellite in an 
 elliptical orbit, why was not its heaviest part turned towards it, 
 as the moon turns hers to the earth ? That was a difficult point. 
 
 In watching the course of the projectile they could see that 
 on leaving the moon it followed a course analogous to that traced 
 in approaching her. It was describing a very long ellipse, which 
 would most likely extend to the point of equal attraction, where 
 the influences of the earth and its satellite are neutralized. 
 
 Such was the conclusion which Barbicane very justly drew 
 from facts already observed, a conviction which his two friends 
 shared with him. 
 
 "And when arrived at this dead point, what will become of 
 us ? " asked Michel Ardan. 
 
 " We don't know," replied Barbicane. • 
 
 "But one can draw some hypotheses, I suppose?" 
 
 "Two," answered Barbicane; "either the projectile's speed 
 
 will be insufficient, and it will remain for ever immovable on this 
 
 line of double attraction — " 
 
 u
 
 290 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " I prefer the other hypothesis, whatever it may he," inter- 
 rupted Michel. 
 
 "Or," continued Barhicane, "its speed will be suflScient, and it 
 will continue its elliptical course, to gravitate for ever around the 
 orh of night." 
 
 "A revolution not at all consoling," said Michel, "to pass to 
 the state of humble servants to a nioon whom we are accustomed 
 to look upon as our own handmaid. So that is the fate in store 
 for us?" 
 
 Neither Barhicane nor Nicholl answered. 
 
 " You do not answer," continued Michel impatiently. 
 
 " Tliere is nothing to answer," said Nicholl. 
 
 " Is there nothiug to try ?" 
 
 " No," answered Barhicane. " Do you pretend to fight against 
 the impossihle ?" 
 
 " Why not ? Do one Frenchman and two Americans shrink 
 from such a word ? " 
 
 "But what would you do?" 
 
 " Subdue this motion which is bearing us away." 
 
 "Subdue it?" 
 
 " Yes," continued Michel, getting animated, " or else alter it, 
 and employ it to the accomplishment of our own ends." 
 
 "And how?" 
 
 " That is your afHiir. If artillerymen are not masters of their 
 projectile they are not artillerymen. If the projectile is to com- 
 mand the gunner, we had better ram the gunner into the gun. 
 My faith ! fine savants ! who do not know what is to become of us 
 after inducing me — " 
 
 "Inducing you!" cried Barhicane and Nicholl. "Inducing 
 you ! What do you mean by that ? " 
 
 "No recrimination," said Michel. "I do not complain; the 
 trip has pleased me, the projectile agrees with me; but let us do 
 all that is humanly possible to do to fall somewhere, even it oniy 
 ou the moon.'*
 
 AROUND THE PRO.TECTILE WERE THE OBJECTS WHICH 
 HAD BEEN THROWN OUT. 
 
 [p. 291.]
 
 A STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMPOSSIBLE. 29 1 
 
 " We ask no better, my worthy Michel," replied Barbicane, 
 " but means fail us." 
 
 " We cannot alter the motion of the projectile ?" 
 "No." 
 
 *' Nor diminish its speed ? " 
 " No." 
 
 "Not even by lightening it, as they lighten an overloaded 
 vessel ? " 
 
 " What would you throw out?" said NichoU. "We have no 
 ballast on board ; and indeed it seems to me that if lightened it 
 would go much quickei\" 
 " Slower." 
 " Quicker." 
 
 "Neither slower nor quicker," said Barbicane, Avishing to 
 make his two friends agr^e : " for we float in space, and must no 
 longer consider specific weight." 
 
 " Very well," cried Michel Ardan in a decided voice ; " then 
 there remains but one thing to do." 
 "What is it?" said NichoU. 
 
 "Breakfxst," answered the cool, audacious Frenchman, who 
 always brought up this solution at the most difiicult juncture. 
 
 In any case, if this operation had no influence on the projectile's 
 course, it could at least be tried without inconvenience, and even 
 Avith success from a stomachic point of view. Certainly Michel 
 had none but good ideas. 
 
 They breakfasted then at two in the morning; the hour mat- 
 tered little. Michel served his usual repast, crowned by a 
 glorious bottle drawn from his private cellar. If ideas did not 
 crowd on their brains, we must despair of the Chambertin of 1853. 
 The repast finished, observations began again. Around the pro- 
 jectile, at an invariable distance, were the objects which had been 
 thrown out. Evidently, in its translatory motion round the moon, 
 it had not passed through any atmosphere, for the specific weight 
 of these different objects would have checked their relative speed. 
 
 f 2
 
 •92 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 Oil tho side of tho terrestrial sphere nothing was to be seen. 
 The earth was but a day old, having been new the night before 
 ut twelve; and two days must elapse before its crescent, freed 
 from the solar rays, would serve as a clock to the Selenites, as in its 
 rotatory movement each of its points after twenty-four hours 
 repasses the same lunar meridian. 
 
 On the moon's side the sight was different; the orb shone in 
 all her splendour amidst innumerable constellations, whose purity 
 could not be troubled by her rays. On the disc, the plains were 
 already returning to the dark tint which is seen from the earth. 
 The other part of the nimbus remained brilliant, and in the 
 midst of this general brilliancy, Tycho shone prominently like 
 
 a sun. 
 
 Barbicane had no means of estimating the projectile's speed, 
 but reasoning showed that it must uniformly decrease, according 
 to all the laws of mechanical reasoning. Having admitted that 
 the projectile was describing an orbit round the moon, this 
 orbit must necessarily be elliptical; science proves that it must 
 be so. Ko motive body circulating round an attracting body 
 fails in this law. Every orbit described in space is elliptical. 
 And why should the projectile of the Gun Club escape this 
 natural arrangement? In elliptical orbits, tho attracting body 
 always occupies one of the foci ; so that at one moment the 
 satellite is nearer, and at another farther from the orb around 
 which it gravitates. When the earth is nearest the sun, she is in 
 her perihelion; and in her aphelion at the farthest point. Speak- 
 ing of the moon, she is nearest to the earth in her perigee, and 
 furthest from it in her apogee. To use analogous expressions, 
 with which the astronomers' language is enriched, if the projectile 
 remains as a satellite of the moon, we must say that it is in its 
 " aposelene" at its farthest point, and in its " periselene " at its 
 nearest. In the latter case, the projectile would attain its maxi- 
 inum of speed; and in the former its minimum. It was evidently 
 moving towards its aposelenitical point; and Barbicane had
 
 A STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMPOSSIBLE. 293 
 
 reason to think that its speed wouUl decrease up to this point, and 
 then increase by degrees as it neared the moon. This speed 
 would even become nil, if this point joined tliat of equal attraction. 
 Barbicane studied the consequences of these different situations, 
 and thinking what inference he could draw from them, when ho 
 was roughly disturbed by a cry from Michel Ardan. 
 
 "By Jove ! " he exclaimed, " I must admit we are downright 
 simpletons! " 
 
 "I do not say we are not," replied Barbicane ; "but why?'* 
 
 " Because we have a very simple means of checking this speed 
 which is bearing us from the moon, and we do not use it 1 " 
 
 " And what is the means? " 
 
 " To use the recoil contained in our rockets." 
 
 « Done ! " said Nicholl. 
 
 " We have not used this force yet," said Barbicane, " it is true, 
 but we will do so." 
 
 " When? " asked Michel. 
 
 " When the time comes. Observe, my friends, that in the 
 position occupied by the projectile, an oblique position with 
 regard to the lunar disc, our rockets, in slightly altering its 
 direction, might turn it from the moon instead of drawing it 
 
 nearer? " 
 
 " Just so," replied Michel. 
 
 " Let us wait, then. By some inexplicable influence, the pro- 
 jectile is turning its base towards the earth. It is probable that 
 at the point of equal attraction, its conical cap will be directed 
 rigidly towards the moon ; at that moment we may hope that 
 its speed will be nil ; then will be the moment to act, and with 
 the influence of our rockets, we may perhaps provoke a fall 
 directly on the surface of the lunar disc." 
 
 " Bravo ! " said Michel. " What we did not do, what we could 
 not do on our first passage at the dead point, ^because the projec- 
 tile was then endowed with too great a speed." 
 
 " Very well reasoned," said Nicholl.
 
 294 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 "Let us wait patiently," continued Barbicane. "Putting every 
 chance on our side, and after having so much despaired, I may 
 say I think that we shall gain our end." 
 
 This conclusion was 'a signal for Michel Ardan's hips and 
 hurrahs. And none of the audacious boobies remembered the 
 question that they themselves had solved in the negative. No ! 
 the moon is not inhabited ; no ! the moon is probably not 
 habitable. And yet they were going to try every thing to 
 reach her. 
 
 One single question remained to be solved. At what precise 
 moment the projectile would reach the point of equal attraction, 
 on which the travellers must play their last card. In order to 
 calculate this to within a few seconds, Barbicane had only to 
 refer to his notes, and to reckon the different heights taken on 
 the lunar parallels. Thus the time necessary to travel over the 
 distance between the dead point and the south pole would be 
 equal to the distance separating the north pole from the dead 
 point. The hours representing the time travelled over were 
 carefully noted, and the calculation was easy. Barbicane found 
 that this point would be reached at one in the morning on the 
 night of the 7th — 8th of December. So that, if nothing interfered 
 with its course, it would reach the given point in twenty-two hours. 
 
 The rockets had primarily been placed to check the fall of 
 the projectile upon the moon, and now they were going to employ 
 them for a directly contrary purpose. In any case they were 
 ready, and they had only to wait for the moment to set fire tq 
 them. 
 
 " Since there is nothing else to be done," said Nicholl, " I make 
 a proposition." 
 
 " What is it ?" asked Barbicane. 
 
 " I propose to go to sleep." 
 
 " What a motion I " exclaimed Michel Ardan. 
 
 " It is forty hours since we closed our eyes," said Nicholl. 
 *' Some hours of sleep will restore our strength."
 
 " THESE PRACTICAL PEOPLE HAVE SOMETIMES MOST 
 INOPPORTL'NE IDEAS." 
 
 [p. 295.]
 
 A STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMPOSSIBLE. 295 
 
 " Never," interrupted Michel. 
 
 " Well," continued NiclioU, " every one to his taste ; I shall 
 go to sleep." And stretching himself on the divan, ho soon 
 snored like a forty-eight pounder. 
 
 " That NichoU has a good deal of sense," said Barbicanc, 
 "presently I shall follow his example." Some moments after his 
 continued base supported the captain's barytone. 
 
 " Certainly," said Michel Ardan, finding himself alone, " these 
 practical people have sometimes most opportune ideas." 
 
 And with his long legs stretched out, and his great arms folded 
 under his head, Michel slept in his turn. 
 
 But this sleep could be neither peaceful nor lasting, the minds 
 of these three men were too much occupied, and some hours 
 after, about seven in the morning, all three were on foot at tho 
 same instant. 
 
 The projectile was still leaving the moon, and turning its 
 conical part more and more towards her. 
 
 An explicable phenomenon, but one which happily served 
 Barbicane's ends. 
 
 Seventeen hours more, and the moment for action would have 
 arrived. 
 
 The day seemed long. However bold the travellers might be, 
 they were greatly impressed by the approach of that moment 
 which would decide all — either precipitate their fall on to tho 
 moon, or for ever chain them in an immutable orbit. They 
 counted the hours as they passed too slow for their wish ; Barbi- 
 cane and Nicholl were obstinately plunged in their calculations, 
 Michel going and coming between the narrow walls, and watch- 
 ing that impassive moon with a longing eye. 
 
 At times recollections of the earth crossed their minds. They 
 saw once more their friends of the Gun Club, and the dearest of 
 all, J. T. Maston. At that moment, the honourable secretary 
 must be filling his post on the Rocky Mountains. IT he could 
 see the projectile through the glass of his gigantic telescope.
 
 296 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 •wlmt would liG tliink? After seeing it disappear behind tlie 
 moon's south pole, he would see them reappear by the north pole ! 
 They must therefore be a satellite of a satellite ! Had J. T. 
 Mastou given this unexpected news to the world ? Was this the 
 denouement of this great enterprise ? 
 
 But the day passed without incident. The terrestrial midnight 
 arrived. The 8th of December was beginning. One hour more, 
 and the point of equal attraction would bo reached. What speed 
 would then animate the projectile ? They could not estimate it. 
 But no error could vitiate Barbicane's calculations. At one in the 
 morning, this speed ought to be and would be nil. 
 
 Besides, another phenomenon would mark the projectile's stop- 
 ping-point on the neutral line. At that spot the two attractions, 
 lunar and terrestrial, would be annulled. Objects would "weigh" 
 no more. This singular fact, which had surprised Barbicane and 
 his companions so much in going, would be repeated on their 
 return under the very same conditions. At this precise moment 
 they must act. 
 
 Already the projectile's conical top was sensibly turned towards 
 the lunar disc, presented in such a way as to utilize the whole of 
 the recoil produced by the pressure of the rocket apparatus. The 
 chances were in favour of the travellers. If its speed was utterly 
 annulled on this dead point, a decided movement towards the 
 moon would suffice, however slight, to determine its fall. 
 
 " Five minutes to one," said NichoU. 
 
 "All is ready," replied Michel Ardan, directing a lighted match 
 to the flame of the gas. 
 
 " Wait ! " said Barbicane, holding his chronometer in his hand. 
 
 At that moment weight had no effect. The travellers felt in 
 themselves the entire disappearance of it. They were very near 
 the neutral point, if they did not touch it. 
 
 " One o'clock," said Barbicane. 
 
 IMichol Ardan applied the lighted match to a train in com- 
 munication with the rockets. No detonation was heard in the
 
 AEDEN APPLIED THE LIGHTED MATCH. 
 
 11'. '.»««•:
 
 A STRUGGLE AGAINST THE IMPOSSIBLE. 297 
 
 inside, for there was no air. But, tliroiigli tlie scuttles Barbicano 
 saw a prolonged smoke, the flames of which were immediately 
 extinguislied. 
 
 The projectile sustained a certain shock, which was scneihly 
 felt in the interior. 
 
 The three friends looked and listened without speaking, and 
 scarcely breathing. One might have heard the beating of their 
 heai'ts amidst this perfect silence. 
 
 " Are we falling ? " asked Michel Ardan, at length. 
 
 " No," said Nicholl, " since the bottom of the projectile is not 
 turning to the lunar disc ! " 
 
 At this moment, Barbicane, quitting the scuttle, turned to his 
 two companions. He was frightfully pale, his forehead wrinkled, 
 and his lips contracted. 
 
 " We are falling ! " said he. 
 
 " Ah 1 " cried Michel Ardan, " on to the moon ? " 
 
 " On to the earth ! " 
 
 " The devil ! " exclaimed Michel Ardan, adding philosophically, 
 " well, when we came into this projectile we were very doubtful 
 as to the ease with which we should get out of it ! " 
 
 And now this fearful fall had begun. The speed retained had 
 borne the projectile beyond the dead point. The explosion of the 
 rockets could not divert its course. This speed in going had 
 carried it over the neutral line, and in returning had done the 
 same thing. The laws of physics condemned it to pass through 
 every point which it had already gone through. It was a terrible 
 fall, from a height of 160,000 miles, and no springs to break it. 
 According to the laws of gunnery, the projectile must strike the 
 earth with a speed equal to that with which k left the mouth of 
 the Colnmbiad, a speed of 16,000 yards in the last second. 
 
 But to give some figures of comparison, it has been reckoned 
 that an object thrown from the top of the towers of Notre 
 Dame, the height of which is only 200 feet, will arrive on the 
 pavement at a speed of 240 miles per hour. Here the pro-
 
 agS ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 jocfilo must strike the earth with a speed of 115,200 miles per 
 hour. 
 
 " VVc arc lost ! " said Michel coolly. 
 
 " Very well ! if we die," answered Barbicane, witli a sort of 
 rt'ligious enthusiasm, " the result of our travels Avill be mao-nifi- 
 centiy spread. It is His own secret that God will tell us ! In the 
 other life, the soul will want to know nothing, either of machines 
 or engines ! It will be identified with eternal wisdom ! " 
 
 " In fact," interrupted Michel Ardan, " the whole of the other 
 world may well console us for the loss of that inferior orb called 
 the moon ! " 
 
 nurbicano crossed his arms on his breast, with a motion of 
 Bublimc resignation, saying at the same time, 
 
 " The will of heaven be done 1"
 
 THE SOUNDINGS OF THE "SUSQUEHANNA." 299 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE SOUNDINGS OF THE "SUSQUEHANNA.'* 
 
 " Well, lieutenant, and our soundings ? " 
 
 " I think, sir, that the operation is nearing its completion," 
 replied Lieutenant Brousfield. " But who would have thought 
 of finding such a depth so near in shore, and only 200 miles from 
 the American coast ? " 
 
 " Certainly, Bronsfield, there is a great depression," said 
 Captain Blomsberry. " In this spot there is a submarine valley 
 worn by Humboldt's current, which skirts the coast of America 
 as far as the Straits of Magellan." 
 
 " These great depths," continued the lieutenant, " aj-e not 
 favourable for laying telegi-aphic cables. A level bottom, like 
 that supporting the American cable between Valentia and New- 
 foundland, is much better." 
 
 " I agree with you, Bronsfield. With your permission, 
 lieutenant, where are we now ? " 
 
 " Sir, at this moment we have 3508 fathoms of line out, and 
 the ball which draws the sounding lead has not yet touched the 
 bottom ; for if so, it would have come up of itself." 
 
 " Brook's apparatus is very ingenious," said Captain Blomsbeny; 
 *' it gives us very exact soundings." 
 
 " Touch ! " cried at this moment one of the men at the fore- 
 wheel, who was superintending the operation. 
 
 The captain and the lieutenant mounted the quarter-deck. 
 
 " What depth have we ? " asked the captain.
 
 300 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 " Three thoiipand six huudred and twenty-seven fathoms," 
 jopliod the lieutenant, entering it in his note-book. 
 
 "Well, Rronsfield," said the captain,"! will take down the 
 result. Now luuil in the sounding line. It will be the work of 
 pome hours. In that time the engineer can light the furnaces, and 
 Ave shall bo ready to start as soon as you have finished. It is ten 
 o'clock, and with your permission, lieutenant, I will turn in." 
 
 " Do BO, sir ; do so !" replied the lieutenant obligingly. 
 
 The captain of the " Susquehanna," as brave a man as need 
 be, and the humble servant of his officers, returned to his cabin, 
 took a brandy-grog, which earned for the steward no end of praise, 
 nnd turned in, not without having complimented his servant upon 
 his making beds, and slept a peaceful sleep. 
 
 It was then ten at night. The eleventh day of the month of 
 December was drawing to a close in a magnificent night. 
 
 The " Susquehanna," a corvette of 500 horse-power, of the 
 United States' navy, was occupied in taking soundings in the 
 Pacific Ocean about 200 miles off the American coast, following 
 that long peninsula which stretches down the coast of New 
 Mexico. 
 
 The wind had dropped by degrees. There was no disturbance 
 in the air. Their pennant hung motionless from the maintop- 
 gallant-mast truck. 
 
 Captain Jonathan Blomsberry (cousin-german of Colonel 
 ]>lomsberry, one of the most ai'dent supporters of the Gun Club, 
 who had married an aunt of the captain and daughter of au 
 honourable Kentucky merchant,) — Captain Blomsberry could not 
 have Avished for finer weather in which to bring to a close his 
 delicate operations of sounding. His corvette had not even felt 
 the great tempest, which by sweeping away the groups of clouds 
 on the Rocky Mountains, had allowed them to observe the course 
 of the famous projectile. 
 
 Everything went well, and with all the fervour of a Presby- 
 terian, ho did not forget to thank heaven for it. The series of
 
 "I FANCY I SEE THEM." 
 
 [p. 301.]
 
 THE SOUNDINGS OF THE "SUSQUEHANNA." 30I 
 
 soundings taken by the " Susquehanna," had for its aim tho find- 
 ing of a favourable spot for tho hiying of a submarine cable fo 
 connect the Hawaian Islanvls with the coast of America. 
 
 It Avas a great undertaking, due to the instigation of a powerful 
 company. Its managing director, the intelligent Cyrus Field, 
 purposed even covering all the islands of Oceania with a vast 
 electrical network, an immense enterprise, and one worthy of 
 American genius. 
 
 To the corvette " Susquehanna " had been confided the first 
 operations of sounding. It was on the night of the 11th — 12th 
 December, she was in exactly 27° 7' north lat., and 41° 37' 
 west long., on the meridian of Washington. 
 
 The moon, then in her last quarter, was beginning to rise above 
 the horizon. 
 
 After the departure of Captain Blomsberry, the lieutenant and 
 some officers w^ere standing together on the poop. On the appear- 
 ance of the moon, their thoughts turned to that orb which the 
 eyes of a whole hemisphere were contemplating. The best naval 
 glasses could not have discovered the projectile wandering around 
 its hemisphere, and yet all were pointed towards that brilliant disc 
 which millions of eyes were looking at at the same moment. 
 
 " They have been gone ten days," said Lieutenant Bronsfield 
 at last. " What has become of them ?" 
 
 " They have arrived, lieutenant," exclaimed a young midship- 
 man, " and they are doing what all travellers do when they arrive 
 in a new country, taking a walk !" 
 
 " Oh ! I am sure of that, if you tell me so, my young friend," 
 said Lieutenant Bronsfield, smiling. 
 
 "But," continued another officer, "their arrival cannot be 
 doubted. The projectile was to reach the moon when full on the 
 5th at midnight. We are now at the 11th of December, which 
 makes six days. And in six times twenty-four hours, without 
 darkness, one would have time to settle comfortably. I fancy I 
 see my brave countrymen encamped at the botto.m of some valley,
 
 ^02 ROUKD THE MOON. 
 
 on the borders of a Selenitc streatn, near a projectile half buried 
 by its fall amidst volcanic rubbish, Captain Nicholl beginning his 
 levelling operations, President Barbicane writing out his notes, 
 and Michel Ardan embalming the lunar solitudes with the perfume 
 
 of his—" 
 
 "Yes ! it must be so, it is so !" exclaimed the young midship- 
 man, worked up to a pitch of enthusiasm by this ideal description 
 of his superior officer. 
 
 "I should like to believe it," replied the lieutenant, who was 
 quite unmoved. " Unfortunately direct news from the lunar world 
 is still wanting." 
 
 " Beg pardon, lieutenant," said the midshipman, " but cannot 
 President Barbicane write ?" 
 
 A burst of laughter greeted this answer. 
 
 " No letters !" continued the young man quickly. " The postal 
 administration has something to see to there." 
 
 " Might it not be the telegraphic service that is at fault ?" 
 asked one of the officers ironically. 
 
 " Not necessarily," replied the midshipman, not at all confused. 
 " But it is very easy to set up a graphic communication with the 
 earth." 
 
 « And how ?" 
 
 " By means of the telescope at Long's Peak. You know it 
 brings the moon to within four miles of the Rocky Mountains, and 
 that it shows objects on its surface of only nine feet in diameter. 
 Very well ; let our industrious friends construct a gigantic 
 alphabet ; let them write words three fathoms long, and sentences 
 three miles long, and then they can send us news of themselves ?" 
 
 The young midshipman, who had a certain amount of imagina- 
 tion, was loudly applauded ; Lieutenant Brousfield allowing that 
 the idea was possible, but observing that if by these means they 
 could receive news from the lunar world they could not send any 
 from the terrestrial, unless the Selenites had instruments fit for 
 taking distant observations at their disposal.
 
 THE SOUNDINGS OF THE "SUSQUEHANNA:' 303 
 
 " Evidently," said one of the officers; "but what has become 
 of the travellers ? what they have done, what they have seen 
 that above all must interest us. Besides, if the experiment hns 
 succeeded (which I do not doubt), they will try it again. The 
 Columbiad is still sunk in the soil of Florida, It is now only a 
 question of powder and shot; and every time the moon is at her 
 zenith, a cargo of visitors may be sent to her." 
 
 "It is clear," replied Lieutenant Bronsfield, " that J, T, Maston 
 will one day join his friends." 
 
 *' If he will have me," cried the midshipman, " I am ready ! " 
 
 "Oh! volunteers will not be wanting," answered Bronsfield; 
 " and if it were allowed, half of the earth's inhabitants would 
 emigrate to the moon !" 
 
 This conversation between the officers of the " Susquehanna" 
 was kept up until nearly one in the morning. We cannot 
 say what blundering systems were broached, what inconsis- 
 tent theories advanced by these bold spirits. Since Bar- 
 bicane's attempt, nothing seemed impossible to the Americans. 
 They had already designed an expedition, not only of savants, but 
 of a whole colony towards the Selenite borders, and a complete 
 army, consisting of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, to conquer 
 the lunar world. 
 
 At one in the morning, the hauling in ol the sounding-line was 
 not yet completed; 1670 fathoms were still out, which would 
 entail some hours' work. According to the commander's orders, 
 the fires had been lighted, and steam was being got up. The 
 " Susquehanna " could have started that very instant. 
 
 At that moment (it was seventeen minutes past one in the 
 morning) Lieutenant Bronsfield Avas preparing to leave the 
 watch and return to his cabin, when his attention was attracted 
 by a distant hissing noise. His comrades and himself first thought 
 that this hissing was caused by the letting oflf of steam ; but lifting 
 their heads, they found that the noise was produced in the highest 
 regions of the air. They had not time to question each other
 
 304 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 beroro the hissing became friglitfuUy intense, and suddenly there 
 np|>onicd to their dazzled eyes an enormous meteor, ignited by the 
 rapidity of its course and its friction through the atmospheric 
 Ptrntn. 
 
 Tliis iiery niiw-s grew larger to their eyes, and fell, with the 
 noise of thunder, upon the bowsprit, which it smashed close to the 
 Btcm, and buried it-self in the waves with a deafening roar ! 
 
 A few foot nearer, and the " Susquehanna " would have foun- 
 dered with all on board ! 
 
 At this instant Captain Blomsberry appeared, half dressed, and 
 rushing on to the forecastle-deck, whither all the officers had 
 hurried, exclaimed, " With your pei-mission, gentlemen, what has 
 hap|)encd ? " 
 
 And the midshipman, making himself as it were the echo of 
 the body, cried, " Commander, it is * they ' come back again ! "
 
 A FEW FEET NEARER. 
 
 [p. 30:.]
 
 J. T. MASTON RECALLED. 
 
 305 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 J. T. MASTON RECALLED. 
 
 " It is ' they ' come back again ! " the young midshipman had 
 said; and every one had understood him. No one doubted but 
 that that meteor was the projectile of the Gun Club. As to the 
 travellers which it enclosed, opinions were divided regarding their 
 fate. 
 
 " They are dead ! " said one. 
 
 " They are alive ! " said another; " the crater is deep, and the 
 shock was deadened." 
 
 " But they must have wanted air," continued a third speaker; 
 " they must have died of suffocation." 
 
 " Burnt ! " replied a fourth; " the projectile was nothing but an 
 incandescent mass as it crossed the atmosphere." 
 
 " What does it matter!" they exclaimed unanimously; "living 
 or dead, we must pull them out ! " 
 
 But Captain Blomsberry had assembled his officers, and " with 
 their permission," was holding a council. They must decide upon 
 something to be done immediately. The more hasty ones were 
 for fishing up the projectile. A difficult operation, though not an 
 impossible one. But the corvette had no proper machinery, which 
 must be both fixed and powerful; so it was resolved that they 
 should put in at the nearest port,_ and givo information to the 
 Gun Club of the projectile's fall. 
 
 This determination was unanimous. The choice of the port 
 had to be discussed. The neighbouring coast had no anchorage 
 on 27°. lat. Higher up, above the peninsula of Monterey, stands 
 
 X
 
 .q5 rqund the moon. 
 
 tlio important town from which it takes its name ; but, seated on 
 tlic borders of a perfect desert, it was not connected with the 
 interior by a network of telegraphic wires, and electricity alone 
 could spread these important news fast enough. 
 
 Some degrees nbove opened the bay of San Francisco. Through 
 the capital of the gold country, communication would be easy 
 with the heart of the Union. And in less than two days the 
 " Susquehanna," by putting on high pressure, could arrive in that 
 port. She must therefore start at once. 
 
 The fires were made up ; they could set off immediately. Two 
 thousand fathoms of line were still out, which Captain Bloms- 
 berry, not wishing to lose precious time in hauling in, resolved to 
 cut. 
 
 " We will fasten the end to a buoy," said he ; " and that buoy 
 will show us the exact spot where the projectile fell." 
 
 " Besides," replied Lieutenant Bronsfield, "we have our situa- 
 tion exact— 27° 7' north lat. and 41° 37' west long." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Bronsfield," replied the captain, "now, with your 
 permission, we will have the line cut." 
 
 A strong buoy, strengthened by a couple of spars, was thrown 
 into the ocean. The end of the rope was carefully lashed to it; 
 and, left solely to the rise and fall of the billows, the buoy would 
 not sensibly deviate from the spot. 
 
 At this moment the engineer sent to inform the captain that 
 steam was up and they could start, for which agreeable commu- 
 nication the captain thanked him. The course was then given 
 north-north-east, and the corvette, wearing, steered at full steam 
 direct for San Francisco. It was three in the morning. 
 
 Four bundled and fifty miles to cross ; it was nothing for a 
 good vessel like the " Susquehanna." In thirty-six hours she 
 had covered that distance; and on the 14th of December, at 
 twenty-seven minutes past one at night, she entered the bay of 
 San Francisco. 
 
 At the sight of a ship of the national navy arriving at full
 
 y. T. MASTON RECALLED. 307 
 
 speed, with her bowsprit broken, public curiosity was greatly 
 roused. A dense crowd soon assembled on the quay, waiting for 
 them to disembark. 
 
 After casting anchor, Captain Blomsbcrry and Lieutenant 
 Bronsfield entered au eight-oared cutter, which soon brought 
 them to land. 
 
 They jumped on to the quay. 
 
 "The telegraph?" they asked, without answering one of the 
 thousand questions addressed to them. 
 
 The officer of the port conducted them to the tclegraph-officc 
 through a concourse of spectators. Blomsberry and Bronsfield 
 entered, while the crowd crushed each other at the door. 
 
 Some minutes later a fourfold telegram Avas sent out — the first 
 to the Naval Secretary at Washington ; the second to the Vice- 
 President of the Gun Club, Baltimore; the third to the Hon. 
 J. T. Maston, Long's Peak, Rocky Mountains ; the fourth to the 
 Sub-Director of tbe Cambridge Observatory, Massachusetts. 
 
 It was worded as follows: — 
 
 "In 20° 7' nortli lat., and 41° 37' west long., on the 12tli of December, at 
 17 minutes past 1 in tlie morning, the projectile of the Columbiad fell into 
 the Pacific. Send instructions. — BLOiiSBEUET, Commander ' Susquehanna.' " 
 
 Five minutes afterwards the whole town of San Francisco 
 learned the news. Before six in the evening the different States 
 of the Union had heard the great catastrophe ; and after mid- 
 night, by the cable, the whole of Europe knew the result of the 
 great American experiment. 
 
 We will not attempt to picture the effect produced on the 
 entire world by that unexpected denouement. 
 
 On receipt of the telegram the Naval Secretary telegraphed to 
 the " Susquehanna" to wait in the bay of San Francisco without 
 extinguishing her fires. Day and night she must be ready to put 
 to sea. 
 
 The Cambridge Observatory called a special meeting ; and, with 
 that composure which distinguishes learned bodies in general, 
 
 X 2
 
 3o8 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 ppiiccfiilly (Usciisscd the scientific bearings of the question. At 
 the Gun Club there was an explosion. All the gunners were 
 nssomhlod. Vice-President the Hon. Wilcome was in the act of 
 reading the premature despatch, in which J. T. Maston and Bel- 
 fast announced that the projectile had just been seen in the gigantic 
 reflector of Long's Peak, and also that it was held by lunar attrac- 
 tion, and was playing the part of under satellite to the lunar 
 
 world. 
 
 We know the truth on that point. 
 
 But on the arrival of Blomsberry's despatch, so decidedly con- 
 tradicting J. T. Maston's telegram, two parties were formed in the 
 bosom of the Gun Club. On one side were those who admitted 
 the fall of the projectile, and consequently the return of the 
 tiavellers ; on the other, those who believed in the observations 
 of Long's Peak, concluded that the commander of the " Susque- 
 lianna" had made a mistake. To the latter the pretended pro- 
 jectile was nothing but a meteor ! nothing but a meteor, a 
 shooting globe, which in its fall had smashed the bows of the 
 corvette. It was difficult to answer this argument, for the speed 
 with which it Avas animated must have made observation very 
 iliflicult. The commander of the "Susquehanna" and her officers 
 might have made a mistake in all good faith ; one argument, 
 however, was in their favour, namely, that if the projectile had 
 fallen on the earth, its place of meeting with the terrestrial globe 
 could only take place on this 27° north lat., and (taking into 
 con: idc ration the time that had elapsed, and the rotary motion of 
 the earth) between the forty-first and the forty-second degree of 
 west longitude. In any case, it was decided in the Gun Club that 
 Blomsberry brothers, Bilsby, and Major Elphinstone should go 
 Hti-aight to San Francisco, and consult as to the means of raising 
 the projectile from the depths of the ocean. 
 
 These devoted men set off at once ; and the railroad, which Avill 
 Boon cross the whole of central America, took them as far as St. 
 Louis, whore the swift mail-coaches awaited them. Almost at
 
 J. r. M ASTON RECALLED. 309 
 
 the same moment in Avhicb the Secretary of Marine, the Vice- 
 President of the Gun Club, and tlie Sub-Director of the Observa- 
 tory received the despatch from San Francisco, the Honourable 
 J. T. Maston was undergoing the greatest excitement he had ever 
 experienced in his life, an excitement which even the bursting of 
 his pet gun, which had more than once nearly cost him his life, 
 had not caused him. We may remember that the Secretary of tlie 
 Gun Club had started soon after the projectile (and almost as 
 quickly) for the station in Long's Peak, in the Rocky Mountains, 
 J. Belfast, Director of the Cambridge Observatory, accom{)anying 
 him. Arrived there, the two friends had installed themselves at 
 once, never quitting the summit of their enormous telescope. We 
 know that this gigantic instrument had been set up according to 
 the reflecting system, called by the English, " front view." This 
 arrangement subjected all objects to but one reflection, making 
 the view consequently much cleai-er ; the result was that, 
 when they were taking observations, J. T. Maston and Belfast 
 were placed in the upper part of the instrument and not in the 
 lower, which they reached by a circular staircase, a master- 
 piece of lightness, while below them opened a metal well, 
 terminated by the metallic mirroi", which measured 280 feet in 
 depth. 
 
 It was on a narrow platform placed above the telescope that the 
 two savants passed their existence, execrating the day which hid 
 the moon from their eyes, and the clouds which obstinately veiled 
 her during the night. 
 
 What, then, was their delight when, after some days of waiting, 
 on the night of the oth of December, they saAV the vehicle which 
 was bearing their friends into space ! To this delight succeeded 
 a great deception, when, trusting to a cursory observation, they 
 launched their first telegram to the world, erroneously affirming 
 that the projectile had become a satellite of the moon, gravitating 
 in an immutable orbit. 
 
 From that moment it had never shown itself to their eyes — a
 
 ,Q ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 disnpponrnncc all the more easily explained, as it was then passing 
 lu-liind the moon's invisible disc; but when it was time for it to 
 reappear ou the visible disc, one may imagine the impatience of 
 the fuinin"' J. T. Maston and his not less impatient companion. 
 Each minute of tlio night they thought they saw the projectile 
 once more, and they did not see it. Hence constant discussions 
 and violent disputes between them, Belfast aifirming that the 
 j)r(>jectile could not be seen, J. T. Maston maintaining that "it 
 had put his eyes out." 
 
 " It 18 the projectile !" repeated J. T. Maston. 
 
 " No," answered Belfast ; " it is an avalanche detached from a 
 lunar mountain." 
 
 " Well, Ave shall see it to-morrow." 
 
 " No, we shall not see it any more. It is carried into space." 
 
 "Yes!" 
 
 "No!" 
 
 And at these moments, when contradictions rained like hail, 
 the well-known irritability of the Secretary of the Gun Club con- 
 Ftitutcd a permanent danger for the Hon. Belfast. The existence 
 of these two together would soon have become impossible; but an 
 unforeseen event cut short their everlasting discussions. 
 
 During the night, from the 14th to the 15th of December, the 
 two irreconcilable friends were busy observing the lunar disc, 
 .7. T. Maston abusing the learned Belfast as usual, who was by 
 his side ; the Secretary of the Gun Club maintaining for the 
 thousandth time that he had just seen the projectile, and adding 
 that he could see Michel Ardan's face looking through one of the 
 scuttles, at the same time enforcing his argument by a series of 
 gestures which his formidable hook rendered very unpleasant. 
 
 At this moment Belfast's servant appeared on the platform (it 
 was ten at night) and gave him a despatch. It was the com- 
 mander of the " Susquehanna's" telegram. 
 
 Belfast tore (he envelope and read, and uttered a cry. 
 
 "What!"said J. T. Maston.
 
 vrw ^ m mm a. m.
 
 THE UNFORTUNATE MAN HAD DISAPPEARED. 
 
 [p. 311.1
 
 J. T. T,I ASTON RECALLED. 3II 
 
 "The projectile!" 
 "Well!" 
 
 " Has fallen to the earth ! " 
 
 Another cry, this time a perfect howl, answered him. He 
 turned towards J. T. Maston. The nnfortunate man, impru- 
 dently leaning over the metal tube, had disappeared in the im- 
 mense telescope. A fall of 280 feet ! Belfast, dismayed, rushed 
 to the orifice of the reflector. 
 
 He breathed. J. T. Maston, canght by his metal hook, was 
 holding on by one of the rings which bound the telescope 
 ' i together, uttering fearful cries. 
 
 Belfast called. Help was brought, tackle was let down, and 
 : they hoisted up, not without some trouble, the imprudent Secre- 
 ' tary of the Gun Club. 
 
 He reappeared at the upper orifice without hurt, 
 " Ah ! " said he, " if I had broken the mirror ? " 
 " You would have paid for it," replied Belfast severely. 
 "And that cursed projectile has fallen?" asked J. T. Maston. 
 "Into the Pacific!" 
 " Let us go ! " 
 
 A quarter of an hour after the two savants were descending 
 the declivity of the Rocky Mountains ; and two days after, at the 
 i same time as their friends of the Gun Club, they arrived at San 
 :. Francisco, having killed five horses on the road. 
 
 Elphinstone, the brothers Blomsberry, and Bilsby rushed 
 towards them on their arri val. 
 Li " What shall we do ? " they exclaimed. 
 
 "Fish up the projectile," replied J. T. Maston, "and the 
 sooner the better." 
 
 I
 
 3»» 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 RECOVERED FROM THE SEA. 
 
 The spot where the projectile sank under the waves was exactly 
 kiiowu ; but machinery to grasp it and bring it to the surface of 
 the ocean was still wanting. It must first be invented, then 
 made. American engineers could not be troubled with such 
 tritlcs. Tlio grappling-irous once fixed, by their help they were 
 Kuro to raise it in spite of its weight, which was lessened by the 
 density of the liquid in which it was plunged. 
 
 But fishing-up the projectile was not the only thing to be 
 tliought of. They must act promptly in the interest of the 
 travellers. No one doubted that they were still living. 
 
 " Yes," repeated J. T. Maston incessantly, whose confidence 
 gaiucd over every l)ody, " our friends are clever people, and they 
 cannot have fallen like simpletons. They are alive, quite alive ; 
 but we must make haste if we wash to find them so. Food and 
 water do not trouble me ; they have enough for a long while. 
 But air, air, that is Avhat they will soon want; so quick, quick!" 
 
 And they did go quick. They fitted up the "Susquehanna" 
 for her new destination. Her powerful machinery was brought 
 to bear upon the hauling-chains. The aluminium projectile only 
 weighed 19,2501bs., a weight very inferior to that of the trans- 
 allautic cable which had been drawn up under similar conditions. 
 The only difficulty was in fishing-up a cylindro-conical projectile, 
 tijo walls of which were so smooth as to offer no hold for the 
 bonks. On that account engineer Murchison hastened to San 
 Vi-ancisco, and had some enormous grappling-irons fixed on an
 
 RECOVERED FROM THE SEA. 313 
 
 automatic system, which wouKl never let the projectile go if it 
 once succeeded in seizing it in its powerful claws. Diving- 
 dresses were also prepared, which through this impervious cover- 
 ing allowed the divers to observe the bottom of tlie sea. He 
 also had put on board an apparatus of compressed air very 
 cleverly designed. There were perfect chambers pierced with 
 scuttles, which, with water let into certain compartmentn, 
 could draw it dowu into great depths. These apparatuses were 
 at San Francisco, where they had been used in the construction 
 of a submarine breakwater ; and very fortunately it was so, for 
 there was no time to construct any. But in spite of the perfec- 
 tion of the machinery, in spite of the ingenuity of the savants 
 entrusted with the use of them, the success of the operation was 
 far from being certain. How great were the chances against 
 them, the projectile being 20,000 feet under the water! And if 
 even it was brought to the surface, how would the travellers 
 have borne the terrible shock which 20,000 feet of water had 
 perhaps not sufficiently broken ? At any rate they must act 
 quickly. J. T. Maston hurried the workmen day and night. 
 He was ready to don the diving-dress himself, or try the air 
 apparatus, in order to reconnoitre the situation of his courageous 
 friends. 
 
 But in spite of all diligence displayed in preparing the different 
 engines, in spite of the considerable sum placed at the disposal of 
 the Gun Club by the Government of the Union, five long days 
 (five centuries!) elapsed before the preparations Avere complete. 
 During this time public opinion was excited to the highest pitch. 
 Telegrams were exchanged incessantly throughout the entire 
 Avorld by means of Avires and electric cables. The saving of 
 Barbicane, Nicholl, and Michel Ardan was an international 
 affair. Every one who had subscribed to the Gun Club Avas 
 directly interested in the welfare of the travellers. 
 
 At length the hauling-chains, the air-chambers, and the auto- 
 matic grappling-irons were put on board. J. T, Maston, Engineer
 
 ,, , ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 Miirchipon, and tho delogntcs of the Gun Club, were already in 
 thfir ciiMns. Tlicy iiad but to start, which they did on the 21st 
 of December, at eight o'clock at night, the corvette meeting with 
 a brautiful sea, a north-easterly wind, aud rather sharp cold. 
 The whole population of San Francisco was gatheied on the quay, 
 greatly excited but silent, reserving their hurrahs for the return. 1 
 Steam was fully up, and the screw of the "Susquehanna" l| 
 carried them briskly out of tho bay. 
 
 It is needless to relate the conversations on board between the 
 olTiccrs, sailors, and passengers. All these men had but one 
 tliouirlit. All these hearts beat under the same emotion. Whilst 
 they were hastening to help them, what were Barbicane and his 
 conopauions doing? What bad become of them? Were they 
 ublo to attempt any bold manoeuvre to regain their liberty ? 
 None could s-ay. The truth is that every attempt must have 
 failed I Immersed nearly four miles under the ocean, this metal 
 jtriton defied every cflbrt of its prisoners. 
 
 On the 23rd inst., at eight in the morning, after a rapid passage, 
 the " Susquehanna " was due at the fatal spot. They must wait 
 till twelve to take the reckoning exactly. The buoy to which 
 tho sounding lino had been lashed had not yet been recognized. 
 
 At twelve, Captain Blomsberry, assisted by his officers who 
 superintended the observations, took the reckoning in the presence 
 of tho delegates of the Gun Club. Then there was a moment of j 
 anxiety. Iler position decided, the " Susquehanna " was found 
 to be some minutes to westward of the spot where the projectile 
 bad disappeared beneath the waves. 
 
 The ship's course was then changed so as to reach this exact 
 point. 
 
 At forty-seven minutes past twelve they reached the buoy, it 
 was in perfect condition, and must have shifted but little. 
 " At last : " exclaimed J. T. Maston. 
 " Shall we begin ? " asked Captain Blomsberry. 
 " Without losing a second."
 
 THE DESCEXT BEGAN. ' 
 
 [p. 315.]
 
 RECOVERED FROAf THE SEA. 315 
 
 Eveiy precaution was taken to keep the corvette almost com- 
 pletely motionless. Before trying to seize the projectile, Engiiiocr 
 Murchison wanted to find its exact position at the bottom of the 
 ocean. The submarine apparatus destined for tliis expedition was 
 supplied with air. The Avorklng of these engines was not witliout 
 danger, for at 20,000 feet below the surface of Jhe water, 
 and under such great pressure, they were exposed to fracture, tho 
 consequences of which would be dreadful. 
 
 J. T. Maston, the Brothers Blomsbcrry, and Engineer Murchi- 
 son, without heeding these dangers, took their places in the air- 
 chamber. The commander, posted on his bridge, superintended 
 the operation, ready to stop or haul in the chains on the slightest 
 signal. The screw had been shipped, and the Avhole power of 
 the machinery collected on the capstan would have quickly 
 drawn the apparatus on board. The descent began at twenty-five 
 minutes past one at night, and tbe chamber, drawn under by the 
 I'eservoirs full of water, disappeared from the surface of the ocean. 
 
 The emotion of the officers and sailors on board was now 
 divided between the prisoners in the projectile and the prisoners 
 in the submarine apparatus. As to the latter, they forgot them- 
 selves, and, glued to the windows of the scuttles, attentively 
 watched the liquid mass through which they were passing. 
 
 The descent was rapid. At seventeen minutes past two, J. T. 
 Maston and his companions had reached the bottom of the 
 Pacific ; but they saw nothing but an arid desert, no longer 
 animated by either fauna or flora. By the light of their lamps, 
 furnished with powerful reflectors, they could see the dark beds 
 of the ocean for a considerable extent of view, but the projectile 
 was nowhere to be seen. 
 
 The impatience of these bold divers cannot be described, and 
 having an electrical communication with the corvette, they made 
 a signal already agreed upon, and for the space of a mile tho 
 " Susquehanna" moved their chamber along some }aids abovo 
 the bottom.
 
 J'6 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 Thus they explored the whole submarine plain, deceived at 
 every turn by optical ilhisions which almost broke their hearts. 
 Hero a rock, there a projection from the ground, seemed to be the 
 much-sought-for projectile; but their mistake was soon discovered, 
 and then they were in despair. 
 
 " But where are they ? where are they ? " cried J. T. Maston. 
 And the poor man called loudly upon Nicholl, Barbicane, and 
 Michel Ardan, as if his unfortunate friends could either hear or 
 answer him through such an impenetrable medium ! The search 
 continued under these conditions until the vitiated air compelled 
 the divers to ascend. 
 
 The hauling in began about six iu the evening, and was not 
 ended before midnight. 
 
 '• To-morrow," said J. T. Maston, as he set foot on the bridge 
 of the corvette. 
 
 " Yes," answered Captain Blomsberry. 
 " And on another spot ? " 
 " Yes." 
 
 J. T. Maston did not doubt of their final success, but his com- 
 panions, no longer upheld by the excitement of the first hours, 
 understood all the difficulty of the enterprise. What seemed easy 
 at San Francisco, seemed here in the wide ocean almost impossible. 
 The chances of success diminished in rapid proportion ; and it 
 was from chance alone that the meeting with the projectile might 
 be expected. 
 
 Tiie next day, the 24th, in spite of the fatigue of the previous 
 day, the operation was renewed. The corvette advanced some 
 minutes to westward, and the apparatus, provided wath air, bore 
 the same explorers to the depths of the ocean. 
 
 The whole day passed in fruitless research ; the bed of the 
 sea was a desert. The 25th brought no other result, nor the 
 26th. 
 
 It was disheartening. They thought of those unfortunates 
 bhut up iu the projectile for twenty-six days. Perhaps at that
 
 RECOVERED FROM THE SEA. 317 
 
 moment thej -were experiencing the fust approaeli of snflTooation ; 
 that is, if they had escaped the dangers of their fall. The air 
 was spent, and doubtless with the air all their morale. 
 
 "The air, possibly," answered J. T. Muston resolutely, "but 
 their morale never ! " 
 
 On the 28th, after two more days of search, all hope was gone. 
 This projectile was but an atom in the immensity of the ocean. 
 They must give up all idea of finding it. 
 
 But J. T. Maston would not hear of going away. He would 
 not abandon the place without at least discovering the tomb of his 
 friends. But Commander Blomsberry could no longer persist, and 
 in spite of the exclamations of the worthy Secretary, was obliged 
 to give the order to sail. 
 
 On the 29th of December, at nine a.m., the " Su.'iqnehanna," 
 heading N.E., resumed her course to the bay of San Francisco. 
 
 Tt was ten in the morning ; the corvette was under half steam, 
 as if regretting to leave the spot where the catastrophe had taken 
 place, when a sailor, perched on the maintop gallant crosstreee, 
 Avatching the sea, cried suddenly, — 
 
 " A buoy on the lee bow ! " 
 
 The officers looked in the direction indicated, and by the help 
 of their glasses, saw that the object signalled had the appearance 
 of one of those buoys which are used to mark the passages of 
 bays or rivers. But, singularly to say, a flag floating on the 
 wind surmounted its cone, which emerged five or six feet out of 
 water. This buoy shone under the rays of the sun as if it ha 1 
 been made of plates of silver. Commander Blomsbcrr}% J. T. 
 Maston, and the delegate? of the Gun Club were mounted on the 
 bridge, examining this object straying at random on the waves. 
 
 All looked with feverish anxiety, but in silence. None dared 
 give expression to the thoughts which came to the minds 
 of all. 
 
 The corvette approached to within two cables' lengths of the 
 object.
 
 3»8 
 
 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 A eh udder niu through the whole crew. That flag was the 
 
 Aiin'ricnn flag I 
 
 At this moment a perfect howling was heard ; it was the hrave 
 J. T. Mutton, who had just fallen all in a heap. :^orgettiug on the 
 oue hand that his right arm had been replaced by an iron hook, 
 and on the other that a simple gutta-percha cap covered his brain- 
 box, ho had given himself a formidable blow. 
 
 Tlu'y hurried towards him, picked him up, restored him to life. 
 And what were his firt^t words ? 
 
 '• Ah ! trebly brutes ! quadruply idiots ! quintuply boobies that 
 
 we are ! 
 
 " What is it ? " exclaimed every one around him. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " Come, speak ! " 
 
 " It is, simpletons," howled the terrible Secretary, " it is that 
 the projectile only weighs 19,2o01bs. !" 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 " And that it displaces tAventy-eight tons, or in other words 
 .')6,000lbs., and that consequently it floats!" 
 
 Ah ! what stress the worthy man laid on the verb 
 " float ! " And it was true ! All, yes ! all these savants had 
 forgotten this fundamental law, namely, that on account of its 
 !«ix'cific lightness, the projectile, after having been drawn by 
 its fall to the greatest depths of the ocean, must naturally return 
 to the surface. And now it was floating quietly at the mercy of 
 the waves. 
 
 The boats were put to sea, J. T. Maston and his friends had 
 rushed into them ! Excitement was at its height ! Every heart 
 Ijeat loudly whilst they advanced to the projectile, What did it 
 contain ? Living or dead ? Living, yes ! living, at least unless 
 death had struck Barbicane and his two friends since they had 
 hoisted the flag. Profound silence reigned on the boats, AH 
 were breathless. Eves no longer saw. One of the scuttles of 
 Uio projectile was open. Some pieces of glass remained io the
 
 RECOVERED FROM THE SEA. 319 
 
 frame, showing that it had been broken. This scuttle wax actually 
 five feet above the water. 
 
 A boat came alongside, that of J. T. Maston, and J. T. H^Iaston 
 lushed to the broken window. 
 
 At that moment they heard a clear and merry voice, the voice 
 of Michel Ardan, exclaiming in an accent of triumpli, — 
 
 " White all, Burbicaue, white all ! " 
 
 Barbicane, Michel Ardan, and NichoU were playing at 
 dominoes I
 
 FOUND THE MOON. 
 
 CHAPTER XXTII. 
 
 THE END 
 
 Wf. may rcmonilier the intense sympathy which had accompanied 
 the travel lors on their departure. If at the beginning of the en- 
 terprise they had excited such emotion both in the old and new 
 world, with what enthusiasm woukl they be received on their 
 rpttirn ! The millions of spectators which had beset the peninsula 
 of Florida, would they not rush to meet these sublime adven- 
 turers? Those legions of strangers, hunying from all parts of the 
 globe towards the American shores, would they leave the Union 
 without having seen Barbicane, Nicholl, and Michel Ardan ? No ! 
 nnd the ardent passion of the public was bound to respond 
 worthily to the greatness of the enterprise. Human creatures 
 who had left the terrestrial sphere, and returned after this strange 
 voyage into celestial space, could not fail to be received as the 
 prophet Elias would be if he came back to earth. To see them 
 first, and then to hear them, such was the universal longing. 
 
 Rarl)icftne, Michel Ardan, Nicholl, and the delegates of the Gun 
 Club, returning without delay to Baltimore, were received with 
 indescribable enthusiasm. The notes of President Barbicane's 
 voynpe were ready to be given to the public. The New York 
 Hfrald bought the manuscript at a price not yet known, but which 
 must have been very high. Indeed, during the publication of " A 
 Journey to theM()on,"the saleof this paper amounted tofivemillions 
 of copies. Three days after the return of the travellers to the earth, 
 the sliphtrst detail of their ex ;)edition was known. There remained 
 nothing more but to pee the heroes of this superhuman enterprise.
 
 THE END. 321 
 
 The expedition of Barbicane and his friends round the moon 
 had enabled them to correct the many admitted theories regarding 
 the terrestrial satellite. These savants had observed de visit, and 
 under particular circumstances. They knew what systems should 
 be rejected, what retained with regard to the formation of that 
 orb, its origin, its habitability. Its past, present, and future had 
 even given up their last secrets. Who could advance objections 
 against conscientious observers, who at less than twenty-four miles 
 distance had marked that curious mountain of Tycho, the strangest 
 system of lunar orography ? How answer those savants whoso 
 sight had penetrated the abyss of Pluto's circle ? How contradict 
 those bold ones whom the chances of their enterprise had borne 
 over that invisible face of the disc, which no human eye until 
 then had ever seen ? It was now their turn to impose some limit 
 on that Selenographic science, which had reconstructed the lunar 
 world as Cuvier did the skeleton of a fossil, and say, " The moon 
 was this, a habitable Avorld, inhabited before the earth ! The moon 
 is that, a world uninhabitable, and now uninhabited." 
 
 To celebrate the return of its most illustrious member and his 
 two companions, the Gun Club decided upon giving a banquet, 
 but a banquet worthy of the conquerors, worthy of the American 
 people, and under such conditions that all the inhabitants of the 
 Union could directly take part in it. 
 
 All the head lines of railroads in the State were joined by 
 flying rails ; and on all the platforms, lined with the same flags, 
 and decorated with the same ornaments, were tables laid and all 
 served alike. At certain hours, successively calculated, marked 
 by electric clocks which beat the seconds at the same time, the 
 population were invited to take their place at the banquet tables. 
 For four days, from the 5th to the 9th of January, the trains were 
 stopped as they are on Sundays on the railways of the United 
 States, and every road was open. One engine only at full 
 speed, drawing a triumphal carriage, had the right of travelling 
 for those four days on the railroads of the United States.
 
 -22 ROUND THE MOON. 
 
 The engine was manned by a driver and a stoker, and bore, by 
 itpccial favour, the Hon. J. T. Maston, Secretary of the Gun Club. 
 Tbo carriage was reserved for President Barbicane, Colonel 
 Nicholl, and Michel Ardan. At the whistle of the driver, amid 
 the hurrahs, and all the admiring vociferations of the American 
 language, the train left the platform of Baltimore. It travelled at 
 a ppcod of 160 miles in the hour. But what was this speed 
 compared with that which had carried the three heroes from the 
 mouth of the Columbiad ? 
 
 Thus they sped from one to^vn to the other, finding whole 
 populations at table on their road, saluting them with the same 
 acclamations, lavishing the same bravos ! They travelled in this 
 way through the east of the Union, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, 
 Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire ; the north 
 and the west by New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin ; re- 
 turning to the south by Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and 
 Louisiana ; they went to the south-east by Alabama and Florida, 
 going up by Georgia and the Carolinas, visiting the centre by 
 Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and Indiana, and, after quitting 
 the Washington station, re-entered Baltimore, where for four 
 days one would have thought that the United States of America 
 were seated at one immense banquet, saluting them simultaneously 
 with the same hurrahs ! The apotheosis was worthy of these 
 three heroes whom fable would have placed in the rank of demi- 
 gods. 
 
 And now will this attempt, unprecedented in the annals of 
 travels, lead to any practical result ? Will direct communication 
 with the moon ever be established ? Will they ever lay the 
 foundation of a travelling service through the solar world ? Will 
 they go from one planet to another, from Jupiter to Mercury, and 
 after awhile from one star to another, from the Polar to Sirius ? 
 Will this means of locomotion allow us to visit those suns which 
 pwftrm in the firmament? 
 
 To such questions no answer can be given. But knowing the
 
 THE APOTHEOSIS WAS WORTHY OF THE THREE HEROES. 
 
 Lp. 322.]
 
 9 
 
 I
 
 THE END. 323 
 
 bold ingenuity of the Anglo-Saxon race, no one would bo 
 astonished if the Americans seek to make some use of President 
 Barbicane's attempt. 
 
 Thus, some time after the return of the travellers, the public 
 received with marked favour the announcement of a company, 
 limited, with a capital of a hundred million of dollars, divided 
 into a hundred thousand shares of a thousand dollars each, under 
 the name of the " National Company of Interstellary Communi- 
 cation." President, Barbicanc ; Vice-president, Captain Nicholl ; 
 Secretary, J. T. Maston ; Director of INIovements, Michel Ardan. 
 
 And as it is part of the American temperament to foresee every- 
 thing in business, even failure, the Ilonoiu-able Harry TroUoppe, 
 judge commissioner, and Francis Drayton, magistiate, .were 
 nominated beforehand I 
 
 TnK EJTD,
 
 THRILLING BOOK OF ADVENTURE FOR 
 
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 MY KALULU," 
 
 PKINCE. KINGI^. AND SLAVE. 
 
 A STORY FROM CENTRAL AFRICA. 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY M. STANLEY 
 
 Author of "How I Found Livingstone." 
 "WITH IIiIL,XJSTE,^XIOJsrS BY J. B. Z^SA^E CKldiR. 
 
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