ASEQUELTO
FROMTHEEARTHTOTHEMOON
PRELIMINARYCHAPTER
THEFIRSTPARTOFTHISWORK，ANDSERVINGASAPREFACETOTHESECOND
Duringtheyear186—，thewholeworldwasgreatlyexcitedbyascientificexperimentunprecedentedintheannalsofscience。
ThemembersoftheGunClub，acircleofartillerymenformedatBaltimoreaftertheAmericanwar，conceivedtheideaofputtingthemselvesincommunicationwiththemoon！——yes，withthemoon——bysendingtoheraprojectile。Theirpresident，Barbicane，thepromoteroftheenterprise，havingconsultedtheastronomersoftheCambridgeObservatoryuponthesubject，tookallnecessarymeanstoensurethesuccessofthisextraordinaryenterprise，whichhadbeendeclaredpracticablebythemajorityofcompetentjudges。Aftersettingonfootapublicsubscription，whichrealizednearlyL1，200，000，theybeganthegiganticwork。
AccordingtotheadviceforwardedfromthemembersoftheObservatory，thegundestinedtolaunchtheprojectilehadtobefixedinacountrysituatedbetweenthe0and28thdegreesofnorthorsouthlatitude，inordertoaimatthemoonwhenatthezenith;anditsinitiatoryvelocitywasfixedattwelvethousandyardstothesecond。Launchedonthe1stofDecember，at10hrs。
46m。40s。P。M。，itoughttoreachthemoonfourdaysafteritsdeparture，thatisonthe5thofDecember，atmidnightprecisely，atthemomentofherattainingherperigee，thatishernearestdistancefromtheearth，whichisexactly86，410
leagues（French），or238，833milesmeandistance（English）。
TheprincipalmembersoftheGunClub，PresidentBarbicane，MajorElphinstone，thesecretaryJosephT。Maston，andotherlearnedmen，heldseveralmeetings，atwhichtheshapeandcompositionoftheprojectilewerediscussed，alsothepositionandnatureofthegun，andthequalityandquantityofpowdertobeused。Itwasdecided：First，thattheprojectileshouldbeashellmadeofaluminumwithadiameterof108inchesandathicknessoftwelveinchestoitswalls;andshouldweigh19，250pounds。Second，thatthegunshouldbeaColumbiadcastiniron，900feetlong，andrunperpendicularlyintotheearth。Third，thatthechargeshouldcontain400，000poundsofgun—cotton，which，givingoutsixbillionsoflitresofgasinrearoftheprojectile，wouldeasilycarryittowardtheorbofnight。
ThesequestionsdeterminedPresidentBarbicane，assistedbyMurchisontheengineer，tochooseaspotsituatedinFlorida，in27@7’Northlatitude，and77@3’West（Greenwich）longitude。
Itwasonthisspot，afterstupendouslabor，thattheColumbiadwascastwithfullsuccess。Thingsstoodthus，whenanincidenttookplacewhichincreasedtheinterestattachedtothisgreatenterpriseahundredfold。
AFrenchman，anenthusiasticParisian，aswittyashewasbold，askedtobeenclosedintheprojectile，inorderthathemightreachthemoon，andreconnoiterthisterrestrialsatellite。
ThenameofthisintrepidadventurerwasMichelArdan。HelandedinAmerica，wasreceivedwithenthusiasm，heldmeetings，sawhimselfcarriedintriumph，reconciledPresidentBarbicanetohismortalenemy，CaptainNicholl，and，asatokenofreconciliation，persuadedthembothtostartwithhimintheprojectile。Thepropositionbeingaccepted，theshapeoftheprojectilewasslightlyaltered。Itwasmadeofacylindro—conicalform。Thisspeciesofaerialcarwaslinedwithstrongspringsandpartitionstodeadentheshockofdeparture。
Itwasprovidedwithfoodforayear，waterforsomemonths，andgasforsomedays。Aself—actingapparatussuppliedthethreetravelerswithairtobreathe。Atthesametime，ononeofthehighestpointsoftheRockyMountains，theGunClubhadagigantictelescopeerected，inorderthattheymightbeabletofollowthecourseoftheprojectilethroughspace。Allwasthenready。
Onthe30thofNovember，atthehourfixedupon，fromthemidstofanextraordinarycrowdofspectators，thedeparturetookplace，andforthefirsttime，threehumanbeingsquittedtheterrestrialglobe，andlaunchedintointer—planetaryspacewithalmostacertaintyofreachingtheirdestination。Theseboldtravelers，MichelArdan，PresidentBarbicane，andCaptainNicholl，oughttomakethepassageinninety—sevenhours，thirteenminutes，andtwentyseconds。Consequently，theirarrivalonthelunardisccouldnottakeplaceuntilthe5thofDecemberattwelveatnight，attheexactmomentwhenthemoonshouldbefull，andnotonthe4th，assomebadlyinformedjournalistshadannounced。
Butanunforeseencircumstance，viz。，thedetonationproducedbytheColumbiad，hadtheimmediateeffectoftroublingtheterrestrialatmosphere，byaccumulatingalargequantityofvapor，aphenomenonwhichexciteduniversalindignation，forthemoonwashiddenfromtheeyesofthewatchersforseveralnights。
TheworthyJosephT。Maston，thestaunchestfriendofthethreetravelers，startedfortheRockyMountains，accompaniedbytheHon。J。Belfast，directoroftheCambridgeObservatory，andreachedthestationofLong’sPeak，wherethetelescopewaserectedwhichbroughtthemoonwithinanapparentdistanceoftwoleagues。ThehonorablesecretaryoftheGunClubwishedhimselftoobservethevehicleofhisdaringfriends。
Theaccumulationofthecloudsintheatmospherepreventedallobservationonthe5th，6th，7th，8th，9th，and10thofDecember。
Indeeditwasthoughtthatallobservationswouldhavetobeputofftothe3dofJanuaryinthefollowingyear;forthemoonenteringitslastquarteronthe11th，wouldthenonlypresentanever—decreasingportionofherdisc，insufficienttoallowoftheirfollowingthecourseoftheprojectile。
Atlength，tothegeneralsatisfaction，aheavystormclearedtheatmosphereonthenightofthe11thand12thofDecember，andthemoon，withhalf—illuminateddisc，wasplainlytobeseenupontheblacksky。
ThatverynightatelegramwassentfromthestationofLong’sPeakbyJosephT。MastonandBelfasttothegentlemenoftheCambridgeObservatory，announcingthatonthe11thofDecemberat8h。47m。P。M。，theprojectilelaunchedbytheColumbiadofStonesHillhadbeendetectedbyMessrs。BelfastandMaston——
thatithaddeviatedfromitscoursefromsomeunknowncause，andhadnotreacheditsdestination;butthatithadpassednearenoughtoberetainedbythelunarattraction;thatitsrectilinearmovementhadbeenchangedtoacircularone，andthatfollowinganellipticalorbitroundthestarofnightithadbecomeitssatellite。Thetelegramaddedthattheelementsofthisnewstarhadnotyetbeencalculated;andindeedthreeobservationsmadeuponastarinthreedifferentpositionsarenecessarytodeterminetheseelements。Thenitshowedthatthedistanceseparatingtheprojectilefromthelunarsurface\"might\"
bereckonedatabout2，833miles。
Itendedwiththedoublehypothesis：eithertheattractionofthemoonwoulddrawittoherself，andthetravelersthusattaintheirend;orthattheprojectile，heldinoneimmutableorbit，wouldgravitatearoundthelunardisctoalleternity。
Withsuchalternatives，whatwouldbethefateofthetravelers？
Certainlytheyhadfoodforsometime。Butsupposingtheydidsucceedintheirrashenterprise，howwouldtheyreturn？
Couldtheyeverreturn？Shouldtheyhearfromthem？
Thesequestions，debatedbythemostlearnedpensoftheday，stronglyengrossedthepublicattention。
Itisadvisableheretomakearemarkwhichoughttobewellconsideredbyhastyobservers。Whenapurelyspeculativediscoveryisannouncedtothepublic，itcannotbedonewithtoomuchprudence。Nooneisobligedtodiscovereitheraplanet，acomet，orasatellite;andwhoevermakesamistakeinsuchacaseexposeshimselfjustlytothederisionofthemass。
Farbetterisittowait;andthatiswhattheimpatientJosephT。Mastonshouldhavedonebeforesendingthistelegramforthtotheworld，which，accordingtohisidea，toldthewholeresultoftheenterprise。Indeedthistelegramcontainedtwosortsoferrors，aswasprovedeventually。First，errorsofobservation，concerningthedistanceoftheprojectilefromthesurfaceofthemoon，foronthe11thofDecemberitwasimpossibletoseeit;andwhatJosephT。Mastonhadseen，orthoughthesaw，couldnothavebeentheprojectileoftheColumbiad。Second，errorsoftheoryonthefateinstoreforthesaidprojectile;forinmakingitasatelliteofthemoon，itwasputtingitindirectcontradictionofallmechanicallaws。
OnesinglehypothesisoftheobserversofLong’sPeakcouldeverberealized，thatwhichforesawthecaseofthetravelers（ifstillalive）unitingtheireffortswiththelunarattractiontoattainthesurfaceofthedisc。
Nowthesemen，ascleverastheyweredaring，hadsurvivedtheterribleshockconsequentontheirdeparture，anditistheirjourneyintheprojectilecarwhichishererelatedinitsmostdramaticaswellasinitsmostsingulardetails。Thisrecitalwilldestroymanyillusionsandsurmises;butitwillgiveatrueideaofthesingularchangesinstoreforsuchanenterprise;itwillbringoutthescientificinstinctsofBarbicane，theindustriousresourcesofNicholl，andtheaudacioushumorofMichelArdan。Besidesthis，itwillprovethattheirworthyfriend，JosephT。Maston，waswastinghistime，whileleaningoverthegigantictelescopehewatchedthecourseofthemoonthroughthestarryspace。
CHAPTERI
TWENTYMINUTESPASTTENTOFORTY—SEVENMINUTESPASTTENP。M。
Asteno’clockstruck，MichelArdan，Barbicane，andNicholl，tookleaveofthenumerousfriendstheywereleavingontheearth。
Thetwodogs，destinedtopropagatethecanineraceonthelunarcontinents，werealreadyshutupintheprojectile。
Thethreetravelersapproachedtheorificeoftheenormouscast—irontube，andacraneletthemdowntotheconicaltopoftheprojectile。There，anopeningmadeforthepurposegavethemaccesstothealuminumcar。Thetacklebelongingtothecranebeinghauledfromoutside，themouthoftheColumbiadwasinstantlydisencumberedofitslastsupports。
Nicholl，onceintroducedwithhiscompanionsinsidetheprojectile，begantoclosetheopeningbymeansofastrongplate，heldinpositionbypowerfulscrews。Otherplates，closelyfitted，coveredthelenticularglasses，andthetravelers，hermeticallyenclosedintheirmetalprison，wereplungedinprofounddarkness。
\"Andnow，mydearcompanions，\"saidMichelArdan，\"letusmakeourselvesathome;Iamadomesticatedmanandstronginhousekeeping。Weareboundtomakethebestofournewlodgings，andmakeourselvescomfortable。Andfirstletustryandseealittle。Gaswasnotinventedformoles。\"
Sosaying，thethoughtlessfellowlitamatchbystrikingitonthesoleofhisboot;andapproachedtheburnerfixedtothereceptacle，inwhichthecarbonizedhydrogen，storedathighpressure，sufficedforthelightingandwarmingoftheprojectileforahundredandforty—fourhours，orsixdaysandsixnights。Thegascaughtfire，andthuslightedtheprojectilelookedlikeacomfortableroomwiththicklypaddedwalls，furnishedwithacirculardivan，andaroofroundedintheshapeofadome。
MichelArdanexaminedeverything，anddeclaredhimselfsatisfiedwithhisinstallation。
\"Itisaprison，\"saidhe，\"butatravelingprison;and，withtherightofputtingmynosetothewindow，Icouldwellstandaleaseofahundredyears。Yousmile，Barbicane。Haveyouany_arriere—pensee_？Doyousaytoyourself，`Thisprisonmaybeourtomb？’Tomb，perhaps;stillIwouldnotchangeitforMahomet’s，whichfloatsinspacebutneveradvancesaninch！\"
WhileMichelArdanwasspeaking，BarbicaneandNichollweremakingtheirlastpreparations。
Nicholl’schronometermarkedtwentyminutespasttenP。M。whenthethreetravelerswerefinallyenclosedintheirprojectile。
ThischronometerwassetwithinthetenthofasecondbythatofMurchisontheengineer。Barbicaneconsultedit。
\"Myfriends，\"saidhe，\"itistwentyminutespastten。Atforty—
sevenminutespasttenMurchisonwilllaunchtheelectricsparkonthewirewhichcommunicateswiththechargeoftheColumbiad。
Atthatprecisemomentweshallleaveourspheroid。Thuswestillhavetwenty—sevenminutestoremainontheearth。\"
\"Twenty—sixminutesthirteenseconds，\"repliedthemethodicalNicholl。
\"Well！\"exclaimedMichelArdan，inagood—humoredtone，\"muchmaybedoneintwenty—sixminutes。Thegravestquestionsofmoralsandpoliticsmaybediscussed，andevensolved。
Twenty—sixminuteswellemployedareworthmorethantwenty—sixyearsinwhichnothingisdone。SomesecondsofaPascaloraNewtonaremorepreciousthanthewholeexistenceofacrowdofrawsimpletons————\"
\"Andyouconclude，then，youeverlastingtalker？\"askedBarbicane。
\"Iconcludethatwehavetwenty—sixminutesleft，\"repliedArdan。
\"Twenty—fouronly，\"saidNicholl。
\"Well，twenty—four，ifyoulike，mynoblecaptain，\"saidArdan;
\"twenty—fourminutesinwhichtoinvestigate————\"
\"Michel，\"saidBarbicane，\"duringthepassageweshallhaveplentyoftimetoinvestigatethemostdifficultquestions。
Forthepresentwemustoccupyourselveswithourdeparture。\"
\"Arewenotready？\"
\"Doubtless;buttherearestillsomeprecautionstobetaken，todeadenasmuchaspossiblethefirstshock。\"
\"Havewenotthewater—cushionsplacedbetweenthepartition—
breaks，whoseelasticitywillsufficientlyprotectus？\"
\"Ihopeso，Michel，\"repliedBarbicanegently，\"butIamnotsure。\"
\"Ah，thejoker！\"exclaimedMichelArdan。\"Hehopes！——Heisnotsure！——andhewaitsforthemomentwhenweareencasedtomakethisdeplorableadmission！Ibegtobeallowedtogetout！\"
\"Andhow？\"askedBarbicane。
\"Humph！\"saidMichelArdan，\"itisnoteasy;weareinthetrain，andtheguard’swhistlewillsoundbeforetwenty—fourminutesareover。\"
\"Twenty，\"saidNicholl。
Forsomemomentsthethreetravelerslookedateachother。
Thentheybegantoexaminetheobjectsimprisonedwiththem。
\"Everythingisinitsplace，\"saidBarbicane。\"Wehavenowtodecidehowwecanbestplaceourselvestoresisttheshock。
Positioncannotbeanindifferentmatter;andwemust，asmuchaspossible，preventtherushofbloodtothehead。\"
\"Justso，\"saidNicholl。
\"Then，\"repliedMichelArdan，readytosuittheactiontotheword，\"letusputourheadsdownandourfeetintheair，liketheclownsinthegrandcircus。\"
\"No，\"saidBarbicane，\"letusstretchourselvesonoursides;weshallresisttheshockbetterthatway。Rememberthat，whentheprojectilestarts，itmatterslittlewhetherweareinitorbeforeit;itamountstomuchthesamething。\"
\"Ifitisonly`muchthesamething，’Imaycheerup，\"saidMichelArdan。
\"Doyouapproveofmyidea，Nicholl？\"askedBarbicane。
\"Entirely，\"repliedthecaptain。\"We’vestillthirteenminutesandahalf。\"
\"ThatNichollisnotaman，\"exclaimedMichel;\"heisachronometerwithseconds，anescape，andeightholes。\"
Buthiscompanionswerenotlistening;theyweretakinguptheirlastpositionswiththemostperfectcoolness。Theywereliketwomethodicaltravelersinacar，seekingtoplacethemselvesascomfortablyaspossible。
WemightwellaskourselvesofwhatmaterialsaretheheartsoftheseAmericansmade，towhomtheapproachofthemostfrightfuldangeraddednopulsation。
Threethickandsolidly—madecoucheshadbeenplacedintheprojectile。NichollandBarbicaneplacedtheminthecenterofthediscformingthefloor。Therethethreetravelersweretostretchthemselvessomemomentsbeforetheirdeparture。
Duringthistime，Ardan，notbeingabletokeepstill，turnedinhisnarrowprisonlikeawildbeastinacage，chattingwithhisfriends，speakingtothedogsDianaandSatellite，towhom，asmaybeseen，hehadgivensignificantnames。
\"Ah，Diana！Ah，Satellite！\"heexclaimed，teasingthem;\"soyouaregoingtoshowthemoon—dogsthegoodhabitsofthedogsoftheearth！Thatwilldohonortothecaninerace！Ifeverwedocomedownagain，Iwillbringacrosstypeof`moon—dogs，’
whichwillmakeastir！\"
\"Ifthere_are_dogsinthemoon，\"saidBarbicane。
\"Thereare，\"saidMichelArdan，\"justastherearehorses，cows，donkeys，andchickens。Ibetthatweshallfindchickens。\"
\"Ahundreddollarsweshallfindnone！\"saidNicholl。
\"Done，mycaptain！\"repliedArdan，claspingNicholl’shand。
\"But，bythebye，youhavealreadylostthreebetswithourpresident，asthenecessaryfundsfortheenterprisehavebeenfound，astheoperationofcastinghasbeensuccessful，andlastly，astheColumbiadhasbeenloadedwithoutaccident，sixthousanddollars。\"
\"Yes，\"repliedNicholl。\"Thirty—sevenminutessixsecondspastten。\"
\"Itisunderstood，captain。Well，beforeanotherquarterofanhouryouwillhavetocountninethousanddollarstothepresident;fourthousandbecausetheColumbiadwillnotburst，andfivethousandbecausetheprojectilewillrisemorethansixmilesintheair。\"
\"Ihavethedollars，\"repliedNicholl，slappingthepocketofthiscoat。\"Ionlyasktobeallowedtopay。\"
\"Come，Nicholl。Iseethatyouareamanofmethod，whichIcouldneverbe;butindeedyouhavemadeaseriesofbetsofverylittleadvantagetoyourself，allowmetotellyou。\"
\"Andwhy？\"askedNicholl。
\"Because，ifyougainthefirst，theColumbiadwillhaveburst，andtheprojectilewithit;andBarbicanewillnolongerbetheretoreimburseyourdollars。\"
\"MystakeisdepositedatthebankinBaltimore，\"repliedBarbicanesimply;\"andifNichollisnotthere，itwillgotohisheirs。\"
\"Ah，youpracticalmen！\"exclaimedMichelArdan;\"Iadmireyouthemorefornotbeingabletounderstandyou。\"
\"Forty—twominutespastten！\"saidNicholl。
\"Onlyfiveminutesmore！\"answeredBarbicane。
\"Yes，fivelittleminutes！\"repliedMichelArdan;\"andweareenclosedinaprojectile，atthebottomofagun900feetlong！
Andunderthisprojectilearerammed400，000poundsofgun—cotton，whichisequalto1，600，000poundsofordinarypowder！AndfriendMurchison，withhischronometerinhand，hiseyefixedontheneedle，hisfingerontheelectricapparatus，iscountingthesecondspreparatorytolaunchingusintointerplanetaryspace。\"
\"Enough，Michel，enough！\"saidBarbicane，inaseriousvoice;
\"letusprepare。Afewinstantsaloneseparateusfromaneventfulmoment。Oneclaspofthehand，myfriends。\"
\"Yes，\"exclaimedMichelArdan，moremovedthanhewishedtoappear;andthethreeboldcompanionswereunitedinalastembrace。
\"Godpreserveus！\"saidthereligiousBarbicane。
MichelArdanandNichollstretchedthemselvesonthecouchesplacedinthecenterofthedisc。
\"Forty—sevenminutespastten！\"murmuredthecaptain。
\"Twentysecondsmore！\"Barbicanequicklyputoutthegasandlaydownbyhiscompanions，andtheprofoundsilencewasonlybrokenbythetickingofthechronometermarkingtheseconds。
Suddenlyadreadfulshockwasfelt，andtheprojectile，undertheforceofsixbillionsoflitresofgas，developedbythecombustionofpyroxyle，mountedintospace。
CHAPTERII
THEFIRSTHALF—HOUR
Whathadhappened？Whateffecthadthisfrightfulshockproduced？
Hadtheingenuityoftheconstructorsoftheprojectileobtainedanyhappyresult？Hadtheshockbeendeadened，thankstothesprings，thefourplugs，thewater—cushions，andthepartition—breaks？
Hadtheybeenabletosubduethefrightfulpressureoftheinitiatoryspeedofmorethan11，000yards，whichwasenoughtotraverseParisorNewYorkinasecond？Thiswasevidentlythequestionsuggestedtothethousandspectatorsofthismovingscene。Theyforgottheaimofthejourney，andthoughtonlyofthetravelers。Andifoneofthem——JosephT。Mastonforexample——couldhavecastoneglimpseintotheprojectile，whatwouldhehaveseen？
Nothingthen。Thedarknesswasprofound。Butitscylindro—
conicalpartitionshadresistedwonderfully。Notarentoradentanywhere！Thewonderfulprojectilewasnotevenheatedundertheintensedeflagrationofthepowder，norliquefied，astheyseemedtofear，inashowerofaluminum。
Theinteriorshowedbutlittledisorder;indeed，onlyafewobjectshadbeenviolentlythrowntowardtheroof;butthemostimportantseemednottohavesufferedfromtheshockatall;
theirfixtureswereintact。
Onthemovabledisc，sunkdowntothebottombythesmashingofthepartition—breaksandtheescapeofthewater，threebodieslayapparentlylifeless。Barbicane，Nicholl，andMichelArdan——
didtheystillbreathe？orwastheprojectilenothingnowbutametalcoffin，bearingthreecorpsesintospace？
Someminutesafterthedepartureoftheprojectile，oneofthebodiesmoved，shookitsarms，lifteditshead，andfinallysucceededingettingonitsknees。ItwasMichelArdan。Hefelthimselfallover，gaveasonorous\"Hem！\"andthensaid：
\"MichelArdaniswhole。Howabouttheothers？\"
ThecourageousFrenchmantriedtorise，butcouldnotstand。
Hisheadswam，fromtherushofblood;hewasblind;hewasadrunkenman。
\"Bur—r！\"saidhe。\"ItproducesthesameeffectastwobottlesofCorton，thoughperhapslessagreeabletoswallow。\"
Then，passinghishandseveraltimesacrosshisforeheadandrubbinghistemples，hecalledinafirmvoice：
\"Nicholl！Barbicane！\"
Hewaitedanxiously。Noanswer;notevenasightoshowthattheheartsofhiscompanionswerestillbeating。Hecalledagain。
Thesamesilence。
\"Thedevil！\"heexclaimed。\"Theylookasiftheyhadfallenfromafifthstoryontheirheads。Bah！\"headded，withthatimperturbableconfidencewhichnothingcouldcheck，\"ifaFrenchmancangetonhisknees，twoAmericansoughttobeabletogetontheirfeet。Butfirstletuslightup。\"
Ardanfeltthetideoflifereturnbydegrees。Hisbloodbecamecalm，andreturnedtoitsaccustomedcirculation。Anothereffortrestoredhisequilibrium。Hesucceededinrising，drewamatchfromhispocket，andapproachingtheburnerlightedit。
Thereceiverhadnotsufferedatall。Thegashadnotescaped。
Besides，thesmellwouldhavebetrayedit;andinthatcaseMichelArdancouldnothavecarriedalightedmatchwithimpunitythroughthespacefilledwithhydrogen。Thegasmixingwiththeairwouldhaveproducedadetonatingmixture，andtheexplosionwouldhavefinishedwhattheshockhadperhapsbegun。
Whentheburnerwaslit，Ardanleanedoverthebodiesofhiscompanions：theywerelyingoneontheother，aninertmass，Nichollabove，Barbicaneunderneath。
Ardanliftedthecaptain，proppedhimupagainstthedivan，andbegantorubvigorously。Thismeans，usedwithjudgment，restoredNicholl，whoopenedhiseyes，andinstantlyrecoveringhispresenceofmind，seizedArdan’shandandlookedaroundhim。
\"AndBarbicane？\"saidhe。
\"Eachinturn，\"repliedMichelArdan。\"Ibeganwithyou，Nicholl，becauseyouwereonthetop。NowletuslooktoBarbicane。\"Sayingwhich，ArdanandNichollraisedthepresidentoftheGunClubandlaidhimonthedivan。Heseemedtohavesufferedmorethaneitherofhiscompanions;hewasbleeding，butNichollwasreassuredbyfindingthatthehemorrhagecamefromaslightwoundontheshoulder，ameregraze，whichheboundupcarefully。
Still，Barbicanewasalongtimecomingtohimself，whichfrightenedhisfriends，whodidnotsparefriction。
\"Hebreathesthough，\"saidNicholl，puttinghiseartothechestofthewoundedman。
\"Yes，\"repliedArdan，\"hebreatheslikeamanwhohassomenotionofthatdailyoperation。Rub，Nicholl;letusrubharder。\"
AndthetwoimprovisedpractitionersworkedsohardandsowellthatBarbicanerecoveredhissenses。Heopenedhiseyes，satup，tookhistwofriendsbythehands，andhisfirstwordswere——
\"Nicholl，arewemoving？\"
NichollandArdanlookedateachother;theyhadnotyettroubledthemselvesabouttheprojectile;theirfirstthoughthadbeenforthetraveler，notforthecar。
\"Well，arewereallymoving？\"repeatedMichelArdan。
\"OrquietlyrestingonthesoilofFlorida？\"askedNicholl。
\"OratthebottomoftheGulfofMexico？\"addedMichelArdan。
\"Whatanidea！\"exclaimedthepresident。
Andthisdoublehypothesissuggestedbyhiscompanionshadtheeffectofrecallinghimtohissenses。Inanycasetheycouldnotdecideonthepositionoftheprojectile。Itsapparentimmovability，andthewantofcommunicationwiththeoutside，preventedthemfromsolvingthequestion。Perhapstheprojectilewasunwindingitscoursethroughspace。Perhapsafterashortriseithadfallenupontheearth，orevenintheGulfofMexico——
afallwhichthenarrownessofthepeninsulaofFloridawouldrendernotimpossible。
Thecasewasserious，theprobleminteresting，andonethatmustbesolvedassoonaspossible。Thus，highlyexcited，Barbicane’smoralenergytriumphedoverphysicalweakness，andherosetohisfeet。Helistened。Outsidewasperfectsilence;butthethickpaddingwasenoughtointerceptallsoundscomingfromtheearth。ButonecircumstancestruckBarbicane，viz。，thatthetemperatureinsidetheprojectilewassingularlyhigh。
Thepresidentdrewathermometerfromitscaseandconsultedit。
Theinstrumentshowed81@Fahr。
\"Yes，\"heexclaimed，\"yes，wearemoving！Thisstiflingheat，penetratingthroughthepartitionsoftheprojectile，isproducedbyitsfrictionontheatmosphericstrata。Itwillsoondiminish，becausewearealreadyfloatinginspace，andafterhavingnearlystifled，weshallhavetosufferintensecold。
\"What！\"saidMichelArdan。\"Accordingtoyourshowing，Barbicane，wearealreadybeyondthelimitsoftheterrestrialatmosphere？\"
\"Withoutadoubt，Michel。Listentome。Itisfifty—fiveminutespastten;wehavebeengoneabouteightminutes;andifourinitiatoryspeedhasnotbeencheckedbythefriction，sixsecondswouldbeenoughforustopassthroughthefortymilesofatmospherewhichsurroundstheglobe。\"
\"Justso，\"repliedNicholl;\"butinwhatproportiondoyouestimatethediminutionofspeedbyfriction？\"
\"Intheproportionofone—third，Nicholl。Thisdiminutionisconsiderable，butaccordingtomycalculationsitisnothingless。
If，then，wehadaninitiatoryspeedof12，000yards，onleavingtheatmospherethisspeedwouldbereducedto9，165yards。Inanycasewehavealreadypassedthroughthisinterval，and————\"
\"Andthen，\"saidMichelArdan，\"friendNichollhaslosthistwobets：fourthousanddollarsbecausetheColumbiaddidnotburst;
fivethousanddollarsbecausetheprojectilehasrisenmorethansixmiles。Now，Nicholl，payup。\"
\"Letusproveitfirst，\"saidthecaptain，\"andwewillpayafterward。ItisquitepossiblethatBarbicane’sreasoningiscorrect，andthatIhavelostmyninethousanddollars。Butanewhypothesispresentsitselftomymind，anditannulsthewager。\"
\"Whatisthat？\"askedBarbicanequickly。
\"Thehypothesisthat，forsomereasonorother，firewasneversettothepowder，andwehavenotstartedatall。\"
\"Mygoodness，captain，\"exclaimedMichelArdan，\"thathypothesisisnotworthyofmybrain！Itcannotbeaseriousone。Forhavewenotbeenhalfannihilatedbytheshock？DidInotrecallyoutolife？Isnotthepresident’sshoulderstillbleedingfromtheblowithasreceived？\"
\"Granted，\"repliedNicholl;\"butonequestion。\"
\"Well，captain？\"
\"Didyouhearthedetonation，whichcertainlyoughttobeloud？\"
\"No，\"repliedArdan，muchsurprised;\"certainlyIdidnothearthedetonation。\"
\"Andyou，Barbicane？\"
\"NorI，either。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidNicholl。
\"Wellnow，\"murmuredthepresident\"whydidwenothearthedetonation？\"
Thethreefriendslookedateachotherwithadisconcertedair。
Itwasquiteaninexplicablephenomenon。Theprojectilehadstarted，andconsequentlytheremusthavebeenadetonation。
\"Letusfirstfindoutwhereweare，\"saidBarbicane，\"andletdownthispanel。\"
Thisverysimpleoperationwassoonaccomplished。
Thenutswhichheldtheboltstotheouterplatesoftheright—handscuttlegavewayunderthepressureoftheEnglishwrench。Theseboltswerepushedoutside，andthebufferscoveredwithIndia—rubberstoppeduptheholeswhichletthemthrough。Immediatelytheouterplatefellbackuponitshingeslikeaporthole，andthelenticularglasswhichclosedthescuttleappeared。Asimilaronewasletintothethickpartitionontheoppositesideoftheprojectile，anotherinthetopofthedome，andfinallyafourthinthemiddleofthebase。
Theycould，therefore，makeobservationsinfourdifferentdirections;thefirmamentbythesideandmostdirectwindows，theearthorthemoonbytheupperandunderopeningsintheprojectile。
Barbicaneandhistwocompanionsimmediatelyrushedtotheuncoveredwindow。Butitwaslitbynorayoflight。
Profounddarknesssurroundedthem，which，however，didnotpreventthepresidentfromexclaiming：
\"No，myfriends，wehavenotfallenbackupontheearth;no，norarewesubmergedintheGulfofMexico。Yes！wearemountingintospace。Seethosestarsshininginthenight，andthatimpenetrabledarknessheapedupbetweentheearthandus！\"
\"Hurrah！hurrah！\"exclaimedMichelArdanandNichollinonevoice。
Indeed，thisthickdarknessprovedthattheprojectilehadlefttheearth，forthesoil，brilliantlylitbythemoon—beamswouldhavebeenvisibletothetravelers，iftheyhadbeenlyingonitssurface。Thisdarknessalsoshowedthattheprojectilehadpassedtheatmosphericstrata，forthediffusedlightspreadintheairwouldhavebeenreflectedonthemetalwalls，whichreflectionwaswanting。Thislightwouldhavelitthewindow，andthewindowwasdark。Doubtwasnolongerpossible;thetravelershadlefttheearth。
\"Ihavelost，\"saidNicholl。
\"Icongratulateyou，\"repliedArdan。
\"Herearetheninethousanddollars，\"saidthecaptain，drawingarollofpaperdollarsfromhispocket。
\"Willyouhaveareceiptforit？\"askedBarbicane，takingthesum。
\"Ifyoudonotmind，\"answeredNicholl;\"itismorebusiness—like。\"
Andcoollyandseriously，asifhehadbeenathisstrong—box，thepresidentdrewforthhisnotebook，toreoutablankleaf，wroteaproperreceiptinpencil，datedandsigneditwiththeusualflourish，[1]andgaveittothecaptain，whocarefullyplaceditinhispocketbook。MichelArdan，takingoffhishat，bowedtohistwocompanionswithoutspeaking。Somuchformalityundersuchcircumstanceslefthimspeechless。Hehadneverbeforeseenanythingso\"American。\"
[1]ThisisapurelyFrenchhabit。
Thisaffairsettled，BarbicaneandNichollhadreturnedtothewindow，andwerewatchingtheconstellations。Thestarslookedlikebrightpointsontheblacksky。Butfromthatsidetheycouldnotseetheorbofnight，which，travelingfromeasttowest，wouldrisebydegreestowardthezenith。ItsabsencedrewthefollowingremarkfromArdan：
\"Andthemoon;willsheperchancefailatourrendezvous？\"
\"Donotalarmyourself，\"saidBarbicane;\"ourfutureglobeisatitspost，butwecannotseeherfromthisside;letusopentheother。\"
\"AsBarbicanewasaboutleavingthewindowtoopentheoppositescuttle，hisattentionwasattractedbytheapproachofabrilliantobject。Itwasanenormousdisc，whosecolossaldimensioncouldnotbeestimated。Itsface，whichwasturnedtotheearth，wasverybright。Onemighthavethoughtitasmallmoonreflectingthelightofthelargeone。Sheadvancedwithgreatspeed，andseemedtodescribeanorbitroundtheearth，whichwouldintersectthepassageoftheprojectile。Thisbodyrevolveduponitsaxis，andexhibitedthephenomenaofallcelestialbodiesabandonedinspace。
\"Ah！\"exclaimedMichelArdan，\"Whatisthat？anotherprojectile？\"
Barbicanedidnotanswer。Theappearanceofthisenormousbodysurprisedandtroubledhim。Acollisionwaspossible，andmightbeattendedwithdeplorableresults;eithertheprojectilewoulddeviatefromitspath，orashock，breakingitsimpetus，mightprecipitateittoearth;or，lastly，itmightbeirresistiblydrawnawaybythepowerfulasteroid。Thepresidentcaughtataglancetheconsequencesofthesethreehypotheses，eitherofwhichwould，onewayortheother，bringtheirexperimenttoanunsuccessfulandfataltermination。Hiscompanionsstoodsilentlylookingintospace。Theobjectgrewrapidlyasitapproachedthem，andbyanopticalillusiontheprojectileseemedtobethrowingitselfbeforeit。
\"ByJove！\"exclaimedMichelArdan，\"weshallrunintooneanother！\"
Instinctivelythetravelersdrewback。Theirdreadwasgreat，butitdidnotlastmanyseconds。Theasteroidpassedseveralhundredyardsfromtheprojectileanddisappeared，notsomuchfromtherapidityofitscourse，asthatitsfacebeingoppositethemoon，itwassuddenlymergedintotheperfectdarknessofspace。
\"Ahappyjourneytoyou，\"exclaimedMichelArdan，withasighofrelief。\"Surelyinfinityofspaceislargeenoughforapoorlittleprojectiletowalkthroughwithoutfear。Now，whatisthisportentousglobewhichnearlystruckus？\"
\"Iknow，\"repliedBarbicane。
\"Oh，indeed！youknoweverything。\"
\"Itis，\"saidBarbicane，\"asimplemeteorite，butanenormousone，whichtheattractionoftheearthhasretainedasasatellite。\"
\"Isitpossible！\"exclaimedMichelArdan;\"theearththenhastwomoonslikeNeptune？\"
\"Yes，myfriends，twomoons，thoughitpassesgenerallyforhavingonlyone;butthissecondmoonissosmall，anditsspeedsogreat，thattheinhabitantsoftheearthcannotseeit。
ItwasbynoticingdisturbancesthataFrenchastronomer，M。Petit，wasabletodeterminetheexistenceofthissecondsatelliteandcalculateitselements。Accordingtohisobservations，thismeteoritewillaccomplishitsrevolutionaroundtheearthinthreehoursandtwentyminutes，whichimpliesawonderfulrateofspeed。\"
\"Doallastronomersadmittheexistenceofthissatellite？\"
askedNicholl。
\"No，\"repliedBarbicane;\"butif，likeus，theyhadmetit，theycouldnolongerdoubtit。Indeed，Ithinkthatthismeteorite，which，haditstrucktheprojectile，wouldhavemuchembarrassedus，willgiveusthemeansofdecidingwhatourpositioninspaceis。\"
\"How？\"saidArdan。
\"Becauseitsdistanceisknown，andwhenwemetit，wewereexactlyfourthousandsixhundredandfiftymilesfromthesurfaceoftheterrestrialglobe。\"
\"MorethantwothousandFrenchleagues，\"exclaimedMichelArdan。
\"Thatbeatstheexpresstrainsofthepitifulglobecalledtheearth。\"
\"Ishouldthinkso，\"repliedNicholl，consultinghischronometer;\"itiseleveno’clock，anditisonlythirteenminutessincewelefttheAmericancontinent。\"
\"Onlythirteenminutes？\"saidBarbicane。
\"Yes，\"saidNicholl;\"andifourinitiatoryspeedoftwelvethousandyardshasbeenkeptup，weshallhavemadeabouttwentythousandmilesinthehour。\"
\"Thatisallverywell，myfriends，\"saidthepresident，\"buttheinsolublequestionstillremains。WhydidwenothearthedetonationoftheColumbiad？\"
Forwantofananswertheconversationdropped，andBarbicanebeganthoughtfullytoletdowntheshutterofthesecondside。
Hesucceeded;andthroughtheuncoveredglassthemoonfilledtheprojectilewithabrilliantlight。Nicholl，asaneconomicalman，putoutthegas，nowuseless，andwhosebrilliancypreventedanyobservationoftheinter—planetaryspace。
Thelunardiscshonewithwonderfulpurity。Herrays，nolongerfilteredthroughthevaporyatmosphereoftheterrestrialglobe，shonethroughtheglass，fillingtheairintheinterioroftheprojectilewithsilveryreflections。Theblackcurtainofthefirmamentinrealityheightenedthemoon’sbrilliancy，whichinthisvoidofetherunfavorabletodiffusiondidnoteclipsetheneighboringstars。Theheavens，thusseen，presentedquiteanewaspect，andonewhichthehumaneyecouldneverdreamof。
Onemayconceivetheinterestwithwhichtheseboldmenwatchedtheorbofnight，thegreataimoftheirjourney。
Initsmotiontheearth’ssatellitewasinsensiblynearingthezenith，themathematicalpointwhichitoughttoattainninety—sixhourslater。Hermountains，herplains，everyprojectionwasasclearlydiscernibletotheireyesasiftheywereobservingitfromsomespotupontheearth;butitslightwasdevelopedthroughspacewithwonderfulintensity。Thediscshonelikeaplatinummirror。Oftheearthflyingfromundertheirfeet，thetravelershadlostallrecollection。
ItwascaptainNichollwhofirstrecalledtheirattentiontothevanishingglobe。
\"Yes，\"saidMichelArdan，\"donotletusbeungratefultoit。
Sinceweareleavingourcountry，letourlastlooksbedirectedtoit。Iwishtoseetheearthoncemorebeforeitisquitehiddenfrommyeyes。\"
Tosatisfyhiscompanions，Barbicanebegantouncoverthewindowatthebottomoftheprojectile，whichwouldallowthemtoobservetheearthdirect。Thedisc，whichtheforceoftheprojectionhadbeatendowntothebase，wasremoved，notwithoutdifficulty。Itsfragments，placedcarefullyagainstawall，mightserveagainuponoccasion。Thenacirculargapappeared，nineteeninchesindiameter，hollowedoutofthelowerpartoftheprojectile。Aglasscover，sixinchesthickandstrengthenedwithupperfastenings，closedittightly。Beneathwasfixedanaluminumplate，heldinplacebybolts。Thescrewsbeingundone，andtheboltsletgo，theplatefelldown，andvisiblecommunicationwasestablishedbetweentheinteriorandtheexterior。
MichelArdankneltbytheglass。Itwascloudy，seeminglyopaque。
\"Well！\"heexclaimed，\"andtheearth？\"
\"Theearth？\"saidBarbicane。\"Thereitis。\"
\"What！thatlittlethread;thatsilvercrescent？\"
\"Doubtless，Michel。Infourdays，whenthemoonwillbefull，attheverytimeweshallreachit，theearthwillbenew，andwillonlyappeartousasaslendercrescentwhichwillsoondisappear，andforsomedayswillbeenvelopedinutterdarkness。\"
\"Thattheearth？\"repeatedMichelArdan，lookingwithallhiseyesatthethinslipofhisnativeplanet。
TheexplanationgivenbyPresidentBarbicanewascorrect。
Theearth，withrespecttotheprojectile，wasenteringitslastphase。Itwasinitsoctant，andshowedacrescentfinelytracedonthedarkbackgroundofthesky。Itslight，renderedbluishbythethickstrataoftheatmospherewaslessintensethanthatofthecrescentmoon，butitwasofconsiderabledimensions，andlookedlikeanenormousarchstretchedacrossthefirmament。Somepartsbrilliantlylighted，especiallyonitsconcavepart，showedthepresenceofhighmountains，oftendisappearingbehindthickspots，whichareneverseenonthelunardisc。Theywereringsofcloudsplacedconcentricallyroundtheterrestrialglobe。
Whilethetravelersweretryingtopiercetheprofounddarkness，abrilliantclusterofshootingstarsburstupontheireyes。
Hundredsofmeteorites，ignitedbythefrictionoftheatmosphere，irradiatedtheshadowoftheluminoustrain，andlinedthecloudypartsofthediscwiththeirfire。Atthisperiodtheearthwasinitsperihelion，andthemonthofDecemberissopropitioustotheseshootingstars，thatastronomershavecountedasmanyastwenty—fourthousandinanhour。ButMichelArdan，disdainingscientificreasonings，preferredthinkingthattheearthwasthussalutingthedepartureofherthreechildrenwithhermostbrilliantfireworks。
Indeedthiswasalltheysawoftheglobelostinthesolarworld，risingandsettingtothegreatplanetslikeasimplemorningoreveningstar！Thisglobe，wheretheyhadleftalltheiraffections，wasnothingmorethanafugitivecrescent！
Longdidthethreefriendslookwithoutspeaking，thoughunitedinheart，whiletheprojectilespedonwardwithanever—decreasingspeed。Thenanirresistibledrowsinesscreptovertheirbrain。Wasitwearinessofbodyandmind？Nodoubt;
foraftertheover—excitementofthoselasthourspasseduponearth，reactionwasinevitable。
\"Well，\"saidNicholl，\"sincewemustsleep，letussleep。\"
Andstretchingthemselvesontheircouches，theywereallthreesooninaprofoundslumber。
Buttheyhadnotforgottenthemselvesmorethanaquarterofanhour，whenBarbicanesatupsuddenly，androusinghiscompanionswithaloudvoice，exclaimed————
\"Ihavefoundit！\"
\"Whathaveyoufound？\"askedMichelArdan，jumpingfromhisbed。
\"ThereasonwhywedidnothearthedetonationoftheColumbiad。\"
\"Anditis————？\"saidNicholl。
\"Becauseourprojectiletraveledfasterthanthesound！\"
CHAPTERIII
THEIRPLACEOFSHELTER
Thiscuriousbutcertainlycorrectexplanationoncegiven，thethreefriendsreturnedtotheirslumbers。Couldtheyhavefoundacalmerormorepeacefulspottosleepin？Ontheearth，houses，towns，cottages，andcountryfeeleveryshockgiventotheexterioroftheglobe。Onsea，thevesselsrockedbythewavesarestillinmotion;intheair，theballoonoscillatesincessantlyonthefluidstrataofdiversdensities。
Thisprojectilealone，floatinginperfectspace，inthemidstofperfectsilence，offeredperfectrepose。
Thusthesleepofouradventuroustravelersmighthavebeenindefinitelyprolonged，ifanunexpectednoisehadnotawakenedthemataboutseveno’clockinthemorningofthe2ndofDecember，eighthoursaftertheirdeparture。
Thisnoisewasaverynaturalbarking。
\"Thedogs！itisthedogs！\"exclaimedMichelArdan，risingatonce。
\"Theyarehungry，\"saidNicholl。
\"ByJove！\"repliedMichel，\"wehaveforgottenthem。\"
\"Wherearethey？\"askedBarbicane。
Theylookedandfoundoneoftheanimalscrouchedunderthedivan。
Terrifiedandshakenbytheinitiatoryshock，ithadremainedinthecornertillitsvoicereturnedwiththepangsofhunger。
ItwastheamiableDiana，stillveryconfused，whocreptoutofherretreat，thoughnotwithoutmuchpersuasion，MichelArdanencouragingherwithmostgraciouswords。
\"Come，Diana，\"saidhe：\"come，mygirl！thouwhosedestinywillbemarkedinthecynegeticannals;thouwhomthepaganswouldhavegivenascompaniontothegodAnubis，andChristiansasfriendtoSt。Roch;thouwhoartrushingintointerplanetaryspace，andwiltperhapsbetheEveofallSelenitedogs！come，Diana，comehere。\"
Diana，flatteredornot，advancedbydegrees，utteringplaintivecries。
\"Good，\"saidBarbicane：\"IseeEve，butwhereisAdam？\"
\"Adam？\"repliedMichel;\"Adamcannotbefaroff;heistheresomewhere;wemustcallhim。Satellite！here，Satellite！\"
ButSatellitedidnotappear。Dianawouldnotleaveoffhowling。
Theyfound，however，thatshewasnotbruised，andtheygaveherapie，whichsilencedhercomplaints。AstoSatellite，heseemedquitelost。Theyhadtohuntalongtimebeforefindinghiminoneoftheuppercompartmentsoftheprojectile，whithersomeunaccountableshockmusthaveviolentlyhurledhim。Thepoorbeast，muchhurt，wasinapiteousstate。
\"Thedevil！\"saidMichel。
Theybroughttheunfortunatedogdownwithgreatcare。Itsskullhadbeenbrokenagainsttheroof，anditseemedunlikelythathecouldrecoverfromsuchashock。Meanwhile，hewasstretchedcomfortablyonacushion。Oncethere，heheavedasigh。
\"Wewilltakecareofyou，\"saidMichel;\"weareresponsibleforyourexistence。IwouldratherloseanarmthanapawofmypoorSatellite。\"
Sayingwhich，heofferedsomewatertothewoundeddog，whoswalloweditwithavidity。
Thisattentionpaid，thetravelerswatchedtheearthandthemoonattentively。Theearthwasnowonlydiscerniblebyacloudydiscendinginacrescent，rathermorecontractedthanthatofthepreviousevening;butitsexpansewasstillenormous，comparedwiththatofthemoon，whichwasapproachingnearerandnearertoaperfectcircle。
\"ByJove！\"saidMichelArdan，\"Iamreallysorrythatwedidnotstartwhentheearthwasfull，thatistosay，whenourglobewasinoppositiontothesun。\"
\"Why？\"saidNicholl。
\"Becauseweshouldhaveseenourcontinentsandseasinanewlight——thefirstresplendentunderthesolarrays，thelattercloudyasrepresentedonsomemapsoftheworld。Ishouldliketohaveseenthosepolesoftheearthonwhichtheeyeofmanhasneveryetrested。
\"Idaresay，\"repliedBarbicane;\"butiftheearthhadbeen_full_，themoonwouldhavebeen_new_;thatistosay，invisible，becauseoftheraysofthesun。Itisbetterforustoseethedestinationwewishtoreach，thanthepointofdeparture。\"
\"Youareright，Barbicane，\"repliedCaptainNicholl;\"and，besides，whenwehavereachedthemoon，weshallhavetimeduringthelonglunarnightstoconsideratourleisuretheglobeonwhichourlikenessesswarm。\"
\"Ourlikenesses！\"exclaimedMichelArdan;\"TheyarenomoreourlikenessesthantheSelenitesare！Weinhabitanewworld，peopledbyourselves——theprojectile！IamBarbicane’slikeness，andBarbicaneisNicholl’s。Beyondus，aroundus，humannatureisatanend，andwearetheonlypopulationofthismicrocosmuntilwebecomepureSelenites。\"
\"Inabouteighty—eighthours，\"repliedthecaptain。
\"Whichmeanstosay？\"askedMichelArdan。
\"Thatitishalf—pasteight，\"repliedNicholl。
\"Verywell，\"retortedMichel;\"thenitisimpossibleformetofindeventheshadowofareasonwhyweshouldnotgotobreakfast。\"
Indeedtheinhabitantsofthenewstarcouldnotlivewithouteating，andtheirstomachsweresufferingfromtheimperiouslawsofhunger。MichelArdan，asaFrenchman，wasdeclaredchiefcook，animportantfunction，whichraisednorival。
Thegasgavesufficientheatfortheculinaryapparatus，andtheprovisionboxfurnishedtheelementsofthisfirstfeast。
Thebreakfastbeganwiththreebowlsofexcellentsoup，thankstotheliquefactioninhotwaterofthosepreciouscakesofLiebig，preparedfromthebestpartsoftheruminantsofthePampas。
Tothesoupsucceededsomebeefsteaks，compressedbyanhydraulicpress，astenderandsucculentasifbroughtstraightfromthekitchenofanEnglisheating—house。Michel，whowasimaginative，maintainedthattheywereeven\"red。\"
Preservedvegetables（\"fresherthannature，\"saidtheamiableMichel）succeededthedishofmeat;andwasfollowedbysomecupsofteawithbreadandbutter，aftertheAmericanfashion。
Thebeveragewasdeclaredexquisite，andwasduetotheinfusionofthechoicestleaves，ofwhichtheemperorofRussiahadgivensomechestsforthebenefitofthetravelers。
Andlastly，tocrowntherepast，ArdanhadbroughtoutafinebottleofNuits，whichwasfound\"bychance\"intheprovision—box。Thethreefriendsdranktotheunionoftheearthandhersatellite。
And，asifhehadnotalreadydoneenoughforthegenerouswinewhichhehaddistilledontheslopesofBurgundy，thesunchosetobepartoftheparty。Atthismomenttheprojectileemergedfromtheconicalshadowcastbytheterrestrialglobe，andtheraysoftheradiantorbstruckthelowerdiscoftheprojectiledirectoccasionedbytheanglewhichthemoon’sorbitmakeswiththatoftheearth。
\"Thesun！\"exclaimedMichelArdan。
\"Nodoubt，\"repliedBarbicane;\"Iexpectedit。\"
\"But，\"saidMichel，\"theconicalshadowwhichtheearthleavesinspaceextendsbeyondthemoon？\"
\"Farbeyondit，iftheatmosphericrefractionisnottakenintoconsideration，\"saidBarbicane。\"Butwhenthemoonisenvelopedinthisshadow，itisbecausethecentersofthethreestars，thesun，theearth，andthemoon，areallinoneandthesamestraightline。Thenthe_nodes_coincidewiththe_phases_ofthemoon，andthereisaneclipse。Ifwehadstartedwhentherewasaneclipseofthemoon，allourpassagewouldhavebeenintheshadow，whichwouldhavebeenapity。\"
\"Why？\"
\"Because，thoughwearefloatinginspace，ourprojectile，bathedinthesolarrays，willreceivelightandheat。
Iteconomizesthegas，whichisineveryrespectagoodeconomy。\"
Indeed，undertheserayswhichnoatmospherecantemper，eitherintemperatureorbrilliancy，theprojectilegrewwarmandbright，asifithadpassedsuddenlyfromwintertosummer。
Themoonabove，thesunbeneath，wereinundatingitwiththeirfire。
\"Itispleasanthere，\"saidNicholl。
\"Ishouldthinkso，\"saidMichelArdan。\"Withalittleearthspreadonouraluminumplanetweshouldhavegreenpeasintwenty—fourhours。Ihavebutonefear，whichisthatthewallsoftheprojectilemightmelt。\"
\"Calmyourself，myworthyfriend，\"repliedBarbicane;\"theprojectilewithstoodaverymuchhighertemperaturethanthisasitslidthroughthestrataoftheatmosphere。IshouldnotbesurprisedifitdidnotlooklikeameteoronfiretotheeyesofthespectatorsinFlorida。\"
\"ButthenJ。T。Mastonwillthinkweareroasted！\"
\"Whatastonishesme，\"saidBarbicane，\"isthatwehavenotbeen。
Thatwasadangerwehadnotprovidedfor。\"
\"Ifearedit，\"saidNichollsimply。
\"Andyounevermentionedit，mysublimecaptain，\"exclaimedMichelArdan，claspinghisfriend’shand。
Barbicanenowbegantosettlehimselfintheprojectileasifhewasnevertoleaveit。Onemustrememberthatthisaerialcarhadabasewitha_superficies_offifty—foursquarefeet。
Itsheighttotheroofwastwelvefeet。Carefullylaidoutintheinside，andlittleencumberedbyinstrumentsandtravelingutensils，whicheachhadtheirparticularplace，itleftthethreetravelersacertainfreedomofmovement。Thethickwindowinsertedinthebottomcouldbearanyamountofweight，andBarbicaneandhiscompanionswalkeduponitasifitweresolidplank;butthesunstrikingitdirectlywithitsrayslittheinterioroftheprojectilefrombeneath，thusproducingsingulareffectsoflight。
Theybeganbyinvestigatingthestateoftheirstoreofwaterandprovisions，neitherofwhichhadsuffered，thankstothecaretakentodeadentheshock。Theirprovisionswereabundant，andplentifulenoughtolastthethreetravelersformorethanayear。Barbicanewishedtobecautious，incasetheprojectileshouldlandonapartofthemoonwhichwasutterlybarren。
Astowaterandthereserveofbrandy，whichconsistedoffiftygallons，therewasonlyenoughfortwomonths;butaccordingtothelastobservationsofastronomers，themoonhadalow，dense，andthickatmosphere，atleastinthedeepvalleys，andtherespringsandstreamscouldnotfail。Thus，duringtheirpassage，andforthefirstyearoftheirsettlementonthelunarcontinent，theseadventurousexplorerswouldsufferneitherhungernorthirst。
Nowabouttheairintheprojectile。There，too，theyweresecure。
ReisetandRegnaut’sapparatus，intendedfortheproductionofoxygen，wassuppliedwithchlorateofpotassiumfortwomonths。
Theynecessarilyconsumedacertainquantityofgas，fortheywereobligedtokeeptheproducingsubstanceatatemperatureofabove400@。Butthereagaintheywereallsafe。Theapparatusonlywantedalittlecare。Butitwasnotenoughtorenewtheoxygen;theymustabsorbthecarbonicacidproducedbyexpiration。
Duringthelasttwelvehourstheatmosphereoftheprojectilehadbecomechargedwiththisdeleteriousgas。NicholldiscoveredthestateoftheairbyobservingDianapantingpainfully。
Thecarbonicacid，byaphenomenonsimilartothatproducedinthefamousGrottodelCane，hadcollectedatthebottomoftheprojectileowingtoitsweight。PoorDiana，withherheadlow，wouldsufferbeforehermastersfromthepresenceofthisgas。
ButCaptainNichollhastenedtoremedythisstateofthings，byplacingonthefloorseveralreceiverscontainingcausticpotash，whichheshookaboutforatime，andthissubstance，greedyofcarbonicacid，sooncompletelyabsorbedit，thuspurifyingtheair。
Aninventoryofinstrumentswasthenbegun。Thethermometersandbarometershadresisted，allbutoneminimumthermometer，theglassofwhichwasbroken。Anexcellentaneroidwasdrawnfromthewaddedboxwhichcontaineditandhungonthewall。
Ofcourseitwasonlyaffectedbyandmarkedthepressureoftheairinsidetheprojectile，butitalsoshowedthequantityofmoisturewhichitcontained。Atthatmomentitsneedleoscillatedbetween25。24and25。08。
Itwasfineweather。
Barbicanehadalsobroughtseveralcompasses，whichhefoundintact。
Onemustunderstandthatunderpresentconditionstheirneedleswereacting_wildly_，thatiswithoutany_constant_direction。
Indeed，atthedistancetheywerefromtheearth，themagneticpolecouldhavenoperceptibleactionupontheapparatus;buttheboxplacedonthelunardiscmightperhapsexhibitsomestrangephenomena。Inanycaseitwouldbeinterestingtoseewhethertheearth’ssatellitesubmittedlikeherselftoitsmagneticinfluence。
Ahypsometertomeasuretheheightofthelunarmountains，asextanttotaketheheightofthesun，glasseswhichwouldbeusefulastheynearedthemoon，alltheseinstrumentswerecarefullylookedover，andpronouncedgoodinspiteoftheviolentshock。