\"Yes，\"repliedNicholl。
\"Verywell，\"continuedMichelArdan，\"theScientificCommissionassembledintheprojectileoftheGunClub，afterhavingfoundedtheirargumentonfactsrecentlyobserved，decideunanimouslyuponthequestionofthehabitabilityofthemoon——
`_No！_themoonisnothabitable。’\"
ThisdecisionwasconsignedbyPresidentBarbicanetohisnotebook，wheretheprocessofthesittingofthe6thofDecembermaybeseen。
\"Now，\"saidNicholl，\"letusattackthesecondquestion，anindispensablecomplementofthefirst。Iaskthehonorablecommission，ifthemoonisnothabitable，hassheeverbeeninhabited，CitizenBarbicane？\"
\"Myfriends，\"repliedBarbicane，\"Ididnotundertakethisjourneyinordertoformanopiniononthepasthabitabilityofoursatellite;butIwilladdthatourpersonalobservationsonlyconfirmmeinthisopinion。Ibelieve，indeedIaffirm，thatthemoonhasbeeninhabitedbyahumanraceorganizedlikeourown;thatshehasproducedanimalsanatomicallyformedliketheterrestrialanimals：butIaddthattheseraces，humanandanimal，havehadtheirday，andarenowforeverextinct！\"
\"Then，\"askedMichel，\"themoonmustbeolderthantheearth？\"
\"No！\"saidBarbicanedecidedly，\"butaworldwhichhasgrownoldquicker，andwhoseformationanddeformationhavebeenmorerapid。
Relatively，theorganizingforceofmatterhasbeenmuchmoreviolentintheinteriorofthemoonthanintheinterioroftheterrestrialglobe。Theactualstateofthiscracked，twisted，andburstdiscabundantlyprovesthis。Themoonandtheearthwerenothingbutgaseousmassesoriginally。Thesegaseshavepassedintoaliquidstateunderdifferentinfluences，andthesolidmasseshavebeenformedlater。Butmostcertainlyourspherewasstillgaseousorliquid，whenthemoonwassolidifiedbycooling，andhadbecomehabitable。\"
\"Ibelieveit，\"saidNicholl。
\"Then，\"continuedBarbicane，\"anatmospheresurroundedit，thewaterscontainedwithinthisgaseousenvelopecouldnotevaporate。
Undertheinfluenceofair，water，light，solarheat，andcentralheat，vegetationtookpossessionofthecontinentspreparedtoreceiveit，andcertainlylifeshoweditselfaboutthisperiod，fornaturedoesnotexpendherselfinvain;andaworldsowonderfullyformedforhabitationmustnecessarilybeinhabited。\"
\"But，\"saidNicholl，\"manyphenomenainherentinoursatellitemightcramptheexpansionoftheanimalandvegetablekingdom。
Forexample，itsdaysandnightsof354hours？\"
\"Attheterrestrialpolestheylastsixmonths，\"saidMichel。
\"Anargumentoflittlevalue，sincethepolesarenotinhabited。\"
\"Letusobserve，myfriends，\"continuedBarbicane，\"thatifintheactualstateofthemoonitslongnightsandlongdayscreateddifferencesoftemperatureinsupportabletoorganization，itwasnotsoatthehistoricalperiodoftime。
Theatmosphereenvelopedthediscwithafluidmantle;vapordepositeditselfintheshapeofclouds;thisnaturalscreentemperedtheardorofthesolarrays，andretainedthenocturnalradiation。Light，likeheat，candiffuseitselfintheair;henceanequalitybetweentheinfluenceswhichnolongerexists，nowthatatmospherehasalmostentirelydisappeared。
AndnowIamgoingtoastonishyou。\"
\"Astonishus？\"saidMichelArdan。
\"Ifirmlybelievethatattheperiodwhenthemoonwasinhabited，thenightsanddaysdidnotlast354hours！\"
\"Andwhy？\"askedNichollquickly。
\"Becausemostprobablythentherotarymotionofthemoonuponheraxiswasnotequaltoherrevolution，anequalitywhichpresentseachpartofherdiscduringfifteendaystotheactionofthesolarrays。\"
\"Granted，\"repliedNicholl，\"butwhyshouldnotthesetwomotionshavebeenequal，astheyarereallyso？\"
\"Becausethatequalityhasonlybeendeterminedbyterrestrialattraction。Andwhocansaythatthisattractionwaspowerfulenoughtoalterthemotionofthemoonatthatperiodwhentheearthwasstillfluid？\"
\"Justso，\"repliedNicholl;\"andwhocansaythatthemoonhasalwaysbeenasatelliteoftheearth？\"
\"Andwhocansay，\"exclaimedMichelArdan，\"thatthemoondidnotexistbeforetheearth？\"
Theirimaginationscarriedthemawayintoanindefinitefieldofhypothesis。Barbicanesoughttorestrainthem。
\"Thosespeculationsaretoohigh，\"saidhe;\"problemsutterlyinsoluble。Donotletusenteruponthem。Letusonlyadmittheinsufficiencyoftheprimordialattraction;andthenbytheinequalityofthetwomotionsofrotationandrevolution，thedaysandnightscouldhavesucceededeachotheronthemoonastheysucceedeachotherontheearth。Besides，evenwithouttheseconditions，lifewaspossible。\"
\"Andso，\"askedMichelArdan，\"humanityhasdisappearedfromthemoon？\"
\"Yes，\"repliedBarbicane，\"afterhavingdoubtlessremainedpersistentlyformillionsofcenturies;bydegreestheatmospherebecomingrarefied，thediscbecameuninhabitable，astheterrestrialglobewillonedaybecomebycooling。\"
\"Bycooling？\"
\"Certainly，\"repliedBarbicane;\"astheinternalfiresbecameextinguished，andtheincandescentmatterconcentrateditself，thelunarcrustcooled。Bydegreestheconsequencesofthesephenomenashowedthemselvesinthedisappearanceoforganizedbeings，andbythedisappearanceofvegetation。Soontheatmospherewasrarefied，probablywithdrawnbyterrestrialattraction;thenaerialdepartureofrespirableair，anddisappearanceofwaterbymeansofevaporation。Atthisperiodthemoonbecominguninhabitable，wasnolongerinhabited。
Itwasadeadworld，suchasweseeitto—day。\"
\"Andyousaythatthesamefateisinstorefortheearth？\"
\"Mostprobably。\"
\"Butwhen？\"
\"Whenthecoolingofitscrustshallhavemadeituninhabitable。\"
\"Andhavetheycalculatedthetimewhichourunfortunatespherewilltaketocool？\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Andyouknowthesecalculations？\"
\"Perfectly。\"
\"Butspeak，then，myclumsysavant，\"exclaimedMichelArdan，\"foryoumakemeboilwithimpatience！\"
\"Verywell，mygoodMichel，\"repliedBarbicanequietly;\"weknowwhatdiminutionoftemperaturetheearthundergoesinthelapseofacentury。Andaccordingtocertaincalculations，thismeantemperaturewillafteraperiodof400，000years，bebroughtdowntozero！\"
\"Fourhundredthousandyears！\"exclaimedMichel。\"Ah！I
breatheagain。ReallyIwasfrightenedtohearyou;Iimaginedthatwehadnotmorethan50，000yearstolive。\"
BarbicaneandNichollcouldnothelplaughingattheircompanion’suneasiness。ThenNicholl，whowishedtoendthediscussion，putthesecondquestion，whichhadjustbeenconsideredagain。
\"Hasthemoonbeeninhabited？\"heasked。
Theanswerwasunanimouslyintheaffirmative。Butduringthisdiscussion，fruitfulinsomewhathazardoustheories，theprojectilewasrapidlyleavingthemoon：thelineamentsfadedawayfromthetravelers’eyes，mountainswereconfusedinthedistance;andofallthewonderful，strange，andfantasticalformoftheearth’ssatellite，theresoonremainednothingbuttheimperishableremembrance。
CHAPTERXIX
ASTRUGGLEAGAINSTTHEIMPOSSIBLE
ForalongtimeBarbicaneandhiscompanionslookedsilentlyandsadlyuponthatworldwhichtheyhadonlyseenfromadistance，asMosessawthelandofCanaan，andwhichtheywereleavingwithoutapossibilityofeverreturningtoit。Theprojectile’spositionwithregardtothemoonhadaltered，andthebasewasnowturnedtotheearth。
Thischange，whichBarbicaneverified，didnotfailtosurprisethem。
Iftheprojectilewastogravitateroundthesatelliteinanellipticalorbit，whywasnotitsheaviestpartturnedtowardit，asthemoonturnsherstotheearth？Thatwasadifficultpoint。
Inwatchingthecourseoftheprojectiletheycouldseethatonleavingthemoonitfollowedacourseanalogoustothattracedinapproachingher。Itwasdescribingaverylongellipse，whichwouldmostlikelyextendtothepointofequalattraction，wheretheinfluencesoftheearthanditssatelliteareneutralized。
SuchwastheconclusionwhichBarbicaneveryjustlydrewfromfactsalreadyobserved，aconvictionwhichhistwofriendssharedwithhim。
\"Andwhenarrivedatthisdeadpoint，whatwillbecomeofus？\"
askedMichelArdan。
\"Wedon’tknow，\"repliedBarbicane。
\"Butonecandrawsomehypotheses，Isuppose？\"
\"Two，\"answeredBarbicane;\"eithertheprojectile’sspeedwillbeinsufficient，anditwillremainforeverimmovableonthislineofdoubleattraction————\"
\"Iprefertheotherhypothesis，whateveritmaybe，\"interruptedMichel。
\"Or，\"continuedBarbicane，\"itsspeedwillbesufficient，anditwillcontinueitsellipticalcourse，togravitateforeveraroundtheorbofnight。\"
\"Arevolutionnotatallconsoling，\"saidMichel，\"topasstothestateofhumbleservantstoamoonwhomweareaccustomedtolookuponasourownhandmaid。Sothatisthefateinstoreforus？\"
NeitherBarbicanenorNichollanswered。
\"Youdonotanswer，\"continuedMichelimpatiently。
\"Thereisnothingtoanswer，\"saidNicholl。
\"Istherenothingtotry？\"
\"No，\"answeredBarbicane。\"Doyoupretendtofightagainsttheimpossible？\"
\"Whynot？DooneFrenchmanandtwoAmericansshrinkfromsuchaword？\"
\"Butwhatwouldyoudo？\"
\"Subduethismotionwhichisbearingusaway。\"
\"Subdueit？\"
\"Yes，\"continuedMichel，gettinganimated，\"orelsealterit，andemployittotheaccomplishmentofourownends。\"
\"Andhow？\"
\"Thatisyouraffair。Ifartillerymenarenotmastersoftheirprojectiletheyarenotartillerymen。Iftheprojectileistocommandthegunner，wehadbetterramthegunnerintothegun。
Myfaith！finesavants！whodonotknowwhatistobecomeofusafterinducingme————\"
\"Inducingyou！\"criedBarbicaneandNicholl。\"Inducingyou！
Whatdoyoumeanbythat？\"
\"Norecrimination，\"saidMichel。\"Idonotcomplain，thetriphaspleasedme，andtheprojectileagreeswithme;butletusdoallthatishumanlypossibletodothefallsomewhere，evenifonlyonthemoon。\"
\"Weasknobetter，myworthyMichel，\"repliedBarbicane，\"butmeansfailus。\"
\"Wecannotalterthemotionoftheprojectile？\"
\"No。\"
\"Nordiminishitsspeed？\"
\"No。\"
\"Notevenbylighteningit，astheylightenanoverloadedvessel？\"
\"Whatwouldyouthrowout？\"saidNicholl。\"Wehavenoballastonboard;andindeeditseemstomethatiflighteneditwouldgomuchquicker。\"
\"Slower。\"
\"Quicker。\"
\"Neitherslowernorquicker，\"saidBarbicane，wishingtomakehistwofriendsagree;\"forwefloatisspace，andmustnolongerconsiderspecificweight。\"
\"Verywell，\"criedMichelArdaninadecidedvoice;\"thentheirremainsbutonethingtodo。\"
\"Whatisit？\"askedNicholl。
\"Breakfast，\"answeredthecool，audaciousFrenchman，whoalwaysbroughtupthissolutionatthemostdifficultjuncture。
Inanycase，ifthisoperationhadnoinfluenceontheprojectile’scourse，itcouldatleastbetriedwithoutinconvenience，andevenwithsuccessfromastomachicpointofview。CertainlyMichelhadnonebutgoodideas。
Theybreakfastedthenattwointhemorning;thehourmatteredlittle。
Michelservedhisusualrepast，crownedbyagloriousbottledrawnfromhisprivatecellar。Ifideasdidnotcrowdontheirbrains，wemustdespairoftheChambertinof1853。Therepastfinished，observationbeganagain。Aroundtheprojectile，ataninvariabledistance，weretheobjectswhichhadbeenthrownout。Evidently，initstranslatorymotionroundthemoon，ithadnotpassedthroughanyatmosphere，forthespecificweightofthesedifferentobjectswouldhavecheckedtheirrelativespeed。
Onthesideoftheterrestrialspherenothingwastobeseen。
Theearthwasbutadayold，havingbeennewthenightbeforeattwelve;andtwodaysmustelapsebeforeitscrescent，freedfromthesolarrays，wouldserveasaclocktotheSelenites，asinitsrotarymovementeachofitspointsaftertwenty—fourhoursrepassesthesamelunarmeridian。
Onthemoon’ssidethesightwasdifferent;theorbshoneinallhersplendoramidinnumerableconstellations，whosepuritycouldnotbetroubledbyherrays。Onthedisc，theplainswerealreadyreturningtothedarktintwhichisseenfromtheearth。
Theotherpartofthenimbusremainedbrilliant，andinthemidstofthisgeneralbrilliancyTychoshoneprominentlylikeasun。
Barbicanehadnomeansofestimatingtheprojectile’sspeed，butreasoningshowedthatitmustuniformlydecrease，accordingtothelawsofmechanicalreasoning。Havingadmittedthattheprojectilewasdescribinganorbitaroundthemoon，thisorbitmustnecessarilybeelliptical;scienceprovesthatitmustbeso。
Nomotivebodycirculatingroundanattractingbodyfailsinthislaw。Everyorbitdescribedinspaceiselliptical。AndwhyshouldtheprojectileoftheGunClubescapethisnaturalarrangement？
Inellipticalorbits，theattractingbodyalwaysoccupiesoneofthefoci;sothatatonemomentthesatelliteisnearer，andatanotherfartherfromtheorbaroundwhichitgravitates。Whentheearthisnearestthesunsheisinherperihelion;andinheraphelionatthefarthestpoint。Speakingofthemoon，sheisnearesttotheearthinherperigee，andfarthestfromitinherapogee。Touseanalogousexpressions，withwhichtheastronomers’languageisenriched，iftheprojectileremainsasasatelliteofthemoon，wemustsaythatitisinits\"aposelene\"atitsfarthestpoint，andinits\"periselene\"atitsnearest。Inthelattercase，theprojectilewouldattainitsmaximumofspeed;andintheformeritsminimum。Itwasevidentlymovingtowarditsaposeleniticalpoint;andBarbicanehadreasontothinkthatitsspeedwoulddecreaseuptothispoint，andthenincreasebydegreesasitnearedthemoon。
Thisspeedwouldevenbecome_nil_，ifthispointjoinedthatofequalattraction。Barbicanestudiedtheconsequencesofthesedifferentsituations，andthinkingwhatinferencehecoulddrawfromthem，whenhewasroughlydisturbedbyacryfromMichelArdan。
\"ByJove！\"heexclaimed，\"Imustadmitwearedown—rightsimpletons！\"
\"Idonotsaywearenot，\"repliedBarbicane;\"butwhy？\"
\"Becausewehaveaverysimplemeansofcheckingthisspeedwhichisbearingusfromthemoon，andwedonotuseit！\"
\"Andwhatisthemeans？\"
\"Tousetherecoilcontainedinourrockets。\"
\"Done！\"saidNicholl。
\"Wehavenotusedthisforceyet，\"saidBarbicane，\"itistrue，butwewilldoso。\"
\"When？\"askedMichel。
\"Whenthetimecomes。Observe，myfriends，thatinthepositionoccupiedbytheprojectile，anobliquepositionwithregardtothelunardisc，ourrockets，inslightlyalteringitsdirection，mightturnitfromthemooninsteadofdrawingitnearer？\"
\"Justso，\"repliedMichel。
\"Letuswait，then。Bysomeinexplicableinfluence，theprojectileisturningitsbasetowardtheearth。Itisprobablethatatthepointofequalattraction，itsconicalcapwillbedirectedrigidlytowardthemoon;atthatmomentwemayhopethatitsspeedwillbe_nil_;thenwillbethemomenttoact，andwiththeinfluenceofourrocketswemayperhapsprovokeafalldirectlyonthesurfaceofthelunardisc。\"
\"Bravo！\"saidMichel。\"Whatwedidnotdo，whatwecouldnotdoonourfirstpassageatthedeadpoint，becausetheprojectilewasthenendowedwithtoogreataspeed。\"
\"Verywellreasoned，\"saidNicholl。
\"Letuswaitpatiently，\"continuedBarbicane。\"Puttingeverychanceonourside，andafterhavingsomuchdespaired，ImaysayIthinkweshallgainourend。\"
ThisconclusionwasasignalforMichelArdan’shipsandhurrahs。
Andnoneoftheaudaciousboobiesrememberedthequestionthattheythemselveshadsolvedinthenegative。No！themoonisnotinhabited;no！themoonisprobablynothabitable。Andyettheyweregoingtotryeverythingtoreachher。
Onesinglequestionremainedtobesolved。Atwhatprecisemomenttheprojectilewouldreachthepointofequalattraction，onwhichthetravelersmustplaytheirlastcard。Inordertocalculatethistowithinafewseconds，Barbicanehadonlytorefertohisnotes，andtoreckonthedifferentheightstakenonthelunarparallels。Thusthetimenecessarytotraveloverthedistancebetweenthedeadpointandthesouthpolewouldbeequaltothedistanceseparatingthenorthpolefromthedeadpoint。
Thehoursrepresentingthetimetraveledoverwerecarefullynoted，andthecalculationwaseasy。Barbicanefoundthatthispointwouldbereachedatoneinthemorningonthenightofthe7th—8thofDecember。Sothat，ifnothinginterferedwithitscourse，itwouldreachthegivenpointintwenty—twohours。
Therocketshadprimarilybeenplacedtocheckthefalloftheprojectileuponthemoon，andnowtheyweregoingtoemploythemforadirectlycontrarypurpose。Inanycasetheywereready，andtheyhadonlytowaitforthemomenttosetfiretothem。
\"Sincethereisnothingelsetobedone，\"saidNicholl，\"Imakeaproposition。\"
\"Whatisit？\"askedBarbicane。
\"Iproposetogotosleep。\"
\"Whatamotion！\"exclaimedMichelArdan。
\"Itisfortyhourssinceweclosedoureyes，\"saidNicholl。
\"Somehoursofsleepwillrestoreourstrength。\"
\"Never，\"interruptedMichel。
\"Well，\"continuedNicholl，\"everyonetohistaste;Ishallgotosleep。\"Andstretchinghimselfonthedivan，hesoonsnoredlikeaforty—eightpounder。
\"ThatNichollhasagooddealofsense，\"saidBarbicane;
\"presentlyIshallfollowhisexample。\"Somemomentsafterhiscontinuedbasssupportedthecaptain’sbaritone。
\"Certainly，\"saidMichelArdan，findinghimselfalone，\"thesepracticalpeoplehavesometimesmostopportuneideas。\"
Andwithhislonglegsstretchedout，andhisgreatarmsfoldedunderhishead，Michelsleptinhisturn。
Butthissleepcouldbeneitherpeacefulnorlasting，themindsofthesethreemenweretoomuchoccupied，andsomehoursafter，aboutseveninthemorning，allthreewereonfootatthesameinstant。
Theprojectilewasstillleavingthemoon，andturningitsconicalpartmoreandmoretowardher。
Anexplicablephenomenon，butonewhichhappilyservedBarbicane’sends。
Seventeenhoursmore，andthemomentforactionwouldhavearrived。
Thedayseemedlong。Howeverboldthetravelersmightbe，theyweregreatlyimpressedbytheapproachofthatmomentwhichwoulddecideall——eitherprecipitatetheirfallontothemoon，orforeverchaintheminanimmutableorbit。Theycountedthehoursastheypassedtooslowfortheirwish;BarbicaneandNichollwereobstinatelyplungedintheircalculations，Michelgoingandcomingbetweenthenarrowwalls，andwatchingthatimpassivemoonwithalongingeye。
Attimesrecollectionsoftheearthcrossedtheirminds。TheysawoncemoretheirfriendsoftheGunClub，andthedearestofall，J。T。Maston。Atthatmoment，thehonorablesecretarymustbefillinghispostontheRockyMountains。Ifhecouldseetheprojectilethroughtheglassofhisgigantictelescope，whatwouldhethink？Afterseeingitdisappearbehindthemoon’ssouthpole，hewouldseethemreappearbythenorthpole！
Theymustthereforebeasatelliteofasatellite！HadJ。T。
Mastongiventhisunexpectednewstotheworld？Wasthisthe_denouement_ofthisgreatenterprise？
Butthedaypassedwithoutincident。Theterrestrialmidnightarrived。The8thofDecemberwasbeginning。
Onehourmore，andthepointofequalattractionwouldbereached。Whatspeedwouldthenanimatetheprojectile？
Theycouldnotestimateit。ButnoerrorcouldvitiateBarbicane’scalculations。Atoneinthemorningthisspeedoughttobeandwouldbe_nil_。
Besides，anotherphenomenonwouldmarktheprojectile’sstopping—pointontheneutralline。Atthatspotthetwoattractions，lunarandterrestrial，wouldbeannulled。
Objectswould\"weigh\"nomore。Thissingularfact，whichhadsurprisedBarbicaneandhiscompanionssomuchingoing，wouldberepeatedontheirreturnundertheverysameconditions。
Atthisprecisemomenttheymustact。
Alreadytheprojectile’sconicaltopwassensiblyturnedtowardthelunardisc，presentedinsuchawayastoutilizethewholeoftherecoilproducedbythepressureoftherocketapparatus。
Thechanceswereinfavorofthetravelers。Ifitsspeedwasutterlyannulledonthisdeadpoint，adecidedmovementtowardthemoonwouldsuffice，howeverslight，todetermineitsfall。
\"Fiveminutestoone，\"saidNicholl。
\"Allisready，\"repliedMichelArdan，directingalightedmatchtotheflameofthegas。
\"Wait！\"saidBarbicane，holdinghischronometerinhishand。
Atthatmomentweighthadnoeffect。Thetravelersfeltinthemselvestheentiredisappearanceofit。Theywereveryneartheneutralpoint，iftheydidnottouchit。
\"Oneo’clock，\"saidBarbicane。
MichelArdanappliedthelightedmatchtoatrainincommunicationwiththerockets。Nodetonationwasheardintheinside，fortherewasnoair。But，throughthescuttles，Barbicanesawaprolongedsmoke，theflamesofwhichwereimmediatelyextinguished。
Theprojectilesustainedacertainshock，whichwassensiblyfeltintheinterior。
Thethreefriendslookedandlistenedwithoutspeaking，andscarcelybreathing。Onemighthaveheardthebeatingoftheirheartsamidthisperfectsilence。
\"Arewefalling？\"askedMichelArdan，atlength。
\"No，\"saidNicholl，\"sincethebottomoftheprojectileisnotturningtothelunardisc！\"
Atthismoment，Barbicane，quittinghisscuttle，turnedtohistwocompanions。Hewasfrightfullypale，hisforeheadwrinkled，andhislipscontracted。
\"Wearefalling！\"saidhe。
\"Ah！\"criedMichelArdan，\"ontothemoon？\"
\"Ontotheearth！\"
\"Thedevil！\"exclaimedMichelArdan，addingphilosophically，\"well，whenwecameintothisprojectilewewereverydoubtfulastotheeasewithwhichweshouldgetoutofit！\"
Andnowthisfearfulfallhadbegun。Thespeedretainedhadbornetheprojectilebeyondthedeadpoint。Theexplosionoftherocketscouldnotdivertitscourse。Thisspeedingoinghadcarrieditovertheneutralline，andinreturninghaddonethesamething。Thelawsofphysicscondemnedit_topassthrougheverypointwhichithadalreadygonethrough_。Itwasaterriblefall，fromaheightof160，000miles，andnospringstobreakit。Accordingtothelawsofgunnery，theprojectilemuststriketheearthwithaspeedequaltothatwithwhichitleftthemouthoftheColumbiad，aspeedof16，000yardsinthelastsecond。
Buttogivesomefiguresofcomparison，ithasbeenreckonedthatanobjectthrownfromthetopofthetowersofNotreDame，theheightofwhichisonly200feet，willarriveonthepavementataspeedof240milesperhour。Heretheprojectilemuststriketheearthwithaspeedof115，200milesperhour。
\"Wearelost！\"saidMichelcoolly。
\"Verywell！ifwedie，\"answeredBarbicane，withasortofreligiousenthusiasm，\"theresultsofourtravelswillbemagnificentlyspread。ItisHisownsecretthatGodwilltellus！Intheotherlifethesoulwillwanttoknownothing，eitherofmachinesorengines！Itwillbeidentifiedwitheternalwisdom！\"
\"Infact，\"interruptedMichelArdan，\"thewholeoftheotherworldmaywellconsoleusforthelossofthatinferiororbcalledthemoon！\"
Barbicanecrossedhisarmsonhisbreast，withamotionofsublimeresignation，sayingatthesametime：
\"Thewillofheavenbedone！\"