round the moon-第2章

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receptacle；　in　which　the　carbonized　hydrogen；　stored　at　high
pressure；　sufficed　for　the　lighting　and　warming　of　the
projectile　for　a　hundred　and　forty…four　hours；　or　six　days　and
six　nights。　　The　gas　caught　fire；　and　thus　lighted　the
projectile　looked　like　a　comfortable　room　with　thickly　padded
walls；　furnished　with　a　circular　divan；　and　a　roof　rounded　in
the　shape　of　a　dome。

Michel　Ardan　examined　everything；　and　declared　himself　satisfied
with　his　installation。

〃It　is　a　prison；〃　said　he；　〃but　a　traveling　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
_arriere…pensee_？　　Do　you　say　to　yourself；　‘This　prison　may　be
our　tomb？'　　Tomb；　perhaps；　still　I　would　not　change　it　for
Mahomet's；　which　floats　in　space　but　never　advances　an　inch！〃

While　Michel　Ardan　was　speaking；　Barbicane　and　Nicholl　were
making　their　last　preparations。

Nicholl's　chronometer　marked　twenty　minutes　past　ten　P。M。　when
the　three　travelers　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
still　have　twenty…seven　minutes　to　remain　on　the　earth。〃

〃Twenty…six　minutes　thirteen　seconds；〃　replied　the　methodical　Nicholl。

〃Well！〃　exclaimed　Michel　Ardan；　in　a　good…humored　tone；　〃much
may　be　done　in　twenty…six　minutes。　　The　gravest　questions　of
morals　and　politics　may　be　discussed；　and　even　solved。
Twenty…six　minutes　well　employed　are　worth　more　than　twenty…six
years　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　difficult　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　hope　so；　Michel；〃　replied　Barbicane　gently；　〃but　I　am　not　sure。〃

〃Ah；　the　joker！〃　exclaimed　Michel　Ardan。　　〃He　hopes！He　is　not
sure！　and　he　waits　for　the　moment　when　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　travelers　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。
Position　cannot　be　an　indifferent　matter；　and　we　must；　as　much
as　possible；　prevent　the　rush　of　blood　to　the　head。〃

〃Just　so；〃　said　Nicholl。

〃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　companions　were　not　listening；　they　were　taking　up　their
last　positions　with　the　most　perfect　coolness。　　They　were　like
two　methodical　travelers　in　a　car；　seeking　to　place　themselves
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
center　of　the　disc　forming　the　floor。　　There　the　three
travelers　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；　teasing　them；　〃so　you
are　going　to　show　the　moon…dogs　the　good　habits　of　the　dogs　of
the　earth！　　That　will　do　honor　to　the　canine　race！　　If　ever　we
do　come　down　again；　I　will　bring　a　cross　type　of　‘moon…dogs；'
which　will　make　a　stir！〃

〃If　there　_are_　dogs　in　the　moon；〃　said　Barbicane。

〃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　Nicholl'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　nine　thousand　dollars　to　the
president；　four　thousand　because　the　Columbiad　will　not　burst；
and　five　thousand　because　the　projectile　will　rise　more　than　six
miles　in　the　air。〃

〃I　have　the　dollars；〃　replied　Nicholl；　slapping　the　pocket　of
this　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　to　understand　you。〃

〃Forty…two　minutes　past　ten！〃　said　Nicholl。

〃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　projectile　are　rammed　400；000　pounds　of　gun…cotton；
which　is　equal　to　1；600；000　pounds　of　ordinary　powder！　　And　friend
Murchison；　with　his　chronometer　in　hand；　his　eye　fixed　on　the
needle；　his　finger　on　the　electric　apparatus；　is　counting　the
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；　and　the　three　bold　companions　were　united　in　a　last　embrace。

〃God　preserve　us！〃　said　the　religious　Barbicane。

Michel　Ardan　and　Nicholl　stretched　themselves　on　the　couches
placed　in　the　center　of　the　disc。

〃Forty…seven　minutes　past　ten！〃　murmured　the　captain。

〃Twenty　seconds　more！〃　　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
combustion　of　pyroxyle；　mounted　into　space。





CHAPTER　II


THE　FIRST　HALF…HOUR


What　had　happened？　　What　effect　had　this　frightful　shock　produced？
Had　the　ingenuity　of　the　constructors　of　the　projectile　obtained
any　happy　result？　　Had　the　shock　been　deadened；　thanks　to　the
springs；　the　four　plugs；　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　travelers。　　And　if
one　of　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　anywhere！　　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　aluminum。

The　interior　showed　but　little　disorder；　indeed；　only　a　few
objects　had　been　violently　thrown　toward　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　lifeless。　　Barbicane；　Nicholl；　and　Michel　Ardan
did　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　Frenchman　tried　to　rise；　but　could　not　stand。
His　head　swam；　from　the　rush　of　blood；　he　was　blind；　he　was　a
drunken　man。

〃Bur…r！〃　said　he。　　〃It　produces　the　same　effect　as　two　bottles
of　Corton；　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！　　Barbicane！〃

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　t