round the moon-第26章

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by　a　circular　staircase；　a　masterpiece　of　lightness；　while　below
them　opened　a　metal　well　terminated　by　the　metallic　mirror；
which　measured　two　hundred　and　eighty　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　5th　of　December；　they　saw　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
disappearance　all　the　more　easily　explained；　as　it　was　then
passing　behind　the　moon's　invisible　disc；　but　when　it　was　time
for　it　to　reappear　on　the　visible　disc；　one　may　imagine　the
impatience　of　the　fuming　J。　T。　Maston　and　his　not　less
impatient　companion。　　Each　minute　of　the　night　they　thought
they　saw　the　projectile　once　more；　and　they　did　not　see　it。
Hence　constant　discussions　and　violent　disputes　between　them；
Belfast　affirming　that　the　projectile　could　not　be　seen；　J。　T。
Maston　maintaining　that　〃it　had　put　his　eyes　out。〃

〃It　is　the　projectile！〃　repeated　J。　T。　Maston。

〃No；〃　answered　Belfast；　〃it　is　an　avalanche　detached　from　a
lunar　mountain。〃

〃Well；　we　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
constituted　a　permanent　danger　for　the　Honorable　Belfast。
The　existence　of　these　two　together　would　soon　have　become
impossible；　but　an　unforseen　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；　J。　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　dispatch。　　It　was　the　commander
of　the　Susquehanna's　telegram。

Belfast　tore　the　envelope　and　read；　and　uttered　a　cry。

〃What！〃　said　J。　T。　Maston。

〃The　projectile！〃

〃Well！〃

〃Has　fallen　to　the　earth！〃

Another　cry；　this　time　a　perfect　howl；　answered　him。　　He　turned
toward　J。　T。　Maston。　　The　unfortunate　man；　imprudently　leaning
over　the　metal　tube；　had　disappeared　in　the　immense　telescope。
A　fall　of　two　hundred　and　eighty　feet！　　Belfast；　dismayed；
rushed　to　the　orifice　of　the　reflector。

He　breathed。　　J。　T。　Maston；　caught　by　his　metal　hook；　was
holding　on　by　one　of　the　rings　which　bound　the　telescope
together；　uttering　fearful　cries。

Belfast　called。　　Help　was　brought；　tackle　was　let　down；　and　they
hoisted　up；　not　without　some　trouble；　the　imprudent　secretary　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
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　toward
them　on　their　arrival。

〃What　shall　we　do？〃　they　exclaimed。

〃Fish　up　the　projectile；〃　replied　J。　T。　Maston；　〃and　the　sooner
the　better。〃




CHAPTER　XXII


RECOVERED　FROM　THE　SEA


The　spot　where　the　projectile　sank　under　the　waves　was　exactly
known；　but　the　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　trifles。　　The　grappling…irons　once　fixed；　by　their　help
they　were　sure　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　thought　of。
They　must　act　promptly　in　the　interest　of　the　travelers。　　No　one
doubted　that　they　were　still　living。

〃Yes；〃　repeated　J。　T。　Maston　incessantly；　whose　confidence
gained　over　everybody；　〃our　friends　are　clever　people；　and　they
cannot　have　fallen　like　simpletons。　　They　are　alive；　quite　alive；
but　we　must　make　haste　if　we　wish　to　find　them　so。　　Food　and
water　do　not　trouble　me；　they　have　enough　for　a　long　while。
But　air；　air；　that　is　what　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　aluminum　projectile　only　weighed
19；250　pounds；　a　weight　very　inferior　to　that　of　the　transatlantic
cable　which　had　been　drawn　up　under　similar　conditions。　　The　only
difficulty　was　in　fishing　up　a　cylindro…conical　projectile；　the
walls　of　which　were　so　smooth　as　to　offer　no　hold　for　the　hooks。
On　that　account　Engineer　Murchison　hastened　to　San　Francisco；
and　had　some　enormous　grappling…irons　fixed　on　an　automatic
system；　which　would　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　covering　allowed
the　divers　to　observe　the　bottom　of　the　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　compartments；　could　draw　it　down　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　perfection　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　travelers　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　reconnoiter　the
situation　of　his　courageous　friends。

But　in　spite　of　all　the　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
were　complete。　　During　this　time　public　opinion　was　excited　to
the　highest　pitch。　　Telegrams　were　exchanged　incessantly
throughout　the　entire　world　by　means　of　wires　and　electric　cables。
The　saving　of　Barbicane；　Nicholl；　and　Michel　Ardan　was　an
international　affair。　　Every　one　who　had　subscribed　to　the　Gun
Club　was　directly　interested　in　the　welfare　of　the　travelers。

At　length　the　hauling…chains；　the　air…chambers；　and　the
automatic　grappling…irons　were　put　on　board。　　J。　T。　Maston；
Engineer　Murchison；　and　the　delegates　of　the　Gun　Club；　were
already　in　their　cabins。　　They　had　but　to　start；　which　they　did
on　the　21st　of　December；　at　eight　o'clock　at　night；　the　corvette
meeting　with　a　beautiful　sea；　a　northeasterly　wind；　and　rather
sharp　cold。　　The　whole　population　of　San　Francisco　was　gathered
on　the　quay；　greatly　excited　but　silent；　reserving　their　hurrahs
for　the　return。　　Steam　was　fully　up；　and　the　screw　of　the
Susquehanna　carried　them　briskly　out　of　the　bay。

It　is　needless　to　relate　the　conversations　on　board　between
the　officers；　sailors；　and　passengers。　　All　these　men　had　but
one　thought。　　All　these　hearts　beat　under　the　same　emotion。
While　they　were　hastening　to　help　them；　what　were　Barbicane　and
his　companions　doing？　　What　had　become　of　them？　　Were　they　able　to
attempt　any　bold　maneuver　to　regain　their　liberty？　　None　could　say。
The　truth　is　that　every　attempt　must　have　failed！　　Immersed　nearly
four　miles　under　the　ocean；　this　metal　prison　defied　every　effort
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　the　sounding　line　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　the　delegates　of　the　Gun　Club。　　Then　there　was　a
moment　of　anxiety。　　Her　position　decided；　the　Susquehanna　was
found　to　be　some　minutes　westward　of　the　spot　where　the
projectile　had　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。〃

Every　precaution　was　taken　to　keep　the　corvette　almost
completely　motionless。　　Before　trying　to　seize　the　projectile；
Engineer　Murchison　wanted　to　find　its　exact　position　at　the
bottom　of　the　ocean。　　The　submarine　apparatus　destined　for　this
expedition　was　supplied　with　air。　　The　working　of　these　engines
was　not　without　danger；　for　at　20；000　feet　below　the　surface　of
the　water；　and　under　such　great　pressure；　they　were　exposed　to
fracture；　the　consequences　of　which　would　be　dreadful。

J。　T。　Maston；　the　brothers　Blomsberry；　and　Engineer　Murchison；
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　whole
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　the　chamber；
drawn　under　by　the　reservoirs　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　themselves；　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　de