Headmittedthatthethingwasdifficultbutnotimpossible，awordwhichheneveruttered。
Theconversationpassedfromthissubjecttoanother，notfailinghimforaninstant。Itseemedtothethreefriendsasthough，underpresentconditions，ideasshotupintheirbrainsasleavesshootatthefirstwarmthofspring。Theyfeltbewildered。Inthemiddleofthequestionsandanswerswhichcrossedeachother，Nichollputonequestionwhichdidnotfindanimmediatesolution。
"Ah，indeed！"saidhe;"itisallverywelltogotothemoon，buthowtogetbackagain？"
Histwointerlocutorslookedsurprised。Onewouldhavethoughtthatthispossibilitynowoccurredtothemforthefirsttime。
"Whatdoyoumeanbythat，Nicholl？"askedBarbicanegravely。
"Toaskformeanstoleaveacountry，"addedMichel，"Whenwehavenotyetarrivedthere，seemstomeratherinopportune。"
"Idonotsaythat，wishingtodrawback，"repliedNicholl;
"butIrepeatmyquestion，andIask，`Howshallwereturn？’"
"Iknownothingaboutit，"answeredBarbicane。
"AndI，"saidMichel，"ifIhadknownhowtoreturn，Iwouldneverhavestarted。"
"There’sananswer！"criedNicholl。
"IquiteapproveofMichel’swords，"saidBarbicane;"andadd，thatthequestionhasnorealinterest。Later，whenwethinkitisadvisabletoreturn，wewilltakecounseltogether。IftheColumbiadisnotthere，theprojectilewillbe。"
"Thatisastepcertainly。Aballwithoutagun！"
"Thegun，"repliedBarbicane，"canbemanufactured。Thepowdercanbemade。Neithermetals，saltpeter，norcoalcanfailinthedepthsofthemoon，andweneedonlygo8，000leaguesinordertofallupontheterrestrialglobebyvirtueofthemerelawsofweight。"
"Enough，"saidMichelwithanimation。"Letitbenolongeraquestionofreturning：wehavealreadyentertainedittoolong。
Astocommunicatingwithourformerearthlycolleagues，thatwillnotbedifficult。"
"Andhow？"
"Bymeansofmeteorslaunchedbylunarvolcanoes。"
"Wellthoughtof，Michel，"saidBarbicaneinaconvincedtoneofvoice。"Laplacehascalculatedthataforcefivetimesgreaterthanthatofourgunwouldsufficetosendameteorfromthemoontotheearth，andthereisnotonevolcanowhichhasnotagreaterpowerofpropulsionthanthat。"
"Hurrah！"exclaimedMichel;"thesemeteorsarehandypostmen，andcostnothing。Andhowweshallbeabletolaughatthepost—officeadministration！ButnowIthinkofit————"
"Whatdoyouthinkof？"
"Acapitalidea。Whydidwenotfastenathreadtoourprojectile，andwecouldhaveexchangedtelegramswiththeearth？"
"Thedeuce！"answeredNicholl。"Doyouconsidertheweightofathread250，000mileslongnothing？"
"Asnothing。TheycouldhavetrebledtheColumbiad’scharge;
theycouldhavequadrupledorquintupledit！"exclaimedMichel，withwhomtheverbtookahigherintonationeachtime。
"Thereisbutonelittleobjectiontomaketoyourproposition，"
repliedBarbicane，"whichisthat，duringtherotarymotionoftheglobe，ourthreadwouldhavewounditselfrounditlikeachainonacapstan，andthatitwouldinevitablyhavebroughtustotheground。"
"Bythethirty—ninestarsoftheUnion！"saidMichel，"Ihavenothingbutimpracticableideasto—day;ideasworthyofJ。
T。Maston。ButIhaveanotionthat，ifwedonotreturntoearth，J。T。Mastonwillbeabletocometous。"
"Yes，he’llcome，"repliedBarbicane;"heisaworthyandacourageouscomrade。Besides，whatiseasier？IsnottheColumbiadstillburiedinthesoilofFlorida？Iscottonandnitricacidwantedwherewithtomanufacturethepyroxyle？
WillnotthemoonpassthezenithofFlorida？Ineighteenyears’timewillshenotoccupyexactlythesameplaceasto—day？"
"Yes，"continuedMichel，"yes，Mastonwillcome，andwithhimourfriendsElphinstone，Blomsberry，allthemembersoftheGunClub，andtheywillbewellreceived。Andbyandbytheywillruntrainsofprojectilesbetweentheearthandthemoon！
HurrahforJ。T。Maston！"
Itisprobablethat，iftheHon。J。T。Mastondidnothearthehurrahsutteredinhishonor，hisearsatleasttingled。Whatwashedoingthen？Doubtless，postedintheRockyMountains，atthestationofLong’sPeak，hewastryingtofindtheinvisibleprojectilegravitatinginspace。Ifhewasthinkingofhisdearcompanions，wemustallowthattheywerenotfarbehindhim;andthat，undertheinfluenceofastrangeexcitement，theyweredevotingtohimtheirbestthoughts。
Butwhencethisexcitement，whichwasevidentlygrowinguponthetenantsoftheprojectile？Theirsobrietycouldnotbedoubted。
Thisstrangeirritationofthebrain，mustitbeattributedtothepeculiarcircumstancesunderwhichtheyfoundthemselves，totheirproximitytotheorbofnight，fromwhichonlyafewhoursseparatedthem，tosomesecretinfluenceofthemoonactingupontheirnervoussystem？Theirfaceswereasrosyasiftheyhadbeenexposedtotheroaringflamesofanoven;theirvoicesresoundedinloudaccents;theirwordsescapedlikeachampagnecorkdrivenoutbycarbonicacid;theirgesturesbecameannoying，theywantedsomuchroomtoperformthem;and，strangetosay，theynoneofthemnoticedthisgreattensionofthemind。
"Now，"saidNicholl，inashorttone，"nowthatIdonotknowwhetherweshalleverreturnfromthemoon，Iwanttoknowwhatwearegoingtodothere？"
"Whatwearegoingtodothere？"repliedBarbicane，stampingwithhisfootasifhewasinafencingsaloon;"Idonotknow。"
"Youdonotknow！"exclaimedMichel，withabellowwhichprovokedasonorousechointheprojectile。
"No，Ihavenoteventhoughtaboutit，"retortedBarbicane，inthesameloudtone。
"Well，Iknow，"repliedMichel。
"Speak，then，"criedNicholl，whocouldnolongercontainthegrowlingofhisvoice。
"Ishallspeakifitsuitsme，"exclaimedMichel，seizinghiscompanions’armswithviolence。
"_Itmust_suityou，"saidBarbicane，withaneyeonfireandathreateninghand。"Itwasyouwhodrewusintothisfrightfuljourney，andwewanttoknowwhatfor。"
"Yes，"saidthecaptain，"nowthatIdonotknow_where_Iamgoing，Iwanttoknow_why_Iamgoing。"
"Why？"exclaimedMichel，jumpingayardhigh，"why？TotakepossessionofthemooninthenameoftheUnitedStates;toaddafortiethStatetotheUnion;tocolonizethelunarregions;
tocultivatethem，topeoplethem，totransportthitheralltheprodigiesofart，ofscience，andindustry;tocivilizetheSelenites，unlesstheyaremorecivilizedthanweare;andtoconstitutethemarepublic，iftheyarenotalreadyone！"
"AndiftherearenoSelenites？"retortedNicholl，who，undertheinfluenceofthisunaccountableintoxication，wasverycontradictory。
"WhosaidthattherewerenoSelenites？"exclaimedMichelinathreateningtone。
"Ido，"howledNicholl。
"Captain，"saidMichel，"donotrepreatthatinsolence，orI
willknockyourteethdownyourthroat！"
Thetwoadversariesweregoingtofalluponeachother，andtheincoherentdiscussionthreatenedtomergeintoafight，whenBarbicaneintervenedwithonebound。
"Stop，miserablemen，"saidhe，separatinghistwocompanions;
"iftherearenoSelenites，wewilldowithoutthem。"
"Yes，"exclaimedMichel，whowasnotparticular;"yes，wewilldowithoutthem。WehaveonlytomakeSelenites。DownwiththeSelenites！"
"Theempireofthemoonbelongstous，"saidNicholl。
"Letusthreeconstitutetherepublic。"
"Iwillbethecongress，"criedMichel。
"AndIthesenate，"retortedNicholl。
"AndBarbicane，thepresident，"howledMichel。
"Notapresidentelectedbythenation，"repliedBarbicane。
"Verywell，apresidentelectedbythecongress，"criedMichel;
"andasIamthecongress，youareunanimouslyelected！"
"Hurrah！hurrah！hurrah！forPresidentBarbicane，"exclaimedNicholl。
"Hip！hip！hip！"vociferatedMichelArdan。
Thenthepresidentandthesenatestruckupinatremendousvoicethepopularsong"YankeeDoodle，"whilefromthecongressresoundedthemasculinetonesofthe"Marseillaise。"
Thentheystruckupafranticdance，withmaniacalgestures，idioticstampings，andsomersaultslikethoseofthebonelessclownsinthecircus。Diana，joininginthedance，andhowlinginherturn，jumpedtothetopoftheprojectile。Anunaccountableflappingofwingswasthenheardamidmostfantasticcock—crows，whilefiveorsixhensflutteredlikebatsagainstthewalls。
Thenthethreetravelingcompanions，acteduponbysomeunaccountableinfluenceabovethatofintoxication，inflamedbytheairwhichhadsettheirrespiratoryapparatusonfire，fellmotionlesstothebottomoftheprojectile。
CHAPTERVIII
ATSEVENTY—EIGHTTHOUSANDFIVEHUNDREDANDFOURTEENLEAGUES
Whathadhappened？Whencethecauseofthissingularintoxication，theconsequencesofwhichmighthavebeenverydisastrous？AsimpleblunderofMichel’s，which，fortunately，Nichollwasabletocorrectintime。
Afteraperfectswoon，whichlastedsomeminutes，thecaptain，recoveringfirst，sooncollectedhisscatteredsenses。
Althoughhehadbreakfastedonlytwohoursbefore，hefeltagnawinghunger，asifhehadnoteatenanythingforseveraldays。
Everythingabouthim，stomachandbrain，wereoverexcitedtothehighestdegree。HegotupanddemandedfromMichelasupplementaryrepast。Michel，utterlydoneup，didnotanswer。
Nichollthentriedtopreparesometeadestinedtohelptheabsorptionofadozensandwiches。Hefirsttriedtogetsomefire，andstruckamatchsharply。Whatwashissurprisetoseethesulphurshinewithsoextraordinaryabrilliancyastobealmostunbearabletotheeye。Fromthegas—burnerwhichhelitroseaflameequaltoajetofelectriclight。
ArevelationdawnedonNicholl’smind。Thatintensityoflight，thephysiologicaltroubleswhichhadariseninhim，theoverexcitementofallhismoralandquarrelsomefaculties——heunderstoodall。
"Theoxygen！"heexclaimed。
Andleaningovertheairapparatus，hesawthatthetapwasallowingthecolorlessgastoescapefreely，life—giving，butinitspurestateproducingthegravestdisordersinthesystem。
Michelhadblunderinglyopenedthetapoftheapparatustothefull。
Nichollhastenedtostoptheescapeofoxygenwithwhichtheatmospherewassaturated，whichwouldhavebeenthedeathofthetravelers，notbysuffocation，butbycombustion。Anhourlater，theairlesschargedwithitrestoredthelungstotheirnormalcondition。Bydegreesthethreefriendsrecoveredfromtheirintoxication;buttheywereobligedtosleepthemselvessoberovertheiroxygenasadrunkarddoesoverhiswine。
WhenMichellearnedhisshareoftheresponsibilityofthisincident，hewasnotmuchdisconcerted。Thisunexpecteddrunkennessbrokethemonotonyofthejourney。Manyfoolishthingshadbeensaidwhileunderitsinfluence，butalsoquicklyforgotten。
"Andthen，"addedthemerryFrenchman，"Iamnotsorrytohavetastedalittleofthisheadygas。Doyouknow，myfriends，thatacuriousestablishmentmightbefoundedwithroomsofoxygen，wherepeoplewhosesystemisweakenedcouldforafewhoursliveamoreactivelife。Fancypartieswheretheroomwassaturatedwiththisheroicfluid，theaterswhereitshouldbekeptathighpressure;whatpassioninthesoulsoftheactorsandspectators！whatfire，whatenthusiasm！Andif，insteadofanassemblyonlyawholepeoplecouldbesaturated，whatactivityinitsfunctions，whatasupplementtolifeitwouldderive。
Fromanexhaustednationtheymightmakeagreatandstrongone，andIknowmorethanonestateinoldEuropewhichoughttoputitselfundertheregimeofoxygenforthesakeofitshealth！"
Michelspokewithsomuchanimationthatonemighthavefanciedthatthetapwasstilltooopen。ButafewwordsfromBarbicanesoonshatteredhisenthusiasm。
"Thatisallverywell，friendMichel，"saidhe，"butwillyouinformuswherethesechickenscamefromwhichhavemixedthemselvesupinourconcert？"
"Thosechickens？"
"Yes。"
Indeed，halfadozenchickensandafinecockwerewalkingabout，flappingtheirwingsandchattering。
"Ah，theawkwardthings！"exclaimedMichel。"Theoxygenhasmadethemrevolt。"
"Butwhatdoyouwanttodowiththesechickens？"askedBarbicane。
"Toacclimatizetheminthemoon，byJove！"
"Thenwhydidyouhidethem？"
"Ajoke，myworthypresident，asimplejoke，whichhasprovedamiserablefailure。Iwantedtosetthemfreeonthelunarcontinent，withoutsayinganything。Oh，whatwouldhavebeenyouramazementonseeingtheseearthly—wingedanimalspeckinginyourlunarfields！"
"Yourascal，youunmitigatedrascal，"repliedBarbicane，"youdonotwantoxygentomounttothehead。Youarealwayswhatwewereundertheinfluenceofthegas;youarealwaysfoolish！"
"Ah，whosaysthatwewerenotwisethen？"repliedMichelArdan。
Afterthisphilosophicalreflection，thethreefriendssetaboutrestoringtheorderoftheprojectile。Chickensandcockwerereinstatedintheircoop。Butwhileproceedingwiththisoperation，Barbicaneandhistwocompanionshadamostdesiredperceptionofanewphenomenon。Fromthemomentofleavingtheearth，theirownweight，thatoftheprojectile，andtheobjectsitenclosed，hadbeensubjecttoanincreasingdiminution。Iftheycouldnotprovethislossoftheprojectile，amomentwouldarrivewhenitwouldbesensiblyfeltuponthemselvesandtheutensilsandinstrumentstheyused。
Itisneedlesstosaythatascalewouldnotshowthisloss;fortheweightdestinedtoweighttheobjectwouldhavelostexactlyasmuchastheobjectitself;butaspringsteelyardforexample，thetensionofwhichwasindependentoftheattraction，wouldhavegivenajustestimateofthisloss。
Weknowthattheattraction，otherwisecalledtheweight，isinproportiontothedensitiesofthebodies，andinverselyasthesquaresofthedistances。Hencethiseffect：Iftheearthhadbeenaloneinspace，iftheothercelestialbodieshadbeensuddenlyannihilated，theprojectile，accordingtoNewton’slaws，wouldweighlessasitgotfartherfromtheearth，butwithouteverlosingitsweightentirely，fortheterrestrialattractionwouldalwayshavemadeitselffelt，atwhateverdistance。
But，inreality，atimemustcomewhentheprojectilewouldnolongerbesubjecttothelawofweight，afterallowingfortheothercelestialbodieswhoseeffectcouldnotbesetdownaszero。
Indeed，theprojectile’scoursewasbeingtracedbetweentheearthandthemoon。Asitdistancedtheearth，theterrestrialattractiondiminished：butthelunarattractionroseinproportion。Theremustcomeapointwherethesetwoattractionswouldneutralizeeachother：theprojectilewouldpossessweightnolonger。Ifthemoon’sandtheearth’sdensitieshadbeenequal，thispointwouldhavebeenatanequaldistancebetweenthetwoorbs。Buttakingthedifferentdensitiesintoconsideration，itwaseasytoreckonthatthispointwouldbesituatedat47/60thsofthewholejourney，_i。e。_，at78，514leaguesfromtheearth。Atthispoint，abodyhavingnoprincipleofspeedordisplacementinitself，wouldremainimmovableforever，beingattractedequallybybothorbs，andnotbeingdrawnmoretowardonethantowardtheother。
Nowiftheprojectile’simpulsiveforcehadbeencorrectlycalculated，itwouldattainthispointwithoutspeed，havinglostalltraceofweight，aswellasalltheobjectswithinit。
Whatwouldhappenthen？Threehypothesespresentedthemselves。
1。Eitheritwouldretainacertainamountofmotion，andpassthepointofequalattraction，andfalluponthemoonbyvirtueoftheexcessofthelunarattractionovertheterrestrial。
2。Or，itsspeedfailing，andunabletoreachthepointofequalattraction，itwouldfalluponthemoonbyvirtueoftheexcessofthelunarattractionovertheterrestrial。
3。Or，lastly，animatedwithsufficientspeedtoenableittoreachtheneutralpoint，butnotsufficienttopassit，itwouldremainforeversuspendedinthatspotlikethepretendedtombofMahomet，betweenthezenithandthenadir。
Suchwastheirsituation;andBarbicaneclearlyexplainedtheconsequencestohistravelingcompanions，whichgreatlyinterestedthem。Buthowshouldtheyknowwhentheprojectilehadreachedthisneutralpointsituatedatthatdistance，especiallywhenneitherthemselves，northeobjectsenclosedintheprojectile，wouldbeanylongersubjecttothelawsofweight？
Uptothistime，thetravelers，whileadmittingthatthisactionwasconstantlydecreasing，hadnotyetbecomesensibletoitstotalabsence。
Butthatday，abouteleveno’clockinthemorning，Nichollhavingaccidentallyletaglassslipfromhishand，theglass，insteadoffalling，remainedsuspendedintheair。
"Ah！"exclaimedMichelArdan，"thatisratheranamusingpieceofnaturalphilosophy。"
Andimmediatelydiversotherobjects，firearmsandbottles，abandonedtothemselves，heldthemselvesupasbyenchantment。
Dianatoo，placedinspacebyMichel，reproduced，butwithoutanytrick，thewonderfulsuspensionpracticedbyCastonandRobertHoudin。Indeedthedogdidnotseemtoknowthatshewasfloatinginair。
Thethreeadventurouscompanionsweresurprisedandstupefied，despitetheirscientificreasonings。Theyfeltthemselvesbeingcarriedintothedomainofwonders！theyfeltthatweightwasreallywantingtotheirbodies。Iftheystretchedouttheirarms，theydidnotattempttofall。Theirheadsshookontheirshoulders。Theirfeetnolongerclungtotheflooroftheprojectile。Theywerelikedrunkenmenhavingnostabilityinthemselves。
Fancyhasdepictedmenwithoutreflection，otherswithoutshadow。
Butherereality，bytheneutralizationsofattractiveforces，producedmeninwhomnothinghadanyweight，andwhoweighednothingthemselves。
SuddenlyMichel，takingaspring，leftthefloorandremainedsuspendedintheair，likeMurillo’smonkofthe_CusinedesAnges_。
Thetwofriendsjoinedhiminstantly，andallthreeformedamiraculous"Ascension"inthecenteroftheprojectile。
"Isittobebelieved？isitprobable？isitpossible？"
exclaimedMichel;"andyetitisso。Ah！ifRaphaelhadseenusthus，whatan`Assumption’hewouldhavethrownuponcanvas！"
"The`Assumption’cannotlast，"repliedBarbicane。"Iftheprojectilepassestheneutralpoint，thelunarattractionwilldrawustothemoon。"
"Thenourfeetwillbeupontheroof，"repliedMichel。
"No，"saidBarbicane，"becausetheprojectile’scenterofgravityisverylow;itwillonlyturnbydegrees。"
"Thenallourportableswillbeupsetfromtoptobottom，thatisafact。"
"Calmyourself，Michel，"repliedNicholl;"noupsetistobefeared;notathingwillmove，fortheprojectile’sevolutionwillbeimperceptible。"
"Justso，"continuedBarbicane;"andwhenithaspassedthepointofequalattraction，itsbase，beingtheheavier，willdrawitperpendicularlytothemoon;but，inorderthatthisphenomenonshouldtakeplace，wemusthavepassedtheneutralline。"
"Passtheneutralline，"criedMichel;"thenletusdoasthesailorsdowhentheycrosstheequator。"
AslightsidemovementbroughtMichelbacktowardthepaddedside;thencehetookabottleandglasses，placedthem"inspace"beforehiscompanions，and，drinkingmerrily，theysalutedthelinewithatriplehurrah。Theinfluenceoftheseattractionsscarcelylastedanhour;thetravelersfeltthemselvesinsensiblydrawntowardthefloor，andBarbicanefanciedthattheconicalendoftheprojectilewasvaryingalittlefromitsnormaldirectiontowardthemoon。Byaninversemotionthebasewasapproachingfirst;thelunarattractionwasprevailingovertheterrestrial;thefalltowardthemoonwasbeginning，almostimperceptiblyasyet，butbydegreestheattractiveforcewouldbecomestronger，thefallwouldbemoredecided，theprojectile，drawnbyitsbase，wouldturnitsconetotheearth，andfallwithever—increasingspeedontothesurfaceoftheSelenitecontinent;theirdestinationwouldthenbeattained。Nownothingcouldpreventthesuccessoftheirenterprise，andNichollandMichelArdansharedBarbicane’sjoy。
Thentheychattedofallthephenomenawhichhadastonishedthemoneaftertheother，particularlytheneutralizationofthelawsofweight。MichelArdan，alwaysenthusiastic，drewconclusionswhichwerepurelyfanciful。
"Ah，myworthyfriends，"heexclaimed，"whatprogressweshouldmakeifonearthwecouldthrowoffsomeofthatweight，someofthatchainwhichbindsustoher;itwouldbetheprisonersetatliberty;nomorefatigueofeitherarmsorlegs。Or，ifitistruethatinordertoflyontheearth’ssurface，tokeeponeselfsuspendedintheairmerelybytheplayofthemuscles，thererequiresastrengthahundredandfiftytimesgreaterthanthatwhichwepossess，asimpleactofvolition，acaprice，wouldbearusintospace，ifattractiondidnotexist。"
"Justso，"saidNicholl，smiling;"ifwecouldsucceedinsuppressingweightastheysuppresspainbyanaesthesia，thatwouldchangethefaceofmodernsociety！"
"Yes，"criedMichel，fullofhissubject，"destroyweight，andnomoreburdens！"
"Wellsaid，"repliedBarbicane;"butifnothinghadanyweight，nothingwouldkeepinitsplace，notevenyourhatonyourhead，worthyMichel;noryourhouse，whosestonesonlyadherebyweight;noraboat，whosestabilityonthewavesisonlycausedbyweight;noteventheocean，whosewaveswouldnolongerbeequalizedbyterrestrialattraction;andlastly，noteventheatmosphere，whoseatoms，beingnolongerheldintheirplaces，woulddisperseinspace！"
"Thatistiresome，"retortedMichel;"nothinglikethesematter—of—factpeopleforbringingonebacktothebarereality。"
"Butconsoleyourself，Michel，"continuedBarbicane，"forifnoorbexistsfromwhencealllawsofweightarebanished，youareatleastgoingtovisitonewhereitismuchlessthanontheearth。"
"Themoon？"
"Yes，themoon，onwhosesurfaceobjectsweighsixtimeslessthanontheearth，aphenomenoneasytoprove。"
"Andweshallfeelit？"askedMichel。
"Evidently，astwohundredpoundswillonlyweighthirtypoundsonthesurfaceofthemoon。"
"Andourmuscularstrengthwillnotdiminish？"
"Notatall;insteadofjumpingoneyardhigh，youwillriseeighteenfeethigh。"
"ButweshallberegularHerculesesinthemoon！"exclaimedMichel。
"Yes，"repliedNicholl;"foriftheheightoftheSelenitesisinproportiontothedensityoftheirglobe，theywillbescarcelyafoothigh。"
"Lilliputians！"ejaculatedMichel;"IshallplaythepartofGulliver。Wearegoingtorealizethefableofthegiants。
Thisistheadvantageofleavingone’sownplanetandover—runningthesolarworld。"
"Onemoment，Michel，"answeredBarbicane;"ifyouwishtoplaythepartofGulliver，onlyvisittheinferiorplanets，suchasMercury，Venus，orMars，whosedensityisalittlelessthanthatoftheearth;butdonotventureintothegreatplanets，Jupiter，Saturn，Uranus，Neptune;fortheretheorderwillbechanged，andyouwillbecomeLilliputian。"
"Andinthesun？"
"Inthesun，ifitsdensityisthirteenhundredandtwenty—fourthousandtimesgreater，andtheattractionistwenty—seventimesgreaterthanonthesurfaceofourglobe，keepingeverythinginproportion，theinhabitantsoughttobeatleasttwohundredfeethigh。"
"ByJove！"exclaimedMichel;"Ishouldbenothingmorethanapigmy，ashrimp！"
"Gulliverwiththegiants，"saidNicholl。
"Justso，"repliedBarbicane。
"Anditwouldnotbequiteuselesstocarrysomepiecesofartillerytodefendoneself。"
"Good，"repliedNicholl;"yourprojectileswouldhavenoeffectonthesun;theywouldfallbackupontheearthaftersomeminutes。"
"Thatisastrongremark。"
"Itiscertain，"repliedBarbicane;"theattractionissogreatonthisenormousorb，thatanobjectweighing70，000poundsontheearthwouldweighbut1，920poundsonthesurfaceofthesun。
Ifyouweretofalluponityouwouldweigh——letmesee——about5，000pounds，aweightwhichyouwouldneverbeabletoraiseagain。"
"Thedevil！"saidMichel;"onewouldwantaportablecrane。
However，wewillbesatisfiedwiththemoonforthepresent;
thereatleastweshallcutagreatfigure。Wewillseeaboutthesunbyandby。"
CHAPTERIX
THECONSEQUENCESOFADEVIATION
Barbicanehadnownofearoftheissueofthejourney，atleastasfarastheprojectile’simpulsiveforcewasconcerned;itsownspeedwouldcarryitbeyondtheneutralline;itwouldcertainlynotreturntoearth;itwouldcertainlynotremainmotionlessonthelineofattraction。Onesinglehypothesisremainedtoberealized，thearrivaloftheprojectileatitsdestinationbytheactionofthelunarattraction。
Itwasinrealityafallof8，296leaguesonanorb，itistrue，whereweightcouldonlybereckonedatonesixthofterrestrialweight;aformidablefall，nevertheless，andoneagainstwhicheveryprecautionmustbetakenwithoutdelay。
Theseprecautionswereoftwosorts，sometodeadentheshockwhentheprojectileshouldtouchthelunarsoil，otherstodelaythefall，andconsequentlymakeitlessviolent。
Todeadentheshock，itwasapitythatBarbicanewasnolongerabletoemploythemeanswhichhadsoablyweakenedtheshockatdeparture，thatistosay，bywaterusedasspringsandthepartitionbreaks。
Thepartitionsstillexisted，butwaterfailed，fortheycouldnotusetheirreserve，whichwasprecious，incaseduringthefirstdaystheliquidelementshouldbefoundwantingonlunarsoil。
Andindeedthisreservewouldhavebeenquiteinsufficientforaspring。Thelayerofwaterstoredintheprojectileatthetimeofstartingupontheirjourneyoccupiednolessthanthreefeetindepth，andspreadoverasurfaceofnotlessthanfifty—foursquarefeet。Besides，thecisterndidnotcontainone—fifthpartofit;theymustthereforegiveupthisefficientmeansofdeadeningtheshockofarrival。Happily，Barbicane，notcontentwithemployingwater，hadfurnishedthemovablediscwithstrongspringplugs，destinedtolessentheshockagainstthebaseafterthebreakingofthehorizontalpartitions。
Theseplugsstillexisted;theyhadonlytoreadjustthemandreplacethemovabledisc;everypiece，easytohandle，astheirweightwasnowscarcelyfelt，wasquicklymounted。
Thedifferentpieceswerefittedwithouttrouble，itbeingonlyamatterofboltsandscrews;toolswerenotwanting，andsoonthereinstateddisclayonsteelplugs，likeatableonitslegs。
Oneinconvenienceresultedfromthereplacingofthedisc，thelowerwindowwasblockedup;thusitwasimpossibleforthetravelerstoobservethemoonfromthatopeningwhiletheywerebeingprecipitatedperpendicularlyuponher;buttheywereobligedtogiveitup;evenbythesideopeningstheycouldstillseevastlunarregions，asanaeronautseestheearthfromhiscar。
Thisreplacingofthediscwasatleastanhour’swork。Itwaspasttwelvewhenallpreparationswerefinished。Barbicanetookfreshobservationsontheinclinationoftheprojectile，buttohisannoyanceithadnotturnedoversufficientlyforitsfall;
itseemedtotakeacurveparalleltothelunardisc。Theorbofnightshonesplendidlyintospace，whileopposite，theorbofdayblazedwithfire。
Theirsituationbegantomakethemuneasy。
"Arewereachingourdestination？"saidNicholl。
"Letusactasifwewereaboutreachingit，"repliedBarbicane。
"Youaresceptical，"retortedMichelArdan。"Weshallarrive，andthat，too，quickerthanwelike。"
ThisanswerbroughtBarbicanebacktohispreparations，andheoccupiedhimselfwithplacingthecontrivancesintendedtobreaktheirdescent。WemayrememberthesceneofthemeetingheldatTampaTown，inFlorida，whenCaptainNichollcameforwardasBarbicane’senemyandMichelArdan’sadversary。ToCaptainNicholl’smaintainingthattheprojectilewouldsmashlikeglass，Michelrepliedthathewouldbreaktheirfallbymeansofrocketsproperlyplaced。
Thus，powerfulfireworks，takingtheirstarting—pointfromthebaseandburstingoutside，could，byproducingarecoil，checktoacertaindegreetheprojectile’sspeed。Theserocketsweretoburninspace，itistrue;butoxygenwouldnotfailthem，fortheycouldsupplythemselveswithit，likethelunarvolcanoes，theburningofwhichhasneveryetbeenstoppedbythewantofatmosphereroundthemoon。
Barbicanehadaccordinglysuppliedhimselfwiththesefireworks，enclosedinlittlesteelguns，whichcouldbescrewedontothebaseoftheprojectile。Inside，thesegunswereflushwiththebottom;outside，theyprotrudedabouteighteeninches。Thereweretwentyofthem。Anopeningleftinthediscallowedthemtolightthematchwithwhicheachwasprovided。Alltheeffectwasfeltoutside。Theburningmixturehadalreadybeenrammedintoeachgun。Theyhad，then，nothingtodobutraisethemetallicbuffersfixedinthebase，andreplacethembytheguns，whichfittedcloselyintheirplaces。
Thisnewworkwasfinishedaboutthreeo’clock，andaftertakingalltheseprecautionsthereremainedbuttowait。Buttheprojectilewasperceptiblynearingthemoon，andevidentlysuccumbedtoherinfluencetoacertaindegree;thoughitsownvelocityalsodrewitinanobliquedirection。Fromtheseconflictinginfluencesresultedalinewhichmightbecomeatangent。Butitwascertainthattheprojectilewouldnotfalldirectlyonthemoon;foritslowerpart，byreasonofitsweight，oughttobeturnedtowardher。
Barbicane’suneasinessincreasedashesawhisprojectileresisttheinfluenceofgravitation。TheUnknownwasopeningbeforehim，theUnknownininterplanetaryspace。Themanofsciencethoughthehadforeseentheonlythreehypothesespossible——thereturntotheearth，thereturntothemoon，orstagnationontheneutralline;andhereafourthhypothesis，bigwithalltheterrorsoftheInfinite，surgedupinopportunely。Tofaceitwithoutflinching，onemustbearesolutesavantlikeBarbicane，aphlegmaticbeinglikeNicholl，oranaudaciousadventurerlikeMichelArdan。
Conversationwasstarteduponthissubject。Othermenwouldhaveconsideredthequestionfromapracticalpointofview;
theywouldhaveaskedthemselveswhithertheirprojectilecarriagewascarryingthem。Notsowiththese;theysoughtforthecausewhichproducedthiseffect。
"Sowehavebecomedivertedfromourroute，"saidMichel;"butwhy？"
"Iverymuchfear，"answeredNicholl，"that，inspiteofallprecautionstaken，theColumbiadwasnotfairlypointed。
Anerror，howeversmall，wouldbeenoughtothrowusoutofthemoon’sattraction。"
"Thentheymusthaveaimedbadly？"askedMichel。
"Idonotthinkso，"repliedBarbicane。"Theperpendicularityofthegunwasexact，itsdirectiontothezenithofthespotincontestible;andthemoonpassingtothezenithofthespot，weoughttoreachitatthefull。Thereisanotherreason，butitescapesme。"
"Arewenotarrivingtoolate？"askedNicholl。
"Toolate？"saidBarbicane。
"Yes，"continuedNicholl。"TheCambridgeObservatory’snotesaysthatthetransitoughttobeaccomplishedinninety—sevenhoursthirteenminutesandtwentyseconds;whichmeanstosay，that_sooner_themoonwill_not_beatthepointindicated，and_later_itwillhavepassedit。"
"True，"repliedBarbicane。"Butwestartedthe1stofDecember，atthirteenminutesandtwenty—fivesecondstoelevenatnight;
andweoughttoarriveonthe5thatmidnight，attheexactmomentwhenthemoonwouldbefull;andwearenowatthe5thofDecember。Itisnowhalf—pastthreeintheevening;
half—pasteightoughttoseeusattheendofourjourney。
Whydowenotarrive？"
"Mightitnotbeanexcessofspeed？"answeredNicholl;"forweknownowthatitsinitialvelocitywasgreaterthantheysupposed。"
"No！ahundredtimes，no！"repliedBarbicane。"Anexcessofspeed，ifthedirectionoftheprojectilehadbeenright，wouldnothavepreventedusreachingthemoon。No，therehasbeenadeviation。Wehavebeenturnedoutofourcourse。"
"Bywhom？bywhat？"askedNicholl。
"Icannotsay，"repliedBarbicane。
"Verywell，then，Barbicane，"saidMichel，"doyouwishtoknowmyopiniononthesubjectoffindingoutthisdeviation？"
"Speak。"
"Iwouldnotgivehalfadollartoknowit。Thatwehavedeviatedisafact。Wherewearegoingmatterslittle;weshallsoonsee。Sincewearebeingbornealonginspaceweshallendbyfallingintosomecenterofattractionorother。"
MichelArdan’sindifferencedidnotcontentBarbicane。Notthathewasuneasyaboutthefuture，buthewantedtoknowatanycost_why_hisprojectilehaddeviated。
Buttheprojectilecontinueditscoursesidewaystothemoon，andwithitthemassofthingsthrownout。Barbicanecouldevenprove，bytheelevationswhichservedaslandmarksuponthemoon，whichwasonlytwothousandleaguesdistant，thatitsspeedwasbecominguniform——freshproofthattherewasnofall。
Itsimpulsiveforcestillprevailedoverthelunarattraction，buttheprojectile’scoursewascertainlybringingitnearertothemoon，andtheymighthopethatatanearerpointtheweight，predominating，wouldcauseadecidedfall。
Thethreefriends，havingnothingbettertodo，continuedtheirobservations;buttheycouldnotyetdeterminethetopographicalpositionofthesatellite;everyreliefwasleveledunderthereflectionofthesolarrays。
Theywatchedthusthroughthesidewindowsuntileighto’clockatnight。Themoonhadgrownsolargeintheireyesthatitfilledhalfofthefirmament。Thesunononeside，andtheorbofnightontheother，floodedtheprojectilewithlight。
AtthatmomentBarbicanethoughthecouldestimatethedistancewhichseparatedthemfromtheiraimatnomorethan700leagues。
Thespeedoftheprojectileseemedtohimtobemorethan200
yards，orabout170leaguesasecond。Underthecentripetalforce，thebaseoftheprojectiletendedtowardthemoon;butthecentrifugalstillprevailed;anditwasprobablethatitsrectilinealcoursewouldbechangedtoacurveofsomesort，thenatureofwhichtheycouldnotatpresentdetermine。
Barbicanewasstillseekingthesolutionofhisinsolubleproblem。
Hourspassedwithoutanyresult。Theprojectilewasevidentlynearingthemoon，butitwasalsoevidentthatitwouldneverreachher。Astothenearestdistanceatwhichitwouldpassher，thatmustbetheresultoftwoforces，attractionandrepulsion，affectingitsmotion。
"Iaskbutonething，"saidMichel;"thatwemaypassnearenoughtopenetratehersecrets。"
"Cursedbethethingthathascausedourprojectiletodeviatefromitscourse，"criedNicholl。
And，asifalighthadsuddenlybrokeninuponhismind，Barbicaneanswered，"Thencursedbethemeteorwhichcrossedourpath。"
"What？"saidMichelArdan。
"Whatdoyoumean？"exclaimedNicholl。
"Imean，"saidBarbicaneinadecidedtone，"Imeanthatourdeviationisowingsolelytoourmeetingwiththiserringbody。"
"Butitdidnotevenbrushusasitpassed，"saidMichel。
"Whatdoesthatmatter？Itsmass，comparedtothatofourprojectile，wasenormous，anditsattractionwasenoughtoinfluenceourcourse。"
"Solittle？"criedNicholl。
"Yes，Nicholl;buthoweverlittleitmightbe，"repliedBarbicane，"inadistanceof84，000leagues，itwantednomoretomakeusmissthemoon。"
CHAPTERX
THEOBSERVERSOFTHEMOON
Barbicanehadevidentlyhitupontheonlyplausiblereasonofthisdeviation。Howeverslightitmighthavebeen，ithadsufficedtomodifythecourseoftheprojectile。Itwasafatality。Theboldattempthadmiscarriedbyafortuitouscircumstance;andunlessbysomeexceptionalevent，theycouldnowneverreachthemoon’sdisc。
Wouldtheypassnearenoughtobeabletosolvecertainphysicalandgeologicalquestionsuntiltheninsoluble？Thiswasthequestion，andtheonlyone，whichoccupiedthemindsoftheseboldtravelers。Astothefateinstoreforthemselves，theydidnotevendreamofit。
Butwhatwouldbecomeofthemamidtheseinfinitesolitudes，thesewhowouldsoonwantair？Afewmoredays，andtheywouldfallstifledinthiswanderingprojectile。Butsomedaystotheseintrepidfellowswasacentury;andtheydevotedalltheirtimetoobservethatmoonwhichtheynolongerhopedtoreach。
Thedistancewhichhadthenseparatedtheprojectilefromthesatellitewasestimatedatabouttwohundredleagues。Undertheseconditions，asregardsthevisibilityofthedetailsofthedisc，thetravelerswerefartherfromthemoonthanaretheinhabitantsofearthwiththeirpowerfultelescopes。
Indeed，weknowthattheinstrumentmountedbyLordRosseatParsonstown，whichmagnifies6，500times，bringsthemoontowithinanapparentdistanceofsixteenleagues。Andmorethanthat，withthepowerfulonesetupatLong’sPeak，theorbofnight，magnified48，000times，isbroughttowithinlessthantwoleagues，andobjectshavingadiameterofthirtyfeetareseenverydistinctly。Sothat，atthisdistance，thetopographicaldetailsofthemoon，observedwithoutglasses，couldnotbedeterminedwithprecision。Theeyecaughtthevastoutlineofthoseimmensedepressionsinappropriatelycalled"seas，"buttheycouldnotrecognizetheirnature。Theprominenceofthemountainsdisappearedunderthesplendidirradiationproducedbythereflectionofthesolarrays。Theeye，dazzledasifitwasleaningoverabathofmoltensilver，turnedfromitinvoluntarily;buttheoblongformoftheorbwasquiteclear。
Itappearedlikeagiganticegg，withthesmallendturnedtowardtheearth。Indeedthemoon，liquidandpliableinthefirstdaysofitsformation，wasoriginallyaperfectsphere;butbeingsoondrawnwithintheattractionoftheearth，itbecameelongatedundertheinfluenceofgravitation。Inbecomingasatellite，shelosthernativepurityofform;hercenterofgravitywasinadvanceofthecenterofherfigure;andfromthisfactsomesavantsdrawtheconclusionthattheairandwaterhadtakenrefugeontheoppositesurfaceofthemoon，whichisneverseenfromtheearth。Thisalterationintheprimitiveformofthesatellitewasonlyperceptibleforafewmoments。Thedistanceoftheprojectilefromthemoondiminishedveryrapidlyunderitsspeed，thoughthatwasmuchlessthanitsinitialvelocity——
buteightorninetimesgreaterthanthatwhichpropelsourexpresstrains。Theobliquecourseoftheprojectile，fromitsveryobliquity，gaveMichelArdansomehopesofstrikingthelunardiscatsomepointorother。Hecouldnotthinkthattheywouldneverreachit。No！hecouldnotbelieveit;andthisopinionheoftenrepeated。ButBarbicane，whowasabetterjudge，alwaysansweredhimwithmercilesslogic。
"No，Michel，no！Wecanonlyreachthemoonbyafall，andwearenotfalling。Thecentripetalforcekeepsusunderthemoon’sinfluence，butthecentrifugalforcedrawsusirresistiblyawayfromit。"
ThiswassaidinatonewhichquenchedMichelArdan’slasthope。
Theportionofthemoonwhichtheprojectilewasnearingwasthenorthernhemisphere，thatwhichtheselenographicmapsplacebelow;forthesemapsaregenerallydrawnaftertheoutlinegivenbytheglasses，andweknowthattheyreversetheobjects。
Suchwasthe_MappaSelenographica_ofBoeerandMoedlerwhichBarbicaneconsulted。Thisnorthernhemispherepresentedvastplains，dottedwithisolatedmountains。
Atmidnightthemoonwasfull。Atthatprecisemomentthetravelersshouldhavealighteduponit，ifthemischievousmeteorhadnotdivertedtheircourse。TheorbwasexactlyintheconditiondeterminedbytheCambridgeObservatory。Itwasmathematicallyatitsperigee，andatthezenithofthetwenty—eighthparallel。AnobserverplacedatthebottomoftheenormousColumbiad，pointedperpendicularlytothehorizon，wouldhaveframedthemooninthemouthofthegun。Astraightlinedrawnthroughtheaxisofthepiecewouldhavepassedthroughthecenteroftheorbofnight。Itisneedlesstosay，thatduringthenightofthe5th—6thofDecember，thetravelerstooknotaninstant’srest。Couldtheyclosetheireyeswhensonearthisnewworld？No！Alltheirfeelingswereconcentratedinonesinglethought：——See！Representativesoftheearth，ofhumanity，pastandpresent，allcenteredinthem！Itisthroughtheireyesthatthehumanracelookattheselunarregions，andpenetratethesecretsoftheirsatellite！Astrangeemotionfilledtheirheartsastheywentfromonewindowtotheother。
Theirobservations，reproducedbyBarbicane，wererigidlydetermined。
Totakethem，theyhadglasses;tocorrectthem，maps。
Asregardstheopticalinstrumentsattheirdisposal，theyhadexcellentmarineglassesspeciallyconstructedforthisjourney。
Theypossessedmagnifyingpowersof100。Theywouldthushavebroughtthemoontowithinadistance（apparent）oflessthan2，000leaguesfromtheearth。Butthen，atadistancewhichforthreehoursinthemorningdidnotexceedsixty—fivemiles，andinamediumfreefromallatmosphericdisturbances，theseinstrumentscouldreducethelunarsurfacetowithinlessthan1，500yards！
CHAPTERXI
FANCYANDREALITY
"Haveyoueverseenthemoon？"askedaprofessor，ironically，ofoneofhispupils。
"No，sir！"repliedthepupil，stillmoreironically，"butImustsayIhavehearditspokenof。"
Inonesense，thepupil’swittyanswermightbegivenbyalargemajorityofsublunarybeings。Howmanypeoplehaveheardspeakofthemoonwhohaveneverseenit——atleastthroughaglassoratelescope！Howmanyhaveneverexaminedthemapoftheirsatellite！
Inlookingataselenographicmap，onepeculiaritystrikesus。
ContrarytothearrangementfollowedforthatoftheEarthandMars，thecontinentsoccupymoreparticularlythesouthernhemisphereofthelunarglobe。Thesecontinentsdonotshowsuchdecided，clear，andregularboundarylinesasSouthAmerica，Africa，andtheIndianpeninsula。Theirangular，capricious，anddeeplyindentedcoastsarerichingulfsandpeninsulas。TheyremindoneoftheconfusionintheislandsoftheSound，wherethelandisexcessivelyindented。
Ifnavigationeverexistedonthesurfaceofthemoon，itmusthavebeenwonderfullydifficultanddangerous;andwemaywellpitytheSelenitesailorsandhydrographers;theformer，whentheycameupontheseperilouscoasts，thelatterwhentheytookthesoundingsofitsstormybanks。
Wemayalsonoticethat，onthelunarsphere，thesouthpoleismuchmorecontinentalthanthenorthpole。Onthelatter，thereisbutoneslightstripoflandseparatedfromothercontinentsbyvastseas。Towardthesouth，continentsclothealmostthewholeofthehemisphere。ItisevenpossiblethattheSeleniteshavealreadyplantedtheflagononeoftheirpoles，whileFranklin，Ross，Kane，Dumont，d’Urville，andLamberthaveneveryetbeenabletoattainthatunknownpointoftheterrestrialglobe。
Astoislands，theyarenumerousonthesurfaceofthemoon。
Nearlyalloblongorcircular，andasiftracedwiththecompass，theyseemtoformonevastarchipelago，equaltothatcharminggrouplyingbetweenGreeceandAsiaMinor，andwhichmythologyinancienttimesadornedwithmostgracefullegends。
InvoluntarilythenamesofNaxos，Tenedos，andCarpathos，risebeforethemind，andweseekvainlyforUlysses’vesselorthe"clipper"oftheArgonauts。SoatleastitwasinMichelArdan’seyes。TohimitwasaGrecianarchipelagothathesawonthemap。Totheeyesofhismatter—of—factcompanions，theaspectofthesecoastsrecalledrathertheparceled—outlandofNewBrunswickandNovaScotia，andwheretheFrenchmandiscoveredtracesoftheheroesoffable，theseAmericansweremarkingthemostfavorablepointsfortheestablishmentofstoresintheinterestsoflunarcommerceandindustry。
Afterwanderingoverthesevastcontinents，theeyeisattractedbythestillgreaterseas。Notonlytheirformation，buttheirsituationandaspectremindoneoftheterrestrialoceans;butagain，asonearth，theseseasoccupythegreaterportionoftheglobe。Butinpointoffact，thesearenotliquidspaces，butplains，thenatureofwhichthetravelershopedsoontodetermine。Astronomers，wemustallow，havegracedthesepretendedseaswithatleastoddnames，whichsciencehasrespecteduptothepresenttime。MichelArdanwasrightwhenhecomparedthismaptoa"Tendrecard，"gotupbyaScudaryoraCyranodeBergerac。"Only，"saidhe，"itisnolongerthesentimentalcardoftheseventeenthcentury，itisthecardoflife，veryneatlydividedintotwoparts，onefeminine，theothermasculine;therighthemisphereforwoman，theleftforman。"
Inspeakingthus，Michelmadehisprosaiccompanionsshrugtheirshoulders。BarbicaneandNicholllookeduponthelunarmapfromaverydifferentpointofviewtothatoftheirfantasticfriend。Nevertheless，theirfantasticfriendwasalittleintheright。Judgeforyourselves。
Inthelefthemispherestretchesthe"SeaofClouds，"wherehumanreasonissooftenshipwrecked。Notfaroffliesthe"SeaofRains，"fedbyallthefeverofexistence。Nearthisisthe"SeaofStorms，"wheremaniseverfightingagainsthispassions，whichtoooftengainthevictory。Then，wornoutbydeceit，treasons，infidelity，andthewholebodyofterrestrialmisery，whatdoeshefindattheendofhiscareer？thatvast"SeaofHumors，"barelysoftenedbysomedropsofthewatersfromthe"GulfofDew！"Clouds，rain，storms，andhumors——doesthelifeofmancontainaughtbutthese？andisitnotsummedupinthesefourwords？
Therighthemisphere，"dedicatedtotheladies，"enclosessmallerseas，whosesignificantnamescontaineveryincidentofafeminineexistence。Thereisthe"SeaofSerenity，"overwhichtheyounggirlbends;"TheLakeofDreams，"reflectingajoyousfuture;"TheSeaofNectar，"withitswavesoftendernessandbreezesoflove;"TheSeaofFruitfulness;""TheSeaofCrises;"thenthe"SeaofVapors，"whosedimensionsareperhapsalittletooconfined;andlastly，thatvast"SeaofTranquillity，"inwhicheveryfalsepassion，everyuselessdream，everyunsatisfieddesireisatlengthabsorbed，andwhosewavesemergepeacefullyintothe"LakeofDeath！"
Whatastrangesuccessionofnames！Whatasingulardivisionofthemoon’stwohemispheres，joinedtooneanotherlikemanandwoman，andformingthatsphereoflifecarriedintospace！
AndwasnotthefantasticMichelrightinthusinterpretingthefanciesoftheancientastronomers？Butwhilehisimaginationthusrovedover"theseas，"hisgravecompanionswereconsideringthingsmoregeographically。Theywerelearningthisnewworldbyheart。Theyweremeasuringanglesanddiameters。
CHAPTERXII
OROGRAPHICDETAILS
Thecoursetakenbytheprojectile，aswehavebeforeremarked，wasbearingittowardthemoon’snorthernhemisphere。Thetravelerswerefarfromthecentralpointwhichtheywouldhavestruck，hadtheircoursenotbeensubjecttoanirremediabledeviation。
Itwaspastmidnight;andBarbicanethenestimatedthedistanceatsevenhundredandfiftymiles，whichwasalittlegreaterthanthelengthofthelunarradius，andwhichwoulddiminishasitadvancednearertotheNorthPole。Theprojectilewasthennotatthealtitudeoftheequator;butacrossthetenthparallel，andfromthatlatitude，carefullytakenonthemaptothepole，Barbicaneandhistwocompanionswereabletoobservethemoonunderthemostfavorableconditions。Indeed，bymeansofglasses，theabove—nameddistancewasreducedtolittlemorethanfourteenmiles。ThetelescopeoftheRockyMountainsbroughtthemoonmuchnearer;buttheterrestrialatmospheresingularlylesseneditspower。ThusBarbicane，postedinhisprojectile，withtheglassestohiseyes，couldseizeupondetailswhichwerealmostimperceptibletoearthlyobservers。
"Myfriends，"saidthepresident，inaseriousvoice，"Idonotknowwhitherwearegoing;Idonotknowifweshalleverseetheterrestrialglobeagain。Nevertheless，letusproceedasifourworkwouldonedaybyusefultoourfellow—men。Letuskeepourmindsfreefromeveryotherconsideration。Weareastronomers;andthisprojectileisaroomintheCambridgeUniversity，carriedintospace。Letusmakeourobservations！"
Thissaid，workwasbegunwithgreatexactness;andtheyfaithfullyreproducedthedifferentaspectsofthemoon，atthedifferentdistanceswhichtheprojectilereached。
Atthetimethattheprojectilewasashighasthetenthparallel，northlatitude，itseemedrigidlytofollowthetwentiethdegree，eastlongitude。Wemustheremakeoneimportantremarkwithregardtothemapbywhichtheyweretakingobservations。Intheselenographicalmapswhere，onaccountofthereversingoftheobjectsbytheglasses，thesouthisaboveandthenorthbelow，itwouldseemnaturalthat，onaccountofthatinversion，theeastshouldbetothelefthand，andthewesttotheright。Butitisnotso。Ifthemapwereturnedupsidedown，showingthemoonasweseeher，theeastwouldbetotheleft，andthewesttotheright，contrarytothatwhichexistsonterrestrialmaps。Thefollowingisthereasonofthisanomaly。Observersinthenorthernhemisphere（sayinEurope）seethemooninthesouth——accordingtothem。
Whentheytakeobservations，theyturntheirbackstothenorth，thereversepositiontothatwhichtheyoccupywhentheystudyaterrestrialmap。Astheyturntheirbackstothenorth，theeastisontheirleft，andthewesttotheirright。Toobserversinthesouthernhemisphere（Patagoniaforexample），themoon’swestwouldbequitetotheirleft，andtheeasttotheirright，asthesouthisbehindthem。Suchisthereasonoftheapparentreversingofthesetwocardinalpoints，andwemustbearitinmindinordertobeabletofollowPresidentBarbicane’sobservations。
WiththehelpofBoeerandMoedler’s_MappaSelenographica_，thetravelerswereableatoncetorecognizethatportionofthediscenclosedwithinthefieldoftheirglasses。
"Whatarewelookingat，atthismoment？"askedMichel。
"Atthenorthernpartofthe`SeaofClouds，’"answeredBarbicane。
"Wearetoofarofftorecognizeitsnature。Aretheseplainscomposedofaridsand，asthefirstastronomermaintained？
Oraretheynothingbutimmenseforests，accordingtoM。WarrendelaRue’sopinion，whogivesthemoonanatmosphere，thoughaverylowandaverydenseone？Thatweshallknowbyandby。
Wemustaffirmnothinguntilweareinapositiontodoso。"
This"SeaofClouds"isratherdoubtfullymarkedoutuponthemaps。
Itissupposedthatthesevastplainsarestrewnwithblocksoflavafromtheneighboringvolcanoesonitsright，Ptolemy，Purbach，Arzachel。Buttheprojectilewasadvancing，andsensiblynearingit。Soonthereappearedtheheightswhichboundthisseaatthisnorthernlimit。Beforethemroseamountainradiantwithbeauty，thetopofwhichseemedlostinaneruptionofsolarrays。
"Thatis——？"askedMichel。
"Copernicus，"repliedBarbicane。
"LetusseeCopernicus。"
Thismount，situatedin9@northlatitudeand20@eastlongitude，rosetoaheightof10，600feetabovethesurfaceofthemoon。Itisquitevisiblefromtheearth;andastronomerscanstudyitwithease，particularlyduringthephasebetweenthelastquarterandthenewmoon，becausethentheshadowsarethrownlengthwaysfromeasttowest，allowingthemtomeasuretheheights。
ThisCopernicusformsthemostimportantoftheradiatingsystem，situatedinthesouthernhemisphere，accordingtoTychoBrahe。Itrisesisolatedlikeagiganticlighthouseonthatportionofthe"SeaofClouds，"whichisboundedbythe"SeaofTempests，"thuslightingbyitssplendidraystwooceansatatime。Itwasasightwithoutanequal，thoselongluminoustrains，sodazzlinginthefullmoon，andwhich，passingtheboundarychainonthenorth，extendstothe"SeaofRains。"
Atoneo’clockoftheterrestrialmorning，theprojectile，likeaballoonborneintospace，overlookedthetopofthissuperbmount。Barbicanecouldrecognizeperfectlyitschieffeatures。Copernicusiscomprisedintheseriesofringedmountainsofthefirstorder，inthedivisionofgreatcircles。LikeKeplerandAristarchus，whichoverlookthe"OceanofTempests，"sometimesitappearedlikeabrilliantpointthroughthecloudylight，andwastakenforavolcanoinactivity。Butitisonlyanextinctone——likeallonthatsideofthemoon。Itscircumferenceshowedadiameterofabouttwenty—twoleagues。Theglassesdiscoveredtracesofstratificationproducedbysuccessiveeruptions，andtheneighborhoodwasstrewnwithvolcanicremainswhichstillchokedsomeofthecraters。
"Thereexist，"saidBarbicane，"severalkindsofcirclesonthesurfaceofthemoon，anditiseasytoseethatCopernicusbelongstotheradiatingclass。Ifwewerenearer，weshouldseetheconesbristlingontheinside，whichinformertimesweresomanyfierymouths。Acuriousarrangement，andonewithoutanexceptiononthelunardisc，isthattheinteriorsurfaceofthesecirclesisthereverseoftheexterior，andcontrarytotheformtakenbyterrestrialcraters。Itfollows，then，thatthegeneralcurveofthebottomofthesecirclesgivesasphereofasmallerdiameterthanthatofthemoon。"
"Andwhythispeculiardisposition？"askedNicholl。
"Wedonotknow，"repliedBarbicane。
"Whatsplendidradiation！"saidMichel。"Onecouldhardlyseeafinerspectacle，Ithink。"
"Whatwouldyousay，then，"repliedBarbicane，"ifchanceshouldbearustowardthesouthernhemisphere？"
"Well，Ishouldsaythatitwasstillmorebeautiful，"retortedMichelArdan。
Atthismomenttheprojectilehungperpendicularlyoverthecircle。
ThecircumferenceofCopernicusformedalmostaperfectcircle，anditssteepescarpmentswereclearlydefined。Theycouldevendistinguishasecondringedenclosure。Aroundspreadagrayishplain，ofawildaspect，onwhicheveryreliefwasmarkedinyellow。
Atthebottomofthecircle，asifenclosedinajewelcase，sparkledforoneinstanttwoorthreeeruptivecones，likeenormousdazzlinggems。Towardthenorththeescarpmentswereloweredbyadepressionwhichwouldprobablyhavegivenaccesstotheinteriorofthecrater。