"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！"