CHAPTERXX
THESOUNDINGSOFTHESUSQUEHANNA
Well，lieutenant，andoursoundings？"
"Ithink，sir，thattheoperationisnearingitscompletion，"
repliedLieutenantBronsfield。"Butwhowouldhavethoughtoffindingsuchadepthsonearinshore，andonly200milesfromtheAmericancoast？"
"Certainly，Bronsfield，thereisagreatdepression，"saidCaptainBlomsberry。"InthisspotthereisasubmarinevalleywornbyHumboldt’scurrent，whichskirtsthecoastofAmericaasfarastheStraitsofMagellan。"
"Thesegreatdepths，"continuedthelieutenant，"arenotfavorableforlayingtelegraphiccables。Alevelbottom，likethatsupportingtheAmericancablebetweenValentiaandNewfoundland，ismuchbetter。"
"Iagreewithyou，Bronsfield。Withyourpermission，lieutenant，wherearewenow？"
"Sir，atthismomentwehave3，508fathomsoflineout，andtheballwhichdrawsthesoundingleadhasnotyettouchedthebottom;forifso，itwouldhavecomeupofitself。"
"Brook’sapparatusisveryingenious，"saidCaptainBlomsberry;
"itgivesusveryexactsoundings。"
"Touch！"criedatthismomentoneofthemenattheforewheel，whowassuperintendingtheoperation。
Thecaptainandthelieutenantmountedthequarterdeck。
"Whatdepthhavewe？"askedthecaptain。
"Threethousandsixhundredandtwenty—sevenfathoms，"repliedthelieutenant，enteringitinhisnotebook。
"Well，Bronsfield，"saidthecaptain，"Iwilltakedowntheresult。Nowhaulinthesoundingline。Itwillbetheworkofsomehours。Inthattimetheengineercanlightthefurnaces，andweshallbereadytostartassoonasyouhavefinished。Itisteno’clock，andwithyourpermission，lieutenant，Iwillturnin。"
"Doso，sir;doso！"repliedthelieutenantobligingly。
ThecaptainoftheSusquehanna，asbraveamanasneedbe，andthehumbleservantofhisofficers，returnedtohiscabin，tookabrandy—grog，whichearnedforthestewardnoendofpraise，andturnedin，notwithouthavingcomplimentedhisservantuponhismakingbeds，andsleptapeacefulsleep。
Itwasthentenatnight。TheeleventhdayofthemonthofDecemberwasdrawingtoacloseinamagnificentnight。
TheSusquehanna，acorvetteof500horse—power，oftheUnitedStatesnavy，wasoccupiedintakingsoundingsinthePacificOceanabout200milesofftheAmericancoast，followingthatlongpeninsulawhichstretchesdownthecoastofMexico。
Thewindhaddroppedbydegrees。Therewasnodisturbanceintheair。Thepennanthungmotionlessfromthemaintop—gallant—
masttruck。
CaptainJonathanBlomsberry（cousin—germanofColonelBlomsberry，oneofthemostardentsupportersoftheGunClub，whohadmarriedanauntofthecaptainanddaughterofanhonorableKentuckymerchant）——CaptainBlomsberrycouldnothavewishedforfinerweatherinwhichtobringtoaclosehisdelicateoperationsofsounding。Hiscorvettehadnotevenfeltthegreattempest，whichbysweepingawaythegroupsofcloudsontheRockyMountains，hadallowedthemtoobservethecourseofthefamousprojectile。
Everythingwentwell，andwithallthefervorofaPresbyterian，hedidnotforgettothankheavenforit。TheseriesofsoundingstakenbytheSusquehanna，hadforitsaimthefindingofafavorablespotforthelayingofasubmarinecabletoconnecttheHawaiianIslandswiththecoastofAmerica。
Itwasagreatundertaking，duetotheinstigationofapowerfulcompany。Itsmanagingdirector，theintelligentCyrusField，purposedevencoveringalltheislandsofOceanicawithavastelectricalnetwork，animmenseenterprise，andoneworthyofAmericangenius。
TothecorvetteSusquehannahadbeenconfidedthefirstoperationsofsounding。Itwasonthenightofthe11th—12thofDecember，shewasinexactly27@7’northlatitude，and41@37’
westlongitude，onthemeridianofWashington。
Themoon，theninherlastquarter，wasbeginningtoriseabovethehorizon。
AfterthedepartureofCaptainBlomsberry，thelieutenantandsomeofficerswerestandingtogetheronthepoop。Ontheappearanceofthemoon，theirthoughtsturnedtothatorbwhichtheeyesofawholehemispherewerecontemplating。Thebestnavalglassescouldnothavediscoveredtheprojectilewanderingarounditshemisphere，andyetallwerepointedtowardthatbrilliantdiscwhichmillionsofeyeswerelookingatatthesamemoment。
"Theyhavebeengonetendays，"saidLieutenantBronsfieldatlast。"Whathasbecomeofthem？"
"Theyhavearrived，lieutenant，"exclaimedayoungmidshipman，"andtheyaredoingwhatalltravelersdowhentheyarriveinanewcountry，takingawalk！"
"Oh！Iamsureofthat，ifyoutellmeso，myyoungfriend，"
saidLieutenantBronsfield，smiling。
"But，"continuedanotherofficer，"theirarrivalcannotbedoubted。Theprojectilewastoreachthemoonwhenfullonthe5thatmidnight。Wearenowatthe11thofDecember，whichmakessixdays。Andinsixtimestwenty—fourhours，withoutdarkness，onewouldhavetimetosettlecomfortably。IfancyI
seemybravecountrymenencampedatthebottomofsomevalley，onthebordersofaSelenitestream，nearaprojectilehalf—buriedbyitsfallamidvolcanicrubbish，CaptainNichollbeginninghislevelingoperations，PresidentBarbicanewritingouthisnotes，andMichelArdanembalmingthelunarsolitudeswiththeperfumeofhis————"
"Yes！itmustbeso，itisso！"exclaimedtheyoungmidshipman，workeduptoapitchofenthusiasmbythisidealdescriptionofhissuperiorofficer。
"Ishouldliketobelieveit，"repliedthelieutenant，whowasquiteunmoved。"Unfortunatelydirectnewsfromthelunarworldisstillwanting。"
"Begpardon，lieutenant，"saidthemidshipman，"butcannotPresidentBarbicanewrite？"
Aburstoflaughtergreetedthisanswer。
"Noletters！"continuedtheyoungmanquickly。"Thepostaladministrationhassomethingtoseetothere。"
"Mightitnotbethetelegraphicservicethatisatfault？"
askedoneoftheofficersironically。
"Notnecessarily，"repliedthemidshipman，notatallconfused。
"Butitisveryeasytosetupagraphiccommunicationwiththeearth。"
"Andhow？"
"BymeansofthetelescopeatLong’sPeak。YouknowitbringsthemoontowithinfourmilesoftheRockyMountains，andthatitshowsobjectsonitssurfaceofonlyninefeetindiameter。
Verywell;letourindustriousfriendsconstructagiantalphabet;letthemwritewordsthreefathomslong，andsentencesthreemileslong，andthentheycansendusnewsofthemselves。"
Theyoungmidshipman，whohadacertainamountofimagination，wasloudlyapplauded;LieutenantBronsfieldallowingthattheideawaspossible，butobservingthatifbythesemeanstheycouldreceivenewsfromthelunarworldtheycouldnotsendanyfromtheterrestrial，unlesstheSeleniteshadinstrumentsfitfortakingdistantobservationsattheirdisposal。
"Evidently，"saidoneoftheofficers;"butwhathasbecomeofthetravelers？whattheyhavedone，whattheyhaveseen，thataboveallmustinterestus。Besides，iftheexperimenthassucceeded（whichIdonotdoubt），theywilltryitagain。
TheColumbiadisstillsunkinthesoilofFlorida。Itisnowonlyaquestionofpowderandshot;andeverytimethemoonisatherzenithacargoofvisitorsmaybesenttoher。"
"Itisclear，"repliedLieutenantBronsfield，"thatJ。T。Mastonwillonedayjoinhisfriends。"
"Ifhewillhaveme，"criedthemidshipman，"Iamready！"
"Oh！volunteerswillnotbewanting，"answeredBronsfield;"andifitwereallowed，halfoftheearth’sinhabitantswouldemigratetothemoon！"
ThisconversationbetweentheofficersoftheSusquehannawaskeptupuntilnearlyoneinthemorning。Wecannotsaywhatblunderingsystemswerebroached，whatinconsistenttheoriesadvancedbytheseboldspirits。SinceBarbicane’sattempt，nothingseemedimpossibletotheAmericans。Theyhadalreadydesignedanexpedition，notonlyofsavants，butofawholecolonytowardtheSeleniteborders，andacompletearmy，consistingofinfantry，artillery，andcavalry，toconquerthelunarworld。
Atoneinthemorning，thehaulinginofthesounding—linewasnotyetcompleted;1，670fathomswerestillout，whichwouldentailsomehours’work。Accordingtothecommander’sorders，thefireshadbeenlighted，andsteamwasbeinggotup。
TheSusquehannacouldhavestartedthatveryinstant。
Atthatmoment（itwasseventeenminutespastoneinthemorning）LieutenantBronsfieldwaspreparingtoleavethewatchandreturntohiscabin，whenhisattentionwasattractedbyadistanthissingnoise。Hiscomradesandhimselffirstthoughtthatthishissingwascausedbythelettingoffofsteam;butliftingtheirheads，theyfoundthatthenoisewasproducedinthehighestregionsoftheair。Theyhadnottimetoquestioneachotherbeforethehissingbecamefrightfullyintense，andsuddenlythereappearedtotheirdazzledeyesanenormousmeteor，ignitedbytherapidityofitscourseanditsfrictionthroughtheatmosphericstrata。
Thisfierymassgrewlargertotheireyes，andfell，withthenoiseofthunder，uponthebowsprit，whichitsmashedclosetothestem，andburieditselfinthewaveswithadeafeningroar！
Afewfeetnearer，andtheSusquehannawouldhavefounderedwithallonboard！
AtthisinstantCaptainBlomsberryappeared，half—dressed，andrushingontotheforecastle—deck，whitheralltheofficershadhurried，exclaimed，"Withyourpermission，gentlemen，whathashappened？"
Andthemidshipman，makinghimselfasitweretheechoofthebody，cried，"Commander，itis`they’comebackagain！"
CHAPTERXXI
J。T。MASTONRECALLED
"Itis`they’comebackagain！"theyoungmidshipmanhadsaid，andeveryonehadunderstoodhim。NoonedoubtedbutthatthemeteorwastheprojectileoftheGunClub。Astothetravelerswhichitenclosed，opinionsweredividedregardingtheirfate。
"Theyaredead！"saidone。
"Theyarealive！"saidanother;"thecraterisdeep，andtheshockwasdeadened。"
"Buttheymusthavewantedair，"continuedathirdspeaker;
"theymusthavediedofsuffocation。"
"Burned！"repliedafourth;"theprojectilewasnothingbutanincandescentmassasitcrossedtheatmosphere。"
"Whatdoesitmatter！"theyexclaimedunanimously;"livingordead，wemustpullthemout！"
ButCaptainBlomsberryhadassembledhisofficers，and"withtheirpermission，"washoldingacouncil。Theymustdecideuponsomethingtobedoneimmediately。Themorehastyoneswereforfishinguptheprojectile。Adifficultoperation，thoughnotanimpossibleone。Butthecorvettehadnopropermachinery，whichmustbebothfixedandpowerful;soitwasresolvedthattheyshouldputinatthenearestport，andgiveinformationtotheGunCluboftheprojectile’sfall。
Thisdeterminationwasunanimous。Thechoiceoftheporthadtobediscussed。Theneighboringcoasthadnoanchorageon27@latitude。Higherup，abovethepeninsulaofMonterey，standstheimportanttownfromwhichittakesitsname;but，seatedonthebordersofaperfectdesert，itwasnotconnectedwiththeinteriorbyanetworkoftelegraphicwires，andelectricityalonecouldspreadtheseimportantnewsfastenough。
SomedegreesaboveopenedthebayofSanFrancisco。ThroughthecapitalofthegoldcountrycommunicationwouldbeeasywiththeheartoftheUnion。AndinlessthantwodaystheSusquehanna，byputtingonhighpressure，couldarriveinthatport。Shemustthereforestartatonce。
Thefiresweremadeup;theycouldsetoffimmediately。
Twothousandfathomsoflinewerestillout，whichCaptainBlomsberry，notwishingtoloseprecioustimeinhaulingin，resolvedtocut。
"wewillfastentheendtoabuoy，"saidhe，"andthatbuoywillshowustheexactspotwheretheprojectilefell。"
"Besides，"repliedLieutenantBronsfield，"wehaveoursituationexact——27@7’northlatitudeand41@37’westlongitude。"
"Well，Mr。Bronsfield，"repliedthecaptain，"now，withyourpermission，wewillhavethelinecut。"
Astrongbuoy，strengthenedbyacoupleofspars，wasthrownintotheocean。Theendoftheropewascarefullylashedtoit;
and，leftsolelytotheriseandfallofthebillows，thebuoywouldnotsensiblydeviatefromthespot。
Atthismomenttheengineersenttoinformthecaptainthatsteamwasupandtheycouldstart，forwhichagreeablecommunicationthecaptainthankedhim。Thecoursewasthengivennorth—northeast，andthecorvette，wearing，steeredatfullsteamdirectforSanFrancisco。Itwasthreeinthemorning。
Fourhundredandfiftymilestocross;itwasnothingforagoodvesselliketheSusquehanna。Inthirty—sixhoursshehadcoveredthatdistance;andonthe14thofDecember，attwenty—sevenminutespastoneatnight，sheenteredthebayofSanFrancisco。
Atthesightofashipofthenationalnavyarrivingatfullspeed，withherbowspritbroken，publiccuriositywasgreatlyroused。
Adensecrowdsoonassembledonthequay，waitingforthemtodisembark。
Aftercastinganchor，CaptainBlomsberryandLieutenantBronsfieldenteredaneight—paredcutter，whichsoonbroughtthemtoland。
Theyjumpedontothequay。
"Thetelegraph？"theyasked，withoutansweringoneofthethousandquestionsaddressedtothem。
Theofficeroftheportconductedthemtothetelegraphofficethroughaconcourseofspectators。BlomsberryandBronsfieldentered，whilethecrowdcrushedeachotheratthedoor。
Someminuteslaterafourfoldtelegramwassentout——thefirsttotheNavalSecretaryatWashington;thesecondtothevice—presidentoftheGunClub，Baltimore;thethirdtotheHon。
J。T。Maston，Long’sPeak，RockyMountains;andthefourthtothesub—directoroftheCambridgeObservatory，Massachusetts。
Itwaswordedasfollows：
In20@7’northlatitude，and41@37’westlongitude，onthe12thofDecember，atseventeenminutespastoneinthemorning，theprojectileoftheColumbiadfellintothePacific。
Sendinstructions。——BLOMSBERRY，CommanderSusquehanna。
FiveminutesafterwardthewholetownofSanFranciscolearnedthenews。BeforesixintheeveningthedifferentStatesoftheUnionhadheardthegreatcatastrophe;andaftermidnight，bythecable，thewholeofEuropeknewtheresultofthegreatAmericanexperiment。Wewillnotattempttopicturetheeffectproducedontheentireworldbythatunexpecteddenouement。
OnreceiptofthetelegramtheNavalSecretarytelegraphedtotheSusquehannatowaitinthebayofSanFranciscowithoutextinguishingherfires。Dayandnightshemustbereadytoputtosea。
TheCambridgeobservatorycalledaspecialmeeting;and，withthatcomposurewhichdistinguisheslearnedbodiesingeneral，peacefullydiscussedthescientificbearingsofthequestion。
AttheGunClubtherewasanexplosion。Allthegunnerswereassembled。Vice—PresidenttheHon。Wilcomewasintheactofreadingtheprematuredispatch，inwhichJ。T。MastonandBelfastannouncedthattheprojectilehadjustbeenseeninthegiganticreflectorofLong’sPeak，andalsothatitwasheldbylunarattraction，andwasplayingthepartofundersatellitetothelunarworld。
Weknowthetruthonthatpoint。
ButonthearrivalofBlomsberry’sdispatch，sodecidelycontradictingJ。T。Maston’stelegram，twopartieswereformedinthebosomoftheGunClub。Ononesidewerethosewhoadmittedthefalloftheprojectile，andconsequentlythereturnofthetravelers;ontheother，thosewhobelievedintheobservationsofLong’sPeak，concludedthatthecommanderoftheSusquehannahadmadeamistake。Tothelatterthepretendedprojectilewasnothingbutameteor！nothingbutameteor，ashootingglobe，whichinitsfallhadsmashedthebowsofthecorvette。Itwasdifficulttoanswerthisargument，forthespeedwithwhichitwasanimatedmusthavemadeobservationverydifficult。ThecommanderoftheSusquehannaandherofficersmighthavemadeamistakeinallgoodfaith;oneargumenthowever，wasintheirfavor，namely，thatiftheprojectilehadfallenontheearth，itsplaceofmeetingwiththeterrestrialglobecouldonlytakeplaceonthis27@northlatitude，and（takingintoconsiderationthetimethathadelapsed，andtherotarymotionoftheearth）betweenthe41@andthe42@ofwestlongitude。Inanycase，itwasdecidedintheGunClubthatBlomsberrybrothers，Bilsby，andMajorElphinstoneshouldgostraighttoSanFrancisco，andconsultastothemeansofraisingtheprojectilefromthedepthsoftheocean。
Thesedevotedmensetoffatonce;andtherailroad，whichwillsooncrossthewholeofCentralAmerica，tookthemasfarasSt。
Louis，wheretheswiftmail—coachesawaitedthem。AlmostatthesamemomentinwhichtheSecretaryofMarine，thevice—presidentoftheGunClub，andthesub—directoroftheObservatoryreceivedthedispatchfromSanFrancisco，theHonorableJ。T。Mastonwasundergoingthegreatestexcitementhehadeverexperiencedinhislife，anexcitementwhicheventheburstingofhispetgun，whichhadmorethanoncenearlycosthimhislife，hadnotcausedhim。
WemayrememberthatthesecretaryoftheGunClubhadstartedsoonaftertheprojectile（andalmostasquickly）forthestationonLong’sPeak，intheRockyMountains，J。Belfast，directoroftheCambridgeObservatory，accompanyinghim。Arrivedthere，thetwofriendshadinstalledthemselvesatonce，neverquittingthesummitoftheirenormoustelescope。Weknowthatthisgiganticinstrumenthadbeensetupaccordingtothereflectingsystem，calledbytheEnglish"frontview。"Thisarrangementsubjectedallobjectstobutonereflection，makingtheviewconsequentlymuchclearer;theresultwasthat，whentheyweretakingobservation，J。T。MastonandBelfastwereplacedinthe_upper_
partoftheinstrumentandnotinthelower，whichtheyreachedbyacircularstaircase，amasterpieceoflightness，whilebelowthemopenedametalwellterminatedbythemetallicmirror，whichmeasuredtwohundredandeightyfeetindepth。
Itwasonanarrowplatformplacedabovethetelescopethatthetwosavantspassedtheirexistence，execratingthedaywhichhidthemoonfromtheireyes，andthecloudswhichobstinatelyveiledherduringthenight。
What，then，wastheirdelightwhen，aftersomedaysofwaiting，onthenightofthe5thofDecember，theysawthevehiclewhichwasbearingtheirfriendsintospace！Tothisdelightsucceededagreatdeception，when，trustingtoacursoryobservation，theylaunchedtheirfirsttelegramtotheworld，erroneouslyaffirmingthattheprojectilehadbecomeasatelliteofthemoon，gravitatinginanimmutableorbit。
Fromthatmomentithadnevershownitselftotheireyes——adisappearanceallthemoreeasilyexplained，asitwasthenpassingbehindthemoon’sinvisibledisc;butwhenitwastimeforittoreappearonthevisibledisc，onemayimaginetheimpatienceofthefumingJ。T。Mastonandhisnotlessimpatientcompanion。Eachminuteofthenighttheythoughttheysawtheprojectileoncemore，andtheydidnotseeit。
Henceconstantdiscussionsandviolentdisputesbetweenthem，Belfastaffirmingthattheprojectilecouldnotbeseen，J。T。
Mastonmaintainingthat"ithadputhiseyesout。"
"Itistheprojectile！"repeatedJ。T。Maston。
"No，"answeredBelfast;"itisanavalanchedetachedfromalunarmountain。"
"Well，weshallseeitto—morrow。"
"No，weshallnotseeitanymore。Itiscarriedintospace。"
"Yes！"
"No！"
Andatthesemoments，whencontradictionsrainedlikehail，thewell—knownirritabilityofthesecretaryoftheGunClubconstitutedapermanentdangerfortheHonorableBelfast。
Theexistenceofthesetwotogetherwouldsoonhavebecomeimpossible;butanunforseeneventcutshorttheireverlastingdiscussions。
Duringthenight，fromthe14thtothe15thofDecember，thetwoirreconcilablefriendswerebusyobservingthelunardisc，J。T。
MastonabusingthelearnedBelfastasusual，whowasbyhisside;thesecretaryoftheGunClubmaintainingforthethousandthtimethathehadjustseentheprojectile，andaddingthathecouldseeMichelArdan’sfacelookingthroughoneofthescuttles，atthesametimeenforcinghisargumentbyaseriesofgestureswhichhisformidablehookrenderedveryunpleasant。
AtthismomentBelfast’sservantappearedontheplatform（itwastenatnight）andgavehimadispatch。ItwasthecommanderoftheSusquehanna’stelegram。
Belfasttoretheenvelopeandread，andutteredacry。
"What！"saidJ。T。Maston。
"Theprojectile！"
"Well！"
"Hasfallentotheearth！"
Anothercry，thistimeaperfecthowl，answeredhim。HeturnedtowardJ。T。Maston。Theunfortunateman，imprudentlyleaningoverthemetaltube，haddisappearedintheimmensetelescope。
Afalloftwohundredandeightyfeet！Belfast，dismayed，rushedtotheorificeofthereflector。
Hebreathed。J。T。Maston，caughtbyhismetalhook，washoldingonbyoneoftheringswhichboundthetelescopetogether，utteringfearfulcries。
Belfastcalled。Helpwasbrought，tacklewasletdown，andtheyhoistedup，notwithoutsometrouble，theimprudentsecretaryoftheGunClub。
Hereappearedattheupperorificewithouthurt。
"Ah！"saidhe，"ifIhadbrokenthemirror？"
"Youwouldhavepaidforit，"repliedBelfastseverely。
"Andthatcursedprojectilehasfallen？"askedJ。T。Maston。
"IntothePacific！"
"Letusgo！"
AquarterofanhourafterthetwosavantsweredescendingthedeclivityoftheRockyMountains;andtwodaysafter，atthesametimeastheirfriendsoftheGunClub，theyarrivedatSanFrancisco，havingkilledfivehorsesontheroad。
Elphinstone，thebrothersBlomsberry，andBilsbyrushedtowardthemontheirarrival。
"Whatshallwedo？"theyexclaimed。
"Fishuptheprojectile，"repliedJ。T。Maston，"andthesoonerthebetter。"
CHAPTERXXII
RECOVEREDFROMTHESEA
Thespotwheretheprojectilesankunderthewaveswasexactlyknown;butthemachinerytograspitandbringittothesurfaceoftheoceanwasstillwanting。Itmustfirstbeinvented，thenmade。Americanengineerscouldnotbetroubledwithsuchtrifles。Thegrappling—ironsoncefixed，bytheirhelptheyweresuretoraiseitinspiteofitsweight，whichwaslessenedbythedensityoftheliquidinwhichitwasplunged。
Butfishing—uptheprojectilewasnottheonlythingtobethoughtof。
Theymustactpromptlyintheinterestofthetravelers。Noonedoubtedthattheywerestillliving。
"Yes，"repeatedJ。T。Mastonincessantly，whoseconfidencegainedovereverybody，"ourfriendsarecleverpeople，andtheycannothavefallenlikesimpletons。Theyarealive，quitealive;
butwemustmakehasteifwewishtofindthemso。Foodandwaterdonottroubleme;theyhaveenoughforalongwhile。
Butair，air，thatiswhattheywillsoonwant;soquick，quick！"
Andtheydidgoquick。TheyfitteduptheSusquehannaforhernewdestination。Herpowerfulmachinerywasbroughttobearuponthehauling—chains。Thealuminumprojectileonlyweighed19，250pounds，aweightveryinferiortothatofthetransatlanticcablewhichhadbeendrawnupundersimilarconditions。Theonlydifficultywasinfishingupacylindro—conicalprojectile，thewallsofwhichweresosmoothastooffernoholdforthehooks。
OnthataccountEngineerMurchisonhastenedtoSanFrancisco，andhadsomeenormousgrappling—ironsfixedonanautomaticsystem，whichwouldneverlettheprojectilegoifitoncesucceededinseizingitinitspowerfulclaws。Diving—dresseswerealsoprepared，whichthroughthisimperviouscoveringallowedthediverstoobservethebottomofthesea。Healsohadputonboardanapparatusofcompressedairverycleverlydesigned。
Therewereperfectchamberspiercedwithscuttles，which，withwaterletintocertaincompartments，coulddrawitdownintogreatdepths。TheseapparatuseswereatSanFrancisco，wheretheyhadbeenusedintheconstructionofasubmarinebreakwater;
andveryfortunatelyitwasso，fortherewasnotimetoconstructany。Butinspiteoftheperfectionofthemachinery，inspiteoftheingenuityofthesavantsentrustedwiththeuseofthem，thesuccessoftheoperationwasfarfrombeingcertain。
Howgreatwerethechancesagainstthem，theprojectilebeing20，000feetunderthewater！Andifevenitwasbroughttothesurface，howwouldthetravelershavebornetheterribleshockwhich20，000feetofwaterhadperhapsnotsufficientlybroken？
Atanyratetheymustactquickly。J。T。Mastonhurriedtheworkmendayandnight。Hewasreadytodonthediving—dresshimself，ortrytheairapparatus，inordertoreconnoiterthesituationofhiscourageousfriends。
Butinspiteofallthediligencedisplayedinpreparingthedifferentengines，inspiteoftheconsiderablesumplacedatthedisposaloftheGunClubbytheGovernmentoftheUnion，fivelongdays（fivecenturies！）elapsedbeforethepreparationswerecomplete。Duringthistimepublicopinionwasexcitedtothehighestpitch。Telegramswereexchangedincessantlythroughouttheentireworldbymeansofwiresandelectriccables。
ThesavingofBarbicane，Nicholl，andMichelArdanwasaninternationalaffair。EveryonewhohadsubscribedtotheGunClubwasdirectlyinterestedinthewelfareofthetravelers。
Atlengththehauling—chains，theair—chambers，andtheautomaticgrappling—ironswereputonboard。J。T。Maston，EngineerMurchison，andthedelegatesoftheGunClub，werealreadyintheircabins。Theyhadbuttostart，whichtheydidonthe21stofDecember，ateighto’clockatnight，thecorvettemeetingwithabeautifulsea，anortheasterlywind，andrathersharpcold。ThewholepopulationofSanFranciscowasgatheredonthequay，greatlyexcitedbutsilent，reservingtheirhurrahsforthereturn。Steamwasfullyup，andthescrewoftheSusquehannacarriedthembrisklyoutofthebay。
Itisneedlesstorelatetheconversationsonboardbetweentheofficers，sailors，andpassengers。Allthesemenhadbutonethought。Alltheseheartsbeatunderthesameemotion。
Whiletheywerehasteningtohelpthem，whatwereBarbicaneandhiscompanionsdoing？Whathadbecomeofthem？Weretheyabletoattemptanyboldmaneuvertoregaintheirliberty？Nonecouldsay。
Thetruthisthateveryattemptmusthavefailed！Immersednearlyfourmilesundertheocean，thismetalprisondefiedeveryeffortofitsprisoners。
Onthe23rdinst。，ateightinthemorning，afterarapidpassage，theSusquehannawasdueatthefatalspot。Theymustwaittilltwelvetotakethereckoningexactly。Thebuoytowhichthesoundinglinehadbeenlashedhadnotyetbeenrecognized。
Attwelve，CaptainBlomsberry，assistedbyhisofficerswhosuperintendedtheobservations，tookthereckoninginthepresenceofthedelegatesoftheGunClub。Thentherewasamomentofanxiety。Herpositiondecided，theSusquehannawasfoundtobesomeminuteswestwardofthespotwheretheprojectilehaddisappearedbeneaththewaves。
Theship’scoursewasthenchangedsoastoreachthisexactpoint。
Atforty—sevenminutespasttwelvetheyreachedthebuoy;itwasinperfectcondition，andmusthaveshiftedbutlittle。
"Atlast！"exclaimedJ。T。Maston。
"Shallwebegin？"askedCaptainBlomsberry。
"Withoutlosingasecond。"
Everyprecautionwastakentokeepthecorvettealmostcompletelymotionless。Beforetryingtoseizetheprojectile，EngineerMurchisonwantedtofinditsexactpositionatthebottomoftheocean。Thesubmarineapparatusdestinedforthisexpeditionwassuppliedwithair。Theworkingoftheseengineswasnotwithoutdanger，forat20，000feetbelowthesurfaceofthewater，andundersuchgreatpressure，theywereexposedtofracture，theconsequencesofwhichwouldbedreadful。
J。T。Maston，thebrothersBlomsberry，andEngineerMurchison，withoutheedingthesedangers，tooktheirplacesintheair—chamber。Thecommander，postedonhisbridge，superintendedtheoperation，readytostoporhaulinthechainsontheslightestsignal。Thescrewhadbeenshipped，andthewholepowerofthemachinerycollectedonthecapstanwouldhavequicklydrawntheapparatusonboard。Thedescentbeganattwenty—fiveminutespastoneatnight，andthechamber，drawnunderbythereservoirsfullofwater，disappearedfromthesurfaceoftheocean。
Theemotionoftheofficersandsailorsonboardwasnowdividedbetweentheprisonersintheprojectileandtheprisonersinthesubmarineapparatus。Astothelatter，theyforgotthemselves，and，gluedtothewindowsofthescuttles，attentivelywatchedtheliquidmassthroughwhichtheywerepassing。
Thedescentwasrapid。Atseventeenminutespasttwo，J。T。
MastonandhiscompanionshadreachedthebottomofthePacific;
buttheysawnothingbutanariddesert，nolongeranimatedbyeitherfaunaorflora。Bythelightoftheirlamps，furnishedwithpowerfulreflectors，theycouldseethedarkbedsoftheoceanforaconsiderableextentofview，buttheprojectilewasnowheretobeseen。
Theimpatienceofthesebolddiverscannotbedescribed，andhavinganelectricalcommunicationwiththecorvette，theymadeasignalalreadyagreedupon，andforthespaceofamiletheSusquehannamovedtheirchamberalongsomeyardsabovethebottom。
Thustheyexploredthewholesubmarineplain，deceivedateveryturnbyopticalillusionswhichalmostbroketheirhearts。
Herearock，thereaprojectionfromtheground，seemedtobethemuch—sought—forprojectile;buttheirmistakewassoondiscovered，andthentheywereindespair。
"Butwherearethey？wherearethey？"criedJ。T。Maston。AndthepoormancalledloudlyuponNicholl，Barbicane，andMichelArdan，asifhisunfortunatefriendscouldeitherhearoranswerhimthroughsuchanimpenetrablemedium！Thesearchcontinuedundertheseconditionsuntilthevitiatedaircompelledthediverstoascend。
Thehaulinginbeganaboutsixintheevening，andwasnotendedbeforemidnight。
"To—morrow，"saidJ。T。Maston，ashesetfootonthebridgeofthecorvette。
"Yes，"answeredCaptainBlomsberry。
"Andonanotherspot？"
"Yes。"
J。T。Mastondidnotdoubtoftheirfinalsuccess，buthiscompanions，nolongerupheldbytheexcitementofthefirsthours，understoodallthedifficultyoftheenterprise。
WhatseemedeasyatSanFrancisco，seemedhereinthewideoceanalmostimpossible。Thechancesofsuccessdiminishedinrapidproportion;anditwasfromchancealonethatthemeetingwiththeprojectilemightbeexpected。
Thenextday，the24th，inspiteofthefatigueofthepreviousday，theoperationwasrenewed。Thecorvetteadvancedsomeminutestowestward，andtheapparatus，providedwithair，borethesameexplorerstothedepthsoftheocean。
Thewholedaypassedinfruitlessresearch;thebedoftheseawasadesert。The25thbroughtnootherresult，northe26th。
Itwasdisheartening。Theythoughtofthoseunfortunatesshutupintheprojectilefortwenty—sixdays。Perhapsatthatmomenttheywereexperiencingthefirstapproachofsuffocation;
thatis，iftheyhadescapedthedangersoftheirfall。Theairwasspent，anddoubtlesswiththeairalltheir_morale_。
"Theair，possibly，"answeredJ。T。Mastonresolutely，"buttheir_morale_never！"
Onthe28th，aftertwomoredaysofsearch，allhopewasgone。
Thisprojectilewasbutanatomintheimmensityoftheocean。
Theymustgiveupallideaoffindingit。
ButJ。T。Mastonwouldnothearofgoingaway。Hewouldnotabandontheplacewithoutatleastdiscoveringthetombofhisfriends。ButCommanderBlomsberrycouldnolongerpersist，andinspiteoftheexclamationsoftheworthysecretary，wasobligedtogivetheordertosail。
Onthe29thofDecember，atnineA。M。，theSusquehanna，headingnortheast，resumedhercoursetothebayofSanFrancisco。
Itwasteninthemorning;thecorvettewasunderhalf—steam，asitwasregrettingtoleavethespotwherethecatastrophehadtakenplace，whenasailor，perchedonthemain—top—gallantcrosstrees，watchingthesea，criedsuddenly：
"Abuoyontheleebow！"
Theofficerslookedinthedirectionindicated，andbythehelpoftheirglassessawthattheobjectsignalledhadtheappearanceofoneofthosebuoyswhichareusedtomarkthepassagesofbaysorrivers。But，singularlytosay，aflagfloatingonthewindsurmounteditscone，whichemergedfiveorsixfeetoutofwater。Thisbuoyshoneundertheraysofthesunasifithadbeenmadeofplatesofsilver。
CommanderBlomsberry，J。T。Maston，andthedelegatesoftheGunClubweremountedonthebridge，examiningthisobjectstrayingatrandomonthewaves。
Alllookedwithfeverishanxiety，butinsilence。Nonedaredgiveexpressiontothethoughtswhichcametothemindsofall。
Thecorvetteapproachedtowithintwocables’lengthsoftheobject。
Ashudderranthroughthewholecrew。ThatflagwastheAmericanflag！
Atthismomentaperfecthowlingwasheard;itwasthebraveJ。
T。Mastonwhohadjustfallenallinaheap。Forgettingontheonehandthathisrightarmhadbeenreplacedbyanironhook，andontheotherthatasimplegutta—perchacapcoveredhisbrain—box，hehadgivenhimselfaformidableblow。
Theyhurriedtowardhim，pickedhimup，restoredhimtolife。
Andwhatwerehisfirstwords？
"Ah！treblybrutes！quadruplyidiots！quintuplyboobiesthatweare！"
"Whatisit？"exclaimedeveryonearoundhim。
"Whatisit？"
"Come，speak！"
"Itis，simpletons，"howledtheterriblesecretary，"itisthattheprojectileonlyweighs19，250pounds！"
"Well？"
"Andthatitdisplacestwenty—eighttons，orinotherwords56，000pounds，andthatconsequently_itfloats_！"
Ah！whatstresstheworthymanhadlaidontheverb"float！"
Anditwastrue！All，yes！allthesesavantshadforgottenthisfundamentallaw，namely，thatonaccountofitsspecificlightness，theprojectile，afterhavingbeendrawnbyitsfalltothegreatestdepthsoftheocean，mustnaturallyreturntothesurface。Andnowitwasfloatingquietlyatthemercyofthewaves。
Theboatswereputtosea。J。T。Mastonandhisfriendshadrushedintothem！Excitementwasatitsheight！Everyheartbeatloudlywhiletheyadvancedtotheprojectile。Whatdiditcontain？Livingordead？
Living，yes！living，atleastunlessdeathhadstruckBarbicaneandhistwofriendssincetheyhadhoistedtheflag。
Profoundsilencereignedontheboats。Allwerebreathless。
Eyesnolongersaw。Oneofthescuttlesoftheprojectilewasopen。
Somepiecesofglassremainedintheframe，showingthatithadbeenbroken。Thisscuttlewasactuallyfivefeetabovethewater。
Aboatcamealongside，thatofJ。T。Maston，andJ。T。Mastonrushedtothebrokenwindow。
Atthatmomenttheyheardaclearandmerryvoice，thevoiceofMichelArdan，exclaiminginanaccentoftriumph：
"Whiteall，Barbicane，whiteall！"
Barbicane，MichelArdan，andNichollwereplayingatdominoes！
CHAPTERXXIII
THEEND
Wemayremembertheintensesympathywhichhadaccompaniedthetravelersontheirdeparture。Ifatthebeginningoftheenterprisetheyhadexcitedsuchemotionbothintheoldandnewworld，withwhatenthusiasmwouldtheybereceivedontheirreturn！ThemillionsofspectatorswhichhadbesetthepeninsulaofFlorida，wouldtheynotrushtomeetthesesublimeadventurers？Thoselegionsofstrangers，hurryingfromallpartsoftheglobetowardtheAmericanshores，wouldtheyleavetheUnionwithouthavingseenBarbicane，Nicholl，andMichelArdan？No！andtheardentpassionofthepublicwasboundtorespondworthilytothegreatnessoftheenterprise。
Humancreatureswhohadlefttheterrestrialsphere，andreturnedafterthisstrangevoyageintocelestialspace，couldnotfailtobereceivedastheprophetEliaswouldbeifhecamebacktoearth。Toseethemfirst，andthentohearthem，suchwastheuniversallonging。
Barbicane，MichelArdan，Nicholl，andthedelegatesoftheGunClub，returningwithoutdelaytoBaltimore，werereceivedwithindescribableenthusiasm。ThenotesofPresidentBarbicane’svoyagewerereadytobegiventothepublic。TheNewYork_Herald_boughtthemanuscriptatapricenotyetknown，butwhichmusthavebeenveryhigh。Indeed，duringthepublicationof"AJourneytotheMoon，"thesaleofthispaperamountedtofivemillionsofcopies。Threedaysafterthereturnofthetravelerstotheearth，theslightestdetailoftheirexpeditionwasknown。Thereremainednothingmorebuttoseetheheroesofthissuperhumanenterprise。
TheexpeditionofBarbicaneandhisfriendsroundthemoonhadenabledthemtocorrectthemanyadmittedtheoriesregardingtheterrestrialsatellite。Thesesavantshadobserved_devisu_，andunderparticularcircumstances。Theyknewwhatsystemsshouldberejected，whatretainedwithregardtotheformationofthatorb，itsorigin，itshabitability。Itspast，present，andfuturehadevengivenuptheirlastsecrets。Whocouldadvanceobjectionsagainstconscientiousobservers，whoatlessthantwenty—fourmilesdistancehadmarkedthatcuriousmountainofTycho，thestrangestsystemoflunarorography？HowanswerthosesavantswhosesighthadpenetratedtheabyssofPluto’scircle？Howcontradictthoseboldoneswhomthechancesoftheirenterprisehadborneoverthatinvisiblefaceofthedisc，whichnohumaneyeuntilthenhadeverseen？Itwasnowtheirturntoimposesomelimitonthatselenographicscience，whichhadreconstructedthelunarworldasCuvierdidtheskeletonofafossil，andsay，"Themoon_was_this，ahabitableworld，inhabitedbeforetheearth。Themoon_is_that，aworlduninhabitable，andnowuninhabited。"
Tocelebratethereturnofitsmostillustriousmemberandhistwocompanions，theGunClubdecidedupongivingabanquet，butabanquetworthyoftheconquerors，worthyoftheAmericanpeople，andundersuchconditionsthatalltheinhabitantsoftheUnioncoulddirectlytakepartinit。
AlltheheadlinesofrailroadsintheStateswerejoinedbyflyingrails;andonalltheplatforms，linedwiththesameflags，anddecoratedwiththesameornaments，weretableslaidandallservedalike。Atcertainhours，successivelycalculated，markedbyelectricclockswhichbeatthesecondsatthesametime，thepopulationwereinvitedtotaketheirplacesatthebanquettables。Forfourdays，fromthe5thtothe9thofJanuary，thetrainswerestoppedastheyareonSundaysontherailwaysoftheUnitedStates，andeveryroadwasopen。
Oneengineonlyatfullspeed，drawingatriumphalcarriage，hadtherightoftravelingforthosefourdaysontherailroadsoftheUnitedStates。
Theenginewasmannedbyadriverandastoker，andbore，byspecialfavor，theHon。J。T。Maston，secretaryoftheGunClub。
ThecarriagewasreservedforPresidentBarbicane，ColonelNicholl，andMichelArdan。Atthewhistleofthedriver，amidthehurrahs，andalltheadmiringvociferationsoftheAmericanlanguage，thetrainlefttheplatformofBaltimore。Ittraveledataspeedofonehundredandsixtymilesinthehour。ButwhatwasthisspeedcomparedwiththatwhichhadcarriedthethreeheroesfromthemouthoftheColumbiad？
Thustheyspedfromonetowntotheother，findingwholepopulationsattableontheirroad，salutingthemwiththesameacclamations，lavishingthesamebravos！TheytraveledinthiswaythroughtheeastoftheUnion，Pennsylvania，Connecticut，Massachusetts，Vermont，Maine，andNewHampshire;thenorthandwestbyNewYork，Ohio，Michigan，andWisconsin;returningtothesouthbyIllinois，Missouri，Arkansas，Texas，andLouisiana;
theywenttothesoutheastbyAlabamaandFlorida，goingupbyGeorgiaandtheCarolinas，visitingthecenterbyTennessee，Kentucky，Virginia，andIndiana，and，afterquittingtheWashingtonstation，re—enteredBaltimore，whereforfourdaysonewouldhavethoughtthattheUnitedStatesofAmericawereseatedatoneimmensebanquet，salutingthemsimultaneouslywiththesamehurrahs！Theapotheosiswasworthyofthesethreeheroeswhomfablewouldhaveplacedintherankofdemigods。
Andnowwillthisattempt，unprecedentedintheannalsoftravels，leadtoanypracticalresult？Willdirectcommunicationwiththemooneverbeestablished？Willtheyeverlaythefoundationofatravelingservicethroughthesolarworld？Willtheygofromoneplanettoanother，fromJupitertoMercury，andafterawhilefromonestartoanother，fromthePolartoSirius？Willthismeansoflocomotionallowustovisitthosesunswhichswarminthefirmament？
Tosuchquestionsnoanswercanbegiven。ButknowingtheboldingenuityoftheAnglo—Saxonrace，noonewouldbeastonishediftheAmericansseektomakesomeuseofPresidentBarbicane’sattempt。
Thus，sometimeafterthereturnofthetravelers，thepublicreceivedwithmarkedfavortheannouncementofacompany，limited，withacapitalofahundredmillionofdollars，dividedintoahundredthousandsharesofathousanddollarseach，underthenameofthe"NationalCompanyofInterstellaryCommunication。"
President，Barbicane;vice—president，CaptainNicholl;secretary，J。T。Maston;directorofmovements，MichelArdan。
AndasitispartoftheAmericantemperamenttoforeseeeverythinginbusiness，evenfailure，theHonorableHarryTrolloppe，judgecommissioner，andFrancisDrayton，magistrate，werenominatedbeforehand！