第9章

Thisshootingglobesuddenlyappearinginshadowatadistanceofatmost200miles，ought，accordingtoBarbicane，tohaveadiameterof2，000yards。Itadvancedataspeedofaboutonemileandahalfpersecond。Itcuttheprojectile\'spathandmustreachitinsomeminutes。Asitapproacheditgrewtoenormousproportions。

Imagine，ifpossible，thesituationofthetravelers！Itisimpossibletodescribeit。Inspiteoftheircourage，their_sang-froid_，theircarelessnessofdanger，theyweremute，motionlesswithstiffenedlimbs，apreytofrightfulterror。

Theirprojectile，thecourseofwhichtheycouldnotalter，wasrushingstraightonthisignitedmass，moreintensethantheopenmouthofanoven。Itseemedasthoughtheywerebeingprecipitatedtowardanabyssoffire。

Barbicanehadseizedthehandsofhistwocompanions，andallthreelookedthroughtheirhalf-openeyelidsuponthatasteroidheatedtoawhiteheat。Ifthoughtwasnotdestroyedwithinthem，iftheirbrainsstillworkedamidallthisawe，theymusthavegiventhemselvesupforlost。

Twominutesafterthesuddenappearanceofthemeteor(tothemtwocenturiesofanguish)theprojectileseemedalmostabouttostrikeit，whentheglobeoffireburstlikeabomb，butwithoutmakinganynoiseinthatvoidwheresound，whichisbuttheagitationofthelayersofair，couldnotbegenerated。

Nichollutteredacry，andheandhiscompanionsrushedtothescuttle。Whatasight！Whatpencandescribeit？

Whatpaletteisrichenoughincolorstoreproducesomagnificentaspectacle？

Itwasliketheopeningofacrater，likethescatteringofanimmenseconflagration。Thousandsofluminousfragmentslitupandirradiatedspacewiththeirfires。Everysize，everycolor，wasthereintermingled。Therewereraysofyellowandpaleyellow，red，green，gray——acrownoffireworksofallcolors。

Oftheenormousandmuch-dreadedglobethereremainednothingbutthesefragmentscarriedinalldirections，nowbecomeasteroidsintheirturn，someflaminglikeasword，somesurroundedbyawhitishcloud，andothersleavingbehindthemtrainsofbrilliantcosmicaldust。

Theseincandescentblockscrossedandstruckeachother，scatteringstillsmallerfragments，someofwhichstrucktheprojectile。Itsleftscuttlewasevencrackedbyaviolentshock。Itseemedtobefloatingamidahailofhowitzershells，thesmallestofwhichmightdestroyitinstantly。

Thelightwhichsaturatedtheetherwassowonderfullyintense，thatMichel，drawingBarbicaneandNicholltohiswindow，exclaimed，"Theinvisiblemoon，visibleatlast！"

Andthroughaluminousemanation，whichlastedsomeseconds，thewholethreecaughtaglimpseofthatmysteriousdiscwhichtheeyeofmannowsawforthefirsttime。Whatcouldtheydistinguishatadistancewhichtheycouldnotestimate？Somelengthenedbandsalongthedisc，realcloudsformedinthemidstofaveryconfinedatmosphere，fromwhichemergednotonlyallthemountains，butalsoprojectionsoflessimportance；itscircles，itsyawningcraters，ascapriciouslyplacedasonthevisiblesurface。

Thenimmensespaces，nolongeraridplains，butrealseas，oceans，widelydistributed，reflectingontheirliquidsurfaceallthedazzlingmagicofthefiresofspace；and，lastly，onthesurfaceofthecontinents，largedarkmasses，lookinglikeimmenseforestsundertherapidilluminationofabrilliance。

Wasitanillusion，amistake，anopticalillusion？Couldtheygiveascientificassenttoanobservationsosuperficiallyobtained？

Daredtheypronounceuponthequestionofitshabitabilityaftersoslightaglimpseoftheinvisibledisc？

Butthelightningsinspacesubsidedbydegrees；itsaccidentalbrilliancydiedaway；theasteroidsdispersedindifferentdirectionsandwereextinguishedinthedistance。

Theetherreturnedtoitsaccustomeddarkness；thestars，eclipsedforamoment，againtwinkledinthefirmament，andthedisc，sohastilydiscerned，wasagainburiedinimpenetrablenight。

CHAPTERXVI

THESOUTHERNHEMISPHERE

Theprojectilehadjustescapedaterribledanger，andaveryunforseenone。Whowouldhavethoughtofsuchanencounterwithmeteors？Theseerringbodiesmightcreateseriousperilsforthetravelers。Theyweretothemsomanysandbanksuponthatseaofetherwhich，lessfortunatethansailors，theycouldnotescape。Butdidtheseadventurerscomplainofspace？No，notsincenaturehadgiventhemthesplendidsightofacosmicalmeteorburstingfromexpansion，sincethisinimitablefirework，whichnoRuggiericouldimitate，hadlitupforsomesecondstheinvisiblegloryofthemoon。Inthatflash，continents，seas，andforestshadbecomevisibletothem。Didanatmosphere，then，bringtothisunknownfaceitslife-givingatoms？

Questionsstillinsoluble，andforeverclosedagainsthumancuriousity！

Itwasthenhalf-pastthreeintheafternoon。Theprojectilewasfollowingitscurvilineardirectionroundthemoon。Haditscourseagainbeenalteredbythemeteor？Itwastobefearedso。

Buttheprojectilemustdescribeacurveunalterablydeterminedbythelawsofmechanicalreasoning。Barbicanewasinclinedtobelievethatthiscurvewouldberatheraparabolathanahyperbola。

Butadmittingtheparabola，theprojectilemustquicklyhavepassedthroughtheconeofshadowprojectedintospaceoppositethesun。Thiscone，indeed，isverynarrow，theangulardiameterofthemoonbeingsolittlewhencomparedwiththediameteroftheorbofday；anduptothistimetheprojectilehadbeenfloatinginthisdeepshadow。Whateverhadbeenitsspeed(anditcouldnothavebeeninsignificant)，itsperiodofoccultationcontinued。Thatwasevident，butperhapsthatwouldnothavebeenthecaseinasupposedlyrigidlyparabolicaltrajectory——anewproblemwhichtormentedBarbicane\'sbrain，imprisonedashewasinacircleofunknownswhichhecouldnotunravel。

Neitherofthetravelersthoughtoftakinganinstant\'srepose。

Eachonewatchedforanunexpectedfact，whichmightthrowsomenewlightontheiruranographicstudies。Aboutfiveo\'clock，MichelArdandistributed，underthenameofdinner，somepiecesofbreadandcoldmeat，whichwerequicklyswallowedwithouteitherofthemabandoningtheirscuttle，theglassofwhichwasincessantlyencrustedbythecondensationofvapor。

Aboutforty-fiveminutespastfiveintheevening，Nicholl，armedwithhisglass，sightedtowardthesouthernborderofthemoon，andinthedirectionfollowedbytheprojectile，somebrightpointscutuponthedarkshieldofthesky。Theylookedlikeasuccessionofsharppointslengthenedintoatremulousline。

Theywereverybright。Suchappearedtheterminallineofthemoonwheninoneofheroctants。

Theycouldnotbemistaken。Itwasnolongerasimplemeteor。

Thisluminousridgehadneithercolornormotion。Norwasitavolcanoineruption。AndBarbicanedidnothesitatetopronounceuponit。

"Thesun！"heexclaimed。

"What！thesun？"answeredNichollandMichelArdan。

"Yes，myfriends，itistheradiantorbitselflightingupthesummitofthemountainssituatedonthesouthernbordersofthemoon。Weareevidentlynearingthesouthpole。"

"Afterhavingpassedthenorthpole，"repliedMichel。"Wehavemadethecircuitofoursatellite，then？"

"Yes，mygoodMichel。"

"Then，nomorehyperbolas，nomoreparabolas，nomoreopencurvestofear？"

"No，butaclosedcurve。"

"Whichiscalled——"

"Anellipse。Insteadoflosingitselfininterplanetaryspace，itisprobablethattheprojectilewilldescribeanellipticalorbitaroundthemoon。"

"Indeed！"

"Andthatitwillbecome_her_satellite。"

"Moonofthemoon！"criedMichelArdan。

"Only，Iwouldhaveyouobserve，myworthyfriend，"repliedBarbicane，"thatwearenonethelesslostforthat。"

"Yes，inanothermanner，andmuchmorepleasantly，"answeredthecarelessFrenchmanwithhismostamiablesmile。

CHAPTERXVII

TYCHO

Atsixintheeveningtheprojectilepassedthesouthpoleatlessthanfortymilesoff，adistanceequaltothatalreadyreachedatthenorthpole。Theellipticalcurvewasbeingrigidlycarriedout。

Atthismomentthetravelersoncemoreenteredtheblessedraysofthesun。Theysawoncemorethosestarswhichmoveslowlyfromeasttowest。Theradiantorbwassalutedbyatriplehurrah。

Withitslightitalsosentheat，whichsoonpiercedthemetalwalls。

Theglassresumeditsaccustomedappearance。Thelayersoficemeltedasifbyenchantment；andimmediately，foreconomy\'ssake，thegaswasputout，theairapparatusaloneconsumingitsusualquantity。

"Ah！"saidNicholl，"theseraysofheataregood。WithwhatimpatiencemusttheSeleniteswaitthereappearanceoftheorbofday。"

"Yes，"repliedMichelArdan，"imbibingasitwerethebrilliantether，lightandheat，alllifeiscontainedinthem。"

Atthismomentthebottomoftheprojectiledeviatedsomewhatfromthelunarsurface，inordertofollowtheslightlylengthenedellipticalorbit。Fromthispoint，hadtheearthbeenatthefull，Barbicaneandhiscompanionscouldhaveseenit，butimmersedinthesun\'sirradiationshewasquiteinvisible。Anotherspectacleattractedtheirattention，thatofthesouthernpartofthemoon，broughtbytheglassestowithin450yards。Theydidnotagainleavethescuttles，andnotedeverydetailofthisfantasticalcontinent。

MountsDoerfulandLeibnitzformedtwoseparategroupsverynearthesouthpole。Thefirstgroupextendedfromthepoletotheeighty-fourthparallel，ontheeasternpartoftheorb；thesecondoccupiedtheeasternborder，extendingfromthe65@oflatitudetothepole。

Ontheircapriciouslyformedridgeappeareddazzlingsheets，asmentionedbyPereSecchi。WithmorecertaintythantheillustriousRomanastronomer，Barbicanewasenabledtorecognizetheirnature。

"Theyaresnow，"heexclaimed。

"Snow？"repeatedNicholl。

"Yes，Nicholl，snow；thesurfaceofwhichisdeeplyfrozen。

Seehowtheyreflecttheluminousrays。Cooledlavawouldnevergiveoutsuchintensereflection。Theremustthenbewater，theremustbeaironthemoon。Aslittleasyouplease，butthefactcannolongerbecontested。"No，itcouldnotbe。AndifeverBarbicaneshouldseetheearthagain，hisnoteswillbearwitnesstothisgreatfactinhisselenographicobservations。

ThesemountainsofDoerfulandLeibnitzroseinthemidstofplainsofamediumextent，whichwereboundedbyanindefinitesuccessionofcirclesandannularramparts。Thesetwochainsaretheonlyonesmetwithinthisregionofcircles。

Comparativelybutslightlymarked，theythrowuphereandtheresomesharppoints，thehighestsummitofwhichattainsanaltitudeof24，600feet。

Buttheprojectilewashighaboveallthislandscape，andtheprojectionsdisappearedintheintensebrilliancyofthedisc。

Andtotheeyesofthetravelerstherereappearedthatoriginalaspectofthelunarlandscapes，rawintone，withoutgradationofcolors，andwithoutdegreesofshadow，roughlyblackandwhite，fromthewantofdiffusionoflight。

Butthesightofthisdesolateworlddidnotfailtocaptivatethembyitsverystrangeness。Theyweremovingoverthisregionasiftheyhadbeenborneonthebreathofsomestorm，watchingheightsdefileundertheirfeet，piercingthecavitieswiththeireyes，goingdownintotherifts，climbingtheramparts，soundingthesemysteriousholes，andlevelingallcracks。Butnotraceofvegetation，noappearanceofcities；nothingbutstratification，bedsoflava，overflowingspolishedlikeimmensemirrors，reflectingthesun\'srayswithoverpoweringbrilliancy。

Nothingbelongingtoa_living_world——everythingtoadeadworld，whereavalanches，rollingfromthesummitsofthemountains，woulddispersenoiselesslyatthebottomoftheabyss，retainingthemotion，butwantingthesound。Inanycaseitwastheimageofdeath，withoutitsbeingpossibleeventosaythatlifehadeverexistedthere。

MichelArdan，however，thoughtherecognizedaheapofruins，towhichhedrewBarbicane\'sattention。Itwasaboutthe80thparallel，in30@longitude。Thisheapofstones，ratherregularlyplaced，representedavastfortress，overlookingalongrift，whichinformerdayshadservedasabedtotheriversofprehistoricaltimes。Notfarfromthat，rosetoaheightof17，400feettheannularmountainofShort，equaltotheAsiaticCaucasus。MichelArdan，withhisaccustomedardor，maintained"theevidences"ofhisfortress。Beneathithediscernedthedismantledrampartsofatown；herethestillintactarchofaportico，theretwoorthreecolumnslyingundertheirbase；fartheron，asuccessionofarcheswhichmusthavesupportedtheconduitofanaqueduct；inanotherpartthesunkenpillarsofagiganticbridge，runintothethickestpartsoftherift。Hedistinguishedallthis，butwithsomuchimaginationinhisglance，andthroughglassessofantastical，thatwemustmistrusthisobservation。Butwhocouldaffirm，whowoulddaretosay，thattheamiablefellowdidnotreallyseethatwhichhistwocompanionswouldnotsee？

Momentsweretooprecioustobesacrificedinidlediscussion。

Theselenitecity，whetherimaginaryornot，hadalreadydisappearedafaroff。Thedistanceoftheprojectilefromthelunardiscwasontheincrease，andthedetailsofthesoilwerebeinglostinaconfusedjumble。Thereliefs，thecircles，thecraters，andtheplainsaloneremained，andstillshowedtheirboundarylinesdistinctly。Atthismoment，totheleft，layextendedoneofthefinestcirclesoflunarorography，oneofthecuriositiesofthiscontinent。ItwasNewton，whichBarbicanerecognizedwithouttrouble，byreferringtothe_MappaSelenographica_。

Newtonissituatedinexactly77@southlatitude，and16@

eastlongitude。Itformsanannularcrater，therampartsofwhich，risingtoaheightof21，300feet，seemedtobeimpassable。

Barbicanemadehiscompanionsobservethattheheightofthismountainabovethesurroundingplainwasfarfromequalingthedepthofitscrater。Thisenormousholewasbeyondallmeasurement，andformedagloomyabyss，thebottomofwhichthesun\'srayscouldneverreach。There，accordingtoHumboldt，reignsutterdarkness，whichthelightofthesunandtheearthcannotbreak。Mythologistscouldwellhavemadeitthemouthofhell。

"Newton，"saidBarbicane，"isthemostperfecttypeoftheseannularmountains，ofwhichtheearthpossessesnosample。

Theyprovethatthemoon\'sformation，bymeansofcooling，isduetoviolentcauses；forwhile，underthepressureofinternalfiresthereliefsrisetoconsiderableheight，thedepthswithdrawfarbelowthelunarlevel。"

"Idonotdisputethefact，"repliedMichelArdan。

SomeminutesafterpassingNewton，theprojectiledirectlyoverlookedtheannularmountainsofMoret。ItskirtedatsomedistancethesummitsofBlancanus，andatabouthalf-pastsevenintheeveningreachedthecircleofClavius。

Thiscircle，oneofthemostremarkableofthedisc，issituatedin58@southlatitude，and15@eastlongitude。Itsheightisestimatedat22，950feet。Thetravelers，atadistanceoftwenty-fourmiles(reducedtofourbytheirglasses)couldadmirethisvastcraterinitsentirety。

"Terrestrialvolcanoes，"saidBarbicane，"arebutmole-hillscomparedwiththoseofthemoon。MeasuringtheoldcratersformedbythefirsteruptionsofVesuviusandEtna，wefindthemlittlemorethanthreemilesinbreadth。InFrancethecircleofCantalmeasuressixmilesacross；atCeylandthecircleoftheislandisfortymiles，whichisconsideredthelargestontheglobe。WhatarethesediametersagainstthatofClavius，whichweoverlookatthismoment？"

"Whatisitsbreadth？"askedNicholl。

"Itis150miles，"repliedBarbicane。"Thiscircleiscertainlythemostimportantonthemoon，butmanyothersmeasure150，100，or75miles。"

"Ah！myfriends，"exclaimedMichel，"canyoupicturetoyourselveswhatthisnowpeacefulorbofnightmusthavebeenwhenitscraters，filledwiththunderings，vomitedatthesametimesmokeandtonguesofflame。Whatawonderfulspectaclethen，andnowwhatdecay！Thismoonisnothingmorethanathincarcaseoffireworks，whosesquibs，rockets，serpents，andsuns，afterasuperbbrilliancy，haveleftbutsadlybrokencases。

Whocansaythecause，thereason，themotiveforceofthesecataclysms？"

BarbicanewasnotlisteningtoMichelArdan；hewascontemplatingtheserampartsofClavius，formedbylargemountainsspreadoverseveralmiles。Atthebottomoftheimmensecavityburrowedhundredsofsmallextinguishedcraters，riddlingthesoillikeacolander，andoverlookedbyapeak15，000feethigh。

Aroundtheplainappeareddesolate。Nothingsoaridasthesereliefs，nothingsosadastheseruinsofmountains，and(ifwemaysoexpressourselves)thesefragmentsofpeaksandmountainswhichstrewedthesoil。Thesatelliteseemedtohaveburstatthisspot。

Theprojectilewasstilladvancing，andthismovementdidnotsubside。Circles，craters，anduprootedmountainssucceededeachotherincessantly。Nomoreplains；nomoreseas。AneverendingSwitzerlandandNorway。Andlastly，inthecanterofthisregionofcrevasses，themostsplendidmountainonthelunardisc，thedazzlingTycho，inwhichposteritywilleverpreservethenameoftheillustriousDanishastronomer。

Inobservingthefullmooninacloudlessskynoonehasfailedtoremarkthisbrilliantpointofthesouthernhemisphere。

MichelArdanusedeverymetaphorthathisimaginationcouldsupplytodesignateitby。TohimthisTychowasafocusoflight，acenterofirradiation，acratervomitingrays。Itwasthetireofabrilliantwheel，an_asteria_enclosingthediscwithitssilvertentacles，anenormouseyefilledwithflames，aglorycarvedforPluto\'shead，astarlaunchedbytheCreator\'shand，andcrushedagainstthefaceofthemoon！

Tychoformssuchaconcentrationoflightthattheinhabitantsoftheearthcanseeitwithoutglasses，thoughatadistanceof240，000miles！Imagine，then，itsintensitytotheeyeofobserversplacedatadistanceofonlyfiftymiles！Seenthroughthispureether，itsbrilliancywassointolerablethatBarbicaneandhisfriendswereobligedtoblackentheirglasseswiththegassmokebeforetheycouldbearthesplendor。Thensilent，scarcelyutteringaninterjectionofadmiration，theygazed，theycontemplated。

Alltheirfeelings，alltheirimpressions，wereconcentratedinthatlook，asunderanyviolentemotionalllifeisconcentratedattheheart。

Tychobelongstothesystemofradiatingmountains，likeAristarchusandCopernicus；butitisofallthemostcompleteanddecided，showingunquestionablythefrightfulvolcanicactiontowhichtheformationofthemoonisdue。Tychoissituatedin43@southlatitude，and12@eastlongitude。Itscenterisoccupiedbyacraterfiftymilesbroad。Itassumesaslightlyellipticalform，andissurroundedbyanenclosureofannularramparts，whichontheeastandwestoverlooktheouterplainfromaheightof15，000feet。ItisagroupofMontBlancs，placedroundonecommoncenterandcrownedbyradiatingbeams。

Whatthisincomparablemountainreallyis，withalltheprojectionsconvergingtowardit，andtheinteriorexcrescencesofitscrater，photographyitselfcouldneverrepresent。

Indeed，itisduringthefullmoonthatTychoisseeninallitssplendor。Thenallshadowsdisappear，theforeshorteningofperspectivedisappears，andallproofsbecomewhite——adisagreeablefact:forthisstrangeregionwouldhavebeenmarvelousifreproducedwithphotographicexactness。Itisbutagroupofhollows，craters，circles，anetworkofcrests；

then，asfarastheeyecouldsee，awholevolcanicnetworkcastuponthisencrustedsoil。Onecanthenunderstandthatthebubblesofthiscentraleruptionhavekepttheirfirstform。

Crystallizedbycooling，theyhavestereotypedthataspectwhichthemoonformerlypresentedwhenunderthePlutonianforces。

ThedistancewhichseparatedthetravelersfromtheannularsummitsofTychowasnotsogreatbutthattheycouldcatchtheprincipaldetails。EvenonthecausewayformingthefortificationsofTycho，themountainshangingontotheinteriorandexteriorslopingflanksroseinstorieslikegiganticterraces。Theyappearedtobehigherby300or400

feettothewestthantotheeast。Nosystemofterrestrialencampmentcouldequalthesenaturalfortifications。Atownbuiltatthebottomofthiscircularcavitywouldhavebeenutterlyinaccessible。

Inaccessibleandwonderfullyextendedoverthissoilcoveredwithpicturesqueprojections！Indeed，naturehadnotleftthebottomofthiscraterflatandempty。Itpossesseditsownpeculiarorography，amountainoussystem，makingitaworldinitself。Thetravelerscoulddistinguishclearlycones，centralhills，remarkablepositionsofthesoil，naturallyplacedtoreceivethe_chefs-d\'oeuvre_ofSelenitearchitecture。

Therewasmarkedouttheplaceforatemple，herethegroundofaforum，onthisspottheplanofapalace，inanothertheplateauforacitadel；thewholeoverlookedbyacentralmountainof1，500feet。Avastcircle，inwhichancientRomecouldhavebeenheldinitsentiretytentimesover。

"Ah！"exclaimedMichelArdan，enthusiasticatthesight；"whatagrandtownmightbeconstructedwithinthatringofmountains！

Aquietcity，apeacefulrefuge，beyondallhumanmisery。Howcalmandisolatedthosemisanthropes，thosehatersofhumanitymightlivethere，andallwhohaveadistasteforsociallife！"

"All！Itwouldbetoosmallforthem，"repliedBarbicanesimply。

CHAPTERXVIII

GRAVEQUESTIONS

Buttheprojectilehadpassedthe_enceinte_ofTycho，andBarbicaneandhistwocompanionswatchedwithscrupulousattentionthebrilliantrayswhichthecelebratedmountainshedsocuriouslyoverthehorizon。

Whatwasthisradiantglory？Whatgeologicalphenomenonhaddesignedtheseardentbeams？ThisquestionoccupiedBarbicane\'smind。

Underhiseyesraninalldirectionsluminousfurrows，raisedattheedgesandconcaveinthecenter，sometwelvemiles，othersthirtymilesbroad。Thesebrillianttrainsextendedinsomeplacestowithin600milesofTycho，andseemedtocover，particularlytowardtheeast，thenortheastandthenorth，thehalfofthesouthernhemisphere。OneofthesejetsextendedasfarasthecircleofNeander，situatedonthe40thmeridian。

Another，byaslightcurve，furrowedthe"SeaofNectar，"breakingagainstthechainofPyrenees，afteracircuitof800miles。

Others，towardthewest，coveredthe"SeaofClouds"andthe"SeaofHumors"withaluminousnetwork。Whatwastheoriginofthesesparklingrays，whichshoneontheplainsaswellasonthereliefs，atwhateverheighttheymightbe？

Allstartedfromacommoncenter，thecraterofTycho。

Theysprangfromhim。Herschelattributedtheirbrilliancytocurrentsoflavacongealedbythecold；anopinion，however，whichhasnotbeengenerallyadopted。Otherastronomershaveseenintheseinexplicableraysakindofmoraines，rowsoferraticblocks，whichhadbeenthrownupattheperiodofTycho\'sformation。

"Andwhynot？"askedNichollofBarbicane，whowasrelatingandrejectingthesedifferentopinions。

"Becausetheregularityoftheseluminouslines，andtheviolencenecessarytocarryvolcanicmattertosuchdistances，isinexplicable。"

"Eh！byJove！"repliedMichelArdan，"itseemseasyenoughtometoexplaintheoriginoftheserays。"

"Indeed？"saidBarbicane。

"Indeed，"continuedMichel。"Itisenoughtosaythatitisavaststar，similartothatproducedbyaballorastonethrownatasquareofglass！"

"Well！"repliedBarbicane，smiling。"Andwhathandwouldbepowerfulenoughtothrowaballtogivesuchashockasthat？"

"Thehandisnotnecessary，"answeredNicholl，notatallconfounded；"andastothestone，letussupposeittobeacomet。"

"Ah！thosemuch-abusedcomets！"exclaimedBarbicane。"MybraveMichel，yourexplanationisnotbad；butyourcometisuseless。

Theshockwhichproducedthatrentmusthavesomefromtheinsideofthestar。Aviolentcontractionofthelunarcrust，whilecooling，mightsufficetoimprintthisgiganticstar。"

"Acontraction！somethinglikealunarstomach-ache。"saidMichelArdan。

"Besides，"addedBarbicane，"thisopinionisthatofanEnglishsavant，Nasmyth，anditseemstometosufficientlyexplaintheradiationofthesemountains。"

"ThatNasmythwasnofool！"repliedMichel。

Longdidthetravelers，whomsuchasightcouldneverweary，admirethesplendorsofTycho。Theirprojectile，saturatedwithluminousgleamsinthedoubleirradiationofsunandmoon，musthaveappearedlikeanincandescentglobe。Theyhadpassedsuddenlyfromexcessivecoldtointenseheat。NaturewasthuspreparingthemtobecomeSelenites。BecomeSelenites！Thatideabroughtuponcemorethequestionofthehabitabilityofthemoon。

Afterwhattheyhadseen，couldthetravelerssolveit？Wouldtheydecidefororagainstit？MichelArdanpersuadedhistwofriendstoformanopinion，andaskedthemdirectlyiftheythoughtthatmenandanimalswererepresentedinthelunarworld。

"Ithinkthatwecananswer，"saidBarbicane；"butaccordingtomyideathequestionoughtnottobeputinthatform。Iaskittobeputdifferently。"

"Putityourownway，"repliedMichel。

"Hereitis，"continuedBarbicane。"Theproblemisadoubleone，andrequiresadoublesolution。Isthemoon_habitable_？Hasthemooneverbeen_inhabitable_？"

"Good！"repliedNicholl。"Firstletusseewhetherthemoonishabitable。"

"Totellthetruth，Iknownothingaboutit，"answeredMichel。

"AndIanswerinthenegative，"continuedBarbicane。"Inheractualstate，withhersurroundingatmospherecertainlyverymuchreduced，herseasforthemostpartdriedup，herinsufficientsupplyofwaterrestricted，vegetation，suddenalternationsofcoldandheat，herdaysandnightsof354

hours——themoondoesnotseemhabitabletome，nordoessheseempropitioustoanimaldevelopment，norsufficientforthewantsofexistenceasweunderstandit。"

"Agreed，"repliedNicholl。"Butisnotthemoonhabitableforcreaturesdifferentlyorganizedfromourselves？"

"Thatquestionismoredifficulttoanswer，butIwilltry；andIaskNichollif_motion_appearstohimtobeanecessaryresultof_life_，whateverbeitsorganization？"

"Withoutadoubt！"answeredNicholl。

"Then，myworthycompanion，Iwouldanswerthatwehaveobservedthelunarcontinentatadistanceof500yardsatmost，andthatnothingseemedtoustomoveonthemoon\'ssurface。Thepresenceofanykindoflifewouldhavebeenbetrayedbyitsattendantmarks，suchasdiversbuildings，andevenbyruins。Andwhathaveweseen？Everywhereandalwaysthegeologicalworksofnature，nevertheworkofman。If，then，thereexistrepresentativesoftheanimalkingdomonthemoon，theymusthavefledtothoseunfathomablecavitieswhichtheeyecannotreach；whichIcannotadmit，fortheymusthavelefttracesoftheirpassageonthoseplainswhichtheatmospheremustcover，howeverslightlyraiseditmaybe。Thesetracesarenowherevisible。Thereremainsbutonehypothesis，thatofalivingracetowhichmotion，whichislife，isforeign。"

"Onemightaswellsay，livingcreatureswhichdonotlive，"

repliedMichel。

"Justso，"saidBarbicane，"whichforushasnomeaning。"

"Thenwemayformouropinion？"saidMichel。

"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。