round the moon-第13章
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they thought； the lunar atmosphere was stored only in its depths。
〃Besides；〃 observed Michel Ardan； 〃a plain is easier to
disembark upon than a mountain。 A Selenite； deposited in Europe
on the summit of Mont Blanc； or in Asia on the top of the
Himalayas； would not be quite in the right place。〃
〃And；〃 added Captain Nicholl； 〃on a flat ground； the projectile
will remain motionless when it has once touched； whereas on a
declivity it would roll like an avalanche； and not being
squirrels we should not come out safe and sound。 So it is all
for the best。〃
Indeed； the success of the audacious attempt no longer
appeared doubtful。 But Barbicane was preoccupied with one
thought； but not wishing to make his companions uneasy； he
kept silence on this subject。
The direction the projectile was taking toward the moon's
northern hemisphere； showed that her course had been
slightly altered。 The discharge； mathematically calculated；
would carry the projectile to the very center of the lunar disc。
If it did not land there； there must have been some deviation。
What had caused it？ Barbicane could neither imagine nor
determine the importance of the deviation； for there were no
points to go by。
He hoped； however； that it would have no other result than that
of bringing them nearer the upper border of the moon； a region
more suitable for landing。
Without imparting his uneasiness to his companions； Barbicane
contented himself with constantly observing the moon； in order
to see whether the course of the projectile would not be
altered； for the situation would have been terrible if it failed
in its aim； and being carried beyond the disc should be launched
into interplanetary space。 At that moment； the moon； instead of
appearing flat like a disc； showed its convexity。 If the sun's
rays had struck it obliquely； the shadow thrown would have brought
out the high mountains； which would have been clearly detached。
The eye might have gazed into the crater's gaping abysses；
and followed the capricious fissures which wound through the
immense plains。 But all relief was as yet leveled in
intense brilliancy。 They could scarcely distinguish those
large spots which give the moon the appearance of a human face。
〃Face； indeed！〃 said Michel Ardan； 〃but I am sorry for the
amiable sister of Apollo。 A very pitted face！〃
But the travelers； now so near the end； were incessantly
observing this new world。 They imagined themselves walking
through its unknown countries； climbing its highest peaks；
descending into its lowest depths。 Here and there they fancied
they saw vast seas； scarcely kept together under so rarefied an
atmosphere； and water…courses emptying the mountain tributaries。
Leaning over the abyss； they hoped to catch some sounds from
that orb forever mute in the solitude of space。 That last day
left them。
They took down the most trifling details。 A vague uneasiness
took possession of them as they neared the end。 This uneasiness
would have been doubled had they felt how their speed had decreased。
It would have seemed to them quite insufficient to carry them to
the end。 It was because the projectile then 〃weighed〃 almost nothing。
Its weight was ever decreasing； and would be entirely annihilated on
that line where the lunar and terrestrial attractions would
neutralize each other。
But in spite of his preoccupation； Michel Ardan did not forget
to prepare the morning repast with his accustomed punctuality。
They ate with a good appetite。 Nothing was so excellent as the
soup liquefied by the heat of the gas； nothing better than the
preserved meat。 Some glasses of good French wine crowned the
repast； causing Michel Ardan to remark that the lunar vines；
warmed by that ardent sun； ought to distill even more generous
wines； that is； if they existed。 In any case； the far…seeing
Frenchman had taken care not to forget in his collection some
precious cuttings of the Medoc and Cote d'Or； upon which he
founded his hopes。
Reiset and Regnaut's apparatus worked with great regularity。
Not an atom of carbonic acid resisted the potash； and as to
the oxygen； Captain Nicholl said 〃it was of the first quality。〃
The little watery vapor enclosed in the projectile mixing with
the air tempered the dryness； and many apartments in London；
Paris； or New York； and many theaters； were certainly not in
such a healthy condition。
But that it might act with regularity； the apparatus must be
kept in perfect order； so each morning Michel visited the escape
regulators； tried the taps； and regulated the heat of the gas by
the pyrometer。 Everything had gone well up to that time； and
the travelers； imitating the worthy Joseph T。 Maston； began to
acquire a degree of embonpoint which would have rendered them
unrecognizable if their imprisonment had been prolonged to
some months。 In a word； they behaved like chickens in a coop；
they were getting fat。
In looking through the scuttle Barbicane saw the specter of the
dog； and other divers objects which had been thrown from the
projectile； obstinately following them。 Diana howled
lugubriously on seeing the remains of Satellite； which seemed as
motionless as if they reposed on solid earth。
〃Do you know； my friends；〃 said Michel Ardan； 〃that if one of us
had succumbed to the shock consequent on departure； we should
have had a great deal of trouble to bury him？ What am I saying？
to _etherize_ him； as here ether takes the place of earth。
You see the accusing body would have followed us into space like
a remorse。〃
〃That would have been sad；〃 said Nicholl。
〃Ah！〃 continued Michel； 〃what I regret is not being able to take a
walk outside。 What voluptuousness to float amid this radiant ether；
to bathe oneself in it； to wrap oneself in the sun's pure rays。
If Barbicane had only thought of furnishing us with a diving
apparatus and an air…pump； I could have ventured out and assumed
fanciful attitudes of feigned monsters on the top of the projectile。〃
〃Well； old Michel；〃 replied Barbicane； 〃you would not have made
a feigned monster long； for in spite of your diver's dress； swollen
by the expansion of air within you； you would have burst like a
shell； or rather like a balloon which has risen too high。 So do
not regret it； and do not forget this as long as we float in
space； all sentimental walks beyond the projectile are forbidden。〃
Michel Ardan allowed himself to be convinced to a certain extent。
He admitted that the thing was difficult but not impossible；
a word which he never uttered。
The conversation passed from this subject to another； not failing
him for an instant。 It seemed to the three friends as though；
under present conditions； ideas shot up in their brains as leaves
shoot at the first warmth of spring。 They felt bewildered。 In the
middle of the questions and answers which crossed each other；
Nicholl put one question which did not find an immediate solution。
〃Ah； indeed！〃 said he； 〃it is all very well to go to the moon；
but how to get back again？〃
His two interlocutors looked surprised。 One would have thought
that this possibility now occurred to them for the first time。
〃What do you mean by that； Nicholl？〃 asked Barbicane gravely。
〃To ask for means to leave a country；〃 added Michel； 〃When we
have not yet arrived there； seems to me rather inopportune。〃
〃I do not say that； wishing to draw back；〃 replied Nicholl；
〃but I repeat my question； and I ask； ‘How shall we return？'〃
〃I know nothing about it；〃 answered Barbicane。
〃And I；〃 said Michel； 〃if I had known how to return； I would
never have started。〃
〃There's an answer！〃 cried Nicholl。
〃I quite approve of Michel's words；〃 said Barbicane； 〃and add；
that the question has no real interest。 Later； when we think it
is advisable to return； we will take counsel together。 If the
Columbiad is not there； the projectile will be。〃
〃That is a step certainly。 A ball without a gun！〃
〃The gun；〃 replied Barbicane； 〃can be manufactured。 The powder
can be made。 Neither metals； saltpeter； nor coal can fail in
the depths of the moon； and we need only go 8；000 leagues in
order to fall upon the terrestrial globe by virtue of t
