round the moon-第5章
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revolved upon its axis； and exhibited the phenomena of all
celestial bodies abandoned in space。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； 〃What is that？ another projectile？〃
Barbicane did not answer。 The appearance of this enormous body
surprised and troubled him。 A collision was possible； and might
be attended with deplorable results； either the projectile would
deviate from its path； or a shock； breaking its impetus； might
precipitate it to earth； or； lastly； it might be irresistibly
drawn away by the powerful asteroid。 The president caught at a
glance the consequences of these three hypotheses； either of
which would； one way or the other； bring their experiment to an
unsuccessful and fatal termination。 His companions stood
silently looking into space。 The object grew rapidly as it
approached them； and by an optical illusion the projectile
seemed to be throwing itself before it。
〃By Jove！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； 〃we shall run into one another！〃
Instinctively the travelers drew back。 Their dread was great；
but it did not last many seconds。 The asteroid passed several
hundred yards from the projectile and disappeared； not so much
from the rapidity of its course； as that its face being opposite
the moon； it was suddenly merged into the perfect darkness of space。
〃A happy journey to you；〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； with a sigh
of relief。 〃Surely infinity of space is large enough for a poor
little projectile to walk through without fear。 Now； what is
this portentous globe which nearly struck us？〃
〃I know；〃 replied Barbicane。
〃Oh； indeed！ you know everything。〃
〃It is；〃 said Barbicane； 〃a simple meteorite； but an enormous one；
which the attraction of the earth has retained as a satellite。〃
〃Is it possible！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； 〃the earth then has
two moons like Neptune？〃
〃Yes； my friends； two moons； though it passes generally for
having only one； but this second moon is so small； and its
speed so great； that the inhabitants of the earth cannot see it。
It was by noticing disturbances that a French astronomer； M。 Petit；
was able to determine the existence of this second satellite and
calculate its elements。 According to his observations； this
meteorite will accomplish its revolution around the earth in
three hours and twenty minutes； which implies a wonderful rate
of speed。〃
〃Do all astronomers admit the existence of this satellite？〃
asked Nicholl。
〃No；〃 replied Barbicane； 〃but if； like us； they had met it； they
could no longer doubt it。 Indeed； I think that this meteorite；
which； had it struck the projectile； would have much embarrassed
us； will give us the means of deciding what our position in
space is。〃
〃How？〃 said Ardan。
〃Because its distance is known； and when we met it； we were
exactly four thousand six hundred and fifty miles from the
surface of the terrestrial globe。〃
〃More than two thousand French leagues；〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan。
〃That beats the express trains of the pitiful globe called the earth。〃
〃I should think so；〃 replied Nicholl； consulting his
chronometer； 〃it is eleven o'clock； and it is only thirteen
minutes since we left the American continent。〃
〃Only thirteen minutes？〃 said Barbicane。
〃Yes；〃 said Nicholl； 〃and if our initiatory speed of twelve
thousand yards has been kept up； we shall have made about twenty
thousand miles in the hour。〃
〃That is all very well； my friends；〃 said the president； 〃but
the insoluble question still remains。 Why did we not hear the
detonation of the Columbiad？〃
For want of an answer the conversation dropped； and Barbicane
began thoughtfully to let down the shutter of the second side。
He succeeded； and through the uncovered glass the moon filled
the projectile with a brilliant light。 Nicholl； as an
economical man； put out the gas； now useless； and whose
brilliancy prevented any observation of the inter…planetary space。
The lunar disc shone with wonderful purity。 Her rays； no longer
filtered through the vapory atmosphere of the terrestrial globe；
shone through the glass； filling the air in the interior of the
projectile with silvery reflections。 The black curtain of the
firmament in reality heightened the moon's brilliancy； which in
this void of ether unfavorable to diffusion did not eclipse the
neighboring stars。 The heavens； thus seen； presented quite a
new aspect； and one which the human eye could never dream of。
One may conceive the interest with which these bold men watched
the orb of night； the great aim of their journey。
In its motion the earth's satellite was insensibly nearing the
zenith； the mathematical point which it ought to attain
ninety…six hours later。 Her mountains； her plains； every
projection was as clearly discernible to their eyes as if they
were observing it from some spot upon the earth； but its light
was developed through space with wonderful intensity。 The disc
shone like a platinum mirror。 Of the earth flying from under
their feet； the travelers had lost all recollection。
It was captain Nicholl who first recalled their attention to the
vanishing globe。
〃Yes；〃 said Michel Ardan； 〃do not let us be ungrateful to it。
Since we are leaving our country； let our last looks be directed
to it。 I wish to see the earth once more before it is quite
hidden from my eyes。〃
To satisfy his companions； Barbicane began to uncover the window
at the bottom of the projectile； which would allow them to
observe the earth direct。 The disc； which the force of the
projection had beaten down to the base； was removed； not
without difficulty。 Its fragments； placed carefully against a wall；
might serve again upon occasion。 Then a circular gap appeared；
nineteen inches in diameter； hollowed out of the lower part of
the projectile。 A glass cover； six inches thick and strengthened
with upper fastenings； closed it tightly。 Beneath was fixed an
aluminum plate； held in place by bolts。 The screws being undone；
and the bolts let go； the plate fell down； and visible
communication was established between the interior and the exterior。
Michel Ardan knelt by the glass。 It was cloudy； seemingly opaque。
〃Well！〃 he exclaimed； 〃and the earth？〃
〃The earth？〃 said Barbicane。 〃There it is。〃
〃What！ that little thread； that silver crescent？〃
〃Doubtless； Michel。 In four days； when the moon will be full；
at the very time we shall reach it； the earth will be new； and
will only appear to us as a slender crescent which will soon
disappear； and for some days will be enveloped in utter darkness。〃
〃That the earth？〃 repeated Michel Ardan； looking with all his
eyes at the thin slip of his native planet。
The explanation given by President Barbicane was correct。
The earth； with respect to the projectile； was entering its
last phase。 It was in its octant； and showed a crescent finely
traced on the dark background of the sky。 Its light； rendered
bluish by the thick strata of the atmosphere was less intense
than that of the crescent moon； but it was of considerable
dimensions； and looked like an enormous arch stretched across
the firmament。 Some parts brilliantly lighted； especially on
its concave part； showed the presence of high mountains； often
disappearing behind thick spots； which are never seen on the
lunar disc。 They were rings of clouds placed concentrically
round the terrestrial globe。
While the travelers were trying to pierce the profound darkness；
a brilliant cluster of shooting stars burst upon their eyes。
Hundreds of meteorites； ignited by the friction of the
atmosphere； irradiated the shadow of the luminous train； and
lined the cloudy parts of the disc with their fire。 At this
period the earth was in its perihelion； and the month of
December is so propitious to these shooting stars； that
astronomers have counted as many as twenty…four thousand in
an hour。 But Michel Ardan； disdaining scientific reasonings；
preferred thinking that the earth was thus saluting the
departure of her three children with her most brilliant fireworks。
Indeed this was all they saw of the globe lost in the solar
world； rising and setting to the great planets like a simple
morning or evening star！ This globe； where they h
