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the moon would draw it to herself； and the travelers thus attain
their end； or that the projectile； held in one immutable orbit；
would gravitate around the lunar disc to all eternity。
With such alternatives； what would be the fate of the travelers？
Certainly they had food for some time。 But supposing they did
succeed in their rash enterprise； how would they return？
Could they ever return？ Should they hear from them？
These questions； debated by the most learned pens of the day；
strongly engrossed the public attention。
It is advisable here to make a remark which ought to be well
considered by hasty observers。 When a purely speculative
discovery is announced to the public； it cannot be done with too
much prudence。 No one is obliged to discover either a planet；
a comet； or a satellite； and whoever makes a mistake in such a
case exposes himself justly to the derision of the mass。
Far better is it to wait； and that is what the impatient Joseph
T。 Maston should have done before sending this telegram forth to
the world； which； according to his idea； told the whole result
of the enterprise。 Indeed this telegram contained two sorts of
errors； as was proved eventually。 First； errors of observation；
concerning the distance of the projectile from the surface of
the moon； for on the 11th of December it was impossible to see
it； and what Joseph T。 Maston had seen； or thought he saw； could
not have been the projectile of the Columbiad。 Second； errors of
theory on the fate in store for the said projectile； for in making
it a satellite of the moon； it was putting it in direct
contradiction of all mechanical laws。
One single hypothesis of the observers of Long's Peak could ever
be realized； that which foresaw the case of the travelers （if
still alive） uniting their efforts with the lunar attraction to
attain the surface of the disc。
Now these men； as clever as they were daring； had survived the
terrible shock consequent on their departure； and it is their
journey in the projectile car which is here related in its most
dramatic as well as in its most singular details。 This recital
will destroy many illusions and surmises； but it will give a
true idea of the singular changes in store for such an
enterprise； it will bring out the scientific instincts of
Barbicane； the industrious resources of Nicholl； and the
audacious humor of Michel Ardan。 Besides this； it will prove
that their worthy friend； Joseph T。 Maston； was wasting his
time； while leaning over the gigantic telescope he watched the
course of the moon through the starry space。
CHAPTER I
TWENTY MINUTES PAST TEN TO FORTY…SEVEN MINUTES PAST TEN P。 M。
As ten o'clock struck； Michel Ardan； Barbicane； and Nicholl；
took leave of the numerous friends they were leaving on the earth。
The two dogs； destined to propagate the canine race on the lunar
continents； were already shut up in the projectile。
The three travelers approached the orifice of the enormous
cast…iron tube； and a crane let them down to the conical top of
the projectile。 There； an opening made for the purpose gave
them access to the aluminum car。 The tackle belonging to the
crane being hauled from outside； the mouth of the Columbiad was
instantly disencumbered of its last supports。
Nicholl； once introduced with his companions inside the
projectile； began to close the opening by means of a strong
plate； held in position by powerful screws。 Other plates；
closely fitted； covered the lenticular glasses； and the
travelers； hermetically enclosed in their metal prison； were
plunged in profound darkness。
〃And now； my dear companions；〃 said Michel Ardan； 〃let us
make ourselves at home； I am a domesticated man and strong
in housekeeping。 We are bound to make the best of our new
lodgings； and make ourselves comfortable。 And first let us
try and see a little。 Gas was not invented for moles。〃
So saying； the thoughtless fellow lit a match by striking it on
the sole of his boot； and approached the burner fixed to the
receptacle； in which the carbonized hydrogen； stored at high
pressure； sufficed for the lighting and warming of the
projectile for a hundred and forty…four hours； or six days and
six nights。 The gas caught fire； and thus lighted the
projectile looked like a comfortable room with thickly padded
walls； furnished with a circular divan； and a roof rounded in
the shape of a dome。
Michel Ardan examined everything； and declared himself satisfied
with his installation。
〃It is a prison；〃 said he； 〃but a traveling prison； and； with
the right of putting my nose to the window； I could well stand
a lease of a hundred years。 You smile； Barbicane。 Have you any
_arriere…pensee_？ Do you say to yourself； ‘This prison may be
our tomb？' Tomb； perhaps； still I would not change it for
Mahomet's； which floats in space but never advances an inch！〃
While Michel Ardan was speaking； Barbicane and Nicholl were
making their last preparations。
Nicholl's chronometer marked twenty minutes past ten P。M。 when
the three travelers were finally enclosed in their projectile。
This chronometer was set within the tenth of a second by that of
Murchison the engineer。 Barbicane consulted it。
〃My friends；〃 said he； 〃it is twenty minutes past ten。 At forty…
seven minutes past ten Murchison will launch the electric spark
on the wire which communicates with the charge of the Columbiad。
At that precise moment we shall leave our spheroid。 Thus we
still have twenty…seven minutes to remain on the earth。〃
〃Twenty…six minutes thirteen seconds；〃 replied the methodical Nicholl。
〃Well！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； in a good…humored tone； 〃much
may be done in twenty…six minutes。 The gravest questions of
morals and politics may be discussed； and even solved。
Twenty…six minutes well employed are worth more than twenty…six
years in which nothing is done。 Some seconds of a Pascal or a
Newton are more precious than the whole existence of a crowd of
raw simpletons〃
〃And you conclude； then； you everlasting talker？〃 asked Barbicane。
〃I conclude that we have twenty…six minutes left；〃 replied Ardan。
〃Twenty…four only；〃 said Nicholl。
〃Well； twenty…four； if you like； my noble captain；〃 said Ardan；
〃twenty…four minutes in which to investigate〃
〃Michel；〃 said Barbicane； 〃during the passage we shall have
plenty of time to investigate the most difficult questions。
For the present we must occupy ourselves with our departure。〃
〃Are we not ready？〃
〃Doubtless； but there are still some precautions to be taken；
to deaden as much as possible the first shock。〃
〃Have we not the water…cushions placed between the partition…
breaks； whose elasticity will sufficiently protect us？〃
〃I hope so； Michel；〃 replied Barbicane gently； 〃but I am not sure。〃
〃Ah； the joker！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan。 〃He hopes！He is not
sure！ and he waits for the moment when we are encased to make
this deplorable admission！ I beg to be allowed to get out！〃
〃And how？〃 asked Barbicane。
〃Humph！〃 said Michel Ardan； 〃it is not easy； we are in the
train； and the guard's whistle will sound before twenty…four
minutes are over。〃
〃Twenty；〃 said Nicholl。