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train； and the guard's whistle will sound before twenty…four
minutes are over。〃
〃Twenty；〃 said Nicholl。
For some moments the three travelers looked at each other。
Then they began to examine the objects imprisoned with them。
〃Everything is in its place；〃 said Barbicane。 〃We have now to
decide how we can best place ourselves to resist the shock。
Position cannot be an indifferent matter； and we must； as much
as possible； prevent the rush of blood to the head。〃
〃Just so；〃 said Nicholl。
〃Then；〃 replied Michel Ardan； ready to suit the action to the
word； 〃let us put our heads down and our feet in the air； like
the clowns in the grand circus。〃
〃No；〃 said Barbicane； 〃let us stretch ourselves on our sides； we
shall resist the shock better that way。 Remember that； when the
projectile starts； it matters little whether we are in it or
before it； it amounts to much the same thing。〃
〃If it is only ‘much the same thing；' I may cheer up；〃 said
Michel Ardan。
〃Do you approve of my idea； Nicholl？〃 asked Barbicane。
〃Entirely；〃 replied the captain。 〃We've still thirteen minutes
and a half。〃
〃That Nicholl is not a man；〃 exclaimed Michel； 〃he is a
chronometer with seconds； an escape； and eight holes。〃
But his companions were not listening； they were taking up their
last positions with the most perfect coolness。 They were like
two methodical travelers in a car； seeking to place themselves
as comfortably as possible。
We might well ask ourselves of what materials are the hearts of
these Americans made； to whom the approach of the most frightful
danger added no pulsation。
Three thick and solidly…made couches had been placed in
the projectile。 Nicholl and Barbicane placed them in the
center of the disc forming the floor。 There the three
travelers were to stretch themselves some moments before
their departure。
During this time； Ardan； not being able to keep still； turned in
his narrow prison like a wild beast in a cage； chatting with his
friends； speaking to the dogs Diana and Satellite； to whom； as
may be seen； he had given significant names。
〃Ah； Diana！ Ah； Satellite！〃 he exclaimed； teasing them； 〃so you
are going to show the moon…dogs the good habits of the dogs of
the earth！ That will do honor to the canine race！ If ever we
do come down again； I will bring a cross type of ‘moon…dogs；'
which will make a stir！〃
〃If there _are_ dogs in the moon；〃 said Barbicane。
〃There are；〃 said Michel Ardan； 〃just as there are horses； cows；
donkeys； and chickens。 I bet that we shall find chickens。〃
〃A hundred dollars we shall find none！〃 said Nicholl。
〃Done； my captain！〃 replied Ardan； clasping Nicholl's hand。
〃But； by the bye； you have already lost three bets with our
president； as the necessary funds for the enterprise have been
found； as the operation of casting has been successful； and
lastly； as the Columbiad has been loaded without accident； six
thousand dollars。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Nicholl。 〃Thirty…seven minutes six seconds past ten。〃
〃It is understood； captain。 Well； before another quarter of an
hour you will have to count nine thousand dollars to the
president； four thousand because the Columbiad will not burst；
and five thousand because the projectile will rise more than six
miles in the air。〃
〃I have the dollars；〃 replied Nicholl； slapping the pocket of
this coat。 〃I only ask to be allowed to pay。〃
〃Come； Nicholl。 I see that you are a man of method； which
I could never be； but indeed you have made a series of bets
of very little advantage to yourself； allow me to tell you。〃
〃And why？〃 asked Nicholl。
〃Because； if you gain the first； the Columbiad will have burst；
and the projectile with it； and Barbicane will no longer be
there to reimburse your dollars。〃
〃My stake is deposited at the bank in Baltimore；〃 replied
Barbicane simply； 〃and if Nicholl is not there； it will go to
his heirs。〃
〃Ah； you practical men！〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； 〃I admire you
the more for not being able to understand you。〃
〃Forty…two minutes past ten！〃 said Nicholl。
〃Only five minutes more！〃 answered Barbicane。
〃Yes； five little minutes！〃 replied Michel Ardan； 〃and we are
enclosed in a projectile； at the bottom of a gun 900 feet long！
And under this projectile are rammed 400；000 pounds of gun…cotton；
which is equal to 1；600；000 pounds of ordinary powder！ And friend
Murchison； with his chronometer in hand； his eye fixed on the
needle； his finger on the electric apparatus； is counting the
seconds preparatory to launching us into interplanetary space。〃
〃Enough； Michel； enough！〃 said Barbicane； in a serious voice；
〃let us prepare。 A few instants alone separate us from an
eventful moment。 One clasp of the hand； my friends。〃
〃Yes；〃 exclaimed Michel Ardan； more moved than he wished to
appear； and the three bold companions were united in a last embrace。
〃God preserve us！〃 said the religious Barbicane。
Michel Ardan and Nicholl stretched themselves on the couches
placed in the center of the disc。
〃Forty…seven minutes past ten！〃 murmured the captain。
〃Twenty seconds more！〃 Barbicane quickly put out the gas and
lay down by his companions； and the profound silence was only
broken by the ticking of the chronometer marking the seconds。
Suddenly a dreadful shock was felt； and the projectile； under
the force of six billions of litres of gas； developed by the
combustion of pyroxyle； mounted into space。
CHAPTER II
THE FIRST HALF…HOUR
What had happened？ What effect had this frightful shock produced？
Had the ingenuity of the constructors of the projectile obtained
any happy result？ Had the shock been deadened； thanks to the
springs； the four plugs； the water…cushions； and the partition…breaks？
Had they been able to subdue the frightful pressure of the initiatory
speed of more than 11；000 yards； which was enough to traverse Paris
or New York in a second？ This was evidently the question suggested
to the thousand spectators of this moving scene。 They forgot the
aim of the journey； and thought only of the travelers。 And if
one of them Joseph T。 Maston for example could have cast one
glimpse into the projectile； what would he have seen？
Nothing then。 The darkness was profound。 But its cylindro…
conical partitions had resisted wonderfully。 Not a rent or a
dent anywhere！ The wonderful projectile was not even heated
under the intense deflagration of the powder； nor liquefied；
as they seemed to fear； in a shower of aluminum。
The interior showed but little disorder； indeed； only a few
objects had been violently thrown toward the roof； but the most
important seemed not to have suffered from the shock at all；
their fixtures were intact。
On the movable disc； sunk down to the bottom by the smashing of
the partition…breaks and the escape of the water； three bodies
lay apparently lifeless。 Barbicane； Nicholl； and Michel Ardan
did they still breathe？ or was the projectile nothing now but a
metal coffin； bearing three corpses into space？
Some minutes after the departure of the projectile； one of
the bodies moved； shook its arms； lifted its head； and finally
succeeded in getting on it